FITNESS BUFFS DISCUSS SAVING SARC WHILE OTHERS TALKED ABOUT TURF

The October 6 Workshop Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners was called to order at 7:00PM. During Public Participation, Spring Avenue Recreation Center (SARC) Fitness Members addressed the Board to convey their support for the SARC Fitness Center and to express their concerns about comments made by Commissioners Julia Nephew and Melissa Creech at the September 21 Board Meeting. They called for the closure of SARC upon the opening of the Ackerman Sports Complex (ASC) Fitness Center, despite a User Survey of the SARC Fitness Members relaying their overwhelming support of SARC. Pat Byrne expressed his support for the friendly, helpful staff and proximity to his home, Don Stuffelbeam wanted to know which Commissioners supported closing SARC and why, while Joan Masterson stated that she has been a member of SARC since its inception and expressed it is vital to her health.

Superintendent of Recreation Kathleen Esposito addressed the Bids for the Ackerman Sports Complex Fitness Center Flooring. During the Sealed Bid process, one company submitted a bid although several specifications were mailed to potential vendors or picked up at the Park District. Bid specifications can limit a supplier’s ability to submit a competitive bid. Staff stated they always strive to get numerous bids. Commissioner Jay Kinzler stated that moving forward, from now on he would like to see the Park District get more than one bid since this will help the Board determine competitive pricing. Commissioner Kinzler did not propose a plan on how to get more potential Glen Ellyn Park District vendors to solicit bids for future projects.

Regarding the School District 87 Proposal for Synthetic Turf at Memorial Field, the proposal for the Glen Ellyn Park District to fund $20,000 a year for 8 years by Intergovernmental Agreement was discussed. Dr. Michael Meissen, District 87 Superintendent and Sally Goggins from Gain Ground were present to answer any questions. The agreement would give the Glen Ellyn Park District use of Memorial Field on Saturdays from 3:00PM to 6:00PM and all day on Sundays during the school year, spring and fall. Memorial is already being used in the summer by the Park District for the Summer Camp Program. Funding would come from the Park District’s revenue from the co-sponsored summer camps each summer for the next 8 years.

Park District Executive Director Cory Atwell clarified that football could practice at Memorial but in accordance with the Bill George League, Memorial does not fit certain requirements such as stands or a press box. Soccer however, has informed the Director that they will take all of the time they can get on a turfed Memorial Field.

Brad Steinhilber, Travel Division Chair-Equipment T-uniforms for the Glen Ellyn Girls Softball Association (GEGSA) expressed his organizations support for artificial turf at Memorial Field as long as the infield is kept clay, especially since Memorial is vital to their program and they cannot give more time to District 87 at Ackerman. Mr. Steinhilber stated that GEGSA’s findings indicate that a turfed infield changes the nature of the game, makes it a different game and they would not support turf at Memorial if the infield were turfed. District Director Atwell agreed with GEGSA’s findings and promised to review the turf proposal to ensure GEGSA’s needs were met.

Commissioner Bill Dallman thanked Director Atwell and Superintendent Meissen for their efforts in negotiating this proposal, and remarked that they have been working on this for a long time to ensure all usage and availability was taken care of. Commissioner Ron Aubrey remarked that these negotiations started over 5 years ago, that the Park District has tried to advocate a mechanism for accountability of usage and that the proposal was tied to Summer Camp fees in order to make it budget neutral.

Don Pydo, former write-in candidate for the District 87 School Board asked the Park Board repeated rhetorical questions about funding the Turf Proposal for Memorial. Mr. Pydo argued where the money from the Summer Camp Program would have gone instead of the proposal to fund the Turf Proposal. District Counsel Steve Adams replied that there is not a specific way to answer those rhetorical questions.

Meanwhile John Huston questioned the aesthetics of the design. Mr. Huston wanted to know if a turfed Memorial would still look like a park or if it would be fenced and locked. Director Atwell assured John Huston that it would look like it does now, only turfed. Eric Peterson from Glen Ellyn Life echoed John Huston’s concerns regarding public access at Memorial. Mr. Peterson also informed the Park District about what he considers poor conditions of the tennis courts at Memorial. Director Atwell responded that Memorial Field is not a Glen Ellyn Park District property and is instead owned and operated by District 87. Sally Goggins responded however, that District 87 had their tennis courts at Memorial resurfaced the prior week.
The turf proposal for Memorial Field will be placed on the Consent Agenda for the October 27 Regular Board Meeting.

Priscilla Smith, Executive Director of Anima (formerly the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus) addressed the Board regarding their residency/non-residency status in regard to their room rental fees at the Main Street Recreation Center (MSRC). Staff will review prior agreements between both organizations and this was left as Unfinished Business.

Laurie Woods Superintendent of Finance & Personnel presented the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010. The budget can be found on the Glen Ellyn Park District website http://gepark.org/index.htm. The proposed budget can be found on pages 28-43 of the October 6 Workshop Meeting Board Packet or by following the following link: http://gepark.org/assets/PDFs/Board%20Packets/BrdPkt100609.pdf.

This Budget will be further discussed at the October 27 Regular Board, the November 3 Workshop and possibly the November 17 Regular Board Meetings. The Budget will be voted on by the Board at the November 17 Regular Board Meeting. Superintendent Woods informed the Board that Staff has cut the budget by 5% due to a decrease in the property tax levy. Since some funds are more static and cannot fluctuate easily the Parks Department has a proposed 18.6% cut.

Commissioner Nephew expressed concern over rumors she heard concerning recent Park District staff layoffs. She was informed that this was for seasonal part-time help and this is the time of year they are always laid off. Commissioner Nephew asked why the Board was not informed of the lay-offs and was told this is a condition of their employment, when hired as seasonal part-time help. Commissioner Nephew also expressed concern that a decrease in the Parks Budget could lead to unsightly and unkempt looking parks. Her concerns were echoed by Commissioner Creech. Commissioners Nephew and Creech did not offer alternative cuts to the budget at this time. This was the first meeting reviewing the 2010 Budget.

Superintendent of Parks Dave Scarmardo assured the Board that the Parks Department would be closely monitoring staffing, scheduling and maintenance projects in order to ensure that the proposed Parks Department cuts would not affect the aesthetic quality of the Parks.

After further Budget review, the meeting adjourned at 9:59 PM in order to go into Executive Session.

The next Regular Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 P.M. The meetings are held at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center (SARC) 185 Spring Avenue. As with all meetings, the public is invited and welcome to attend.