1996-12-03
QUEENS BURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 3, 1996
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury held Tuesday, December 3, 1996, at the
Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman
Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Auer, Carusone, Hersh, LaBombard,
Maine, Schachner and Simmonds
ALSO
PRESENT:
Director Hansen
ABSENT:
None
VISITORS:
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Maine made a motion seconded by Commissioner Schachner
to approve the minutes of the November 5, 1996 meeting. There were
no corrections and the minutes were unanimously approved by voice
vote.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REMARKS FROM VISITORS
The Commission briefly reviewed the items of correspondence
included in the monthly packet and there were no further comments.
1996 YEAR END DISCUSSION/REVIEW AND BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Chairman Simmonds briefly outlined the Commission's intent with
regard to this evenings "where have we been and where are we going"
session and the Director was requested to summarize the
Department's performance in 1996. He explained that he was proud
of the Department, especially in terms of the leisure time services
(programs and facilities) which were offered in 1996. However, he
also mentioned his major disappointment was that the Department/
Commission had collectively "dropped the ball" and not been able to
push through the expansion plans for Gurney Lane and Ridge/
Jenkinsville Parks. There was discussion on the services/
facilities available at these park sites and the consensus was that
although both parks were well used they both were underdeveloped.
The Director also briefly detailed the Department's program/
activity schedule as well as the situation with increased revenue
projections in 1997. There was discussion on program fees,
charges, budget accounts and revenue categories. The Director
reminded the Commission that he was in the process of analyzing the
present fee schedule and would be recommending substantial changes
for the future.
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There were comments on a possible spring fishing derby at Hovey
Pond and the Director agreed to attempt to conduct a derby this
coming year. There was discussion on ice-skating areas and it was
agreed that information on this activity as well as other program
information is not getting out to the public. The situation with
program publicity and marketing was discussed and it was agreed
that this area needed increased effort and improvement. Ideas
including paid advertisement as a means, of increasing publicity
were suggested and will be investigated further.
The possibility of corporate sponsorship of programs or facilities
was proposed and the Director will research the details and report
back. Generating revenues through Department co-sponsored
tournaments and special events was also suggested and, here again,
the Director will investigate and advise the Commission.
Future park expansion and development were also topics of
discussion and the consensus was that these projects needed to be
resurrected, reviewed and resubmitted.
The need for an updated park and recreation survey as a vehicle for
gathering viable community input was suggested. Such a document
would be beneficial in helping the Commission to evaluate present
programs and facilities as well as planning future park
development. The 1974 commission survey was briefly highlighted by
the Director and it was unanimously agreed that the Commission
should investigate developing a new survey.
There was considerable discussion by a number of commissioners on
how the Commission addresses and responds to comments or requests
by visitors who attend Commission meetings. It was agreed that all
such communication by commissioners should be public and even
though "difficult things II may have to be said, these things should
be said in open session to the individual or group in question.
The Director briefly mentioned information on the Town Christmas
party and the tentative schedule of 1997 Commission meeting dates
was reviewed and approved.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:42 p.m. The next meeting will be held on January 7,
1997, 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