RECEIVED NOVEMBER 2, 2009 @ 12:45 P.M.
Kerry Miserendino, Redding Asst. Town Clerk
Redding Park and Recreation – Meeting Minutes
Date: October 26, 2009
Town of Redding, Connecticut
PRESENT: Susan Goldman, Meredith McClung, Elizabeth Sager, Lisa LeBlanc, Gary Miyashiro, Paul Degener
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
Members approved the September minutes (LeBlanc/Goldman).
Members present unanimously elected Paul Degener to serve as Commission Chairperson (McClung/Goldman).
The Director’s Report was reviewed and discussed as follows:
-Success of Trick or Treat Street;
-JRMS buses to be permitted to transport students from the school to afterschool activities at the RCC;
-Topstone – patrons appreciative of the unlocked gate for easier access to the park during daylight hours. Rob has arranged for the gate to be unlocked/locked with the regular “dog walkers”. Members discussed confirming with the Police Dept. that they make the park part of their nightly patrol to make sure the gate is locked in the evening;
-Discussion of the erection of a storage shed for the soccer club. Rob to contact the soccer club to encourage they contact other user groups about sharing of the shed – both cost of construction and use of;
Members thereafter discussed the Topstone Enhancement progress as follows:
-Members of this subcommittee have met once at the park and intend to meet again within the next 4 weeks;
-Rob reviewed the proposed fee revision schedule to be implemented next summer in an effort to appeal to more patrons and offer flexibility of pricing;
-Swim lessons will only be available to pass holders;
-Rob was approached by anglers who would also like access to the combination lock for the park to afford them the ability to access the park in the early a.m. or late p.m. hours. Members concurred that they do not want additional community members to be opening/closing the gate. The emphasis is on the fact that the opening and closing of the gate during the off season is experimental at this point, to encourage use of the park on a somewhat controlled basis.
Rob advised the Members that the Board of Selectmen would like the Commission Members to attend its meeting to be held on November 16, 2009 to discuss the Department’s Annual Report and the Department’s immediate and long term needs and 5 year capital expenditure plan. Liz requested the addition of the improvement of the outdoor basketball courts to the statement of goals. Rob advised that a community member is currently working on this project. Members discussed long term goals, specifically the construction of a pavilion and whether same should be at the RCC or Topstone. Members discussed the pros and cons of each site, as well as the installation of a playground at Topstone. Lisa agreed to create another short survey to be sent to community members soliciting their interests in
improvements such as playground, pavilion and skate park, including the desired location of these facilities. Paul will look into the costs and requirements of obtaining a temporary/removable pavilion.
Paul briefly discussed the status of the field’s committee, and advised that from the state grant monies the final engineering study for the turfing and expansion of RCC field #2 is moving forward.
The next scheduled meeting will be a Special Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. on November 16, 2009, prior to the Board of Selectman’s Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Submitted by Susan Goldman
10/26/09
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