1995-11-14
QUEENS BURY RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
NOVEMBER 14, 1995
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the
Town of Queensbury held Tuesday, November 14, 1995, at the
Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman
Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
PRESENT:
Commissioners Auer, Carusone, Hersh, LaBombard,
Maine, Schachner and Simmonds
ALSO
PRESENT:
Director Hansen
ABSENT:
None
VISITORS:
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Carusone made the motion to approve the minutes of the
October 10, 1995 meeting. Commissioner Schachner seconded the
motion with the following two corrections; a word omission in the
first paragraph on page two and a clarification with regard to Mr.
Miller's statement in terms of the organization responsible for the
archeological study of the Hudson River Park site. The Director
will verify the meeting minutes tape and make the appropriate
changes. The Commission agreed and after polling all
commissioners, the motion was unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REMARKS FROM VISITORS
The Commission reviewed the items of correspondence included in the
monthly packet and there was discussion regarding the Commission's
letter to D. Hodgson in support of the regional bikeway concept.
Commissioner Maine updated those present on the Environmental
Commi ttee' s presentation to the Town Board and the subsequent
status of the ISTEA application. It was the consensus that the
Director and as many commissioners as possible should be present at
the upcoming 11/20/95 Town Board meeting to show support for the
project concept.
The Commission briefly discussed the Hudson River Park
correspondence (Post Star editorial, article and the anonymous
"concerned citizen" letter) and there was no further comment.
The circumstance which presumably caused the letter from the Glens
Falls School Superintendent's office was explained by the Director
and the Commission reaffirmed that the Department should continue
to make every effort to advertise its programs and activities to
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all resident taxpayers. The Director agreed and will endeavor to
resolve the situation.
HUDSON RIVER PARK UPDATE
. The Chairman briefly outlined the Hudson River Park planning
schedule which was included in the monthly packet and mentioned
that the project team (Supervisor, Attorney, Recreation Chairman
and Director) had been meeting weekly in an effort to keep the
project on schedule. The Director reported on the status of
project meetings with the Department of Environmental Conservation
(ENCON), the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE), and the New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservations (NYSOPRHP).
He also explained and responded to questions generated by the park
planning schedule and there was no further comment.
BIG BAY ROAD PROPERTY DEDICATION
The Planning Board notice regarding the offer of land dedication by
Joseph and Debra Gross on Big Bay Road was explained and there was
considerable discussion relative to the conditions which the owner
has placed on the conveyance of said property. The Director
reminded the Commission that the Planning Board would not make a
final decision before the Commission has had a chance to tour the
site and then respond in writing. with respect to the parcel, the
Director mentioned that the site would be suitable especially as a
means of access for young WGF residents who wished to use the
Hudson River Park site, without having to negotiate the Northway
exit #18 intersection. The site is adjacent to the southbound
Northway fence and if other obstacles can be overcome (use a piece
of state highway right-of-way and obtain permission to cross
underneath the Northway overpass) the property offer would
certainly be useable for recreational purposes. After further
discussion, the Commission agreed to meet in the Northway exit #18
McDonald's parking lot at 7:30 a.m., on Monday, November 27th and
then proceed to tour the site (Gross parcel). The Director will
send out reminder memos to all commissioners.
CAPITAL PARK PROJECTS
The Commission reviewed and approved the 10/95 revised list of
capital park projects previously requested by the Supervisor/Town
Board. After some discussion the Commission directed the Chairman
to draft a letter in response to the Supervisor's 10/3/95 memo.
The draft letter and prioritized project list would then be sent on
to the Town Board after approval at the December meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The original draft copy of the Bylaws Committee-Commission Rules of
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Procedure was briefly discussed and it was the consensus that the
committee would review the draft, revise the rules as needed and
report back at the next meeting. The Chairman reported on her
request to Town Attorney Dusek with regard to the Department' s
emploYment application. His memo (11/14/95) was reviewed and after
considerable discussion the Director was instructed to revise the
Department's present application and make the appropriate changes.
The Director explained that he would have a revised application
available as soon as possible, certainly in plenty of time for
summer emploYment.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORT
The Director reviewed the Department's monthly report which
included a 1994-96 budget comparison. The Commission questioned
the cutbacks in some of the 1996 account categories and the
Director mentioned that except for salary increases for union
employees, the Department's budget in all other areas was drafted,
as directed so as not to exceed 1995 totals.
The Director circulated a 5/12/82 file memo from Supervisor Walters
regarding guidelines for summer employment and there was
discussion. He (the Director) explained that supervisor Champagne
has found the memo and that he (the Director) had never seen it
before.
There being no further business, the Commission meeting was
adjourned at 8:31 p.m. The next meeting will be held on December
12, 1995, 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