Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
June 6, 2013
Members Present: Chairman Bob Dunn, Glynn McAraw, Missy Colburn, Tim Gavin, John Flower, Mary Ellen Garbarino and Director Don Bugbee
Members Absent: Roger Zito
Guest: Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
1. Approval of Minutes: There were no minutes available for the Commission to review.
2. Old Business
a. Summer Programs Update – Don Bugbee
Don Bugbee updated the Commission on the Summer Programs. Forty staff members have been hired and a staff meeting will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM. All the summer programs are listed on the Town website and sign-ups are still in progress.
b. Park Facilities Update – Don Bugbee
Don Bugbee gave a report on Town Facilities. Treating Town Woods Park with organic treatment is still a work in progress. A Town Woods Park operating committee has been re-formed. Don felt that the Park looks good and recovering nicely from the over use of last fall.
3. Other Old Business
4. New Business
Horse Riding Camp Proposal from Laura Becher – Possible Parks and Rec Program
This item was tabled as Laura Becher was not in attendence at the meeting. The Commission questioned if this would be a program for Lyme Park and Recreation instead of Old Lyme.
5. Other New Business
Don Bugbee read several emails that were sent to the Selectmen from two residents of Sound View. These residents were unhappy with Don's management of parking fees at the Sound View Lot the weekend before. Don had defended his position to the Selectmen as to why he lowered parking fees that weekend and that his reasoning was in the best interest of the Town. He wondered why the concerned citizens did not simply ask him first. There was a discussion and it was decided that Chairman Bob Dunn will draft a letter from the Commission to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder requesting that she write a clear policy statement about the parking fees at the Sound View Parking Lot including that Don Bugbee may lower the fees at his discretion with regard to the market conditions of each day. The Commission will
further request that First Selectwoman Reemsnyder distribute this policy statement to any and all of the public micromanagers in order to clear up any misinformation and to prevent any more disparaging remarks concerning Don. Don will request a meeting with Selectwoman Nosal and Selectman Sibley to review the process.
6. Public Comment
Selectwoman Nosal expressed that communication was key in clearing up the issue discussed under New Business regarding Don's management of parking fees at Sound View Parking Lot . She also agreed with Don's approach on working the parking fees to suit the best interest of the Town.
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Garbarino
(Doris Johnson was not available at this meeting.)
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