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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-05 - Parks and Rec Advisory Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 938 KING STREET,RYE BROOK,NEW YORK 10573 October 5,2010 Convene Meeting: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:55pm. The following Members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Ken Frankel, Richard Gunner Kevin O'Neil, Sari Jablon, Glenn Brettschneider,Jeffrey Kornblum Jamie Schutzer,Adam Berman Recreation Department Member: Robert Bertolacci, Parks &Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant Trustee Michael Brown,Parks & Recreation Liaison Frank Errigo,Rye Brook Parks Foreman 1. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to accept the September 14, 2010 Minutes. Committee Member Berman made a motion to accept the September 14, 2010 Minutes and Committee Member Gutner seconded the motion. The September 14,2010 Minutes were approved and all accepted. 11. Public View Points: Frank Errigo, Rye Brook Parks Foreman attended the meeting to discuss the maintenance in the parks. He stated that he was in attendance on his own time without the prior knowledge of Superintendent Bertolacci. Mr. Errigo stated that it is getting tougher to maintain the quality of the parks with the money that is budgeted to the parks. As an example, he stated that we lost 26 trees in Rye Hills and 8 trees in Pine Ridge Park due to a storm in May, but there is not any extra budgeted money for new plantings. Mr. Errigo stated there is about 50 to 60 acres of parks to take care of with a budget of only approximately $90,000, which he feels is not enough to produce the quality of work the Village is used to. The cost of wind screens and tennis nets went up and we had to replace the basketball hoops,which was not budgeted for. We also just spent $1,500 for a couple of pitcher's mounds and home plates. Mr. Errigo stated that most people who are moving into a community first look at the school and second to where there children will go for recreation and what programs are offered. However, he believes that in all municipalities the first thing cut in the budget is parks and recreation because they say it is a non-essential service. Mr. Errigo said that the reason he was present was to ask for a little more money in the budget so he can do my job. Chairman Zimmerman asked Mr. Errigo where specifically he felt he was under-budgeted. We know the baseball fields are so over used and they have to be re-sodded and re-clayed, but where else specifically would he look to improve the parks if he were to get more money in the new budget year? Mr. Errigo stated that 34 trees were lost during the May storm and that he can't replace what was lost because he is taking care of other things that come up and there is no cushion for the extras that are needed. He just wants to keep up the standards that this community has been accustomed to, and would ask for a $10,000 to $15,000 increase in the budget to do some of the plantings in Rye Hills, Pine Ridge and Garibaldi Park. 1128375.1 Committee Member Berman suggested that Mr. Errigo put a list together of things needed,prioritize them and estimate a dollar amount for the plantings and specifically where he thinks the plantings should go. That would help Superintendent Bertolacci when the new budget time comes around. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he would sit with Mr. Errigo in a week or so and compile a list of things needed for the parks. Trustee Brown asked if Mr. Errigo is requesting this to come from a discretionary budget line. Superintendent Bertolacci said Mr. Errigo is trying to plant the seed for the upcoming budget year for parks and recreation. Trustee Brown stated that it would be beneficial for Mr. Errigo to work with Superintendent Bertolacci to help set up what he is going to be asking for in the new budget. The recommendation would have to go to the Superintendent and then to Chris Bradbury and then to the Village Board when the budget gets discussed. Trustee Brown stated that one area where we actually get some monetary help is from the residents. If a resident makes a request to take down a tree of significant size that requires a permit and there is no room to replace a tree on their property, they have to donate a certain amount of money to the Village which would be used for planting. Mr. Errigo said that in the last 3 years we lost about 100 trees in Rye Hills Park alone. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he and Mr. Errigo discussed the upcoming request for parks each year. Last year we were required to cut budgets by 5%, and we considered may factors in the budget. However, at the end of the day,the park budget increased from the prior year. Mr. Errigo stated that he read an article in the Westmore News about the easement at Elm Hill Park being a hot topic for the residents who live in that area. That easement would enhance the day camp program as a pass through from Elm Hill and Pine Ridge Park to Crawford Park. Trustee Brown stated that the easement is not going to be done. III. Superintendent's Report a. Fall Programming Update Superintendent Bertolacci reported that we had to cancel Bizzi Bees because there weren't enough kids registered. The cooking class had 4 Middle School participants registered but we cancelled because the instructor from D'Agostino backed out. Basketball registration is down from 327 players last year to 204 this year. Not all of the ratings are done yet. When we get through all the ratings we will send out an e-mail as a reminder before the basketball draft takes place. Committee Member Berman said one of the parents set up a team for 7t'' grade boys which may be why the rec program for that age group is down. b. Little League Wrap-Up Little League Wrap-Up was discussed at last month's meeting, and there was nothing further to report. e. Town Camp Surveys Copies of the town camp surveys were handed out to the council members. Superintendent Bertolacci sent out an e-mail this afternoon regarding the camp survey asking for any comments from the council. 1128375.1 Committee Member Berman stated that on the travel camp report the total salaries this year was up $11,200 from last year. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that was due to the hiring of additional staff to cover the increased number of campers. Committee Member O'Neil asked if the bullying incident referred to on one of the camp evaluations was looked into. Superintendent Bertolacci said the incident was dealt with. These kids that were bullying were brought to the camp director's office. Committee Member Berman asked if their parents were notified. Superintendent said the parents were called. Committee Member O'Neil asked if there is bullying training for the staff. Superintendent Bertolacci said there is a camp orientation for the counselors. The camp director goes over the policies and procedures of camp. Chairman Zimmerman said we probably should get someone for an hour to come to camp orientation and talk about bullying. Maybe we can get an educator or someone from the community. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that, with respect to any incidents of bullying, the first offense they are sent to the office, the second time their parents are called in and the third incident, the child is suspended or dismissed from camp. Committee Member Jablon said that one of the suggestions in the camp report was to create a tip pool, which sounded like a good idea. She has heard that a lot of people didn't give tips because there were so many counselors to tip. Superintendent Bertolacci pointed out that we are public employees and technically we are not supposed to get tips, especially our full time staff. A lot of the comments regarding tipping came from the travel camp where there were 14 counselors and they were all grouped together. Chairman Zimmerman reiterated what Kyle said in the camp report that the pavilion was insufficient on hot and rainy days with the number of kids that were in camp this year. We may have about the same number of campers,if not more,next year and we may need to think about how to get the kids more space to spread out on such days. Committee Member Berman also stated that Kyle recommended that the camp be cut off at a certain point with a max maybe of 200 campers. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that on rainy days, some kids are swimming, some are doing arts and crafts and some kids are at the school gym. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he may look into relocating the travel camp for next year. The travel camp participants and day camp all got dropped off and picked up at Crawford Park and it was a bit congested. Having the travel camp elsewhere would eliminate traffic congestion. Superintendent Bertolacci also stated that the buses for travel camp couldn't navigate the Crawford driveway after the construction was done on Ridge Street. The first time they tried to turn into the park, a section of the wall was knocked out. On trip days the kids got picked up and dropped off on Betsy Brown by the buses. IV. Basketball Sub-Committee a. Membership Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he spoke with Steve Schoen and he is still interested in being on the basketball sub-committee. 1128375.1 Chairman Zimmerman stated that the basketball sub-committee had not met to recommend to the Chairman whether to increase the size or change the members on the sub-committee. Such a recommendation is tabled until the next Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meeting after the sub- committee has met and made a recommendation. b. Maximum Number of Coaches Per Team Chairman Zimmerman stated that there was an issue regarding a potential rule change or administrative change concerning the maximum number of coaches per basketball team. Committee Member Berman stated that last year we were allowed to have 3 coaches who requested to coach a team together and this year Janice, through Superintendent Bertolacci, said that 2 was the maximum for all teams. Superintendent Bertolacci said that if there are 3 coaches per team, that means that automatically those 3 kids (or more if twins are involved) are out of the draft and on the same team. There are only 5 kids on the court at one time and 8 kids on a team. If they are top basketball players, you can't even up that team even if you give them the 5 worst players, because you still have 3 top players on the court. Committee Member Jablon said it's about the kids and it's not about the parents coaching together. Why would you need 3 parents coaching together? Committee Member Berman stated you need more coaches to ensure enough coaches will be at the rec games with all the other conflicts. For example, there is a virgin group that has broken off from CYP and is now playing AAU in Greenwich. The games also are on Saturdays and Sundays, and although Janice does a great job minimizing the conflicts between the games, it still makes it difficult for coaches to attend every rec game. Last year at the rec games there was a maximum of one or two coaches, and it is very difficult for a coach to watch the game, coach the kids, substitute the players,etc. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that there are only 2 coaches that are guaranteed to be together on request,but any parent who wishes to coach may help out the team they are on. Committee Member Berman stated that some people won't coach because they are intimidated by the process. It starts at an early age for your children that parents pair up and they coach together in every sport. Committee Member Berman suggested that for anyone that wants to coach put the names in a hat and do a ranking system and you will have much fairer teams. Superintendent Bertolacci said that in previous years, it was discussed that if a parent is volunteering their time to coach a team,you should at least coach with someone you enjoy being with. Chairman Zimmerman stated that if Superintendent Bertolacci and Janice think that having 2 coaches per team is a good decision that will improve the program from last year,we should support the decision. Superintendent Bertolacci said if any of the coaches think that the teams are not fair at the draft, they will be required to say so then. After the draft is done, no changes will be made. V. Old Business a. Rec Soccer Programming Chairman Zimmerman suggested that we keep rec soccer programming on the Agenda for Old Business for a while. The concept is that we should be looking at a program for the little kids. b. Rye Brook T-Shirt Sales Superintendent Bertolacci said that the t-shirts will be on display for sale at the concession stand each week. VI. New Business 1128375.1 a. Ree Basketball Programming for Grades K and 1"Grade Committee Member Schutzer stated that our kids in Kindergarten go to the Rye Y and the program is terrible. Superintendent Bertolacci said that rec has a kindergarten and 15t grade basketball program in the winter. It is an after school program run by the recreation department. We did have an outside contractor, Teaches Hoops,but he didn't want to pay our percentage as an outside contractor. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Larry Gilman contacted him to do a winter sports program during the winter vacation. In the past he has worked with the PTA at Ridge Street School but he no longer works with the PTA. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he would contact the PTA to find out why Gilman left the school. b. Halloween Parade/Costume Contest Chairman Zimmerman suggested we think about a Halloween parade/costume contest for next year (it is too late to try and run the program at this late date). Chairman Zimmerman also asked the council members to come up with some community events for the next meeting. VII.Adjournment: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member O'Neil seconded the motion. All approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:20pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council will be held on November 2, 2010 at 8:30pm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 1128375.1