Town Of Redding
REDDING, CONNECTICUT 06875
RECEIVED FEBRUARY 27, 2009 @ 8:30 A.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
2 pages
Redding Park and Recreation – Regular Meeting Minutes
Date: February 23, 2009
Town of Redding, Connecticut
PRESENT: Chairperson-Lee Morgan, Susan Goldman, Liz Sager, Kim Taylor, Todd Bennett
ABSENT: Paul Degener
STAFF: Rob Blick, Park and Rec Director; Laura Anderson, Director of Recreational Programs; Mary Jo Dix, Director of the Extended Day Program; Deb Clark, Administrative Assistant
ALSO PRESENT: Lisa LeBlanc, Meredith McClung, Potential Commission Members
The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m.
The Minutes from January 26, 2009 were reviewed and unanimously approved.
DIRECTORS REPORT: Mr. Blick added an item to the Directors Report. The permit for Hydro-Raking at Topstone Park is good for five years, not three. Mr. Blick presented ideas and suggestions for improving service and addressing concerns expressed by those residents who responded to the recent Quality Assurance Survey. The focus will be to improve and streamline the registration process. Some suggestions were to move up the brochure release date, look into a partnership with a neighboring town that has a swimming pool, increase the overall use of the Community Center and review the fee structure for private use. The issue of an insurance coverage requirement may prevent some usage, as it can be costly. Making residents aware of neighboring town’s program or pool availability was also discussed.
Park and Recreation staff members Laura Anderson, Mary Jo Dix and Deb Clark were present to answer questions from the Commission, and were supportive of the ideas and suggestions presented.
Ms. Sager suggested making the website more current and being sure it contained up to the minute information, including last minute space availability due to program cancellations.
Mr. Blick pointed out that the rules for usage have changed and many residents may not be aware of this. Policies and procedures need to be clarified. Collaboration with the Redding Boys and Girls Club is also an option.
Additional idea’s included no fees charged for youth open gym, a games or movie night, and to seek idea’s from the JRMS Student Counsel, who may contribute some thoughts on what might be of interest for this target age group.
BUDGET DISCUSSION: The Commission discussed the tennis fence repair vs. online registration. In an email sent by Mr. Degener, who could not be present at the meeting, he expressed that any funds available for the fence repair should be re-directed toward the server for the registration, as this was crucial to improving service and addresses one of the items brought up most in the survey. Mr. Blick reported that the online registration had been cut from the budget, but that money for the fence repair could be taken from a capital non-recurring fund, because this was considered a safety issue.
LETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE: There were no letters or correspondence.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
Greg Frierson and Shannon Craley have both resigned from the Commission. Ms. Morgan asked Commission members for more suggestions for potential members.
The next scheduled meeting will be a Regular Meeting scheduled for March 23, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Submitted by vak
2/26/09
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