2014-01-09
TOWN OF BERLIN
Parks and Recreation Commission
230 Kensington Road • Berlin, CT 06037
Thursday, January 9, 2014
7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE
:
Present:
Commissioners
Len Zielinski-Chairman Charles Warner Robert Sylvester Don Dellaquila
Fred Jortner Jr., Steve Hinchliffe,
Staff
Art Volz - Superintendent of Public Grounds
Jon Zuk – Golf Course Manager
Jerry Salvio – Timberlin Golf
Marc Bayram – Golf Pro
Absent:
Debbie Dennis - Superintendent of Recreation, Commissioner Donna Bovee
AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
th
Commissioner Dellaquila made a motion to approve the November 14 meeting minutes,
seconded by Commissioner Sylvester. The motion passed unanimously.
TIMBERLIN GOLF COURSE
a. Monthly Report
All equipment is being torn down and repaired as needed.
Ball washers torn down and repaired.
T markers repainted.
Seasonal help has been released.
th
Reconfiguration of the 16 tee was not started due to weather and will be a priority as
weather permits.
Drainage work completed
Cart paths done
Elevated a number of cart paths that were washed out.
Tree work is ongoing.
th
Replaced drains at 13 tee.
b. CY13 Play statistics and analysis to support 2014 greens fee recommendations. Mr. Zuk
presented proposed 2014 season rates. Generally all rates will be increasing, between 1%-
3%. It was noted that the 2013 season was shorter than the prior year, with play in January
and a later closing. Commissioners reviewed the recommendations and made suggestions for
minor changes.
Commissioner Warner made a motion to accept the 2014 fee schedule as modified, seconded
by Commissioner Dellaquila. The motion passed unanimously.
c. FY15 Proposed Budget Summary was presented and discussed by Mr. Zuk. No issues were
raised.
d. Mr. Zuk indicated that he is working on a new golf cart lease. A number of carts are
experiencing battery issues. He will also be presenting a new 4 year restaurant contract for
Remzi Asani. It will include an increase in the annual rental payments to the town.
e.Mr. Bayram was asked to provide details of the various clinics he runs during the year at the
next meeting. He indicated that he has provided 2014 clinic schedule information to Deb
Dennis to be included in the spring Recreation Department when it is distributed to Berlin
schools.
f.Commissioners were asked to review the 2013 statistics prior to the next meeting, since they
had not seen them previously, for questions that they may have.
g.Commissioners were provided with information on the volunteer ranger and cart hauling
program that indicated that the value of free golf provided to the volunteers grew to $30,000
in 2013. Mr. Bayram provided a breakdown of volunteers between the two tasks which
exposed that he was also using a volunteer starter. He indicated that it was never
communicated to him that starters were not part of the volunteer policy. There was some
discussion that focused on the intent of the volunteer program. The volunteer policy will be
discussed in detail at the next meeting.
PUBLICGROUNDS
a. Monthly Report
.
th
Assisted with set up of Veterans Memorial Park for the 5 annual Tree Lighting
The parking lot at Griswold School has been cracked filled.
All irrigation systems have been drained and winterized.
Moved into our new building at Sage Park.
Pruning when time and weather allows.
Repairing equipment for next year.
All soccer nets are down and other field equipment are put away for the season.
Lights are off at the tennis and basketball courts for the season.
All signs are up for ice skating.
All portable toilets are picked up for the winter except the two at Sage Park.
b. Sage light usage tracking – Mr. Volz will try to take daily electric meter readings for lights at
Sage to permit an assessment of the relationship of fees charged to actual cost.
c. FY15 Proposed Budget Summary was presented and discussed by Mr. Volz. No issues were
raised.
PARKS AND RECREATION
a. Monthly Report
Winter classes are in full swing.
Numbers for December special events:
–Santa’s Parlor – 100 kids,
–North Pole Connection – 100 kids
–Tinsel Run – 138 people finished.
Contacted last year’s summer staff to see who is returning and we have begun advertising
for summer positions with a deadline of January 31.
Booked dates for fish deliveries in April
Worked on budget and fee schedule for FY 2014-2015.
b. Community Center fee waiver request – CT Votes for Animals. Chairman Zielinski provided
copies of the waiver application and the home page to the organizations web site. He made a
motion to approve the waiver request, seconded by Commissioner Jortner. After further
discussion, 0 voted for approval and 5 voted against. The motion failed.
c. Proposed FY15 Recreations fees were provided. Changed fee for summer program for July
th
4 week to $40 to account for being closed one day; Tai Chi – would like to charge a daily
“drop-in fee” to increase number of participants; daily pool fees increased $1.00 for
adult/child residents and adult/child non-residents.
d. FY15 Proposed Budget Summary was presented and reviewed. No issues were raised. Some
key elements changed were:
Increase in Life Guards/pool workers due to increase in minimum wage and giving all
other staff 25¢ increase,
Increase in Recreation and Instruction Program Help due to increase in minimum wage,
giving all other staff 25¢ increase and adding 3 staff to the summer program. Due to
excellent response last summer and a waiting list for almost every week, I feel the
numbers could be higher this year so adding more staff can increase the number of kids
who register, thus increasing revenue so potentially the staff increase will be offset by
increased revenue.
Decrease in supplies due brochures/flyers for schools no longer being printed but be
distributed by email.
Increase in pool supplies due to selling and issuing more pool passes. Increase in
Programs & Activities due to increase in t shirt costs.
Increase in Telephone account due to cost increase for phones.
Increase in Mileage account due to adding Aquatic Director.
NEW BUSINESS
1.Proposed Eagle Project
- Jonathan Zoccoli, Troop 44 - landscaping at the historical society
– Due to schedule conflict with the presenter, delayed until next meeting.
2.2014 Proposed meeting schedule -
Commissioner Dellaquila made a motion to approve,
seconded by Commissioner Warner. The motion passed unanimously.
3.POCD –
Comments on or additions to POCD material provided at November meeting.
Formal approval of P&R POCD items. No additional input was made
4.Goals – –
Discussion of Departmental goals submitted to the Town Manager The only
department that presented goals were Timberlin Golf Course
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Dellaquila to adjourn the meeting at 8:40PM, seconded by
Commissioner Sylvester. The motion was unanimously approved.
Kim Lanci
Recording Secretary