Chatham Park and Recreation Committee
January 28, 2009
Community Center Meeting Room
Members present: Chairman W. Gary Anderson, Robert Dow, Meredith Fry, Michael Seidewand, Joyce Reynolds and Michael Brady
Town Officials: Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Sean Summers, Selectmen David Whitcomb and Florence Seldin and Board of Health Representative Ted Whitaker
Public Attendance: Monomoy Community Services Director Theresa Malone, Sue Linnell of WOFF
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Anderson at 5:30 p.m.
Theresa Malone was before the Commission to request permission to hold a community based event on the Community Center lawn area. Monomoy is proposing to purchase projection equipment to show movies on the back wall of the Community Center. The movies would not be held the same nights as Angler’s games or band concerts. Concession stands will be allowed for groups trying to raise funds; i.e. prom party funding, parents groups etc. Ms. Malone proposes 6-8 movies run throughout the summer season.
Mr. Dow made a motion to recommend approval of the request. Mr. Seidewand seconded the motion and all voted in favor; 5-0-0. (Mr. Brady was not in attendance for this vote.)
Presentations of PTU’s
Sue Linnell, Vice President of Women of Fishing Families, is requesting to use the Community Center Gymnasium and yard for the Maritime Festival. A craft fair would be held in the gymnasium and in the yard a tent would hold food vendors and a place for a band. The proposed date for the festival is Saturday, May 9th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, with Board of Selectmen approval, alcohol would be served and consumed in a marked off area.
Mrs. Reynolds made a motion to recommend approval of the request. Mrs. Fry seconded the motion and all voted in favor; 6-0-0.
Permission to Use Applications
Mr. Tobin reviewed the PTU applications.
- Broadway Kids – use of teen room
- Chatham Concerned Taxpayers – use of meeting room
- CHS Varsity Baseball – use of Veterans Field for the school season (w/condition of putting up fence coverings)
- Monomoy Community Services – as previously discussed
- U.S. Census Bureau – use of meeting room to test applicants applying for census employment during two different dates in February
- Chatham Municipal Employees Association - use of meeting room
- WOFF – as previously discussed
- Baseball Clubs of Cape Cod – request for the use of Veterans Field on Wednesday nights
- Monomoy Yacht Club – annual picnic at Hardings Beach
- Creative Arts Center – annual festival event on the Community Center grounds – Commissioners suggest fee be set at $1,000 – Mr. Tobin will discuss fee with applicant before signing application approval
- Request for wedding at Cockle Cove Beach
- Paul Lagg, of the Community Development Dept., requests meeting room space to run a transportation improvement meeting with the Chatham Bike-way thru June
Request for meeting space from the new West Chatham Village Association for a public meeting on March 5
Request for meeting room space for the Chatham Health Dept. on April 29 to run a food safety seminar
- Chatham Historical Society request for meeting room space for a Sunday, August 16th meeting. There will be a $50 fee for the additional cost of opening the building and staffing it on a Sunday.
Chatham Athletic Assoc. requests the use of Veterans Field for the use of baseball games and clinics. (Chairman Anderson has tabled this request until further information about police details at the Angler’s games is received.)
Chairman Updates
Chairman Anderson detailed the updates:
- Bill Bystrom has proposed building a Habitat House in the open area at the top of Veterans Field on Depot Street.
- David Doherty has proposed putting the boathouse at Jackknife Harbor
- The Christy’s Site Plan proposes a path from the Community Center to the store; to have a safe path for the kids. Christy’s is willing to construct with Town approval.
- If there are any amendments to the Annual Report, contact Mr. Tobin
- The Chairman would like to have a building staff review plan in place to stay on top of the staffing needs for both day and night center hours.
Agenda item to for next meeting to review Open Space and Recreation Plan (section 8 commissioners’ review) Gary ask for commissioners to review and what if its park and rec view and up-to-date
Lighthouse Beach
Discussion between the Commissioners, Board of Selectmen and a member of the Board of Health began regarding the current closure status of Lighthouse Beach and the future plan.
Mr. Whittaker, the only representative from the Board of Health (BoH), explained that the BoH’s decision to close the beach came after hearing various facts about the beaches hazards (fast currents, unstable bottom, etc.) from Dr. Duncanson and the feeling that the beach was unsafe with conditions constantly changing. He continued to say that lifeguards on a beach give the illusion of a bathing beach.
However, there was concern by the group that if a beach is totally closed, there is no way to monitor the beachgoers because there are no regulations in place to deal with a closed beach. It was suggested that the BoH visit the beach and investigate first hand the criteria used in the decision to close the beach.
Discussion continued with the overall feeling that the point, the most unsafe area of the beach should remain closed. Also various scenarios such as manning the beach with one ATV at the point with a sled, a jet ski and a two person staffed boat in the immediate area were options to keep the beach safer. In effect, the lifeguards/ocean guards will be mobile.
Other options discussed were placing signs warning the public of the strong, constant changing currents in the area as well as a possible flag system. The group felt communication with the public and the various tourist information agencies will be an important tool for keeping the Lighthouse Beach visitors more informed of the precautions that need to be taken when visiting Lighthouse Beach.
South Beach
There has been a petition submitted to the Board of Selectmen by residents requesting permission to drive on South Beach during the off-season.
There were concerns by Ms. Fry that the initial entrance on to South Beach would mean crossing over private property and once out to South Beach, people may try to cross over to Monomoy as well as.
After hearing various concerns by the Commissioners and the Selectmen, Chairman Anderson set a public hearing date of March 3, 2009 at 5:30 pm. in the Community Center Meeting Room to hear the public’s views and interest in the matter.
Request for Surf Rake
Chairman Anderson said the surf rake did a very good job in the demonstration. He feels that a good quality beach is expected when visitors come to Chatham and a rake for the beaches would be a huge improvement.
Mr. Tobin indicated that the surf rake is not being funded in the five year capital plan at this point; however he is discussing with the Town Manager the option of using monies from the Stabilization Fund.
The Board of Selectmen adjourned their portion of the Park and Recreation Committee meeting at 7:20 p.m.
RFP’s for Veterans Field – Two Different RFP’s
There will be two separate RFP’s for Veteran’s Fields services; one RFP for concessions (clothing etc.) and one RFP for food services. Proposals are restricted to those from non-profit organizations from the Town and how those organization to the youth in Chatham will benefit from their organization.
(Mr. Brady chose to remain in the discussion.)
Mr. Dow made a motion to issue the RFP’s exactly like last year, with a fee $2,000. ($200 when contract is signed, then $900 paid in July and $900 paid in August). Mr. Dow continued his motion indicating the food services contract will be for one year and the contract for merchandise will be for two years. Mr. Seidewand seconded the motion and all voted in favor; 6-0.
Beach Access for Servicemen
Mr. Dow proposed to the Commission that any active servicemen and their families be allowed free access to the beaches at Cockle Cove, Ridgevale and Hardings.
After some discussion, it was agreed to limit the access to Hardings Beach where there is more available parking than the other suggested beaches.
Mr. Brady made a motion to allow any active serviceman, who presents a military I.D. at Hardings Beach, be permitted access to the beach for free including all members in his/her vehicle. Mr. Anderson seconded the motion. Mr. Anderson and Ms. Reynolds voted in opposition, all others voted to approve. The motion passed with a 4-2 vote.
Sports Uniforms
The issue of turning uniforms back in at the end of a sporting season was discussed. Some members felt the current system of the players keeping the shirt was fine considering the uniform t-shirts cost was about $5.00. However, some members felt it would be more cost effective to have the uniforms be turned back in as well as teaching a level of responsibility to the player.
Chairman Anderson decided to table the discussion until the full Commission was in attendance. He asked that Mr. Tobin review the cost details of keeping the uniforms as opposed to turning them back in and present at the next meeting.
The next meeting date will be Tuesday, February 24 at 6pm.
There was a motion to adjourn by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Ms. Reynolds. The meeting was adjourned at 8:08p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Love Monahan
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