Present: Tom Frantz, Ellie George, Howard George, Alan Hanscom, Tim Norris, and Brian Reynolds.
Treasurer’s Report: The Andover Recreation Committee had been assured by Town government that any funds available for the Blackwater Park Recreation Building would be “rolled over” into the new year.
The following is from the Town of Andover Notes to the Basic Financial Statement As of and For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012:
“It is the Town’s policy to consider restricted fund balance to have been depleted before using the components of unrestricted fund balance. Further, when the components of unrestricted fund balance can be used for the same purpose, committed fund balance is depleted first, followed by assigned fund balance. Unassigned fund balance is applied last.”
At the Andover Town Meeting in 2013, the Recreation Committee budget was increased by $8,000 to support the Blackwater Park Recreation Building. This $8,000, along with the approximately $10,000 spent on the Rec Building last year, would have allowed the project to be finished with, as always, lots of people contributing their time and expertise.
On January 15, 2014, the Rec Committee learned that, as a result of the Andover Town Policy quoted above, all of last year’s Blackwater Park Recreation Building expenses came out of the Blackwater Park Building Fund and that, as of December 31, 2013, the $8,000 made available to the project by the 2013 Town Meeting ceased to be available.
Needless to say, the Andover Recreation Committee and all the many people who have contributed their time and expertise to the Blackwater Park Recreation Building project are flabbergasted. For now, the Rec Committee will try to patch together enough help to at least get the electricity and plumbing finished and hooked up.
Basketball: Fifth and sixth grade boys have had a great season and are going into a tournament at the Kearsarge Middle School as the second seed. Fifth and sixth grade girls are mostly new players and are going in as the eighth seed.
Third and fourth grade boys are the fourth seed and are playing in Andover. Third and fourth grade girls are also the second seed at Kearsarge.
There was a first and second grade tournament (likened to rugby) which was great fun.
Emily Furtkamp likes the Kearsarge League but worries that our kids mostly go to Merrimack Valley High School and are not getting used to playing in the Merrimack Valley league.
Refereeing: Melissa Thompson noted that high school kids on their own don’t tend to call fouls much, but that a parent with a high-schooler seems to work well.
There is a sense that Andover pays less than most towns for refs, making it hard to get potential officials from out of town. It seems appropriate to bring ref payment into line with surrounding towns. It was also felt that an Andover referee clinic would be a good idea.
Skiing: The ski program is going well, with one week to go.
Ice Rink: Kurt Webber reports that the ice rink is getting plenty of use. We all owe Kurt a lot of thanks for keeping the rink open through all the storms.
Town Meeting: The Recreation Committee Budget shouldn’t be any different.