Town Of Redding
REDDING, CONNECTICUT 06875
Redding Park and Recreation – Meeting Minutes
Date: October 25, 2004
Town of Redding, Connecticut
PRESENT: Chairperson-Joe Ventricelli; Paul Degener; Charlie Fields, Dan Carter, Tushar Shah,
Joe Dolan, Susan Goldman.
STAFF: Rob Blick, Director; Debbie Clark, Administrative Assistant.
The meeting was called to order at 7:33 p.m.
The minutes from September 27th, 2004 were approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT/LETTERS/CORRESPONDENCE:
· Mr. Blick received an irate phone call from a resident about mountain biking and leashed dogs at Topstone Park. She did not feel that mountain biking should be allowed at Topstone. She is also angry about the signs indicating that dogs must be leashed when at Topstone. It was agreed by the Commission to leave the biking policy as it is. Mr. Blick will put up more signs about dogs being leashed as the previous ones have been torn down.
· There have been skateboarders on the tennis courts. Mr. Blick will put signs up indicating that boarding, biking, blading, etc. is not permitted on the courts. This brought up discussion about the need for a skate park. Mr. Carter wondered whether there was any chance of getting a space in Redding for the kids to use. A process in which we can come up with a location and perhaps get this developed by fundraising was discussed. Mr. Carter and Ms. Goldman will get together and discuss this further. Meanwhile, Bethel Park and Recreation has said that Redding residents could use their rollerblading park at no extra cost.
DIRECTORS REPORT: There were questions about the repair work to be done on Field 2. The drainage is not good and consequently the west end of the field stays wet. There will be turf blankets put down on that end of the field starting next week so 1/3 of the field will be closed. Everything will be made even so that water will not collect in the low spot. The cost will be about $ 2300.00.
Mr. Fields asked for an update on the field fertilization issue. Mr. Blick shared that there was approval from Conservation to fertilize, aerate, and sod the fields. The Commission’s desire is to act responsibly in regard to minimizing the need for herbicides through proper turf management.
JBHS BUILDING COMMITTEE: There was nothing new to share. Susan Goldman will be added to this committee.
FINANCE COMMITTEE/BUDGET: The monthly report was passed out. At this time we are $ 21,000 above budget in revenue and $ 60,000 better than budget for expenses. Some of this has to do with the seasonal nature of Park and Rec. activities.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE: Susan Goldman will be added to this committee. Mr. Blick will meet with middle-schoolers to get ideas of what type of activities they are interested in.
TOPSTONE PARK ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE: Mr. Blick will order new poles and nets for the basketball court in the Spring. The lifeguard shack roof is being redone.
ORGANIZATION/PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: There was nothing new to share.
ATHLETIC FIELDS COMMITTEE: Mr. Degener passed out a revised Field Usage Analysis. (October, 2004) After some discussion, the Commission agreed with Mr. Ventricelli that this needs to be discussed more so that all are completely comfortable with the final numbers. Mr. Dolan received a call from one of the Selectmen who had questions about the numbers. He felt strongly about the fact that the entire Commission needs to have a clear understanding of the data. After a heated discussion, it was agreed that because of the Commission’s concerns a sub-committee would meet as soon as possible to discuss the matter further and to figure out how to present the data in a simplified manner. A Special Meeting is scheduled for November 8th for the entire Commission to meet to
approve the sub-committee’s work.
COMMUNITY CENTER GROUNDS COMMITTEE: There was nothing new to share.
WEBSITE COMMITTEE: Tabled to next month.
NEW BUSINESS – MOUNTAIN BIKING: Discussed under Letters/Correspondence.
Mr. Blick met with the Town Treasurer, Peg O’Donnell about accepting credit cards. This should be finalized in about a month.
The vote for a new Park and Recreation Chairperson is postponed until next month.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Recording Secretary: Debbie Clark
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