SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS & RECREATION

MINUTES

APRIL 22, 2002

 

 

MEMBERS:  MOSIELLO, SPRECKMAN, PINTO, ALVARADO

 

LEGISLATORS:  ABINANTI, WISHNIE, LAMOTTE

 

STAFF:  ETTERE & NEGLIA

 

OTHERS:  See attached sign-in sheet.

 

The meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m.

 

A&C Item

This item was referred by the Budget & Appropriations Committee requesting authorization for the County to enter into an agreement with Canlan Ice Sports Corporation to perform a management and financial review of the Playland Ice Casino.  Legislator LaMotte had some concerns regarding this item and requested that it be discussed in the Parks Committee.

 

Legislator LaMotte expressed her apprehension about spending County dollars to hire a consultant when the end result may be to close or privatize Rink.  She suggested that the Parks Department consult with the Bedford Ice Rink rather than spending the thousand of dollars for a consultant.

 

Joseph Montalto, Director of Playland, stated that a consultant was needed to perform an analysis of the operation of the Playland Ice Casino to determine the financial viability and offer suggestion to improve its business.

 

A request for proposal (RFP) was posted on the County’s web site and mailed to ten top companies in the U.S. and Canada (including local companies).  Four proposals were received and reviewed for experience, knowledge of the metropolitan area and an understanding of this certain situation.  Canlan Ice Sports Corporation was selected.  It is one of the largest organizations of its type.  They regularly consult with ice facilities in North America and also have experience in managing rinks.  The company has a very strong accounting background and was involved with both the Stamford & Danbury rinks.

 

 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS & RECREATION

MINUTES – APRIL 22, 2002

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Legislator Mosiello stated his approval for the County to hire Canlan Ice Sports Corporation and asked if there any objections.  No objections were heard and no action was taken on this item.

 

Item # 6

Item #6 is a request by the County Executive authorizing Park Rangers to enforce certain ordinances, statutes, local laws, rules or regulations in County Parks and to issue appearance tickets for alleged violations of same.

 

Chip Mathews, Deputy Commissioner (PRC), expressed the Department’s wishes in favor of the above request.  Mr. Mathews informed the Committee that Park Rangers’ duties presently include the monitoring of General Ordinance No. 5 which include such provisions relating to parking, fire prevention and safety, or health and sanitation in County Parks (e.g. – unleashed dogs, all-terrain vehicles, unauthorized camping, handicap parking violations, littering, permit violations, etc.).  This new proposal would allow them to issue appearance tickets for violations of these provisions.  There are three (3) Park Rangers that cover 16,000 acres of County Parks.

 

Presently, if a resident refuses to comply with the ordinance or if a summons needs to be issued the County Police (WCPD) must be called to the scene.  Since September 11th, the WCPD have been “swamped” with increased security duties so minor ordinance violations are not priority.  PRC would like to have the authorization to issue appearance tickets to improve the quality of life in County Parks.

 

Commissioner Motley (PRC) stated that the request was going to be amended to include Parks employees under the titles of Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent and Golf Course Managers.  He would also like these personnel to be trained and added that the County’s Budget would never allow for the type of police patrol needed for parks as it did many years ago.

 

William Rehm, Deputy Commissioner (WCPD), stated the Department’s support of this concept.  Leonard Spano, President (WCPD PBA) expressed the union’s opposition.

 

 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS & RECREATION

MINUTES – APRIL 22, 2002

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Legislator Pinto suggested that the parties involved (PRC, WCPD and WCPD PBA) get together to discuss the issues and come up with some viable suggestions for the Board.

 

Legislator Spreckman made a motion to approve the minutes of April 8, 2002 and was seconded by Legislator Mosiello.  The vote was 3-0.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m.