1999-01-07 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Parks and Rrecreation Commission
Subcommittee:
Date: January 7,1999
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Bruce Doig, Albert W. Churchill, Jr., David Gardner, Kevin Hobin, Jane Lyman, Lauren
Young and Arthur Powell
Board members absent: Elizabeth Caputo, Ivu Mahan
Others present: Joan Fairbank, Recreation Director, Tom Scully, Gwen Kermode, Playground Consultant
Minutes of previous meeting were accepted as written.
Election of Officers
Nominations for Chairman - Jane Lyman nominated Bruce Doig for Chairman, nomination was seconded, nominations
were closed and Bruce was elected Chairman with all in favor.
For Vice Chairman - Al Churchill nominated Keviln Hobin, nomination was seconded and Kevin was elected as Vice
Chairman with all in favor.
Commission welcomed new member, Lauren Young.
Director's Report
Joan distributed a written report.
Wentworth Tot Lot: equipment has already been installed. Problems already with the fence. We have directed
resident complaints to the Planning Dept.
Maplewood: Joan received a call from the City Solicitor who was told by the Planning Director that December
1995 the City Council accepted the Maplewood lot. After Joan met with a group of about 30 Maplewood
residents to discuss the problems with the site only two were still interested in going forward with the Tot Lot.
They made a list of other things they would like to see done with the developer's money. Joan passed this
information onto the City Solicitor to see if it was possible to use the money in other ways. He respeonded that
since the City Council has already accepted the tot lot, any changes must be approved by them. It was
recommended that Councilman Murray be consulted and that we check with Solicitor regarding City's legal
obligation. Tom suggested that a letter be written to the City Council explainingi the the property at Maplewood
does not meet our minimum safety standards for a Tot Lot and that also, we were never given the opportunity
to review the plans before they were accepted. It was susggested that Jack Murray be invited to the next
meeting. Motion made, seconded and passed with all in favor that Joan draft such a letter to the City Council.
New brochure will be in the mail next week. Many new classes.
Discussed need for replacing our 15 passenger van. It is no longer suitable for use transporting children and we
need a vehicle during the summer, especially for Adventure Camp overnight trips. Will investigate leasing or
purchasing a new one.
Playground Equipment Report and Meeting
· Gwen disscussed the report which includes minimum recommendations for equipment and estimated costs
· Discussed how the pubic meeting will work. Prior to the meeting copies of the report will be available for the
public to review at the Library, City Hall, all the public schools, Recreation Office etc. Parks have been
categorized by community park, school or neighborhood. Community parks are Lynch, Lyons, Balch, Cahill and
Obear.
New Business
· Discussed plan for new fields, many options have been talked and written about. Bruce is working on a report
listing all the options presently under discussion.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Carmody
Recreation Department