Recreation & Parks Commission - Minutes - 03/07/2023

S:\Rec-Park\Commission\Minutes\March  7th SPECIAL Commission Meeting Minutes.docx
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Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission
Special Meeting Minutes
March 7th , 2023 – 4:30 pm
Waterford Community Center
The Recreation and Parks Commission held a special meeting on March 7th, 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:   N. Scheiber, E. Murphy, T. Santos, M. Chiappone, J. Gregg, L. Beaney
Members Absent:   S. Elci, R. Erricson, K. Hall
Staff:  Director R. McNamara, Program Coordinator T. Cieplik and Office Coordinator E. Sullivan
Guests:   Robert Tuneski, Board of Finance Liaison, Michael Pinkerton, Kevin Batch, Sarah Patterson, Adam Karasevicz, 
Kristin Karasevicz, Carol Batch, Greg Holmes (President of Little League), Mike Bono, Kyle Stoddard
Approval of Meeting Minutes:
Motion #1:  Made by T.Santos and seconded by E. Murphy to approve the minutes with grammatical changes to the January 
24th, 2023 meeting.  So voted 6-0

Melissa Chiappone spelt incorrectly in Motion #4 as M. Chapone

N. Scheiber spelt incorrectly in Motion #2:  as N. Schribner

R. Erricson spelt incorrectly in Motion #2 as E. Richardson
Public Comments:
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RTM leadership asked Rec & Park to look into the relationship of the CT Cannons and Waterford Little League.  
Constitution states Board members can not have dual membership.
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District 10 Bob Lee is this an issue/conflict. Yes it is with management positions on both boards.
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Reached out to Greg Holmes (Little League President) – brought to our attention, what to do and cleanest separation?
All board members on both are pretty much Cannon members.

Meeting between R. McNamara, R. Brule (First Selectman), J. O’Connor (CT Cannons), G. Holmes (Wtfd LL) on 
March 6th, 2023.  Recommendation was to grab baseball community Legion, Babe Ruth, Little League and CT 
Cannons and ask what does baseball look like for a kid in Waterford from T-Ball thru Legion. Put one member from 
each on the little league board to help with this process. 

Dominion Lease – council was obtained by little league and R. McNamara spoke with Town of Waterford council, Rob 
Avena, who does not legally recommend the arrangement.

Council is looking at lease and working with dominion to find out what can be offered.  We need to have more 
direction – to make this work with community interests and what mirrors our town policies.

Greg Holmes stated there were questions about the finance of Cannons – Joe O’Connor runs Cannons LLC (Non-
profit).  Goal is to allow little league all star age to compete at a travel level.

60 to 70 kids per age 12 - 7 years ago, this year there are about 22–23 and next year about 14.  Kids are cycling out 
for many reasons.  
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Kyle Stoddard asked what is the town’s vision? R. McNamara responded we are waiting for guidance from council as 
far as what we can do.  Babe Ruth, Legion and Little League conversation by all.  Expectations of all levels.  What are
our competitive opportunities we can provide?  Potentially change other sports on Dominion property such as soccer 
and football also.

M. Chiaponne said there are two issues to discuss – property use and board members being part of both boards.

C. Batch asked G. Holmes if him being president of Waterford Little League and coaching the Cannons is a conflict of
interest.  G. Holmes stated he does not believe it to be.  C. Batch would like it to be looked into.  She shared her 
grandson had a game scheduled at Patterson and were moved because of Cannons.  Cannons scheduled Sundays 
and have rescheduled due to Patterson not having lights.  Ran for president past 2 years and nobody else did.  

Mike Bono – Goals and objectives – Mission and Vision for youth sports in town.  Travel sports is the way things are 
going so need to find a way to co-exist.  Scafold from t-ball all the way up to Legion – subcommittee and align the 
mission and vision.

RTM position Mike Bono would like to co- sponsor for different entities in baseball.
Financial responsibilities – co-sponsorship get into contracts.
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Dominion lease – town of waterford without charge use of fields.  Non profit – public use of the field no charge for little 
league, football, and babe ruth we co-sponsor and support.  Problem is charging a 3rd party to use it.

$12,000 to little league in town budget.  $2,500 gold sponsorship last year for Cannons to use lights, lining fields, etc.
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Concession stands brought in $3,000-$4,000 last year which is Cannon volunteer run.
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Little League North has a few issues so not so easy to move - Little League North doesn’t have 50/70, irrigation 
system is broken, maintenance of field and no chemicals can be used.

S:\Rec-Park\Commission\Minutes\March  7th SPECIAL Commission Meeting Minutes.docx
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Correspondence:
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Thank you letter from Joe Macrino for all the work being done on the grounds.
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Thank you letter from CLMS – Basket Bonanza donation which included a sand bucket with season beach pass and 
beach toys.  
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Waterford Regional Lions Annual Event Request to have Craft Show 11/11/23 with fees waived.
Motion #2  – made by T.Santos and seconded by E. Murphy to approve fees to be waived.  So voted 6-0

SECCO – asking for storage space for Timpani equipment – storage allowed for 1 week at community center.

Alewife Cove Conservancy Family Picnic – request for 9/17/23 pavillions to include music from 12-6 waiving fee rental
($248.00)
Motion #3 – made by M. Chippone and seconded by N. Scheiber to waive the fee since it is off season.  So voted 6-0.
STAFF REPORTS:
Director R. McNamara – Budget meeting with BOF – few discrepancies with the budget and the rates for electric need to 
discuss with Finance and their rates to lock into.  RTM in May
Meeting with J. Erricson from Lenard to discuss Pleasure beach access walk and get to D.E.E.P. Tidal wetlands being looked
into.  Dog park access from the parking lot to actual park and improvements of the Jordan Park House parking lot.   
Need vote and discuss – we had review of community center and how can we best utilize the rooms.  We are looking at the 
billiards room be made into an E-Sports gaming area and monitored by J. Trelli who will have a cubicle and possibly have 
older high school peers that can monitor the use and participants that would have to join the program to use the room.  Data 
room is directly across the hall so an easy fix.  Computer lab will now hold a pool table and card tables which will help us 
better monitor the use and not a hideout area. – The commission will table this discussion for a later date as we can have time
to think about it.  M. Chiappone stated there is a perception the community center is a Senior Center not a Community 
Center.
Program Coordinator T. Cieplik -  Surveys are going out and getting good responses.

Committee for dog park – fundraising and needing signs and expectations that the committee could take on.
Committee Reports:

Nominating

Personnel – Jamie Reagan has been hired to be the daytime custodian at Community Center for 19 hours a week.
Building One will be 3 pm to 9 pm for evening
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Youth Sports Council – M. Buscetto working on it with us.
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Long Range Planning – R. McNamara and T. Santos working on getting things updated.  The paper document is done
electronically.
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Policies and procedures – R. McNamara and T. Santos working on getting things updated.
Representative Reports:

Board of Ed – No update - will look at sign up for outside boards for next meeting.
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Board of Finance – B. Tuneski reported the BOS budget was approved and can now go to RTM

Historical Society – commission meeting next week - discuss parking and stone wall

O’Neil Theater – No report.  T. Cieplik and N. Scheiber to go to see it.

Senior Services – N. Scheiber did not go to commission meeting due to Rec and Park’s meeting run at the same time 
but will get her the agendas and minutes.
Old Business:

None
New Business:

Logos Branding and QR Codes are in the process.
Adjournment:
Motion #4:  Made by E. Murphy seconded by J. Gregg to adjourn the meeting.  So voted 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:06 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Sullivan, Office Coordinator
Recreation and Parks Commission