Regular meeting of the Recreation and Parks Commission

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
AGENDA
Waterford Recreation and Park Commission Meeting
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 @ 4:30 P.M.
Waterford Community Center
* Call to order
¢ Establish a Quorum
* Approval of meeting minutes -Meeting Minutes April 25*, 2023
¢ Public Comments
¢ Correspondence
* Other Correspondence
= Summer Music Concerts line up
» Staff Reports
= Director - Ryan McNamara
* Program Coordinator ~ Tim Cieplik
¢ Committee Reports
Nominating
Personnel
Youth Sports Council
Long Range Planning
Policies/procedures
e Representative Reports
«Board of Education
Board of Finance
Historical Society
O'Neill Theater
Senior Services
e Properties
¢ Old Business
« New Business
e = Adjournment
Respectfully submitted,
Fileen Sullivan, Office Coordinator
Recreation and Parks Commission

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission
April 25, 2023 - 4:30 pm
Waterford Community Center
The Recreation and Parks Commission held a regular scheduled meeting on April 25, 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 28 regular meeting.
So voted 6-0
Correspondence:
e 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 8" 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 ran 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 ina 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 29" outside in the parking lot here in the circle area near Friendship School.
If ic 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 coutt 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,
Edleen Sullivan, Office Coordinator
Recreation and Parks Commission

Town.oF WarterForp RECREATION & PARKs
PRESENTS
Where: Waterford Beach Park
From: 6:00pm ~ 8:00pm unless noted
Bring a chair and/or a blanket and enjoy. a great. evening out. Family friendly concert
“ Series. PLEASE NO PETS AT WATERFORD BEACH. DURING. THE SUMMER SEASON AND 2s
“THES INCLUDES CONCERTS UNLESS SERVICE ANIMALS|
ne 21,2023: Community Band
June 28,2023. FUSION.
July 5, 2023. Carl FranklinBand
". July 12,2023 AzaleaDrive
July 19,2023. “Mystic Dead
July 26, 2023 Soul Sound Review
: : August 2, 2023 Sugar
August 9, 2023 Branded
August 16, 2023 FUSION
' August 23, 2023 Tim Fiorvanti
Orchestra Symphony
*Please note that bands can change. Tf raining - concert will be cancelled, Concerts
could be cancelled due to any health or safety regulation. .
There will. be a variety of food trucks at the concerts. Everyone is still welcome to
bring their own, however the convenience is available!
All concerts are free as is parking after 5:00pm. A great coramunity event for all
ages! Children playing ball, Frisbee and a lot of dancing feet!

WATERFORD RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION
DIRECTOR ~— MAY 2023 REPORT
> Reporting
Current budget expenditures: $1,345,764 or 95% of the $1,429,235 budget: transfers will
need to occur for continued line operations. Transfers noted
as requested. Retirements and maintenance of vehicles were
large factors for shortages.
General Fund revenues: Reports currently show a collection of $196,433.
Special Revenue: revenues currently stand at approx.. $35,000
> Projects
>
Capital Improvements
Civic Triangle Project: Review bids and options for primary goals of the committee. Dredging
and accessibility remain top two projects. If the boardwalk requires separation of phases, the
path through the wetlands would be prioritized over the open concrete path towards the library.
Consideration was given that the R&P Maintenance staff could potentially assist in the labor
and costs for the accessible concrete portion with the recent experience at Waterford Beach
Park walkways.
Board of Finance approved the request to consolidate irrigation projects into basketball court
surface repairs. I believe there is support for post tension concrete in future requests for tennis
courts, etc,
Awaiting design plan for WBP Garage from Anchor Engineering — no update to report.
The plan for the PB access walk was recently submitted and being reviewed by the
Environmental Planner and appropriate staff. Once details are agreed upon, the work will go
out to bid.
The tennis courts in town are in desperate need of repair. I will work with the Finance Office
to review options in accelerating the process for review and approval. The recent crack repairs
did not work as expected and the courts are literally falling apart. Lack of attention and repair
approval will lead to closure of the courts.
I will be revising the Capital Improvement Plan to re-identify our priorities in park projects
and amenities.
Items
¢ Continued updates and improvements to the Web Page
e BOE installed the 240V plug for our summer concert series at the request of the sound
technician to eliminate multiple cords/wires.
e Civic Triangle Pickleball Courts — separate funding allows for the project to advance
and committee approved a two court set up to allow for expansion of additional courts
or other active recreation space.
e Summer music concession bid is being reviewed by Finance Office before posting, to
include food trucks and an alcohol vendor.
e CBYD has been contacted for the Eagle Scout Pollinator garden at Stenger Farm sign
on Clark Lane.
e¢ STRSTH Pumpout Boat Event on May 23 in Mago-State Boat Launch

* Discussion with town staff regarding posting of signs on properties and utility poles
* Moving forward with GGA for the filling of the Assistant Director position.
e Received Hamler Bench — install in next few weeks
> Maintenance:
Athletic field maintenance and spring season prep for all Town and BOE fields
Town and BOE fertilization program
Food pick up and deliveries for YSB/Senior Services
Garden bed maintenance
45 Red knockout roses along the split rail at JPH
15 Autumn Fire Sedum JPH sign gatden
10 Nepta walker mint JPH sign garden
4 Karl Foster grasses JPH sign garden
e Equipment maintenance and prep for spring/summer
¢ Mowing and trimming of all Town and BOE properties is in full gear.
* Arborist has identified 12 trees at WBP to be removed. Coordinating with PW Director Schneider
© Mago Point improvements: removal of two old light poles, garden bed maintenance, and painted
electrical box.
* Condo Association abutting the Community Center has a large number of ash trees on the property
line that are becoming increasingly hazardous. A request has been sent to PW Director Schneider for
assistance in handling the trees or direction with a contact to require the condo association to
properly remove them.
e The underwater pond aerators are installed. The main fountain aerator is installed but continues to
bog down and draw too much power, flipping the breaker switch. We will continue to monitor and
test.
* Assistance with Art In Waterford transport of materials from Historical Society to Oniel, Library
100" Celebration, plant sale coordination, etc.
* Beach operations and installation of bathrooms-LG chairs — trash cans —etc.
> Approvals/Notice
© Logo Design
e Request to Board of Selectman ~ BOF —- RTM to return the $98,000 back to the 1000 series
for balancing of the FY’23 budget. The funds were taken out of the operating budget to
cover the payout of a retired employee. Those funds were taken into account when
adjusting the maintenance staffing with the Foreman position returning and subsequent
promotions within the maintenance staff. Funds from this line were also transferred to
assist with covering unanticipated maintenance of vehicle costs.
e Senior Citizen Beach Fee Discussion
e Recreation/Facilities & Community Center committees to meet on Friendship School
utilization potential
épertfully Submitted

Commission Report
Waterford Recreation and Parks
Program Coordinator Tim Cieplik
May 26" 2023
Ongoing
e Fields
© Continual daily updates on spring high school field/game changes
o EB softball rental on Vets
o Little League, softball, Babe Ruth, American Legion, lacrosse requests
¢ Social media
o May Water Safety Month
«15+ posts on water safety
Teacher appreciation week
Dogs on leash/clean up after your dog
Waterford Farmers Market
o Hiring for staff
e Updating Gatehouse procedure book
¢ Working with town departments on the August 12" Waterford Parade
o0o0 0
Events at the Community Center
e Indoor farmers market
¢ Supporting the library’s 100" anniversary
e Artshow
® Eagle Scout Event
e Orchestra Concert
e Friendship School Family Day event
« Community Band Concerts
e Thames River Garden Club
Summer plan update
« Playground
o Quaker Hill
o Oswegatchie
o Great Neck
e = Staffing
o Gatehouse 5 returners/3 new
= Interviews/HR packets/training complete
= Gatehouse opens May 27

o Lifeguards
= Still looking for a few more lifeguards
«Finished certification course
“Competing with state beaches and higher pay rate
= Working on another certification option for June
o Playground 13 returners/7 new
= 9/10 volunteers
* 4 Transitional Program helpers
= Interviews/offers complete
= Training Monday June 9th
o Swim aids
= Final group being hired
Respectfully submitted,
—_—_
wh Cieplik