Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/2023 Board of Commissioners of Cutchogue - New Suffolk Park District Minutes of Regular Meeting May 25, 2023 Commissioners Present Absent Dave Bergen Chairman X Arthur Picchione Treasurer X Carl Vail Secretary X Officials Fred Kaelin Clerk X Lori Hulse Attorney X Ken Reeves Beach Manager X Meeting was opened at 6:00 P.M. by President Dave Bergen. Comm. Vail made a motion to approve minutes of April 27'" meeting. As there was no second, motion was not approved. Public Comment on Resolutions: Comm. Bergen announced that Resolution #23-0026 was being pulled. Mr. Jordan asked about plans to have parking at Dave Allison Park. Comm. Bergen stated as the resolution had been pulled, there would be no discussion of Dave Allison parking at this point in the meeting, but could be commented on under general public comments. Eric Bressler — Fleets Neck— had comments regarding Resolution #23-025. Does Mr. Schwartz have the ability to perform the services? What due diligence has the Board done? Comm. Bergen replied he had met with both vendors who had submitted proposals. Mr. Schwartz has a background in site development and the contract is only for 6 months. Park has had trouble with website development. Mr. Bressler commented there is a risk factor as cost can only go up. Comm. Bergen states other vendor's bid was $7,400.00. Mr. Bressler said it sounds like a lot of money. Attorney Hulse replied that Mr. Schwartz's bid included maintenance. Debra Scurracchio — The $7,400.00 estimated cost of website development appears very expensive. Sharon Kelly — Sharon asked how many trees would be removed at Dave Allison park under the proposed parking plan. Comm. Bergen replied 1 tree would be removed. Eric Bressler — inquired about savings from park attendant salary and limiting use of park to residents only. Comm. Bergen — comments should come under General Comments. Comm. Bergen made a motion to approve Resolution #23-0025 —Approval to allow Chairmen Bergen to enter into a contract with Benja Schwartz for web site services effective immediately through December 31, 2023. Comm. Vail seconded and motion was unanimously approved. Resolution 23-0026 — Pulled Resolution 23-0027 —Approval of Sexual Harassment and Training Policy. Motion made, seconded and passed unanimously. Resolution 23 —28 —The Cutchogue new Suffolk Park District hereby accepts the donation of two bicycle racks from Cutchogue Lions Club. Motion made, seconded and passed unanimously. General Comments Eric Bressler- How is security handled, who locks up? Comm. Bergen replied as there is no permitted parking area at Dave Allison, like there is at Nassau Point, there is no need for attendants at Dave Allison. Comm. Vail commented that he is opposed to the new parking plan at Dave Allison, the park operated for 58 years for the good of the people. It will cost more money to change the use of the park. Making it legal (the parking) does not make it right. Investing money in something not workable. All we hear are excuses, many errors have been made, the parking should be corrected and the park returned to its original condition. Debra Scurracchio — Did the architect draw up the plans or did the Commissioners Dave Allison should be returned to the same condition as it was in 1959. We should take a vote on the different plans, submit A, B, C for people to vote on. It doesn't matter what the people want, the commissioners do what they want. Restore the park to what it was. Since the first work session, people not happy. No beach attendant. How do you control parking? The whole thing is very frustrating. We should get everybody involved. Comm. Bergen: We have not hired beach attendants for Dave Allison for the season as we have no parking within the park presently. We are in the process of having a new parking area built within Dave Allison Park. We are going through our due diligence to develop an RFP and obtain bids for the construction of a new parking area. Debra Scurracchio — I want options as I think for myself. Comm. Bergen- The Commissioners looked at different options: one included moving the children's play area, another would require the removal of more trees and extra site work. More green space have been lost. Shannon Kelly —Trees coming down, make plan without taking any trees down. Comm. Bergen —Architect looked at trees, roadway, parking area, size, and plan taking 1 tree. Sharon Kelly — I have concerns regarding the number of trees coming down: can we replace any trees lost as a result of construction with new trees. Comm. Bergen agreed. The architect considered trees, roadway, parking area, size and concluded that the plan recommended would result in the loss of one tree. Mr. Jordon — Who did Ms. Hulse talk to at DOJ regarding the parking issue at Allison Park? Attorney Hulse — She was asked by Commissioners to see if the restoring of the Parking Area at Dave Allison as had been in place prior to last year was legal. Att. Hulse stated that she had a lengthy conversation with a staff attorney at DOJ, explaining what had been in place, what was removed and if it would meet DOJ requirements to simply put back what had been in place prior to last year. The answer from DOJ was that No what had been in place could not simply be put back in place without the Parking Area made fully ADA compliant. Att. Hulse stated that the area which had been in place as had been described to her would not be ADA compliant as such it would not be legal. Mr. Jordon — Moving parking further away from where it had been previously that the stairs/ramp to the beach was not ADA compliant. Attorney Hulse — Repeated that the parking area that existed previously was not ADA compliant. Eric Bressler —The previously existing parking situation was not ADA compliant. By closing off the driveway and parking area over a year ago, we lost it being considered a pre-existing condition. The park district must now comply with the law. We now need to spend money to fix a problem that did not exist until the parking area was removed. If the parking area had not been removed previously, we would not be required to amend parking to meet ADA standards today. Attorney Hulse — Commissioners did not have an attorney when the decision to close the parking area was done. The majority of commissioners on the board today were not on the board when the decision and action was taken. The intention of the board with decision as had been relayed to her was for the creation of more green space and the protection of children from vehicles driving through the park. Commissioner Bergen — Reminded everyone that neither Commissioner Vail nor himself were commissioners when the decision was made and the parking was eliminated. Eric Bressler —There was no safety problem. Are commissioners looking now to be ADA compliant? Debra Scurracchio - I have not missed a meeting. Do we have previous minutes? Problem now is due to two commissioners. John Merino — Commissioners looked at different plans, should now consider cost to put parking back the way it was. Give people what they want. Comm. Bergen —As I have stated previously, restoring parking back to as it was would result in the loss of green space, the park would be bisected to install a vehicle protection barrier. A Trustee permit would be required, drainage might be required, and a review by NYDEC would be required. John Merino —there would not be a loss of green space. Comm. Vail — currently parking plan limits access to 25% of present population to include the old, disable, all people. Parking around the park on the street is limited. Parking should be limited to Cutchogue New Suffolk residents. Kids getting out of cars parked on the side of the road is a safety issue. Debra Scurracchio - Are security cameras operating? Comm. Bergen —Yes at both parks. Commissioners have access to video. Also police have access when needed, basketball backboard knocked down, looked at video, saw who did it. Mr. Jordon - Stairway to beach at Dave Allison park not ADA compliant. Comm. Bergen — Not at present time. Mr. Jordon - Who came up with estimate to make stairway ADA compliant? Comm. Bergen — I was not on board at that time, do not know. Mr. Jordon - Some residents want stairway to be ADA compliant. Comm. Bergen — Board will look at making stairway complaint. Comm. Vail — Will consider. Mr. Jordon - Have minutes been sent to library? Comm. Bergen — Minutes are sent to Southold Town to be put on website. Comm. Bergen —thank you to Frank Apadula for repairing boardwalk at Nassau Point Park. Meeting adjourned at 6:57 P.M.