Recreation & Community Services Commission

RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION September 16, 2021 MEETING 5:30 PM MINUTES RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION – In attendance via WebEx: Philip Pessina, Dan Deconti, Anthony Jaskot, Kristen Jensen, Ed Dypa, Jeanette Blackwell, Matt Fraulino, Lincoln Everest (arrived at 5:37pm) Absent: Sal Uccello Staff: Cathy Lechowicz, Director AGENDA: Call Meeting to Order: Meeting called to order at 5:33pm Public Hearing: Approval of the Minutes: Motion to May Meeting Minutes by Councilwoman Blackwell, seconded by Ed Dypa. Department Reports: Program Updates Senior Dept September is national Senior Center month so the staff have been offering a variety of celebratory activities. Have been planning and scheduling people for Covid boosters, acknowledging during the scheduling that we are waiting for official approval from the FDA and we will only host the clinic if the booster is approved. Recreation Dept High demand for camp and programs ran very smoothly. We only had 2 cases of covid throughout the summer and those cases were isolated. Held a smash party at Vets Pool; demolition is now happening in earnest. The Rec staff is meeting with the design team tomorrow (Friday) to talk more details of the design of the facility. Many fall/Halloween activities happening starting in October. Building Updates All of the work is complete at the Senior and Community Center; there was no water in the areas that were addressed – even during the big storm we had. Councilman Pessina inquired about lifeguard shortage; Director Lechowicz stated that we did have less lifeguards than we typically do. Our aquatics director was thoughtful and creative in staffing assignments to ensure we met all our needs. OLD BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: Agility Energy Proposal Have done several walk thrus of the remaining portion of the building. Director Lechowicz gave an update on the status of the building – the footings for the new corridor are laid and work is being done with O&G to make the building ‘whole’ before Recreation moves in.  There are some big ticket items that need to be addressed in the building that are beyond the $1.5 million that the 21st Century bond allocated to this project. There is a proposal that was presented to the Common Council in September. This proposal is with Agility Energy and it is an innovative approach to address building needs and provide an energy efficient way to energize the building. The financing is a lease that shows up as a utility cost, which will be equivalent or less than what we would’ve paid for electricity and oil. More specific details of the plan were shared such as warming center, temporary heat and dehumidification of the pool area. Councilman Pessina inquired how the move would impact the Senior Center. Director Lechowicz explained how we currently have to use a room upstairs for offices, and we will be able to move those staff back downstairs into the administrative offices and convert that room into a wellness room with treadmills and other larger equipment that have been in high demand. Tony Jaskot recommended a stationary bike. Discussion ensued. MISCELLANEOUS Director Lechowicz shared with the Commission a meeting with Wesleyan’s Quantitative Analysis Center to do a community survey regarding needs for the Recreation Department and gaining data for the new Recreation Center. ADJOURNMENT Councilwoman Blackwell made a motion, Ed Dypa seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:19pm. Senior and Community Center is Wheelchair Accessible. *If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638-4542 (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerks Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting. Cc: Town Clerk