1975-10-16
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TOWN OF WAPPINGER RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF OCToBE~ 16, 1975 MEETING
Next meeting - November 6, 1975
A special meeting of the Town of Wappinger Recreatiori Commission was held
at the Town Hall on October 16, 1975. The meeting was opened at 7:50 P.M.
Present: Mr. Hugh J. Maurer, Mr. Joseph Ennesser, Mr. Richard Garren,
Mrs. Jean Beahan, Mrs. Mary Schmalz and Mrs. Laura lick
Absent: Mrs. Theresa Arkell and Mr. George Schlathaus
The Recreation Commission invited the members of the Town Board to attend
the meeting to discuss some guide lines for Recreation. The Town Board
members present were Supervisor Louis Diehl, Councilmen Mr. Louis Clausen,
Mr. Leif Jensen and Mr. Frank Versace.
Mr. Hugh-J. Maurer informed the Town Board members that he called the
meeting to find out from them how they felt the Tennis Courts should be
handled, if a pro is needed or not, should the YWCA be allowed to use the
courts and if a sign up schedule is necessary, also if the Schools should
be allowed to use the ball fields and other facilities.
Mr. Louis Diehl asked Mr. Maurer just what the YWCA program consits of.
Mr. Maurer explained that 90% of the participants are Wappinger residents.
The residents are charged a fee by the YWCA and the YWCA provides them with
an organized program and tennis instructions. The Recreation Commission
allows them to use two courts, one day a week from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
which is not a peak usage time.
Mr. Frank Versace wished to know why the Town should allow outside
organizations to use the courts, especially since they only have four courts
and it creates a problem when residents try to use the courts and find
that they can't. Then the residents start calling Mr. Versace and he has
no answer for them.
Mr. Hugh J. Maurer said the YWCA is a non-profit organization and they are
trying to organize something and are providing instruction to the
participants, anyone wishing to join it can.
Mr. Frank Versace said that he was concerned about the people who do not
join, where are you when a resident wishes to play and finds the he can't.
What should he say to the resident?
Mr. Hugh J. Maurer explained that there are still tow courts open and
anyone wishing to use one of the courts can, all they have to do is sign
up for the court in advance. Mr. Maurer also explained that he had attended
several YWCA meetings and the YWCA is trying to put satellite areas out
but they have never had the money to come into our area. This tennis
program is a way of exposing the Wappingers residents to the YWCA and
5 h O\'J i II g the r, i w hat is a v ail a b Ie.
Mr. Leif Jensen said he would like to comment that he has not received
one phone call from a resident about being preempted from using the
teni!is courts.
Hr. Louis Diehl recommended that they work with the YWCA. He has no real
objection to them using the courts for one day a week for 10 weeks from
9 : 00 A. [":. to 2: 3 0 P. i"I. Eve r yon e a g r l3 e d to alIa I:! the Y I:J CAt 0 use the co u r t s .
TE:i:,JIS Pr10
~r. Louis Clauserl wished to know if the Tennis Pro hirod by the Recreation
CO:;:;1 i s s .i 0 ri I:J asp aid () fee and a 1 so a 11 0\-1 e d to use the co u r t s t 0 ~:J i v e
private lessons.
Page 2---Recreation Commission---10/16/75
f';'r. Hugh J. r~aurer said yes, he is paid a fee and also allovJed to use one
of the courts for private lessons.
Mr. Clausen said he had received some complaints about the Pro being
allowed to give private lessons.
Mr. Frank Versace felt they shouldn't allow someone to make money on the
courts.
~r. Maurer explained that allowing the Pro to give lessons, enables the
Commission to get a good pro. If the Commission could hire a Pro for only
31000.00 they they would but they can't.
Hr. Joseph Ennesser said the Pro hired by Ea~3"l; Fishkill (Jave at least 20
private lessons a week and he was not as qualified as the pro the
Commission had hired.
Mr. Louis Diehl said that there really shouldn't be a man getting income
for himself on the courts. Mr. Diehl asked the Commission what the
program the Pro ran consisted of.
Mr. Hugh J. Maurer explained that first they have Spring Clinics which use
all the courts for three hours plus the two High School courts, two times
a week. They are open to anyone in the Town and instruction is given.
During the summer there ~ an 8 week program at the Martz Field courts
which consists of many different activities including more clinics.
Sometimes all four courts are used depending upon how many people wish
to participate.
Mr. Frank Versace said it is disturbing when someone who already knows
how to play tennis must wait. He said he felt that the people do not
want all the organization at the courts.
~r. Maurer said he did not realize the residents had so many complaints
about the program.
Mr. Louis Clausen said he wished to know how much a Pro would expect to
receive per hour.
Hr. i'i a 1I r e r S i3 i d he did not k no \-J, pro b a b 1 Y at 1 e a s t l~ 4 0 I' $ 5 an h () U r .
Mrs. Mary Schmalz said she tlad gone to Poughkeepsie and the pay their
tennis help receives is 390.00 a waek for the hours of 9:00 A.M. to
1 2 : 0 0 P. H. and 1: (J 0 P.I'-1. to <1: 0 0 P. fVl. and a 1 s 0 s 0 rn e day s the y h a v e n i 9 h t
hours.
Mr. Maurer said that they are hiring High School kids. Mr. Schmalz disagreed
Mr. Maurer said he attended four of the Poughkeepsie Clinics and he did
not want what he saw on the Wappingers Courts. He said the Commission
wishes to upgrade the athletics not degrade it.
~rs. Schmalz said they could hire Dutchess Community College Students and
always fire them if they are not up to par.
Mr. Louis Clausen said that Ketcham High School has a tennis team and
wouldn't it be possible to use some of them?
~r. Maurer said the High School Students do not tlave the respect and
disciplinB to run u program at the Martz Field Courts. The discipline is
vary important becausu there are many fights und arguments between the
rc~;idcnts.
r~r. Louis Diehl said that in order to get someone with direction and respect
h~ could SBe where you would have to pay about $150 to S160 a week.
f'-, ',' s. f. ~ o:J r y S C fW a.1. z sa .i d the y s h 0 u.l d \t,IT i t e up a job d l~ s c rip t ion CJ n d h Cl vet he
Ptc;:::'SDn sigel a cDnt:[~act. ~)hc also exp.l ained that ~jh8 \^liJf, not saying tll~~
:~~o,' r')issiOjl shD\Jld !liTE; i:3 studt::fl't, Sf1e t-Jas just l.l::;ir-lf] it as an i~><(]rilple.
I -". C 1 d LJ S c;; S did t. Ii a t Iw f Fe.1 t a Fro \rJ d~; t [) 0 r i c h f () r the To \tJ fl .
f.:;'. [-iaLl.nor !~ai(; tile' C:urll;I:~ssi[)rl ,^JoulcJ :;0 along and try to LI'lprove it but he
rt.;Jt thclt i3 :,stud;;;',;: could ',ot handle: the proC]ram.
Page 3---Recreation Commission---10/16/75
SCHOO!_S
Mr. Hugh J. Maurer also informed the Town Board that the High Schools are
also using the tennis courts in the Spring, three days a week from 2:30 P.M.
to 4:30 P.M. and on several occassions from 2:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. In
return the schools do not charge the Recreation Commission for the use of
school facilities. Also due to all th~ rain Ketcham High School needed
a soccer field so they are using the Town's field.
Mr. Louis Diehl said the Board had no obiection to the schools using the
town's facilities. Mr. Diehl felt it wasWmandatory to cooperate with the
schools.
SUf'1iJrE R HELP
tv] r. F ran k Ve r sac e II'J ish e d to k now ItJ hat the cat ego r y tit 1 e d "G e n era 1
Maintenance" in the Recreation Budget covered and how many actual hours
were involved.
Mr. Maurer explained that the category covered all the clean up of the
parks, hauling, mowing, boat ramp maintenance, etc. and there is no way
of knowing exactly how many hours are involved.
Mr. Versace then asked the Commission what their procedure was for hiring
summer help. Mr. Versace said he wished to know why students who lived
outside the town had been hired.
Mr. Richard Garren said that it was his faul~. This was the first year that
they had received so many applications and all of the students who worked
last year reapplied so it was decided to rehire them. The Commission had
thought they were all town residents but this year it was discovered that
the one student lived outside the town even though he had a Wappinger
address. Mr. Garren said that from now on the hiring would be handled
differently by the ComrniEision.
Nr. Versace then asked the Commission who sets the pay for the help.
Mr. ~aurer said that usually the Commission starts with the minimum wage
and then gives them an increase if they come back.
l~r. Versace wished to know if the Commission felt that $175.00 a week
was a satisfactory salary.
Mr. Maurer said no it was a bit high. Mr. Garren said that this year he
had worked out a schedule starting with the minimum wage and increases
for each yeaT the students worked. Formerly the Commi.ision had been ~dY
beloi<i the mit,irnum wage scale.
Mr. Clausen said that he agreed with Mr. Versace that $175.00 a week was
too hiqh.
Mr. Maurer said that the salary worked out that high for the one student
because she had been workirlg with the Commission for four years and she
was a college graduate in Recreation and she does an excellent job.
IV; r . C 1 a u s t~ fl S aid t h I:: fa c t r e rn a ins t hat the rea r e (J the r pea pIe who can do
the job.
Mr. Versace said he felt that all the hiring concerning specific jobs
should have to be cleared by the Town Board. He felt that when the time
carnes for tht~ :i.ntervi.el>'Js the Tmvn Board me:nber~3 should sit in on the
i~lterviews.
I'll'S. ,"iaTY Schr.,alz 3c,kcd r-Ir. Versace that shou.1dn' t the Hecrcation COlnmissiOl1
s end a .1 i ,~ t 0 f L'1.1 t. h e a p p lie ant s for job s t [) the T Cl "In 13 0 a r d ?
i'l r . C 1 i'l use r, sa i d Y :::", he f e 1 t the y s h 0 u 1 d .
i-ir. Leif Jt~nSer1 said thElt th2Jt information h3S alvJays been dvailable tel
a r: Y D n c; i</ ish i n ~j to s e [) it. f. i r. J ens e II a 1 S 0 S i:] i d t hat h e did not wi s h t D
.jr:t involved if1 the dctU,LL hiring but he felt that d List of names should
Come forth ~D ~he Town Board. Mr. Jensen said he would Rxempt himself
Page 4---Recreation Commission---10/16/75
SUi'-liVlf:R HELP (cClnt.)
from the actual hiring. Mr. Frank Versace said he felt a representative
from the Town Board should be present and if M0. Jensen doesn't wish to
attend then Mr. Versace will attend. It was decide that the Commission
would send a list of applicants to the Town Board along with a letter of
recommendation on who should be hired.
SCLCCE R
Mr. Leif Jensen asked the Commission what was baing done concerning Soccer
Mrs. Schmalz said the Commission hoped to have a team in the Spring and
with the cooperation of Mr. Bill Holland and Mr. Ken Lynn hopefully a
County League could be formed. The Commission is going to have three
fields, two soccer fields and one all purpose field.
BAU_ FIELD~
Mr. Frank Versace said he had heard that outside people were using the
townls ball fields. Mr. Versace said he does not like to see the town's
fields used by Poughkeepsie. Mr. Versace said he had no objection to other
teams using the fields if it is on a home to home basis.
Mr. Clausen said that Wappingers Recreation has been developed into an
A-1 facility and he doesn't like to see outside people coming in and
using the facilities. He wants the Town residents to enjoy the facilities.
Mr. Joseph Ennesser asked Mr. Versace if he felt they sllould allow the
softball leaggues to hold their tournament on t~ Town's fields. Some of
the members are not residents of the Town. Mr. Versace said he had no
objection to the tournament.
CARNEGIE T ALEfJT AGENI=J.
The Commission decided not to hold the Kingsmen concert on November 22.
The Commission felt it would be better to hold off until next year and
try to get some help from Carnegie concerning advertisement.
The next meeting Was set for November 6, 1975 The meeting was closed at
9:00 P.rv1.
Respectfully submitted,
/......-...........
~; ...)- -
x..l-elo { E:i -/-.. ~') ('.. (i-'
Deborah Ruit
Page 5---Recreation Commission---10/16/75
The following vouchers were approved for payment:
Deborah Ruit
Deborah Ruit
Steven J. Mitchell
Fishkill Tire
Edward Zick
Pine Plains Ford Tractor
A - 1 Fence Company
Pray's Nursery & Garden Center
Urey Hard'~Jare
Wappingers Sand & Gravel
Clove Excavators, Inc.
George Schlathaus
Hug h J. t.1 a u r e r
Hodges Badge Company
Southern Dutchess News
The Pendell Press
Dom Letteriis Sporting Goods
Thalman Equipment Co.
School Taxes
N.Y. State Recreation & Park Society
William J. Fredrickson
EdvJard Zick
Edward Zick
Ralph Vinal1
Ernest J. Post
Carnegit3 Talent I~gency
John Felding
Dave fvlaurer
Dave i'laurer
Ski HelLls Tours
~ 74.25
~~
5.52
57.30
40. 75
264.00
176.56
1,05[1.00
600.00
48.67
245.00
362.50
19.80
49.80
259.57
114.60
17.80
182.00
34.50
112.12
7.00
78.00
264.00
288.00
637.50
42.00
750.00
8.00
212.40
255.18
420.00