Public Health, Recreation & Environment Committee of the RTM Special Meeting

FIFTEEN ROPE FERIY ROAD
PHONE: 60-42-0583
WATERFORD, C1 06385-2886
Wwirwavaterfordelorg
PUBLIC HEALTH, RECREATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF THE RTM
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Monpay 
OctoBer5,2026 
6:45 p.m.
APPLEBY ROOM, TOWN HALL
1. 
Establishment of quorum and call to order.
2. Public Comment.
3. 
Consideration of and action on minutes of the September 14, 2026, committee meeting.
4. Consideration of and possible action on issues referred to committee:
e 
Review of Beach Fees (RTC 6/1/26)
6. Adjournment
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encl: PHRE Minutes [09/14/2026]
Chptr 12.12 Revisions, Draft #3
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Public Health, Recreation & Environment Committee 
Meeting Minutes—Sept. 14, 2026
Members Present: Steve Besade, Narciss Greene, Richard Gonyo, Kayla Mullen, Ocean Pellett
Also Present: Director of Recreation and Parks Ryan McNamara, Assistant Director for Recreation and Parks Tim
Ciplik, RTM Moderator Susan Driscoll
1.
2.
Call to order: Chair Greene called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
Public comment: Helen Kwasniewski noted her opinion on an increase in beach fees for all and also
requested senior citizens get a free beach pass sticker rather than show ID for free entry. Kwasniewski also
brought up the potential for charging for summer beach concerts.
. Previous Minutes: Motion by Mullen, second by Besade, to approve the Jul. 30, 2026, minutes as presented,
Voice vote: Unanimous 
= Motion passed.
Consideration of/possible action on items referred to committee:
® Review of Ordinance Chptr 12.12, Jordan Park House (RTC 10/6/25). Brief discussion and consensus on
clerical and clarification revisions: making minor changes to the Editor’s note; inserting approval date
citation placeholders; correcting Commission’s name; and, with input from Director McNamara, codifying
the division of building and grounds maintenance responsibilities implemented after the 2020 amendment
to the Public Works ordinances. General consensus that with these changes [see attached Draft #2] they
are ready to move to public hearing. Chair will contact Town Attorney for next steps and scheduling/public
notice timelines.
* Review of Beach Fees (RTC 6/1/26): Director McNamara presented a paper slide show on Rec & Parks’
new beach fees recommendations [see attached], which included comparisons of fee schedules in previous
years as well as historical and projected data on beach fee revenue and costs of beach maintenance and
staff. He and Assistant Director Cieplik then fielded committee members’ suggestions and questions in
various areas:
In 2025 ~$101K in costs were recouped by beach fees and ~$140K were recouped in 2026. While seniors
can get into the beach for free by showing their 1D, many still choose to purchase a car sticker for a variety
of personal reasons. One key point made by the Director was that everyone—not just beachgoers—pays
for the beach via taxpayer dollars. Therefore, just passes alone will not fully fund the beach. As for
concerts, 70-80% of their costs are covered by business sponsors. No other towns in the area charge for
their concerts, and our sponsors would be less willing to donate if concerts were no longer free. Excess
revenue from the beach, if any, goes back into the general fund. Potential areas to cut costs: rotation of
guards without sacrificing safety; get an electronic gate at the gatehouse (upfront cost, but pays off
overtime).
Motion by Mullen, second by Gonyo to report this issue out with a recommendation that the RTM
approve Rec & Parks proposed 2027 beach fee schedule as presented in order to help cover annual cost
increases. Voice vote: Unanimous. 
Motion passed.
5. Adjournment: 
Motion by Besade; seconded by Gonyo to adjourn at 6:00 p.m. Voice vote: Unanimous.

Submitted by
Narciss Greene, PHRE Chair
encl: 
Chptr 12.12 Revisions Draft #2
Rec & Parks 2027 Proposed Beach Fee Schedule 9/14/26
TITLE 12 — STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES!
Footnote:
- (t)-
Editor’s note — A 2020 amendment to Chapter 2.20 transitioned the responsibility for the “servicing and maintenance” of
the Jordan park house from the recreation and parks commission to the department of public works .
Chapter 12.12 - JORDAN PARK HOUSE
Sections:
12.12.010 
Building named.
12.12.020 
Service, maintenance responsibility.
12.12.030 
Scheduling use.
12.12.010 - Building named.
The old Waterford library building, now located in Jordan park, shall be known as Jordan park house.
(Prior code § 13-46: RTM XX/XX/XX}
12.12.020 - Service, maintenance responsibility.
All servicing and maintenance of Jordan park house shall be under the jurisdiction of the department of public
works, and all service and maintenance of the grounds of Jordan park shall be under the jurisdiction of the recreation
and parks commission.
(Prior code § 13-47: RTM XX/XX/XX}
12.12.030 - Scheduling use.
A. 
The recreation and parks commission is authorized and empowered to schedule the use of Jordan park
house in accordance with the following regulations:
1. 
Regular meetings of all qualified groups will be scheduled by the recreation and parks commission
according to the following priority:
a, 
Town agencies,
b. 
Community service organizations such as scouts and Red Cross,
c. 
Private organizations with exclusive Waterford membership, such as church groups, service clubs,
d. 
Private organizations with both Waterford and out-of-town membership;
2. 
Reservations for special single meetings shall be scheduled after the regular meetings provided for in
Paragraph 1 of this subsection and in the same order of priority.
B. 
All requests for use of Jordan park house or Jordan park for fund raising activity will be granted only at the
discretion of the parks and recreation commission.
(Prior code § 13-48: RTM: XX/XX/XX)