REGULAR MEETING OF PARKS & RECREATION FEBRUARY 13, 2008 7:30 P.M.
Chairperson Bill Serchak called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT Chairperson Bill Serchak, Commissioners Dean Porter, Raymond Theriault, Myles Davis, Jared Kresnak
ABSENT Vice-Chairperson Jennifer Davis, Commissioner Brien Worrell, John McDaniels
ALSO PRESENT Arthur Shufflebarger, Milford Village Manager
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of January 2, 2008
PR-02-02 Porter moved, M. Davis seconded, to accept the minutes of the January 2, 2008 meeting as presented. Motion CARRIED.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
John ‘Skip’ Bushart, 711 Reynolds Drive, Waterford, introduced himself and the other members of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation to the Commissioners. He passed out letters and diagrams relating to a memorial they would like to put in Central Park. He stated that the memorial would be to honor SFC Douglas Stone and Corporal Mark D. Kidd, two of Milford’s fallen heroes who had lost their lives in Iraq. He explained that the foundation has built and dedicated thirteen of these memorials in the last year and a half and they have ten more scheduled for 2008. He told the Commissioners that the memorial is made of granite with a bronze field cross and the memorial plaque can be engraved if more names needed to be added. He said that the memorial is tamper resistant and there would be no maintenance needed, the foundation would maintain the flags and scrub the bronze once a year. He said he has been speaking with Joe Salvia in regards to putting it in Central Park with the other memorial.
Arthur Shufflebarger, Village Manager, said that he has spoke with Mr. Salvia and John Grissim, and the plans for the memorial and other parts of the memorial may not be going in soon or at all depending on the cost. He said that they have to make sure the two memorials are compatible and stated that he had a concern about having another flag being put up.
Porter asked if the foundation had a second option for the monument, maybe South Park or Riverview Park.
Mr. Shufflebarger suggested looking at Hubbell Pond Park.
Ginny Cola, 6269 Kevin Court, Brighton, told the Commissioners that it should not be too isolated because of vandalism.
Serchak said he would invite Mr. Salvia and Mr. Grissim to the March P&R meeting and he invited the foundation members to come back and discuss the memorial and its location.
Kelley Kirchner, 2878 Windwood Court, Commerce, introduced herself to the Commissioners and said that she had lost her mother four months ago. She stated that her mother had lived in and was active in Milford for 30 years and she would like to put a memorial for her in Central Park. She explained that she would like to put something in like you would see at Cranbrook, a piece of art that would be timeless. She passed out examples of memorial ideas to the Commissioners and said she was willing to work with whatever they wanted. She said that she would like to put it in a serene and tranquil area, maybe among the trees in Riverview Park, with a small dedication plaque.
Serchak said that the Commissioners had no opposition to the memorial and suggested that she come to the March P&R meeting with some more detailed plans for the memorial and the location.
Porter suggested that she take a picture of the location and bring it to the next meeting.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ice Rink
Porter told the Commissioners that they had some perfect ice this year and had one opportunity to have a bonfire. He said that they could not set a specific date for a skating party because it depended totally on the weather. He stated that the pump they are using isn’t working well and they could use a new pump.
Theriault suggested that they take the pump back to DPS and see if they could tune it up or if they had any extra pumps.
Mr. Shufflebarger said he would talk to Bob Calley, DPS Director, about a pump.
Theriault asked him to also talk to Mr. Calley about the large crack in the hose storage bin because now they would need a different way to store the hoses.
P&R Master Plan
Serchak talked with the Commissioners about having meetings in the parks on Saturdays in the month of April. He said that they could then review the layout of the parks and come up with ideas for the Village of Milford P&R Master Plan. He set two dates, April 5th and April 26th, at 9:00 a.m. He told the Commissioners that they would try to do Central Park and Hubbell Pond Park in the same day, if not they could use the second date to finish up.
M. Davis said that they need some new assignments for the Master Plan.
Serchak said they would do this at the meetings in the parks.
NEW BUSINESS
Serchak told the Commissioners that they needed to invite Janet Kinzinger to the next P&R meeting to discuss the summer concert series. He asked that she be put on the agenda for the March P&R meeting.
M. Davis passed around an e-mail regarding the naturalization of water edges for rivers, lakes and ponds. He said that the edges of the river in Central Park could benefit from something like this.
Serchak explained that most people are against naturalization because it takes a few years to look good and the common reaction is to mow everything down. He said that naturalizing the edges of the river would help with the erosion and geese problems and that he would invite someone he worked with to the next meeting to talk more about ideas.
Mr. Shufflebarger talked with the Commissioners about their concerns with projects in the Village of Milford.
M. Davis said that in the January minutes, it was stated that they would invite Ann Barnette, DDA Director, to the March meeting to discuss plans for Central Park. He said that the March meeting agenda seemed pretty full right now.
Mr. Shufflebarger said that the park plans had gone by the wayside over disagreements and the DDA’s biggest project right now is the Liberty Street underpass.
Serchak said they would invite Mrs. Barnette to the May or June P&R meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gail Michelini,
Recording Secretary | 
