12 Van Tassel Drive

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Parks & Recreation Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Chairman

Kenneth DiRico

Regular Meeting-Hybrid Format

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

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7:00 PM

Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens

Center

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CALL TO ORDER

Chairman DiRico called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at the Parks & Recreation/Senior

Center.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan

Commissioner Jessica Cobb

Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico

Commissioner Jessica Buhle

Commissioner Charles Gallagher

Commissioner Deondre Bransford

Commissioner Thomas Olsen

Commissioner Loretta Kent

Present

Excused

Commissioner Shaileen C. English

In addition, the following were present:

Scott Johnson, Parks & Recreation Director

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Councilor

Gary Paul - Town Council Liaison

Jim Russell. Ledyard Little League

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Action Letter 02-08-2023

HVAC at Senior Center/Parks & Rec building needs to be replaced. Air Conditioning will be

replaced first, followed by heat.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Action Letter 01-25-2023

Lease approved for Lantern Hill Valley Park (600 Lantern Hill Rd)

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Public Hearing for an Ordinance combining Parks & Rec and Senior Commissions scheduled for

April 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Ordinance combining the 2 commissions: Scheduled for 4/12/2023 at 6:30pm

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Bush Pond lease approved

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

2023 HB-06574-R00HB

2023 HB-06574-R00HB: Not one person testified in support, many Parks & Recreation

representatives and mayors testified opposing. The bill could potentially eliminated a significant

number of summer camps throughout the state or potential increase costs, limit the number of

campers, etc.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

MEMBER COMMENTS

None

VI.

REPORTS

February Director’s Report

February Director’s Report:

· New office assistant: Sally Masse

· New Truck was delivered. Old truck will be sold.

· Middle School field lights have been delivered. Installation could occur as soon in as 3

weeks.

· Judge Crandall basement doors need repair - quote pending.

· Summer Jobs are posted

· New sign ordered for Erickson Park

· Contractors have been out to look at the ramp at Judge Crandall and repairs planned.

· Flagpole is broken and needs to be repaired

Motion to accept the Director's Report

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Lucrezia Finegan

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Cobb

SECONDER:

AYE

Finegan Cobb DiRico Buhle Gallagher Bransford

Olsen Kent English

EXCUSED

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation regular meeting minutes of January 17, 2023

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jessica Cobb

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Buhle

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb DiRico Buhle Gallagher Bransford

Olsen Kent English

AYE

EXCUSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Boy Scout Skate Park Project Proposal

Scott received an update and the Scout is working on the project and making progress.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Pollinator Garden Discussion

Jessica Buhle presented. Grant funding is available for pollinating gardens. Jessica is working

with the Conservation Commission to draft a plan to present to the Commission.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any Old Business proper to come before the Commission

None

XI.

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion and possible motion to add an FY24 CIP (Capital Improvement Project) to install

hurricane shutters at the Judge Crandall Field House

FY24 CIP: Hurricane shutters at Judge Crandall Field House: Proposal to install hurricane

shutters outside of the windows to prevent water entry. Window sills and drywall would also

need to be replaced after the shutters are installed. Estimate is about $25,940. This includes

electrical work as well.

Motion to approve the addition of $25,940 for repairs to the CIP (Capitol Improvement Project).

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Lucrezia Finegan

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Cobb

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb DiRico Buhle Gallagher Bransford

Olsen Kent English

AYE

EXCUSED

Discussion and possible motion to allow Ledyard Little League to install a new scoreboard at the

Senior Field at Pfizer

Ledyard Little League scoreboard at the Senior Field at Pfizer - Jim Russell appeared on behalf

of Little League. The request is for Parks & Recreation would support by installation a pole.

Little League is willing to pay for the electricity if they are the only ones using it. (There is

currently no power and no scoreboard at this location.) The scoreboard would allow Little

League to host tournaments in town. The cost for the support being requested is about $1800 -

too low for the capital expense. Parks & Recreation hasn’t yet identified if we have available

funds to be able to consider supporting. Further research is needed before the Commission could

consider approving any financial support.

Motion to approve the installation of the scoreboard (without financial support from Parks &

Recreation)

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Deondre Bransford

RESULT:

MOVER:

Charles Gallagher

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb DiRico Buhle Gallagher Bransford

Olsen Kent English

AYE

EXCUSED

Any New Business proper to come before the Commission

· Town Councilor Gary Paul presented: Community Relations Committee would like

to do a joint tour of the parks with the Parks & Recreation Committee.

· COG is currently working on an Open Space plan (for conservation). There’s a

survey on the SCCOG website(seccog.org) that Jessica Cobb has asked us to help

share with the area Parks & Recreation Directors and the public.

· Request from Jessica Buhle to add the Regatta Festival on next month’s agenda.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr.Ghallager moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Ms. Buhle.

The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.

VOTE: 6-0 Approved and so declared

Respectively Submitted,

_______________________________

Chairman DiRico

Parks & Recreation Commission