Recreation & Parks Commission - Minutes - 09/27/2022

Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission 
Regular Meeting Minutes 
September 27, 2022  
 
The Recreation and Parks Commission held their regular monthly meeting on September 27, 2022 at the Community 
Center called to order at 4:00 p.m by Chair Kenneth Hall and a quorum was established. 
 
Members in attendance:  K. Hall, L. Beaney, N. Scheiber, E. Murphy, T. Santos, M. Chiappone, J. Gregg 
 
Members Absent:  S. Elci and R. Ericcson 
 
Staff:  Director B. Flaherty and Assistant Director R. McNamara 
 
Guests:  Bob Tuneski, Board of Finance 
 
Approval of Meeting Minutes: 
T. Santos noted that corrections needed to be made to the August 23, 2022 meeting minutes.  In the area of Motion #1 
change the year from June 28, 2021 to June 28, 2022 and also in the last paragraph it is written that work has been 
“complied”, this should be changed to “compiled”. 
Motion #1:  Made by T. Santos and seconded by M. Chiappone to approve the minutes with changes noted above to 
the August 23, 2022 meeting.  So voted 5-0-1 (E. Murphy abstained) 
 
Public Comments:  
B. Tuneski stated that B. Flaherty did a nice job at the Board of Finance meeting providing a request for capitalizing 
outside of normal budget site.  It was noted by R. Fedor during the Board of Finance that Brian put together a nice 
package to secure funding for Pleasure Beach and it was also approved. 
 
Correspondence:  
 
Thank you letter from Tom Giard III, Superintendent to B. Flaherty in regards to the work at the high school 
that his crew is doing a great job.   
 
Email from Eileen O’Pasek to thank B. Flaherty for the preparation work that was done at Grimsey Beach for 
the Kayak Regatta and dedication to Dan Steward.  B. Flaherty and R. McNamara shared that it was well 
attended and included a lot of senators (ie: Congressman Courtney and Senator Blumenthal).   
 
Email from SECCO (Susan Butler) with schedule of Wednesday night rehearsals and holiday concerts coming 
up.  R. McNamera shared that his monitors have agreed to stay until 9 pm on Monday and Wednesday nights 
to accommodate the Community Band and also the Orchestra.  They are a Co-Sponsored group and would 
become a regular program we will be able to offer and a great partnership to have.  They have done free shows 
for us and they are not asking for anything from us besides space. 
 
Letter from Sue Gardner – Scott Olson delivering pallets so helpful to the Waterford Community Foodbank.  
 
Ocean Beach Kelly Race Committee letter giving kudos to Rec and Park sponsorship thanking us for all the 
work we do and making it run so smoothly. 
 
STAFF REPORTS:   
B. Flaherty (Director’s Report) 
 
On October 19th, 2022 B. Flaherty will be retiring after 23 years and thanked the commission for support over 
the years.  He has spoken with R. Brule about R. McNamara being the interim Director and also moving the 
program coordinator vacancy forward quickly.   
 
Budget is looking good.   
 
Duck pond aerator continues to still be a problem.   
 
New Maintainer III position has been filled by Chad Adams from Public Works.   
 
Speed bumps have been installed at Waterford beach and it has definitely improved safety especially near the 
curve at the old drop off area.   
 
B. Flaherty has met with the First Selectman and a few residents in regards to the Pickle Ball courts and the 
First Selectman will find us funding sooner than later - there is definitely a demand there.   
 
Ongoing projects need additional funds such as the basketball courts even if it is an asphalt overlay and then 
down the road doing post tension concrete for Tennis and Pickle Ball courts per the First Selectman and 
Finance Director.   

 
Children’s playground waiting until spring.  With the Gardner Family Foundation and town funding we have 
close to $100,000 to approve that.   
 
Irrigation projects moving forward.   
 
Pleasure Beach sidewalk going thru the RTM October 3rd meeting and hopeful we can do that this season. 
 
We have a purchase order to review all our maintenance facilities. 
 
Commission has a say on full backing of the board.  HR and Rob – Ryan is ready and would be a great 
addition.  Please send emails which will be good backing for Kenny going into meeting.   
R. McNamara (Assistant Director’s Report) 
 
Keeping an eye on Saturdays at community center 12/8/7/5 this past month which is up from last month.  
Custodial things in the building ironing out the responsibilities with the new contractor.   
 
Youth sports communication is ongoing daily with scheduling.   
 
Basketball PE will be having an obstacle course in gym three weeks straight starting at Oswegatchie in 
November with a nine week rotation, this will make it difficult for scheduling.   
 
Harvest Festival is October 8th from 12- 4 at the Waterford Beach.  There will be numerous vendors, Farmers 
Market, Touch a Truck, Daily Planet will perform, pumpkin carving, bike rodeo and so much more.  It is sure 
to be a great event.   
 
Holiday lighting is scheduled for December 2nd at Jordan Park House and December 3rd at Quaker Hill Green.  
The tree will be coming in from Uklejas, same as last year.   
 
Pearl Harbor Road Race is on the 4th of December.   
 
Bio Blitz was not well attended but it was not promoted well because it was the Program Coordinator’s who 
had left.  Stenger is going to be cataloged now through I Naturalist and will assist towards sustainability 
certification every year.   
 
October illumination of pink lights for breast cancer awareness month will be on outside the community 
center and possibly the town hall. 
 
New trash cans and benches at civic triangle.  May have extra funds thru alcohol nip sales that go back to 
beautification of the town.  Bartelli bench has arrived, Wilkinson has been ordered and 2 others will be going 
in down at Mago point.   
 
Winter booklet is in process and we are reaching out to folks to see if we can get some great new programs in.  
Email or touch base with R. McNamara.  He will be sending out a survey to see if we are doing well or missing 
anything.    
 
Committee Reports:  
 
T. Santos said yes to be reinstated another 3 year term.  Nominating will move to next month and R. 
McNamara will prepare a slate of those interested.  Jim Gregg has been appointed to the commission.  
 
Interview process for the Maintainer IV there are 3 candidates in house.   
 
E. Murphy mentioned Co-sponsored teams basketball 3 v 2 league done on outdoor courts.  Nobody is left out 
and it rotates children in and out.  10 second shot clock with flip cards so no score keeping.  Run in the fall for 
4th, 5th, 6th graders – Co-ed.  R.McNamara will look into rules and possibly do drop in.   Maybe high schoolers 
could get LTS hours if they referee the games. Website is called higherlearningbasketball.com (fast break).  
 
Updating of policy and procedures will add E. Murphy to work with T. Santos since S. Gardner has left.  
 
K. Hall asked M. Chiappone to take over the rest of the meeting at 4:42 pm 
 
Representative Reports: 
No updates 
 
Properties: 
No updates 
 
Old Business: 
R. McNamara shared his proposal of new rental fees.  Groton and East Lyme are the only ones that would mirror what 
we offer.  Rental fees need to be adjusted so we will be competitive with other surrounding towns. Our fields are well 
sought out and well maintained by far and we have had very high demand for them this year.  As of now you can rent 
the community center room for $100 from 12 pm to 8 pm and it is getting harder to get monitors to stay for all day 
events.  Non-residents have always been double what the resident fee is.  Community room was $100 a day and now 
will be $65 per hour which also includes the monitor fee.  The fees need to be updated on our Rec Desk program. 
 

Motion #2: Made by E. Murphy, seconded by N. Scheiber to approve new fee schedule as proposed and to 
grandfather in those that are already booked and have previous requests prior to today.  So voted 5-0-0. 
 
New Business: 
No update 
 
Adjournement: 
Motion #3:  Made by T. Santos, seconded by E. Murphy to adjourn the meeting.  So voted 5-0. 
Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Eileen Sullivan, Office Coordinator 
Recreation and Parks Commission