Old Lyme
Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday October 6, 2015 7:00 PM
American Legion Room
Old Lyme Town Hall
Present: Don Bugbee (Parks & Recreation Director & Commission Secretary), Bob Dunn (Parks and Recreation Chairman), John Flower (Parks and Recreation Vice-Chairman), Mary Ellen Garbarino, Tim Gavin, Nigel Logan
Absent: Missy Garvin, Glynn McAraw
Guests: Candace Fuchs
1) Call to order
The Meeting was called to order by Bob Dunn at 7:00 PM.
2) Previous Meeting Minutes
The Minutes from the September 3, 2015 Meeting were reviewed. Mary Ellen Garbarino made a motion, seconded by Tim Gavin, to accept the minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
3) Directors Report
Don Bugbee provided the following;
a) The Fall Soccer Program is underway and runs from Sept 19-Oct 31, 2015. There are 20 Teams in the Program this year, as follows: Pre-K (6), Gr K (4), Gr 1 (4) and Gr 2-4 (6). Program income is $4820. All games and practice session run on Saturdays at Town Woods Park.
b) Adult Basketball sessions started September 9. This Program runs on Wednesday’s 6:30-9:00 pm at the High School Gym and will run into June 2016. The Sunday sessions start October 25, from 10:00am-12:00 noon at the High School Gym. Sunday sessions will run through March 2016. Fees ($105) are collected each week for the Sunday sessions to cover the cost of District 18 Custodians.
c) Yoga Sessions are held at the Library in Mile Creek School on Wednesdays, from 3:45-4:45. Session 1 runs for eight weeks, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18 and December 2. The Session 1 fee is $80, with a $15 Drop-in fee. Sessions 2 and 3 dates for 2016 have not yet been determined.
d) We have a new Adult Women Fitness Class called the Body Back Program. This program will run for 8 weeks on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s through Nov 5, from 6:30-7:30 pm, at the Center School Gym. This is part of the National Fit4 Mom Program, which is the largest Pre and Post Natal Fitness Program in the country. Sessions 2 and 3 have not yet been confirmed. Updates will be provided.
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e) Park Facilities Updates
The crack repair and resurfacing work needed for the Cross Lane Tennis and Basketball Courts has been postponed until the Spring of 2016. Estimates and contracts will be hopefully finalized this Fall. All expenditures should be covered with the currently approved budget.
The bathrooms at Town Woods Park, White Sand Beach, Hains Park and Cross Lane are all still operational. The water will be shut off and the buildings will be closed for the season in October or early November, dependant on the weather.
The swim lines at Hains Park and White Sand Beach were removed after the Labor Day weekend.
The White Sand Beach bathhouse roof is in need of replacement and the TWP Building trim needs painting. Estimates will be secured this Fall and passed on to the Facilities Committee.
The fields at Town Woods Park are in good shape overall for the Fall season. The regular Fall schedule of mowing, aerating, over seeding and lining is currently in place. Arrangements are being made with Public Works to accomplish some maintenance items such as: re-grade the parking lot, trim and/or remove some of the plantings around the building, cut back the woods perimeter and cut up/remove old soccer goals.
f) There was a Town Woods Park and Hains Park Playground Inspection conducted on Thursday Sept 17 with the Town’s Representative from CIRMA Risk Management Services.
We had a favorable inspection overall. Current Standards were discussed and a few improvements were suggested. It was also suggested that a Logbook of periodic inspections be started as a record of the current inspections done.
g) The Parks and Recreation Commission was recently given copies of the Lyme/Old Lyme Junior Womens Playground Committee plans for installing new playground equipment at Town Woods Park. There is a scheduled work day of November 15 or 21. The LOLJW Club has been successfully operating the concession stand at Town Woods Park this Fall. The Commission discussed the proposed plans and unanimously decided to support this project. The Chairman indicated that a letter of support would be written to the Board of Selectmen endorsing the project, and asking for their support and approval. Updates will be provided.
h) Representatives from Lyme/Old Lyme Little League recently met with the P&R Director to discuss proposed field improvements needed to the baseball and softball fields at Cross Lane and Town Woods Park. Currently budgeted funds are available for material. Updates will be provided.
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4) Old Business
a) P&R Commission Hains Park parking stickers August 12 letter, update
Bob Dunn indicated that the Aug 12, 2015 Memo about this subject had been discussed, and read into the Minutes, by the Board of Selectmen at their Meeting on October 5, 2015 as previously requested by the Old Lyme Parks and Recreation Commission. Bob indicated that there was a positive response to the concerns raised and agreements were reached in regard to parking sticker’s policies.
b) Bob Dunn August 27 letter to Selectmen, responsibilities of OL P&R Commission, update
Bob Dunn indicated that the Commission had received the letter from the Town of OL Attorney dated August 17. A response to this memo was sent August 27. A response has not yet been received. Updates will be provided.
c) Frank Pappalardo March 30 letter to Selectmen (Park responsibilities, lifeguard
Don Bugbee provided an overview of the Sound View Commission request to determine responsibility of managing the proposed SV Park area and their request to have lifeguards at Sound View. The Commission decided that Frank Pappalardo should be invited to a P&R Meeting to discuss these subjects.
d) Tree Commission correspondence update
Bob Dunn indicated that there will be a Tree Commission Meeting on October 15. It was decided that Don Bugbee and John Flower would attend this meeting to discuss tree removal and new plantings related to the boathouse expansion and basketball court relocation. Updates will be provided.
5) New Business
a) Boathouse update (Modified E plan, Public Bathroom ideas, total project costs, etc
Bob Dunn indicated that the 2 scheduled meetings in September (1 regular/1 special) were cancelled. The next scheduled meeting is October 8, 2015. Updates will be provided.
b) Lights at TW Park request
Bob Dunn initiated discussions about the request from Paul Tresnan, representing the Lyme/Old Lyme Soccer Club, for using portable lights at Town Woods Park. Bob reiterated the decisions made by the Boards of Selectmen from Lyme and Old Lyme and the Town Woods Park Building Committee that temporary and/or permanent lighting was not an option. This decision was in consideration of adjoining neighbors concerns about lighting and late playing times at the Park. It was also recognized that this may constitute a change in existing Zoning regulations. Selectwoman Reemsynder is planning on scheduling a meeting with Paul Tresnan, Bob Dunn, Don Bugbee and she to discuss this further. Updates will be provided.
c) Smoking Policy on Town property
Don Bugbee indicated that the Safety Committee, of which he Chairs, had recently discussed the subject of smoking on Town property. He indicated that other Towns (Old Saybrook/East Lyme) have No Smoking policies in place on Town property. The Commission
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discussed this issue and the consensus was that this would be a good policy for Old Lyme properties as well. This input will be provided at the next Safety Committee Meeting scheduled for December 1, 2015.
d) Lease agreement between Regional District 18 and Town concerning Boathouse
Bob Dunn initiated discussions concerning the lease agreement between D18 and the Town of Old Lyme. Particular discussion involved Paragraph 3, which states in part, “ The Lessee shall not, during the term of this Lease, assign or sub-let the leased premises, in whole or part, without the written consent of the Lessor, which consent shall not be reasonably withheld”. Currently Student Rowers from Valley Regional row out of Hains Park under the heading of a Co-op with Lyme/Old Lyme High School and Student Rowers from Old Saybrook row out of Hains Park. It is understood that D18 is paid $350 for each Rower from Old Saybrook. The exact number of Rowers from each Town was not available for this meeting. Bob Dunn also indicated that the LOLHS/ Blood Street Crew Handbook states in part that the Rowing Association is under the
auspices of Old Lyme Parks and Recreation. Bob Dunn indicated that he will bring this information to the attention of the Rogers Lake Authority at their next scheduled meeting and initiate a memo to D18 addressing these situations. Updates will be provided..
7) Public Comment
There was no public comment.
8) Meeting Adjournment
A motion was made by Mary Ellen Garbarino, seconded by Tim Gavin, to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM. The motion passed unanimously. The next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday November 5, 2015 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Bugbee, Commission Secretary
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