Old Lyme Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes
March 6, 2014
Present: Robert Dunn (Chairman), Glynn McAraw, John Flower, Tim Gavin, Nigel Logan, Mary Ellen Garbarino and Don Bugbee (Director)
Absent: Missy Garvin
Guests: NONE
NOTE: Doris Johnson (Clerk) was absent. Mary Ellen Garbarino took and prepared these minutes.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Robert Dunn.
2. Approval of 6 February 2014 Meeting Minutes
Mary Ellen Garbarino moved to approve the minutes of 6 February 2014. Glynn McAraw seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
NOTE: The Board members requested that minutes be prepared (titled as unapproved) and emailed to Bob Dunn within one week of a meeting. Bob Dunn will distribute by email to Board Members with a copy to Ruth Roach and Eileen Coffee. Once minutes are approved they will be changed to the status of approved on the Town Website.
Glynn McAraw moved to move Agenda Item New Business (a) Town Woods Park Consultant RFP to this point in the Agenda. John Flower seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
6. New Business
a. Town Woods Park Consultant, RFP
The Commission reviewed the Draft of the RFP and will respond to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder by Monday with their suggestions for revisions.
The Commission will communicate their overall concern with a proposal that calls for investing more taxpayer money in an approach that after three years has yielded inferior athletic fields compared to the turf conditions prior to 2011. Since there are no organic products that effectively treat grubs and crabgrass, the Commission will recommend that the RFP NOT include verbiage limiting consultants to a fully-organic, pesticide-free approach. The Commission will recommend that the RFP contain verbiage requesting consultants who can recommend “environmentally sensitive approaches” to address the
problems.
TWP former consultant, Phil Neaton, has volunteered to address the Park and Rec Commission, Selectmen from Lyme and Old Lyme and Board of Finance members on possible strategies to save the fields. At that time, he will give an update on the developments in turf management over the last three years, including more information on an environmentally sensitive approach. The Commission will recommend that the Town of Lyme and Old Lyme take advantage of this offer, before investing additional funds in hiring another external consultant. It was discussed that the Town has previously engaged two “organic” lawn specialists (Chip Osborne, Osborne Organics and Rusty Warren, Safe Lawns of Salem) who stated that the athletic fields should have been “weaned” off synthetic products over time before using only organic products. It was the consensus of the Commission to recommend SPECIFIC REVISIONS to the current DRAFT in a letter to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder by Monday, 10 March. Bob Dunn
will draft this letter and copy the Board Members.
3. Winter / Spring Programs Update – Don Bugbee
Director Don Bugbee reviewed the Winter Programs and gave an overview of the upcoming Summer Programs. Regarding Day Camp, the Board was in favor of allowing children from Lyme to attend the Day Camp only if there were openings after Old Lyme children enrolled. By doing so, this would not cost the Town more money, as no staff would be added. It would bring in additional income in fees while allowing more children to participate. There was a discussion about the fees charged for a total of 6 weeks of Day Camp. For many years the fees have been $150 for one child in a family and $200 for a family. The consensus of the Board was to keep the single child fee at $150 but raise the family fee to $250.
Don Bugbee stated that the Town is looking into placing a Kiosk at the Sound View Parking Lot this summer which would be manned by the Town Rangers.
Don Bugbee reported on the following:
The Park and Recreation Budget Request was approved by the Board of Finance.
The Safety Commission meets quarterly and in his opinion is doing a great job.
The Town Woods Operation Committee needs a new member.
Workshops and meetings with CIRMA.
His discussion with Old Lyme Little League regarding their request for some funding.
4. Park Facilities Update – Don Bugbee
Don Bugbee reported that the next meeting of the Facilities Committee will be on 11 March. There are some repairs scheduled for this Spring.
5. Any Other Old Business – NONE
6. New Business
a. Town Woods Park Consultant, RFP
(discussed earlier in Agenda)
7. Adjournment
Glynn McAraw moved, and Tim Gavin seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 PM.
SO VOTED.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Clerk
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