Evening everyone. >> All right. We good. Um I saw a couple emails. I honestly didn't get to check yet. Like one from Kate, etc. Do we know who's coming, TJ? >> Uh I haven't heard back on any nots. I don't think Councilwoman Cotch or Cole
will be able to make it. She has some other things going on tonight. Um, but I haven't heard back from too many other folks. >> Okay. Well, it's not like we actually need a quorum or anything. So, I think we can probably get ourselves started. As was
just mentioned, I think a lot of people want to kind of keep an eye on the elections and what's happening. So, uh, the agenda is somewhat light. So, uh, we've got two committee members. So, that's good enough for a a motion and a second uh, in order to approve the minutes. So, do we have a motion to
approve? >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. >> Second. >> Very good. All right. So, all in favor of approving last month's minutes. I >> I >> All right. Any opposed?
Any abstain? All right. Very good. Minutes are approved. Let's move on to public comments. Um I would imagine is Susan with us? >> She is. >> Good. wouldn't be a meeting without >> keep my eyes peeled for a hand up there
from Mr. O'Brien. >> All right. Um we started having a little bit of a a chat before we got everything started with regard to um uh the park. Um let's start though not talking about Marta Park just yet and talk about uh
end of fall season update. So, how's everything looking after all the aggressive activities we hold on? >> So, pretty good overall. Um, we had a pretty dry fall up until a couple weeks
ago. Um, so that helped with things. Uh, temperature- wise. Um, we're really in that nice zone where things weren't getting burnt up and grass was still able to grow in that September October growing season. Um, so we didn't see too much um too many areas where we were
concerned over um the grass deteriorating, turning to to dirt spots, anything like that. So, um that was a positive. Um at this point, DPW is getting out there. Um they've done some seating in different areas. The fall
sports are over now. So, slowly but surely, they'll be getting the fall equipment out of the fields. we'll be doing our inventory, seeing what we need to order for the spring season, um and and things like that. So, that's the the next step there. Um you know, as we
know, um we're looking at there are always some things that we could do to prepare for the next spring season, but the tough part is like we've talked about um we lose the parks crew that we have. They go out on leaves and and all that. So, there's not
um a ton of work that's going to happen between now and the start of the spring sports season just because we don't have uh the manpower for it. Uh but we're looking at some smaller things that that'll help us uh into the spring season. >> Okay. So, we seem to be poised to move
ahead kind of status quo and everything should be good. All right. Anything else to add? Uh, no, that that's really it. Um, we um, again, we got pretty lucky with
with the weather this past fall. That made things a lot easier. There were only, I want to say, five or six days total that we had to close the fields up um, for sports and things like that. And luckily, we didn't have many backtoback um, rain days to where we had to keep the teams off for multiple days at a
time. and the warm weather helped with u allowing the fields to dry and drain and things like that. So, >> okay. All right, let's keep moving. Uh parks, fields, facilities. Um I guess uh first
off, so I'm just curious if anybody on the committee has anything with regard to any of the parks that they kind of keep an eye on that we need to uh know about or report on. Um, I know that we certainly have, not that it necessarily falls under our purview, but uh there's certainly a lot of work going on on Fair
Haven Road. They're getting the sidewalk in uh along there. And of course, we had a bit of a a snafu with the uh original plan to trim back some of those cherry trees. Um, but I'm sure that'll get straightened out and move ahead from there. Um, aside from that, you know, my
kind of wanderings through uh the natural area there, things look pretty good. I mean, after some of those winds and such, we definitely had branches and and things down. Um, but those are getting cleared away. So, uh, I think overall things look good in there. Um, the only issue I've kind of come across
is the one we've talked about before. Um, and it just seems to be, uh, a lot of kids back in there with their ebikes, um, kind of blazing new trails and setting up jumps and things. And I guess there's not too much we can do about that other than, you know, if we can kind of have code enforcement or
somebody in there watching out for it. But, you know, it's it's a it's a hard thing to police. >> I'll mention it to Chief. I don't know if he he knows that specifically, but I will definitely mention it to him. Um, when I was in U McCarter Park the other
day, right near the exercise equipment that has like the three uh things you're supposed to step up on. I don't know. You know what I mean? Not the bars, but the three things. Um, there's like a weird little tree that looks like it was broken at some point. >> It's like a tiny little tree that has sort of a spike out of it. It's random,
but you're asking about parks, so I just thought of it. Um, someone may want to just check it out because it's not it doesn't look like it's going to grow anymore. >> But there's it's like and it's >> a level that's that's bad. Maybe a dangerous kind of level. >> Yeah, kind of like it's like up to my knee kind of. It's just worth looking
at. >> Like I don't think it needs to be there. It's not I don't think it's going to grow. >> I wonder if it's one of those trees we tried to plant a couple years ago that just didn't take. >> Yeah, >> it kind of looked like that >> if I had to guess, but yeah. >> Okay.
>> It's been so tough growing stuff. uh in that area in that soil. >> Yeah. Um that was something that came up actually at the last meeting that um the beautifification committee is looking to plant some trees and I guess they had talked about planting them there along the fence but afterwards someone told me
that people that there was an issue planting along the fence and actually the school had asked not to. Just out of curiosity, had you heard anything about that either way? Like historically that the school said don't plant them against the tree because the kids line up against the fence because the kids line
up there. Or have you heard that beautifification wants to plant at Mart? >> I haven't heard either of those two um from >> that didn't make it here for sure. >> Okay. All right. I'll I'll get some more update on that and then I'll let you know.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, we are doing those those tree plantings that were approved at the community center. Um those will hopefully be happening tomorrow. I'm meeting with Chris Larson one more time tomorrow just to fine-tune the exact locations. Um so we'll be out there at 8 in the morning to
>> we've already looked at it, but just make sure um they're definitely going in the right spot because we've left things up to vendors before and sometimes you can't always trust that uh that they understand what you're saying until you actually mark things out for them. So
>> yeah. Um, I know it's a little out of order, but because uh we mentioned community center, um, we can touch on anything else with regard to that, but I'm I'm curious, DJ, how does one go about signing up for usage of the community center?
>> Yeah. So, uh, they would just send me an email just like they would for any other indoor facility um, meeting space. Um, so right now we're we're keeping it to the groups that have previously used space. So, scouts, any of our committees, commissions, um seniors, garden clubs, things like that. And then
once we get a handle on just some of the nuances that the new building will come with, then u I know there's talks of expanding that out a bit. >> Okay. I just didn't know whether it's strictly kind of, you know, still with email or
if there's any kind of, you know, form online somewhere where people can put it in that way, which to me might Yeah, there there is a form um but that form goes to me. So what I normally tell people is um you know send me an email
beforehand um so that that you don't not waste your time filling out the form but um normally a conversation of you know what is the group, what's the use. Uh most of the groups that we typically reserve space for know the the deal. Um
>> but uh and we just have them fill out like a blanket reservation form so they don't have to fill it out every single time. Right. Okay. All right. Was there anything else uh as far as community center goes or was it pretty much about, you know, getting the new trees in and the fact that we had, I
think, a really nice, you know, uh, inauguration, I guess, ceremony. >> That was really it. Just the ribbon cutting um, and talking about the the trees that are getting planted out there um, with the Shade Tree Commission. >> Okay. Very good. Yeah, I have to say uh I I know a number of us who are on the
call were at that ribbon cutting and uh I thought it was it was it was a great ceremony and then it was uh nice to give everybody a chance to go in, poke around, see what's going on in the community center and um I enjoyed being able to go over to see the the new uh
police station and um you know hopefully experience it for the first and only time that I'll be in there. >> There was a lot of people there. I thought it was a great turnout. >> Yeah. Yeah, they really were. All right, so let's maybe bump back up
to the top of our list there. Uh we've got the PTA color run. >> Yeah. So that that got approved. We had talked about that at the committee level at the last meeting. Um >> and we had gone over the different u details there with Kelly Guerrero and
ultimately the committee u unanimously approved it to go to the governing body. Governing body approved it. So that'll be occurring at Fairfield Fields on November 22nd. >> I'm just curious, did we find out anything further? There was some question more of kind of with the timing as far as like the music and level of
music. >> Yeah. So um they're they're going to hold off as as long as they can for the music. Um so offhand say the race starts at 9 then they they wouldn't get there at you know 7 7:30 and start blasting the music. It's more of, you know, when when people actually start getting
there, they want to be cognizant that there are people with small children and and people that, you know, use Sunday morning to or Saturday morning to to sleep in a bit. So, um, and the music level, too. They're they're going to keep it at a reasonable rate. >> Okay.
All right. So, on to Marta Park Playground. >> Yeah. So, uh, where we're at now is we've been working with a vendor to get some updated renderings based upon, um, the renderings that we had gotten in the spring, which were based on feedback from the various committees and things
like that. And then we had, um, the open houses and the town survey that went out. So, uh, we wanted to get an updated rendering of what that might look like. Um, so we got that back and there's really two color options that that we're looking at. um and bro administrator
wanted the committee to to look at them. Um so natural colors was the big theme that that we're going for. So uh browns and greens um and like different shades of those. Um so there's one and I'll share my screen in a minute or two. Uh
there's a video then there's some PDFs that are a little bit clearer. Um so the the one option will be like just different shades of brown, lighter browns, darker browns, things like that. And the other one will be the same but with some uh some dark greens mixed in,
some earthy greens mixed in that you'll see on like slides and things like that. Um so they just wanted some feedback on if there was a preferred option there. Um and then just taking a look at the port in place versus the surfacing. Um it's ground and green and or brown and green
and mixes in well with that natural aesthetic. Um, so I will share. It's actually really cool the videos that they this company had put together. Um, so I will show those. >> Yeah. I thought they were pretty cool actually. Like a little walk through. >> Yeah. Uh, and not everything that you
see in the video is is going to be there. Beautiful plants and all these different things that that's a whole another discussion on if DPW can maintain that and and what that would entail. Um, but when they put these renderings together, they they make it look really nice. Um, so I'll there the
videos are about a minute or so long. So what I'll do is I'll show the video for option one and then I'll take you through the PDF just so you can see it a little clearer. Everything's the same except the the color is uh is going to be different. >> Right? Some some components of the the
various slide and such are different colors, >> right? So bear with me here. All right, let me move you guys. Minimize that. Okay. Uh, can you guys see the screen? >> Mhm.
>> All right. So, we're going to walk through All right. So, this is brown and green. I see like some green double slides and such. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you'll see that there's some green accents on some of these items here, like on the right hand side of this. Uh >> yeah, there's this one slide on that
one. Yep. Okay. >> Yeah. It'll be clear on the PDFs because they they have the shade included here. Yeah, you can even see I guess it'll circle around, but on the the big tower in the back, there's a big green slide on that. Oh, there's the school. I like how they
worked all that in with the parking and all. >> Yeah, that's our basketball court right there. It's pretty cool. >> And notice the the the play surface has to poured in place with different uh color Yeah. And one thing that was wanted was some natural play features. So, I was
able to find these and I worked with them to uh you'll see like the wood balance beam and you have this little wood enclosed play structure here. Um looks like wood. It's not actually wood, >> but just gives more of that that natural feel. >> So, this is like the exact
>> these are the exact features that will be elements that will be in the playground. Correct. >> Yeah, it it depends. Ultimately, the town's likely to go out to bid. So, a specific company might have something similar to um
not every company has the same play structure. So, that's the the nuance is that you you put out what you want in terms of like you would line item all these items and or you put equivalent to and then they along with their pricing they they show what what they would be able to do. >> Okay.
since I feel like we are and we're actually watching a movie. I hope you don't mind if I have a little snack. There you go. All right. So, that was the first one and I'll take you through now just on the PDF so you can see it um a little more
clearly. I'm actually going to back this out a bit. There you go. So, the one thing that's not in these, and I'll show you what the fence would look like, but there will be a fence along the grass perimeter here, which is required by the grant.
You can see in this one that's that slide is is a green color there. >> Some of these other accents green. >> That is >> I was just gonna say that, Rachel. That's really tall. >> I don't remember us talking about something so tall.
>> Yeah, I mean it's a standard 5 through 12 play slide. Um, >> it looks like maybe the one at Sickles part, like the sickles in Little Silver. There was one that high. >> As long as it's covered, I guess I'm less concerned. At least the top is covered.
>> Yeah. >> Is that the fence? >> So, this is the existing fence that's there now. And based on feedback that we got, the idea with the fence that will be around the perimeter fence or around the actual playground, we would just
match that. So it would be a split rail with fabric. >> Got it. >> Have the same aesthetic there. Yeah. We had given four options at the open houses on the surveys and that was the one that was uh the most liked fence option. I think that's a better image seeing the
green mixed in. >> Right. Yeah. >> It looks >> It looks to me like there's a bunch more features than we have now. Is that right? I mean, some kind of similar. >> Yeah, it's there's there's a lot more uh
different types of activity. The the apparatuses, the two apparatuses that are here, the larger ones, there's a lot more different features to them. Um, even things like um this this little um I don't even know what you would call
this. Um it's like wood like tunnel. We have these this is a balance beam here. Um that's made to look like it's it's out of a tree branch. Um so even those little things where we talk about like active play. Um those those are big here. The the tire.
>> I love it. Yeah. >> It's a double bay. Yeah, there's a lot of uh sensory items here too, which um you can see a little bit of. >> It's sort of like Yeah. One of those sort of maze, you know, handle manipulation kind of things there.
>> Some sort of identification board there. >> Mhm. >> It also looks like they're kind of attached a little bit more like sort of longer connections to different areas. Is that right? Like right there, like that top one. this one. >> Yeah. It kind of looks like
>> bridges between the different components. >> Yeah. Which I think which I like. I think that's kind of cool. >> Mhm. I just noticed that. Uh I just realized I guess it maybe I'm just seeing it. But is that supposed to look like an elephant?
>> Oh, that's cool. >> Right. I mean that's >> I see it whether it's supposed to or not. I see it. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of Yeah, it's kind of like the trunk is his the slide and whatever. >> Back to like ninja play theme of of things that you can uh grab on to,
climb, build strength, things like that. >> My daughter's jealous that you guys are putting this now that she's like kind of out of the the age to go to sickles. >> Are you really ever out of the age? >> I know. Really? John John and I were just playing on a new fandangled seessaw
just on Sunday. >> Oh, that's awesome. You don't see a lot of seesaws anymore. >> Is that like a different one? >> It was like a seessaw meets one of those animals that >> has a spring
like >> So, this is what this is a a quick rendering of the fence just cuz I was talking to our playground rep and I was like, "Listen, we you didn't put the fence in there. we need some kind of visual on what it might look like. Um, so this isn't exactly what it would look like with the fence, but just to kind of give you an idea of um, so it does need
to be enclosed. That's part of the the safety aspect of the grant, especially for kids with special needs and things like that. >> Um, but for um, use purposes, we would have openings. So there'd be an opening on this side here, which is as if you're
approaching from Sickle School. And then there would be another opening um where you're entering on the um the east side of the park and then another one along where the the turf area is in the back. >> Sorry.
>> Yeah. And the reason that it's openings instead of gates is gates aren't the most functional when you have this many kids running in and out. Um especially when you talk about um like maintenance and things like that, it gets really difficult at a park, which is why you'll typically see confined openings. And I
imagine near these openings would be where we'd, you know, position tables or benches and such so people can position themselves there and kind of watch or >> Yeah, we included. So this is really the patio is really cool and that was um something that through you know talking
to folks um just added seating is is a big component um to making it more user friendly and whether it's you know parents there after school and maybe they're still doing some work and they can pull their their laptop if they need to or the school can can access it and they can have you know uh maybe some
classes or groups of kids out there at a time. Um so the patio is really cool. Um, and there's a lot of different seating throughout >> TJ. Um, just wondering, does that patio get kind of hot though? Would that cement get hot? That would be my only
>> uh >> concern because there's I don't think there's a lot of Well, there's a tree. You can see a shadow there. But >> yeah, there's a fair amount of um of shade there. Uh I mean, it's not black top, so it's not it's not super super hot. It's it's a lighter color, which is helpful. on the radio.
>> I, you know, the environmentalists in me and like, you know, hearing their voices, they don't love cement or like pvious uh imperous surfaces. I wonder how that would also just affect kind of water flow. >> Yeah. So, Rich is going to have a whole engineering plan that's going to address
water flow um >> and and sheet flow and all and all those different things. So, he would be the one to um that would have really good input on that. I'm I'm certainly not an engineer. Um, but that's a really good thing to bring up, >> but it looks great. And it looks like
the path, I guess, will stay, the original path on the right. >> Yeah. So, right now, that's a quarry desk path. We're having a lot of issues, and we've talked about it just with maintaining things. Um, so there's a constant tugof-war between um like the
natural aesthetic and the natural feel versus like what's like most practical from a maintenance perspective. So there's talk of maybe on certain heavy use areas um going with the concrete there which there is already concrete pathways at the park um and so replacing
some of the cory dust in some of these these user areas where parents are coming with strollers and like right now if you go out there you're going to see a lot of um weeds that are growing in you're going to see a lot of runoff where there's no corus and it's just DGA or diggrated aggregate rock. Um, so
those are just some ideas that are being played with in terms of um what's what's the best um setup wise. >> Is the path around it going to stay the same sort of where people run? Is that part of the discussion or is that
>> Yeah, so ultimately that's going to be again more of a a governing body, you know, uh administrator decision on what they would like to go there. Um the recommendation from Rich is to is to make some of those access points
concrete again for the areas where we have drainage issues um and a difficult time maintaining it. So that's the recommendation that we've gotten. >> But the the path would remain. It's more just of a question of the composition of it.
>> Right. Yeah. So like the areas directly around the playground like you see here um might be concrete um just like so there is if you've been to Marter Park recently and you think about that area Michael that where you were talking about they didn't want trees planted.
>> Yes. >> So there is that concrete sidewalk right there and eventually that turns to corey dust. Y >> so maybe a couple of those extensions there where there is corey dust um filling it in with the concrete to kind of marry that together in those high use
areas that have the drainage issues. Yeah, I definitely have to be a bigger discussion partly because this kind of even came up at Fair Haven Fields recently and there was talk about making the surface um part of the surface where people run cement. But for runners like
to have it go from the dusk to cement to dust is not the best. So I just it's something to think about when we're talking about this, >> right? >> But I you know and also to balance the storm water, you know, the the sheet flow and all that stuff. So, it's just,
you know, bigger conversation, but I think it looks awesome. It's very cool. I'm so excited that you guys got this far. So, thank you. >> Yeah. So, I just wanted to to share um what these would look like. Again,
Mark, do you think it's worth playing the video of the the one that's all brown that doesn't have any green in it or just go through the PDF of that? >> Probably just the PDF. I mean, effectively, it's the same sort of walkthrough. It's just that instead of some of the green accents on the slides
and such, it's brown. It's I I I've seen it and honestly, it's just it's so much more monochromatic and and almost a little bit kind of dull. So, I like the idea of of being able to mix the green in there with it.
>> And that all sort of works towards the, you know, the environment in which it sits, I think, rather than just all brown. >> Yeah. the PDF so we can look. >> I agree. I think the green is nice. >> Mhm. >> And the green's not it's not too like in your face really. It kind of blends in.
It's not >> That was a lot of the feedback we got at the open houses and the surveys was like we don't want loud colors and certain playgrounds that works, but I think keeping the historical uh nature of of this facility I think is really important to a lot of people. Um which is why these are more the natural
aesthetics. Um so I'll just go through this one. Hey DJ, I'm sorry real quick. Do the um does like any plantings get paid for by this grant or covered by the grant or any like is that part of this? >> So they could be uh part of the again
the back and forth and and uh the tugof-war is uh like when we looked at this right like I was having discussions with Rich and Chris and we're like wow I want to get to one of these points where they have some plants in here. um like wow it looks incredible with the plants
and then we're like we're not going to be able to maintain that like just knowing like this looks beautiful but in really what's going to be happening is kids are running back and forth if you've ever been to recess or after school out there it's a mad house right so yeah running back and forth through there even if they weren't um
>> you know 21 Fairaven roads going to be coming on there's going to be maintenance there um we talked at the start of just not being able to get regular park stuff done that we'd like to get done in the offseason to be ready for the spring season. So like um like even this would be incredible, but
there's beds that we didn't get to mulch at all this year. Um you know, so those those again are higher level discussions of ultimately do does the town think that those can be maintained and then those could be included. Um otherwise, you know, you
might go with more of like a hardcape. Yeah, I think kind of from that view, you can see with more of just all the browns, yeah, it's just I don't know, it's not as exciting. It's just a little more kind of blah, right? And originally, we had talked about um maybe like a brown port in
place to match kind of what's there now um color-wise, but then again looking at it and like it was it's just so much brown. So, you can see here there's browns and there's greens and it kind of makes it fun. After all, these are kids that are going to be out here. Um, so that was a recommendation from the
vendor that we were that we were talking to. Um, so it kind of adds some fun elements into it for the kids, but also again we didn't want a bunch of reds and u and blues and all these different colors in there. Um, so that was the thought process there.
>> DJ, I know you've said this before, but like what's the material? It's mostly like um recycled plastics or something or can I blow? >> Yeah, so it's it's it's it's a poured inplace rubber material. the whole playground like even the like roofs and stuff.
>> No, so that's that's just a typical um >> I don't I don't want to get the term wrong, but it's some sort of heavy duty uh plastic material. I don't know what that is offhand. Um >> I I think it's kind of like you know those decks like the Trex decks which is
>> that's what I was thinking. Tracks. Yeah. >> Okay. Because I wouldn't I mean obviously again just thinking of other what people are going to say like in terms of the um tox like is it I'm assuming it's playground so it's not toxic at all.
>> Oh yeah it's industry standard. I mean there's >> yeah um this is this is pretty basic um basic stuff. It's nothing out of the ordinary and you know any specs obviously would be reviewed by the town.
Um but yeah, this is this is pretty um pretty standard stuff. >> Yeah. And again, you know, being materials for playground, you know, type equipment. I'm sure there's all kinds of standards and codes, >> standards, insurance, all um that's why
this stuff is so darn expensive because they have to make sure everything, you know, it's not like back in the day where maybe they have lead paint and they have these parts that wear out and um you know it there there are tons of check for sure.
>> Okay. So, as far as the committee goes, we would like to make a recommendation on the color scheme. So, the the Browns versus like the brown and green. Is that what we're after this evening, TJ? >> Yeah, that's the thought is um do you
like more of like just the Browns or do you like that there are would you like there to be like those dark greens mixed in there? Um when you look at those two options, which one was was more appealing? >> I think it sounded like at least myself, Rachel, maybe Michael as well kind of
weighed in on the brown and green. Tim, any thoughts? >> Brown and green. Yeah. I I I think it's kind of a consensus there that that kind of, you know, spices it up a little bit but still keeps it very kind of natural and woody looking. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
All right. So, do you want a uh a formal decision on that or is that sufficient for you to bring to the council? >> That's sufficient. That's sufficient. >> Yeah. I'll bring that back to Chris and and that makes it easier too with any further iterations um you know them not having to go and create multiples. Um
they're sticking with that general color theme. Um right makes it a lot easier and and we're okay with that poured in place with like the greens and the browns mixed in there. Kind of the same thing as the >> Yeah. Again, I say adds a little something else, you know, to it. And I I could see kids having fun, you know,
playing with like the different colors, you know, like you can walk on some colors but not on others and, you know, kind of that thing. >> Yeah. 200. >> Are there any um This is really random, but DJ, my daughter used to walk all around the edge on like the raised
>> I don't know. They had wood. Do you know what I'm talking about? There was almost like a wood >> wood. >> Yeah. So, there's 4x4s there now. Um this plan called >> Every company's different on how what they would recommend. A company that we worked with at Long Island for a bit, they recommended um having the port in
place and it would just funnel off to the side and create a natural edge. this company and and our engineer believe the best option is to have a concrete curbing which you saw on there. Um because you do again you want it to last. You do want there to be a border um and for it to be a safe entry onto
the playground. >> Wouldn't would concrete though like more chance someone would trip and hit their head though? I mean as someone who did as a kid hit their head on concrete. Um, >> I would imagine because we'll have fencing around pretty much everything
except for the entry points that >> you you shouldn't really sort of cross the concrete and and trip and at the entry point obviously knowing that it's an entry point they would make sure things are are are level and beveled as necessary. >> I'm the kid who would like get hurt on
everything. So I see I would have climbed top >> who size bump on my head from forgetting to bend down a little bit as I tried to run under the monkey bars. >> All right. So uh anything further we need to discuss on that one?
>> All right. We good, DJ? Yeah. So I'll I'll take that info back. um to uh the bro administrator and um and we'll we'll get going from there. Like we said, timetable is um to go out to bid. We have to go out to bid per the grant by
the end of January of 2026. Okay. >> Um and then we expect to get bids back somewhere in like that March, April time. um then deciding uh which way the the town wants to go and then uh with work taking place starting in late June ending in aim for mid August because we
know how it works with with uh contractors and and uh we what we don't want is to delay it a few weeks and then school starts and the playground's aren't done yet. Um, so that's the that's the time frame we're looking at is late June, start with the demo, and
then um get the new playground in there, allow it to settle, and ideally, perfect world, uh, week or two before school, we finish up, and then, you know, we can do all the grand opening fun stuff, get the kids out there, and it's a brand new playground for the first day of school. >> Cool.
>> That's awesome. Has the school seen this this rendition or this? >> No, not yet. That's my main >> be good to show them just to >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Once we get some more clarity on things, I think um I'd even like to walk it with with Shawn McNeel and the
principal over there just to um because they are going to be like the main users of it. Um so that's definitely something that we want to do is keep them um in step once once plans are made or before any final decisions are made. >> Yeah. Yeah. Now, now that we have a
better sense for the coloration and they'll get renderings with the fencing and everything, then we'll have something better to share them. >> I'm sorry, did I cut you off there, Michael? >> Oh, no, no, no. Terrific. Sorry, I keep going back and forth to mute. Great. That sounds terrific.
>> All right, let's continue on then. We got the Halloween events, which I think went uh very successfully. >> Yeah, they went well. Um, you know, shout out to to you Mark and Rachel for helping out with those. Um, >> we did we accomplished our goal of of uh
of quicker judging this year. Um, >> and high school volunteers are great. We got we had a ton. They helped us out with things. There's always things >> that come up that we don't plan for. Like we got there and the orange snow fence the school has >> um around the new bike area was like 95%
fallen over. So, we ended up getting some um some twisty ties and we had some of the high school guys go and and put that fence back up. Um so, that's why it's always so nice to have extra volunteers because you never know what you're walking into, especially in a park on a Sunday morning. >> It was nice to have them sort of
stationed at the the one point we used to be able to use as an entrance, but it wasn't really making sense for people to come in that way this time because of the new bike area. So they were able to direct them around the fence and in, you know, over by more by the parking lot, which uh kept people from walking all
over eggs and little kids starting to pick up well before we were ready to start. >> Yeah. >> All right. And uh I think Rachel pulled a last minute Hail Mary. She wasn't supposed to be available, but then she was able to make it over
>> with with reinforcements. Yeah. >> Next year I'm gonna make it. I was so bummed I couldn't make it this year. I'm sorry guys, but next year. >> No worries. We'd be awesome you. Yeah, whenever you get up there. >> So, I I think we kind of also came to the conclusion uh Rachel and DJ that um
I think the numbers might have been a little bit down, but I think the quality of like the costumes and everything and and just sort of the, you know, engagement with everything was definitely stronger than we've seen in the past. So, that was nice.
Yeah, those costumes are incredible. So, yeah, >> that was cool to see. >> My friend's daughter was the cat lady and she did a good I was very happy you picked her. She was cute. She was super cute. Thanks, guys. >> That was great. >> Yeah, there were some really good ones.
Okay. Um, anything else uh to mention with that? >> Uh, decoration contest. So, we'll be announcing the the winners um tomorrow, the next day. Um, but so we had new winner this year, 16 Hendricks, um, or Hendrickson. Um, which that's one of the
houses that's house I went to three times. Knocked on their door, they didn't answer. I put the flyer in the mailbox, didn't email me, and eventually I I found their information and got and they agreed to be to register. Um, and they won. It was a really cool house. Um,
>> it was scary. Spooky. >> Yeah. So, they came in first. 200 Hs came in uh in second or in third and then the the Chznney over on uh Park Lane came in second. >> That was there. That was good. And how many total votes did you get in
question? >> Just under 600. >> Wow. >> Is that that seems like a lot. That's great. >> The most we've ever had. Yeah, for sure. The funny thing about the funky thing about the Halloween options, which are different maybe than the holiday, is that you can't always guarantee that they're going to be available to see at
night. Like I went over to 16 Hendrickson, >> but it was it's a daytime kind of scene, >> right? And I did >> and there's others that are nighttime scenes and which is fine, but I think with Holiday, they're generally available to see it and they're
literally like they're a little bit more lit up, right? >> More about lighting. Yeah. >> Well, next year we do a maybe I asked them at the registration if it's better to view theirs or day that day or night and I could just put like that like either a D or an N on the or make two different lists. >> Um
>> that would be awesome because I didn't know how to >> see everything. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because that one house you're talking about on Woodland which was incredible but you couldn't really see at night but during the day you can see all the different aspects of it. >> Exactly. Yeah. Okay.
>> Cool. Cool. All right. All right. >> Yeah. There was one house that I stopped at. Um, and I actually used to hang out at that house as a kid. Um, the owner sold it a few years ago. Um, right next to the H Highuks um, say it's 530
or 526 River. >> So, I was going by and, you know, I stopped at a few houses to try to get people to enter. And I was talking to this lady, "Hey, would you like to join?" And she's like, "Yeah, what is it?" And I told her about it. She's like, "Oh, we just moved from San Diego. We had no idea this happened." You know? Um she's like, "I think I saw something
about it, but I wasn't sure." Um so we got her to to join and she ended up signing for the Wreck Eye Blast and all that stuff. Um >> and what was the what was the decor? >> Um scary stuff. >> Um if you saw the if you saw my
Instagram post on it, it was the first house. >> Okay, cool. >> Yeah. So they didn't win. I think they tied for like fifth or something like that. Um, which I think third and the three-way tie for fifth were separated by like nine votes or something like that. So, it was tight. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. But that's always fun to talk to new people in town and get them involved in different activities and things like that. So, I thought that was really cool. >> Yeah. >> Nice. And we met somebody there was um at the parade a family came over and was like, "So, what happens here?" So, they
were very clearly. So, I explained I was like, "Did you are you new?" And they're like, "Yeah, we just moved last week from >> Oakland, California." So, >> all right. Callie's heading over here. >> I know. >> Okay. Should we move on to new business?
So, move from one holiday to uh the next. We got the the holiday stroll and Santa in the Park. >> Yes. So, Holiday Stroll and Santa the Park is that first Friday in December, December 5th. Um, so typically,
um, so I'm I'm involved. So, it's the rec department. So, the town and the business association run that jointly. Um, and we're responsible for, you know, getting Santa there and closing the roads and and, uh, the park stuff.
Um, typically Tom Bull, who I think we all know from Two River Computer, will run the music station there, but he can't make it this year. So, they had asked if like the town can can run that station. Um, and I told him, "Yeah, we can, but like the town is me and and I'm already doing a lot of other things."
So, I will to the best of my ability to do that, but I'm also going to look for a volunteer. Um, maybe someone on the committee or or someone else we might know that would be okay with with running that. Um, >> and where what does that entail? What cuz I don't remember the music section.
>> So, yeah. So, it's pretty simple. Um, Tomb has a um speakers and stuff that he will allow us to use. Um, so I'll set it up and all that stuff. And then I think it's really just plugging in music and then making a couple announcements, you know, when Santa comes. Uh, which, you know, I I'll come over and do that. Hey,
Santa's coming, things like that. Uh, you know, 5 4 3 2 1, that whole thing. if any announcements have to be made, just switching back between the mic and uh and the input or the uh either your phone if you're playing from a playlist or um Tom did have like an old iPod mini
which might be like the last one in existence which had like a a holiday playlist on it uh which I'm going to try to snag from him but um it's not like too labor intensive. It's more of just like being able to stay there um where like you know >> what's the timing would you expect? Um,
so like 5:30 to 7:30 would be ideal. Um, we we beg Borrow and Steel to get Santa to stay till 7:30. Um, it's a long time to have kids on your lap. Um, I think a kid peed on him last year. It's it's it's tough sledding from Santa.
>> Really? Oh >> yeah. So >> yeah, we marketed as a as Santa rise at 6, but the event or the stroll kind of starts at 5:30. Um, so we have the music starting at like five and I can hang for >> like some parts of it, but there are
other parts where I'll have volunteers from the high school that are doing certain things. I'll need to go and talk to the fire department as they're arriving. I'll have to go talk to the police, make sure the roads are closed, so I can't be there like the whole time, right? >> Um, so I mean, you know, I'm in.
>> Okay. >> And I'm available, too. >> Awesome. Yeah. And even if you guys want to split it so you can enjoy parts of the the stroll, too. Um, >> I don't know. I like my I like my photo elf job. >> Oh, right, right, right, right.
>> I forgot about that. >> But but I'm happy to figure it out. >> Okay, awesome. So, I'll I'll I'll note I'll write you guys down and and then I'll be in touch before that. >> And DJ, what just let me know what you need for me. Like I I'm around. I will definitely be around. >> Okay. Yeah, however you you could help.
Again, what Rachel did last year, she helped out the photographer um with writing the names of people down. So if Rachel's helping out with this and you want to she can always use more help with that. >> Okay. >> So that might snow around.
>> Oh, I'll do that. That's fun. >> So yeah, just let me know. So put me where you need me. >> Perfect. >> Great. >> Awesome. And then the other one which I know we're definitely going to need um helpers with is the the Santa calls. Um,
>> what's that? >> Yeah. Um, >> do you can girls do it? Can we be elves or No, we have to. >> Uh, I mean, we used to do that, but what ended up happening was it was one, it's really tough to get anyone who will be a Santa. And then it too it's tough to get
them to we used to do it at bro hall but then we found you know people are leaving work and they'll do it like on their way home or they'll do it like right when they're at home or they can't leave home because they have they have to babysit or they have to be there with their kids but they can be in the garage and do it. Um so we typically just have
the Santaas now. Um and yeah just tough getting people that want to do it. I don't know how many I'm going to be able to make this year. I'm just having some like respiratory stuff going on and um it's like longer conversations can be tough. So doing like the Santa deep voices for two hours is is really hard. Um
>> yeah, >> so any anyone that you think might be okay with even doing like >> five calls um for us would be really helpful. I think we try to limit it to what like eight or 10 a night mark. Something like that.
>> Yeah. Yeah, each Santa just because the calls it actually takes some prep time because you have to go through the list of what the kids are getting, what their names are, what their dog's name is, and all this stuff that we get from the parents. So, you go through that like whole sheet of info and you're circling things and there's two and three kids in
stuff. >> Yeah. >> So, just putting it out there, I will be sending out an email um to the Santaas from last year, but if you know anyone who would be okay with being a Santa, and I walk them through it. I do a whole Santa training. Um, it'll be that second
week in December. The dates are to be determined. I'll I'll pull my my regular Santaas to see which nights work best for them. Um, and then we'll send out that information a couple weeks ahead of time, but just send me an email with any names and and contact info of people
that you think might be available. I don't know if uh Rachel, you can rope your husband in for another year. I think >> I know my Michael I don't know if you've heard this but my husband has a really hard time doing these because he has a hard time like
>> um what is what I told you about DJ I can't remember how to phrase it this time but like um he just didn't want to prom like he just didn't want to promise the kids stuff that he couldn't care >> and he didn't know that the parents were going to get them oh that's bad
>> and then yeah like you didn't really want to tell the kids that they had to behave leave. He didn't want to start to become a disciplinarian. >> Okay. >> It was that kind of stuff that was just hard for him. >> So, I will ask him again. But,
>> but he might have to think about it. >> Fair enough. >> What was the week for that? Uh, DJ, >> it's the second week in December. >> So, the week of the eth. Okay.
>> Mhm. All right. Just want to make sure got it in my notes here. Okay. And so we have the Manura lighting uh as well.
>> Yep. December 14th that uh that Sunday. >> Yep. Okay. That'll take place 4:30 at Memorial Park and that'll be the Rabbi Shapiro will will help lead that again. >> Okay. >> Sorry, I missed. What's the date on that
one? And actually, will you send all the Do you mind sending all those dates that we were just talking about the calendar? >> Yeah, I'll send you an email tomorrow with that. >> Yeah. And DJ, would you mind just inviting me like making just like a calendar invite so I know these are on there? >> Sure.
>> That'd be awesome. Thank you. Okay. All right. We are unless there's anything anyone else wants to introduce. We've gotten through our list. Um we didn't have anything on there for uh
a burrow now a council. Is there anything we need to know? >> Not really a ton going on. I talked to Tracy about this just to see. Um the only big thing that is happening is we are passing a stronger storm water management ordinance uh that will affect
uh all projects versus just like larger projects. Um that's probably I think in two meetings. Other than that, I mean we closed out big things just now. So that was kind of a big deal, you know, with the PD and community center. Um and I think kind of
next up is really a focus on Fair Haven Road. And uh there's a bunch of funding that's coming in for that. Also, Bsentennial Hall is uh kind of on the radar with that. But yeah, there's not a ton right this second.
>> Okay, fair enough. Okay. Anything else from the committee? >> Actually, the only other thing, sorry, real quick, is and this will come to you guys, but the whole thing about the um baseball and the banners that is coming
to council. baseball came to us and said that they did want to put banners up, which they haven't done in a while, like sponsorship banners. I guess this hasn't happened since 2018. So, we're getting a little bit more information. I believe it's coming before the council. >> Okay. >> I guess like
>> Yeah. So, every year, this was back in again, like she said, 18 or 19, um, Fair Baseball would do banners. So, along the outfield defense of FH4, uh, a portion of those banner proceeds would go towards just Fair Baseball, however they wanted to use them. And then there would be a portion that was like community
related. Um, and so they typically would use that for like the the porter john that's out there um that they would have during baseball season or there's a shed at community center um which can also be used by other sports groups. So like things that are not just baseball centric in a sense um so there was an
agreement that baseball fair and baseball had with the bureau um and that hasn't been updated in a while. So that's a little bit of what Michael's talking about. Okay. >> All right. Well, very good. I think if we're done,
we can all get back to watching the results coming. >> All right. Thanks, guys. Thank you so much. >> Yeah, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Sounds good. All right. We shall adjourn
and we will see again >> on December 2nd next month. >> Sounds good. See you then, if not sooner. Bye. Bye. Bye. >> Take care.