2001-12-04
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RECREATION COMM. MEETING
DECEMBER 4, 2001
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
PRESENT: RJ.H., KD., S.L., lC., lE., RF., E.K, S.M. IV.
APPROVE MINUTES - November 5,2001 Approved
Corrections:
Seconded
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE
CORRESPONDENCE
1. Letter to Mrs. DeLisa from the Association for Senior Citizens, Inc. asking for help to defray
the cost of printing. and distributing the Senior Resource Calendar.
2. Letter from T/O/W Planning Board regarding a meeting on the Cranberry Hills Recreation
Lands.
REPORTS
KD.
E.K
S.L.
S.M.
I.C.
IV.
I.E.
RIll.
R.F.
OLD BUSINESS - Christmas Party
Gymnastics program
Cell Sites
NEW BUSINESS - Bus trips
MEETING ADJOURNED
NEXT MEETING
RECREATION COMM. MINUTES
DECEMBER 4, 2001
NEXT MEETING JANUARY 8, 2002
The regular meeting of the Town of Wappinger Recreation Corom. was held on
December 4,2001 at Schlathaus Park, All Angels Hill Road, Town of Wappinger, Dutchess
County, New York.
The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Ralph 1. Holt with the
following persons present: Kathi DeLisa, Senior Citizen Director, Commission Members, James
Chappas, Joseph Ennesser, Ronald Friedman, Ellen Korz, Stephen Miller. Recreation Director
Stephen Lowery and Joanne Vazquez arrived later.
The minutes of the November 4, 2001 meeting were approved on a motion by
Mr. Friedman seconded by Mr. Ennesser.
OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE - November 2001
1. Fax to Cablevision News regarding the Elks Parties
2. Fax to Poughkeepsie Journal regarding the Elks Parties
3. Letter to Wappinger Plaza Liquors thanking them for their assistance for the Elks at parties
and inviting Mr. SHinsky to one of the parties.
4. Memo to Town Board requesting P.O. for Dutchess Metal for $3,000. for metal plates for
Boat Ramp.
5. Invitation was sent to Supervisor and Town Board members to attend Christmas Tree Lighting
on December 2nd at 5:00 p.m. at Schlathaus.
6. Letter to Supervisor Connie Smith inviting her to attend the Seniors Elks Parties on Dec. 5
and 11.
7. Memo to Whom it may concern from Mr. Ennesser regarding Thomas Vitolo's candidacy for
Eagle Scout.
8. Letter sent by Mr. Ennesser to Helena Andreyko of the Hudson River Foundation regarding
the grant for the boat ramp.
CORRESPONDENCE
1. A letter was received from the Association for Senior Citizens, Inc. asking for help to defray
the cost of printing and distributing this year's calendar. It was noted that we cannot donate
public funds.
2. A letter was received from Barbara Roberti, Planning Board Secretary stating that on
December 3,2001 the Planning Board will discuss the disposition of the Cranberry Hills
subdivision's recreation center and pool. They will be discussing whether the recreation lands
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December 4,2001
should be made available to the residents of the entire town or remain private within the
association of the subdivision.
SENIOR CITIZEN REPORT
Mrs. DeLisa handed out a report on the Senior Activities for the month of November.
This report is attached to these minutes.
She also handed out a report she received when she attended a meeting at the Office of the
Aging. This report is also attached to these minutes and gives numbers which represents the
changes in the 60+ population between 1990 and 2000 by municipality. This report gives a lot of
statistical information that is very interesting.
She also mentioned that there is lumber left which was used by the Seniors on their
Community Day Float and it was decided that it could be stored in the basement at Schlathaus.
ROBINSON LANE AND LITTLE LEAGUE
Mr. Chappas mentioned that he has spoken to Mr. Farrell and there is not much going on
at this time with Little League and Robinson Lane. He also said that East Fishkill does not run a
"Little League Program" but a "Babe Ruth Program" so the person in question can enroll his 5
year old in the Wappinger Little League Program.
DOCKS
Mr. Ennesser reported that the blacktopping at the boat ramp has been done and we will
do some finishing touches in the Spring. A packet has been forwarded to the Hudson River
Foundation with information and copies of the bills for the work that has been completed on the
boat ramp. He has requested that we be given the remaining grant monies to bring this project to
a completion.
We have the approval from the Town Board for the panels for the ramp. Mr. Ennesser
will follow up on this project.
REESE PARK
Mr. Ennesser mentioned that he and Mr. Tompkins picked up all the materials for the
bridge and trails. They are suppose to be delivering the stone and ground cover for the trail work
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December 4,2001
today. He contacted Adam Denabe, who is now away at school, about a proposed layout for a
pavilion for Reese Park and found that his brother Mark is now going for his Eagle Scout and
may pick up the project in the Spring.
Mr. Ennesser has a report from Chris Iverson for Reese Park and he will put a covering
letter on it and forward it to everyone.
Mr. Ennesser gave a write up to Mr. Lowery for Reese Park and the programs there
for the 2002 guide.
He also has been investigating the property just outside of Reese park (where the retaining
wall collapsed) and he found out who owned it. They are suppose to call him in the next couple
of days and they might be interested in selling it.
PERSONNEL POLICY
Mr. Friedman asked about what happened regarding the holiday pay for the part time
employees and Mr. Holt said that it was brought up at the Town Board meeting and was
scheduled for a workshop meeting.
SCHLATHAUSPARK
Mr. Friedman asked if the problem with the bridge club moving furniture and answering
the phone had been cleared up and Mr. Holt said that he had spoken with Henrietta MacDonald
about this and hopefully the problems will be corrected. The bridge club also mentioned that the
bridge table were used by the summer program and were brought back with paint on them and
they got paint on their cards and supplies.
Mr. Holt mentioned that the water at Schlathaus is terrible. It is dirty and smells really
bad. We will try to get Camo over for some suggestions.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Everyone was thanked for their help at the Christmas Party. It was the largest crowd ever
and we estimate that we gave out about 250 ornaments to the children. Soccer said that they
gave out about 600 cups of hot chocolate. The 10 gallons of cider went and almost all of the 600
donuts. Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lustig of Soccer did a great job as well as Mary Passes and Karen
Roberto of Little League. Ellen Korz, Ronald Friedman and Regina Waldron and their crew did a
fine job giving out the refreshments. Steve Miller, Bernie Roe, Dennis Lasowski and one of Mr.
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December 4, 2001
Lowery's students did a great job of parking all of the cars and of course a big THANK YOU
goes to Mr. Chappas (Santa) as he really had a big job talking to all those children. Everyone
said that they heard many positive comments about the party. Others who were there and helped
were Ralph Holt, Sylvia Holt, Joe and Eileen Ennesser, Kathi DeLisa, Stephen Lowery, Mary
Jane Holt, Peggy Roe and Councilman Joseph Ruggiero. Supervisor Smith was there to light the
Christmas Tree and the Hudson Valley Council Band provided the music.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
Mr. Holt mentioned that he attended the Planning Board meeting on December 3rd
regarding the Cranberry Development which will consist of about 232 - 240 houses. On the plan
there is an area of2.7 acres where they are planning to build a pool and tennis courts. Their
ground rules were that this would be only for the residents of Cranberry. Mr. Holt said that he
did not agree with that proposal. We believe that we have worked effectively with the present
policy and procedures that we either get a percentage ofland or we get $1,500. a lot. We should
be in a position to use that money to do something to enhance recreation for all the residents of
the town to enjoy. We would be talking somewhere between $350,000 to $370,000.
The second part of this discussion was that on the map there was land that they referred to
as land for passive recreation. They mentioned that they would throw that in for the Town for
recreation. When Mr. Holt asked what he meant by passive recreation he was told that the land
is hilly and could be used for RV's etc. Mr. Holt said that we have R.V problems at various other
parks already. A discussion was held and it was suggested that the Town just take the property.
Mr. Holt said that if we received the land we will be responsible for it and he would suggest that
the developers just enlarge the lots. Finally the Planning Board agreed with this suggestion. The
Planning Board will now go to the Town Board suggesting that the Recreation Comm. get the
money and that the passive recreation area will be given back to the developers so that they can
enlarge the lots for the property owners. Mr. Friedman suggested that a letter should be sent to
the Town Board on behalf of the Commission that we all agree with the above suggestions.
2. Mr. Holt mentioned that there is another subdivision of 18 houses coming in off
Vorndran Drive. We will not get any land for this development since it is so small. He
mentioned that many of the residents of that area attended this meeting with questions regarding
the water problems. They were worried about the slope of the land affecting the drainage. Mr.
Friedman suggested that when the time came we could ask the developer to do some of the
upgrading i.e. installation of new equipment etc. at one of the nearby parks like Martz.
3. Mr. Holt mentioned that another subdivision, called Shamrock Estates, will be built
on Old Hopewell Road by the Kendall Farms Subdivision. The developer is Frank Buyokowski
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December 4,2001
and he mentioned that when they build this subdivision they would like to give us land but not on
Old Hopewell but possibly on Airport Drive adjacent to Airport Park. It is estimated that it
would about 10 acres. Mr. Holt was asked ifhe would be agreeable to this and he said only if the
land was usable and if it was equal to what we would have gotten at Shamrock.
4. Mr. Holt said that the men have been busy painting and this fall they painted Spook
Hill, Martz Field and the dugouts at Robinson Lane. We no sooner painted Martz and the
building was marked up.
5. The construction of the three dugouts are underway at Robinson Lane.
6. There will be a swearing in ceremony on January 1, 2002 and recreation will be
working on the committee to set this up. Mr. Holt will be Master of Ceremonies. Invitations will
be going out to all employees. Judge Pagones will do the actual swearing in.
7. Mr. Holt mentioned that the Town might be looking for a grant writer.
8. We will follow up on the sink hole at the entrance to Rymer.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Lowery mentioned that the concerts for 2002 are booked but he hasn't heard from
West Point. He is hoping that they will be available to do a concert on June 10th at Schlathaus
using Ketcham as the rain site. He is planning concerts on Thursdays and every other Sunday.
The following is the proposed schedule:
Thursday, June 27th
Thursday, July 4th
Thursday, July 11 th
Sunday, July 14th
Thursday, July 18th
Sunday, July 2pt
Thursday, July 25th
Sunday, July 28th
Thursday, Aug. 1st
Thursday, Aug. 8th
Final Touch
The Hot Rod Band 3 p.m.
Thunder Ridge 8 p.m.
The Klassics
Johnny Dell and Nite Life
The Bearcats
George FletcherlHandsome Men
Stonehaven
The Hot Rod Band
Bob Martinson Trio
The Klassics
Mr. Lowery mentioned that the Recreation Guide should be in the mail in the next week
or so. He would like each member to review it so that he can get as much information in it as
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December 4, 2001
possible to decrease the amount ofTBA's. Mr. Friedman asked ifhe had put Halloween back on
Sunday and Mr. Lowery said that he had. He mentioned that he would like to put in that NO
REFUNDS AFTER PROGRAM STARTS and no ope was in against that.
Mr. Lowery discussed the registration dates and mentioned that he would like to do
Friday nights (the last Friday in April the 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 and Saturday the 27th from 9 -
12. A second registration on Friday May 10th from 7 -9 and Saturday, May 11 from 9 - 12. A
late registration on Wednesday June 13 or so. It was stated that we to have the late registration
early enough to get all the paperwork done.
Since school gets out so late in June there was a discussion on when we would be able to
start the summer programs. It was decided that we would start on Thursday, June 27th and run
until August 9th.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he would like to review the salaries for the playgrounds at the
next meeting. Mr. Holt asked him to write up a proposal and let each member review it so it can
be discussed.
A discussion was also held regarding the requirements that we would require for the
registration for the programs. We need to make sure that each parent/guardian registers only
their own children and that they are Town of Wappinger residents. Mr. Miller suggested that
they should have to bring in a birth certificate and proof of residence. Another suggestion was to
start a photo 1.0. Mr. Miller also suggested that we ask each child what school he attends.
There is a concern about having the doors left open at Schlathaus when we have a
program going on in the park.. A couple of times we have found people in to use the phone or
rest rooms with no one from recreation with them.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he is still working on the family programs trying to find new
acts.
Mr. Lowery mentioned that he had received a call from Marge at Aristocrat Tours stating
that she could get tickets for us for the Broadway show "Beauty and the Beast" at a cost of
$75.00 per ticket. After a discussion, we felt that was too expensive and we were not sure we
could fill the bus. It was decided that we would not do this trip. Mr. Lowery will call Marge to
let her know.
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December 4,2001
The following are the trips that he has been working on for 2002:
Mohegan Sun for March 24
Yankee/Mets Game in June
Foxwood Casino in July
Saratoga Raceway in August
Mohegan Sun in October
Christmas Carol in Nov.
Army/Navy Game first Sat in December
The target dates for the wiflle-ball program would be May/June and for flag football for
September. These will be a pilot program and if they don't go we won't do it next year.
Mrs. Vazquez will be looking to get information on the roller hockey etc.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Miller seconded by Mr.
Ennesser.
Peggy Roe
Recreation Secretary
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