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2000-01-04 QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 4, 2000 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the Town of Queensbury held Tuesday, January 4, 2000, at the Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Auer, Carusone, Hersh, LaBombard, Maine, Schachner and Simmonds ALSO PRESENT: Councilmen Tim Brewer, Jim Martin and Director Hansen ABSENT: None VISITORS: Roland Akins INTRODUCTIONS Chairman Simmonds welcomed the two Town Board members in attendance and each gave a brief synopsis of their respective goals and ideas with respect to parks and recreation. ANNJJAL ORGANIZATIØNAL MEETING - EI-ECTIQf" OF OFfJCERS In order to conduct the election of officers, the director temporarily assumed chairmanship of the meeting. He requested nominations for the position of chairman, vice chairman and secretary. It was moved and seconded (Schachner/Hersh) that Commissioner Simmonds be re-elected chairman and that Commissioner Carusone remain vice chairman (Maine/LaBombard). Commissioner LaBombard was also re- elected secretary (Hersh/Unknown) and the three nominations were all approved unanimously by voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Carusone made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Maine, to approve the minutes of the November 2, 1999 meeting. There were no corrections and the motion was approved by majority vote. (c. Schachner abstained) With regard to the December meeting, because the meeting was officially cancelled beforehand, it was suggested that the title "meeting minutes" be changed to more accurately reflect the actual situation. Therefore, the December minutes will be changed to indicate December Meeting Notes. The commission reviewed and approved the tentative meeting schedule for 2000. The schedule will be distributed to all parties concerned. The revised commission member/committee list was also distributed, and additions/corrections were noted. Commissioner Schachner explained that due to work conflicts, his attendance over the last half of 1999 was poor. He pointed out that similar conflicts should not occur with the same regularity in 2000, however, in spite of his desire to remain a member of the commission, if the situation continues, he would consider resignation. As an aside, Commissioners Maine and Schachner indicated that because of previous commitments, neither would be in attendance for the February meeting. COMMIlNICATIONS AND REMARKS FROM VISITORS The director reviewed the items of correspondence included in both the December and January meeting packets and there was discussion on Mr. Michael's letter and the No Hunting Resolution passed recently by the Town Board. Queensburv Little Leaaue (QLL) Discussion The board resolution and subsequent funding agreement between the town and the QLL was discussed and the director was questioned with regard to the $15,000. amount and how it could be spent. The commission expressed concern that the agreement only indicated that "the Little League will be able to offer a reduction in the registration fee". Their understanding, Based on Mr. Cozzen's presentation (November meeting), it was the commission's understanding that the league, if they were to receive funding by the town, had indicated a willingness to reduce league registration fees appreciably. However, based on the wording in the agreement, this was not specifically stated. The commission recommended that a revised resolution specifying the funding guidelines in -2- more detail, be adopted by the Town Board. Councilman Martin concurred that the resolution/agreement needed to be tightened-up and agreed to address the topic at the next board meeting. Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve (HPNP) Conservation Easement The director outlined the situation regarding Open Space Institute (OSI) and the HPNP and updated the commission on the status of the conservation easement (CE). He explained that the CE had been forwarded to the town in September 1999, but had not been approved and was in the process of being reviewed. He mentioned that the staff and the town counsel had reviewed the document and commented on a number of items including; content, unnecessary verbiage and the extent to which the easement restricts future recreational usage. There was further discussion and Councilman Martin (Community Development Director at the time of the project) provided additional project information as well as explaining the efforts to preserve and protect the Hudson Pointe property. Councilman Brewer also expressed his viewpoint on the preserve and explained that the property had limited access and was restricted further by the original management plan. There was discussion on instituting a town land trust board or agency that would be responsible to buy, hold and manage vacant/undeveloped "green space" property for the future. It was mentioned that a similar agency was in place in Saratoga and it was the consensus that implementing such as agency in Queensbury might be appropriate. There was concern about the agency's authority and whether this entity should be a separate authority with designated funding or part of the Recreation Commission. The commission agreed that this matter needs to be studied further before such a recommendation would be made to the Town Board. The commission also agreed that the situation with the HPNP conservation easement needed further evaluation. It was recommended that the director again redistribute all applicable HPNP materials (memos, agreements, management plan, etc.) to commissioners and that a decision about the CE be deferred until the February meeting. NEW BUSINESS Councilman Martin inquired about the status of the Recreation Commission Survey recommendations and the director relayed the past Town Board's comments. He also requested a copy of the survey including the commission's recommendations. Councilmen Brewer also inquired regarding bases for the softball field at Hudson River -3- Park. The director mentioned that bases had been installed earlier this year but will check their present status and report back to him. MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT The director presented a short verbal monthly department program update and also reported on the upcoming 1V 8 program showcasing the department, the tentative agreement with Joan Lentini to pictorially record department programs and the new snowshoe clinic to be presented in conjunction with the Adirondack Mountain Club, in March. There being no further business, the commission meeting was adjourned at 8:43 pm. The next meeting will be held on February 1, 2000, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Supervisor's Conference Room (#37), at the Queensbury Town Office Building. Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen, Director -4-