APPOINTMENT
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to appoint nine members to the newly combined Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission, in accordance with Ordinance #001-016 (rev. 1) “An Ordinance Combining Parks And Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission for the Town of Ledyard” as follows:
Regular Members
• Mr. Kenneth DiRico (U) 8 Melanie Lane, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2026
• Ms. Lucrezia Finegan (R) 1331 Baldwin Road, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2026
• Ms. Jessica Cobb (7 Whippoorwill Drive, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2025
• Ms. Loretta Kent (D) 1363 Baldwin Hill Road, Gales Ferry. Term ending June 28, 2024
• Ms. Norma Sokolski (R) 14 Mary Belle Circle, Ledyard, term ending June 28, 2026
• Ms. Margaret Anne Harding (R) 50 Pheasant Run Drive, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2025
• Ms. Paula Crocker (U) 1500 Route 12, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2025
Alternate Members
• Mr. Charles Gallagher ((R) 12 Sherwood Trace, Gales Ferry, term ending June 28, 2024
• Ms. Marjorie Winslow (D) 3 Wolf Ridge Gap, Ledyard, term ending June 28, 2024
.
end
Background:
Town Council April 26, 2023 Meeting: Adopted Ordinance #100-016 (rev 1) “An Ordinance Combining Parks And Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission for the Town of Ledyard”.
The Parks & Recreation Department moved from the building on Blonders Boulevard to the Senior Citizens Center on Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry, in 2020; and have since been sharing staff and resources between the two Offices.
The adoption of Ordinance #100-016 (rev 1) “An Ordinance Combining Parks And Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission for the Town of Ledyard” completes the process to merge the two Departments together to streamline daily operations and use of staff, provide financial and space benefits, and to support additional programs and events.
In accordance with Ordinance #100-016 (rev 1) the Chairman from each of the Commissions have solicited their members regarding their interest to serve on the new combined nine-member Commission (7 Regular Members; 2 Alternate Members) Commission and have provided recommendations to the Town Council for the appointment of members. (see attached Ordinance)
Below are the recommendations provided (see attached Chairman recommendations):
Parks & Recreation Members:
Mr. Kenneth DiRico (U) 8 Melanie Lane, Gales Ferry
Ms. Lucrezia Finegan (R) 1331 Baldwin Road, Gales Ferry
Ms. Jessica Cobb (7 Whippoorwill Drive, Gales Ferry
Mr. Charles Gallagher ((R) 12 Sherwood Trace, Gales Ferry
Ms. Loretta Kent (D) 1363 Baldwin Hill Road, Gales Ferry
Mr. Deondre Bransford (U) 8 Lynn Drive, Ledyard
Ms. Jessica Buhle (D) 65 Pheasant Run Drive, Gales Ferry (Regular or Alternate Member)
Senior Citizens Members:
Ms. Norma Sokolski (R) 14 Mary Belle Circle, Ledyard
Ms. Margaret Anne Harding (R) 50 Pheasant Run Drive, Gales Ferry
Ms. Paula Crocker (U) 1500 Route 12, Gales Ferry
Ms. Marjorie Winslow (D) 3 Wolf Ridge Gap, Ledyard
Ms. Carol Ann Schneider (D) 101 Inchcliffe Drive, Gales Ferry
Ms. Arleen Brown (R) 259 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard
Meeting Action Detail:
Administration Committee Meeting 06/14/2023
File #: 23-1718 Version: 2
Type: General Discussion
Title:
MOTION to appoint nine members, comprised of seven Regular Members and two Alternate Members to the newly combined Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission.
Mover: Ingalls Seconder: McGrattan
Action: Recommend to Approve
Minute Note:
Moved by Councilor Ingalls, seconded by Councilor McGrattan
Discussion: Councilor Ingalls provided some background noting the Town Council’s April 26, 2023 adoption of Ordinance #100-016 (rev 1) “An Ordinance Combining Parks And Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission for the Town of Ledyard” completed the administrative process to merge the two Commissions together. She stated since the Parks & Recreation Department moved from the building on Blonders Boulevard to the Senior Citizens Center on Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry, in 2020, the two Departments have been sharing staff and resources between the two Offices. She stated by combining the two Departments/Commissions that they would be able to streamline daily operations and use of staff, provide financial and space benefits, and to support additional programs and events, etc.
Councilor Ingalls went on to note in accordance with Ordinance #100-016 (rev 1) the Chairmen from each of the Commissions solicited their members regarding their interest to serve on the new combined nine-member Commission (7 Regular Members; 2 Alternate Members) Commission and that the Chairmen have provided recommendations to the Town Council for the appointment of members.
Councilor Ingalls stated the appointments proposed this evening were based on the Committee Chairmen’s recommendations. She stated for the initial appointments that the members’ terms were staggered (3-years, 2-years, 1-year) to prevent all of the members terms from expiring at the same time.
Councilor Ingalls continued by explaining with these appointments that there would be some members, who were currently serving on each of the Commissions (Parks & Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Commission), that would no longer be serving. She stated that she recognized that this could be awkward and that some feelings may be hurt. However, she stated all those who were currently volunteering to serve the town were good people and that she hoped that they would choose to find other places to volunteer and serve, where their talents would be useful.
The Committee worked to ensure both the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Commission were each represented and that the new Combined Commission would meet the minority representation requirements, in accordance with CGS 167a.
The Committee expressed concern with trying to maintain minority representation in filling vacancies on the Commission going forward relative to Regular Members and Alternate Members. Chairman Dombrowski suggested the town seek guidance from the Town Attorney regarding minority representation, noting when this question was asked of the Town Attorney in January, 2022 it was specially pertaining to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Councilor Ingalls stated in the Town Attorney’s 2022 response they noted that “this issue was far from settled”.
VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared
Action: Recommend to Approve
Minority Representation - CGS 9-167a:
In accordance with Chapter IV; Section 8 of the Town Charter “Except as otherwise provided for in this Charter, the Town Council may appoint members to fill vacancies in other offices, boards, and commissions established by this Charter and by ordinance as vacancies may occur, and appointing members to such offices, boards, and commissions as may be created in the future. Such appointments shall be made by the Town Council for such terms and upon such conditions as provided in the respective ordinance”.
Chapter IV, Section 9: “In making appointments and removals, the Town Council shall act by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of all its members.
All members of boards, commissions, and committees contained in this Charter, or subsequently created under this Charter, except members of the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Fire Marshal, and the Deputy Fire Marshal(s), shall be electors of the Town at the time of their appointment and during their terms of office.”
Connecticut General Statutes
Sec. 9-167a. Minority representation. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the maximum number of members of any board, commission, legislative body, committee or similar body of the state or any political subdivision thereof, whether elective or appointive, who may be members of the same political party, shall be as specified in the following table:
|
Total Membership |
Maximum from One Party |
|
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
|
6 |
4 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
8 |
5 |
|
9 |
6 |
|
More than 9 Two-thirds of total membership |
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply (A) to any such board, commission, committee or body whose members are elected wholly or partially on the basis of a geographical division of the state or political subdivision, (B) to a legislative body of a municipality (i) having a town meeting as its legislative body or (ii) for which the charter or a special act, on January 1, 1987, provided otherwise or (C) to the city council of an unconsolidated city within a town and the town council of such town if the town has a town council and a representative town meeting, the town charter provides for some form of minority representation in the election of members of the representative town meeting, and the city has a city council and a body having the attributes of a town meeting or (D) to the board of directors and other officers of any district, as defined in section 7-324, having annual receipts from all sources not in excess of two hundred fifty Thousand dollars.
(b) Prior to any election for or appointment to any such body, the municipal clerk, in cases of elections, and the appointing authority, in cases of appointments, shall determine the maximum number of members of any political party who may be elected or appointed to such body at such election or appointment. Such maximum number shall be determined for each political party in the following manner: From the number of members of one political party who are members of such body at the time of the election or appointment, subtract the number of members of such political party whose terms expire prior to the commencement of the terms for which such election or appointment is being held or made and subtract the balance thus arrived at from the appropriate number specified in column II of subsection (a) of this section.