FRISBEE REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2010
Chairman Chris Perkins opened the meeting at 7:05pm.
Minutes of the Meeting: The minutes of the June 23 meeting were presented. Jeff Thomson made a motion to accept the minutes, Judy Spiller seconded. Alan McDonald noted a correction needed regarding the retractable seating for the performance center. The seating was not to be included in the final building scheme. Jeff Thomson also noted that his name was misspelled. Minutes accepted with corrections.
BH +A Presentation and Update on Final Building Scheme: Joel Bargmann reviewed the whole project once again. He went over the Rec. Center and Performing Arts areas and discussed the possibilities in the annex, should the Library choose to move to the building in the future. He also reviewed the site modifications, including the additional parking spaces; then he reviewed the gym and walking track. The total cost is: $5,498,890.00. Construction cost is: $4,716,720.00.
Jon Carter then explained that the next step for this committee will be to have a workshop with the Town Council prior to their next scheduled meeting. The committee will meet with the Council on August 23, 2010 at 6:00pm. Following that meeting and the decision of the council, there will be a public meeting on September 13th with the Bond Council also. This would be the last date to prepare something for a vote in November. Following these meeting, the committee will host public workshops to give the voters a chance to familiarize themselves with the project before we vote. Joel Bargmann will be able to come to the workshops.
Janice Grady announced an open house at the Frisbee school for the Rec. Center on September 10th and requested that the committee be present and that we have a slide show of the plans for the public to view.
Alan McDonald brought up the subject of the retractable seating. Alan feels that it is hard to justify leaving seating out, since the area would not be very usable when the building opens for use. He would rather see the space ready to go at completion. Several committee members agreed that they would like to see the seating included in the final project. Janice Grady then explained that some of the items budgeted for the Rec. Center have already been donated or purchased from revenues already. She suggested that we take that money and put it toward including the seating in the final proposal, because she also feels that the seating is necessary.
Following that discussion, Jeff Thomson made a motion that this committee request an agenda item on the August 23rd Town Council for a public hearing on September 13, 2010 on a bond for 2 million dollars to complete the Rec. Center at the Frisbee site. Judy Spiller seconded. Motion carried.
Judy Spiller mentioned that the project does not include the library. Since the annex is still a possible site for the Library, the town would be assuming an unknown cost for the time it takes the library to get their consultant on board and decide what they are going to do. She suggested that we give the library until the end of the year to make that decision. Rachel Dennis then explained that they are interviewing consultants and will hire one by the end of August. They are awaiting the appraisals on their buildings, which should be in by mid-August. She felt confident that they could have a decision by the end of the year.
Discussion with Performing Arts Group Representatives and potential participants/arts community: Kent Stephens, Faith Harrington and Janice Grady worked on a Center for Public Life revenue plan schematic, which shows projected revenue, flow and use of space. Janice Grady pointed out that they were conservative with the revenue. Jeff Thomson asked if someone from the group could come to the Town Council workshop on the 23rd. Faith and Kent will both attend.
Comments from the Arts Community:
Drika Overton: Thanked the committee for their work and said that having space available is beyond thrilling. Space for a dancer is vital. There is no midsize space in the larger community. She explained that there used to be plenty of space, but now what space there is is not affordable. She feels that this is a great opportunity to rejuvenate this art form in the community. Great opportunity for teaching space and a dance festival.
Todd Hunter, Rolling Die Productions: Todd has been producing original works, local authors and contemporary pieces at the Players Ring since 1997. He expressed that being able to perform in a larger house with a new community is a great opportunity.
Zhana Morris: Shared that she is a resident of Kittery and has worked at most venues in the Seacoast. She is excited to have a venue in the community and feels it increases the overall sense of ownership of the community. Zhana mentioned the bridges possibly closing and how having this center would draw people here, which is a good thing.
Agnes Charlesworth: Agnes spoke to the committee at the beginning of the project about how important this center is to the community. She is a musician, very active with many community groups. Agnes feels that there would be lots of opportunities for using the space. She feels is would be booked all the time because there is nothing in the area for smaller venues.
Andrew Fling, Chartreuse Productions, stated that the Frisbee project was exciting for any production company and he looks forward to attending productions, as well as being a user of the venue.
Christine Penny has been active with Harbor Lights, Art Speak and is a former board member of the Players Ring. She explained that the Players Ring is a 75 seat theater. Each year artists pitch shows at the space. They receive up to 35 pitches, but only have 14 available slots. She is thrilled at the prospect of the Kittery space, especially having a rehearsal space. Rehearsal space is in high demand and artists will be lucky if this goes forward. Christine also thanked the committee for all the work thus far.
Performing Arts Advisory Board: Chris Perkins recommends that we get this board going. This committee has had informal discussion on the matter, but nothing concrete has come of it. An advisory board would lay out the overall mission for the multi-purpose space, would help with scheduling as well as grant writing. The general arrangement to establish this board is for the Town Council to have an agenda item to create the board and seek out volunteers to serve. Jeff Thomson suggested that Faith Harrington, Kent Stephens and Gerry Mylorie sit down together and work out a proposal to present to the FRC, then to Council. Both Faith and Kent were willing to do this and will come back to the FRC after the Sept. 13th meeting.
Alternative concept suggestion for Annex Space: Ann Grinnell suggested an alternative should the library decide not to move to the annex. Ann feels that this would be a good location for an indoor swimming pool. She has already spoken with Janice Grady and Gerry Mylorie. Ann feels that there is adequate parking and space to have a pool at Frisbee. She also believes that there is a need in town and that a pool could be revenue neutral. Initially a bond would be needed to build the pool, but it would generate revenue. Ann explained that the pool could be open 90-100 hours a week, be rented out to York Hospital for physical therapy, offer swimming lessons, exercise classes, family time, lap swim times. Ann has been working with the Portsmouth Pool to help them to
generate enough revenue to cover costs. Ann suggested a 60 X 20 swimming pool with no diving board. The biggest expense would be heating the pool. If the committee is interested, Ann would produce figures showing a revenue neutral schedule.
Projected Operating Budget, Governance Issues and Funding Ideas
- Janice Grady gave a rundown of the costs of operating the building. She estimated that the cost to the town in the 2012 budget would be $263,000.00. The budget that had been projected for the 2006 project, which was ½ the size of the Frisbee building was $215,000.00, a difference of $48,000.00. Utilities for the new building will be 85,600.00 more than present. Also, 4 full time positions will be added: 2 custodians, a fitness coordinator and a full time clerk, possibly 2 part time receptionists and weekend coverage for the custodians.
- Naming the Facility: Jeff Thomson moved that we name the building the Kittery Community Center, with the grounds being called the Frisbee Common. Judy Spiller seconded. The motion passed.
Due to the late hour, items C & D on the agenda have been postponed to a later meeting. Those items are Historic Tax Credit Funding and Grant Exploration.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm.
Present: Judy Spiller, Chris Perkins, Jeff Pelletier, Jeff Thomson, Matt Brock, Alan MacDonald, Gerry Mylroie, Jon Carter, Debby Pirini-Boyle
| 
