1993-09-08
,
\,
,
QUEENS BURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
)
SEPTEMBER 8, 1993
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury, held Wednesday, September 8, 1993, at the
Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman
Simmonds called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Auer, Carusone, Hersh, LaBombard,
Maine and Simmonds
ALSO
PRESENT:
Director Hansen
ABSENT:
None.
VISITORS:
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Maine moved to approve the minutes of the July 14,
1993 meeting. Commissioner Hersh seconded the motion and after
polling all commissioners, the motion was unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
Chairman Simmonds briefly reviewed the five items of correspondence
pertaining to the Hovey Pond project which appeared in a number of
local publications during the week of August 23rd. The Director
then pointed out those items which had been highlighted in the
articles because they were either incorrect or totally wrong. He
explained that except for calling the editor of the Glens Falls
Independent Living Center publication (Access), that he had done
nothing else to remedy the incorrect information. He had decided
that the situation with respect to the Friends of Hovey Pond group
(FHP) had escalated to the point that responding to the articles,
through the media, would have been counterproductive. Furthermore,
he felt the Recreation Commission, as the appointed controlling
authority for the project, should now get involved.
The Chairman mentioned that at the July meeting, she had been
directed, to contact the FHP group (M.L. Gosline), with respect to
the benches and the bandstand. At that meeting, the Commission had
decided to request additional information before responding to the
FHP request to consider these possible park facilities. Prior to
that, the Commission had drafted a letter (4/21/93), reiterating
the Commission's position and also outlining in some detail the
direction in which the FHP group could proceed. A number of
2
Commissioners agreed that the April 1993 letter had been "totally
overlooked" and that the group (FHP) seemed to be operating on
their own. Chairman Simmonds confirmed that the group had, through
legal channels, set themselves up to solicit and receive funds on
behalf of the Hovey Pond project. The Director mentioned that the
Town attorney had a problem (possible impropriety), in that the FHP
group were, for the most part also members of the Beautification
Committee of the Town. As members of that committee they were "so
called Town officials" who, by law, were not permitted to solicit
funds. Here again, the group (FHP ) was acting on their own,
independently of the Town on a matter which ultimately would
require Town approval in the end (to accept solicited funds for the
purchase of equipment/supplies for a town project).
A number of commissioners were concerned over the press releases,
especially the accuracy of some of the information which was
mentioned, therein. There was also considerable discussion with
regard to the structure (gazebo vs. bandstand), being proposed by
the FHP group and, here again, the Department and the Commission
were leaning in one direction and the FHP group seemed to be
envisioning a different facility for a different reason. The
Director had no problem with a 80-100 sq. ft. gazebo similar to the
structure adjacent to the Meineke Muffler Shop on Lafayette Street.
However, a 400 sq. ft. bandstand for concerts as well as other
large crowd events, (being proposed by the FHP group) was
inappropr iate for Hovey Pond Park. A structure that large
including the events envisioned by the FHP group are completely out
of character with the size and nature of this small 10-acre park.
After further discussion it was agreed that the Commission was
obligated to draft a letter to explain and further delineate their
(the Commission's) position with regard to the park. Commissioner
Carusone and Chairman Simmonds volunteered to draft the letter not
only thanking the FHP group for their park efforts, but also
reiterating the Department/Commission's need for communication and
coordination in all areas regarding the park. Here again, the
Commission was not in favor of chastising the FHP group, but rather
hoped to convince them that their future plans and efforts at the
park could only corne to fruition, if they worked together with the
Commission/Department and not independently. There was discussion
as to whether a follow-up meeting with both groups was necessary
and the majority felt, at this time this (a meeting) was not
warranted. However, the Commission was adamant that nothing should
go on at the park without prior notification to and/or coordination
with the Department. In addition, they instructed the Director to
continue work at the facility in accordance with the plans/budget
approved by the Town Board at their August '92 meeting.
3
LARD ACQUISITION DISCUSSION
The Director briefly highlighted the circumstances surrounding the
2.42 parcel of property on the south side of Cronin Road, which is
being offered for dedication in lieu of the recreation fee by J.
Girard. The acreage is on the west side of Halfway Brook and abuts
(small corner) the 10-acre Town parcel (Randerson property). The
Commission walked the site (marshy and quite wet), in 1992 and
considering that the Department would only glean $500 (2 lot
subdivision), the parcel in this case would seem to be the better
"bargain." The Commission agreed and the Director will relay the
information to the J. Martin, Planning & Community Development
Department.
The Director reminded everyone that the 8:00 p.m., Joint Planning
Board, Town Board and Recreation Commission workshop was underway
next door in the Activity Center and inasmuch as there was no
further business, the regular Commission meeting was adjourned at
8:06 p.m. The next meeting will be held on October 13, 1993,
beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Supervisor's meeting room (#37), at
the Queensbury Town Office Building.
~~an
Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen