12 Van Tassel Drive

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens

Commission

Meeting Minutes - Draft Minutes

Chairman

Kenneth J. DiRico

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

7:00 PM

Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens

Center

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman DiRico called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at the Ledyard Senior Center.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Jessica Cobb

Present

Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico

Commissioner Charles Gallagher

Commissioner Norma Sokolski

Commissioner Margaret Anne Harding

Commissioner Paula Crocker

Commissioner Loretta Kent

Excused

Absent

Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan

Commissioner Majorie Winslow

In addition, the following were present:

Scott Johnson, Director

Naomi Rodriguez Town Council Liaison

Nate Weiss, Ledyard Resident

Jim Warren, Ledyard Resident

Jessica Buhle, Ledyard Resident

Xavier DeBrodt, Ledyard Resident

Seating of alternate member

Chairman DiRico seated Mr. Gallagher in place of Ms. Finegan

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Director Johnson noted the following correspondence:

To the Commission,

I would like the Commission to consider installing permanent Pickleball courts/nets at both ends

of town. It will be greatly appreciated if such actions can be taken to provide permanent nets on

courts sooner than later.

Thank you in advance,

Mike Washington

112 Spicer Hill Road

Ledyard, CT

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None

MEMBER COMMENTS

Mrs. Harding stated that there is not enough room with the new restroom switch to hold onto the

hand railing properly. Mr. Johnson stated that he will have public works look at it. Mrs. Harding

also inquired about the possibility of getting a second hairdresser. Mr. Johnson stated that the

hairdresser, Amy was back and he didn't know if there would be enough work for 2 hairdressers.

VI.

REPORTS

Director’s Report - September 19, 2023

Director Johnson presented the following to the Commission:

PARKS RECREATION AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION

Director’s Report September 2023

Please note this update for your review.

1. Commission Meeting:

The regular meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Tuesday,

September 19th, 2023, at 7:00 PM, in the Ledyard Senior Center. Please

contact the office immediately if you will not be able to attend.

2. Youth Leagues:

Little League, Soccer and Football/ Cheerleading have started their fall

seasons.

3. Summer Camp:

We had a very successful summer camp season with record participation.

We saw about a 30% increase at all camps.

4. Middle School Field Lights:

The middle school field light project has been completed.

5. Judge Crandall Upgrades:

Prep work was planed for last week but was delayed due to rain. The

speaker is scheduled to be taken down by the electrician and Public Works

agreed to install the necessary window jams to save money. The roof bid

is almost ready to be publicized.

6. Judge Crandall Scoreboard:

Ledyard Youth Football has completed the installation of a new

scoreboard. Scoreboard is now fully operational.

7. Pfizer Field Scoreboard:

Ledyard Little League has brought in electric at Pfizer and installed a

scoreboard. Everything is fully operational, and the electrical service is in

Little Leagues name.

8. Colonel Ledyard Park Trail:

The Scouts did a service project and cleared the trail of debris and fallen

limbs.

9. Ericson Park Walking Path:

The path at Ericson has been sprayed and we are hoping to have fresh

stone dust delivered by the end of the week.

10. Highlands Lake Aeration System:

We received the new aeration system for Highlands Lake. I went with an

all-diffuser system without any fountains. The air diffusers will do a much

better job than the fountains at adding oxygen to the water. In addition,

the new system will be much easier to maintain as all electrical

components are located on shore.

11. Food Pantry Deliveries:

The Social Services Coordinator and I have developed a plan to deliver

food from the food pantry to home bound seniors in town. We proposed

the idea to the mayor, and it was approved. In October we will be working

with the food pantry to start delivering meals. We will be utilizing

volunteers from the Rotary Club to assist with the deliveries.

12. Senior Center Car:

The senior Centers car broke down on the way to pick someone up from a

medical appointment. Unfortunately, the vehicle would need a new

transmission and would cost significantly more than the car is worth. The

car is now determined to be totaled.

13. Pickleball:

Pickleball has taken off and in just a few months the court reservation app

has 144 members. To meet the demand, we have ordered 2 additional

nets, and100 balls. A storage box has been brought from another location

to store the nets in. The box just needs some TLC before it can be used

but Russell is working on fixing a broken hinge and is going to paint box.

14. Staff:

The Assistant Director is out for the next 8 weeks. We have brought in a

summer camp staff to help the next 8 weeks.

15. Tri Town Trail:

Eversource has started installing the 2 parking lots that are the Towns

match for the DEEP grant. Grant is moving along, and the next step is to

approach property owners along the proposed routes.

16. Rain Gardens:

We planned to start installing the rain gardens this week but had to delay a

week due to the heavy rain on Monday. The Ledyard Transition Academy

is going to help us prep the gardens for planting by excavating the sites to

9 inches.

RECEIVED AND FILED

RESULT:

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Commissioner Cobb, seconded by Commissioner Harding, that this be

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

MOTION to approve the following:

· Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of May 16, 2023

· Senior Citizen Commission Minutes of June 28, 2023

· Parks, Recreation, & Senior Citizens Commission Organizational Minutes of

August 15, 2023

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jessica Cobb

RESULT:

MOVER:

Margaret Anne Harding

SECONDER:

Cobb DiRico Gallagher Sokolski Harding Crocker

AYE

Kent Finegan

Winslow

EXCUSED

ABSENT

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Boy Scout Skate Park Project Proposal

Xavier DeBrodt presented his Eagle Scout Project stating that he is facing money obstacles as

well as time challenges. The project needs be completed by his 18th birthday, which is in about

2 years. He stated he will have fundraisers to help with the cost of completing the project. Scott

Johnson stated that the biggest challenge would be the town's liability coverage and he would

speak with a representative from the Town Hall about the added expense of a skate park on the

Town's insurance policy.

CONTINUE

Discussion regarding recreation space within subdivisions

RESULT:

NO ACTION

Discussion and possible motion to schedule a park tour

RESULT:

NO ACTION

RESULT:

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

former Senior Citizens Commission.

NO ACTION

Discuss and develop a plan for ARPA funding for Senior Centers

RESULT:

NO ACTION

RESULT:

Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee

XI.

NEW BUSINESS

MOTION to request the Town Council appropriate up-to $16,082.00 from CNR Account

#20360101(Parks and Recreation Capital Non-Recurring Fund) for the Pfizer Field Improvement

Project.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jessica Cobb

RESULT:

MOVER:

Charles Gallagher

SECONDER:

Cobb DiRico Gallagher Sokolski Harding Crocker

AYE

Kent Finegan

Winslow

EXCUSED

ABSENT

Discuss Working Groups

NO ACTION

RESULT:

Discuss the need for Pickleball infrastructure and how to meet the demand

Scott Johnson stated that pickleball has grown tremendously in the past few months. He stated

that there are 2 tennis courts at Blonders Park and there is a possibility that one of the tennis

courts could be designated for pickleball and one could be maintained as a tennis court. A 4

court system would cost about $275,000. There is no charge to play on outdoor courts, but

should we be able to make an indoor court, there would be a charge to play.

Mr. Warren stated that they play pickleball 7 days a week for a 2 hour time block from 9 a.m to

11 a.m. He stated that Sundays are for intermediate plus players and nights were for beginners

and open play. He stated the hardest issue is when people can make it. Mornings are mostly

retirees but younger people have expressed interest. Mr. Warren stated they opened up Team

Reach App to join and sign up to use the court for play.

Mr. Weiss stated Scott has been great getting the pickleballers the nets and balls. The national

Average is 4 courts per 1,000 people. Mr. Weiss stated that what the pickleball community

would like is to grow at one site and possibly add courts. He is concerned about tennis not

willing to give up the courts during pickleball.

Scott Johnson stated he was trying to reach some of the tennis players but does not know who

they are and will place a sign at the courts.

Mr. Weiss stated that the fencing needs repair at the pickleball site, however, that does not affect

the play of pickleball. Mr. Weiss also stated that the game of pickleball is wind sensitive and

would like a wind blocking cloth. Mr. Weiss stated that the storage box is in place and needs

cleaning, paint and lock codes to be handed out to coordinators of play.

Mr. Warren stated that he would like dedicated courts with fixed nets.

Mr. Weiss stated they would like an indoor venue through the winter.

Scott Johnson stated we could look into making a court at the Senior Center, when the lights

were put in they were made to go up high on the ceiling.

Mr. Weiss asked who has priority pickleball players vs tennis players?

Mr. Weiss stated they would like key locks only, no code lock. Basketball courts can be lined to

tennis courts.

Mrs. Buhl asked if anyone can just go to the courts and play pickleball or did they always have to

reserve via the app?

Mr. Weiss replied that as long as no one was playing you can just walk on.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any New Business proper to come before the Committee

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Cobb moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Gallagher

The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.