Recreation and Conservation Committee Meeting
DATE: Thursday, March 18, 2010
TIME: 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Androscoggin Savings Bank
ATTENDEES: Linda Chase, Bob Hubbard, Dean Bennett, Cathy Manchester,
Howard Hughes, Tracey Scheckel
ABSENT: Leo Credit, Tina Martell, Bruce Macomber, Jessica Holland-Jones
Dean Bennett opened up with a welcome to three very special guests. Abbey Chandler and her parents Cathy and Aaron. Abbey who is 8 years old made a pitch to the committee for a new park or playground in Gray. Abbey was interested in the possibility of raising funds (on her own) to place a bench possibly at the Dunkin Donuts corner or the possibility of the old Rite Aid building being used for a recreational facility. Discussion was directed toward other possible sites in Gray. The McKinn property (on Mayall Rd) was looked at as a possible site for a recreation park. We also talked about the use of the $100,000 in the Recreation Impact fees derived from housing developments in Gray.
Aaron Chandler has applied for one of the positions on the committee as well as Abbey to be a Jr Youth committee member.
Dean Bennett welcomed Joan Tremberth, Director of the GNG Adult Education as a guest speaker. Joan informed the committee about the enrollment figures for the enrichment portion of her department and how the budget works within her department. We all discussed the possibilities of the 2010 Fall Brochure being a collaborative effort between both departments.
The Committee then discussed the need for a community wide recreation/leisure/open space survey. The time might be right to conduct such a survey. Howard and Dean will draft a few different surveys for the committee to review for next meeting. This survey would be an insert in the 2010 GNG Adult Education/Recreation - fall brochure that would be mailed out to all households in Gray, New Gloucester and some residents in Poland and Raymond. The survey would help “steer” the committee and town toward a better collaboration of services and facilities within our communities.
There was a brief discussion about the scholarship fund, including the possible use of the SAD #15 reduced lunch program as a model for applicants. Privacy was a concern. The funds would not exceed the total amount of money set aside in an account. This pool of money would come from fundraising events, the possible sale of advertisements in seasonal brochures and from the Enterprise accounts. We also discussed the possibility of the general assistance staff person at Gray town hall to be the person to review applicant requests and to make the eligibility of applicants a decision based on her expertise and away from the committee and Recreation Director out of respect for confidentiality.
Cathy Manchester suggested checking into an internship student from one of the colleges to help out in the Recreation Department.
Next Meeting Discussion:
- Linda Chase to bring a list of Gray’s tax acquired properties to the next meeting for our review.
- Dean and Howard to email out the draft of the community survey questions to members before the April meeting.
- Aaron to bring some information on the McKinn site property
- Update of GNG H.S. Summer Sports program / Town of Gray 2010-11 Recreation budget.
- Letter of Request to hold $100,000 aside for the purchase of flat green space.
Submitted by Dean M. Bennett
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