Parks & Recreation Committee Minutes - 2/21/18

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Merrimack Parks and Recreation Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, 02.21.18

Merrimack Town Hall, Matthew Thornton Room

7:00 pm

 

Attendees: Laura Jaynes, Christine Lavoie, Hillary Baird, Michael Thompson – School Board, Maureen Hall – Senior Citizens Club, Rick Greenier – MYA, and Michelle Creswell

Parks and Recreation Director: Matt Casparius

Absent:

Excused: Julie Poole and Peter Albert - Town Council

Public:  Girl Scout Troop 14002 which includes Troop Leaders Teri Lambert and Brenna Hansen and the following scouts: Alexandra Fredette (shed designer), Amelia Gregory (materials), Avelynn Curley (money manager), Maelin Lambert (project coordinator), Olivia Springer (public relations), Vivia Couser (advertising), Samantha Franqui (volunteer coordinator) and Shelby Pennington (fundraising)

Start time: 7:00pm

 

1     Open Meeting/Introduction

 

2     Approval of minutes from November 15th 2017

  • Maureen Hall made the motion to accept the October Meeting Minutes
  • Hillary Baird 2nd the motion
  • 7-0-0 motion passed

 

3    New Business

  • Girl Scout Troop 14002 – Project Proposal – Dog Park Storage shed (see attachment for details)
    • Shed Option 1 – $599
    • Shed Option 2 - $649
    • Shed Option 3 - $975.59
    • Want to install the weekend 05.04.18
    • Fundraising would include selling homemade dog biscuits, the Troop will donate $60 and they also applied for a grant
    • Option 1 and 3 were talked about as options from the committee
    • Matt Casparius will confirm if the troop can fundraise at the Dog Park
    • Michelle Creswell made the motion to accept the Dog Park Storage Shed Project for all Options to go to the Town Council
    • Rick Greenier 2nd the motion
    • 7-0-0 motion passed

4    Old Business

  • Update from Merrimack Dog Park - Christine Lavoie
    • Dog Park Fund Balance – $1,800.54 (as of 1/31/18)
    • Restaurant fundraiser for March
    • Earth Day Park Clean Up
    • Fundraising is for more mulch
    • Dog CPR course
    • Table at the Winter Carnival
    • Fence Repairs needed
  • Budget Update - Matt Casparius
    • Parks & Recreation Budget Update (see attachment for details)
    • Town Council asked for a Beach Front Project Plan
    • Michael Thompson asked if we can ask the Town Council for money in any other Reserve Funds
  • O’Gara Drive Update - Matt Casparius
    • Tennis courts and basketball courts come out in spring
    • Skateboard Park will close temporarily on 08.01.18 and was recommended that the Town put up signs prior to closing
    • After the Skateboard Park closes, then the discussion can start with how to proceed between the Town Council and School Committee
    • There is no Warrant Article for a new Administrative building and therefore no future plans are in order for that space
  • Athletic Fields Update - Michael Thompson
    • Michael Thompson is still in the process of finding contacts for this project

5    Director's Report - Matt Casparius

  • Report on Dog Park Fence Damage
    • Damage was done in December and was for approximately 80 linear feet of fence fabric and 6 fence posts due to a motor vehicle accident and the owner’s car insurance will pay for the damage cost (roughly $2000)
  • Report on Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
    • 17 floats participated
    • Approximately 600 people at the Tree Lighting
    • 3000 candy canes were given out from group called Macaroni Kid
    • Michael Thompson recommended thinking about moving the event to Watson Park as the crowd grows
  • Report on Murder Mystery Dinner Event
    • 99 people attended and was sold out
  • Summer Camp
    • Registration opened on 01.16.18 and is already starting to fill up
    • Summer Hiring – new Camp Director has been hired and looking for Activity Specialists
  • Upcoming Special Events
    • 26th Annual Winter Carnival – Saturday, February 24th  12pm – 3pm
    • 26thAnnual Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday, March 24th10am – 11:30am
    • Earth Day Clean Up - Sunday, April 22nd 10am – 12pm for all the parks
      • Michael Thompson recommended making this town wide and to ask Town Manager to see if they can have DPW pick up the trash
  • Upcoming Bus Trips
    • Washington DC - Thursday April 19th– Sunday, April 22nd rates vary depending on how many people per room
    • Blue Man Group - Sunday, April 29th $80 per person
    • Mohegan Sun Casino - Saturday, May 19th $40per person and includes $10 gaming and $10 food vultures
    • New York City - Saturday, June 16th $60per person

 

  1. Organization Reports
  • Senior Citizens Club - Maureen Hall
    • Installation Dinner with new members (list of members will be provided in next month’s Parks and Recreation Meeting)
    • April 9th Bake Sale at John O’Leary Senior Center
    • April 14th Yard Sale
  • MYA - Rick Greenier
    • Vice President Brian Harris will fill President role as current President Tom Thornton is moving on to the Town Council seat
    • Rick Greenier will fill Vice President role
    • Basketball and wrestling are ending soon
    • Lacrosse, softball and spring soccer will be starting soon
  • Town Council –Peter Albert – not present
  • School Board – Michael Thompson
    • Budget was put forward
    • Bat infestation near James Mastricola Upper Elementary School and good project would be for boy’s or girl’s scout for bat houses
    • 03.08.18 Schools deliberative session for the budget

 

7    Comments from the Public – was none

 

8    Comments from the Committee – was none

  • 03.14.18 – Town’s deliberative session

 

9    Future Meeting Dates

  • Wednesday, March 21st
  • Wednesday, April 18th

 

10   Adjourn at 8:09 pm

  • Michael Thompson made the motion to adjourn at 8:09pm
  • Christine Lavoie 2nd the motion
  • 7-0-0 motion passed

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Creswell