1993-11-10
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QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
NOVEMBER 10, 1993
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury, held Wednesday, November 10, 1993, at the
Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman
Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Auer, Carusone, Hersh, LaBombard,
Maine, Schachner and Simmonds
ALSO
PRESENT:
Councilwoman Monahan, Director Hansen and Ass' t.
Director Lovering
ABSENT:
None.
VISITORS:
Bob Eddy, Pete Watkins & Marcel Demers
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Carusone moved to approve the minutes of the September
8th and October 13, 1993 meetings. Commissioner Hersh seconded the
motion and after polling all commissioners, the motion was
unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS/REMARKS FROM VISITORS
Chairman Simmonds introduced Mark Schachner and welcomed him as the
newest member of the Recreation Commission.
Chairman Simmonds welcomed the representatives of the Friends of
Hovey Pond group (FHP) and invited Mr. Eddy to introduce his
associates and then address the Commission. He highlighted the
group's plans for the park and along with the Director detailed the
revised plans (new location) for the flowerbed/botanical garden
which is scheduled to be created next spring. There was
considerable discussion regarding the pros and cons of the two
possible sites still under consideration (botanical garden
location) and it was explained that the Director was scheduled to
make a formal presentation on behalf of the project, to the fire
company board of directors. There was also discussion/difference
of opinion on the fire company's knowledge of the project proposal
and it was pointed out that the fire company president (B.
Westcott) had been in possession of the site map for the garden
since mid-October.
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The situation concerning park benches was discussed next and B.
Eddy admitted that his group had been in error in that they ordered
the benches before receiving the Commission's approval.
Nonetheless, twelve benches were ordered, have been received and
are ready to be installed at the park. Chairman Simmonds mentioned
that a number of Commissioners had looked at the two benches behind
the firehouse and were concerned about their construction and the
fact that they were portable. Mr. Demers explained how his group
choose this particular type of bench and mentioned that he could
build a concrete pad under each bench to make it a permanent
structure. The Director reiterated that in his opinion the FHP
benches were of a type and quality (2" x 4" pine) which were more
conducive to home use than in a public park. Furthermore, if the
FHP group had coordinated and communicated more closely with the
Commission/Department, there would have been no need for this
meeting discussion. There was further discussion on a number of
related subjects including the possibility of utilizing the benches
at an alternate location, making portable benches permanent and the
impact of portable benches on park maintenance and vandalism. Mr.
Demers disagreed with the Commission's concerns and reiterated that
he would be responsible for the benches including their
installation and annual maintenance (re-staining). The Director
thanked him for his community spirit, but pointed out that it did
not change the fact that the benches in question were of the
homeowner variety (6' bench, using 2" x 4" pine coated with redwood
stain) and not the kind usually installed in a park. A number of
Commissioners also expressed apprehension, but after further
discussion, it was the consensus that because of the circumstances
(benches donated), the twelve benches should be installed at the
park in the spring. However, with regard to other donations and/or
proposals for the park, the Commission reaffirmed that the FHP
group would have to communicate with the Commission first before
making any decisions. This included the purchase of any more
benches or for that matter any structure that the group (FHP) hoped
to see installed at the Hovey Pond Park site.
Chairman Simmonds thanked the three guests for their input and
suggested that a representative (FHP) plan on attending future
meetings in order to keep the lines of communication open.
The Director briefly reviewed the items of correspondence included
in the monthly packet (Girard property letter and colored map).
There was also discussion with regard to the Halfway Brook property
which subdivision developer Garth Allen is considering dedicating
to the Town/Department. It was agreed that the Commission should
view the property firsthand and the Director was instructed to
coordinate a tour of the site on Monday, December 15, at 11:30 a.m.
The Commission also discussed the Supervisor's memo (Hovey Pond
dedication) and it was agreed that a short afternoon ceremony in
early December would be ideal. Sunday, December 5th at 1:00 p.m.
was selected and the Chairman and Director will design an
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invitation and compile a list of those to be invited.
The Commission reviewed the updated list of all Commissioners and
their were a number of address corrections and phone number
changes. A corrected list will be distributed after the first of
the year.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
Ass't. Director Lovering reviewed the monthly report and
highlighted some of the fall childrens programs which had just
concluded. He also previewed some of the winter programs and there
was discussion on the new rock climbing classes which are being co-
sponsored by the Department and Rocksport.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:23 p.m. The next meeting will be held on December
8, 1993, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Supervisor's conference
room (#37), at the Queensbury Town Office Building.
b){.~
I~arron M. S mmonds, Chairman
Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen