Peter Claire, Chair

Antoinette Critelli

Brian Murphy

Jeanne Rebillard

Dan Katz

Roger Russell

Vicki Doyle

Recreation Minutes

February 10, 2004

1.  Meetings:  First Tues. of each month, at least for now.

2.  Committee appointments - Mathew Salomons - P. Claire will get him application

                                                   - Alison DeLaura - Antoinette will approach

3.  Intermunicipal Agreement/Summer Camp - All agreed ordinance should be adopted.  R. Russell will report at Town Wkshp Thursday.  Intermunicipal Agreement - reviewed - could use school facilities, towns cover insurance, summer camp possibilities w/ use of school activities.  Millerton, two years ago, worked with Amenia to beef up summer camp.  John Scuteri putting together summer camp program, wants our input.  A. Critelli:  If find funds to pay for Rec. director, could we keep it in Amenia?  J. Rebillard:  better bang for bang to do summer camp cooperatively.  But no place for families to swim together.  T. LeJeune looked into splash pad for familites.  Splash pad is like Great Escape, walk into dish with water fountain.  Would have perhaps gone at Ball Park, but would need fill to make it useful.  Deluxe model tens of thousands ($60,000?), but handicapped accessible, no skid flooring.  What is upkeep and maintenance?  P. Claire will look for literature.

4.  Ball Park Development Planning - T.J. Camp ion (373-9516) and Joe Harold involved at one time, planning for finishing park, working w/ Army Corp. of Engineers.  What about a Town pool?  All would love it.  Makes sense.  A. Critelli:  Amenianeeds central location w/ rooms for activities w/ indoor pool, either at Elementary School or Town Park.  Herb Eschbach promotes indoor pool.  At Ballfield, should fill in, talk to DEC about what can be done, if anything.  Rudy Eschbach has been instrumental in past efforts, waiting for plan.   Grants, fundraising should be done for planning.  A survey might be more effective after something has been drafted.  Some ideas narrowed down.  Lake Amenia:  DEC is willing to have a series of ponds.  Is a Trout stream.   R. Russell will check into DDSO pool, avail. now for medical reasons.  V. Doyle will get LaGrange’s recent $17,000 Recreation Plan.  

5.  Lyons Club wants Town to purchase 2 acre parcel. All thought this a good idea.

6.  Baseball - P. Claire will take care of coordinating baseball activities, getting flyers up in Feb., hope fields are ready at Ball Park.  Need to call everyone and get schedules set.  Millerton has its own sign-up, Steve Wate is doing this this year.  No charge for kids to attend other town’s programs.  Fees are in registration.  Amenia gives money for soccer, all charge some.

7.  Budget - Two years ago, Town budgeted base amount, plus money raised through fees deposited into Rec. account.  But then, $’s from refreshments, concessions used for purchases for food, etc., then turn over excess and receipts at year.

8.  Fencing - Millbrook fencing needs to be repaired, need protective bumper, Dan Katz will look into this and P. Claire should be at site w/ bid prospect.  B. Murphy:  Will local contractors be able to submit a bid?  Adams and Pawling would not provide bids.  Sections of fencing need to be replaced on all three fields.  Full maintenance, posts coming down, gates need work.  On major league fields, low fences need to be estended up for flyballs.  Probably $4,000 worth of work, could sell 22 spaces between 8’ fence sections to sponsors.  First year is expensive, have to buy banner, could generate $6,000 theroetically/year after. 

9.  Re-dedication of fields - could get press, get fencing done, fundraising, part of 300th Anniversary? Have deadline, cookout in Aug.?  Rededication will bring people who don’t have kids to come to park.   Can raise money through concessions, special events.  End of June is end of Pete’s energy.  Perhaps could open concessions during travel soccer, when not currently offering.  Dan could help us with cutting cost of refreshment supplies or donations from vendors. 

10.  Rec Director - Pete plans on this being last year for Rec. Director.  Aaron Marshall was part-time, years ago.  Vicki will research past position, $16,000 or so.  Must plan for Director for 2005.  No indoor soccer due to lack of volunteers.  Last year, team mom volunteers to do clean up, do concessions, must be reinstated each year, didn’t happen last year.

Jeanne:  getting word out was difficult, need newsletter?  P. Claire:  Baseball gazette goes out every other week in season.  P. Claire will contact Pete McCaffrey as to his plans. He is also winding down.

11.  Soccer - Webatuck has great organized soccer..  Can we utilize Webatuck program more fully, Joe Mateo is very good coach, great talent, kids do well,  J. Rebillard will check w/ Webatuck.  P. Claire will talk to mat Salmons about soccer plans. 

12. Wassaic Park/Tally Ho- Dan:  FoodTown could perhaps sponsor improvements in Wassaic park, sand monkey bars, paint, help out bleachers or have them removed.  V. Doyle will ask Stan Whitehead about removal.  Seem to be hazard.   Do survey of what is needed there.  Could have cook-out, clean up, repaint.  Can use Dills for paint, boy scouts to help.  Could offer to build shuffleboard park for Tally Ho.

13.  Seniors/Teens - Want rec. for all ages.  Years ago had bus to Atlantic City.  Ortha may still put these programs on, but should also offer intergenerational activities.  A. Critelli gave example of other town’s activities to Bonnie.  Need to promote existing activites.  CYO county-wide program.  All local teens welcome.  Skating at Bontecou rink on sundays, etc.

14.  Fundraising - 750 - 1,000 coming for railtrail July 18th.  Could provide brakfast.  Donuts near trailhead, juice.  FoodTown could provide food.  B. Murphy will ask Firehouse if they want to co-sponsor breakfast, split proceeds?  Could promote local products.

Next meeting is March 2 at 7:00

 Notes taken by Vicki Doyle