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MINUTES OF THE placePlaceNameRAYNHAM PlaceTypePARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
Regular Monthly Meeting, April 7, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
placePlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter, addressStreet2215 King Philip Street, CityRaynham, StateMA
In Attendance: Chair Chris Shaw, Commissioner Joe Doyle, Commissioner Jim Sullivan, Director Elizabeth Francis, and Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary SJ Blanchard.
Chairman Chris Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. He accepted a motion made by Joe to accept as printed the minutes of the March 3, 2009 Commission meeting; Jim then seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved.
Dave Butler, president of the Borden Colony Radio Control Club, was present with questions about the access road. Liz suggested that they “play it by ear,” and for the time being, members should continue doing what they’ve been doing and other arrangements will be made as necessary. placeCityButler said that he is expecting to receive the insurance policy renewal any day. Liz asked him to notify her prior to their first outing. Jim made a motion to approve the permit, with a $300 fee assessed. Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
A discussion followed on the Borden Colony farmland proposal. Liz reported that bids were opened last Friday, April 3, at Town Hall, and that there was only one bid/proposal submitted, that being from Olson’s Greenhouses, Inc. of addressStreet590 South Street East, CityRaynham, StateMA for Parcel C and/or B. It was uncertain whether or not the Board of Selectmen would be acting on this proposal at their meeting this evening, however to date, no input has been submitted to them from either the Park & Recreation or the Conservation Commissions, or the Borden Colony Advisory Committee relative to this proposal.
Liz distributed copies of the Olson’s 19-page non-price proposal and one-page price proposal to the Commissioners for their review. It included a five-year farm plan which outlined plans to continue with and expand the potted mum production in Year One, vegetables and other crops in Year Two, flowering perennial shrubs in Year Three, and an expansion of the prior three years in Years Four and Five. Liz stated that she remains concerned about the erosion issues and where this proposed tenant would place their growing mats. It was noted that their proposal did not expand upon any plans to prevent further erosion between the growing mats. She added that she had spoken to at least nine individuals and sent and/or hand-delivered RFPs to several others.
There is a concern that as former lease-holders, Olson’s Greenhouses, Inc. have not fulfilled past agreements as set forth in the 21-item contingency plan in their May 2008 lease extension, and that their proposed method of agriculture is not the best use of the land. Also, although their former lease expired in October, 2008, growing mats and other materials remain at the site. There is the additional concern that should the Conservation Commission issue a DEP enforcement order due to the sheet runoff and erosion issues created at Borden Colony by Olson’s’ past practices, the town as landowners would be responsible for the remediation, which could cost upwards of $30,000. Additionally, the cost of keeping these unfarmed parcels mowed is $8,000 annually.
The Commission’s options include 1)re-opening the RFP/bidding process, 2)voting to approve the Olson’s proposal, or 3)voting to disapprove the Olson’s proposal and not lease to anyone.
The Chairman stressed the Commission’s need to take some action on this, and added that he was bothered by the non-commitment to anything until Year 3. He added that the Park & Recreation and the Conservation Commissions, together with the Borden Colony Advisory Committee, would all like to work together with the Olson’s to negotiate a lease that would be tenable and satisfactory to all.
Joe made the following motion: After careful consideration of the proposal submitted by Olson’s Greenhouses, Inc., the PlaceNameplaceRaynham PlaceTypePark and Recreation Commission recommends to the Board of Selectmen that said Olson’s proposal, dated April 3, 2009, not be accepted as submitted for the following reasons:
1. due to the lack of a farm plan commitment for Year Two;
2. due to the lack of a commitment towards the removal of the Parcel H growing operation as agreed upon in the spring of 2008;
3. due to the lack of incremental increases in subsequent annual rent payments.
Jim seconded the motion, and a unanimous vote followed.
The following field-use permits were acted on:
PlaceNameplace1. Northbrook PlaceTypeAcademy requested the use of the field around the gazebo, as well as the cross-country track, the tennis and volleyball courts from 3 to 5 p.m. for 14 Mondays and Thursdays throughout the spring. It was noted that 51% of their student body is made up of Raynham and CityplaceBridgewater students. In addition, the academy has not yet paid its $250 fee owed from 2008. Joe made a motion to approve the permit, pending receipt of the $250 fee owed from 2008, with an
additional $250 fee assessed for the spring 2009 season. Jim seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
2. Old Colony Men’s Soccer League (Bob Davis’ Raynham team) requests one full-sized soccer field for Monday night games starting at 6 p.m. from June 1 – Aug. 17, 2009. In addition, a soccer field is requested for Monday nights during the month of May for tryouts, recruitment, and practices. Joe made a motion to approve the permit application with an assessed fee of $500. Jim seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
3. Clube Espirito Santo Soccer Team requests any available field for games on Sunday mornings between April 26 and July 19, 2009. Jim made a motion to approve the use of Legion Field with an assessed fee of $250. Joe seconded the motion and a fee discussion followed. Jim made an amended motion to increase the fee to $500; Joe seconded and a unanimous vote followed. It was further noted that we are awaiting receipt of this group’s insurance policy.
4. DePuy, Johnson & Johnson requests the use of the Borden Colony softball field from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays between May 1 and Sept. 18, 2009. These dates are viewed as encompassing two seasons, thereby doubling the seasonal rate of $500 to $1,000. Jim made a motion to approve this field-use application with a combined assessed fee of $1,000. Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
5. Raynham Softball League requested the use of addressStreetElm Street West’s Reid softball field Mondays through Fridays from 5:30 p.m. until dusk, starting either April 27 or May 4, 2009 and continuing through Sept. 18, 2009. Their 10-team roster indicates mostly out-of-towners. Jim made a motion to approve the application with an assessed fee of $1,000. Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
The Commissioners established the following future meeting schedule: May 5, June 2, July 7, and Aug. 4, 2009. All meetings will take place on Tuesday evenings, starting at 6 p.m. at the placePlaceNameRaynham PlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter.
The Chairman noted that he has heard high praise from two different families about our childcare programs and staff.
SJ distributed figures for the Department’s accounts, income and expenditures during the third quarter of FY09. All seem fairly sound through the end of the year, particularly the expense account, due in large part to lower heating oil costs as well as no longer needing to heat the former storage trailer. SJ will provide Commissioners with YTD totals for office heating oil this week.
Liz reported on the following:
· She distributed for the Commissioners’ review copies of the department’s 2/28/09 financial reports, which are generated monthly by the town’s accounting department and lists all deposits and expenditures made to date, as well as the running balances.
· She read aloud a thank you note received from the family of a child enrolled in our kindergarten program that has both a parent and a younger sibling with serious illnesses. The note expressed gratitude for the Commission’s awarding of a scholarship for the kindergartener through the end of the school year.
· Currently we have 21 kindergarten wrap-around enrollees for this fall. That number may change with the start of the public school’s pilot full-day kindergarten this fall. It is hoped that our space will not be affected. Should our two classrooms be reduced to one, our licensing capacity will be affected through the change of square footage available. At that point, the possible use of space in the placePlaceNameLaLiberte PlaceTypeSchool may be looked into.
· The FY10 budget has been submitted and the Finance Committee will be meeting tonight with the Board of Selectmen to review the budgets, although it is doubtful that they will be finalized at this point. It has been said that the larger departments are being looked towards to make the most drastic cuts.
· This summer’s playground program cannot lose money; pricing will be set competitively with other programs in the area.
· In light of the Board of Selectmen’s directive to generate more revenue, Liz presented the Commission with the idea of increasing childcare costs for the fall. No one can remember the last time that rates were increased; certainly not within the last three years. The state’s reimbursement rates are higher than our rates. Their reimbursement for after-school care is $15.85 per day while we’re only charging $12 per day. The state’s before-school reimbursement rate is $7.65 per day while we charge only $6 per day. The Chairman suggested raising our rates $1 per morning, to $7 or $35/wk. and $2 per afternoon, to $14 or
$70/wk. The kindergarten wraparound program rate of $90/wk. will remain the same as it is already higher than what the public school is proposing to charge for its pilot full-day kindergarten program this fall.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
SJ Blanchard
Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary
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