1998-10-06
QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
OCTOBER 6, 1998
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the Town of
Queensbury held Tuesday, October 6, 1998 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, Schachner
and Simmonds
ALSO
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
VISITORS:
Ass't. Director Lovering
Commissioner Maine (ex)
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Carusone made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schachner to
approve the minutes of the September 1, 1998 meeting. After noting a grammatical
change, the minutes were unanimously approved by voice vote.
COMMUNICATIONS
The items of correspondence in the monthly packet were reviewed by the assistant
director and included: Bob Eddy's Hovey Pond Report, Hudson River Park (HRP)
project notification letter, commission survey memo and Glens Falls Flyers letter. The
commission also discussed and approved the installation of a sign honoring Bob Eddy
("Robert L. Eddy Botanical Gardens") that will be erected next spring underneath the
Hovey Pond Park gardens' archway. The request had been made to the department by
Mary Lee Gosline on behalf of the Friends of Hovey Pond.
The commission discussed the HRP project notification letter and there were no further
comments. Commissioner LaBombard expressed his concern and wondered what
responsibility, if any, the town had to those subcontractors still unpaid by Nutech. After
a brief discussion, most commissioners agreed that, although unfortunate, the town did
not have a responsibility or obligation to those subcontractors that Nutech had failed to
pay.
The assistant director summarized the director's recent meeting with Carl DeSantis
(owner of a 9 acre +/- parcel adjoining the present HRP site) and the possible donation
of this parcel to the town. He relayed the property stipulations requested by Mr.
DeSantis: (1) that he (Mr. DeSantis) keep a section of the parcel (roughly 25'x400' west
of an access road) in order to adequately access/service the billboards and radio tower,
and (2) that the Town not build anything that would obstruct the view of the billboards.
The assistant director reported that additional/updated information would be presented
by the director during the November commission meeting.
HUDSON RIVER PARK PROJECT UPDATE
A project update was provided by the assistant director with regard to the remedial work
completed in September by New Dimensions at Hudson River Park. He mentioned that
the softball field turf had grown satisfactorily and would be cut shortly as part of the
contract. He also noted that 10% of the contract would be withheld (retainage) until the
turf could be thoroughly evaluated. Also discussed was the installation of a new park
gate, split rail fencing on the east side of the road, along with the cleanup efforts by the
bridge construction contractor.
TOWN BOARD EMPLOYMENT POLICY
Commissioner Carusone (chairman of the personnel committee) presented a Town
Board resolution concerning hiring relatives of existing town employees. Commissioner
Carusone wondered whether the commission would like the personnel committee to
review the Town Board policy with respect to how it might impact the commission's
existing policy. After a lengthy discussion about both policies, the majority of
commissioners in attendance felt that the commission's hiring policy was still valid and
should not be changed in order to mirror that of the Town Board's new policy. (Note:
Commissioner Auer, not in favor of the previous commission's personnel hiring
guidelines, left the meeting during the discussion.)
HOVEY POND SILTATION
Director Hansen, as requested by Councilman Irish at the September meeting,
investigated a possible siltation problem at Hovey Pond Park with Tom Nace (Nace
Engineering) and the details of this meeting were relayed by the assistant director. He
reported that Mr. Nace felt further evaluation was necessary (soil samples and
measurements of water depth) before concluding a siltation problem existed. The
results of this evaluation will be shared with the commission when available.
FREEDOM PARK PLAYGROUND
The upcoming meeting concerning the Freedom Park playground project, including
construction costs, was briefly outlined by the assistant director. He explained that he
would again reiterate the commission's concerns (September meeting) and would
update commission members next month.
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ZOLl PROPERTY
The assistant director reported the results of a meeting between the director and Janet
McCauley from Queensbury School concerning the Zoli property. He explained that the
property had been purchased by the school district over a month ago and that Janet
would coordinate a meeting between the Athletic Committee, the Building and Grounds
Committee and the Commission in order to discuss possible future uses for the
property. A brief discussion ensued among commissioners concerning the possibility of
a skate board park and whether this type of use would receive support from school
district board members.
JOINT COMMISSIONITOWN BOARD MEETING
A request for a joint meeting between the commission and the Town Board was
reviewed and, after discussion, it was the consensus that an October 22 meeting at
4:30 p.m. would be the most convenient to schedule. The assistant director was asked
to confirm the meeting time and date with the Town Board.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
The assistant director gave a brief verbal monthly report outlining the department's
preparations for 1998-99 winter programs, as well as updating the commission
concerning the status of the winter brochure.
There being no further business, the commission meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on November 3, 1998, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the
Supervisor's Conference Room (#37), at the Queensbury Town Office Building.
fII£~/ ~ ~
Sarro Simmonds, ha'ir an
Minutes prepared by Steve M. Lovering, Assistant Director
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