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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_03_14 Recreation Commission Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 14, 2023 PRESENT: James Druker, Chairman Graham Gutter Darren Moss William Paonessa Susan Sigel Brian Welsh ALSO PRESENT: Jill Fisher, Superintendent of Recreation Vicky Laoutaris, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Jeffery King, Town Board Liaison Eileen Puleo, Commission Secretary CALL TO ORDER: The meeting held at the Senior Center,1288 Boston Post Road was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairman Druker. ACCEPTANCE OF MEETING MINUTES: On a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Welsh, the Meeting Minutes of February 7, 2023, were unanimously approved as submitted. FACILITY REQUESTS FOR USE OF CARPINO-STEFFENS FIELDS: Facility requests for use of the Carpino-Steffens Fields were submitted from; Mr. Simon McCarthy, Larchmont/Mamaroneck Football Club, Ms. Wickliffe Miesner, Larchmont/Mamaroneck Youth Lacrosse, and Ms. Bari Suman, Mamaroneck UFSD. On a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Paonessa, the Commission unanimously approved these requests. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBER: Ms. Fisher introduced new Commission member, Mr. Darren Moss. The Commission welcomed Mr. Moss to the Recreation Commission. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE: Ms. Fisher reported the following: 1 . Staff members are preparing a wide variety of spring and summer program offerings. The Spring/Summer Brochure is now available to view on our website. 2. The March newsletter was enclosed for review. 3. In preparation for the season, 2023 Tennis Membership Renewal forms will be emailed out to all 2022 members. Tennis programs are set to begin on April 10th 4. Enclosed for your review are the February ice rink general admission attendance numbers. 5. The pool is scheduled to be closed for annual maintenance and cleaning during the spring recess, April 1st — 11th. Pool closure reminders have been posted. 6. A Mad Science program will be held for those ages 5 — 9 during the spring break. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes March 14, 2023 — Page 2 SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE CONTINUED: 7. Our Annual 5K Run and Lil' Bunny Hop is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 23rd 8. The Recreation House Hockey program is scheduled to conclude on March 11tn with a total of 93 players. We will be offering additional youth hockey programs this spring, which will include a new Pond Style Hockey League, and Stick Time sessions. 9. The spring Lifeguarding program has an enrollment of 9. 10. The 2023 Ice Breaker Hockey Tournament is scheduled to be held April 27th — 30th 11. Registration for Session 5 of Skating School begins on March 13th 12. The Senior Center Service Fair was a considerable success. Plans are underway for a second fair later in the year. 13. The ice rink will host "Skate with the Easter Bunny" on Saturday, April 1st DEVELOPMENT: 1 . LandTek is scheduled to perform the annual maintenance on the fields. The fields are scheduled to open on April 1st, weather permitting. 2. The Memorial Park Tennis Courts are scheduled to open April 1st, weather permitting. As soon as conditions allow, we will start preparing this facility for opening day. 3. We received a quote to paint the lines for one pickleball court under the tunnel for $1,000. This work will be scheduled as soon as the contractor has availability. 4. Enclosed were photos of the high school lockers that were recently installed in locker room utilized by the Mamaroneck High School hockey team. 5. Security cameras are being installed internally and externally at the Senior Center. 6. The Town will receive $29,495 from the insurance claim for the sewer line leak and repair at the ice rink. The total cost of the repair was approximately $70,000. 7. Commissioner Gutter inquired about why the Hommocks Park Ice Rink does not offer ice skate sharpening. Ms. Fisher informed the Commission that the Town did not want the responsibility of sharpening the blades of private skates. Several years ago we had a contracted service with MYHA who offered this service with a business called The Cut Hut. Eventually they folded up the business and sold off their equipment. TOWN BOARD LIASION, MR. JEFFERY KING UPDATE: Town Board Liaison, Mr. Jeffery King updated the Recreation Commission that the Town Board is looking into putting a new ordinance into the bylaws banning smoking of any kind in all Town parks and facilities. After further discussion, the Recreation Commission is in favor of banning smoking in the Town's parks, fields, and facilities. A resolution supporting this matter is to be sent to the Town Board. All in favor. MEMORIAL PARK UPDATE: Ms. Fisher presented a brief update on the construction at Memorial Park. The demolition work is now complete, and new drainage is being installed. During this demolition phase, the root system of four trees located in front of the tennis courts were damaged. The Town Engineer, Conservation Department, and the Town arborist examined the trees, and a recommendation was made to Town Administration that the trees should be taken down. The courts are scheduled to open on April 1st. A temporary entrance for access to the tennis courts will be available in the back corner. The restroom facilities will most likely not be accessible for a few more weeks, therefore, a porta potty will be made available for tennis and youth sports patrons to use. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes March 14, 2023 — Page 3 DISCUSSION ON NATURAL GRASS VS. ARTIFICAL TURF FOR ATHLETIC FIELD SURFACES: Chairman Druker requested an open discussion on the pros and cons of natural grass fields vs. artificial turf fields. Some of the pros of turf fields that the Commission expressed, was that the turf field is always ready to play on even in rainy weather. Turf fields are also cheaper to maintain. Some cons of turf fields are that they are very hot in the summer months and have a higher injury rate. Summer conditions of a turf field would be too hot of a surface for Hommocks Campers to play on during the camp day. Commissioner Paonessa stated that a turf field, if maintained properly, could last 12 — 15 years. Town Board Liaison, Mr. King, stated that the Fields for Kids study on the Carpino- Steffens field should be available in approximately one month. They will be looking into the feasibility of one turf field, and one grass field. Mr. King will keep the Commission up to date on the findings for further discussion. REQUEST FROM MATT ANGST, HOMMOCKS ICK RINK MANAGER: An email request was received from Matt Angst, Hommocks Park Ice Rink Manger regarding renting the ice rink in the summer for indoor lacrosse. The WestRock Warhogs is a "semi-pro" indoor lacrosse team in the Hudson Valley. They are looking to rent the facility Wednesday nights for practices from 6:00 — 8:00 pm starting June 21st at a rental fee of $150/hour, plus all associated staff costs. They are also looking for 2 — 3 time slots for one Saturday or Sunday for games. Games would consist of two teams with approximately ten players each, referees, and a limited number of fans. They would like to charge an admittance fee of $10 for the games, and expect between twenty - thirty fans at each game. They will need access to the locker rooms as well as the scoreboard. After further discussion, a motion by Commissioner Paonessa, seconded by Commissioner Gutter, the Commission unanimously approved this request. REQUEST FROM VICKY LAOUTARIS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT: A request was received from Vicky Laoutaris, Assistant Superintendent regarding instituting a camp recruitment and retainment incentive for administrative camp staff. In trying to stay competitive with recruiting new hires and retaining current employees, Ms. Laoutaris is requesting consideration to offer an incentive that would be available to all administrative camp positions that would allow their children to attend the Hommocks Camp or Camp Rockingstone at a reduced rate of 50% of the current resident-based camp fee. After further discussion, the Recreation Commission felt that incentives should be for all staff, and not just staff that have children. The Commission has denied this request as submitted. 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 8:25 P.M.