Recreation & Community Services Commission

RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION SEPT 21ST, 2023 MEETING 5:30 PM MINUTES RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION – In attendance: Jeanette Blackwell, Philip Pessina, Kristen Jensen, Dan DeConti, Sowgol Zakarian, Rogers Pylant, Andrea Dallas, Harold Panciera, Matt Fraulino, Lincoln Everest (entered @ 6:02) Absent: Mahrang Danish Staff: Cathy Lechowicz, Director AGENDA: Call Meeting to Order: Meeting called to order at 5:33pm Public Hearing: No members of public in attendance Approval of the Minutes: Jeanette Blackwell made a motion to approve minutes from June 15th, 2023. Kristen Jensen seconded. Approved unanimously. Department Reports: Director Lechowicz to discuss summer recap for senior center and recreation department in new business. NEW BUSINESS: Summer Recap Director Lechowicz brings up the new pool opening. There was high interest and high demand for this pool, thank you to all departments across the city for your help. Splash pad was a big hit. Already planning for next summer best ways to maximize use of the pool and splash pad. Programming at inside pool started after Labor Day. Question of pool only being open to Middletown residents. Non-residents bring an income through pool use. Question of household pool passes with guest passes, similar to Trumbull’s program. Question of implementing time limit for pool use. Issue of confrontation and staffing. Plan to table this discussion and revisit at a later date. Summer camp updates: 350 summer campers every week. $17,000 worth of scholarships from state grant, $7,000 in other funds. $15,000 from Care4Kids, other from Jones fund and DCF. September is Senior Center Month. Great programs and great activities. Staffing Updates We are fully staffed. Justin Tokarz, program aide/custodian, started in June, nighttime pool custodian Daouia Salmi was hired, Daniella Coppola started as clerk at Senior Center after Labor Day. Junior Lifeguard Program Preteen program to improve swim skills, and then more targeted boot camp in January. Crystal Lake Not guarded this summer. One summer camp was held there, 55 campers, they did have guards for morning swim. Pavilion was rented every weekend, through Parks Dept. MISCELLANEOUS: N/A ADJOURNMENT Jeanette Blackwell made a motion to adjourn, Harold Panciera seconded. Approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:07pm.