PARKS COMMISSION

April 2nd, 2014

7:00 P.M.

PRESENT: Tom Battaglia, Roger Pacos, A.J. Balch, Terri DiMaggio, Janet Nalbone, and Evie Sievert

Meeting called to order by A.J. Balch at 7:02

A motion was made by Terri DiMaggioand seconded by Janet Nalboneto approve theMarch, 2014 minutes. All in favor.

Old Business

Easter Program:

  • Will be held on Saturday, April 12th at Fredonia Elementary School
  • Set up around 12:30 PM
  • Kids put together their bags at 1:00
  • “In Jest” will begin around 1:30
  • Easter bag materials will include:
  • Color your own Easter bags
  • Crayons
  • Activity Books
  • Plush Bunnies
  • Welch’s fruit snacks
  • Candy suckers
  • Valvo’s Candy bunnies. Small ones for the bags. 13 larger chocolate bunnies to raffle off.
  • Laona Easter Egg Hunt will be on 4/19 at 10 AM

New Business

Gazebo Concert Series:

  • All dates have been confirmed through verbal agreements.
  • Tom will be meeting with Village Board to see what impact the closing of Carriage House will have on the concert budget.
  • Result of budget meeting – Unfortunately, the concert budget has been reduced to $2350. The verbal agreements I had in place totaled $4275. I have been reaching out to all the bands to see if they’d be willing to play for half of their original cost for this year only. So far, many of the bands have been willing to significantly reduce their rate, and I hope to be able to keep much of the planned schedule intact. Next summer, there will be very little alternative but to cut back on the number of concerts.

Attic and Cellar Days:

  • Evie will be using the Laona Playground for a craft and yard sale.
  • Tom will work with Dan Bigelow from the Town Highway Dept. to make sure the facility is ready to be used

Summer Recreation:

  • Program will run from Monday June 30th – Friday August 8th.
  • Applications have been sent to last year’s staff and are due back by April 11th.
  • At this point, 5 playground attendants and 3 lifeguards will not be returning. Looking at attendance numbers from last year, I believe the staff we have returning will be adequate to do the job, and I don’t see the need to make any new hires for the playground positions. I will be looking to replace 1 lifeguard position.
  • The reduction to a 6 week program from 8 weeks will save the village approximately $9000, and the town approximately $5500.
  • Due to budget cutbacks, there will be a reduction in Picnic in the Park / Field Day entertainment.
  • We should still be able to have 2 RJP movie nights.
  • Frozen, Cars, Reo 2, and Ant Bullies were some suggestions.
  • Tom will still arrange private showings for kids at their home playgrounds.
  • We must start to come up with a plan to rent our movie equipment to generate income for eventual replacement (which is hopefully a long way down the road), or any necessary recreation activities.

For the Good of the Order:

  • Annual playground walkthrough will be Saturday May 3 at 10 AM
  • FTA will sponsor a park cleanup at RJP on May 17th
  • Next meeting will be Wednesday May 6th at 7 PM at Village Hall
  • Motion to Adjourn by Roger Pacos, seconded by Terri DiMaggio. Carried.

Minutes submitted by Evie Sievert