Chatham Parks & Recreation Commission
July 6, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Second-Floor Meeting Room
Community Center, Chatham
Members Present: Michael Seidewand, Chair; Joyce Reynolds, and Ira Seldin
Members Absent: Mike Ryder, Meredith Fry
Staff: Dan Tobin
Others: Bob Snowden, Jade Skyler, and Adrienne Bates
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mike Seidewand
Item 1: Kenny Owens Memorial Soccer Tournament
Adrienne Bates presented information about a Soccer Jamboree (Tournament) being developed in memory of her brother, Kenny Owens. The tournament will involve three age groups of boys and will include clinics, games and awards in a two-day time period. Proposed date: Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29. The players will use the Little League field, the area behind the Community Center, and Veteran’s Field.
In discussion, questions were asked about a rain date (none was designated), vendors, and food concessions. Dan Tobin indicated that any food concessions will need to seek approval from the Board of Health.
MOTION: Joyce Reynolds made the following motion, seconded by Ira Seldin: That the Parks & Recreation Commission approve the use of the playing fields for the Kenny Owen’s Memorial Soccer Tournament on August 28 and 29.
Discussion:
In response to a question regarding conflicts on those dates, Dan Tobin indicated that one possible conflict involved the men’s baseball league but it is likely that the game can be rescheduled for late afternoon or evening on Sunday of that weekend.
Vote: The motion passed by a vote of 3 – 0
Item 2: Chatham Farmer’s Market
Jade Skyler and Bob Snowden outlined their proposal for a farmers’ market on the Community Center grounds on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bob Snowden indicated that there was support from Ellen Ford at the Chatham Council on Aging (which is holding a similar farmers’ market on Saturday afternoons) and that a petition in support of the farmers’ market has been signed by 350 people. He stated that the vendor group was willing to use the front lawn whenever it is available and to move to the rear lawn when there is a conflict with craft and art groups.
Joyce Reynolds indicated that her primary concern was related to safety issues.
Mike Seidewand asked about the number of conflicts for use of the front lawn. Dan Tobin indicated that there were four Saturdays when art/craft fairs were scheduled.
Joyce Reynolds asked about a requirement for a police detail. Dan Tobin indicated that the art/craft fairs were being required to provide a police detail. There was discussion about the possibility of the farmers’ market vendor group sharing the cost of this detail. Bob Snowden indicated that they would be willing to share the cost on a proportional basis. Dan Tobin will investigate the cost of the police detail and provide information regarding a fair share of this cost. Bob Snowden indicated that they expect to open initially with 6 to 8 vendors while the craft groups are composed of 20 or more vendors.
Mike Seidewand suggested that $100 would be a fair share of the police detail.
There was discussion about hours of operation, the size of trucks and tents involved, preferred locations in the back of the community center. Mike Seidewand suggested that the set-up might be best if back against the Little League fence. Jade Skyler and Bob Snowden will meet with Dan Tobin to determine the best location when the market moves into the back lawn of the community center.
There was discussion about fee for the use of the lawn. Bob Snowden said that the COA is charging $20 per vendor per week. Ira Seldin suggested that $20 per vendor might be a good fee for the initial year. Mike Seidewand agreed with that amount and added a suggested minimum of $100.
Dan Tobin agreed to make arrangements with the art/craft fair vendors regarding a contribution to the police detail costs.
Bob Snowden indicated that they hope to operate the farmers’ market until late October and expressed a hope that the group would be able to assist in educational programs, citing a similar program in Yarmouth. He also suggested having an author/lecture tent to provide information about sustainability and the history of Chatham agriculture and aquaculture.
There was mention of the Community Center’s scarecrow contest. Bob Snowden suggested that the farmers’ market vendors might be able to provide materials for this event. He also mentioned a possible community event in the fall which could involve the farmers’ market group.
MOTION: Joyce Reynolds made the following motion, seconded by Ira Seldin: That the Parks & Recreation Commission approve the operation of a Farmers’ Market to be held on the front lawn of the Community Center from now until the end of October, with the exception of conflicting dates when the market will be held on the back lawn of the Community Center.
Discussion:
It was generally agreed that a fee of $20 per day per vendor would be charged, with a minimum fee of $100, and that the farmers’ market vendors would contribute $100 to the police detail on the four dates when there is a conflict with art/craft fairs.
Vote: The motion passed by a vote of 3-0
Item 3: Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2010 – because of a lack of a quorum of those who attended the June 1 meeting, it was agreed to review these minutes at the next meeting.
June 22, 2010 – Minutes were approved with the following corrections:
• Page 3: Change “town” to “tour”
• Page 3: Following the second motion, add: “Joyce Reynolds requested that Mike Seidewand, chair, communicate our directive in writing to the Town Manager.”
• Page 2, Paragraph C, first paragraph: change to read: “Ira Seldin read a portion of a memorandum from the Town Manager to the Parks & Recreation Commission which addressed issues about a breakdown in communications between the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Harbormaster. He also read a portion of the Parks & Recreation Commission minutes from the February 23, 2010 meeting where Stuart Smith had agreed to change the Town Landing Regulations to require a sign-off from ferry operators using town landings and a motion was made to request that Stuart Smith require all ferry operators to sign off on an educational requirement regarding beach safety. Stuart Smith was not at the February 23 meeting and the information/request was not properly communicated to
him.”
• Page 5, 4th bullet: Change “In a timely fashion” to “immediately”
• Page 7, Item 13: add “met and” so the sentence reads as follows: Dan Tobin and Joyce Reynolds met and determined that plantings done by Friends of Trees should be moved.
Item 4: Fitness Center Policy
There was discussion about the membership/use regulations for the Fitness Center, prompted by a recent request for a visiting grandchild of a member (age 16) to be able to use the facility.
Dan Tobin indicated that current regulations do not permit this use, as they state that 18 year-old students may use the facility as part of a family membership, and that 16- and 17-year-old students must have a note signed by a legal guardian.
Mike Seidewand suggested that the room be accessible to children 14 and 15 if accompanied by parents and children 16 and 17 be allowed to use the room with a parental permission sign-off.
There was discussion about how busy the facility is and the hours it is open. Concern was expressed by Ira Seldin and Joyce Reynolds about other visiting family members wanting to use the facility, i.e., nieces, nephews, siblings, etc. The current policy indicates that the facility is for the use of Chatham residents only.
MOTION: Mike Seidewand made the following motion, seconded by Joyce Reynolds: That the Fitness Center Regulations be amended to allow 14- and 15-year-old students to the use the facility if accompanied by a parent who has a family membership.
Vote: The motion passed by a vote of 3 – 0.
Item 5: Permission to Use
Items circulated for signature:
• Farmers’ Market
• Kenny Owens Memorial Soccer Tournament
• Chatham Clergy Association – request for Sunday services at Oyster Pond beach
Item 6: Other Business
• Trash pick-up at Ridgevale Beach – This is done daily
• Hardings’ Beach parking lot full on Fourth of July weekend – no “lot full” sign in use
• Minutes of February 23 meeting. Ira Seldin requested that Marie Williams review the minutes to determine how notes compare with final minutes. At issue, information about Stuart Smith and his agreement to require sign-off by ferry operators.
• Designated drop-off spots – not necessary as long as ferry operators are not dropping people near the Pleasant Bay cut. Dan Tobin reported that Stuart Smith has notified all operators of the closure of the new cut as a drop-off location.
• Name plaques for Commissioners have been ordered
• Handball tournament – successful event
• Cape Cod lifesaving competition to be held at Harding’s Beach on Thursday, August 12.
Item 7: Board of Selectmen Update – 7/13/10
Dan Tobin indicated that he will provide an overview of Community Center use at the upcoming meeting of the Board of Selectmen. He distributed a two-page summary of activities in the Community Center. This will be consolidated to a single page for the presentation to the Board of Selectmen. Commissioners present agreed to attend the 7/13 meeting. General information about Park & Recreation programs/activities will be presented. Ira Seldin suggested including the beach information brochures in the presentation. Special mention was made of:
• Windmill restoration in Chase Park
• Improved communications with Chatham Anglers
Item 8: Next Meeting - The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Item 9: Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Notes by Marie Williams
Approved 7-20-10
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