1992-11-04
QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
NOVEMBER 4, 1992
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury, held Wednesday, November 4, 1992, at the
Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman
Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Carusone,
Simmonds
Hersh,
Labombard and
ALSO
PRESENT:
Director Hansen and Ass't. Director Lovering
ABSENT:
Commissioners Auer and Labatore
VISITORS:
Jim Miller
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None
COMMUNICATIONS
Dr. Braico's (Trout Unlimited) letter was discussed briefly and it
was noted that the $811.76 check to reimburse the Town for the
purchase of the inlet pipe/valve had been deposited in the Hovey
Pond project account. Furthermore, a thank you letter similar to
those written and mailed previously by the Supervisor, was also
sent.
Chairman Simmonds introduced Jim Miller, (Miller Associates;
Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning firm), who then
outlined the Hovey Pond schematic landscape design plan which he
drafted and donated to the Department two weeks earlier. Jim
mentioned that he had been contacted (by the Director) in regard to
assisting the Department with planting trees and had subsequently
offered to voluntarily draft a landscape plan for the total park.
He relayed that he had been apprised by the Director and had toured
the facility, firsthand, prior to generating the sketch. Jim
summarized his design and explained many of the important park
facilities/areas including: the parking lot, the walking/bike
trail, the pedestrian bridge and a historic (time-line) area. He
explained and outlined his ideas with respect to planting trees and
other vegetation, the development of a variety of flower gardens,
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erosion control, creating passive as well as active park areas and
a means to effect pedestrian traffic flow within the park. Mr.
Miller concluded his presentation and then responded to the
Commission's questions on a multitude of park related items
including: the variety, quantity and location of trees he would
recommend be planted at the park, the effect of winter weather
(salt and snow), on park vegetation, park maintenance, lawn care,
a handicap accessible fishing site, fish stocking and overall park
aesthetics.
Chairman Simmonds thanked Mr. Miller for the sketch plan, his
presentation and especially for donating his time and efforts
assisting the Department (planting trees at the park). She then
described a number of Hovey Pond Park related events (phone calls,
letters, conversations, etc.), and indicated her growing concern
for the project. B. Eddy's letter was distributed and the Director
relayed the gist of his recent encounters with M. Gosline and
Councilwoman Monahan relative to Mr. Miller's sketch plan of Hovey
Pond. Chairman Simmonds also advised the Commission concerning the
upcoming Beautification Committee meeting, their agenda and
summarized the confusion as to the objectives regarding park
planning.
After considerable discussion, the Commission agreed that
clarification needs to be made. It was the consensus that the
Town Board had previously authorized a project budget and had
directed that the park be completed as inexpensively and
expeditiously as possible. To that end, the Department is
fulfilling and accomplishing the task as set forth by the new
administration earlier this spring. Furthermore, the Commission
had at the October meeting, directed the representatives of the
Friends of Hovey Pond group (Gosline, Eddy & Seney), to concentrate
their "landscape design" efforts this winter, specifically in the
area of flower beds and related facilities (i. e. planter box,
gardens, etc). The Commission reiterated their support for the
Department and for the work being done at Hovey Pond and
Commissioners Simmonds and Carusone volunteered to attend 'the
November 9th, Beautification Committee meeting. At that time they
hoped to reaffirm the Commission's position as well as re-direct
the Beautification Committee's efforts with regard to this project.
In addition, the Commission agreed to relay their comments to Town
Board members, in support of the Department's efforts towards
completing this park project. After further discussion, the
Commission decided to forego attending the Beautification Committee
meeting and instead, agreed to draft a letter outlining the
Commission/Department's role and responsibility with respect to the
Hovey Pond project.
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The Director relayed that Charles Maine was scheduled to be
appointed on 10/9/92, to fill M. Sperry's unexpired term on the
Commission.
1993 DEPARTMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION
The Commission reviewed the enclosed 1993 Department budget/revenue
information and the 1993 supplemental revenue projection sheet was
explained in detail by the Director. There was considerable
discussion on the resident vs non-resident fee question and the
Director pointed out that the Board had only approved a lump sum
figure (for budget purposes only). How those revenues will
actually be generated including specifics on individual program
fees and charges were not discussed. Those decisions will
undoubtedly be the Department's responsibility in conjunction with
input from the Commission. The non-residency issue as well as
other revenue questions/concerns can be addressed and discussed in
more detail at a Commission meeting after the first of the year.
1992 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM REPORT
Commissioner LaBombard praised Linda VanGuilder, and Ass't.
Director Lovering for the 1992 program report and their efforts
this summer. He commented that Linda had been an excellent student
and obviously was equally competent as the Youth Program
Coordinator this past summer. Therefore, he and the other members
of the Commission wondered, why the position was being eliminated
in the 1993 budget?
Ass't. Director Lovering briefly highlighted a few of the items in
the report and explained that he and the program review committee
(Chairman Auer), would be getting together shortly to review the
document.
Commissioner LaBombard mentioned the upcoming Joint
School/Commission Committee meeting (ll/l8/92), and there was some
discussion of the agenda for that evening.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
The two program flyers included in the monthly packet were reviewed
and Ass't. Director Lovering briefly mentioned some of the
Department winter program plans.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:32 p.m. The next meeting will be held December 9,
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1992, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Supervisor's meeting room
(#37), at the Town Office Building.
~~!7(.~
Shárron Simmonds, Chairman
Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen