4:30 on Tuesday, November 18th. I'll call the public welfare committee um meeting uh in session and the clerk will please call the role. >> Present >> present.
>> Present. >> Um there are no introductions and announcements. There are no prior meeting minutes. Uh for department updates, we will start with the recreation department. >> I'm happy to go second. Someone has to be It doesn't matter. >> They're still
>> Okay, that's fine. >> They're still >> collaborating. Um, and I purposely put you in November so that I would you'd have the end of your season. >> This is this is a much more convenient time. Yes, I >> I when I was doing the schedule in
August. >> Um, so and we all have a a written report in front of us, but we'll let you present first before we ask any questions. >> So, I hope I use the right form. I did reach out to ask if there was a template I was supposed to use. This is the one I received a version of this that I was just told to modify to what it is.
>> Um the recap is I mean it's it's all just basically enrollment numbers and where we were um and how we kind of fulfilled on the summer program. So we had 353 total enrollments um which is right in line with kind of what I hoped
and thought we would be at. We we met in June. We're at about 240 I guess that we'd hit about another 100 to 120. We kind of hit like right in the middle of that. So, uh it worked well. Um 43 volunteers this year, which is our biggest number we've ever had. That's school age. That's anyone from 8th
through 10th grade. We might have had an 11th grader, but it's 8th through 10th grade really come in and volunteer for us. Uh the biggest change from previous years was we had 81 kids in our kindergarten first age group, which is a huge huge jump for us. Uh it changes everything. the kindergarten group as
the whole summer program goes, it's how the K1 group goes. Um they're they're they're a force. Uh but it's great to see that growth. It gives us sustainability for the future. Uh 70 seasonal staff members, not much
different than previous years. Um so that that's sort of the recap of just the end result of last year um last year's summer program. Obviously, last time we spoke it was leading into it as we're going through projections and stuff. So, I was really satisfied with what we projected and where we
landed. Um, in terms of what's actively enrolling right now, um, the recreational back basketball program in town is actively um, enrolling. Uh, Bitty basketball, we've we've changed it to call it recreational basketball. Um, the the job
calls to have a wreck program. Biddy was what's always been kind of informally referred to as in town. Uh instead of running it as we've had over the years, we made some adjustments to it. Uh there was a huge demand to have different
levels of youth basketball to kind of mirror other sports and how um those sports are introduced to kids. So instead of just kind of having one pool of kids and saying we're playing video basketball against your age, um we have three programs now. Uh, we have beginner, intermediate, intermediate,
and advanced. Each of these levels have flexibility age- wise. So, if I'm a first grader that had five older siblings, and I've been hoping since I was 3 years old, I don't have to play with my age group. I can play up. Uh, if I'm a third grader that's new to it, uh, it's not intimidating for me to start because I can start with kids even if
they might be a little younger than me, um, in a division that makes sense for them. This model mirrors how we do most youth sports in town. So, baseball, softball has the t-ball, coach, pitch, rookie, local travel kind of model as they go. Uh, soccer does the same thing.
Football does the same thing. Hockey does the same thing. But in basketball, it was bitty basketball. There was a wreck version of it. And then there was just travel basketball. And we found that we were really having a hard time with kids making the jump from one to the next. So, we we we adjusted it. Uh,
enrollment's ahead of where we were pacing last year. Uh, we have 95 kids already signed up. Last year we finished with 109. We've capped Biddy at 140 in the past. So we think that we'll get close to that number. Um just it we we'll probably have roughly 140 kids across those three divisions.
Uh programs that are slated for a little bit later on. Uh we're going to be running the third iteration of our indoor field hockey clinic. We had a ton of success with it last year. Uh we piloted some stuff during the summer program with field hockey. Um and there's a huge huge want and need for it. um field hockey struggles in this
community. It's a very payto-play sport. It does not mirror um necessarily the needs of our community. So, we're throwing a lot at um resources through our varsity program, through the recck department to um try to bolster what's some good field hockey momentum for us
in a way that's approachable for our families. Uh the indoor soccer clinics will run again. Those are always wildly popular. They sell out instantly. Um the baseball softball clinics will run again. Those have been running for four or five years. They grow every single year. We add weeks every single year. Uh
if we had five gyms, we'd fill them all with baseball and softball clinics. Uh and then the track and field clinics, always a favorite that that's going to run early spring alongside the baseball softball ones. So those are the the sport clinics that we have uh scheduled to go out and as always we develop those. If someone comes to us and says,
I want to try to do something, uh if we find people that are willing to run those programs, uh we will run them and test them and see if they work or don't work. Um these are the ones that are slated as of right now. Um partnerships with some of the area kind of nonprofit local teams that uh represent
specifically this area. Uh Chair City Lions, their season just ended. They have a huge partnership with us uh that that they've grown quite a bit. Um they fielded three football teams and two cheerleading teams this year. Uh Chair City Soccer, their fall season just ended. Over 300 players in the fall and their spring season is open. Obviously
soccer is unique because it runs dual season. Chair City baseball softball spring registration is now open or it's about to be open I should know. I'm on that board. Um we had over 300 players in baseball and softball last year which is just a massive jump from where they
were previous years. Um little league was almost gone in town for a while there. So a big comeback there. Uh Garden Travel Basketball. Uh their enrollment closed. They've done their tryyouts and they have four teams that will be uh competing this year under that umbrella.
general department updates. Um we're going to be running through we've already started the planning phases of next summer's program. Um just kind of talking holistically some changes to programming that we've considered. Um what we add, what we dropped. We go through this process every single year where basically we just say what worked,
what didn't work. Um good examples, gardening week. We had gardening week for a while and it kind of fizzled out. So we replaced it with something that had good teeth to it. Worked really well. Um, we're going to run July 6th to a August 14th. Um, the only functional
component to that is that 4th of July is no longer a date within that. So, we have to pay for one more day of staffing. 1/4th of July is not in that week. That happens like every four years. It's the week before we start. Um, based on who reported they'd be returning or not reporting reporting back, we expect to
hire between 12 and 15 new staff, which is pretty standard. Um, we'll kind of walk through our hiring as we enroll so we don't outrun our staff our we don't run outrun our funding with our staffing uh funding issues. I'm
really pleased with the funding and what it looked like. Um, I thought it met well. I'm glad I made the adjustment I did. Uh, in terms of the funding, I'm glad that you guys supported that change. Um, we're right within a couple thousand dollars of what we took in versus spent. So, we're pretty happy
with it. um not apply for any grants. Um you see there miscellaneous. I the only piece kind of at the end of this is um there's been obviously conversation about interest expressed in um a municipal
recreation department. I don't know if there's been a conversation about that. I would obviously like to be a part of that discussion if there is. Um but it seems like obviously there's energy behind that. So that's the only kind of nagging thing on my mind miscellaneously going forward. So it's simple. Um, but
those are kind of the the facts, I guess. >> Does anybody have any questions? I have somebody, but I'll let somebody else start first. >> Um, thank you for the update. See, you got the template. Um,
Bitty Basketball. It kind of hurts me changing the name, but I understand. >> No, no. Biddy is a division of it. So, we start at Biddy. We start at Bitty. It lives. >> I used to say it on the Facebook page. Bitty. >> That's Biddy. still busy >> because you know I I I ran it for what seven years? >> A long time. Yep.
>> Seven years. Um things are such so funny watching the kids that graduate now that I hadn't been busy with basketball. >> We didn't know what to hoop to shoot him and they're on the basketball team killing it. So it's awesome to see that. Um you know it's awesome the way that you're, you know, uh developing it
because these kids are getting a lot smarter at a younger age, you know, and um you know, so that's a having a multiple levels and everything like that. That's that's a great idea. Um, everything else on here seems good. The only you already know the one thing that I would love to see on the future
programs is girls flag football high school and that's not an MIA sport. That would be something as such. If you're looking for the information, I can send it to you. Um, because I personally have been contacted to again bring it out this direction and I would like to give Gardener the first right of refusal
before I go ahead and have the coach bring it elsewhere. Uh, and that's just I think it's like 12 girls for girls team and they play with the Patriots and they go out to other schools. Uh, Vitchburg has it. We has it. They both have two teams each. Um, Athl is getting
it and I think Gans's about to >> it would fall officially under the school departments, not the recck department if we were to bring it under the MIA MSAA, which is what the proposal that's going around to. >> Okay. >> Everyone is. >> I Oh, so you've received the same probably email. >> We talked about it in every single
meeting. Yeah. Um, so you know, of course I deal with the girls. There's definitely a demand for it. So there's girls that would like it. Um, in case you if you weren't, you know, for me to do that. Um, other than that, I mean, I think everything else seems good. Obviously, right here,
anticipate a need to hire the 12 to 15 new staff. That's to get you back to the 70. >> Yeah. We're not we're not looking to >> It's not additional. >> No. No. So we we know like the life cycle of the kid that works for us is volunteers for a couple years, leaves for does it for two years and leaves
like they they go to college, right? They get a co-op college job by their sophomore year >> and the 353 enrollments that's up from last year. >> Yeah. Um it is. And it's up even more if you back out the um the fact that we
didn't get uh the kids from the shelter this year, right? Last year's numbers were bolstered by about 25 kids that were bust over by this. Like obviously it was a beautiful thing to be able to support them. Um so it's actually a little bit more apples to apples. This was though a
huge year of people and money's tough for everyone. I've never had so many people at the last minute just not appear at summer camp. um happens every year where you know all the registrations will just keep emailing the list. We make phone calls to the
list and there's 10 to 15 people that just last minute we made other arrangements or they just don't respond and don't show up. But this is a big number for that this year relative to previous years and that's part of the challenge in forecasting is we have to prepare for them to show up obviously uh and sometimes they don't. So
>> there there is a resource that I use in the leagues I deal with. It's called um everykidsport.org support. Um they will help for those that can't pay um multiple times a year um up to $150
and you're not singled out like you know like they don't >> you don't have to wear a shirt that says somebody else paid for >> basically what they do is they send you a credit card in the email a credit card number to go ahead and go pay that fund things and such. So that's everidp.org if you want. >> That's great. >> Want to go use it and you can use it
multiple times. They tell you straight when you go on the website if there's funding. You sound like you have to go ask, >> you know, and usually that helps those that um get staff benefits, things of such. And you know, I I can't I don't know how much is used cuz it comes in
just like a regular visa, but I can tell you that there's a lot of people that use it. So, and this is a national program, so any sport will help you out. >> That's all. think from your presentation with you. >> Yeah.
>> Always impressed by the the numbers of uh young people who are participating in uh sports and gardener. Just a couple questions. One is is are aside from um the uh students in the high school and
middle school. Um are are there students coming from outside of gardener to participate in all these sports? Is this are these all gardeners? um sort of um everything that's in front of you here,
a student that either goes to school in Gardener or lives in Gardener can participate in um meaning like let's say they go to Holy Family, they live in Hoverston, like we they go to school in town, right? They are ours um to care for and provide for in that instance can there's no state rules. Let's say we
can't do that. So, it's really easy for us to provide in those environments for those kids. Um, we keep that line specifically because this is obviously not the youth sports, not like the Chair City Lions or whatever, but this the rec specific stuff is
heavily subsidized by gardener taxes, right? So, we don't open it up to just the world to apply. Um, but we do grandfather. So, if a student's been part of the community in the past, we have always made it a habit of if they want to come back to us, we will allow them to continue having that experience
in the summer. Um, it's never taken a seat from somebody. It seems like the right thing to do for a kid to not make them switch summer programs. It's just sort of a decision I kind of made unilaterally years ago um to do that
type of thing. Um, and in terms of staffing this stuff, we'll hire anybody. We had kids from multiple high schools around us that worked for us. Um, that's not unusual. That's actually it's it's a nice different perspective when we hire. So,
>> thank you. And my my other my second question is just excuse my parents if I just don't. >> Um, I know that you you run the stuff at the middle school and the high school and the summer programming. Just wondering about the video league and all the not for-p profofit um sports that
stick together. What role do you play? >> So, yeah, for sure. So, Biddy League, um, my job description includes running a wreck B. It was just a I don't know why I was thrown in there to start probably because we had a good wreck basketball program for a very long time and it was just don't lose this. Um,
we're obligated I'm obligated to run a youth basketball program and obligated feels like the wrong word because I really enjoy it obviously. Um, I'm a basketball nerd despite how bad I am at it. Um, but those are the two uh that we run. uh that there's a huge demand to run
for. And Biddy Basketball has a demand because all of the nonprofit ones that you see below it, the ones that kind of act as partner organizations, they do not offer a youth basketball solution for kids in grades K through three. So, in all these other sports, the reason we don't run a townun youth soccer league
is because Gardener Chair City Soccer runs a youth soccer league at that level. Um same thing be said for baseball, softball, all those, but basketball is unique. there is no private organization that provides that. So, we provide the kind of the gap there, I guess you could
say. Um, my my affiliation with the Lions, Chair City Soccer, and the other youth programs, um, it's different from program to program. So, Chair City Lions, I just ask act as a liaison. Um, I am the one that signs the rental for
the fields for them. Uh, but I'm their point of contact when it comes to um, anything that happens on our grounds. We try to integrate them into our high school program as much as possible. You'll see in the endzone football games, all the Chair City Lions running around with them. We set up youth nights to try to bridge that gap.
But I have no formal connection with Chair City Lions beyond that. Um, Chair City Soccer and Chair City baseball softball. I sit on the board for both of those. I'm the vice president of both those organizations. Fully volunteer capacity. Um, I still also have the technical uh role of assigning and
charging for fields for them. Um, but beyond that, I just volunteer for those too. My son plays them avidly, so I I'm going to be around it. Um, in gardener travel basketball, I I act as a coach, but same thing, same liaison type of thing. Um, I help make sure the doors
are unlocked for them to get in there. Um, I work with our office to make sure that they're build for what they use and all that stuff. So, >> okay. Just had another question. Um, how how, if you don't mind me asking,
your marketing, what how do you how are you acquiring new kids and um and staff members? Like, what's your plan? Like, how do you do it? Is it emails, Facebook? >> For the summer program? >> Yeah. Um so marketing to students it's
Facebook and then it's um we send one blast email to the elementary and middle school parents um to do that. Uh we used to send them home with like bag stuffers but we we don't do that anymore. We just send an email.
It's P school allows us to do that. Um and P school translates which is huge for us. Like I can send it and someone that only speaks Arabic will get the right information. uh versus a handout. I can't hand it out in 17 different things to 300. Like that's not a thing. So, uh in terms of staffing, um we we
post like a now hiring on Facebook. Um the HR department posts those seasonal positions. Uh frankly, most of my hires come from kids that have volunteered with us in the past. Uh not all of them. I think this year I had five kids that we just cold hired that we really liked. They were great additions for us. But the bulk of our hiring started, almost
all of them started as volunteers at one point. So, um, I'm like the one person that doesn't have a hard time finding help because it's such a good job for kids to have in high school. >> Well said. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to
start with the summer program. Did you run into any issues with the food program this year or do you anticipate it next year just because I know that the after school program of feeding the athletes has ended? >> No, it hasn't. >> It has not? >> Nope. >> Okay. Okay. Then I got some wrong information.
>> We feed them every day. >> You do? Okay. Cuz I was really concerned. There's so many kids that depend on that. We >> And it's so important. >> We feed them every day. Um I'm, you know, obviously year to year. I have no um I'm blessed to have the the food program for the summer. If it ever ended, it would drastically change how
we have to approach things. Um >> I wonder if it's where I got it is I didn't know if it was still going to include the new youth center. And I think that may be where I was under the idea. I'll look into that. I'll look into that. Um, I I did go on to your Facebook page because I figured there
has to be one um to see all the signups and uh I just wanted to ask um fieldalki the you know the clinics um if you were low on enrollments would you charge a fee for outside people? You just keep it in the city and the
enrollment's the enrollment and you still run it? >> No. So we actually that's a good question. So, there are some things that like will sell out instantly that we know we can charge money for that are very healthy. Bitty basketball can charge we have I mean we buy uniforms for them and stuff like that. Um the soccer program, if I didn't charge for it, I'd have 600 kids. It's almost a
limiter for us. Um we have to charge something for it. >> Um baseball, track, and field hockey, we're still trying to grow those. We don't charge for them. It's run strictly on on volunteers. Um, so until we get to the point that we're literally turning kids away for these types of things, we actually do
everything we can in these clinics to not charge for exactly that reason. We have to make it accessible. Years ago, I was I had the opportunity to buy like 40 field hockey sticks made for kids. We have them still. So like we don't have to incur charges for them. The idea is show up, we give you a stick. If you
love it, go buy one. But if you don't, you didn't have to spend 40 bucks on a stick that you can literally use for nothing else and no one will buy off of you. So >> well feed the programs are extremely important to maintain the um middle school and high school leagues you know >> y
>> the nonprofit youth um the rental of the fields so that's goes through the all that money goes within the school uh the is regardless of whether it's football, soccer, baseball, softball, they all pay the same amount. How is that determined? >> Depends on the type of organization. So
if it's a uh nonprofit they're charged one thing. If it's a for-profit they're charged something else. Uh that's all done through central office. >> That's very true. >> Yep. >> Um so and you answered my other question. So the anticipated need in new steps just replace kids moved on to other things.
>> Um when you said no additional funding, did you cover all your expenses? >> We came short by a thousandish, just over a thousand, but we expect to make that up with the bitty basketball enrollments and what we pay out with that. So >> Okay. just because we had a meeting last
night on the uh non-union salaries. Um do you have an assistant dive director with you in the summer? >> I have someone that works at the I don't actually know what his title is. Um but Zach works with me all summer camp. Okay, >> that might be his title, but
>> Okay. That's the title on the salary the salary. Okay. I just want Okay, that was my question. I had never heard of that title before until I saw it on the >> Yeah. So he runs the before and after school program in the summer. That's his role with me. Why they I don't know if there's a reason they specifically named
him that. >> Um >> but he Yeah, >> he's awesome. >> Yeah, >> he's incredible. >> My other thing is um when you think of recreation, has there been in consideration for offering anything for adults like a adult like a volleyball
league or anything like that or just keeping you know your it's it's school focus but that's kind of Have you ever thought of expanding or is your focus just within the schools? I mean, my my focus has been kids. Uh, just to be just to be perfectly honest. Um,
>> it's been kids. We've in our gyms in the past, we did host one year they hosted a men's league basketball league, but that's not run or sponsored by us. That was just gym availability for them. Um, I don't know. It's a great question. I've truthfully I've never really
considered it. There's probably a need. I know there's a volleyball league that's kind of bounced gym to gym to gym over the eight years that I've been here. whether it's been at Narroance or Armani Tech and all over, but gyms in the winter are impossible. We don't have a gym for but that's just that's obviously just one specific thing. Um
but no, I've never I've never explored that. >> Just a thought. And the last thing um I want to address is your miscellaneous. >> Yeah. And that's not meant to that's not meant to be. >> So that's so that's why I want to I want to um kind of So that's something that um I don't know if other people have. I've been in conversation and the mayor know you know to to see how that could
be done. Basically, my understanding is the conversation would have to happen between the mayor and central office because this school would have to absorb >> the the the money and and and as we're getting into the budget, now would be a great time for people to have that
discussion and then to you know, I I I'm one I don't want to speak for anybody else, but um you know, there is there is some push to go back to a municipal rec department to offer, you know, more offerings throughout the year. Um, you know, we've, you know, a couple of
counselors besides myself, we've like, you know, what Sterling does, you know, what Hudson does. Lemster, you can't even compete. I mean, Lemonster is just phenomenal. But to bring it back to a separate um municipal department to do things all year round and not not just for kids to you can also incorporate
incorporate family things, too. >> Um, you know, >> Clinton Clinton also does a nice job if you've seen that. >> So, we're you know, we're just feeding that right now. not the it really is the the decisions between the mayor and the in the in the school administration. Um and I think that's something if you know
um I don't know whether you support or not but if if you would you know like to get rid of the w you know city wreck responsibility and just work for the schools that you know that's something that you know that you would have to consider and that doesn't mean it would touch this, you know, in my opinion
wouldn't touch the summer program anything that you've done. It's just bringing new offerings into the city and have one person just focused with that. Um and and a lot of it too it when we develop the youth center too. I just think there's you know that's another
area that we could just expand upon as well for that you know through that program. Um but you know is there anything definitive? No. But I just think with the budget process now I just think it's where the conversation needs to be. Um, but it needs to be this have
the support of of the mayor and um the school department before it would ever go before the council. >> So, um, my there's there's a lot of implications with a split like that. When I started this job, I actually think I've said this to Dana in just like a private
conversation, but when I started this job, I joke that I would love to see one of them grow so much that it has to be two jobs. It has like we started with the summer camp of 40 kids. That was a very different job than it is now, right? Um, and when you say things like
program for adults, we have so many resources in town that should be able to leverage those things. Um, that I'm in full support with the idea of growing the role on the rec side to meet these things because I would love to do adult stuff. I would. I don't know in my world
how I could possibly accomplish that, right? And that's a limiter of the position, a position that I believe has been very powerful for the city. Um, but it's limited by the position, right? There's more to that. Um, more stuff limited by the fact that it's a joint
position. So, I I would agree that there's value in that. Um, I would just love to be a part of what that transition could potenti like. I feel like it's an idea
with a lot of smart people that have never actually talked about it together. And I think that we're doing it and and I don't mean to say that you're doing it a disservice to this because you're the one that brought it up. We collectively be doing a disservice if we don't sit down and put our minds together on what would it look like. It sounds like a lot
of fun. Like I love this work. I love providing for this city. I like I genuinely adore doing it. The idea of expanding it makes me happy. I would love to talk about it. So um and I know everyone's busy. I understand that. It's
a huge huge undertaking to talk about splitting the two and I would have a lot of energy in trying to assist with that. >> Um so you know give me some historical perspective. Growing up we always had a municipal rec program here in city hall and then it's just recently that it was
you know eliminated and it came to combined with the athletic director position at the high school. Um, I'm more than willing um to uh discuss with the mayor setting up a meeting of stakeholders >> in sitting down and talking about it because it's something like I mean you
know I I've just come you know to the thought that it's just I just think it's something that really needs to expand the growing has so many assets right now that we really need to look at things and that's you know we're looking at the golf course right now you know we're looking at what what can we do um to
build off of what we have the library um So, yeah, I will be happy to talk to the mayor, see if we can set up a meeting of of stakeholders being, you know, with the school um and on the city side because that's that's where all the conversations have to start and um it's
nothing that needs to be done, but it's just uh I would like to bring in, you know, um Brandon from, you know, the youth commission and just see what the needs are and and what what something that we can do with because I just think there's >> there's a lot of possibility. >> I agree. There's a lot of possibility
and it's not it it when it comes to the recreation, you know, versus the school versus the city, it's not an us versus them mentality. It's everybody needs to look at this together. I mean, I look at all the wonderful activities that the senior center has for that population and and what their turnout is. I
wouldn't buy the dance class, you know what I mean? And I would just like to see um more things expand communitywide. And that's where that's where my approach came from just to see more things offered um for families and and and for some adults and and for them to do together. So yeah, I have no problem.
I I'll I'll talk to the mayor and see if we can set up the meeting. >> Yeah. And I like obviously my angle is always sports. It's the bulk of my job. So like when I put my vision towards something, it's through the lens of athletics and trying to grow athletics at the high school.
>> But it's all fun. And I mean that like my job is so easy. I sell I I build fun. I build games. Like that's what I do with my life. I can't think of a better way to spend my time. Um and I agree wholeheartedly. The potential for a what a municipal wreck department could do is
powerful. >> Very powerful in a city that's very community oriented, >> but things are different than they were the last time there was a community rec department. So I think there's value in just kind of understanding the front lines of it now and what it could look like and how it
could look similar to how it looked in the past. Like those two perspectives are important and I would love to be a part of it. So >> and and I I think of it of just the things that have have changed since then. But on the other hand too with something like the Williams Rockwell Trust that we have now. I would love to
see you know at one of your camp days bring maybe take the kids to the wolf socks. That was a big deal when we were growing up in Garner with our with our playgrounds and the neighborhood playgrounds. It it got it got kids exposed to other things that they wouldn't necessarily have been able to take advantage of. And that's just I
mean, you know, that's just an example, but there there's funding and there's grants and there's there's there's support out there to get kids um involved in in sports as well as other um things going on. So yeah, I'm as I said, I'm absolutely I'm I'm willing uh
to put this together and um I will what I will do is I will email you and see who you think your stakeholders should be and I'll and and I'll >> I'm sure we have all the same people. I >> that's what I'm guessing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I just want to add just one other thing just that you know um when I think
about um the other fields like baseball fields in in the city and the neglect or you know they're not they're not being utilized in the same way. >> I mean Stolen Field is in disarray and then of course there's a basketball court like you said in the in the youth center building that could easily become
like a rec center >> but you know to that point. So Stonefield is kind of a different beast just with all the weird in between that Stonefield was. But there's three other baseball fields that through a ton of volunteerism with Chair City baseball softball and nonprofit volunteer
organization in town where those people have sweat to build those fields back up and worked hard to build relationship with the DPW which is a weird person to have to talk to to get a field. Like that's all weird. Like the mapping you mentioned last time the mapping is weird to a lot of this stuff. fix a baseball
field, but you don't call Dan. Like that like I should be that call, but I'm not that call. Fine. Um there's a lot of powerful work through the volunteer organizations that have started to fix those things. So like it breaks my heart when I hear there's fields not being used.
The city doesn't run a baseball league anymore, but there is a real baseball league in town that's softball league and baseball league that's running in town that's doing huge things and partnering in huge ways with a lot of people from the city well beyond myself that have made those fields come to life and now are actively pursuing Stonefield
as well. Right? So while it's not gardener Gardenner baseball, it's Cher City baseball softball and those people and I'm included in that. like I'll say it, but those people are the ones digging up fields, fixing them, and getting all the right help from the city
as well. And the city's done a wonderful job far beyond me supporting the rebuild of those things. So, um, but if baseball can do it, how do we use our outdoor basketball courts differently, right? Like that's the next step of it. How do we make this repeatable for all of these different
organizations or these different things we want to accomplish? So, um, yeah, I would also love to see Stonefield be a thing. So, don't don't get me wrong. >> Yeah, I would too. And it's it's it's it was the passion of one person and after that it just it went by the wayside. And
um and the thing about I I can speak for myself and Mr. Wood can remember this. Done has such tradition in garden, an enormous amount of tradition. So that would that I think that's something that people would really like to see used and revitalized
in some positive way. >> We would love to >> because it's just a it's just an empty lot of land that's just >> So I think of Fuller Field in Clinton. I grew up in Clinton and they don't play high school games or much at Fuller Field, but when they use Fuller Field, the entire community
comes around for it. They play one football game there every year, one baseball game every year. >> When I was a kid, I went to football games at Fuller Field, right? Like so I think of that fondly. Stonefield should represent the same thing for us. But again, that's one I don't mean to diminish the field itself. That's one field of many that like obviously it's a
ton of work to get those up and running and then filled, right? We don't fix them for them to look pretty. We fix them for them to be filled and used for kids to scrape their knees on and for grandparents to watch their kids play on. Like that's why we fix those things. And um
>> that's my soap box. Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but since you asked the question, um, based off the conversation, you raised a good point on family oriented stuff um, within the city, you know, I've been asked to go
ahead personally to go and do things with the adults. And we're not just obviously I do the flight football, but besides that, um, I've had people that want to do kickball, um, family kickball, adult kickball. Um
the other thing was um dodgeball. They want to use the gym to go dodgeball. I'm like, "Oh, what? I wish they had a dodgeball league, but they have it out there in West Boilston and one of these their you know um CrossFit trainers, but they're over there. They go to West Boilston to go ahead and go do it and
everything else. And these are opportunities that could be brought to the city and things and such. Obviously, you know, every year this time of year, everyone's looking for basketball. Um Fitchburg game one, they've picked that up. But there's people that aren't on that level that would like to have a little bit of a basketball league up
this way too. Again, adults, um, things and such. So, um, I just want to go ahead and echo what you said and just for those that have come to me that, you know, I didn't know which way to direct them because we don't have anything here. And to be honest with you, in your position, I never thought, oh, we'll
talk to them because I know how you are with the kids and everything else. I never said it never clicked like I should be able to go ahead and set them in the other direction because I know every time I talk to you it's always the kids everything is such and it's no fault of you. Um but like
you know if once we go ahead and we have to sit down everything has to you know I can go ahead and bring these ideas and bring more life to these fields. you know, my my son played um you know, baseball, T-ball over there
in I don't remember the name of all the fields to be honest with you, but over there behind GFA, >> you know, we over there. Yes. And then um you know, obviously um Oliver Case, you know, we played over there as well, things and such. So, it would be nice to go ahead and start trying to go ahead
and um get some life into those um areas again. So, that would be >> great. Thank you so much. >> Um, do I need to stay till the end for questions or anything? Are you sure? Okay, >> you're all set. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Yeah.
>> We'll go on to the airport with Isabelle and Jim. And we have two separate updates in front of us, one from each, but they're going to condense. >> We're on the same page. >> Work on it. We'll see if we can try and
>> because we kind kind of come at it from a two points of view. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay, >> ma'am. Gentlemen, >> uh so to begin with, um there are two airports in Massachusetts that are potentially closing. Tanner Hiller uh
down by the quabin has closed and Sterling Mass airport has a potential new buyers that um if they don't keep it uh as an airport, they'll they'll close it because the the um the land is valuable and they'll probably put a
bunch of houses. >> So that's still up in the air. So I have um reached out to all these people and and told them they could come to Gardener if they would like. And my reasoning behind that is to increase uh
the activity going on at Gardener, increase the uh traffic going on at Gardener. And Gardener airport is in a unique uh position in the state. It's right in the middle. It's right off of Route Two. It's easy for people to get to. Um, if we do have increased traffic,
we could uh potentially increase our FAA funding. It could also bring people spending money into gardener and um all of that is a good thing. And um so I've been working on that to try to increase
our our activity there. Um, on the other side of the coin, if we increase our activity, we're our budget is not large enough to accommodate some of these things. And I know some of this is going to probably happen. And uh, Jim and I
are concerned that we don't have a a budget to do uh do things. Um, most of it is repair-wise and we can get into that afterwards. But anyway, so the part of this uh accomplishments is to just
bring in more activity, more people, uh more funding, and um it it would be a good thing for Gardner to have that happen. Uh next, um the snow plowing this winter. Um
we have a concern about uh state inspectors to um actually go from place to place and look for operators who are running equipment without a license. That's a concern enough for me to be able to say,
you know, the city personnel, me and the city itself could be liable if operators are running equipment without the proper licenses. There's fines and jail time and um I don't want to be liable. I don't want the city to be liable. So, um
I have found two gentlemen who have their CDL license who will actually help us uh snowplow this winter. So, that that's that's a good thing. All our equipment is fueled, greased, and ready for the winter season. Uh, our equipment is old. Uh, Jim's going to get
to that. >> Um, I have had some maintenance done. The main electric gate, um, had to be repaired. That's an unforeseen expense. Yearly maintenance of the fire extinguishers. We do that. We're very,
it's, uh, very important um, safety wise to have uh, fire extinguishers everywhere. We do have that. Yearly maintenance of the fuel tank and system has has been replaced. I replace the sump pump because it was old and not working properly. That's a yearly fee
that we we cannot get away from. That's it's kind of expensive and we we must do it. We do sell a lot of fuel. Uh significant issues or challenges uh what I just mentioned uh we really don't want to be liable if state inspectors come onto the field and uh people are running
the equipment without the proper licenses. So, um I've taken care of that. The second issue was the airport um engineering consultant. Their contract expires on the the 15th.
Um they these uh since this amounts to uh lots of money at different airports, they're slightly aggressive. We need to make sure that they are um you know doing what we want them to do at the time that we want them to do it. And um
it's it's typically FAA recommended the things that they're asking us to do and a lot of it are their safety issues. So we really need to do it. Um we are part of the national transportation to system. So there is a
a need for more funding 2026, 2027, 2028 fiscal years based on FAA recommendations and um a lot of those are safety issues. And then the third significant issue which I forgot to put there is that our budget really is not large enough to do all the repairs that
we would like to do. Uh project and initiative. Um uh Jim's probably going to talk about that. Gale Associates have will have a new contract. Their contract um they were the only bidder, so they will we
will be reoing their contract going forward. Uh financial update, our repair budget has only $700 left for the rest of the fiscal year, which is low. Once we get uh the final bill for our fuel tank maintenance, we'll actually be
below that. our unexpected spend. We did spend $2,600 to fix the electric main gate, which we had to do. Um requests to the subcommittee. We are seeking approval for a transfer of funds from a recent excess of money from the
completion of the runway project. That's done. Everything's been paid out, and we have $20,500 left over per John. We need these funds placed into our budget to pay the local share of our first project
um with uh Gail Associates, which is a tree cutting project on both approach ends of the runway per FAA regulations. This is a safety issue and the remaining 4600 will need to repair the roof on the main and hanger attached to the main
building. This has been leaking for quite some time. Uh, somebody mentioned 20 years and we really should fix it. Um, so that's monies that were already earmarked for the airport and it's in
excess after we've paid out all the money for the runway project, which was a very large project. We're also seeking approval for a transfer of funds from the return of an FAA fee of approximately $9,000. That was for when the FAA did a fly over to certify the
runway and lights after the runway project was completed. This money has already been earmarked for the airport. All we're asking is that we'd like to retain those monies so we can repair the roof on the main hanger. And then finally, MIT has begun using our airport
more frequently for testing purposes than pre they were previously. and we would like to retain the small amount of money that they give us, which is $100 per month and $100 per visit, per project. So, right now, it's not really
a lot of money, but we could really use the funds uh for airport repairs and such. >> I'm looking for you. I'm going to if I can ask suggestions on her presentation first. Um,
so when the CDL license and the and the plowing, was the mayor made aware of the liabilities that they had to be changed to specifically licensed people? >> It came it has I didn't mention it to him specifically, but it has been
brought up in in many of our meetings. >> Okay. So, >> and I just feel like we shouldn't have that liability, >> right? So, um, he he needs to know when if it's in your your airport. I'm not sure what he watches, but I would I would send let him know what why the change has been taken place so he can, you know, so he's aware.
>> Okay. >> Um, what did I just say? Can't read my um the large game mower that is broken. My suggestion as we go into the budget season that you want to get quotes for a new one and have one prepared for your your budget.
>> Okay. >> Um the transfer of funds that you're asking for whether it be from um the leftover monies um through the city auditor that was discussed or from the um FAA um runway. that would require you to
write a letter to the mayor asking and to this city auditor asking for a transfer of those funds to a specific line item within your budget that you need it whether it be maintenance repairs. Um and so that that would then that would go through a formal process to the um finance committee and then for
the city council to vote for that for that those transfers for you. >> Okay. He is aware he is aware of those. >> Okay. >> Y >> and then the last thing is the MIT money. Um, have you asked the mayor to set up a revolving account for the airport? So, those funds could be
deposited into an revolving account for the airport that would give that would allow you to use for expenses. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Great. Thank you. >> Um, thank you. >> Yeah. Go ahead. That was it for me. >> I just had a question. Um, when you say that
the counselor or the mayor is aware, is this in conversation or is this through email? and things as such. >> I sent him an email regarding the requests. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. That was >> a formal email >> and I actually I sent him a formal email
regarding the CDL licenses as well. >> Okay. >> Okay. And then the question I had was the airport engineer uh consultant said the contract expires November 15th as this is what the 19th. >> Mhm. >> 18th. So is it expired or is this 2026
it's expired? It's expired. >> It It expired this month, but it's routinely has gone. >> Oh, yes, that's right. >> We voted on it last night. I'm just >> I was going to say they they had to >> I'm sitting there looking like >> Yeah, we we we voted to
>> It's not uncommon to have it >> up to a fiveyear >> instead of just the threeear. So, that is with the um purchasing agent right now. So, it did get approved last night at the custom meeting. >> Awesome. All right. That was him. >> Okay. >> On my list. Oh, we just asked this
question. Sorry. >> Oh, um, so you um, councelor Mac, uh, you were talking about a revolving fund for the, um, MIT fees. Are there revolving funds for I mean, you have a a
gas like gas station and rental for uh, >> for folks to park their planes and coffees and >> we do. So, right now, um, the way it's set up now, anytime I get any rents, I turn them over to the city. I do a
formal, uh, report and I turn all the rents over. And I don't know, um, you know, there's been some discussion about whether the airport can keep those funds. Um, you know, the city uses them.
uh there's a insurance policy that the insurance pro you know those some of those rents pay pay for the city. So um I mean we would like to request to keep some of that if we could. We're just really low on funds and I think um you
know if we could just get over the hump and get some of these some of these repairs made before they get too too too bad we'd be in we'd be in good shape. And um just a couple I applied your efforts to reach out to liquid and and
Sterling folks. Is there is there any is there been any bites there of like an increase like of x number of clients coming to gardener? >> Uh right now it's still up in the air but the soaring club has 100 members and
back in the 60s and 70s there was a soaring club there and there was lots of activity and we're high up. We're almost at 1,000 ft and it's easier to grab the thermals when you're at 1,000 feet to get higher than to go for instance Fitsburg which is 200 ft. You have to go
up higher. So they're they're very interested if Sterling stays as an airport which it might um then they would stay there. If it doesn't then they will reach out to us and probably come here you know probably want to
build a large hanger. Um, we'd have lots of activity, lots of people coming to gardener to spend money and uh, I'm kind of excited about it. I'd like to see the activity. >> Asking if I mean if I mean when you're coming I think
to request more funding or to it would be helpful to say, okay, well, we're increasing we we expect to increase by x number of >> of clients or folks who are coming through. I think would be helpful to to know that that that also the fees for
um parking and gasoline all these things are are going to be you know more revenue would be coming in and also >> I had to ask this question in the last budget um cycle about life flight I'm wondering about how that's going but also um if if you've looked into or
explored >> possibly getting some kind of a fee from UMass um that's a good point it is a public airport so they can land but we could charge them a uh >> they charge the insurance to transport
the person. >> Oh, >> correct. >> Yeah. >> For a life flight. >> They get they get it's the the lifelight is kind of separate from UMass because they're a contracted with UMass.
They're uh I can't think of the parent company that runs them and but they do build insurance companies. The gambit is all over. I mean, it's a tremendous amount of money that they bill for these. >> Um I think the base rate that they
charge right now is somewhere around 68,000. >> Mhm. >> Per trip >> from gardener >> and takes them 12 minutes. And >> but they the way they
these things are very expensive for every 1 hour they fly requires 2 to three hours of maintenance. So it's a it is extremely and there are you know eight or 10,000 10 10 million dollar airplanes aircraft. So there's a whole lot of thing that goes in it from that
standpoint. But the uh they do come in because the college didn't have enough uh police to secure the aircraft at night, especially at the college. So
they they only had one officer on overnight and uh they needed somebody to stay and watch it all the time so nobody would get into it. >> Yeah. And the input is >> because the fence >> because the we have a gate and we can
secure it basically. We're under homeland security for that. That's why we had to fix it. And uh so but they do come in and out. They'll do I don't know how many trips they've been doing lately, but I know our guys have been >> so when they land at the Garner airport,
there's no need to have police or anybody present. >> Right. >> Right. And they they we give them the warm place to come if they want a cup of coffee because they got the lounge. It's always open. >> We give them free coffee and there's a bathroom. >> They spend they they usually end up going with the crew so that there's
nobody there. But uh that varies. Sometimes they will. It depends. But they have no facility per se. Fitchburg, they just started a facility. Usually it's the helicopter from Fitchburg that comes up and they had to build a facility in order to have it. And that
was we spent a lot of money on that. >> Yeah, they come about three times a month right now. Last month >> I was going to say they come down three or four times a week. >> I was going to say a week. >> It's usually on a weekend night, Saturday night. >> They come They come >> They come all the times.
>> They come all the time cuz my crews have to transport them. >> Yeah. >> And I know that. >> But and uh but it's but they don't get it's it's not what you charge, it's what you get paid. >> Right. And there's a big difference. >> Yeah, that's a good point.
>> Yeah, medicine is a whole another ball game. >> Um, for our top accomplishments, we've had the runway rebuilt. The last payment, I guess, was made just this last month to Gail.
Uh we did a wildlife hazard uh hazard wildlife hazard site visit where they wanted to see whether we had a lot of large animals and stuff and it came back as positive and that uh that has been the the final invoices being paid on
that. And then the environmental assessment and obstruction analysis uh was given to the airport for review and we're trying to finish up on that. And the uh environmental assessment was with the
SWIP money for storm water prevention. Part of that was by that was triggered. This is all triggered mostly by the new runway. These programs are funded for 25 and 26 were funded at 2.5%
I mean at 95% instead of the usual 90% by the federal government. FAA pays for all this and their money comes out of the fuel taxes that everybody pays. That's one of the reasons why fuel is
$5.75 a gallon. So the money that we have played into the system by using the system and the uh the funds are split up like I say in 25
and 26. The federal government was going to has agreed because of the economy to pay 95% and we pay 2 and a.5% as a city and then the state kicks in another 2 and 12% to come to the 100%. Normally,
and it's going to go back to the 90% and 5% for the city and 5% for the state on all federal projects. And most of the projects that Gail does are federal projects and state projects. They work they're kind of our liaison
with the state and everything and they kind of follow a plan which we have just uh called the master plan for the for the airport projects out five years and the first part of that is the obstruction
surveys and that is going to be funded we I don't know whether it depends on how it progresses I don't know how the timing goes but because the project has already started I think it might hold on to the 2 and a2% which is good because
we have to get an aggro we have to get tree clearing easements from all the neighbors cuz the traffic pattern or the approaches go out up to four miles from the end of the
runway or actually from the overrun of the runway for a visual approach. and they go out in kind of a angle at a 3° angle. And so anything that's close on Airport Road, there's several pieces
of property there that have trees that impinge on our approach. And for safety reasons, they have to stay below the they we've done it 20 years ago. It was they cut tops off some of the trees.
They cut down trees and they go 50 ft uh 10 ft below that so that they don't have to do it every year. It's the kind of thing that you do probably about every 20 years. The approaches are the are the biggest
concern there, but that's federal money. So that's great. Um the sidees, sides of the airport, they go up at about a 7 degree angle. And we have uh
here again, it was probably nearly 20 years ago that they cleared all the trees on the hill on the opposite side, the west side of the airport. The east side has a lot of open space and most of it is is clear, but it's time we've got we're starting it's getting smaller and
we've got a tree tree clearing and that's the next project that's after this is a fencing project which was triggered by the wildlife to keep the animals off the runway because we see deer and turtles
and and geese and turkeys. But uh it'll only work on the deer and the turtles, but and there some other animals that we've seen. We've seen everything moose and all that, but we want to keep them off the runway if we can. And uh but clearing trees
for the fence project, they will clear 10 ft on either side of the tree and we have to keep it clear. They will not clear anything on the property. that becomes maintenance and that's where we fall short. We don't
keep up with the maintenance part of it and uh so it it becomes a major project and if we can peck away at it, we'll be we can we can do it. I think there's a way to do it. Uh that's part of our capital
improvement stuff like I said that we have out there. Um and the navigation easements is the acquisition on the approaches and then the budget items uh have gone
up over the years and we just haven't kept up. Uh operational stuff I she filled in most of it. Uh the public engagement we had this year we've done it for two or three years now. We've parking for the fireworks display and we
had 70 to 100 cars. We also have a group of gentlemen who come out there quite often and fly their model airplanes remote controlled and the garden of great devils they call themselves. And uh they have five or six guys. They
usually do it one day a week. They're competing now with MIT. So we I called them today cuz MIT is coming up with three crews tomorrow to use the airport. So, I called them and I says, "I don't think the airport's going to be available." And they said, "Fine, we'll
we'll be all right." But they uh this is stuff where I want to try and get more people coming to the airport cuz they attract people. They had uh two weeks ago, 3 weeks ago, they had a gentleman that had uh flew a kite.
This was no ordinary kite. He ended up staking the ground and tying it off. And the thing went up about 100 ft. And as the wind would go, it would go up and down. And it had a tail on it that was 200 ft long. It was gorgeous. I've
got a picture of it. I can show you it later. But they uh there are other organizations. Uh we just found out uh Isabelle told me about a uh the jet we used to have jet shows
down there. That's going to be a little trickier because they want to use the runway. But uh because of the they're real jets, but they're only models radiocontrolled and uh they draw a huge crowd when they
come. They have and they usually have 4-day event. So we we're looking into that one. Um let's see the one asp. Okay. U I've got the equipment. I listed most of our equipment. I'm not sure on the years
that it was purchased, but a lot of stuff it's it's getting older. Um the loader, but there there's stuff we can work on. When we buy new equipment, a lot of times there's too much
electronics on it. We don't need them, but uh cuz we don't drive very fast around the airport. We're cutting grass a lot. Lots of grass. Yeah. >> I also on the last page I've made a listing of all the things that I have
realized that have happened uh that are there. Uh the increase in the budget. The replacement of the gearbox was for the gang mower was $2,200. The uh like the main hanger door has a
bottom seal. It's got about 6 ft missing out of it. and uh for Dominic and it's breezy uh painting the main hanger building. I think there was a project like six years
ago, 7 years ago where they did some roof work on both the main hanger and the old hanger, the hangar 4 that I'm in. Uh where they sealed and painted things. It's all just a steel roof,
but I think they did some work there, too. Um, the entrance way to the pilot lounge is a screen door or storm door with about a 3ft wide area you go in. There's a shelf
in there. Uh, I put a Nox box in was the first thing, one of the first things I put up for the airport because the if the fire department go down, we get two fire departments and two police departments whenever we dial 911 cuz we get Templeton and Gardner, but they both
it's a double combination on it and there are keys to everything on the airport in that hanger in that box that'll open up so that they can get access to any part of the hang uh airport through the fence and the gates which are all secured.
But that bar that area has been leaking for as long as I can remember. Uh and I know in the last 5 or 10 years it's been leaking bad. That just needs to be torn off and rebuilt. It's a
maintenance item. Money isn't there. Uh, we had an bathroom has a vent that needs a power vent. >> Uh, >> can I just jump down to replacing installing signage? Are you saying you need new signage?
>> There is some signage. Things like you have to our spill kit. There's an oil a 55gallon drum with a ring on it that holds it shut. There isn't anything that
indicates that that's what that is. And it's uh I was looking trying to find and I haven't found them yet. Otherwise, I'd put some money with it. Uh it should say spill kit on the outside of it. It's uh you can buy a plastic container. I believe some companies sell the
container full, but we've got a lot of the stuff already. It should be marked. I mean, I was down at the airport. I've been going I've been at the airport paying rent for 40 years plus. And I never knew what it was until one day I opened it up and oh, it's a spill kit.
>> And uh >> I just think some of these procedures, phone numbers, fire exchange locations, I think it's something that we have our own signage shop at the DPW >> that they should be able to help you with some of these, which >> Well, that's just it. I don't understand the process for
>> for getting a lot of this sign up. the signs for like we put a she got a a fire extinguisher for the new hanger and it's on the outside but it's on the south end and there's should be a sign or a
there's a tech a specific sign that you use for fire extinguishers so that it when you can just at a quick glance you can indicate it see it >> um >> it's Ken the email director Arnold Yeah. >> And through the sign department and just
put, you know, and what you need and the specific language, you know, like I I >> some of it has to be reflective. Some of it, you know, I mean, there's a lot of specific stuff when you get into fire. >> And he would be great to come uh Mr. Monroe would even come down and probably look at what you need and where things
are. Um, but I just think you, you know, take advantage of the the services that are within that can really help you. Okay. >> And I just think like the rest of it's like a cement block for a weight in and a large plow truck. You're not going to tell me that DPW doesn't have a cement block hanging around. >> I don't, >> you know, here again. I don't know.
>> They probably do. >> You know, um, and you know, even when it comes to, you know, the removal of trees and brush, I mean, I mean, maybe in the spring they >> the >> it's slow or something that DPW or somebody could help or at least, you know, go out for a bid for a
>> where I got into it was with the uh, SWIP, storm water pollution prevention plan. I had never seen that before. And I guess it's something relatively new. I've got five outlets. >> And
did I mark down how many? Yeah. 13 catch basins and five dry wells. >> As far as I know, they've never been pumped. They were never >> full of sand, >> but because of the construction, >> I think they should be dug out. Okay.
>> And here again, I just I'm making cuz I'm sure that I don't know how the departments work >> and whether it would be my budget or whether I would have to transfer money over to their budget for their work. Um,
>> that's I've talked to the engineer on the Swift stuff because he's at down at the DPW and the company that I contacted, I gave him the information about it cuz the five outlets have got a lot of three of them have got a
tremendous amount of, you know, I got some goodiz trees in there. >> So, that that would be a discussion with DPW. Even this is just reinforces why whether it be money from MIT or other things that have coming in why the money needs to stay within the airport to to
cover these maintenance fees that you have. >> Um because if not it's money that's going to come out of the general fund. So um but I would definitely um you know through the auditor through the mayor and and DPW it's well worth having a sit down conversation of saying you know
these are our needs. what what can you help and so what can't and and especially if you're you know I'll be honest with DBW is is pretty well staffed but they have a lot on their plate so it might not happen instantly but um they might have you know times in their schedule that they might be able
to help you out but I just because it is a city airport and so it's it's still part of the city but I just think you know as I said a lot of these um things it's just as asking um you know even the hangers getting them on the capital improvement plan,
>> you know, and it's just it's it's goes back to the squeaky wheel. >> Yep. The DPW has helped us a few times in the past. The >> um I can email him about the signs. That's great idea. >> That's why I went to the city engineer
on the SWIP stuff because I knew that that but I didn't know how to or I don't know how it works. That's why I've asked that question because I came in from the other side of the business world and when I needed to get something done I
just got it done period >> and uh this requires many layers to go through. I think the I think the best thing is to do is number one as council was saying is is communicate through email and then if it gets to a point people needed more information as a sit
down face toface meeting um and then just and learn the process uh because I think um if it it having you know as I said like the auditor the purchasing and and you know DPW all there they say okay yes we can help you with this but maybe
you might have to pay some of these you know expenses but on the other hand like even your your the age of your vehicles and your vehicle needs. You know, they may say, "Hey, we're about to get a new truck. We, you know, we can have this truck or this equipment go down or a new mower. Maybe this could be used by the
airport." So, I think it's just I think it's just a lot of it is just more communication. >> But when they far as equipment goes and stuff like that, the FAA has the programs that pay for it. All the equipment we got, we only paid 5%
>> of the cost. And it's the stuff is lasts forever cuz I mean I've got a law that the loader is 20 well it was 2002 I believe it's only got 1,800 miles on it. The dump truck
for the one ton the freight line that we got in 17 has 1300 miles on it. >> I mean it doesn't get worn out. >> So I just want to um you don't mind? >> No no no. Um, I just feel
I feel like we're when it comes to the airport, we're on a treadmill. We're just running in place. We're not getting anywhere. you. It's, you know, I I I want I would like for you guys to come to a point where the next time we sit here, these aren't the
same items cuz I feel like we've seen these items before and we haven't fixed. But I don't feel like it's being communicated good enough for us to be able to fix it. And I you know the the airport's very important to the city and
I don't know like I just feel I feel like there's no bad questions to be asked if you don't know where to go. You just got to go ahead and ask it and one of us can direct you to that way and everything else. That's been my frustration is I've
I have I I try and >> we get I it gets stopped somewhere along the line. It goes on to well we we got to go up higher or we got to do something in it. Um there's no >> in the past you know the budget's been
flat for years. So we've actually had a lot of volunteers who are fixing things. You know they're they're regular mechanics and they'll go ahead and fix things. We've had we've fixed things ourselves because we had to because we didn't have any money to do it, >> right? But that goes back to I think I
said this previously that the airport has been stagnant because there hasn't been the request through the budget for things. So that's why things are going to remain the status quo unless that unless things change. If they don't change, we're going to be we'll just still be the hamster on the wheel and
you know and that's where we're going to be. Um I you know I think that we are giving you some really good advice as to the process and how to follow things and you know if we can if we can get five six seven of the these things addressed
and off your list that's that's more progress than you've had in the last four years. >> It is where the problem you know and >> it uh >> that's my frustration is knowing where to go and who to talk to. Well, the one thing that you you said and you said
this before is not knowing the process. A lot of us are willing to help you get to know the process. So, let's get you there so that we can get these. >> It would be nice to have >> and come to our commission meeting. >> Correct.
>> Email email me. >> We can go to the commission meeting >> first Wednesday, >> but we still it still has to go through the proper channels. But yeah, I do listen I do listen to your meeting. So, Um, even though I'm not there, I and I've told I've told Steuart I do listen to them on video. They're very
interesting. >> We get a few hundred people that do. >> So, yeah, just >> but it's the u I'm looking to try and find things that will generate revenue. And one of the things has been the hangers.
>> And we got the six hangers. It was a little disappointing when I heard that they were $3 million instead of 300,000. That's when they've that's the difference between what was estimated and what it was actually came to building. >> Have you invited the mayor to any of
your commission meetings? >> I think that would be a very great step for him to come in and talk to the commission too >> because I mean there are free cash allocations that occur all the time for these. But >> yeah, >> I've never seen one for the airport.
>> There are there I don't know where exactly the money comes from. I I've heard that there is a state kicks in like 150,000 every year. I don't know where it comes from or something like that. I don't know how there's
>> that's the piece that I don't know >> that can go ahead and go look into such >> but you know it's going to take that hey have you like counselor I mean chair M just went ahead and said was you know she doesn't know if they're available that's what we have them for is to go
ahead and go help you >> cuz I'm I'm trying to like I say I it's been a steep learning curve for me and Kenny knew what to do. I don't. >> Yeah. >> I And I think part of it too is just simply um through the city auditor and
the mayor just asked for a complete accounting of the um all the revenue from the airport and where the money is where it's it with sitting. >> It's not as much as I want, but >> it's not as much as >> the thing that we
I want to do is try and figure out where we're at. like the uh MIT pays so much for the square footage of the trailer they have on ground. That's the monthly rent. But then they add the $100 and I made sure that it was when I did the
agreement this time that there was $100 per day per project and they're like tomorrow they've got three projects going and they can't get into Devon's because that hasn't reopened yet. And uh
that's where they do a lot of it and they they re rely on some of this. We kept them going on a lot of stuff and they started their fiscal year is October one. So we I hit it at the right time and there's been a money order put
in. So I'm expecting some money sometime. >> Well, thank you. Um, I think I mean again this is helpful and I hope what we're >> u the feedback we're giving is helpful and from here we'll just um continue to collaborate and work together and see what we can we can help put together for
you. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You want this? >> Any other questions, comments and concerns tonight? I think we have a lot of information in front of us. I'm going to let you review. We have an um update from the Greenwood pool
>> and from the disability commission. disability commission is just um the minutes um of the meeting whereas um we did get an update um on the pool and again that's um I think we'll invite
director um Morris to our to our next meeting but I think um there is going to be um a definite need for money to be invested and set aside for the pool um for
repairs to get the splash park going. Um, you know, she did put in here the need to increase uh lifeguard salaries, which was addressed last night, which is something that has been long overdue. Um, but I just think that um, you know,
just there is no preventative maintenance plans for the pool and that's what is so concerning. um that there there should be a plan um and there should be um even as we do the engineering for the airport, there should probably be a specific pool
maintenance contract on call to help with as things occur at the pool. Um the pool does need to be resurfaced, which is going to be a huge expense. Um, but I just think that this is something that we um,
you know, we need to um, continue to keep on our agenda and keep in in and keep on everybody's radar because um, like the airport, the the pool really needs um, some money invested in it. >> Um, yeah, I know that we're going to
there's a possibility of needing more employees there with the taken down of the pool. That's more ground to be >> covered >> covered in which the lifeguards are going to have to wash and water. >> Therefore, there may be the need for
staff and things as such as that's a pretty good size area where people might be sitting where there's going to be umbrellas >> once it's all done and everything such >> but um that's something also to put in consideration. >> Yeah. No, I think this I think this is
something too. And um again, some of the pool needs need to um the capital improvement plan really needs to focus on the city as an entirety, not just specific departments, which I find it's very heavy on a few departments. Um and basically what we just gone through with
taking down the out the indoor pool, we have got to maintain the outdoor pool. Um it's a great asset for our for our city and um so I think coun uh director Morris fits this update and we will um we will be following up on on things with the pool in the future.
>> So the one question that I was going to ask her with the extended hours and things just wonder how that went you know the um >> yeah it said it was very you said the season was overall very successful being still open this is Sundays. I went by I probably would say at least four of the
six Sundays and I thought it was very wellreceived. That was something I was very passionate about. Um and uh so I just think um yeah I think you know the siding the pool the buildings look better with the siding. Um I know there
are still some projects that are going to be completed there. She did tell me that they had they had a contractor looking at finishing up some things there next year. Um but I do think that um you know the the challenge is as well is
that we have a human resource director overseeing a swimming pool which is a very challenging thing with somebody who doesn't have um you know such knowledge and that's something that has again it's it's um not our decision but I think
it's something that definitely needs to be looked at and the pool needs to be transferred in my opinion to another department like DPW municipal grounds >> possibility of the new >> or recck department. Exactly. Or recck department. That's right. So there's
nothing else. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> thank you. >> Thank you.