HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-06-01 Confirmation of Duff and KraczkiewiczWatertown Town Council
Committee on Parks and Recreation
Councilor Woodland, Chair, Councilor Gannon, Vice Chair, Councilor Palomba, Secretary
Committee Meeting —June 1, 2020, 6:00 PM
Park at 552 Main Street
The Committee on Parks and Recreation met on Monday, June 15 at 6:00 PM in the park behind
the Police Station to interview Dennis Duff and Mark Kraczkiewicz for reappointment to the
Community Preservation Committee (CPC). Present were Councilor Woodland, Committee
Chair and Councilor Palomba, Committee Secretary.
Interview of Mr. Dennis Duff
Mr. Duff responded to questions regarding the strengths and challenges of the CPC and where he
sees the CPC going in the coming year.
He pointed to the diverse making up of the CPC and the dedication of its members to put the
time and energy into creating a structure and process that would facilitate the CPC's work. He
approved of the CPC's decision to dedicate 5% of CPA funds to hiring a part-time staff person.
She has been very helpful in managing the extraordinary amount of information the CPC needed
to process. He was particularly pleased with the CPC's first public meeting both in terms of the
attendance and in terms of content. Mr. Duff did have some reservations about the consultant
they hired to assist in the development of the CPC plan. It is his hope that the plan and
application process will be ready by mid -fall of this year.
Councilor Palomba made the following motion:
The Committee on Parks and Recreation recommends to the full Town Council that Mr. Dennis
Duff be reappointed to the Community Preservation Committee for a term ending February 1,
2023.
Councilor Woodland seconded the motion and it passed by a vote of 2 to 0.
Councilor Woodland asked Mr. Kraczkiewicz the same question.
He noted that the CPC initially had some rough patches, which were to be expected given the
diversity of opinions and strong willed nature of the members. However, the members were able
to work productively to reach agreement on a scope of work, job description, and interview
questions needed to hire a consultant. He seconded Mr. Duff's opinion that the first public
meeting was terrific and provided the public a detailed understanding of the Community
Preservation Act. In terms of going forward Mr. Kraczkiewicz felt the CPC had accomplished a
major task by working with the consultant to create a values statement, guiding principles, and
goals as well as a webinar. The task ahead was to encourage residents to view the webinar and
provide feedback on the values, principles and goals. This was necessary prior to the CPC
presenting the final plan to the public in late September. He hoped that the applications the CPC
would receive would include a major project that would excite the public.
Councilor Palomba made the following motion:
The Committee on Parks and Recreation recommends to the full Town Council that Mr. Mark
Kraczkiewicz be reappointed to the Community Preservation Committee for a term ending
February 1, 2023.
Councilor Woodland seconded the motion and it passed by a vote of 2 to 0.
Councilor Woodland moved to adjourn the meeting; Councilor Palomba seconded the motion.
The motion was adopted by a vote of 2 to 0. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.