2001-05-01
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RECREA nON COMM. MINUTES
MAY 1,2001
NEXT MEETING JUNE 5, 2001
The regular meeting of the Town of Wappinger Recreation Comm. was held May
1,2001 at Schlathaus Park, All Angels Hill Road, Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New
York.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Ralph 1. Holt. Others
present were Kathi DeLisa, Senior Citizen Director, Stephen Lowery, Recreation Director,
Comm. Members Joseph Ennesser, Ronald Friedman, Ellen Korz, Stephen Miller, and Joanne
Vazquez.
The minutes of the April 3, 2001 meeting were approved on a motion by Mr.
Ennesser seconded by Mr. Friedman with all in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE
A Certificate oflnsurance was received from c.1. Masonry for the cement work
that was done at Reese Park on the bridge.
A letter was received from Sloper Willen stating that Joel Ingold, EMT -P will fill
the position of Health Director for the Town of Wappinger Recreation Comm. for the 2001
summer program.
An agreement and roster was received from the Town of Wappinger Little League
and was forwarded to Supervisor Smith for Town Board action.
A letter was received from Jennifer Simmons confirming her request for the use of
the senior league field at Robinson Lane complex. Their Van Wyck Junior High School
Modified Baseball team would like to use the field every day from 3 -4:30 p.m. for practice and
until 6: 15 p.m. on game days. A schedule with home games was included with the letter. She
stated that she had talked to James Chappas and Bill Farrell regarding the usage.
A letter was received from Roland Norris, of the Wappinger Yankees stating that
they will be using Robinson Lane Fields (Holt Field and SL-2) on Saturday and Sunday
afternoons from 1 to 7 p.m. during the months of June, July and August. He also mentioned that
they will be adjusting their schedule to work around the needs of Little League. They will also
forward to our office a copy of their Certificate of Insurance.
A letter was received from the Town of Wappinger Little League stating that the
Little League will be using the fields at Robinson Lane from March 15th through October 28th,
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May 1,2001
2001 all day everyday. They also noted that they realize that other programs may request the use
of the fields and they will be happy to work with them to make proper accommodations. A copy
of their Certificate of Insurance was also included.
A call was received from Sharon McSween stating that they will NOT be holding
their benefit tournament at Robinson Lane this year in September.
The "Seasonal Help Wanted" ad was placed in the Southern Dutchess News and
the Pennysaver
OUTGOING LETTERS FOR APRIL 2001
1. Legal Notice to Southern Dutchess News for Request for Qualifications for the Martz Field
rest room C. D. Grant
2. Application for 2001 Children's Camp facility sent to D. C. Health Dept.
3. Letter to Brealand Edwards declining their request for the use ofR. L. Fields for their
tournament July 13-15.
4. Memo to Town Board requesting P.O. for replacement signs for Schlathaus Park (Approved at
Town Board Meeting 4/23/0 I) .
5. Memo to Town Board requesting permission to close Robinson Lane and Evans.
6. Memo to Town Board requesting Ralph Holt be reappointed to another term. (Tabled.)
7. Memo to Town Board requesting a P.O. for $1,345.62 for playground supplies. (Approved)
8. Memo to Town Board regarding recreation funding.
9. Letter to Bill Farrell regarding the Little League contract.
10. Memo to Town Board requesting a P.O. for the prep work for paving at Schlathaus.
11. Fax to Verizon Wireless to discontinue service for the recreation mobile phones.
12. Letter to Charles Cornacchio (Beekman Hardball League) with approval for use of Holt
Field and SL2 on Sunday mornings.
SENIOR CITIZEN REPORT
Mrs. DeLisa handed out a report on the Senior activities for the month of April.
This report is attached to these minutes.
RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he would like to create a wiflle ball league for the kids
ages 13 and up and hold it at the Spook Hill Park. It would be 5 innings and slow pitch. They
only items needed would be some of the orange fencing in the back, some white marking paint
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May 1, 2001
and some wiflle bats and balls. The program would run for 7 weeks on Thursday evenings and
Sunday mornings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. He also asked if the lights on the basketball court
could be repaired and if so he would like to run a basketball league from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on the
court at Spook Hill for kids ages 13-16. All members felt that these programs were needed and
were in favor of setting them up. We will check on the lights. If the lights were to be on they
would go offat 9:00 or as soon as the games are over. Mr. Lowery also mentioned that we need
a couple more garbage cans at that site.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he needs a new answering machine for use at
Schlathaus Park. He said that the old one was a cheap one and he now keeps losing messages.
He also mentioned that the shirts for the playgrounds have been ordered and
should be here next week. He has also ordered the staff shirts.
Mr. Lowery has been working along with Kim Allen and Claire Rottcamp to hire
the summer staff Miss Allen and Miss Rottcamp have done all the reference checks and have put
in a lot of time already. Most of the staff has been hired and we have already lost some of those
that were hired. He also mentioned that they have been working on mapping out each playground
site. They are setting up a new system where adults are not going to be allowed to just enter the
areas and take the children. Each adult will have to stop and show a photo i.d. and the child will
be brought to the pick up area. Mr. Lowery said that the Board of Health application has been
completed and sent back.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that the Easter Egg Hunt went well and thanked everyone
who was there to help.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he was verbally abused when he did the sign ups for
the Yankee/ Met Game. People who came at 7:30 were very abusive when told that the trip was
already sold out. They felt that we could just go to Shea and pick up more tickets and get
another bus. As it is these tickets were very hard to get this year. In the future, for the Yankee
/Met game and for the Radio City Christmas Show, Mr. Lowery said that he would like to have
a lottery. People will be able to call in a week before leaving their name, phone number and
number of tickets requested and all names will be put in a barrel and names will be drawn on a
certain date. It was suggested that this date and time be advertised so that if the people want,
they can be present when the names are called.
Everyone was reminded that the registration for the summer programs will be held
at Town Hall on Saturday, May 12th and May 19th from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. All help will be
appreciated.
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REESE PARK BRIDGE/ REESE PARK
Mr. Ennesser mentioned that the bridge at Reese is in and completed and he
received the $3,300. from the State from the grant. He is in the process of sending a letter to the
Department of Transportation to collect the funds from the grant for the concrete work and to see
if we can still use the balance of the grant for additional work. He also has a report from Chris
Iverson for the month of May. This report will be copied and sent out for each member to
review. Mr. Ennesser also thanked us for providing the truck on Sunday for the "clean up".
DOCK AT CHELSEA
Mr. Ennesser mentioned that the interface is completed and the target date for the
completion of the project is the 3rd or 4th week in May. He has put an article in the paper to notify
the residents that the docks are going to be late getting into the water. Mr. Ennesser mentioned
that there will be $6,000. left from the $10,000. grant money to do some resurfacing. We will
need to have Mr. Tompkins to go down and look at what can be done. Just to get the surface
done to the water will be a great help.
EQUIPMENT FOR SPOOK HILL
Mrs. Vazquez has been studying various equipment companies to come up with
some new playground equipment to be placed at Spook Hill. Since most companies make
modular equipment it hard to find pieces that are completely the same. She found one item which
is 27' x 20' and made for 18-20 children. The cost is as follows: $15,209.00 for the equipment
and $1,604.00 to cover the freight for a total of$16,813.00. There were two options given for
the installation. For them to install it the cost would be $5,860.00 and the cost for us to install it
with them providing a supervisor it would cost $500.00 a day. The estimated cost for the
installation does not include the surface treatment. It was suggested that we try and get
volunteer help but we really have to have a supervisor and to guarantee volunteer help is probably
not a viable avenue. After a discussion, it was the opinion of the members that we should have
the equipment installed by the company. That way it is done to spec and we know that it is done
properly and up to safety standards.
It was decided that a letter be written to the Town Board stating that we have
$15,800.00 in our budget for this equipment and ask that we be allowed to go forward with this
purchase taking the balance of the funds from Parkland Funds.
Mr. Holt asked that Mr. Friedman contact Mr. Tompkins and go over to Spook
Hill to see if they could come up with a layout for this new equipment and also the wiille ball
area.
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ROBINSON LANE
Mr. Ennesser mentioned that when he was at the Recreation Conference he had
talked with a company about the installation of lights at Robinson Lane and he has since received
a packet from the Company. The cost for the hardware only for the Little League field is around
$40,125. and for the Big League field is approximately $89,425.
COURT OF HONOR
Mr. Miller mentioned that both he and Mr. Ennesser attended the Court of Honor
for the Eagle Scout Adam Damobid who did work for us at Reese Park to get his badge. The
event was held at the First Presbyterian Church on South Avenue. Mr. Ennesser mentioned that
Adam has made up a notebook which shows all his efforts and a copy will be given to the
Recreation Comm. and the Town Board.
Mr. Ennesser said that he has also talked with another scout regarding work for his
badge and gave him a list such as painting buildings at Spook Hill and Robinson, painting
dugouts, distribution of pea gravel under equipment, paint and stain bleachers as needed and was
told that he would like something more innovative that he could do on his own. Mr. Ennesser
suggested that he look at the various parks and come up with a project that he would like to do
and bring it back to the Commission. A suggestion was to make a footbridge at the Spook Hill
Park, or a lean-two building at Schlathaus Park, or shelter at Robinson Lane.
SPOOK HILL
Mrs. Vazquez mentioned that there has been some vandalism around the building.
There are wires hanging and soffits that have to be repaired. It was also suggested that the
building be painted prior to opening of the playgrounds. She also mentioned that the bridge has
been broken again and needs to be repaired.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Mr. Holt mentioned that the ceremony was held for Melissa Bisaccia and that the
plaque had been displayed on a easel. It still needs to be permanently displayed somewhere and in
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some manner. The Commission did not feel that this was our responsibility.
Mr. Holt also mentioned that the vent at the store was dripping grease and needs
to be replaced/corrected immediately. Mr. Tompkins has received a quote of$1,800.00 to have
this done and Little League has offered to pay half of this expense. Mr. Holt will speak with
Supervisor Smith and notify the Town Board.
The new Schlathaus signs have been approved and the P.O. has been obtained.
We still need to contact Sign Language to have them do the work.
A letter will be sent to the Town Board for their next meeting to have the paving
prep work done at Schlathaus Park.
The Nextel phones have been received and Bernie Roe will be holding a class in
the next week to familiarize everyone with how to use it.
There has been no further news on the progress of the new Community Center.
A discussion was held regarding rollerblading where it should go etc. A couple of
suggestions were to use the area at Martz Field along the side of the baseball field that is already
paved. A sign should be placed there stating "This Area for Rollerblading". Other suggestions
were to put it in the far comer at Rockingham or at Ye Olde Apple Orchard. Mr. Holt said that
wherever we put it, we will need a lot of parking.
Mr. Holt mentioned that the Town Board accepted our letter regarding the closing
of the Evans and Robinson Lane Playgrounds.
Mr. Holt made note that at the last Town Board meeting he was not reappointed
and that the appointment was tabled. It seems that a notice must be put in the paper asking for
anyone interested in being on the boards whenever a term expires.
The new bathroom at Robinson Lane is finished and is great. Everyone who
works in the store are pleased with it and they indicated that they would paint or paper the walls
inside. Mr. Holt will be writing a letter to Mr. Schnoor for all his efforts.
Mr. Holt mentioned that we still need maintenance help. We have only Steve
Tompkins, Bill Gallinger, and now Paul Endress is back on a limited basis to just mow and do
light work. Mr. Holt said that he hoped that Nick Butler would be back soon but Mrs. Roe
indicated that she thought that he was now working for a surveyor and was not planning on
returning. Mrs. Roe said the only response from the "Help Wanted" ads were from 2 young men
who came in to the office today. We will have to call them for an interview.
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Mrs. Roe mentioned that we have had a request from a parent for relief for her
child to go to the playground, tennis and basketball. The family is going through a divorce and
the mother has to find another place to live and is not able to pay for the child to go to these
functions. She mentioned that she would like to keep the child with her friends during the
summer. It was voted to allow relief for this child to attend. Mr. Friedman suggested that
maybe we can ask the parent to do something else in return.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m. on a motion by Mr. Miller seconded by
Mr. Ennesser.
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