Old Lyme
Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Thursday December 3, 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, Missy Garvin, Tim Gavin, Nigel Logan, Glynn McAraw
Absent: None
Guests: Mary Jo Nosal
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 November 5, 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) Youth Basketball sign-ups are on-going. The Program is open to youths in grades K-8. The Coaches organizational meeting is scheduled for Saturday December 19, 2015 and the season is tentatively scheduled to run for 8 weeks, on Saturdays, January 9-February 27. Updates will be provided.
b) Adult Basketball sessions are ongoing. 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 run 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 ran for eight weeks, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18 and December 2. The Session 1 fee was $80, with a $15 Drop-in fee.
Sessions 2 and 3 dates for 2016 have not yet been determined. Updates will be provided.
d) Our Adult Women Fitness Class, called the Body Back Program, ran 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
All Park facility buildings are closed for the Winter season. Town Woods Park gate has remained open, due to the unusually warm weather, to allow access to the Park and Playground. Access to White Sand Beach, Cross Lane Park and Hains Park areas are available daily.
4) Old Business
a) Tree Commission Update
Bob Dunn indicated that the Tree Commission has reviewed the situation and stated that they will not allow the cutting down of the large Maple Tree at Hains Park. The tree in question was hoped to be removed to allow room for the Boathouse expansion and the relocation of the Basketball Court. Bob Dunn also stated that members of the Boathouse Committee (BHPIC) have approached the Tree Commission and the Zoning Commission with requests for approvals for proposed work, but not the Parks and Recreation Commission. He also stated that Town Ordinance 20.8 requires Parks and Recreation Commission approval for projects such as this and that the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the original Boathouse plan and construction in 1987.
5) New Business
a) Boathouse update
Don Bugbee reported that previously it had been stated that the Basketball Court could not be relocated to the area near the current bathrooms at Hains Park because it would then be within a 25 ft minimum setback distance from the Well. It has since been determined that this requirement does not apply.
Don Bugbee discussed the proposed Bathroom sketches that were shown at the previous BHPIC Meeting. Bob Dunn indicated that these sketches were similar to the one that was proposed in January 2015 by the Parks and Recreation Commission. John Flower discussed the proposed building requirement for using the current slabs and frost protection. He felt that the proposals could meet all current building code requirements.
Bob Dunn provided updates of the recent BHPIC Meeting. He stated that the BHPIC had hoped to get the Project out to bid in December, accept bids in January, award the contract and break ground by April 1. Bob Dunn also discussed the need for another public presentation of the Project and the review of the drawings by Local and State Officials. He also stated that a total cost of the project was not yet available and was needed.
b) Commission Attorney
Bob Dunn discussed the current situation of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s unanimous decision to retain the services of an Attorney because of their disagreement with the Board of Selectmen and Town Attorney over Town Ordinance 20.8. He stated that he has requested to be placed on the Board of Finance Agenda for their December 15, 2015 Meeting to request funding for this and for ongoing services. He stated that other Commissions have Attorneys.
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(5b Continued)
Nigel Logan asked if the Board of Finance makes judgments on the reasons for retaining an Attorney or just to determine available funding. Bob Dunn recommended that a 3 person Sub-Committee be formed to address the Commissions concerns. It was the consensus of the Commission Members that this should happen and Bob Dunn, Nigel Logan and Mary Ellen Garbarino agreed to serve on the Sub-Committee. Updates will be provided.
6) Any other business
Nigel Logan asked if there was any update on the Sound View Commission’s discussions concerning having Lifeguards at Sound View Beach. Don Bugbee stated that he responded and provided information and opinions, via email, to all questions asked concerning current Parks and Recreation Lifeguard practices and policies. He also stated that he offered to meet with the Sound View Commission Chairman, Frank Papalardo, prior to their next meeting to discuss all concerns. To date there has been no response. Bob Dunn directed Don Bugbee to initiate contact with Frank Papalardo and provide an update at the January Parks and Recreation Meeting. It was suggested that Frank Papalardo could the be invited to the February Parks and Recreation Meeting to discuss this subject further.
7) Public Comment
There was no public comment.
8) Meeting Adjournment
A motion was made by Mary Ellen Garbarino, seconded by John Flower to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm. The motion passed unanimously. The next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday January 7, 2015 at 7:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Bugbee, Commission Secretary
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