Recreation & Community Services Commission

RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION April 18, 2024 MEETING 5:30 PM MINUTES RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION – In attendance: Jeanette Blackwell, Leslie Spatola, Harold Panciera, Rogers Pylant, Andrea Dallas, Kristen Jensen, Sowgol Zakarian, Lincoln Everest, Dan DeConti Absent: Staff: Cathy Lechowicz, Director AGENDA: Call Meeting to Order: Meeting called to order at 5:34pm Public Hearing: No members of public in attendance. Approval of the Minutes: Leslie Spatola made a motion to approve minutes from March 21st, 2024. Kristen Jensen seconded. Approved unanimously. Department Reports: Recreation and Senior Department Report- Recreation is preparing for summer camp, 2 camps are completely full. We do have scholarship funds available to keep camps accessible. Warmer months is when programs at Senior center ramp up, very exciting. Every month a City of Middletown director or program comes to the senior center to talk about their program and services. Recently had South Fire, then the Mayor. Budget position was posted publicly, is now being filled internally. Congratulations to Sue Pettengill! Department budget hearing is on Monday April 22nd. Cathy will go before the council to answer questions, etc. Last year’s budget was a guesstimate as the rec center was not fully opened, this year is much closer due to a full year spent in the building. No increases on the senior side this year for operations. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Removal of Commissioner Danish/Commissioner Recommendations Commissioner Danish has not been active, last attendance was last June. Cathy has reached out several times with no response. Per operational rules commissioners can be removed due to lack of attendance. Leslie Spatola moves to remove Mahrang Danish from the council. Kristen Jensen seconded. Approved unanimously. Commission now has two vacancies. Cathy did reach out to active senior, she did respectfully decline. Still open to suggestions, will be posted on Facebook page. Can be either political party. Sports Grants Updates/Discussion Appreciate everyone’s feedback from last meeting, Cathy did follow up with each organization with questions. Discussion ensued. The plan is to get input from recreation staff and make final decisions during May’s meeting. MISCELLANEOUS: Middletown Fire vs Middletown Police basketball game for Friday April 19th, the mayor will be in attendance! Doors open at 6pm, game starts at 6:30pm. ADJOURNMENT Leslie Spatola made a motion to adjourn, Kristen Jensen seconded. Approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm.