Parks & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. Uh, I call the meeting to order. It's what? 5 to 6. What time is it? 6:08. 6:08. Okay. We have technical difficulties once again. Okay. Uh, it's myself, Don, Missy, and Sarah at the table here. Brendan's on the phone, and Tim is supposed to call in, and the others apparently can't make it tonight. Okay. So, we have a quorum. Uh, and the previous meeting minutes look fine to me. Anybody see anything they want to add or subtract? No. Okay. Huh? Did somebody say something? Brendan, did you say it said no? Sorry. Oh, okay. That's fine. Okay. Uh, so somebody make a motion to accept the minutes from our last meeting on the 12th of May. Hold on. I want to actually say one thing about making a motion. I've noticed that people are making motions that aren't here at the meeting before and I don't think that that's allowed. So, okay. I was just thinking that like I would make a motion, but I wasn't here. So, I was here. Okay. Yeah, I was here. Make a motion to approve. I I second it. Okay. Hold on. Tim's calling. Okay. Hi. Hold on. I'm I'm going to merge I'm good. Yeah. I'm going to merge you with Brendan. One sec. Okay. I think we have one person that knows how to do all this. All right. Do we have both of you? Yes, I'm here. Okay. Great. I feel younger being merged with him. I feel younger. Uh, okay. I'm glad that works for you. Uh, yeah. Okay. All right. So, a motion. It's I second the motion to approve the minutes. Everybody in favor say I. I. I.

Anyone oppose? No. Abstain? No. Okay. Uh, director's report. Don, give it to us, please. Okay. Um, the following uh programs are ending this week for the season. Uh, they include women's basketball, men's basketball, adult volleyball, Zumba fitness, adult soccer, and adult softball. Um, there were 181 registered participants in these programs this spring and thanks to all who participated, contributed to the success of each program. Um, ongoing stuff right now, we still have tennis going on on Saturdays and Sunday mornings into September at Cross Lane Park. Uh, pickle ball sessions, I won't go into details here, they'll be in a minutes. They're still ongoing um probably right through September as well. Uh upcoming programs um participants from both the men's and women's basketball program are wanting to continue gathering and extend their season through the summer. We are currently discussing the situation which mainly will require reserving days and times at Crosslane Courts. That's how busy we're getting down there. We got to start reserving court time. So jump on the wagon. Shoot. Um, the spring pickle ball tournament that was scheduled for Saturday, June 7th at Crossland Park has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Updates will follow. Uh, summer day camp and afterare um summer day camp scheduled to run from June 25th through August 1st. Um, registration is ongoing. Currently there are 279 participant vet for day camp and 52 for afterare. Uh the two soccer camps are still scheduled to happen. The lime camp is um June 23rd through 27th at Townwoods and the old line parks and rec

camp is scheduled for August 4th through 8th at Townwoods Park. summer staff. Summer staff assembling is still in process um for day camp supervisors, counselors, counselors in training, lifeguards and parking lot attendants. We're anticipating having 50 seasonal employees and approximately 30 volunteer CITs on staff. Uh day camp staff training and camp setup dates are scheduled for June 18th, 19th, 23rd, and 24th. Uh lifeguards are scheduled to start June 14th and parking lot tennis have already started. Uh the facilities Cross Lane Park is in daily operation with little league baseball and softball, pickle ball, tennis and basketball. Towns Park currently in use by lacrosse club, soccer club, lime line little league and parks and wreck. Uh grade five students from M Creek School will have their their field day on Thursday, June 12th. Hannes Park rowing activities are active on a daily basis. The OM rowing association national learn to row day event is scheduled for uh this Saturday, June 7th. Uh White Sand Beach, the gazebo repairs have been completed. Uh the beach cleaning schedule has started. Swim marker buoys have been installed. And just a note that swim lines and the regular swim floats are not required for the requirements of our deep permit. So, if you don't see them down there, that's why. Uh, lifeguard stand is expected to be installed early next week. And on Friday, June 6, tomorrow, uh, grade one and grade four students from my preschool will have their field day trip down there in the morning. That's it. Okay, Don. Uh, any comments? Wait, so there's no swim lines? You're saying there's no actual swim lines and floats?

Deep Deep says we don't need them. So are kids like the kids that want to like go out on a paddle board or whatever, can they still go off to the sides or we'll just probably direct them to go off next to the the jetty where they would normally. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I'd like to make comment. I I saw the improvements to the pavilion that was done by Eric, our facilities guy. Look very good that he replaced the board and the step looks good. And he's also going to, I believe, paint the railings. Yes, I tried to shake that pavilion like a monkey. Couldn't move it. It's very stable with with the iron cross beams. So, I think that's that pavilion's in good shape for the this coming season. Anybody else want to comment? No. Thank you, Don. Okay. Yeah, Don. Thanks. Uh, and rest up for the busy season coming up. Summer finally arrived here. Okay. Uh going back to old business next goose mitigation at Hannes Park. There's still some geese there. Uh the de coyotes broke or were taken. Uh I spoke to Don again. Uhhuh. Again. Yeah, we're going to get some more. However, I have noticed being very close to where that park is and going by several times a day that I don't see as many geese there as before and even the the mom and dad geese don't have huge litters anymore. There's like one or two. So, maybe Adeline helped uh by the Rogers Lake Authority. So, uh, and as far as the goose gram goes, we'll wait to do that until the geese problem becomes a problem. But when it does, uh, we can get a, uh, uh, safe lawns of Salem out there and make an

application and it supposedly works very well. We'll find out. Any questions on that? Nope. Going on then, uh, the survey marking, we've discussed that at length. Uh Sarah, you said something about a summary letter. Was are you going to or or just We don't have to do that if you don't want. No, I did it. I just haven't sent it because there were a couple points that I wanted to make sure that Don had talked to Martha about first. Okay. So, I was going to confirm that tonight and then I can send them this week. Oh, they're already written. Okay. Oh, good. Yeah, I sent them around I think in May 15th. You sent them around? I never got it. I forward it back to Yeah. I don't think I ever got anything. And again, I was gone for about two and a half weeks, but I still check when I get back. Mhm. Okay. Uh that's good. Okay. The next one, the Hannes Park Pavilion. We decided not to do that at this time. Uh and that uh the good news is that when I contacted uh Bill uh Naidu from uh the barnyard, uh he finally got my email. was in a junk folder for a while and on May 29th he wrote back that we re should receive a check within a week or two the town for the deposit we had down to $5,776. Uh and he asked us to keep him in mind if we ever need anything from their company. And Bill's a real good guy and I talked to him and appreciate what he's done for for us over this particular matter. The playscape location, installation, and pathway. Uh Don and Sarah, you want to comment on that because I wasn't around. And yeah, sure. Comment please. Yeah. So, we met with Dave

Catalano, Don, myself, and Eric down at the site, and Dave provided me just an hour ago a markup of where we discussed placing the playground with its regulatory boundaries. And he's going to go out tomorrow to stake it so that we can take a look. So, I can let everyone know by email once it's staked out. So, you can kind of go look at it. And then um the next step would just be ordering it and finalizing it. And then Eric would submit our markup to zoning. Is that right, Eric? Nat. Yes. For final approval and then we can get it ordered and proceed. And then um Dave also provided me I know it's on your list, but he provided me picnic tables options which I can talk about when you Yeah. Okay. The uh uh Yeah. and Dave agreed that that area we generally talked about before has plenty of room for this. Yeah. Yeah. So, that's good. Any comments, Don? You were there. No, you're good. Uh Tim and Brendan, anything to say about that? No, just thank you for everything that you do. Geez, that's great. Great, great work. Sounds great. Um yeah, thank you. Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Sarah, Don, and Eric. three main players that uh are taking care of that. Okay. Uh so that now I think the only thing to determine is what type of pathway we're going to put in there and we're probably going to have to hire somebody because I don't think unless the public works guys would put in reinforced turf or something. I we're going to have to put in some pathway to get to the and I guess we could determine what to do once the the playcape is in. I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Uh, okay. Uh, the cleanup of the Haynes Park beach. Uh,

what what uh Hey, did that move forward at all? I talked to Ed um about that and I'm working on getting that scheduled. Yeah. Yeah. And the more we ideally it'd be great if they could do it once a week, but if not, whatever we can get would be an improvement. Yeah. Okay. Thanks. And is it all right if I include that in my letter to Martha? Is she aware of our request on that or I didn't talk to Martha about that. I went right to Ed because Martha wasn't available time so I skipped that step and went to Ed. Are you okay if I have it in the letter because I think it's currently in the letter. That's fine. Yeah, I think it's fine. Put it in the letter. It's not going to be in tomorrow. So, I can't even talk about tomorrow, but Okay. Talk to our I don't want to get ahead of it. I'm not going to complain about it being in there. Okay. Okay. Okay. Well, that'd be great. Yeah. Just include that maybe in the letter. Yeah. Okay. Uh what is that? Huh? Okay. Uh the next thing is the uh uh Hannes Park picnic tables. We decided to put two or three picnic tables out there. I just want to re remind everyone that at one point when we're going to have a pavilion, we talked about an ADA t table like that. I think this type of table would really be good to connect to the sidewalk and see if that's going to suffice for a wheelchair kind of to be in it. The really long tables I looked at too. Uh these are these are the uh recycled uh plastic ones. It comes in all different types of colors. Uh, I'm sorry, Tim and and uh Brendan, you can't see the colors, but uh it shows what the colors are going to look like outside and and uh and uh inside. So, the

outside, my suggestion would be to have dark colored tabletops and benches because if they get dirty, you won't see the dirt as much. What do you got? What do you We have Sarah and Missy and Don here. What do you think? This is The tabletops can be and the seats either brown. This I think the lighter colors might show dirt more. They're going to be dark green to match kind of the building. Yeah, I think that I think the dark green if if every all the accents down there are dark green, it might look nice to have the green. It's either that one or dark green. Yeah, I would say I would go with the green. And they're both to match everything else that's down there. And it's a darker color, so it's harder to write on. Yeah. And it's harder to if there's food stuff, it's harder to see the mess. But that's gross. Yeah. That's good. The only thing I was mentioning is Dave mentioned that he his business has tables, too. So, I was going to give it a look just as also a courtesy to Yeah. Yeah. We could for us, but these are these are guaranteed for this company. He may have the same ones. American recycled plastic. Nothing can rust on these things. And even even if you put uh the stainless steel hardware doesn't rust. Okay. So, can I can I interrupt about tables quickly? Like have we considered the powder coated? Like we have at LISB two tables like this, but they're like the powder coated that are have holes in them so you can't write on them. Like we've had them for at least 10 years and there's no there's no issues with them because people aren't writing on them. They're not engraving into them. They're not doing anything cuz they're like, you know, honeycomb type like I think there's one in the back here, isn't it?

Maybe. But they but you can get it in a green or whatever. Yeah. The kind she's talking about it's not like out out there. Yeah. Okay. Uh the tabletops are just a deterrent of riding. They're kind of power coated metal. Well, and they don't get as dirty like you're not spill like if you're spilling, you know, eating a sandwich and you're spilling ketchup, it falls there on the ground and then the rain wash I don't know. It just Well, that's a good idea. The uh uh do you want to try and uh get something on that? Because what I was going to suggest is for the uh for the uh ADA people, this is a nice one to put by the sidewalk. And then we could actually put uh longer they have longer tables just like regular tables that are actually really nice because they don't have you don't have to step over like that type of thing. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and they probably have something like this too. They do. Yeah. Because uh the problem with these with ADA is you got ADA position on both sides. We don't need we only need Missy I think you said only one ADA table. Yeah. So we could have if you have tables like this kind of for the sidewalk. I I don't think this type of would look good on the sidewalk. But if if you can't get something these are guaranteed warrantied for at least 20 years. Yeah. I mean, you can like they have just I'm just saying like it's easy. They have everything that you have there. They would have here. Can you send me the link to that? How about I just pick some and send them around by email? Does that work? No, that'd be that'd be fine. Okay, that'd be fine for as far as I'm concerned. As long as nothing's going to rust and and these maybe look a little nicer, but when we have to deal with vandalism, you're right. Maybe those are less vandalized. Yeah. Okay. I'll put it on the plan and

I'll I'll take care of it. And and and and um uh and and what's his name's company? Uh Dave Dave's company. Yeah, he said Yeah, he should. And they're probably cheaper than me. I'll send him a picture. These these tables all but and I like that type of design too rather than have the climb. I mean, you said something similar just to slide in to the table. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Like this type of table is a pain in the neck to get in and out like compared to something like that. Oh, you see. So anyway, so that's good. So So it would just be an all green. The the support beams would be all green. They wouldn't be black. No, I think they're probably I think they're black. I do like and the top and the seats are the powdercoated material. That's guaranteed not to rust. I mean, yeah. Yeah, I I'm pretty sure like I'll look into it. How about that? I mean, we went to the historic district. We went at We did a lot of research on these things before we bought back. I'll um I'm not going to send you that link because I just Googled it quick, but I'll look at who we used at LSB and send that. Well, well, ladies, that would be fine. Uh I'm not sold on anything other than I was trying to get something that didn't need uh uh maintenance and would look nice. So, the green ones, there's a lot of sloppy kids at LSB and these ones look great. So yeah. Okay. Oh, that's good to know. Okay. All right. So, you look into that and then I don't know. And then I probably they're going to be I don't know what the price is, but these other ones cost like $14,500. They're probably even cheaper, I would imagine. I don't know. I'll send Let them find out. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. So, we find out and if that's the way to go, that's the way to go. Just make sure that any if there are things to attach it's stainless steel. Okay. Definitely. All right. Uh you guys

are good with that. Tim and Brendan gets Okay. Now the question is if we can get one of these hexagonal tables for for the handicap accessible. We can attach this to the sidewalk kind of as an entrance way like like right on the sidewalk. Should we be getting the long tables? One or two? How about I make a recommendation by email? I think it's going to be at least two. Two. At least two plus the Yeah, especially if you have if you have like a the playground like here. You can have one one here and one here kind of. Okay. And I have got it. Yeah, two. I think we need at least two. I agree. Okay, perfect. Okay. All right. Good. Let's move on. Across lane playground repairs. Sarah, you had something about that in an email you sent me in landscaping. The uh Don explained it a little bit to me about just putting soft chips, but there's special soft chips around for the area around. Yeah, that's right. And and Dave's going to replace the the tiles that were ruined. That's right. And he included that in his estimate to us. The tiles. The tiles and and whatever they call the soft wood chips now. Right. So, um, Don, you we have the yardage that we need and we were just you were finding a way to pay for it and trying to get I guess what's your update for cross be pretty easy to pay for it saying it's required I can make that sale. Yeah. And I spoke to Ed about that too and I have him convinced that public works will be involved at the very least of getting the stuff and hopefully getting it and spreading it out as well. Okay. And if we have tables being delivered, I think it's right now is a bad time for public works because they're short-handed seemingly every week for a couple weeks at least. Okay. So, interview a couple weeks. This time of year, his guys use up all their

vacation time and they're always short-handed. Yeah. Problem. Okay. But I got them convinced to help us out. Well, that's a big step. That's good. seeing as it is a safety requirement and it's been a few years that we've been asking for. Oh, that's great. That's great then. So, that's all going to work out. Uh and and I wasn't at the meeting, but when you speak to Dave, thank him for his work to help us help the community out. Okay. On on behalf of the park and rec, we really appreciate his help on everything. Okay. So, that's it with the old business. Any new business? I have something. Yes. Go ahead. Um the president of the Tix Lacrosse Club, uh Oland resident, Alex Dreco, has requested um to use Townwoods Park um during the summer from June to into August um one night a week for a lacrosse program. And I told him that historically we have basically shut the fields down to organized use after the lime soccer camp. Usually that's when lacrosse is usually over, soccer is usually over, camps over and we keep them empty for the month of July. We have our camp first week of August usually in the attempt to make the fields in good shape for the busy fall. So he wrote this and that's worked out really well. I mean going into the soccer season that the fields are pretty good shape these days, right? They're very good shape. Yes. Okay. Okay. So that's so he's I suggested that they use the turf field over to school and apparently that because of the way the high school teams can play throughout the summer now for a extended period of time that the turf field is booked

up. And he's got a whole big explanation of the lacrosse program and what it takes to keep it going right up through the high school which has very low numbers right now. Can I make a suggestion to him that because it's worked out so well resting the fields for about a month and a half before the big onslaught in the fall in the fall with soccer and all that could he asked one of these other communities too to see if they can do this? I mean that's been a challenge I know but has he asked I mean before everything's dependent on us again could he asked old Sabbrook? Could he ask uh uh Valley? I can talk to him tomorrow morning about that. Do we think one night a week is going to jeopardize the resting period? All I'm saying is that that's what we've done historically. Um I don't know what if it would ruin it or not. I mean, these are not that older kids anyways. I mean, so what how old are the kids? They're all younger. It goes all his numbers start at K and preK and goes up to grade eight. I don't know exactly who's involved with this thing yet. That's what they're trying to put together. And I just the other the other reason I asked to to check have him check into these other communities is that if they do it then with soccer want to be doing it too. So it would be more than just lacrosse probably what'll happen human behavior. Anybody have comments about that Brendan them? Um so um I mean if we tradition this way have done it and it's been successful for us uh I don't know why we would move away from it

and again I don't know if it it will open up an avenue to other programs. I'm thinking not but um I don't know that's a tough one. You don't want to turn the kids away, but um you also don't want to open the fields. Don, how much push back have you gotten on this, do you think? I guess that my question ultimately is like, is this going to turn into a big fight potentially like they have with soccer and lacrosse? Um, I'm not sure exactly. I mean, he's doing his best to state the case and why they need it. Um, I did not talk to him about using fields in other towns. Um, it didn't it didn't get that far. I just we talked briefly and I told him I'd bring it up at this meeting and see what people thought. Could it be some type of compromise with like using our fields and fields in other towns? Maybe. I don't see why not. But again, I that's what we would want to shoot for. We wouldn't want everything just dependent on us, especially since this been our program for almost 20 years now almost. And then the fields do have to regenerate and grow a little bit after all the use. We did we did not talk about using other towns as about 35% of the kids involved are from our area here. Um I will do that tomorrow morning because I'm sure he's maybe even listening tonight to see what's going on or I know he'll ask about it tomorrow. Well, I guess it's all but it's also like I know historically we've rested the fields in July, but I don't know. There's part of and I don't know anything about soil, but it's like, okay, just because we've done something historically doesn't mean we have to follow that all the time. We could change it up. Maybe we try like this is a trial year. Yeah. Okay. One night a week is not hurting the fields at all. Then who car, you know, it's nice to have them being able to play. I don't know. If you take the what the

school does, the school shuts down the fields and they just say no. They just say no. And in fact, just to let you I don't think you guys were around when we made the fields out there, but Phil Neon, who was the super at Black Hall Country Club, actually suggesting suggested this for the fields. He's an expert on grass and fields and everything else. Uh, and that's been the program we've used ever since we opened the park. And, and I agree with what the schools say. Sometimes it's tough, but you have sometimes have to say no. However, if he could get the other communities to agree to some of the use, that might be a way to go. I mean, that's that's a little better. It's it's a little tricky because if you compare it to like the softball or baseball field there, it's funny because those type of fields actually uh do better with more work, more more activity because it keeps the weeds and stuff out of the infields better than letting them sit there. Baseball's been on fine. And you know, the outfields don't get much Yeah. much wear and tear versus a field where there's activity back and forth and a lot of activity in front of a gold mouth. Yeah, that that's the that's the real problem is in front of the gold mouth. I I think I'll I'll talk to him tomorrow and see what we can come up with some kind of thing about other towns sharing uses and go from there. I think is he is he looking just just to do July just the month of July? Um, no. It's the tail end of June into the beginning of August. Let me find it here somewhere. Well, I I guess that if you go back, that's where I was headed. If you go back to him and say, you know, what about the other towns? And then he comes back and says, "Yeah, I can get two days a week." Do we have to have another meeting to discuss this? Like, how does that work? Because we won't have another meeting until July. That's I'm not sure. I mean, I think we could decide, okay, if that's if that's a ca. I mean, we're primarily talking about what, four nights? Yeah.

This is where I'm struggling because it's if it's like four or six nights, is doing three really going to make that material of a difference to six? Uh, if you're looking for on the gold mouse after seasons, they get very worn. Okay. Uh, my head is But that but what Sarah's saying is it's not a season. It's it's like six nights. It doesn't seem like that, but I'm not a field expert. I have a friend who is who took over for me, actually. Oh, really? You can ask him, but I don't I know nothing about turf science. Yeah, Phil is our consultant. He was on our our committee, actually, town the Townwoods Park Committee. I I think the first thing I have to do is see what else is available from other towns or what they've said. Yes. And if other towns have already said no for some reason, well, that's telling everybody something. Well, and then I think we have to decide as a commission, are we saying like from here on out, are we saying the Townwoods Fields are closed for the month of July? Like then we have to like then I think we that's our that's what we stand by. Like we put it out there. We put it in writing like you know Townwoods Park operates 11 months a year type thing. I mean, I know it's not 11, but you know, and and and state that because I do think we're getting to the point where there's like these requests and we kind of just take everything as they come and which is fine. Like I think just because they're requesting to use it, you know, two hours once a week doesn't mean like, okay, now soccer club's going to ask and you maybe they are, but I I don't know. I feel like we have to figure out like what our protocol is with. Well, we could always add that to it. But if the school says no, other communities say no, why shouldn't we say no? Or the argument could be made if we have 35% of the kids that are old lime kids and we have the space, should we say yes. I just th

it's not even half. But anyway, I know what you're saying, Brendan. But but but still but I guess that where I would be going with that would be and I'm and I'm not saying I'm advocating this position, but if I'm playing devil's advocate, I would say if we have 35, let's say there's 100 kids and 35 of them are old line kids and those kids want to play lacrosse and we have the space to do it just because the other towns say no, shouldn't we be able to offer that to our 35 old line kids? That's just a I can see that argument coming. Um I don't know if it's right, but it is something to consider. And then I do have a question which I I don't know the answer to, but if we say that the fields are shut down in July, does that mean they're shut down? So if I don't know, a family wanted to go there and kick a soccer ball around, would they not be allowed? No, that's perfectly okay. And if somebody wanted to go there with a group of kids and just throw the lacrosse ball around, that's okay. It's it's it's an organized activity with lots of people. It's a different thing. Brendan, if anybody wants to go there and kick a soccer ball or play Frisbee or anything like that, we of course allow that, but it's not an organized thing with potentially over a hundred people or more. Yeah, Don, did he say how many kids it would be? No, not that I see here. He was just cuz I think he's trying to put it together, but he needs trying to figure out where he can do it first, you know, or in company. Would and would and would it be one night a week to like run a you know like a skill session or would it be games? I don't know if that matters. My kids only play the cross. I don't know how it's supposedly a supposedly skill session type of thing, but I'm not sure what that really means. That should certainly being back a coach back in those days, there's always scrimmages even if it's just a skill thing. Uh I would also wager though just knowing how kids are and in particular in the summer I cannot I mean I don't know how many kids are in the tick lacrosse. Do you think that

there would be close to even a hundred kids doing that? Doesn't that seem high? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, probably 40. I don't know. That'd be that'd be a good thing not only find out about other talents but what what are the numbers you're talking about? And I guess what I'm what where I'm going though, Bob, just with these questions that we have that I don't want to put Don in the position of asking all these questions and then we come back in July and then we have more questions on that and the next thing you know it's September and and nothing's moved on it. I just wonder if maybe what we do is we say either no, like outright no, we vote on it. We say no or we say yeah, two days a week seems reasonable or two days a month or excuse me, two sessions a month seems reasonable. Like split it up with another town or we say get in there four nights a week. Four nights a week. I don't want I don't want to be back and forth. You know what I mean? Don, wait. I'm I'm getting No, he he's just he's just he's asking for one night a week, right? Yes. Right. That's what he's asking for, Brendan. Yeah. So, well, so I but I guess what I'm saying is do we now vote on this because when I what happens a lot and I know how the lacrosse people are. I I I do. They have a million lawyers who are in there and they all have in the past, you know, outside of park and wreck meetings contacted me just about what about this? What about that? And I don't want that to be Don. I don't want Don to have to feel that when there is no answer from the commission on this. I think that that's partly part of their frustration. Um, so I don't know. I mean, maybe I'm wrong on that, Don. You would know better than me. I'm I'm just more so looking out for you whether or not we should just vote on this now. So then it's over. We don't Brennon, how do you guys feel about Missy's? Like, hey, we're going to try this this summer as a as a trial basis to see what kind of impact the field it'll have on the

fields. Um but going forward if it's negative impact on the fields we're going to go back to what we have originally done. If we find that's not negative impact to the fields and we will continue to take you know take you know people's feedback if they want to do something. Yeah. And I think you could take that and even expand upon it and put more stipulations like all right it's a trial run. we'll try it for four nights in July for two hours, you know, like he he hasn't given you any details. Like we don't want him to come back and be like, great, we're going to use the fields from noon until 8, you know, like two-hour skill session once a week for 4 weeks in July and and see how it goes and then re-evaluate from there. It's kind of like when we talked about the temporary lights at Cross Lane, like let's just do it and see how it goes. And it went fine. you know, there was no issues, there was no problems. So, why don't I just think it's nice to be open and welcoming to kids that want to play sports? I have a procedural question. If if they come back and they say it's 50 kids one night a week, do we do we can can we just in an email say, "Yeah, that sounds good." Or do we have to like call a special meeting to approve that? like or if they come back and say it's 25 kids. H how how do we how do we do that without voting on this now? Don't we have to do this now or do we not? If not, then we can get as much intel as we need and get an answer to them in a week. Well, being that we've only had had 20 minutes to discuss this. What you know, it's not like we're hearing it for the first time, Brendan. And I think the idea of maybe trying it but with stipulations. This is not for games. This is Are they going to play in sneakers? Are they going to play in in cleat? They're probably going to play in cleats, right? That Well, I would I

would imagine if they're playing lacrosse there, it's the full lacrosse experience. That I would think that that's should be assumed by us. Yeah. But to Brendan's point, he just wants to make sure that this doesn't drag out and that if we are going to let them use it in July, let's get them word so they can use it in July, not wait, right? You know, I I think I think it makes sense to maybe vote on this and we can discuss it more now. Um, you know, I think what's going to happen, Bob, is the meeting in July is going to get cancelled because nobody's going to show up and next thing you know, we're in August and it's over. Also, they're really going to be ticked off. Brandon, I don't know if you got that. I have. Yes, please. I think again, I'm not voting. I think we should allow them to do this. I would talk to him about are there other options from other towns and then if there isn't and we allow them to do this say from the last week of June or whatever the first week of August so it ends up being like six weeks or seven weeks whatever the calendar says then we have even more information that by using this field during this time for these hours by this kind of kids does this to the field we're not going to do it next here because if we shared with other towns, it's just it just proves that we need the help from other towns at the same time. I don't think that there'll be enough damage from this to be detrimental, but that's my opinion. Where are they going to set up the goals where where they've always been set up? That be that would be helpful if the goals weren't set up at the same spot where in front of the goals is where all the wear and tear really is. I understand it. So, we could we could grant a temp. I

don't I don't know the age group yet. I don't know the size of the field they want, whatever. No, I don't I don't know that stuff yet. Yeah. And and the other thing, Don, is traditionally during the summer, we don't have to line the fields. We wouldn't have to line these fields, would we? Because Well, they he said that they I think they would like field lining and they will pay for it. That's what he said. Yeah, that's fair. Yeah. Yeah. That would certainly be one consideration, but if they're going to pay for it, okay, that would be better than us paying for it. And uh the other thing is is that we have to if Soccer hears they're doing it and if soccer decides they want to do it too, well then it'll be twice as much use. And so we could do it as a temporary and see how it all works out and then come with a more permanent decision at the end of the summer. But right now, you don't have any information. What's that? Did you agree? Somebody said that that's me. I didn't mean to interrupt, but I was going to say to to the point about soccer. Lacrosse asked. They didn't. I mean, that's, you know, lacrosse asked. Soccer hasn't. So, if we're approving this for lacrosse, I I think we have the leeway to do that. I don't think we have to be totally fair with everybody. They asked, soccer hasn't. That would be my position. I just don't think we have any test date of when it does get used. We just assume that's Yeah, we've been doing that forever, not using it, right? And everything's turned out really well and okay, you want to let them do it. Uh but I I still go back to the thing that why is everything at Townwoods Park? Why aren't some of these other commun I know old Sabbrook's making an attempt because we're such nice people. I mean well and like we have a really nice I know everybody wants to play there. We have the nicest facility. Yeah. Valley Regional has a very nice facility up at their high school field now. They have a new turf football field. They have a new

turf baseball field. The new softball field. Valley does. Yeah. New lacrosse. They got all new stuff. So then so there's no reason for them not to share thing anymore. Right. That was their reason for a while. They just didn't have these fields. So, yeah, but that's at the school, right? That's up to the school to let people use it. Not Well, that's where there always was though. Yeah. They spent $15 million to put all these fields up there. So, they better uh use them. Or could we make it that that's fine with us if we can get the other communities to also donate one night, one week of the month that they ask that I I would feel more comfortable with that and just once again just old line. But you guys, I I I fall back on what Don said, which is maybe it's not a bad idea for for us to just at least have the knowledge and this is an opportunity for us to get it just how it works in July. We just we just don't know because it's never happened and maybe people have asked in the past or maybe they haven't. I don't know. But now that they are, is this advantageous? Is this an opportunity for us to at least find out? And look, maybe we even throw out the stipulation. If after two sessions the field's scrapped, we scrap them. We can wh why why can't we do that? I guess one of the things we could do because if there is extra wear and there's a drought and and uh uh could we have extra irrigation done? Probably. But then again, we would have to pay. Well, we have irrigation there anyways. If the field needs irrigating, we irrigate. Well, I know. whether somebody's on it or not. Mhm. Yeah. Okay. All right. You guys want somebody want to make a motion to do this on a trial basis on the stipulation that it'll be re-evaluated and then a final

decision uh made after this month's worth of use. Is that what you want, Brendan? Well, I I actually I'm not entirely sure I I want this generally. I just based on on its face, I don't want to deny it. And if if we're going to make a I guess and I'm doing this on the fly. If I was going to make a motion, and it's going to be a little wordy, it would be something to the effect of we agree to allow lacrosse to play on the fields from what the the dates that Donna had said, end of June to the beginning of August up to four nights a week only or or uh subject to uh them seeking approval from other towns. And we reserve the right to end this at any point in time. And if they don't like that, then don't come. Very good. If they do like that and it's an opportunity for them, then I think we should offer it to the kids in old line with those stipulations. I I I like what you just said, Brendan, better than just giving a blanket. Yes. Because I really think especially since Valley now has fields. Why aren't they contributing when third of their of the lacrosse people are coming from that approximately? Can I throw one thing in here? Um, I'm just reading it now. Um, one night a week per summer approximately June 25th through August 20th is what he says. Oh, so it's the whole summer, not just one month. Oh, it's not just a one month. No, no, he said that I think that changes the equation a little bit for us. I I would say that's eight that's eight weeks basically as opposed to six which we were Well, that's the whole summer. So, we were talking because because weeks are now we're eight. Because soccer then starts up at the end of August, right, Don? Regular soccer. Usually when they give me the schedule, it's not too much more

than what we were thinking. That's more than a month, but I thought that's what the guy was asking. No, Don said that right. A we were only talking about July because July is the month we typically rest the fields. It's he wasn't ever talking about just July. It it's just we are talking about I forget exactly how I said it but in our initial conversation we were talking about with him I was talking with him about what we do in July. So and July is the I I personally don't think it's a bad idea as a trial with some stipulations with reserving the right that you can shut it down like we could do but anything if there was damage to a field we shut it down. I don't see I don't person. Okay, Brendan, that sounds good. Uh, you want to put that motion down? Uh, I Gez, I hope somebody's going to record this motion. Oh. Oh, okay. So, give it a shot, Brendan. Then, then we'll let AI do it that actually transcripts stuff. Let's see what it says. Brendan, the only Wait, before you give the motion, Brendan, the only thing is is we're not talking at all about four nights a week. So just include in the motion one night a week. One night a week, right? One night a week for from How about a time from 6:00 to 8 or some time or just to make sure they're not out there for three or four hours or I don't think that that's a bad idea to put like a I don't think we need to tell them the specific time, but I think to put a time limit on it is not a bad idea. Or just a couple hours. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. A couple hours. All right. What do What do you think? I think so. I like that. Sounds good. Yeah. Okay. So, I probably should have forwarded his email so that everybody Yeah, because we just found out about it now. Well, I just got Yeah, I'm not because you just got it, but this guy who wrote in should have gave a little

lead time, but Well, we talked about it a few days ago, but I said I would bring it up at the meeting. Okay. And then this other on Tuesday, this last email came out. So, yeah. Okay. Oh, I'm up. I'm up. Does the 2 hours seem like consistent with what they're asking or they didn't specify? What's that? Does 2 hours seem consistent with what he's asking or they didn't specify? I don't think it says in here. Well, we could say for two hours. Well, that's tough because if you're going to run a you're going to run a clinic and you have it for two two and a half hours and we say two hours. That's my only concern. I think I don't think they're going to go crazy and and own the field for eight hours. Yeah, I agree. Maybe no time specified. Okay. All right, brethren. Give it a shot. And they said, right? Uh we we we uh we approve or I make a motion to approve the request by the Lacrosse Club to use Townwoods Park from the dates referenced in the email, which escaped me. Um, one night a week upon the or conditioned upon Yeah. One night a week. Yep. Conditioned upon them paying for the lining of the field as well as our discretion. The PRC's discretion. Yes. Yeah. The park and rec commission's discretion uh relating to the health of the field. That's terribly worded, but it's something to that effect. Uh Sarah, if you want to fix that, by all means. Um but you want to put it in writing. Uh Brendan, since these guys seem to bother you if they don't get their way, you you want I I I can shoot out an

email on it, but do we have to vote on this? Oh, yeah. Okay. So, okay. Yeah. If we're going to vote, let's do it now because no one wants to have another meeting just to vote. How about this? Instead of saying condition, we can just say the PRC reserves the right to cancel at any time. I don't even I think we can leave that that open-ended. Yeah. And if and and if they have a problem with that, then don't use the fields because I'm all for being fair, but at the same time, people do get pushy and then too bad. Don't use it. And I don't think that they'll have any problem with that. Uh do do we want to put in that stipulation that they check with Valley and also Old Sabbrook to see if they Oh yes, thank you. Um yeah uh uh uh with a further condition that they inquire with the who what what towns are involved with the text? Sabbrook, Deep River, Chester, Old Lime, Essex. It's a three-part mix. Lime old Lime Old Sabbrook and then the Valley area which is Essex, Centerbrook, and Deep River. Yeah, I mean maybe you know with a further condition that inquiry is made with uh you know all of the towns that provide the or that make up the co-op for use of their facilities as well. scenario is if nobody else contributes field space and we find out that this is detrimental to the fields, then we have a solid case to show why we shouldn't do something and the effect of somebody else 65% of the club not contributing. We have the proof. we have the proof and we and like yeah, it's kind of a we're we're trying to appease people and do the right thing, but also we'll be able to say here's your concrete evidence as to why we can't do it. Okay. So, and not just like we don't want them to who can write faster than me or should I try and write this down this motion? Why write it down? Isn't it

being recorded? It's being recorded. Okay. Yeah. Mary I mean he just said it beautifully. Okay. Yeah. But you're going to add the stipulation about checking with the other towns. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's okay. Sounds fine. Anyone? You're making a motion, Brendon? Anyone want to second? Second it. Okay. All right. Uh, any more discussion on it? No. Okay. All the Huh? You should probably just say your name to second it, please. I will second it. Oh, yeah. Miss. Yeah. Right. And it was made by Brendan and seconded by Missy to make sure the transcript comes out right. Okay. Uh all right. No more discussion on that. All those in favor? I I Okay. Anyone opposed? No. Anyone not going to say anything? No. Okay. It passes. So, we'll see how it works out on a trial basis. Okay. I'm sure they're going to take it very seriously to inquire with the other towns knowing that even if the towns say no, we're going to say yes. Okay. Uh because we want to help the kids out. We want I don't understand why some of these other have a problem with that. I just my personal comment. All right. Any any other correspond? That's equity, Bob. That's equity when they want something else in the future. Just remember what we did for you in July of 2025. So we'll put that in our pocket. Brendon, since they seem to talk to you all the time, you can remind them of that. Okay, I absolutely will. Okay. Uh uh correspondence. No public comment. There's nobody here. I have something else for new business. Oh. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. It's not new business, but I just have a question. Okay. And maybe I maybe I don't understand this at all, but did we used to do did park and wreck have anything to do with like fish at Crosslanes Pond and having

a fishing derby and doing all the Oh, the only thing we did is I used firemen did it. Okay. I remember a kid. I was thinking like the other day we were walking across lane. Just give me the day that they were going to do it. Okay. I just feel like it would be nice if we could do stuff like something like that. I was You're up. You're up. Go talk to the fire department. They're the ones that did it. Okay, I'll help you. Yeah, they like it would be so fun for the kids. They stock the Yeah, right. Like stock the I mean, how much does it cost? I asked Pete that. He didn't know. All right. Okay. We just gave him permission to use it. They they they But that couldn't be a park and wreck thing that we stock the pond, friend. I would say let's see if the fire department wants to do it was very successful in the past. Would they like to do it again? Can I Can I add some Can I add something to that? Yeah. Um my son fishes down there all the time. He just he loves the fish. So but so he goes down there. The the the problem with restocking that pond as I see it would be. I I'm amazed that those fish survive the summer. Amazed because I don't know where they go or how they do it. It really is a wonder. But I I wonder if we do that, does that mean that that pond needs to also either have like some type of a sprinkler system, some type of ability to replenish the water? Um, like in August, that place is rough. God, it is. But that was a that was something they did at the very beginning in the spring when there was more rain and things like that. Brendan, I think. Yeah. So, yeah. But what I'm what I'm saying, Bob, is if if we restock it, if we stock it, there's bass in there, there's sunfish in there, but if we stock it, which I'm all for, that would be awesome. I just I don't know if it's going to be a catastrophe later on because I man, I do not know how those fish survive.

Got to get a lot of kids down there to catch them first. Okay. Well, you you get an update from your son how the fishing is down there and and I don't know. I was just thinking like M Max is very into fishing right now and like they're always looking for new little places to go fishing and it's like a nice hidden gem for I was just late. No, I know. But it Yeah. It's not like there isn't a place to fish. Yeah. Right. All right. We're gonna we're gonna look into that. Yeah. Yeah. Look into ask the fire department. Successful in the past, would you consider it again for next spring? Whatever. Remember Nor? No, she was the guy ran. Oh, okay. Yes. Okay. Um, not a bad idea, but let's see if the fire department wants to help on that. Okay. All right. Uh, correspondence. No public comment. No one's here. Motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion. I second it. All right. All in favor? Okay. Hi. Hi.