Recreation & Parks Commission - Minutes - 04/25/2023

Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission
April 25th, 2023 – 4:30 pm
Waterford Community Center
The Recreation and Parks Commission held a regular scheduled
meeting on April 25th, 2023 at the Community Center. Meeting was
called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Director Ryan McNamara and a
quorum was established.
Members in attendance: M. Chiappone, R. Erricson, J. Gregg, E.
Murphy, T. Santos, N. Scheiber
Members Absent: K. Hall, L. Beaney
Staff: Director R. McNamara, Program Coordinator T. Cieplik and
Office Coordinator E. Sullivan
Guests: Robert Tuneski, Board of Finance Liaison
Approval of Meeting Minutes:
Motion #1: Made by R. Erricson and seconded by E. Murphy to
approve the minutes of the March 28th regular meeting.
So voted 6-0
Correspondence:
Director R. McNamara read an email from Steve Elci notifying him
that he will no longer be serving on the Commission due to his
work schedule change.

Drafts Letters to the Board of Selectman in regards to capital
improvement projects. Our court surfaces are in bad shape.
Currently we have funding for Town Hall and Leary Park basketball
repairs – funds in there do not have enough to cover the repairs
required. Still money in there for irrigation and Vets. Requesting
that we move the funds back to irrigation and then add it to
basketball courts to get them done (strictly basketball courts only).
We are looking roughly at $128,000 for both courts to be done.
Motion #2: Made by R. Erricson and seconded by N. Scheiber to
move the funds back into irrigation.
So voted 6-0
Letter to the Waterford Beach fee schedule to the RTM to discuss
the resident rate for the full time government out of town
employees.
STAFF REPORTS:
Director R. McNamara – 88% right now due to the payout for the
previous director. R. McNamara spoke with First Selectman about
this and he has assured him to put the money back in. Will be in
front of the RTM May 8th at 7 pm for the final meeting on the
budget.
Civic triangle project still waiting to hear from Planning Director, J.
Mullins. Bids went back out for the dredging project as none came
in because that didn’t meet the qualifications. Waterford Beach
Garage – Anchor still has this and still working on the design.
Pleasure Beach access walk has to get a plan together from Lenard -
Haley Ward is the new name as they were bought out.
J. Erricson is working on it and will run about $6,000.00 which will
give us an approved plan and will need to go thru zoning still.
Priority safety needs to be squared away. Gatehouse connectivity is
going thru and we will be able to accept cards at the beach. Eagle
Scout looking to do a pollinator project at Stegner Park – 8x15 box
with education information what the different plants do. Bids are
out for food trucks for the summer concert series. Bathrooms are in

at the beach. Installing 25 new knockout roses at Jordan Parkhouse
with Nick from Supreme Pizza. Fixed asset list is mandated by the
finance office and we have updated it.
Program Coordinator T. Cieplik – Very busy with renting/space
requests. AEDs at Spera and LL south - $2,000 in grants total for
both is about $4,500 for both and the co-sponsored groups are
paying the difference and fundraising. Lockable and call 911 they
will give a code to unlock. Mark from Waterford Ambulance will do
some training on it. Summer booklet has been sent to The Day and
should be sent out in a few weeks. Summer hires are in full swing.
We are setting up interviews and need 20 plus lifeguards and 25
playground staff to hire. Gatehouse is all done. Pool is 90% used.
Vets field looking at our own softball program Men’s 35+ Wooden
Bat League.
Easter Egg Hunt event about 150 kids was a great success – B. Rossi
was the Easter Bunny and did a wonderful job. Spike Ball is another
program for adults in the summer we are looking to offer and get
some sponsors to support it. Youth 3v2 basketball is ready to launch
and Mikey Buscetto will help run this. Cactus Jack will be doing a
summer basketball program at the high school gym 2 days a week.
Farmers market starting with first one this Saturday, March 29th
outside in the parking lot here in the circle area near Friendship
School. If it rains we will move it inside the community center.
Little League south situation - T. Cieplik is working with the sports
council and L. Beaney to set up meeting to discuss the options and
then it can brought to the commission.
Committee Reports:
Nominating – meeting last month and all were filled
Personnel – Seasonal employees coming thru. We are setting up
interviews and onboarding

Youth Sports Council – none
Long Range Planning – J. Gregg - R. McNamara will forward the
long range plan to look over and discuss.
Policies and procedures – E. Murphy and T. Santos – R. McNamara
will send information to look at and discuss.
Representative Reports:
Board of Ed – None
Board of Finance – Withheld money from Rec and Park and also
$4,000 from Board of Ed
Historical Society – Park and Rec helped out the Blacksmith Shop -
we moved some old tractors and gave assistance.
O’Neil Theater – Art in Waterford is going to be at the Eugene
O’Neil this year
Senior Services –E. Sullivan, T. Cieplik and R. McNamara helped
out the evening of Dancing with the Stars
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Civic triangle has pickle ball proposal – grass area pavilion with 2-4
courts in the area where the driveway to the maintenance shop is.
R. McNamara expressed one court to be an exercise court for classes
or outdoor workout area. Learn is planning to propose room at
Southwest and could possibly do pickle ball courts also. This will all
have to be in review so we do not saturate town with pickle ball
courts.
N. Scheiber left the meeting at 5:15 pm

Adjournment:
Motion #3: Made by R. Erricson and seconded by E. Murphy to
adjourn the meeting. So voted 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 5:25 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Sullivan, Office Coordinator
Recreation and Parks Commission