Parks & Recreation Committee Minutes - 10/18/17

Merrimack Parks and Recreation Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, 10.18.17

Merrimack Town Hall, Memorial Conference Room

7:00 pm

Attendees: Laura Jaynes, Christine Lavoie, Julie Poole, Hillary Baird, Maureen Hall – Senior Citizens Club, Rick Greenier – MYA, Peter Albert - Town Council and Michelle Creswell

Parks and Recreation Director: Matt Casparius

Absent:

Excused: Michael Thompson – School Board

Public:

Start time: 7:00pm

1     Open Meeting/Introduction

2     Approval of minutes from September 20^th 2017

• Christine Lavoie made the motion to accept the September Meeting Minutes
• Hillary Baird 2^nd the motion
• 7-0-1 motion passed (Peter Albert abstained)

3    Old Business

• Update from Merrimack Dog Park
  • Dog Park Fund Balance – $3,119.53 (as of 9/30/17)
  • Home Depot Donation/Volunteer Work – pavers at safety gate and entrance project was completed by Home Depot volunteers
  • Request for funds for surfacing
    • The Dog Park Committee is requesting up to $999 for first third of surfacing project
    • Peter Albert asked if the committee could ask local companies first to do the work
    • Matt Casparius stated that DPW might have free mulch
    • Michelle Creswell made the motion to release $999 for the first third for the surfacing project
    • Maureen Hall 2^nd the motion
    • 8-0-0 motion passed
• O’Gara Drive Update
  • Matt Casparius stated the next Town Council meeting is October 26^th and School Board and Town Council meeting is November 14^th
  • Maureen Hall stated she had a hard time seeing where the skateboard park would fit at one of the proposed areas
  • Peter Albert stated that the public needs to be educated and that a subcommittee could be formed for the location of the skateboard park and ice skating rink

4    New Business

• Discussion about December 20^th meeting date
  • Either the December meeting will get cancelled or possibly rescheduled to earlier in the month and the committee will make the choice in the November meeting

5    Director's Report - Matt Casparius

• Parks & Recreation Ordinance Review
  • November 16^th is the final reading to the Town Council
• Upcoming Special Events
  • Friday, October 27^th – 25^th Annual Halloween Party at Wasserman Park from 5-8pm
  • Saturday, November 18^th - Turkey Scavenger Hunt around the town and first 3 winners will receive a 14lb turkey
  • Sunday, December 3^rd - Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting at 3pm at the Common Plaza and the theme is Dr. Seuss
  • Saturday, February 10^th from 5:30 – 9:30 - Murder/Mystery Dinner Show at John O’Leary Senior Center for $50 per person if you register before December 16^th or $55 after December 16^th. The library will host pizza and movie for kids for $10
• Miscellaneous Department Updates
  • Bids came in for the MYA Cabin at Wasserman Park
  • Possibly 2 new Eagle Scout Projects to be brought to the committee

1. Organization Reports

• Senior Citizens Club - Maureen Hall
  • October 21^st is the Annual Craft Fair will be at the John O’Leary Senior Center from 9am – 3pm
  • November 1^st is the trip to Foxwoods
  • December 6^th – Indian Head Resort
• MYA - Rick Greenier
  • Soccer and football are in season
  • Basketball for Instructional Division and Senior Division and wrestling are next to open for registration
  • Still need a Secretary
• Town Council –Peter Albert
  • Decommission of the tennis and basketball courts will be starting soon and the skateboard park will remain as is for now
• School Board – Michael Thompson – not present

7    Comments from the Public – was none

8    Comments from the Committee – was none

• One time issue of ants at Kid’s Cove

9    Future Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, November 15^th
• Possible December meeting

10   Adjourn at 7:46 pm

• Rick Greenier made the motion to adjourn at 7:46pm
• Julie Poole 2^nd the motion
• 8-0-0 motion passed

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Creswell