12 Van Tassel Drive

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens

Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Organizational Meeting

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

7:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Council Chambers

- Hybrid Format

In-Person: Council Chambers - Town Hall Annex Building

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CALL TO ORDER (By Town Council Chairman)

The organizational meeting was called to order by Town Council Chairman Dombrowski

at 7:00 p.m.

Chairman Dombrowski welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. He stated for the Parks,

Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission and members of the Public who were

participating via video conference that the remote meeting information was available

on the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting

Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Jessica Cobb

Present

Commissioner Loretta Kent

Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico

Commissioner Norma Sokolski

Commissioner Margaret Anne Harding

Commissioner Paula Crocker

Commissioner Majorie Winslow

Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan

Commissioner Charles Gallagher

Absent

II.

In addition the following were present:

Kevin Dombrowski, Town Council Chairman

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Liaison

Scott Johnson, Jr. Director, Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Commission

Carol Schneider, Resident

Roxanne Maher, Administrative Assistant

III.

BUSINESS OF THE MEETING

MOTION to nominate and vote on Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission

Officers:

· Chairman

· Vice-Chairman

· Recording Secretary

Town Council Chairman Dombrowski called for nominations for Committee Officers:

Ms. Finegan nominated Mr. DiRicco for Chairman

Hearing no further nominations for Commission Chairman, by consensus, Town

Council Chairman Dombrowski closed nominations.

MOTION to elect Kenneth DiRico as Chairman for the Parks, Recreation & Senior

Citizens Commission.

Moved by Ms. Finegan, seconded by Ms. Kent

VOTE:

7 - 0 - Approved and so declared

RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED 7 - 0

MOVER: Lucrezia Finegan, Committee Member

SECONDER: Loretta Kent, Committee Member

AYES: Cobb, Crocker, DiRicco, Finegan, Harding, Kent, Sokolski

ALTERNATE MEMBER: Winslow

ABSENT: Gallagher

Town Council Chairman Dombrowski congratulated Mr. DiRico for being elected to

serve as Chairman by his peers, and he turned the meeting over to Commission

Chairman DiRico.

Mr. DiRico thanked the Commission for their nomination and their support for him

to serve as the Commission Chairman.

Chairman DiRico opened the floor for the election of a Vice-Chairman.

MOTION to elect Jessica Cobb as Vice- Chairman for the Parks, Recreation & Senior

Citizens Commission.

Moved by Ms. Kent, seconded by Ms. Finegan

VOTE:

7 - 0 - Approved and so declared

RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED 7 - 0

MOVER: Loretta Kent, Committee Member

SECONDER: Lucrezia Finegan, Committee Member

AYES: Cobb, Crocker, DiRicco, Finegan, Harding, Kent, Sokolski

ALTERNATE MEMBER: Winslow

ABSENT: Gallagher

Chairman DiRico opened the floor for the election of a Recording Secretary.

MOTION to elect Paula Crocker as Recording Secretary for the Parks, Recreation &

Senior Citizens Commission.

Moved by Ms. Sokolski, seconded by Ms. Harding

VOTE: 7 - 0 - Approved and so declared

RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED 7 - 0

MOVER: Norma Sokolski, Committee Member

SECONDER: Margaret Anne Harding, Committee Member

AYES: Cobb, Crocker, DiRicco, Finegan, Harding, Kent, Sokolski

ALTERNATE MEMBER: Winslow

ABSENT: Gallagher

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT:

MOTION to set the Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission 2023 Regular

Meeting date for the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks, Recreation &

Senior Citizens Facility located at 12 Van Tassel Drive as noted below:

Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission (3rd Tuesday, Van Tassel Drive, 7:

p.m.)

September 19

October 17

November 21

December 19

January 16, 2024.

Moved by Ms. Kent, seconded by Ms. Finegan

Discussion: The Commission discussed possibly scheduling their meetings earlier in the

evening. Based on work schedules and availability the Members agreed that 7:00

p.m. would work for all of them.

VOTE: 7 - 0 - Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Loretta Kent

RESULT:

MOVER:

Lucrezia Finegan

SECONDER:

Cobb Kent DiRico Sokolski Harding Crocker Winslow Finegan

Gallagher

AYE

ABSENT

Review duties and responsibilities outlined in Ordinance #001-016 (rev. 1) “An Ordinance

Combining Parks And Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission for the

Town of Ledyard”.

Chairman DiRico noted that the Commission’s governing Ordinance was distributed

along with their Appointment Letters. He opened the floor for questions and/or

comments regarding the role, responsibilities, and duties of the Commission.

Ms. Harding requested clarification regarding the terms outlined in Ordinance

#001-016 (rev. 1). She noted the Ordinance called for some members to be

appointed for one year, some members to be appointed for two years, and some

members to be appointed for three years. But further down in the Ordinance it stated

that members would be appointed for three years.

Town Council Chairman Dombrowski explained for the initial member appointments

to the newly Combined Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Commission that the

expiration of the terms was staggered so that all the members’ terms would not end at

the same time. He stated as each member’s term ended that they would then be

reappointed for a three-year term. He stated this appointment schedule would keep

the terms staggered.

COMPLETED

RESULT:

Review Outstanding Items of Business from the former Parks & Recreation Commission and

former Senior Citizens Commission.

· Door to Restroom - The Automated Door installation has been completed but

does not latch correctly. Also, the handrail down the hallway has a rough edge

and people have cut their hand when using the handrail. Public Works will be

addressing these issues.

· Weights for Silver Sneakers Exercise Class - Additional 1lb, 2lb, and 3lb

weights have been ordered. Not sure when the weights will arrive. It was noted

because there were not enough weights that some folks have been bringing their

own weights to the exercise classes.

· Meidal Privacy Screen on wheels - A Privacy Screen on wheels could be

purchased for about $150.00.

· Community Garden

ü Public Works was working to put a community garden in back of Parks,

Recreation, & Senior Citizens Building.

ü Expect the Community Garden to be ready for planting next spring, 2024.

Commission Members agreed to discuss whether the Community Garden would be

for just Senior Citizens or whether it would be available to all town residents.

· Hairdresser Cabinet - The Hairdresser has requested a cabinet to lock her things

in. A cabinet from the Craft Room could be used. The Seniors may be looking

for a new Hairdresser.

Hairdresser currently provided services on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the

Van Tassel Facility.

Hairdresser sets the prices for services and keeps 100% of the money.

Must have their own Insurance.

Currently the Hairdresser does not pay to rent/lease space at the Parks,

Recreation, & Senior Citizens Facility.

Hair Salon is inspected on a regular basis by Ledge Light Health District

(LLHD).

Ms. Kent stated her daughter may be interested in providing Hairdressing/Barber

services, noting that she had been providing services at Groton Regency Nursing

Home. Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Director Scott Johnson, Jr., stated

that he would send Ms. Kent information regarding the Hairdresser services.

· Van Rides to the Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

ü Must be age 55 or older and/or disabled to be eligible Van Rides.

ü Riders must sign up for Van Rides.

ü Seniors are picked up at their house.

ü Farmers Market provides Senior Nutrition Vouchers, Seniors need to sign up

for Vouchers.

ü Just began the Van Rides to Farmers Market and they had two riders.

· American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding - The Senior Citizens Facility has

received approximately $30,000 of ARPA funding. The Senior Citizens would

like to use the ARPA Funding for the following initiatives:

Chairs - The folding chairs were falling apart and were dangerous/hazard.

New higher chairs were needed for both the Silver Sneakers Exercise Room and

the Dinning Room. Although the Seniors would like the chairs to have some

padding they do not want cloth to allow for the chairs to be easily cleaned.

Chairman DiRico noted that the new chairs were a priority.

Convert the craft/storage room to an exercise room with the following:

o Add rubber floor

o Additional Weights

o Elliptical Machine

o Peloton Machine

o Treadmill

Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Director Scott Johnson, Jr., stated The federal

guidelines require the ARPA funding to be obligated by the end of the 2024 calendar

year; and spent (liquidated) by the end of the 2026 calendar year.

· Boy Scout Project - Skate Park

ü A Boy Scout presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission a proposal to

create a Skate Park in the Highlands area.

ü The Scout had three years to complete their project.

ü The Scout was currently fundraising for the Skate Park project; and would

come back to the Commission once they had enough funding to create the

project, which would involve concrete structures, etc..

ü Approvals - Both the Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Commission and

the Town Council would need to approve the proposed Capital Improvement

Project before the Scout could proceed with the Skate Park.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

IV.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

Ms. Cobb noted that yesterday she tried Pickleball for the first time at the Gales Ferry

Community Center Tennis Courts. She stated the program offered games for

beginners, intermediate, and advanced Pickleball players. She stated Pickleball games

were being held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for Seniors and on Tuesday and

Thursday for all ages.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION to adjourn at 7:47 p.m.

Moved by Ms. Cobb, seconded by Ms. Kent

VOT7E-:0 Approved and so declared.

Respectfully submitted,

Kenneth DiRico

Chairman

Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Commission

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records

of the Town.