12 Van Tassel Drive

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Parks & Recreation Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Chairman

Kenneth DiRico

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

7:00 PM

Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens

Center

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman DiRico called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan

Commissioner Jessica Cobb

Commissioner Thomas Olsen

Commissioner Loretta Kent

Present

Commissioner Shaileen C. English

Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico

Commissioner Jessica Buhle

Commissioner Charles Gallagher

Commissioner Deondre Bransford

Excused

In addition, the following were present:

Scott Johnson - Parks & Recreation Director

Tom Staigers - Ledyard Youth League President

Matt Duerr - Vice President Ledyard Little League

Brian Love - Resident

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Brian Love 1 Little John CT, gales ferry, CT 06335

I am opposed to the Parks and Recreation and Senior Citizens Merger proposed by the Mayor

and town Council as the senior citizens program is the only one that will see benefits of the

merger.

Mayor Allyn citied the following benefits:

1. He stated Parks and Recreation has been operating in the building on Van Tassel Drive in

Gales Ferry and working in tandem with the Senior Citizens Center providing oversight of the

facility. From a budgetary perspective, the care and maintenance of the senior citizens center is

not paid for by parks and rec or the senior citizens. It’s in public work’s budget. So there is no

benefit from either group on this.

2. He noted Mr. Scott Johnson, Jr. has been serving as the Director of both the Parks &

Recreation and the Senior Citizens for the past few years and he stated that it may be time to

combine the two Commissions. This only continues to benefit the senior citizens’ budget as they

get a director for free.

3. He explained Ordinance #200-009 Ordinance providing for the Transfer of Revenue from the

Real Estate Conveyance Tax to the Park and Recreation Capital and Non-Recurring Expense

Fund”, calls for forty percent (40%) of the revenue received from conveyance tax to be deposited

into the Parks and Recreation Capital and Non-Recurring Expense Fund. He stated by merging

the Senior Citizens Commission with the Parks & Recreation Commission that both groups

could benefit from these funds. Parks and Rec is already getting the %40 percent and has asked

for $241,732 in capital improvements so how do they gain money by absorbing the senior

citizens’ budget and providing them access to it?

Per the towns budget for 2023, the senior center programs are allotted $97,182. Parks and Rec is

allotted $464,467. On July 6th the state Senate appropriations committee sent a letter to Mr.

Scott showing the state was making 26 million dollars in grants available to senior programs

around the state. This money will only be allowed for senior programs, so our kids will not

benefit from this. If we combine it will be very easy to move money from the higher budget to

the lower budget especially when one organization’s money comes from taxes vs grants.

Councilor Rodriguez provided the following comment to the mayor’s request:

1. She stated combining the two groups would be a positive step forward for the Senior Center,

noting that it would attract a higher percentage of residents to attend the Center’s programs.

There is no mention of how this will benefit parks and Rec and clearly, the senior citizen

program is the priority in this town, even though out of a population of 15,413; 3,853 are under

18(25%) and 2,311 are over 65(15%).

That’s why I urge the commission to reject the merger.

Thank you.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None

COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS

None

VI.

REPORTS

November Director’s Report

· Everything winterized

· Water main break on Clarks Field. GU will make repairs and reseed in the spring.

· State contract pricing finally released to purchase a new truck

· Football field light proposal accepted, and lights have been ordered

· Wood chips delivered to all playscapes except Model Park because it is too wet.

· Public Works fixed a drainage issue at Ericson that was washing out the boat launch.

· Winter edition of the Events magazine has been delivered

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of September

20, 2022 and the Parks & Recreation Commission Special Meeting Minutes of October 12,

2022.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Shaileen C. English

RESULT:

MOVER:

Thomas Olsen

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English DiRico Buhle Gallagher

Bransford

AYE

EXCUSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Boy Scout Skate Park Project Proposal

There was no additional discussion.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any Old Business proper to come before the Commission

None

XI.

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion and possible action regarding the Judge Crandall irrigation water bill.

Motion for Director Scott to request to overspend to pay the current Judge Crandall irrigation

water bill.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kenneth J. DiRico

RESULT:

MOVER:

Shaileen C. English

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English DiRico Buhle

AYE

Bransford

Gallagher

EXCUSED

ABSTAIN

Motion for Director Scott Johnson to include the Judge Crandall water bill in the proposed FY

2024 budget.

A motion was made by Chairman DiRico, seconded by Commissioner English, that this be

Approved and so declared. The motion carried by the following vote:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kenneth J. DiRico

RESULT:

MOVER:

Shaileen C. English

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English DiRico Buhle

AYE

Bransford

Gallagher

EXCUSED

ABSTAIN

Senior Center Commission / Parks & Recreation Commission merger

The Senior Center / Parks & Recreation merger and the benefits to both departments was

discussed.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

New Safe Sport Law - Public Act No. 21-64

Director Scott Johnson discussed the affect the new Safe Sport law will have on the leagues and

summer camp.

DISCUSSED

Discuss CIP Projects

· New Park on Lantern Hill Road (pavilion, boat launch, parking lot, signage, site

RESULT:

furnishings)

· Replace fencing at Pfizer and Judge Crandall fields.

· Replace GFCC ramp

· New benches at Pfizer Field

· Walk way up to Clarks field

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Commission 2023 meeting dates

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Thomas Olsen

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Cobb

SECONDER:

Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English DiRico Buhle Gallagher

Bransford

AYE

EXCUSED

Any New Business proper to come before the Commission

Motion to support the Town of Ledyard acquiring land on Lantern Hill Road to be used as a

park.

Director Scott Johnson discussed the potential donation of a property on Lantern Hill Road

to be used as a park.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT: