Parks & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

So I will uh call the meeting to order. It's what about six meeting ID is not working. So I'm not sure. I don't know what's going on with this thing. But well, we got a recording with Mary Ellen. She she records it. Yeah. I don't know. It's what's going on with this thing. But

I think you're using an incorrect meeting. You you didn't get re-uped. So, you're using an old one. You have to make sure that they're current on the website. And I'll look to see what's on the website because that has I'll check it out. What happened? Something changed from the way it used to be. These hybrid the the call links every couple of months you have to reop them. And if you haven't checked in. Like I check with Katie every time before I put my board of selecting an agenda up to make sure it's the right

I called her today but she didn't she she called and I answered and you hung up on me. I didn't hear you answer. I picked up her phone because she was Oh. Oh. Oh, you Oh, she's on vacation. She was on vacation. Oh, okay. I didn't get Okay. You just keep Somebody's Somebody's on Somebody got home. Percy McD was on. You got on. Okay. Somebody got on. Somebody got on. Well, I'll have to get check with Katie then if these numbers have changed. It's two people have gotten on by your Okay. So, you should be good.

Okay. All right. So, I hope it works. Call at the water. What is it about 604 605? 602. 602. Yep.

Okay. I call the meeting to water at 602. Uh we have Ryan, Mary, Ellen, Sarah, myself, and Don sitting at the table. Uh Brendan should be on his way though, but we do have a quorum of four, so we can start. Uh and Missy and Tim were are both out of state, so they cannot make the meeting. Now the first item is to approve the previous meetings uh minutes. Uh I read the minutes. They look good to me. Anyone have a comment? Any additions or distractions? Ryan, anything? No. Would someone make a motion to accept the the June 5th meeting?

I move to approve the June 5th meeting minutes. Okay. Ryan, you want a second? Okay. All those in favor? I I Okay. Opposed? Stain? No. Uh, all right. Director's report. You're on, Don. Um, first of all, I'll go through some completed uh late spring and summer programs. We these are all these programs all have catched up recently.

Um, adult co-ed soccer park. Uh we had 23 participants. Adult pro at softball at Townish Park had 43 participants. Pro volleyball at the high school 40 participants. Men's basketball at the high school 31 participants. Women's basketball at the high school 37 participants. Zumba fitness at the middle school, seven participants. Uh summer day camp at the high school, 283 participants. day camp afterare program at the high school, 52 participants. Uh programs that are ongoing right now. Um we have various tennis sessions at Crosslane Park, beginner tennis, advanced beginner tennis, intermediate tennis, various times and dates. Uh beach yoga at White Sand Beach is still going on on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. There's 11 participants. The CIS soccer camp is going on at Towns Park this week. Um, Monday through Friday from 9:00 to noon. There are 48 participants. Pickle ball sessions all at Cross Lane Park. Um, open there's various divisions. Open play. Uh, Lime senior center sessions are there, point play, drill sessions are there, intermediate round robin. Um those are all on various days of the week. Upcoming fall programs registration is now open on rec desk for the following things. Men's basketball at the high school. Uh it'll be scheduled from September 7th through June 10th. This is basically the whole school year. Women's basketball at the high school. Similarly, uh September 2nd through June 16th. Adult co-ed soccer at Townwoods Park. uh September 7th through

October 26th. Adult volleyball with the high school uh September 4th through December 18th and youth soccer at Towns Park will be running September 13th through October 25th. Uh teams will be made an exact schedule of that will be done our coaches meeting schedule for uh Saturday, September 6th. Uh youth pickle ball group at Cross Lane Park for Mile Creek students. Um that's October 10th, excuse me, September 10th through October 15th. And then the pickle ball sessions will begin again as uh previously discussed. Uh summer staff this year, uh we employed 34 day camp counselors, three day camp supervisors, 10 lifeguards, and six parking lot attendants. And there were also uh 26 counselor and training uh CIT volunteers at the camp facilities. Uh no major problems were noted at the town facilities to date. Cross Lane Park is open and daily operation with baseball, softball, pickle ball, tennis and basketball. Towns Park is open and used by Connecticut River Lacrosse Club, Limol Lime Soccer Club, Lime Lime Little League and various AAU softball teams. Uh Hannes Park is open uh mostly rowing activities taking place there. Uh Led Light Health District contacted me on Tuesday uh saying that the swimming area was under advisement for high bacteria count. Um, swimming is discouraged and we are currently awaiting for the retest results and White Sand Beach facilities are open staffed and in use daily by residents and their guests. Um, I have a couple other things to just to pass out. Um, I think I'll just do the White Sand

Beach facility first. This was from Eric Olsen today. This is a rendering of the new um pavilion down there. He's looking for um parks and rec commission approval of the design. Um real quickly, it's a concrete slab with uh steel four posted steel posts that are wrapped in a PVC material. um a wood structure on top of it also wrapped in PVC with an asphalt shingled roof and uh Eric Olsson is handling that. He's just looking at this point from the commission their approval.

Anybody would want Excuse me, Don. If anybody wants this, they can get a copy. No. Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. He's looking for the parks and rec commission approval for this type of thing in that area and construction can start um in the fall into the early spring, whatever we choose on. Okay. Okay. It looks fine. I I read read somewhere or something that by putting these steel post in, we're going to save a lot of money on Yes. versus the initial initial design or something.

And there will be a walkish there'll be a a walkway um prefab walkway from the from the gazebo down to the parking lot handicap accessible. Okay. And and it it's going to be level kind of mostly level with the beach pretty much just slightly above it. Not a big step at all. Yeah. So that we don't need any kind of railing or something on it. Yeah, because it's going to be pretty much level. Yeah, it looks fine. Uh looks pretty basic. It's the same size.

The same side. I think I that's 12 by 24, I think. 12 by 24 currently down there. And actually that one's held up fine so far. Eric did a nice job of put some new boards in the front. And I see people always utilizing it whenever I don't go down that often, but go ahead, Ryan. You wanted to say something. Don already answered it. I was gonna ask if there was some kind of walkway from the parking lot. Um, I love the design. As a as a parent of kids who have been young enough to be climbing all over the existing one, it's nice not to see railings and open and access it from all sides

and and if they stumble out of it, they don't have much fall. Just No, I think that's better idea too than not to have all the railings and stuff. Yeah, it looks pretty good. I mean, it's just going to be I guess what type of roof it's going to be? shingles or Yeah. Yeah. Well, that looks fine. Anybody else? I like it.

I have one question on it. So, and this literally just popped into my head. Would there be any benefit in and this may not work because of the needs of the ramp um of the pavilion moving into the beach to because that ramp right now takes out some parking area, doesn't it? Well, just the width of the because the handicap accessible stuff is too wondering if there was like I don't think you gain any additional spots if you think that's All right, fair enough. Yeah, because there's one handicap spot by the pavilion and one by the the uh bath house. The bath house down Yeah. to the beach to leave an opening there.

I don't think it gain. Yeah. No, it looks fine. Just a quick question. With it being level to the beach, I've not seen anything like that. Is there any concern that sand will constantly be like coming up onto it? That's what happens with the existing I thought it was elevated. This will be easier to clean off because it'll be on top of it. The sand goes underneath the current one which and it pushes up under it. Okay. I'm just thinking to like Town Beach and Old Sabbrook. I pretty sure they have a higher step up. Yeah. to have like a little bit of a barrier to the sand.

I think I think one of the reasons the don't quote man I think one of the reasons for keeping it closer to the beach is I think the height is a little bit higher than the current one. Not much but a little bit higher just so it wasn't sticking up too high like trip hazard or something. Well, no. The the the roof height isn't too high that people will complain that it's higher than what's already currently there. Oh, is that another reason for the really low pitch? Yes. Is that going to be okay for snow and all of that? Okay. Yes.

Well, I think the other thing Sarah, you have to remember is in the last couple years, uh, and I think Martha was real involved in that, is that they started making big mounds of barrier of sand so it doesn't the sand doesn't blow it in to the especially the parking lot as much. Oh, yeah. During the winter, I know that. Yeah, during the winter. I'm just thinking about daily maintenance if like the sand is kicked up onto it. And what's the floor of this going to be, Don? Concrete. Just concrete. Yeah, it should be easy to clean. Just brush right off. Yeah, looks good.

So, uh we we want to make a motion to say that the park and wreck uh wants to move forward on this uh design and uh we approve. I'll make a motion that the parking rack commission wants to approve this design and move forward with it. the gazebo at. Okay. A second. Second. Okay. Any more any discussion? Any more? No. Okay. All those in favor?

I. U. Anyone opposed? No. Abstain. No. And the only one I think we're waiting for Brendan. He's not here, but hopefully he'll get here. Okay. No, that's very nice. And I think the simpler the better, especially when you come to dealing with right by the sound. And I like I like the idea. It's going to be easy to sweep and take care of and no railings. Good. Okay. Uh oh, I have one question, Don, about uh uh that the lax people uh at Townwoods Park are playing uh or practicing or something once once a week. And how has that impacted the fields? Usually we rest the fields. No, the fields look good.

It's not impacted. Yeah. And and so there's not a huge crowd of lacrosse people there. It's a younger crowd too. So it it has not imp impacted. Oh, especially Yeah. Because when we used to have the high school when the high school project was going on and the high school kids were there, it would really impacted the quality of the fields. But that's good to hear. Okay. Uh we move on from there. Yeah, I got one more thing. Oh, you I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Um I have one more subject to I'm going to pass out and um I'll give a littleformational thing about it, but uh I'm not looking for a resolution tonight. I'm looking for a resolution um the next meeting or two from the or input from the parks and rec commission in preparation of um upcoming budget season when I start putting that together. And what I'm going to do is pass out a listing of some current programs, uh, participation and income and stuff like that that everybody can just take a look at. We're not going to discuss it tonight. I'm going to uh ask a few questions here and just food for thought down the road. So when everybody gets one of those, what I did is this. These are some programs that we put together. Uh some of them are uh 20 year 2024 because they haven't started again this year. Some of them are current.

Yes. And um the type of questions are the last couple years at the at the board of finance meetings I've been uh asked in the discussion we're generating more money. So the purpose of this is to show what we do and basically how long it runs and who's involved etc. how many kids are there and what we charge. for some of the questions I want you to to think about. Um, if my math is correct, all these numbers here add up to 100,000, a little over $100,000. So, I'm looking for the parks and rec commission to review to see if there's any kind of adjustments needed um based on mostly fees. Um, some of the things involving fees is should lime residents be charged as non-residents? They currently are not. Should O lineime residents and line residents be charged for some of the programs down there? You'll see we have no fee for residents. The non-resident fee is $25 for adult volleyball, co-ed soccer, co-ed softball, and the two basketballs. Um, we don't have a volleyball is the program that has the most non-residents in it. The other ones have one or two or three low numbers. And another question should be should we re on the bottom ones are programs that we have that uh we have an instructor and we take in money and we return that money to the instructor. Should all line parks receive money additional money um for these instructor paid programs?

So those are the type of questions I'm looking for. Um, I can email everybody this list of questions another time, but basically I want to know if what you think about our prices for our programs and if they're okay or should we adjust them. Yeah. Could you email those questions? Um, just I know we won't talk about it at this meeting and thanks for providing it ahead. is the income. That's purely just the income, but do we have a picture from the program fee? For the program fee only. Mhm. I'm just wondering if it's helpful to know what also the expenditures are.

I'm working on that. Okay. Yeah, I'm working on that. And I also would just totally challenge the premise that we should be quote generating more money. So, just as a backdrop, I'm not trying to see like what we make because I don't think that should be Park and Rex's objective ever. So with that said, I appreciate that piece of the picture as well. Thanks.

Yeah, that's kind of what I said to the board of finance through the years that I don't think we should be looking to make money. We don't want to lose money. I don't think we're losing money on anything, but this is this is what we do. And if you think that something should be different, this is along the lines that I want the commission to be more involved with something instead of just myself andor Winnie making a decision about what we charge or all that stuff. Similarly to what Val is going to be talking about Haynes Park in a while, I just I don't want the decision just to be on me. I think the commission should be collectively making decisions. Thanks. Yeah, sounds good.

That's good. Yeah, if you mail the questions, that would be helpful. And I think the biggest thing to look at is uh uh if the person's a non-resident, should they be paying more, which probably is applicable? Uh we've been supporting lines for so long and and that's the big question. Should they be considered non-residents? And Martha, as you know, we've we worked out a table of all people that work in old lime and lime is just riding on our coattails. Something like Yeah. So,

we've had those discussions, but just just for clarity tonight. Yeah. like say the fall soccer program, the winter basketball, these are youth programs and the day camp and afterare. We take lime and old lime kids in that thing, but everybody pays the same amount. So, we're getting the money for a kid being at these camps. My question is, should lime be considered a non-resident?

I think that's be a big discussion we should have. uh the I think it's great that we try to accommodate everyone we can even including non-residents not you know not even talking about wine but even non-residents and the fact is we've never looked at ourselves as being a a money generator just a money generator to make sure we can run these programs right that's basically been we don't take non-residents unless we determine lime as a non-resident president in those programs because we have plenty. Yeah. All Yeah. Yeah.

Like volleyball, it wouldn't work if we didn't allow non enough residents doing it. So, the program wouldn't work. That's why we do it. Right. Right. Just food for thought. I'll try to maybe clarify the thoughts a little bit and I'll get me email with everybody going forward. And normally we get the budget information October, November area around there. So, I'd like to have information before that. Okay, good. And I think it's important when I go to the Department of Board of Finance that when I say something, I explain what I do, but I think it would be better if I say this is what the commission thinks as well.

Yeah, that's I think that's great. I I love that you're putting this together, the transparency of it, getting the commission involved. Um I agree with Sarah. Like I I don't really know what I'm looking at. Like if there's I mean I know what I'm looking at but if I don't know like this one there's an expense of t-shirts also or this one charges you know we pay counselors and stuff like that like well I'm in I'm in a process of of gathering all that information that'd be great thanks yeah thanks just as a question I guess I've never looked into lime park and wreck programs like do they have programs that old line residents sign up for and treated as non-residents

that I don't know but they do They don't have a lot of programs, but you can participate. Check it out. Okay. All right. So, we'll probably

discuss this uh we should discuss this at the next meeting in September 3rd or 4th, something like that. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Moving on. Uh the whole business uh the survey monkey came out was analyzed by mostly Sarah and maybe a little bit with Missy too was was involved in that. uh that it I Sarah put together a beautiful summary that was dated July 9th uh that uh Mary Ellen can we uh add this at at at the end of the minutes this did the board of select men of the board of finance this

Yeah. Did we already? No, no, no, but we should do it because this is we Yeah, because we we it was July 4th weekend and we didn't have a meeting in July.

So, if we could add this, that would be great. Uh I think the the the outstanding part what everyone seems to agree on is that we need to clean up uh Hannes Park and that uh Sarah pointed out 83% of the people want to improve the swim area which is when I moved here 29 years ago actually was a swim area where we had swim swim lessons and everything else and it was uh not as as much uh debris that's been accumulated in that coal because the weather systems usually blow that way and uh it used to be deeper uh and it used to be cleaner and conse also the Canadian goose situation was nowhere as bad way back when they've decided decided to live here. Over the past 10 years, it's been getting worse and we're we're taking some measures to try and mitigate that and it's a little bit of success so far. But Sarah, I'd like to commend you on on the beautiful summary that you put together uh that we've kind of discussed a little bit here. and uh and we're going to go to the August 18th selectman's meeting

to review this with them. And I will also point out there's a there's a nice summary that you guys put together of all the different issues that we may want to also have at that meeting. If anybody wants to look at all the things that some of the comments were made, some of the comments were very funny, but uh that uh the Marine.

Yeah. But anyway, uh very nice job. Uh and does anyone have any comments on I just thought it was an excellent summary and it's right to the point? It's right right to the point of what the problems are down there. And uh I know one of the one of the problems too is not only the the junk, the muck, the leeches, the years and years of leaves just settling into the the area there uh causing the the water to be in bad shape. But also with all the goose poops, uh the area itself and the beach gets dirty and when we get the uh public works guys to go down there a couple times a summer at least, it helps to really clean up the beach area. Uh, and I think we're going to talk about that with the goose mitigation problem. But does anybody have any other questions on the survey or comments?

No, I I think it was excellent. And Martha, I know you and the selectman have gotten this and I hope it was circulated to all the board of finance members, just not to whoever. Thanks. that that they they they all got this letter, I hope. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Oh, yeah. That's right. You're you're with uh Mrs. Spoops. You're with the So, everybody got it. And and yeah, then we'll take it from there and see what we can do. I know this past year there are a lot of expensive things going on in town. So, to take on a dredging project would have maybe put things over the top, so to speak. We saw the second letter but not the second. Uh yeah, I I I figure what we'll do is is what this We just wanted to get the meat of that. We'll we'll hand this out at the selections meeting also.

Sure. I can send it by email, too. It's just another summary you and then the letter was formed based on the results survey summary. Yeah. So we can send that to the 12th. Yeah. It says the prior to May meeting early this month. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. So then everybody will have both things on the 18th. Okay. Well, Sarah and I could not make it this as you know. Okay. Uh on the phone right now. Oh, Missy's on the phone. Oh, okay. Yeah.

Oh, okay. Oh, hi Missy. Thanks thanks for for calling in. Okay, we just was talking about the uh the sele the meeting to this uh the meeting the letter to the selectman and the board of finance about uh uh the Hannes Park situation in the swim area and that's going to be further pursued at the August 18th selectments meeting. Um, you have any I don't know how long you've been on, Missy, but you have any comments or questions? Okay. Well, you got that that Well, if you want to know more, you come on to the 18th meeting and but but we will I Sharon, not only so everybody has this again, send it to all the park and rec commissioners, too. Yeah.

So, everybody will be fresh on that. I got to go to a dinner thing.

Okay. Byebye. Thanks for coming. Okay. Uh all right. So that's going to be discussed at that meeting. Uh okay. The next thing is boost mitigation at Hannes Park. All right. We've tried it with the D coyotes. That's had a little bit of success. the Rogers Lake Authority addled eggs uh at some of the uh uh whatchamacallit uh places where the goose hang out on on those islands out there. It seems that mo some of the families aren't quite as big as they were in the past. that's had a little bit of effect, but I want to uh reiterate to everyone that that type of strategy, you will not see results until you do it for several seasons in a row. You'll see some results, but

Yeah. Can I just add a quick comment on that? I spoke to Mark Hastings with the Rogers Lake Authority. Yes. and he indicated that they they addled eggs. Volunteers from the Rogers Lake Authority addled eggs on two dates, April 22nd and May 1st. They found 26 nests on three islands. Wow. And added 143 eggs. So they which is great. part of the permit process requires that they keep track of quantity of nests and eggs.

And we discussed sort of whether it would be feasible to ask others with Rogers Lake Authority or at the community at large to become volunteers for nest season next year. He Marasings offered to help solicit more volunteers from their group and to use the ones who already did this maybe four or five people to train others to do this work at the three other locations where we had considered an agreement with the department of agriculture

which is on hold currently because of the administration. So for next season, if this commission is supportive, um they offered to sort of find more volunteers to do this to do also Cross Lane, also Townwoods Park and High Hopes adjacent. We spoke to High Hopes and they're supportive of it and to continue to do the work on the islands and he has been in touch with the island owners, the ones that are known, and they were all gave permission. This all came up because I wrote the letter to have them sign the consent form for the Department of Agriculture. So, in any case, it seems that we can do this effort on a volunteer basis without having to have the agreement, which is great, but like you said, it's a long lead, but maybe over time as we continue this, if it can be a sustained volunteer effort, we can kind of get those same results that we would otherwise get.

Yeah. I think that Yeah. And the park and rec should also help to get some volunteer. Yeah. Exactly. So, I told him that we could work together to do this and not and that way be ready for the next egg season in the spring. If I'm around, I'd be willing to go out there. Thanks. Yeah. And so, I just wanted to add that. And how many are there? 143. And they apparently have done it more than just this year, but they didn't have permits necessarily and they have the keeping track requirements. So, I don't know. I can't gauge how many was done years. I can't believe on just three of those islands there's what' you say 26 nest that's a lot to me. Yeah.

So we can I think there was only one person that there had problem one person that owned one of those islands that they couldn't they couldn't establish big island in the northern island. Yeah. one closest farthest away from anyway. So, I don't want to blavor it, but I wanted to add that since I spoke to

every little bit seems to be helping a little bit. Uh the other thing we did uh is that we we put the de coyotes out there. It helps a little bit. Uh especially when it's windy because they move. But the problem we have is people are stealing them. Uh, and also, uh, I don't know, they're breaking. Uh, whether or not they're breaking just because of flimsy construction or or people breaking them, you think, or

Well, I think when the the dowels that hold them up, those are broken. Somebody's done that on purpose. The spring mechanism that the thing makes the thing move and stuff like that is snapped on every one that I find damaged. I don't know what that's uh Yeah. Which wish there new ones are already broken. I mean been damaged. Didn't we just replace No more left on there because I have I didn't think so. Yeah. Every one of them is either missing or been broken. But we just ordered more before, right? Those are already broken. I repaired a few and put them out and those were gone in a week. And And why what is the name D coyotes? I just did.

Oh yeah. D Coyote. Oh D. So, it's a DE. Okay. We didn't call them that before, did we? Well, I showed you all the Yeah. No, I know. But I just I was always calling them the fake. Yeah. And the other the other thing we're doing to try and mitigate is uh we had an application of goose gram put on the grass between the restrooms and the uh boat house uh which it is their favorite place to go. And Don, you said I was away all last week.

I noticed that the stuff was put on Monday and what I noticed was on Tuesday that they came ashore where they always do and they immediately walked away from it, that area that was treated and went over to the other side of the park, but then in a few days later they were back and they're back now.

Yeah. I I think part of the problem was uh on that Thursday, last Thursday night, there were there was really heavy rainstorms and so uh it works, but if heavy rain comes, it's going to wash it away. And we were advised by or I was advised by the Salem Safe Lawns representative that this is the type of similar to addling eggs. the type of thing you got to keep on and uh and you're slowly going to see improvement except immediately when you put the stuff on and they don't want to go. Now, the problem is it's it's quite expensive. It was about $950 just to do that little area because they I think they went through uh three cans of this stuff, the goose gram at $140 a can. And uh so that's the stuff's not cheap and plus we have to have professional put it on and uh they suggested within two weeks to do it again. So I would say that we should probably try it again. Uh we do have money in the budget for it. Uh is everybody in agreement try try it again within two weeks.

Can I ask what what is the intention of this? Like what what is it going to do? It's gonna make them not go on that part for a period of time until it rains again or we put more down and they're just going to go out in the water for a while, go in people's yards, and then come back again when the summer is off.

I think I think what what these gentle safety warm people say is that if you keep at this, especially in the summer season, uh that uh eventually they will register and that they don't like this area and so they may go somewhere else. So for now they go over to the grass where the playground will be or the playscape and there there will be no grass there except if they go around the playscape. I mean they they were so persistent the last few years Ryan they go to the houses right across the street. You have to wait from the across the street sometimes. We don't see don't see as much of that this year. Um

well they're going to find grass anywhere around here. Yeah. I mean, I I would I was driving by last Sunday morning and there were about 25 of them walking right by those swans right all over the state. Yeah, I've seen them there again. They love the swans. Well, that makes no sense. Yeah, let's get to the swans. They're pointless. Uh they look nice. We could take the swans away because the swans seem to actually attract them. They like to swim near the swans. I know. I know. We're trying a little bit of everything. I just purchase they're not spending more money. I I don't know what

Well, we already have the money in the budget, so like why don't we just give it a shot and see see how it works if it works. So, we're putting it we're putting it in grass that they have now already walked over the beach and through other grass to get there, right? Like what if we do it all over the where the playground's going to be? So, they come out of the beach and they say, "This stinks. I'm going back in the water or do they come out over by the Oh, it's a learning thing. So, you're

you hope you hope that they learn. Now, if it really works well and we want to do more area down there because we also did get an estimate to do the area on the other side of the basketball court between Route One and there, and that was going to be a little cheaper, $720 to do that area. Now, it'd be quite an expense to do the whole part. And the idea is that after you do the first two initial uh applications that you can get by doing it once a month, they claim. And we'll find out if after a second application we have a little more success, especially if it doesn't rain. And this next week coming up looks pretty good. Uh they're always going to get showers in the summer. It's just a question of how severe the severe ones will wash it away. Less less rain, it'll still be there. So,

is this what the people who are doing it recommended the way it's being done now? Like a section. Why would you do the whole border of the water? Because they that's how they Well, this stuff this stuff doesn't harm the water either. So, no, but I mean, why wouldn't we do the whole part that the water borders I don't know to keep them from going up. Well, no, the grass instead of just one section and they just find another section. I don't know. I'm just thinking what? Why would we do the restrooms to the boat? Yes, that was the initial application. The basketball court like are you talking on the water side of the basketball court?

Yes. Well, I could ask I could ask them to do Yeah, I could ask them to do a little What are you talking about? a little strip cut out by by Well, I'm just saying if you going to make if you did an area that bordered the beach, I guess I'm saying not just a strip of it, but so that they wouldn't walk out of the water across the beach and then they'd automatically no matter where they step. I could ask them to do like a 10 foot wide section. Huh. Is this what they recommended though? I mean they're experts.

Well, they recommend of course doing all grass, okay? But it becomes quite expensive and we wanted to see how it works and it will work if it's out there and doesn't get washed away. Don, I guess you saw it, Don. You actually were down there in Salam. Walk away. Yeah, the stuff does work. Uh, I can ask them to do a section of the grass and we're not going to do all the grass on that side. It would be too expensive. Plus, they don't seem to go there. Candace, you you you being a a rower, the the area where we're currently doing is by far the most popular spot, right?

Yeah. But, um, I think Don is right that, you know, the first couple days after the application was made, um, stayed away. But the other side of that coin is that just as you guys pointed out, you know, couple days later, either stuff washed away or they got used to it, but um they're just as bad as ever right now.

Well, I know they're out there. I saw them this morning. Uh and I actually called up Salem Safe Wars to talk about that and they suggested that we put another application down and I I'll I'll see if we can get maybe a 10-ft section or something done on the other side and see how that works. I think she might be right that you have to do the whole car because otherwise you're just pushing them to another spot. They'll just if you do feed one spot, they'll just go to another. If it's a training thing, then we're training them to move down into the area where we're about to build something for children.

So to me, that seems completely counterproductive. I that's what I that's why I'm saying if when that whole area is going to be a playscape with swings and a Well, there's grass all around it, too. They'll just walk around the the playscape. They'll walk right through it. They'll be so dirty. I don't have the answer. I I don't have the answer. I know. We're trying everything. Yeah, that's I can just see it all over the place. They're not I'm sorry. They poop only non-grassy areas, too. They they poop on the onrad. They they poop on the basketball court. They poop everywhere. Yeah. One pound a day each of the adults. This problem is not unique to us. We all know this. I

just coached a baseball game on a field in New London and it was literally just everywhere. Yes. Where there's water anywhere near where Yeah. It's Well, they come out to Townwoods Park too. The bulk, in my opinion, what I've noticed the last week or so, the bulk of the the geese, the largest amounts and groups that I see are down at Cherry Stones in in the driving range. Really? [Music]

They're everywhere. They've decided to live here. Now, what we're trying to do is just lessen their numbers at places the public uses a lot. And we'll continue to give it a shot this year and see what happens. And and I would like to see some more of those K coyotes uh out there, which they at least when it's windy, they do they don't like those. They don't like those things. And but but the swans, Don, what do you think? They seem to

I think they give use to any kind of decoy in a very short period of time. They're smart and they they pick it up. It's not going to harm them. Yeah, but it may be good not to have the decoys out there all the time just sporadically just to help. I mean, I don't know what the answer is, guys, but we're just trying what's out there. There's even more expensive ways to do it. The scram is one of the least expensive ways. So, okay. So, we're going to continue. I I would say everybody agrees we're going to continue to try and

we're going to continue to battle eggs over the years and hopefully uh it's never going to go away,

but hopefully it won't be quite as bad. It's gotten really bad everywhere in the state and now the Department of Agriculture can't do anything about it. So, okay. Uh, anything anybody else want to say anything about that? No. Okay, we'll move on. Okay, here's a here's a nice one to talk about is the playscape area, which Sarah uh has been sending a lot of information around. The playscape is going to look something like that. Correct. Mhm.

Uh and uh we've gotten numbers on that. Uh and we have town money that's been dedicated to that uh endeavor for playscape and swings. Uh and we've gone over the location of it. We've got approvals from zoning for the location of it. Correct, Sarah? Yes.

And everyone here has agreed. We've been looking at different playscapes. Everyone came to an agreement on this one and we got numbers for all this stuff and it's just uh at this point it's up to us to make an official declaration uh or or to uh approve purchase orders for all this. and Don feels a lot uh better about it if the commission makes a motion to approve these various expenditures and then we'll get this stuff and have it installed and we've gotten various numbers on 38,000 is the place game right Sarah about that I I pulled these is that

with the swings as well yes the structure yes yeah uh so 38,000 includes is the playscape plus the slings. Plus swings. Yeah. 38,135. Uh we also have numbers for this invoice is when is that one for the installation of the swings, the playscape structure, the engineered wood fiber, the silt fence for erosion that zoning requested, and all of the rail ties around. And that's this number total. So 34,000. But that's on top of this. On top of that. Yeah. That's on top of that.

So we're talking almost 40 and 30 70 72 the total is what 72

or something. Okay. Uh Don, can you point out that we have plenty of money in the town budget uh to to cover this? current currently according to Anita the finance person there is $60,000 that has been there for several years specifically for H park playground there is an additional $20,000 that was earmarked for Hannes Parking lot and fence project that was decided not to happen and she said that money can be with approval can be used towards it, too. So, that gets you up to $80,000. There is $2500 set aside for a water filter system at the parks, but we should not deal that. And there is $30,000 in there for Hannes Park improvement planning, surveying stuff, but concerning dredging, which I think we should leave alone. And then the the old Hannes Park improvement fundraising item, there was $59,580 in that and that has been moved to it's not called that anymore. It's called a restricted fund 0909 and that's just under $60,000 for that. And that's was earmarked for general improvements to Hannes Park if needed for whatever we're doing.

Okay. I I wasn't it wasn't specifically to put a playground in, but it it was used identified specifically to improve things at Hannes Park. So, if we make a motion uh for the playscape and swings and and the timber and all the soft wood chips and the timber goes around the area uh not to exceed what $75,000. I mean, we're going to put a little bit above that. Yeah. Uh that uh I think we should go ahead with that. I just want one comment. I want to make one comment about uh now I can't remember what I wanted to make the comment about but anyway uh

the walkway the walkway was already done that was already that was done with town funds for the walkway to make the boat house uh handicap accessible from the handicap parking spots we needed a walkway to playground right oh oh that we don't have anything in here on uh we We could we could, you know, maybe get a couple bids of of who wants I don't think the public works are going to That's right. That's what I want to talk about. The walkway public works probably won't want to do it, right, Don? Initially, Ed wasn't too fond of that idea.

But we're talking about putting the reinforced turf, the the the the webbing kind of that's similar to what's in front of the boat house in a walkway. Yeah. to that. But I think the first step is to put the playground out there and then we Right. Then we plan to get the walk right. Yeah. And I get the quotes in parallel. But yeah,

and we we will have funds left over. But we probably if public works is not going to do that. We'll probably have to see if magnetic uh will do it or some other contractor and see what the number would be. But I think it's best to go for that once we get the playground out there. So that way everybody's on board exactly how we want this walkway to go out from the parking lot. But yes, thank you for reminding me, Ryan. Okay. So, as initial part, uh can we have a motion with with 75 clearest or or Yeah.

Yeah. 7 not to exceed 75,000 that's available in various town funds that Don just pointed out to be used to enter the purchase agreements for these various items that need to be done for the playground the play skate I'll make a motion make a motion I move to approve the commission endorsement of purchase orders not to exceed $75,000 for the playground structure and installation. Playground swings. Yeah.

And installation thereof and with with soft wood chips. Yep. Well, I didn't get all that part. It was so approve the commission's endorsement um for the purchase orders. Did you want to say not to exceed not to exceed 75,000? That shouldn't cover it, right Sarah? Yeah. Yeah. It's It adds up to 7213. Yeah, but it's better just put a little Yeah. Okay. So, not to exceed 75,000 for the You said purchase or the playground swings and installation.

Playground swings. Do you want wood fiber and installation? up. Thank you. I I The town doesn't do purchase orders, so we have to whatever. That was how Bob was characterizing it. Town doesn't do purchase orders. Um you have to do it. They don't do purchase orders. What What What do they call it? They don't do purchase orders. That's all they don't. So, I I would suggest that you just make a motion that's in accordance with those invoices. Yes. to approve invoices. Yeah, you have two invoices. Correct. Yeah, I would say it that way. Okay.

That way, that way the invoices describe what you're doing instead of Marion having to write out a whole paragraph. Oh, like say the name of And maybe we can we can attach these in we can attach these invoices to the minutes. Yeah. Sarah, you want to maybe get that? I can forward them to you and I forward. Yeah. If they're electronic that I was going to say probably the electronics I can't make copies I just made copies you want to have those copies just to make sure you you what Sarah's going to send you she can yeah I just needed them for now I'm sure

okay if they if they can be attached uh to the minutes okay so the motion's on the floor uh anyone want a second Okay, Ryan second. Any more discussion? We No, we've been talking about doing this for a long time. I'm glad we're finally going to get it done. Okay. Uh, so all those in favor? Uh, anyone opposed? No. Staining? No. Did you hear that, Missy? Missy, are you still there? Okay. Uh would you like to say you approve or of of that for the playscape not to exceed CH

from what I'm making out I it's you know $75,000 towards for the platescape. Correct. Right. Not to exceed $75,000 and we're going to attach the invoices for that work to the minutes. Okay. It's going to be a little bit less, but you always want to make sure you have it covered. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Thanks. So, you approve, too? No. Okay. So, your vote counts, too. All right. Uh, so that's passed unanimously. Don, you okay with everything so far on that? It should be this one. You're okay with Yeah, I'm okay with I can't vote, but I'm I'm okay with I still want your opinion.

Okay. All right. Uh the next thing the picnic tables uh that uh we got these we got everybody got the commission got this about and the final uh outcome was we want to put one handicap accessible round table that's handicap accessible to square a square the square uh next to where the sidewalk is. Uh uh and then two 8 foot long ones. The prices are on here. Uh just just make sure Sarah, could you read the prices?

Sure. For for the the square one. And and this money would be taken from what's it called now? It used to be the the Hes Park Beautifification Fund. If the one that uh the restricted fund 09 it's 1070 the I'm sorry 1095 well actually wait 8 foot you mean 1070 oh yeah 1070 cuz three plus yeah the 8 foot 8 foot long ones okay and then the ADA square is 1045 okay

oh yeah so so we Uh, so we're going to uh make a motion to approve getting one square handy from this company. Missy, you helped out on this, too. This is a very apparently where you work, they have these tables, and these are good because they'll self clean, so to speak, without being a solid surface. Yeah, exactly. Hold up. And we're going to get green, right? Green was the the color we've decided on, right, Missy? Yeah.

Green. Yeah. Okay. So, uh would someone like to make a motion to approve these two 8ft uh rectangle metal picnic tables with the special coating on it. uh and one square handicap accessible table for purchase from the whatever that new designation is for the beautifification taken from there. Uh, which would be what what approximately? 8,100. It's about 3,200.

A 30 3,200. No. 8 foot table. If you get one, it's 195. Would we be purchasing three or more? So, it's it's this one because it's not custom colored. It's green. Okay. Okay. So, it's one 070* 2. Okay. So, each each 8 foot table is $1,070. Uh and that would be two of those. And and square and the AD square is $1,045. Yeah.

Okay. And that will be taken from that beautifification fund. And we did get a refund from this was an old table that we had. Uh we got a refund of 5,776 because we're not going through with the pavilion. So we have approximately 47,000. Is that 662 91 cents? Is that about what you have for that fund? We have 59,580. And so we'd be taking it out of that, huh? See,

yes. The number that I have from Don from the restricted fund 09 is 59,580. So I guess it's up to the commission if we want to take the money out of there, which I think is appropriate. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that's the Hannes Park Beautifification Fund which is called something else now, right? Restricted fund 09. Oh, okay. What was on that piece of paper? Yeah. Okay. Restricted. Okay. Bond 09. So, you want to make a motion to approve the Take it.

Sure. I'll make a motion to approve the purchase of two 8 foot picnic tables and one square ADA accessible picnic table using fun from the restricted fund 09. That's okay. All right. Uh, I can second it. Okay. Uh, Missy seconds it exceeded or anything? I don't think so. Okay. Unless done. Do you think we need to put the number? Do you do you need the number in the motion in order to I need I don't need it. Okay. Okay. All right. Uh,

so that's been seconded now. Any more discussion on that? No. And I'd like to thank Sarah and Missy for their work. uh getting Yeah, because vote on it, Bob. Yeah, I know. But I was I want to thank them and any further discussion on that? No. No. No. Okay. Uh so all those in favor? I I I Okay. Anyone opposed? No. Abstain. No. Okay. Moving on. Uh, one quick thing that can be purchased with credit card. Oh, good.

And then just code it to that fun. Awesome. Okay. Thanks. Okay. Good. All right. Uh, okay. The next one is a Hannes Park uh beach cleaning. Uh, uh, we asked public works to go down there. They did one cleaning. Don, you want to give an update on what's what's going on with that? to edante public works supervisor to discuss about doing it more often and he hasn't been back down there to do it again but definitely being discussed and pursued. Thank you for that. That'll be something we bring up at the August 18th. Yes.

Yeah, we'll bring that up too about cleaning up Payne's Park, right? And uh the it would be nice if he could do it every week. I have a feeling they're not going to do it every week, but if they could do it every two or three weeks, that would be better than what we've had. So, you're going to negotiate? I already been talking to him about Okay. Do you want me to talk to him, too? No. No, I don't need to talk to him. Okay. All right. So, we hopefully we'll get some more beach cleaning done there. And the last thing is the cross lane playground repairs and landscaping. Sarah, we had a estimate of $850 to to do that. Is that correct?

There's That's right. But there's a revised estimate since May 7th. Oh, okay. Let me just grab it. Um, what is that estimate? It was not much more than that because it included two swing belts. Let me just find it. Okay, one second. Or you can Yeah, if the number is immaterial, then you can proceed without number. Yeah. Well, it's it's a minor expense that we have the money to cover it for that. So, we have to fix that because that was already it we already decided. Well, of course, we have to fix it because we already had that playground out there. Yeah. Okay. So, that's going to be fixed.

That include some landscaping or does that amount just does that include some landscaping or no? What does that amount include? I guess I was saying that's the t a tile had to be replaced just repairs of just for repair just for repairs. Okay. Of of the cross lane public works brought in engineered wood chips and Oh, good. Okay. Yeah. And so that work will be is going to be done soon or that was done or it's already done. It's already been done. I think we discussed at the last meeting about going ahead and doing it. Okay. All right.

Uh any more discussion about that? No. Okay. Now the the next one is uh any other new business to discuss? I have one thing to bring up. uh that I saw that uh New London opened a rec center with a pool and I know in the past we've approached East Limes pool people to see if we could get swim lessons there. Uh and they for some reason didn't allow us to do that. Uh, do do we want to try would it would people from old line be willing to go to New London? I mean, East Lime is one town over to to possibly get swim lessons if we could get approval to have

You mean run our own swim lessons or our residents just go take swim lessons? be yeah it would be sponsored by park our park and wreck for our residents not not for every would it be to consider the using the Y huh would it be a consideration to use the Y in Westbrook but about for swim lessons the YMCA in West I I think somebody did that years ago and it where's Winnie knew all about that too maybe we'll bring that there's all kinds of swim lessons offered at these places it doesn't have to be run through O line parks and recreation. That was my point, I guess. I don't know what we're involved with.

Okay. Yeah, because that's one of the things we like to see back at Hannes Park if we could ever fix the swim area there to have. So, I guess forget that idea. I mean, but they that that new rec center just opened. So, there's another facility. I don't know. Maybe I know Winnie was was contacting people about or or if we can just find out when their swim lessons are so we can post it to let people know that if you want to bring their kid this this new one is relatively new. It just opened up few weeks ago. But maybe Don, can we find have Winnie maybe look into uh if if they are having swim lessons at the new place in New London at Fort Trumbull or also other but maybe give it another shot for East Line, but at least get the schedule if they're giving swim lessons so we can let the people on old line.

You think there's a big need for people wanting swim lessons in old line? I think any young parent would love to have their kids have no know nowhere. They can't already do. Yeah, I guess that's what I'm wondering. Also, like I have kids. They went through the age of taking swim lessons and my wife and I found swim lessons and sign them up for them and was that the why? Okay, we could just leave it for people but like to do I mean you can always put on the website places that have swim lessons but we I don't think we should get involved in that unless we have our own space. Oh, we have to keep track of like how much are they charging? Is there any involvement by us at all? Is okay. Well, still offering that. Or

or maybe if we could just put on the park and rec site that swim lessons are available at these other areas just for people. I don't know how you found out, but you found out from asking people to find called the Y and said, "Do you have swim lessons?" Okay. All right. Well, forget the whole trying to help people out. Yeah. No, I love that, Bob. I just think there's limitless things that we could try to help people out with. Sometimes people just need to seek it out. Yeah. Okay, that's fine. That's that's all I

Yeah, I just I just uh noticed that that Fort Trumble thing just opened. So, it's another place that may have some lessons, but okay. I agree. Let people figure it out on their own. Any other possible new business? No. No. Okay. Uh then we go on to correspondence and there were no correspondents uh that I received. Public comment. We have a couple visitors here. Would you like to go first? And and you you have Well, I'm confused. Is it Lisa or Kirsty? It's Lisa. That's my daughter. Oh, because I'm like, did I get that wrong? Okay, Lisa.

Okay.

So, um good evening. Um, I stand before you today to share a deeply personal and concerning experience involving my seven-year-old grandson, Raymond. He's a student at L Consolidated, and he is autistic, and he typically attends summer school to aid in his socialization. This year, however, a meeting led um to the recommendation that he attends camp at Park. Um, as he was excelling academically, his social skills were what the issue was. Um, we were initially apprehensive, unsure um, if the counselors were equipped to handle an autistic child. We were assured by the school that your team would be provided with the necessary information and tools to ensure Raymond's safety. Raymond started camp on Monday, June 30th, filled with excitement. Um, he seemed to have a good day, although he found the kids a bit rough. Uh, we talked through it, advised him to tell an adult when he was feeling uncomfortable being touched. Um he agreed he was ready to give it another try. On Tuesday, July 1st, however, things took a turn for the worse. While playing a game of cops and robbers, um Raymond was on the ground being slapped and punched by two kids. He came home very upset. His father reached out to Winnie who promised to double check with the counselors and call back on Wednesday morning. Despite his apprehension, we encouraged Raymond to return to camp, assuring him that his father had taken care of the situation. Winnie calls his father on Wednesday, July 2nd in the morning, conveying that the counselors would keep a closer eye on Raymond. She also mentioned that camp might not be suitable for everyone and that there used to be a special camp for children like which felt extremely discriminatory. You can imagine as a parent how that

sentence comes across um as a human how that sentence comes across. Um, so Raymond was I'm sorry. I I I apologize. It's an emotional I I can usually speak from the hip, but because this is such an emotional thing when you see a kid um their spirit just being taken away by other children and adults not paying attention. So I apologize for the emotion. Um, so she mentions that it wouldn't be, you know, special camps for children like him were no longer available. She offered to refund if he chose not to return. Raymond's father emphasized that all he wanted was for his son to be safe, and she agreed. When Raymond's mother went to pick him up later that same day, couple hours later, he was nowhere to be found. He had followed some other kids to another location. Neither the counselors nor Winnie knew where he had gone. Can you imagine the fear of not knowing where your child is? Just hours earlier, we were assured of his safety and now he was missing. Thankfully, he was found inside the school, but he was very upset thinking he had done something wrong. We found out from Raymond that a couple of kids had trapped him in a soccer net. When he reported this to someone, as we had instructed him to do, the response was simply, "Okay." There was no response further than okay. Um, so needless to say, Raymond did not return to camp. I sent a letter to Mr. Bugby that was never responded to. I would think at the very least a heartfelt apology for losing this child is warranted. Some say kids will be kids. And to that, I'd say as an adult, would you like someone coming up to you that you don't know and punching and slapping you? If you wouldn't like it, what makes you think a child would,

especially an autistic child that can't express their feelings? I am sure you're asking yourself why I'm here tonight. The commission manages the town's recreational facilities and expenditures, working with the park and wreck department to maintain facilities and offer various recreational activities for residents. The department also collaborates with nonprofit organizations and schools to expand program offers. If you are going to offer programs, perhaps being inclusive should be part of that program. This example of exclusivity demonstrates that we are going in the wrong direction to accommodate our children's needs. I have lived in this town for 31 years and this is the first time I have felt compelled to speak at a public meeting. That should tell you something. I urge this commission to take immediate action to ensure that the park and recre department operates with the safety and inclusivity of all children at the forefront of their mission. It is imperative that an environment is created where every child regardless of their needs feel safe, valued, and included. Comprehensive training must be implemented for counselors. Establish fear protocols for handling incidents and foster a culture of empathy and respect. Our community should be a place where every child can thrive without fear. It is never acceptable to lose a child and we must do everything within our power to prevent such incidents from happening again. I thank you. I I know there's no resolution here, but I just if it prevents another child from going through what my grandson went through and the emotional un unstableness he came home with that day, if this can prevent my conversation with you today can prevent another child from feeling that way, then I would say that this was a successful conversation.

Sorry to hear about that. It was um I think it was the lack of response to be honest with you that was the uh the worst. You know, I've been in town 31 years. My grandkid is growing up in town. My my other grandchild is growing up in town. So, I've got two kids that are going to be coming through the system and I'm um really disappointed that there was no action taken when you have a child with special needs and to not be inclusive. I'm very disappointed in in how this was handled. So, I just wanted to go on record and that's why I came to admission. Yeah. Well, thank thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your time tonight. I appreciate it.

It's very unfortunate that that happened. I know with 20 how many 80 people. It's public comment. It's not a discussion. Okay. Well, sorry. It just I don't feel it was handled properly. it wasn't we were not communicated with um we were communicated in in contact with the superintendent um and so we arranged to send Raymond into summer school for the last two weeks of the month but um it was it was not a good situation so okay thank you okay any more public comment

uh some of you may know I was a member of committee that about 50 some odd thousand dollars for theation with themes park that condom closed eight years ago and it is really wonderful to hear that finally that money is going to um result in the dupitation of parks. Um, somewhere in this town, I don't know where, there is a sign that we paid for that recognizes the donors that created that fund. And that fund, that sign was installed in Hayes Park several years ago. It was subsequently removed and I have no idea where it is right now but I think it would be an honor to people who donated that fund if that was installed as a park. And my final comment was that the um plan that Sarah's committee came up with also described um that they were going to create a plan for how Park was going to be developed and potentially that would describe where differentiations would be put so that we could proceed um in a way that reflects the frugal nature of this of this commission. And so I would be um interested to see that plan and see how um you know the the installations that are now planned, the playscape and the and the benches, how that um appears on the grand scheme for the park.

That's all I know. Okay. You can email that to me. Um that'd be great. Um, and booksgmail.com. Okay. All right. Uh, well, I think that's it. Anybody in telephone land have something to say for my public comment? No. Okay. If we can have a motion to adjurnn. I move to adjourn. Okay. I second it. All those in favor? Hi. I Okay, stayain. No. Okay, that's it. What time is it? 7:19.