1997-03-04
QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
MARCH 4, 1997
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury held Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at the Queensbury
Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman Simmonds
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Auer, Carusone,
Schachner and Simmonds
Hersh,
Maine,
ALSO
PRESENT:
Director Hansen and Ass't. Director Lovering
ABSENT:
Commissioner LaBombard (ex)
VISITORS:
Joseph Porter and Charles Hillebrandt
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Hersh made a motion seconded by Commissioner Maine to
approve the minutes of the February 4, 1997 meeting. There were no
corrections and the minutes were unanimously approved by voice
vote.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REMARKS FROM VISITORS
Chairman Simmonds welcomed the two guests and invited them to make
their presentation regarding a proposed indoor ice facility. Joe
Porter reviewed his community involvement with the Adirondack Youth
Hockey Organization and explained a little of the history
surrounding the Civic Center, the Fire Road indoor ice facility and
other area ice skating/hockey facilities. He detailed the status
of area youth hockey participation and also relayed specifics with
respect to the expenses associated for individuals involved in
youth hockey. In summary, Mr. Porter reported that the youth
hockey association needed more ice time during the season as well
as a longer ice hockey/skating season. He and Mr. Hillebrandt
pointed out that because of the short season (November-March) that
during the other 7 months, those who desire to skate and play
hockey (Queensbury/Glens Falls area youth), had to do so at the
facilities in the Saratoga area. They also explained that the
Glens Falls Fire Road facility had numerous shortcomings
(insulation, ancillary facilities, refrigeration unit, etc.) which
precluded longer use, both daily and seasonally.
Mr. Porter presented a short promotional video (C.W. Davis Corp.)
which outlined "a turn key" indoor ice facility scenario that
included planning, design, financing, construction and programming.
He also distributed support literature and mentioned that the cost
from start to finish was around $2 million ±.
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A number of commissioners expressed concern with regard to the need
for another area facility and how it might affect the Fire Road
rink. Commissioner Hersh commented that, if youth hockey teams
were presently losing money, obviously additional ice time would
only cost more and, therefore, put teams further in debt. The
Commission also questioned Mr. Porter in regard to use of the Fire
Road facility during the day and in the off-season and the Director
mentioned that the facility closed at 11:00 p.m. Therefore, he
suggested that since the facility was not being used from 11:00
p.m. to 7:30 a.m. (newspaper article), that this was certainly a
possibility (increased hours of use) before the Town considers
building a new structure. The Commission also discussed other
possible options including an open-air refrigerated surface
under a pole barn structure and upgrading the Fire Road facility as
a joint project. The Commission thanked the guests for their
presentation and relayed that they would be investigating and
evaluating the situation further. The Director also offered to
research additional ice facility information and report back to the
Commission at a later date.
The Director briefly reviewed the items of correspondence included
in the monthly packet and Chairman Simmonds explained the Post
Star's 2/23/97 editorial and the Tom Lake, Hudson River
presentation notice. There was discussion on public comment at
Commission meetings and the consensus was that the informal
guidelines being adhered to by the Commission presently (sign-in
sheet, "remarks from visitors" agenda item, etc.) were extremely
flexible and undoubtedly adequate to date.
PROPOSED REFUND POLICY REVIEW AND DISCUSSION
The Commission reviewed the revised draft of the Department refund
policies and there were comments on the comparison refund policy
information which was also included. After additional discussion
the Commission agreed to adopt the staff's recommendation (Proposed
Refund Policies A-C) as well as additional condition #B ($2.00
processing fee). The Department will institute the new refund
policy immediately.
RECREATION COMMISSION SURVEY
The revised recreation survey document was distributed and Chairman
Simmonds suggested that all commissioners review the material and
relay their comments to the staff as soon as possible. There was
discussion on rescheduling another committee meeting and an 8:00
a.m. meeting on March 17th was scheduled. Reminder notices will be
sent out.
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PERSONNEL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION-DISCUSSION
Personnel Committee Chairman Carusone briefly outlined the accounts
which preceded the committee's recommendation. There was
considerable discussion on the recommendations and Chairman
Simmonds relayed Commissioner LaBombard's comments which had been
received by phone and forwarded by the Director. Commissioners
Hersh and Schachner spoke regarding the valuable contributions by
previous employees who were also relatives of commissioners. It
was also mentioned that it was unfortunate and somewhat unfair to
those appointed, unpaid, volunteer officials serving on various
boards and commissions who make sacrifices/compromises already
donating their time to the community. Commissioner Schachner
distributed a possible alternative provision to the committee's
recommendation and after review and further discussion with
respect to a grandfather provision, the perception of "nepotism"
and a possible revision to the Commission's bylaws, it was agreed
to table the recommendation until the next meeting with all
commissioners hopefully in attendance.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
Ass't. Director Lovering briefly highlighted the monthly Department
report and there were questions on program/employee evaluations.
The Director also alerted the Commission regarding the May meeting
conflict (N.Y.S. Recreation and Park Society Conference) for the
Director/Ass't. Director and it was agreed to postpone any further
discussion until the April meeting.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:59 p.m. The next meeting will be held on April 1,
1997, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Supervisor's conference room
(#37), at the Queensbury Town Office Building.
Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen