Minutes of the Melville Park Committee Meeting, Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Attendees: Karen Ptak, Patrick Higgins (Vice-Chair), Thurston Gray, Glenn Williams, Jeffrey Richard, Gene Love, Karen Gleason (Council Liaison), Edward Rizy (Chair)
Guests: Jeanne Emerson, Tim and Scott Garrold
Absent (excused),: Grace Kinnunen, Philip Botelho, Lisa Bryant, Alfred Conti

REPORTS
  • Minutes from April Meeting (E. Rizy): moved to accept, T. Gray; second, J. Richard; yea 5, nay 0, abstain 1 (G. Love)
  • Finance: no report, G. Kinnunen absent. Town Administrator has proposed $15,ooo for next fiscal year.
  • Correspondence: none

Proposed Scout Project: Life Scout Scott Garrold, Troop 22 Newport, requests permission to build three picnic tables around the edges of Pond 9. The tables would be anchored to prevent relocation by vandals. The Melville committee would provide materials, including weather-resistant Trex decking, left-over from bridge projects. J. Richard moved to provide up to $770 for project, second by G. Williams; approved unanimous.

OLD BUSINESS
  • Pond reclamation subcommittee (P. Higgins, T. Gray, K. Ptak)
    • Pre-bid Conference, Monday May 12 was attended by nine prospective bidders where D. Faucher, Finance Director, presented the Request for Qualifications package. Committee members offered to provide an area walk-through two days later. At the walk-through, representatives of two bidders were given the tour, accompanied by Town and Committee personnel.
    • Bids were to be opened Friday 23 May at 2 p.m., Town Hall.
  • Mott Farm ditch project: no report. P. Botelho absent. Weather has been poor on recent weekends
  • April Cleanup: attendance was low: P. Higgins, T. Gray, K. Ptak, G. Williams, L. Bryant, and E. Rizy were joined by Jeanne Emerson and Marybeth O’Connor of Portsmouth; Karen Kelly-Shea of Newport and her children Emmett and Kelly. Mulch piles placed by Portsmouth DPW were used to cover the entrances to the Green and Orange trails and 100 feet of the trail bordering Tank Farm 1. Also a tree obstructing fishing at Pond 1 was removed.
    • Trail markers need refreshing; some paint has faded. G. Williams suggested ribbons.
    • Several people suggested getting volunteers from local schools.
    • June 21, National Trail Day, was proposed as another work day, details to be developed. K. Ptak stated it was too late for a publicity campaign.
    • G. Love suggested we put together a Calendar of Events, yearly activities. E. Rizy accepted and will draft a calendar for the committee’s review, input and approval.
  • Storage Facility (P. Higgins): not started yet. T. gray requested to see drawings.
  • Budget for Next Year: depends on Town final budget.
NEW BUSINESS
  • Wilderness Campout: J. Richard, K. Ptak proposed the committee hold an overnight campout during the summer season. Various options and objections were discussed. The idea may be reduced to a weiner roast at a later date.
  • Clearing the Pond 9 Dam: the recommendation of the DEM dam inspector that all trees less than six inches in diameter be removed from the Pond 9 dam top and sides, including a 15-foor clearing at the western base of the dam was judged to be a massive undertaking. The committee decided to check with the Town Tree Warden for further guidance in this matter.
  • Elections, Reappointments: E. Rizy reported that reappointments were being referred to the Town Clerk who would obtain a ‘sense of the Council’. Elections will take place in January 2009.
OTHER BUSINESS
  • Surplus Land/Melville Potential Expansion: J. Richard proposed that the committee, together with the Open Space Committee, propose to the Town Council that we apply for all of Tank Farms 1 ands 2 as open space for recreational purposes to the National Park Service. He recommended that the Melville Committee present the idea at a Town Council workshop as a ‘zero-cost’ addition to the Town.
    • T. Gray and e. Rizy mentioned the commercial value of much of the property towards the bay and their potential impact on the Town’s tax base.
    • Motion to pursue obtaining Tank Farms 1 and 2 as public conveyances through the Federal Lands to Parks program made by J. Richard: seconded and approved.
    • J. Richard will represent the Committee at the Open Space meeting. E. Rizy will work with R. Gilstein, Town Planner, on a joint Council/Committee position.
  • Park T-Shirts: K. Ptak presented several designs for shirts. The committee took the issue under advisement.
  • Next Meeting: committee wished to meet at Melville under the campground pavilion for June 10, July 8, and August 11. Also the meeting will be moved to 6 p.m.
Motion to Adjourn: J. Richard, 2nd P. Higgins, 8:55; unanimous,

Next Meeting: June 10 at Melville Campground Pavilion, 6 p.m., with bug spray.

Respectfully Submitted,
Edward Rizy, Acting and Reluctant Secretary

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