1997-08-05
QUEENS BURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
AUGUST 5, 1997
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury held Tuesday, August 5, 1997 at the North
Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co. station, Route 9L, Queensbury, New
York. Chairman Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:00 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 Carusone
to approve the minutes of the April 29, 1997 meeting. There were
no corrections and the minutes were unanimously approved by voice
vote.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REMARKS
The items of correspondence which were included in the monthly
packet were reviewed. The Director reported on the Supervisor's
response (verbal) to the Commission's survey funding request
(7/21/97). He relayed that the Supervisor had stated that funds
were not available in the general fund this year (1997), but that
the Commission should plan on doing the survey in 1998. The
remaining items of correspondence were discussed and there were no
further comments.
HUDSON RIVER PARK UPDATE
-
The Director handed out 2 supplemental park project correspondence
items (project meeting report #6 and 8/1/97 boat launch info fax)
and he reported that, there were a number of facilities at the park
which Nutech has completed, but do not meet specification in terms
of the contract. The softball field elevation is low, as much as
a foot and a half (not enough soil/fill) and the basketball court
is not pitched correctly (water pools) . According to
specifications these facilities should have been checked and
verified by the contractor prior to "finish work" (seeding the
softball field and color coating/striping the basketball court).
However, the finish work on both facilities has been completed and
both areas do not meet spec and, therefore, are not acceptable.
-2-
The pavilion has also been completed and the roof shingles were
affixed incorrectly (building not square). The boat launch is
partially complete, but there are concerns with regard to launch
depth, distance, and most importantly angle of descent (slope).
Overall, a large majority of park work completed to date does not
meet contract specification and as such is not totally
reimbursable.
The Director explained the Town's options and relayed that
a meeting with the owner/project foreman was scheduled for
Thursday, 8/7/97 where these concerns would be outlined in detail.
The Director has alerted the Town Counsel that if these conditions
are not corrected, that possible litigation may be required.
The Commission questioned the Director on a number of construction
contract items including payment schedule, percent of contract
retainage and facility specification parameters. He also provided
information relating to the play apparatus portion of the contract
(change order/subcontractor) and explained that the upcoming
meeting should rectify all the contract shortcoming noted to date.
In any case, the Director would keep the Commission/Board apprised
of the situation and take whatever steps necessary to protect the
Town's interests.
NEW BUSINESS
The Director advised the Commission that the Department had co-
authored with the Community Development Department, a $5000.00
grant request for parking and park signage at the Feeder Canal
Dam/Park site in Queensbury.
Chairman Simmonds again mentioned that the Rotary Club was still
investigating the possibility of a bike trail extension connecting
the park at Gurney Lane to the present Warren County bike trail.
This joint community project is still in the discussion stage and
she will keep the Department advised as plans are formulated.
The Director reported that the Department had inaugurated as
promised, a temporary skateboarding area at West End Park for 4
hours per day, 3 days a week (M, W & F), beginning July 21-August
29th (park sign & news article). He mentioned that he called to
advise the two concerned par~nts who attended the 4/29/97
Commission meeting (support for skateboarding park) as well as
other individuals who had phoned in response to the summer brochure
notice (attention skateboarders). He also reminded the Commission
that a trip to the Saratoga facility would be scheduled again in
the near future.
-3-
The Director also informed the Commission that the Department's
1998 tentative budget estimate was due to the controller in less
than two weeks. Considering the time frame, he suggested,
therefore, that the budget committee meet to review and make
changes, to the tentative budget after it was submitted on 8/15/97.
He indicated that the budget review process would continue until
approved by the Board in November and, therefore, a meeting in
September was not inappropriate. The budget committee agreed and
will schedule a meeting shortly.
Chairman Simmonds questioned the Director regarding the North
Queensbury Fire Co. representative who was supposed to be present
this evening to explain the fire co.' s proposal/plan for the
future. The Director pointed out that he had corresponded by phone
with fire co. president W. Cowles on two occasions and had been
assured that a fire co. representative would be present tonight to
guide/lead the group tour and explain their proposition (develop
back area for possible recreational use). The Director was
instructed to contact Mr. Cowles and request that a fire company
representative be invited to discuss the proposal at another
Commission meeting later this fall.
The Director briefly highlighted some of the Department's ongoing
summer activities and mentioned that to date registration and
attendance figures were up in many areas primarily due to the mild
weather.
The group briefly toured the fire co. area and visually evaluated
the vacant area under consideration as a possible park site.
The Chairman thanked commission members for their diligence and
compliance with the bylaws as it relates to meeting attendance.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:26 p.m. The next meeting will be held on September
2, 1997, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at a park site yet to be
determined.
Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen