RECEIVED March 7, 2011 @ 8:30 A.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
2 pages
Filed, subject to approval
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, February 28, 2011
PRESENT: P. Degener, T. Bennett, J. Dorenbosch, L. LeBlanc, M. McClung, G. Miyashiro
Staff present: R. Blick
Public present: David Streit (Redding representative for Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance)
Vice Chairman Goldman called the February 28, 2011 meeting to order at 7:47 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the January 10, 2011 meeting be accepted as submitted. Dorenbosch, McClung. Approved. Unanimous.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Blick reviewed his written February report with the Commission.
- Boys’ & Girls’ Club: Mr. Blick met with Matt Johns from the RBGC to review the seasonal reservation process.
- JBHS: Mr. Blick with meet with the Joel Barlow High School administration regarding availability of their facility for summer programs. .
- Topstone Park/Summer Camp: last year’s staff is being contracted to see who is returning. Bobby Cieri & Kelly O’Donnell are both returning Topstone management staffers.
- Budget: nothing to report at this time – awaiting Town public hearing.
- Concert on the Green: the schedule for the summer has been set. The sponsor letter will be sent out soon. Mr. Blick will review the correspondence with Mr. Bennett or Ms. McClung before it is distributed. The Lyric Coffee house with Terence Martin in February was a big success with 58 people in attendance.
DEER HUNTING AT TOPSTONE PARK’
David Streit of the Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance addressed the Commission regarding allowed controlled deer hunting at Topstone Park. Mr. Streit would like to begin the application process with the DEP to allow limited deer hunting on the town-owned property. The hunting would be limited to specific times of year, and for two hours after sunset and two hours before sun up. The Board of Selectmen asked the Park and Recreation Commission for their thoughts and input on the subject. Mr. Streit indicated another benefit of the DEP approved process is that the DEP will have grant money to gather and study tick data and study the understory of the Park. Mr. Streit indicated that a letter to DEP is required from the property owner (Town) for approval of a controlled hunt. The Commission would
have to send a letter to the Selectmen recommending a controlled hunt program.
Following a long discussion, Commission members were in favor of the program concept.
Motion: move that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Board of Selectmen the approval of the DEP deer hunt program at Topstone Park, allowing a maximum of five hunters within specific time frame to be determined. Dorenbosch, LeBlanc. Approved. Unanimous.
AGENDA CHANGE
Motion: move to accept the revised Agenda for the meeting from that published on Town website. The revision rearranges the sequence of items and deletes the executive session. Degener, Dorenbosch. Approved. Unanimous.
ONLINE REGISTRATION/P & R WEBSITE STATUS UPDATE
Mr. Blick reported that online registration is going smoothly. RECTRAC is updating the program in March and Mr. Blick believes that the update will address the issues the department has had. Mr. Degener requested a six-month report on the online registration to the Commission from the Department.
RAFC UPDATE
Mr. Degener reported proposed plan to change Redding Community Center Field #2 from an undersized grass field to a full size artificial turf field has been approved by both the Conservation and Zoning Commissions. The Redding Athletic Fields Committee is moving forward with private fund raising efforts. The Redding Athletic Fields Foundation Inc. has been established with a 501(c)3 status to collect tax exempt donations. The estimated total cost for construction is $950.000. A CT STEAP Grant for $400,000 is in place. A fundraising brochure is being finalized and will be mailed to residents to solicit donations.
2011-2012 BUDGET
The Public Hearing on the Town budget is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2011.
TOPSTONE PRESERVATION AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
Mr. Blick has maintained access to Topstone Park, primarily for emergency/safety reasons. Because of severe dangerous ice in beach parking lot Mr. Blick will investigate if sanding is needed, now or future. Various sources are being explored to gather information and recommendations for landscaping issues, especially with regard to the sand beach erosion.
Mr. Degener added that the move of the Playscape equipment to the park is weather dependent. As soon as the space at Topstone can be prepared, the move can be scheduled.
2011 PARK & REC PATRON SURVEY
A draft survey was distributed for review. The main focus of the survey is Topstone Park. Commission members were asked to review the survey and get their thoughts and ideas back to Mr. Degener as soon as possible. The survey will be available online, with a post card notification to residents regarding an invitation to participate; a printed copy will also be made available.
ADJOURNMENT
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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