Old Lyme Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Present: Don Bugbee (Director), John Flower, (Vice-Chairman), Mary Ellen Garbarino,
Tim Gavin, Glynn McAraw
Absent: Bob Dunn (Chairman), Missy Garvin, Nigel Logan
Guests: Greg Hack (Old Lyme Rowing Association)
1. CALL TO ORDER
John Flower called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 1, 2018
Glynn McAraw moved to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting March 1, 2018 and Tim Gavin seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Don Bugbee
PROGRAMS
Yoga
Yoga sessions will run through the middle of May 2018.
Adult Basketball
Wednesday night basketball will run through June 13, 2018.
Sunday basketball will run through April 29, 2018.
Body Back Fitness Classes
Sessions are on-going.
Don Bugbee reviewed all the planned summer programs. All this information is on the Website and sign-ups begin on April 9. People may sign up Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM / Lower Level / Parks and Rec Office. Sign-up forms are also downloadable from the Parks and Rec Website. Don reported that the After Daycamp Program is filled up and registration is closed.
Parking lot attendants at the Town Beaches will begin working on May 5 (weekends only) until mid – May when attendants will then be working seven days a week through Labor Day. Lifeguards will be on duty beginning June 16 through September 3 daily.
The water will be turned on at Cross Lane, Hains Park and Town Woods Park early next week. Beaches will be turned on closer to the beginning of the summer season.
Little League people have been working on the fields at Cross Lane and Town Woods Park. Lacrosse has begun at TWP. Don will be meeting with the two Lacrosse groups and the Soccer Club to go over schedules.
Don reported on the Safety Committee Meeting that he is Chairman of which was held on March 27. Cirma (The Town’s Insurance Company) will be inspecting facilities including the new playground at Cross Lane. John Flower stated, that for the record, the Playground Committee thought that the Building Department, of which John Flower is the Building Inspector, would be doing inspections there. John stated that this does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Building Department as no building permits were required or issued. There is nothing in the building code about playgrounds, so he was happy that Cirma would be involved sooner, rather than later.
Don attended the LYSB Camp Fair on March 28 at the high school with 30-40 different groups advertising their summer camps.
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Boathouse Phase One Update
Don Bugbee stated that there have been no more meetings. The Public Works Department has been working on the drainage issues and cleared some brush - and there is a definite improvement.
b. Hains Park Improvements, PRC Committee
Don reported that nothing has happened yet. There was a letter to Bonnie Reemsnyder dated September 21, 2017 from Bob Dunn detailing how the Committee would like to start the second part of the project. Nothing has progressed yet because Phase I has not officially closed out especially with regard to the finances. Once this is resolved, it was Don’s understanding that a firm budget figure will be obtained which will be in addition to the money allocated by the Town for the new Bathrooms, so this remains in the hands of the Board of Selectmen. We just have to be patient.
c. Cross Lane Playground Update, Opening Day Celebration
Don reported that the new Cross Lane Playground is very near completion. The fencing still needs to be installed along with some more mulch. A special Grand Opening celebration of the playground is planned for April 26, 2018 at 4 PM, complete with pizza, with a rain
date of April 27, 2018, at 4 PM.
5. NEW BUSINESS
Don spoke of an email from Candace Fuchs sent to him after the last Parks and Rec meeting. Don had shared this at that time with the Commission members. There was a discussion of the items that Ms. Fuchs spoke of and Greg Hack said that he would review our discussion with Ms. Fuchs including no detailed budget for Phase II yet, rowing times on the lake (not Park times), and the need for a new well at the Park (no blame was placed on anyone for running out of water – it was only a statement made last year telling people to be careful with water use). If a new well is needed – this could possibly add to the budget for Phase II.
There was a discussion about the rowing times on the lake by all groups. Greg Hack shared hard copies of the rowing schedules with the Commission.
Greg Hack stated that the OLRA has purchased eighty parking passes and that members all know that they need a pass to park at the Park, and that all members “know the deal”.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Don (for Bob Dunn) asked Greg Hack about the altered location of the docks going out into the lake. Bob’s concern was that the location may interfere with the swim lines. Don will check it out to see if there will be a problem. Bob was also concerned about the kids from Old Saybrook leaving their backpacks all over the basketball court and that they should leave these items in the boathouse. The Saybrook kids are parking on the far side of the building on the grass. Greg will check into both of these things, and agreed that this should not be happening. The Commission thanked Greg for coming to the meeting and for all his help in making things run smoothly at the Park.
7. ADJOURMENT
Tim Gavin moved, and Glynn McAraw seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM.
SO VOTED.
The next meeting of this Commission will be on May 3, at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Secretary
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