Recreation & Parks Commission - Minutes - 12/17/2024

Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission
Special Meeting Minutes
December 17th, 2024 @ 4:30 pm
Waterford Community Center
The Recreation and Parks Commission held a special meeting on December 17th, 2024 at the Waterford 
Community Center. Meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chairman, E. Murphy and a quorum was 
established.
Members in attendance:   J. Gregg, M. Chiappone E. Murphy, N. Scheiber, T. Stino, T. Santos, R. 
Erricson,
M. Sheehan
Members Absent:   L. Beaney
Staff: R. McNamara (Director), T. Cieplik (Program Coordinator), E. Sullivan (Office Coordinator)
Approval of Meeting Minutes :
(Motion # 1): R. Erricson made a motion and M. Sheehan seconded to approve the October 22nd, 2024 
meeting minutes.
So voted 8/0
Public Comments:
No public comments.
Correspondence:
W. Hedding, Race Director sent at thank you letter for the 62nd Annual Ocean Beach Park/Kelley Hall 
Marathon for all our help to making things run smoothly this year.  G. Beals of Goshen Fire House sent 
an email thanking us for widening the gate to the field at the town beach. M. Piscatella sent a note of 
appreciation for the renovation of the Arnold Holm Memorial Park. The Waterford Historical Society sent 
an email thanking us for the fire prevention newsletter that went out in the brochure and how it helped 
people to check their fire alarms. 
Staff Reports:  
Director - R. McNamara
Town Hall and Leary Court Renovations have been approved and will start as soon as possible and 
should be done by summer.  The Pleasure Beach Boardwalk required additional appropriation to 
complete the project and is expected to be funded through ARPA or LOCIP grants.  The Day Newspaper 
ran a story on the wood program and we are getting a lot of calls and filling them as quickly as we can.  
We continue to be working on our regular maintenance including leaf removal.  Tracking data of the robo-
painting machine and the foreman will produce a report to show the savings.  We assisted Youth and 
Family Services with the annual Stuff the Bus operations and deliveries of food baskets to the 4 
complexes in town.  The CIP for 2025-2030 has been submitted and the FY26 budget updates and 
review have begun. The design options for the Arnie Holms Jr. park rules was discussed for approval.  
The signs will be posted at the entrance to the park beginning at the library, park/vets field area, and the 
main entry across from the community center.  The verbiage from old sign to new sign and the bottom 
park hours were duplicated but have been removed also there was a QR code added at the bottom which
will bring you right to town ordinances.  E. Murphy noted to change the capital R in the word remote to a 
lower case “r”.   T. Santos mentioned the white dots on the right sign but it was not on the original – R. 
McNamara will confirm.  M. Chiappone mentioned moving the first line to add skateboards on the first 
line.  R. McNamara will inquire if this can be moved to one line.  Size of the signs will 24” x 36”.  The PRB
was cancelled and the job description for the Assistant Director will be approved at the next PRB.  There 

has been golf cart donations coming in for the causeway at the beach from a group of citizens for 
individuals that feel this is too far to walk for disabled or elderly to use.  This is a huge liability and the 
Chief of Police has said there are no golf carts allowed on town roads or properties or parks.  This is 
under review.  N. Scheiber mentioned there is a handicap beach right next door at Camp Harkness.  The 
tree lightings went well and was greatly attended.  There was a little confusion with the Legacy event 
being held on the same evening and next year it should be on a separate night.  
Project Coordinator:
T. Cieplik
Registrations have started for our new programs and have found a lot more people are trying to sign up 
online.  We have received a $5,000 grant from the Southeast Connecticut Council for use of safety such 
as bike helmets, lights and pedestrian walking vests.  We are able to apply for this twice a year.  Review 
of the aquatics programs and looking at the revenue/expenses to see if we need to make changes.  T. 
Cieplik shared a spreadsheet of other towns and their beach rates for comparison.  The commission 
discussed the changes to be made to our beach rates that will be presented to the RTM.

Season pass for resident would go from $25.00 to $45.00

Out of town season pass would go from $125.00 to 175.00

Weekday pass for resident from $2.00 to $10.00

Weekday pass for out of town to stay the same at $25.00
Discussion of going with “sticker only” for weekends, but only if it is not ok with the RTM otherwise 
residents and out of town guest will need to pay the following rates:  Residents $45 / and OOT will pay 
$55
(Motion # 2): M. Chiappone made a motion and N. Scheiber seconded to approve the 2025 Beach sticker
pricing.  So voted 8/0
Committee Reports:
Personnel – Assistant Director position will be discussed at the next PRB.
Youth Sports Council – There will be a new meeting in a few months.
Long Range Planning – Capital plan is in review
Policies and Procedures – R. McNamara will reach out to Sue Gardiner to see if she has the most recent 
copy with all the notes that were made.  Meeting before our Commission meeting to go over little at a 
time.
Representative Reports:
Board of Education – No update – need to file position
Board of Finance – Reinstated
Historical Society – Nan has spoken with Kristin Whitham and will continue to keep in touch with her.
O’Neill Theater – no update
Senior Services- no update.
Properties:
Director R. McNamara stated all the properties are doing well.
New Business:
The FY26 Budget was reviewed.  The Aquatics operations require a full review into use, costs, etc.  It 
was written in the town ordinance that tax payers were to never be charged for use of the pool providing 
challenges.
E. Murphy left meeting at 5:15 pm.  Operational costs were discussed.  R. Erricson left meeting at 5:25.
Adjournment:
(Motion #3):  A motion was made by J. Gregg and seconded by T. Stino to adjourn the meeting at 5:56 
pm.  So voted 6-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Sullivan

Recreation and Parks Commission