Recreation & Parks Commission - Minutes - 09/03/2024

Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission 
Special Meeting Minutes  
September 3rd, 2024 @ 4:30 pm 
Waterford Community Center 
 
The Recreation and Parks Commission held a special meeting on September 3rd, 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:   L. Beaney, J. Gregg, R. Erricson, E. Murphy, N. Scheiber, T. Stino,  
Members Absent:  M. Chiappone, M. Gwudz, T. Santos 
Staff: R. McNamara (Director), T. Cieplik (Program Coordinator), E. Sullivan (Office Coordinator) 
 
Approval of Meeting Minutes: 
(Motion #1): R. Erricson made a motion and J. Gregg seconded to approve the July 23rd, 2024 meeting minutes.  
So voted 6/0 
 
Correspondence:  
A letter was written by Elayne Peterson to First Selectman Rob Brule to express her concerns of the pickleball and 
tennis courts around town and hopes that he will prioritize the restoration and resurfacing of them.  J. Mullen 
(Planning Director) sent an email about Public Hearing for Nevins Cottage to take place on September 4th, 2024 at 
7:00 pm at Town Hall.  Shirley Brockway wrote Recreation and Parks a beautiful letter about a picnic she held  at 
Waterford Beach and her out of town guests were in awe of the beach, sand and the cleanliness.  Two thank you 
emails about summer playground were received and our seasonal staff was commended a job well done. 
 
Staff Reports:     
Director - R. McNamara  
Civic Triangle updates:  Opening of the park was very successful and there is daily use by all ages.  Pavers will be 
installed around benches.  The circulator pump will be going in 9/8/24 and irrigation will go down to 50% of what 
we have been doing.  The contractors are responsible for the grass areas around the pond and we are in charge of 
the sod in front (on Rope Ferry Road) and the turf around the gazebo and playground area.  At Mago point there 
was a waterline break and we have been working with Violia and Utilities to fix that problem.  Leary French Drain 
is now in a state where machines can access and finalize the end of the trench around the hillside (right field) of 
Leary softball field. 
Barry Farm eagle scout signage – project is in development with Sestainable CT and a pancake breakfast for 
fundraising will be taking place this weekend. The Town Hall basketball court has been approved and we are 
looking to bundle projects with WHS tennis or Leary Park to help with costs.  Working with the Gardiner Family 
Foundation on a pavilion structure at the Children’s Playground. They have generously donated funds in the past 
and are willing to continue with the appropriate projects.  Waterford Beach Park garage is in review of the exterior 
design phase with Planning and Zoning.  Documents will be reviewed and submitted for the Pleasure Beach 
boardwalk project (RFP) to start after beach season.  A request will be sent to Jim Erricson and Haley Ward for 
putting together the plans for an access walk and bathroom for Stenger Park – Dog Park.  CBYD for gate install at 
Dog Pound to deter vehicle traffic from Public Safety complex to pond.  Our regular operations of mowing, 
trimming, mulching gardens, painting athletic fields and lining ballfields, beach operations are all in full swing, etc. 
There are still issues with the fountain at Vets War Park. Will look for repair and replacement options due to the 
difficulty of performing repairs/coordination.  We have been focusing on the BOE school openings with gardening, 
mowing, trimming, etc.  One of our maintainers unfortunately had to perform a separation from the Town. He was 
an employee for over ten years whose positive attitude and care for the town will be missed. A requisition for a 
replacement has been submitted.  The Robo painter has been delivered and we are working out the glitches. Two 
(2) mowers are being prepared for delivery. The box blade attachment for ballfield grooming has  
 
 

 
 
been delivered. Awaiting the turbine attachment approval for our last piece of equipment/Fleet program for FY’24.  
The Waterford Day parade and Save The River Save The Hills Regatta were well attended and received many 
compliments.  R. McNamara is working with GGA on the Assistant Director opening and also performing a staff 
review of needs for maintenance and office work. 
 
Project Coordinator – T. Cieplik 
Summer Concert attendance was strong but with rainouts we only had 8 concerts out of the scheduled 10 with 
Sugar being rescheduled and over 3,000 in attendance.  Dogs at the concerts needed to be addressed and we will 
continue to evaluate that in the future summer concerts.  Our summer program went great with Wooden bat softball 
league is about 2/3 of the way through.  We are messaging teams about trash/parking/drinks and the problems it is 
causing.  They have been spoken to twice already.  NEW Waterford High School Summer Skills programs had 337 
NEW kids registered for Volleyball, Cheerleading, Wrestling, Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Field 
Hockey, Football, Swim, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Girls Tennis, Boys Tennis.  Playground was an excellent 
experience with multiple thank you letters or emails.  The staff was strong and will leave us in good shape for next 
year.  Aquatics and Pool we are shifting into fall hours and programing as school starts.  We were able to get a 
swimnastics class back in. Beaches were busy this year with sticker sales far eclipsed previous years.  Only 4 days 
where the 300 capacity came into use.  Feedback from gatehouse staff included some difficulty in turning 
customers away as they advised them on new policy –T. Cieplik will meet with the staff of gatehouse to debrief on 
the summer and what can be done next year to make it run smoother for all.  E. Murphy would like to meet also in 
next few weeks to discuss summer and how we can prepare for next year ahead of time. Upcoming events:  Harvest 
Fest (October 12th), Trunk or Treat (Oct 20th), Tree Lightings at Jordan Green and Quaker Hill (12/6 and 12/7), and 
Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Run 12/8. 
Committee Reports:  
Personnel - we have a maintainer out with a hand injury and a requisition out for a new Maintainer II.  R. 
McNamara will be meeting with GGA to discuss the Assistant Director position and approve.  Youth Sports 
Council will be meeting 9/10/24.  Long Range Planning – R. McNamara will share the Capital Plan he will share 
with J. Gregg.  Policies and procedures- E. Murphy, T. Santos and R. McNamara will meet a ½ hour before next 
commission meeting on 9/24 to go thru page by page. 
 
Representative Reports: 
 
Board of Ed – None 
 
Board of Finance – None 
 
Historical Society – None 
 
O’Neill Theater – None  
 
Senior Services has requested to speak with R. McNamara about the Community Center 
 
Properties:  
Pond Boardwalk is open but there are a lot of things that need attention and are in progress to finalize.  There is a 
lot of usage going on and that is exactly what we were hoping for.   
 
New Business:   
None to report 
 
Adjournment: 
(Motion #2):  Made by R. Erricson and seconded by J. Gregg to adjourn the meeting.  So voted 6-0.  
Meeting adjourned at 5:05 pm  
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Eileen Sullivan 
Recreation and Parks Commission