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RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, July 16,2009
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NEXT MEETING, AUGUST 5, 2009
The regular meeting of the Town of Wappinger Recreation Commission was held
July 16, 2009 at Schlathaus Park, 126 All Angels Hill Road, Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Ralph J. Holt, with the
following persons present: Kay VonReyn, Senior Director, Jaclyn Smith, Recreation
Director and Commission Members Gary Trudell, Uma Satyendra and Bruce Lustig.
The minutes from the June 2009 meeting were approved with no corrections.
OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE:
1. A memo was sent to the Town Board for revisions to Resolution # 2009-206 with
position and salary changes for our summer programs. This was approved at the
June 8, 2009 Town Board meeting.
2. Letters were sent to Mid-Hudson Fence and A-I Fence thanking them for their
bids for the dugout fencing for three fields at Robinson Lane. We advised them
that this project would be revisited in the fall. Mr. Holt stated that earlier in the
year Supervisor Colsey asked that we have fencing put up to close off the dugouts
at Robinson Lane. The estimates that came back were prohibitive. Mr. Holt has
been asked to see ifhe could come up with a plan that would be more affordable.
3. A letter was sent to Colonial Builders informing them that their bid was accepted
for the dugout on SL2 at Robinson Lane and that they could start as soon as
possible. Several phone calls were also made to Colonial. Confirmation was
received by Gary Mensching and work will begin the week of July 20th.
4. Letters were sent to LaMondo Construction and Donaldson Construction stating
that their bids were not accepted for the dugout on SL2 at Robinson Lane.
5. A memo was sent to Supervisor Colsey requesting the repair of the aerator at
Applesauce Pond as well as the addition of $400 worth of fish for the pond.
Repair is estimated at $500 to $1000 (a new one would cost $4000) and the fish
work with the aerators to control the algae in the pond. For the future, Mr. Holt
would like to consider asking the residents to purchase the fish as they have in
past years with an explanation of the optimal functioning of the pond.
6. A letter was sent to Joseph DeAngelo from the Senior Center informing him that
his grandmother's unfinished afghan, which he donated to the center, was
completed by Rose Tolar, one of our seniors. An offer was made to return it to
him for their family's use.
7. Thank you notes were sent from Kay V onReyn to Councilman Beale, Inez
Maldonado, Marion Trudell and Ralph and Sylvia Holt for their help with the
Senior's 21 st anniversary picnic.
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8. A memo (Status Report) was sent to the Town Board members covering our
personnel, payroll and financial status and needs. Mr. Holt outlined in the letter
the hope that with the 2010 budget we would have ample personnel during the
winter months so that our equipment would be ready in the spring when it is
needed. Mr. Holt asked that a copy of that report be forwarded to each member of
the commission.
INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE
1. A field usage request was received from Jade Fernandez asking for the use of
Spook Hill Park for a family reunion. She expects between 100 and 150 people,
and intends to set up a bouncy house. She has requested use for August 15th from
lOam to 5 pm. She has supplied a certificate of insurance for the proper amount
of coverage. She needs a determination so that she can send out invitations. Mr.
Holt stated that Mr. Roberts is looking into the situation as we cannot close a
public park for a private party.
2. As a result of the June 8, 2009 Town Board Meeting the following resolutions
have been approved:
a. 2009-209 - The movement of funds within the Recreation accounts to
cover needed expenses.
b. 2009-211 - Approval to seek bids with regard to the Robinson Lane water
system.
c. 2009-212 - Approval to seek bids for the resurfacing of the Tennis Courts
at Pye Lane. Mr. Holt stated that hopefully the estimates for the water at
Robinson Lane and the Tennis courts would be in within the week.
d. 2009-219 - Replacement of park custodian Theresa DeRosa with Tom
McKinney to clean Castle Point, Reese Park and the Highway building.
e. 2009-220 - Acceptance of volunteer work to be done by Gary Trudell at
Carnwath and Robinson Lane. Mr. Trudell has been supplied with a small
mower to help maintain the grass at Carnwath. Bob Sheridan made sure
that Mr. Trudell was properly trained in the use of the equipment. Mr.
Holt also mentioned the column that Mr. Trudell is writing for the
Southern Dutchess News and states that it is making many people aware
of this beautiful property.
f. 2009-221 - Authorizing a regular column in the Southern Dutchess News
to be written by Gary Trudell covering events at Carnwath Farms.
g. 2009-222 - Authorizing the installation of a vending machine at Carnwath
3. A memo was received from Supervisor Colsey stating that Jim Chapp as, Gary
Trudell and Bruce Lustig have been approved for another term on the Recreation
Commission.
4. A letter was received from Al Roberts to the Supervisor (CC to Ralph Holt)
regarding the referencing of the Recreation Commission versus the Recreation
Committee. Mr. Holt stated that Chris Masterson, Town Clerk, called him and
indicated that he found information from 1960 that designated this Recreation
Board as a commission. At it's last meeting, the Town Board held a vote and Mr.
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Holt feels that we will now be called a committee. A Commission is limited to
seven people. Mr. Beale felt that it would be an advantage to have extra people
come in and help with certain projects and then leave therefore changing our
status to a committee. One of the people that they had in mind was Bill Bitterlich
of the Wappingers Rotary. Mr. Bitterlich is leading a group that is repairing the
bleachers at Robinson Lane. Mr. Holt continued explaining that when you are
appointed to a commission it is for a five-year term. With a committee, the Town
Board has a right to add to or take people off the committee.
5. A letter was received from Marshall & Sterling deleting the '88 Dodge and the
'93 Ford from our insurance coverage. The two new recreation trucks had already
been insured. Mr. Holt has been asked to have the new trucks at the Town Hall
for photos to be taken by the local papers with captions stating the fuel efficiency
of these new vehicles.
6. A letter was received from the WCSD, once again inviting us to the RCK annual
Career Day to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Copy given to Jackie Smith.
7. A memo was sent to Councilman Bettina from Ralph Holt, per his request,
outlining our thoughts for a new Senior Facility and our thoughts on the use of the
Fishkill facility for our seniors. Mr. Holt ran through the past options for a new
center including Carnwath, which had accessibility issues, the Emergency
Services building where either the seniors would move or building and zoning
would move and the center would take over their space or, most recently, the joint
center with the Village of Wappingers proposed by Mayor Matt Alexander. The
Mayor was seeking a stimulus package of$l,OOO,OOO.OO (one-million dollars)
toward the building of that center. Originally, the Town was asked to pay
$3,500.00 (half of the $7,000.00 feasibility study) to proceed. The Town Board
voted against this. Now the feasibility study will cost $10,000.00 and the village
is proceeding with its plans. Mr. Holt and Kay V onReyn sent a letter to the
members of the Town Board with their views on the subject. Mr. Holt said that it
will be many, many years before an opportunity like this arose again, if ever.
8. A memo was received from Chris Masterson requesting that the large meeting
room be set up for the Rabies Clinic on August 22,2009.
9. The itinerary for the July 13, 2009 Town Board Meeting was received with the
following resolutions to be presented.
a. 2009-226 - Reappointment of Commission members (as stated)
APPROVED
b. 2009-232 - Accepting Park/Recreation Land with Blackwatch Subdivision
off Robinson Lane. - APPROVED. Mr. Holt stated that in the past when
either property or money was coming to Recreation because of new
construction the details were given to the commission to evaluate and send
a letter of recommendation to the Town Board for the use of the property
or the use of the funds. In past cases the commission has recommended
asking for funds in lieu of accepting the land. If the land being given is
property that needs to be maintained, it would mean additional work for
our already understaffed Maintenance crew.
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c. 2009-233 - Accepting land for Open Space, Parkland and Recreation use
with Woods Edge Subdivision APPROVED. Mr. Holt questions why we
were not made aware of these last two resolutions.
d. 2009-239 - Authorizing OCFS funding. (Learn to Swim Grant)
e. 2009-243 - Appointing seasonal recreation employees. (Revision to
original resolution due to changes, additions and deletions to our summer
playground payroll.) -APPROVED.
10. An e-mail was received from Denise Pacheco asking for a refund for her two children
attending our Summer Playground Program. They attended several times, including a
trip to Fun Central. The son complained of being bullied by other campers and was no
longer interested in attending the camp. The commission agreed that no refund would be
given but that Jackie Smith would be made aware of the incident and a suggestion would
be made to the mother to switch her children to another camp.
RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Holt asked Ms. Smith if she would like to begin as she has a concert going on
at this time. Jackie Smith stated that camps were going fairly well. There have been a
few fights and we have followed through with notifying the parents of the children about
our suspension system ifit should happen again. Joe Mitchell of the Dept. of Health
checks the camps unannounced on a regular basis and found a child's inhaler not locked
up in the lock box. This was written up by Mr. Mitchell and a meeting will be held with
the directors and counselors of Spook Hill explaining the importance of diligence
regarding medications. An accident occurred on Friday when a child cut his chin. The
wound was cleaned and bandaged and a report was sent to the Dept. of Health. He was
back in camp on Monday. Our Summer Basketball Clinic begins next week and is being
taught by Ryan Leone. We will use one of our counselors as his assistant as no one else
is available. Fishing and Tennis are doing well. We had to cancel the first session of
Fishing due to low registration but we have four weeks with full registrations.
Mr. Holt mentioned it was time to begin thinking about the End-of-Summer
Picnic for the camp children. Ms. Smith said that she has already started to price out the
bouncy house, snow cone machine and cotton candy maker. She will also look into a DJ
for the event. Mr. Holt is writing a letter to ask for donations from Stop & Shop,
ShopRite and Hannaford for the picnic food. The picnic will be held on Tuesday, August
11 tho Mrs. Manning asked for volunteers to help serve the food and drinks. Mrs.
Manning and Stephanie Kovalsky will be there along with Ralph and Sylvia Holt, Gary
and Marion Trudell and Bruce and Pat Lustig. Joe and Eileen Ennesser will also be
asked if they would be able to assist.
Mr. Holt also asked that the information boards at Schlathaus be kept updated
with past events taken down in a timely fashion.
Finally, Ms. Smith wanted to thank Recreation for the donation of the fields at
Robinson Lane for the Smith- Castellano Tournament.
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GARY TRUDELL'S REPORT
Mr. Trudell began by indicating that he has received permission to run weekly
articles in the Southern Dutchess News. The fifth article appeared this week with
pictures of the garden area. The small mower that was placed at Carnwath was returned
due to a defect and a new one was received. This prompted Mr. Sheridan to supply Mr.
Trudell with a larger mower to handle the task properly.
The drink vending machine has been installed near the Sports Museum at
Carnwath. The concern is that the building cannot be left open all day, but only when
someone is there to monitor the flow of traffic. Mr. Trudell will lock the door to the
chapel so that no one will be able to enter the exhibit hall. There was additional
discussion about the ongoing problems with unlocked doors, lights being left on and
ATV's and snowmobiles being on the property illegally. Mr. Holt has felt all along that a
caretaker on the property should be seriously considered.
Signs have now been placed on the gates at Carnwath designating it as a park.
Mr. Trudell states that there seems to be more police presence from the State Police and
Sheriffs Office. The articles in the paper, and the beautification of the property, has had
a great deal to do with the additional visitors to Carnwath. Mr. Holt mentioned that
planning for a "2nd Annual Winterfest" should begin as soon as possible. Sleigh rides
were suggested for the 2010 event.
The 6"x6"x8' timbers and cement for the viewing areas on the trail are in the
Carriage House, the garbage receptacles should be in any day, the trail signs are in and
Bob Sheridan was asked to pick up the metal posts that the signs will go on. Mr. Trudell
suggests that once all the materials are gathered, he would like to put a notice in the
Carnwath column asking for help with the completion of these projects.
The bank at Carnwath has been planted with flowers and turned into a beautiful
site. The hard work ofthe ladies who volunteered for this project has really paid off.
Trevor North and his scout troop have started work on the Nature Trail. Mr.
Trudell stated that he could not believe how much they accomplished in one day. The
trail was completely cleared from the roadway by the gazebo down to the meadow in the
back. Not only did he clear the trail but he also brought the debris to the recycling center.
Mr. Holt suggested that the gazebo be stained to give a better look to the entrance of the
trail. Mr. Trudell also suggested that the screening on the gazebo be replaced by
volunteers.
On July 18th the Mid-Hudson Rowing Assn. is giving the first in a series of
lectures in the chapel at Carnwath on the "History of Rowing" at 1 :00 pm.
Mr. Trudell has been discussing having a Geo-Cacheing event at Carnwath. A
cache is hidden on the property and the longitude and latitude are listed on the website.
Participants then use their GPS's to locate the cache and then list their names and the date
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that the cache was found. Many people have commented very favorably on the grounds
with many commenting that they had no idea the park was there and are happy that they
discovered it.
Mr. Trudell said that he visited both Martz Field and Spook Hill during the first
week of camps and found a low attendance ratio to the number of children signed up for
these camps. He suggested that possibly when school lets out the first thing a family
does is get away and upon returning has their children attend camp. He suggests that we
might consider starting the camp a week later. Mr. Holt pointed out the hiring of
counselors is based on the number of registrations we receive, but we never know how
many children will show up on anyone day. Mrs. Manning pointed out that before Scott
Cheney left as Recreation Director he had suggested that there be a one-week lag
between school closing and the start of camps. Not only for the reason given above but
also because many of our Directors are teachers and would appreciate not having to go
right into the camp season. This would then make the camp season six (6) weeks long.
Upon visiting Quiet Acres, Mr. Trudell was pleasantly surprised to see the amount
of activity going on there. He feels the counselors are doing an excellent job keeping the
children active.
UMA SATYENDRA'S REPORT
Ms. Satyendra had no report but reminded us that last year at the end-of-summer
picnic some children were vegetarians and could we have a few veggie burgers.
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