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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_05_11 Recreation Commission MinutesTOWN OF MAMARONECK RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2021 PRESENT: James Druker Rita Plansky Terry Rainaldi Susan Sigel Brian Welsh EXCUSED: Graham Gutter William Paonessa ALSO PRESENT: Jill Fisher, Superintendent of Recreation Rob Lunde, Ice Rink Manager Vicky Laoutaris, Recreation Supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney, Town Board Liaison Eileen Puleo, Commission Secretary Brendan Collins, Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association Ralph Engel, Town of Mamaroneck Resident CALL TO ORDER: The meeting via Zoom was called to order at 7:10 P.M. by Chairman Druker. ACCEPTANCE OF MEETING MINUTES: On a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Plansky, the Meeting Minutes of March 9, 2021 were unanimously approved. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE: Ms. Fisher reported the following: 1. Summer program registration is ongoing. Current registration numbers as of May 6th are as follows: Hommocks Camp Session 1 - 129 Session 2 - 86 Camp Rockingstone Session 1 - 45 Session 2 - 30 2. Many of our spring aquatic programs are underway. Current registration numbers as of May 6th are as follows: Swim Lessons - 104 Lifeguarding - 6 Aqua Zumba/Aqua Jog - 23 Team Barracuda/Triathlon - 18 3. Many of our spring tot and youth programs are currently underway. Current registration numbers as of May 6th are as follows: Dancing (Combo/Hip Hop) - 12 Mommy & Me and Pre Ballet - 53 US Sports Institute - 20 4. Spring Tennis programs began on Monday, May 3rd with 170 enrolled. 5. The spring session of the golf programs began on April 29th with 17 enrolled. 6. The Women's Fitness programs have an enrollment of 32. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 11, 2021 - Page 2 SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE CONTINUED: 7. The Rink's attendance numbers for the Saturday public skating sessions have been averaging 27 — 35 skaters. The last public skating session will be held on Saturday, May 22na 8. The Freestyle Skating program concludes on Tuesday, June 8th. We have a total of 18 enrolled in the program. 9. On Friday, May 21 st we will be hosting Kids Outdoor Bingo at Memorial Park. 10.Our kayaking program in cooperation with the Village of Mamaroneck will begin on May 21st 11. The pool lawn has been aerated, fertilized, seeded, and top dressed. The opening date for the summer season is Saturday, June 19tn 12. The Outdoor Movie in the Park originally scheduled for May has been postponed. Current Westchester County Department of Health guidelines mandate that any outdoor gathering of 200 people or more requires the responsible party to administer COVID-19 testing, collect proof of a negative test result, or proof of immunization. This is a responsibility that we just don't feel we can undertake in order to offer a free outdoor movie. Once this guideline changes, we will offer our outdoor movies at Memorial Park. 13. Mike Gibson, our full-time Recreation Maintenance Worker/Assistant Ice Rink Manager has given his two weeks' notice and will be leaving the Town on May 14th. Mike has been with the Town for the past 9 years and will be moving into a new venture in the private sector. We wish him well. 14. The sandbox at Memorial Park has been filled in and black topped over. 15. Ms. Fisher reached out to Mr. Tom Dufficy regarding a dedication in memory of former Recreation Commissioner, Rosemary Dufficy. The Dufficy family would to love to have a bench in her memory at Memorial Park. 16. Robert Wasp, Town Engineer will be making a recommendation to the Town Board for the hiring of the firm, Insite Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. for the Memorial Park Playground Renovation. Once the Town Board approves this, we can begin the design phase. 17. Brendan Collins, MYHA and Dan DeMasi, are both looking for the same ice time of September 9th - 12th Mr. Demasi was hoping to run the Ice Breaker tournament in the fall season. Ms. Fisher reached out to Mr. DeMasi to see how flexible his schedule is. Mr. DeMasi is willing to entertain any weekend but the problem is the further into the season, the closer it will be to the next year's Ice Breaker Tournament, and that will make it harder for fundraising and sponsorships. Mr. Ralph Engel, Town of Mamaroneck Resident: Mr. Ralph Engel a resident of the Town of Mamaroneck presented to the Recreation Commission suggestions regarding a new location for a playground at Memorial Park for consideration. Mr. Engel proposed installing a playground at the grass field on the other side of Myrtle Blvd. Mr. Engel feels this would be a better use of the area and parking would be available on Vine Street. He suggested that this could be in addition to the current park playground as this piece of grass is underutilized. The Commission expressed the following concerns regarding putting a playground across the street: • Crossing Myrtle Blvd. would be dangerous with the traffic from the train station and cars driving too fast. • Would require patrons to cross the street to utilize both park and playground areas. • No bathroom facilities. Patrons would have to cross the busy street. • Parking is for the train station and not always available. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 11, 2021 - Page 3 Deputy Supervisor, Jaine Elkind Eney stated that she believes that some of that property may actually belong to the M. T. A. and further research would be required. The Commission feels that with the new renovations to Memorial Park that all age groups can be accommodated using the existing space. The Commission thanked Mr. Engel for taking the time to present his ideas and suggestions. Mr. Brendan Collins, Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association: Mr. Brendan Collins thanked the Recreation Commission, Rob Lunde, Jill Fisher, and department staff for another year of great hockey and working together to utilize as much ice time as he could. This year, MYHA had 283 hockey players of which 85% were residents and 35% were female. MYHA also had 3 female teams that went to States. MYHA would like to increase their number of players and work with the Town to do some fundraising this coming year. Mr. Collins has also asked the Commission to consider going forward with a multi -year contract instead of revisiting ice fees every year. This would make it easier for MYHA to plan their seasons for the coming years. Ms. Fisher will not be recommending fees at this time as she feels we need to have better understanding of the anticipated 2021- 2022 expenses associated with the new locker rooms including the debt service payment. Recommended rink fees will be revisited at the June meeting. Mamaroneck School District, Pool Usage Fee: The Mamaroneck School District has informed the Recreation Department that the custodial overtime schedule for the usage of the pool this summer will be changing. Overtime for the school's custodian will now be charged during the hours of Monday — Friday after 2.30 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. It is anticipated that this will cost the Town an additional $46,000 in rental fees for pool usage this summer. After further discussion, Ms. Fisher has proposed the following new pool fees for this season to help cover these unplanned expenses: Adults $10 and Children/Seniors $5.00. The Commission unanimously approved this request. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, on a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Sigel, the meeting was adjourned at 8.30 P.M.