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1991-03-11 QUEENSBURY RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 11. 1991 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission of the Town of Queensbury, held Monday, March 11, 1991, at the Queensbury Town Office Building, Queensbury, New York. Chairman Simmonds called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Carusone, Hersh, Labatore, LaBombard, Simmonds, Sperry and Teti ALSO PRESENT: Councilmembers Montesi and Potenza, Director Hansen and Ass't. Director Lovering ABSENT: None VISITORS: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Carusone moved to approve the minutes of the October 1st and November 19, 1990 meetings. Commissioner Sperry seconded the motion and after polling all Commissioners, the motion was unanimously approved. COMMUNICATIONS AND REMARKS FROM VISITORS Mr. Brenneisen's letter which was included in the monthly packet was briefly discussed and was tabled until later on (new business - Glen Lake Canoe Access Resolution). NEW PARK PROJBCT DISCUSSION Chairman Simmonds outlined the Commission's purpose and responsibility with respect to the upcoming discussion on new park project. Based on direction by the Town Board and considering the Department's list of parks/projects which were distributed and briefly discussed at the Commission meeting last month, the Commission was here tonight to prioritize a list of park projects which might be undertaken yet this year. She explained that the group would brainstorm a shopping list and then go back and prioritize that list. It was decided that the best way initially would be to take each park individually and list the facilities which should or could be planned for or were needed at that site in the future. West End Park was the first area mentioned and a pavilion or picnic shelter was suggested as a facility needed at the site. Picnic table and cookout grills at this location were also mentioned. Ridge/Jenkinsville Park was discussed next and some of the park amenities suggested were a bigger playground with more equipment, jogging trails and a swimming pool. -2- The park at Gurney Lane was next and here the Commissioners thought more X-country ski trails, additional parking, deepening the pond, a basketball court, softball fields, more sledding hills, a second pavilion, more cookout grills and a volleyball court were of importance at this location. The 78 acre Hiland Park parcel, the canoe access site on Glen Lake and the South Queensbury Park were all mentioned briefly, but no specific park facilities were discussed. The Sandy Bay property was discussed and the Director was asked to briefly update the Commission with regard to "stewardship" and the present situation. A history of this parcel was explained including the 177 acre land sale by the Town and the Director's Development Plan to the State (ENCON) which has never been addressed. After hearing the information, the Commission was in favor of determining the status of the plan as a first step towards possibly developing this parcel as a recreation site. The consensus was that this parcel had some value as a future Town park site. It was suggested that picnic areas, a pavilion and a beach/swimming area were all possible park facilities which might be considered there. The lack of sufficient facilities at Ridge/Jenkinsville Park was again mentioned and additional items such as; an ice-skating area, a pavilion similiar to the one at Gurney Lane, cookout grills and a picnic shelter, basketball courts, a soccer field, additional parking, a flagpole, more softball fields and landscaping were suggested. Chairman Simmonds briefly summarized the meeting discussion so far and explained that now the Commission should review all of the information and narrow down and prioritize a list of parks and projects to be undertaken. After further discussion, the majority agreed that Ridge/Jenkinsville Park was priority one and that park development at the site should include a basketball court, two tennis courts and a shelter/pavilion. The Gurney Lane Recreation Area was given the second highest priority and facilities scheduled at this location included additional parking, a softball field, a basketball court, a second pavilion and work on the pond. A volleyball court at this park was also suggested, but this type of facility could be constructed using in-house staff personnel and this was not included with those facilities which necessitated outside professional architectural/engineering work. A shelter/pavilion at West End Park was discussed and given a lA priority between priorities 1) (Ridge/Jenkinsville Park) and 2) (Gurney Lane). This type of structure would require minimal time and effort on the part of the Department staff to construct and, therefore, it was decided this priority could be accomplished fairly quickly. The third priority park project was Sandy Bay and it was decided to determine the status of Director's Development Plan and see if the channel of communications between the State and the Town could be reopened. The Commission briefly discussed the situation at Hovey Pond and it was decided that this park plan was already ongoing and did not need to be added to the list. The Commission reviewed the priority list a final time and the Director was instructed to research cost figures for each of the projects and report back at the next meeting. MASTER PLAN UPDATE The Commission was advised that the public meeting to review and discuss the master plan document had been postponed and was rescheduled for May. This was primarily done, -3- in order to give the public, as well as the steering committee sufficient time to read and comment on the plan. The Director explained that a public meeting without input would certainly be of no value to either Murman or the Department. Once again, the Director requested that all Commissioners read and submit their written comments on the plan. NYS RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY CONFERENCE The Director explained that the annual NYS Recreation and Park Society Conference, which he and the Ass't. Director would be attending, April 7-10th, would conflict with the April Recreation Commission meeting. He requested that the Commission change the date of the meeting and after discussion, it was agreed that the new date for the April Commission meeting would be the 15th. The Director will see that all concerned are advised of this change. GLEN LAKE CANOB ACCESS RBSOLUTlON The Glen Lake Canoe Access Resolution was discussed at length and the Director explained that the Department, because of the resolution, was now empowered to post signs and regulate the -use of this recreation facility. This had been a problem in the past but the resolution should remedy that situation and allow the Department to more adequately maintain and even upgrade the facility. DIRBCTOR/ ASS'T. DIRECTOR REPORT The Director briefly summarized ongoing winter programs and there was some discussion on the Departments plans for the upcoming summer program of activities. The new lights at the Queensbury School athletic facilities were discussed and the Commission requested to know the lighting hours of operation. It was explained that the School and Town had agreed that during peak months (May-August) the lights would be on until 11:00 p.m. The Commission was also concerned with the cost of operation and here again, the Director and the School (L. Mott & L. Rhodes) have communicated with regard to this responsibility. The Town will pay the entire monthly lighting bill and be reimbursed on a monthly basis by the School District for half the bill. Councilman Montesi alerted the Commission to the possibility of acquiring a small (5.87 acre) parcel of property on the northwest corner of Cronin and Meadowbrook Roads. He pointed out that this site borders Halfway Brook and would fit in with the "green ribbon" theme plan which the Board was trying to create along the brook. The Director explained that it was a worthwhile parcel, certainly more so than the Randerson property which the Town bought sometime ago. Councilman Montesi pointed out that he was scheduled to talk to the owners (McDonald's) the following evening and would report back at the next Commission meeting. The consensus was that if the price was reasonable, (i.e. no greater than the assessed valuation) then the Commission would consider recommending to the Town Board, the purchase of this parcel for recreational use. There being no further business, the Commission was adjourned at 9:02 p.m. The next meeting will be held on April 15, 1991, at 7:00 p.m., at the Supervisor's meeting room (#37) in the Town Office Building. Minutes prepared by Harry R. Hansen