WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=ohMm6glUw-Y

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: ohMm6glUw-Y):
- 00:00:02: Meeting Opening, Introductions, and Board Comment about Vendor Fair
- 00:03:20: Lunenburg Baseball Boosters - New Scoreboard Proposal
- 00:08:24: Facilities Director Update, Recreation Director Introduction
- 00:09:46: Field Request Discussion and Sponsorship Donation Packet
- 00:16:37: Updated Town Beach Rules, Incident Report, Program Agreement
- 00:20:24: Program Policies Communication/Refunds/Cancellations/Inclusion/Behavior
- 00:23:06: Update on Program Space and Volunteer Needs
- 00:27:12: Parks and Recreation Commission - Mission Statement Discussion
- 00:38:12: Recreation Director Funding Model Proposal/Revolving Account
- 01:17:57: Skate Park Update and Postponed Vendor Fair Discussion
- 01:26:03: Facebook Community Comment and Outgoing Chair's Report
- 01:27:55: Approval of Minutes and Board Reorganization
- 01:34:31: Upcoming Meeting Dates, Vendor Outreach, Future Programming


Part: 1

1
00:00:02.159 --> 00:00:25.039
just got my agenda open. Good evening. This is the May 27th Park Commission meeting. Um, we are being recorded via Zoom and because we're not live, I'm not going to go through the spiel, but um, just be mindful of the fact we are via Zoom, especially if you are logged into Zoom um, that you don't

2
00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:39.840
share something that you're not supposed to. Um, let's see. The agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and are those reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be

3
00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:55.760
discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by open meeting law. So I'm opening our meeting. We have four members present. Um and we have one absent. So Mary and Mascari is not with us tonight. The rest

4
00:00:55.760 --> 00:01:12.799
of us are here. Um let's do a quick introduction. We'll skip over the public and board comment for a second um since we have new members. So, I'm Karen Bernard. I am um not sure why I'm still sitting here. Um this was not my intention. Um >> you wrote your name down. >> You wrote my name down.

5
00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:27.680
Um I am not here for the duration of a three-year term. I'm here just to get through a few things um over the next couple of months. So, um that's who I am. And then over here we have >> Chris Sullivan, vice chair in the moment.

6
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:44.880
>> And um yeah, I've been here since >> Yes. Yeah, you joined. >> That's why I joined. I joined because I started as two soccer teams for for kids outside. >> Yeah, >> that's truthfully that's what I thought parks was when I joined when I joined

7
00:01:44.880 --> 00:02:01.600
parks pitching because I never watched any meetings. >> He would stop by. Not only did he not watch the meetings, he knew me and didn't even ask me about the meetings before he decided to jump into the fire. >> Just wanted to start soccer for our kids to get them outside during >> co Exactly. Tanya. Um I'm Tanya Dah. Um

8
00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:16.800
this is my first time here on the parks and recreation committee board, whatever it is. I'm here for a two-year term. I came from Arlington Recreation running children's programming there. Um and I'm also on the finance committee. >> Glenn for punishment. Dan,

9
00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:33.040
>> my name is Dan Burns. Um, I this is my first time here. Uh, I'm very excited to become more familiar with the business of of farts here in Lunenburgg. Um, and excited to learn and and take part. >> Awesome. We're so happy to have you. I'm

10
00:02:33.040 --> 00:02:48.720
always excited to see new faces. I can't begin to tell you how exciting that is. Um, do we have any board or public comments before we start? Anybody? Nobody. I'm going to throw in a quick um com board comment to start with just in case people are do tune into this when

11
00:02:48.720 --> 00:03:04.319
it goes online tomorrow. Um and that is that um the vendor fair has been moved to Sunday because of the weather on Saturday. Um yep the spring fair vendor fair, spring fair, whatever you want to call it, is now going to be on Sunday. We'll talk about it more later in the meeting, but um I did want to throw that

12
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:20.959
out there early in the meeting. >> All right. Do you want to come on up because you're you're next on the agenda? Sure. >> All right. Let me do a quick intro to what this is. So, um, we have, um, and he'll tell us exactly who they are. We have a group of folks that are looking to replace the scoreboard down at

13
00:03:20.959 --> 00:03:38.080
Marshall Park on the 90 Foot Diamond. The current scoreboard was put in um, I don't know, 25ish years ago. Um, it's a memorial for Dave Roger, Dave and Karen Rogers son, Jason, um, who passed away in 2010. So, in order for that to be

14
00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:53.680
replaced, not only are they coming in front of us to ask for permission to replace it, um I've done my due diligence and worked with the Rogers to make sure that they're all good with this where it is a memorial. So, go ahead. Take it away. Tell us. >> Yeah, I mean, Mike didn't tell me a whole lot, but it's it's the the board the sign's going to be or the

15
00:03:53.680 --> 00:04:09.120
scoreboard's going to be in the same place as it currently is. Um it's going to be a little bit taller. >> Um it's looks like there is going to be a proposal, a new plaque on it, too. Yep. >> Um, so I guess that'll that'll be the >> who are like So who is the group that

16
00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:24.240
wants to do this? Is it >> this? So we're part of the the LHS baseball boosters. Um, so it'll benefit whoever uses it. >> Yeah. But it's a group of parents taking it. >> Yeah. All Lunberg residents boosters. Yeah. Mike Wright, Heather Wright, um

17
00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:40.160
Todd and Sarah Kelly, myself and my wife. I'm Ed Goss by the way. >> Thank you. >> And my wife Shannon Goss. So it it's just a group of parents that are, you know, our our kids play for the varsity baseball team and JB baseball team. >> Okay. Awesome. Awesome. So you have a

18
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:55.120
picture of the diagram in front of you. Um so let me tell you the feedback from the Rogers and I'm going to agree with this. So um hopefully what I'm about to say makes sense and you can and bring that back to the rights. Um they were very happy with it. Um they saw no problem with it with the exception of

19
00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:12.000
the plaque. So, the way the plaque is designed right now, the um the top and the bottom of it doesn't lay flat against the the brace that goes in the back. They're concerned that um kids are going to, like kids always do, try to destroy something and pull it from those corners. So, they're they're asking if

20
00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:28.800
the whatever the brace is that runs behind it can be wider so it will encompass the entire plaque, making it harder to remove that plaque. Um, and after speaking with him, it it actually made it made sense. Um, you know, it's

21
00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:45.120
um, I think it's probably a simple simple change that even if it's a double, you know, you can put double braces in there. >> Sure. >> Um, so that is the only feedback that I have. Does anybody else have any >> questions, concerns, feedback? And it's great you're not going to duct tape

22
00:05:45.120 --> 00:06:01.280
numbers to the my wife and I were storing the Clinton gave down to Washington a couple years ago. We were like but we all like wait where the where did the two go? >> It's a manual scoreboard was only 10 feet because the wind caught it

23
00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:16.639
manual part of it I think that I I think that the >> manual is kind of cool. Yeah, I I think that the gist of it I think is really cool, but it does make sense. And you'll be um if I understand correctly, because there's no power at that um at the base of that unit, it'll be run off of an extension cord. >> Yes. Okay.

24
00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:32.800
>> Yeah. And you'll you'll have all of the you'll bring all of your own extension cord. >> Yeah. Yeah. We use an extension cord there now for the pitching machine. So, we have all that stuff. >> Perfect. And obviously, it'll be shut off at night when you leave that that whole thing. >> Okay. Um, do I have a motion to allow

25
00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:48.880
the replacement of the um, scoreboard at the 90 foot diamonds on Marshall Park by the um, Lunberg High School baseball team boosters? >> I will make a motion to approve the replacement of the time. >> Great. >> Have you diamond can you take into

26
00:06:48.880 --> 00:07:04.960
consideration what ask? >> Awesome. Great. Any second? I second. Awesome. Um, since we're all here, we can do just a general vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone against? No, you are good to go on that. >> Cool. Thank you. So, we'll just We don't have to N >> resubmit. We just

27
00:07:04.960 --> 00:07:20.720
>> You don't need to resubmit. I'll let um So, Chris is our rec director. She obviously know she'll be in tomorrow. She may see our facilities director first, but I will try to ping him tonight to let them know. Um and then if you need anything installation wise, it's just going to need to be coordinated through Chris Ruth. >> Okay.

28
00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:36.080
>> And you guys are the only ones Well, right now I think you're the only ones using it. Um we do have a a request from another user group. um from it's actually Mike Wright's group as well. So he should know when people are down there when it's going to be free to >> Yeah, I think he has all the equipment

29
00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:52.880
to Awesome. So I think I think we're good there. Is there any like do we wait? Should I tell them to wait a certain amount of time start? Okay, >> you can go home if you want to get a shovel head on down except afterwards again as a gift or how does that just for clarity

30
00:07:52.880 --> 00:08:09.039
>> when it's in? Will you just have Mike let us know when it's in and we'll we'll figure that out. Usually we have to accept things as a gift and then it's got to go to the town. I'm not sure where this is the memorial if we have to do things any different. But >> I say let's go the way we are right now and then once it's in just have Mike let Chris know. He'll let us know and we'll

31
00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:24.479
go from there. >> Sounds good. Awesome. >> Business with Gabe and my daughter's living where Isabelle has small town. >> Very small town. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Thank you.

32
00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:40.159
>> All right. So that is done. Um Chris didn't really have an update from the facilities director side. Um he just he did mention today that he had three trees that he took down at Marshall. Um for anybody who doesn't know, we're actually our own three Marshals. So um Chris making that decision to bring

33
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:56.480
those down. Two of them because of safety. One of them almost had a safety issue. Um >> was one of those one on the corner behind the >> I I don't know. I didn't I didn't >> There's a uprooted >> tree on the corner behind the almost behind like as you just as you walk in

34
00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:11.680
from >> My guess is probably Yes, cuz he said two of them were in a position. >> It was like uprooted. Not quite a tree like a big ginormous sort of >> Yeah. >> Yeah. One of um >> I can buy >> he said two of them were in a position to um um

35
00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:30.800
hit somebody. So um my guess is that's what that's about. So, I don't know why we have no picture on this. Oh, this would be nice. Hold on a second. We just want to hold. Not that it matters because it's just going to be online. All right. There's our >> So, this for those of you who don't know

36
00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:46.000
this, we'll move and we'll get you then we'll get whoever talks. So, all right. Awesome on that. Um, Christa, recreation director, it's all you. Um, okay, great. So, I do have a couple things. um want

37
00:09:46.000 --> 00:10:04.560
to discuss. So I know I brought up a mission statement and I was looking to see do we want to do that first or do you want to do that after? >> Let's do that second because I actually have it as an agenda item. >> Okay. So, first thing I did get a field request form from the Michael Ray um for

38
00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:21.200
the Marshall 90 foot diamond and they're only doing it for less than a month and they were wondering if there's any way they could get a discount or some kind of fee off since it's going to be such a short season and they only have 11 players. Um so, I didn't know.

39
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:37.360
>> Okay, so um they're going they want to go in as a seasonal rate. If you go to the lunbergrecation.com website, you'll see the breakdown of rates. We have two different kinds of rates. We have a seasonal rate and we have an hourly rate. And we have within those categories, we have resident, non-resident. So, are they looking to go

40
00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:53.920
in as a >> seasonal? They're looking to go in as a seasonal rate, town, resident, or seasonal rate, and they're going to pay based on >> um normally it's a seasonal rate, and they pay based on where the player is from, >> right? So, right now they have it listed

41
00:10:53.920 --> 00:11:09.040
as 11 participants for the resident rate. Okay. So, >> so we charge $20 per player for a season residential rate. Um, so that would be $220.

42
00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:24.079
>> So, $220. Um, and they're asking if we would be willing to discount that since it's only for one month. Does anybody have any thoughts on that? Are they charging for the program?

43
00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:50.560
>> Is it um this is Bayer? It just says Central Mass Baseball League Lunenburg 13- 16 team. Hold on a second. >> Wait, it says, "Are you charging?" Oh, >> nothing's there. >> It says it's marked no. So I'm assuming

44
00:11:50.560 --> 00:12:07.200
I don't know if that means if they're charging for the event. >> Well, so what what's the question on there? Are they charging for >> So it says reason for rental youth baseball and it says are you charging for event and it says >> Okay. So that means they charging them to go. >> Then I guess they're not. So that might be why they're asking. >> Y

45
00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:25.600
>> they're charging for event. >> It's a league. >> Okay. >> Try to prevent like attendance. that doesn't cheating and we're talking about the Central Mass Youth Baseball um um program. Is that like an AA type

46
00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:51.519
program? Is it a club? Is it a nonpr like a Okay. So, it's a Yep. So it would be like um Lunenburgg youth baseball. Okay. Okay. All right. Great. Thank you. All right. Bye bye. Um so that was Chris

47
00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:09.040
Ruth. Um he just said it was a Babe Ruth league. That's all that he has for information on it. But here's this sticker on it is that they are looking to start tomorrow. So, my gut almost says no, only more because it's um they're

48
00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:26.760
if their season gets delayed at all. Now, we're they're probably going to push into like if we have a couple of rainy weekends, they may be pushing into July. It's $220. Um I mean, we could I suppose bring it down to 110. Um

49
00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:42.639
I could probably be swayed either way. like or what if it what if we just did like I don't know how this works or not but could we just do like $15 a player instead of 20 and then that's the discounted rate for the season or something. >> I'm game for whatever.

50
00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:59.120
>> My only concern would be we get in now we're like hey we're we're into the haggling sort of scenario just it's a slippery slope I think to hack right. So someone another group comes in and like oh well we only want to use them for a month and a half. So can we pay >> or we want to use it for a week?

51
00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:14.800
>> We only want a week. I think we just have like we we spent a lot of time establishing some fees and so forth. And I I get what he's saying. I totally understand. I totally respect it. Um I know Mike. I know those kids. Like they're all good kids. Um, but I just

52
00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:32.000
think like we just can't get in the business like we're, you know, we can't get in the business where we only meet once a month and have to be having over over fees. Just my my two cents. >> I agree with that, too. >> I agree with that, too. I mean, the way they can do um any type of reduced fee

53
00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:47.040
for an individual is a scholarship application through the recreation department if there's someone that really has a hardship. But with all the pertinent information of like what are they charging these these kids? I'm sure there's a fee to be in this program. >> I have to. >> So, you know, where is that fee going

54
00:14:47.040 --> 00:15:03.600
towards? I'm assuming it's umpires um and field use. >> So, uh and then there's other teams that are coming who are also contributing towards I'm sure umpires and field use. Um so, I think I think 220 is pretty reasonable.

55
00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:18.959
>> Yeah. >> Very reasonable. >> Yeah. And if there's children that have scholarship needs, then maybe we can talk about individually sponsoring somebody. >> Yeah, we haven't we haven't established all that yet, >> you know, but like in the future going to put us way in the future.

56
00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:35.440
>> But I we you've set these these guidelines and these fees and they're extremely reasonable, >> right? >> Especially at the tight time table. I mean, it's just not >> and it does look like rain for the next like 10 days. >> Do you want to go back to him with that or do you want me to go back to him with that? I can I can

57
00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:50.720
>> All right. Great. All right. >> Yep. >> So, there's that. Okay. >> What else you got? >> And then, so it's funny though that you brought that up cuz I did come up with a sponsorship donation packet. >> Okay. >> And hopefully like I've put together

58
00:15:50.720 --> 00:16:06.880
just like different types of levels. We can go over the prices and or I can give you guys or send you guys a copy. >> Yeah. I think the best thing would Yeah, like you presented it tonight. I think the best thing next step to be able to process it and really look at it would be um send it over to Chris and I. We'll throw it up on the SharePoint and we'll

59
00:16:06.880 --> 00:16:22.639
share that folder and then everybody will be able to um see >> um to see that and sort of read it through before the next meeting. Sometimes it's hard to think on the fly. >> It is. That's why I'm saying like I'm just bringing it up to show you guys that I'm thinking ahead as well, Tanya.

60
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:37.920
though I did want to put some type of sponsorship together for programs or events and then like donation types if people want to donate for scholarships like you were just talking about um and things like that. So that's one thing that I have been working on to try to get together. >> Awesome.

61
00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:54.560
>> Um I did redo uh I don't know if you guys need to know all this. >> Go ahead. Just hit us with that. >> Um I redid the town beach rules and regulations which I posted and went through Chris and everything. Everything's pretty much the same. I just kind of re

62
00:16:54.560 --> 00:17:09.760
organized it, formatted it, um kind of thing. Um I redid an incident accident report, a contract program agreement for vendor or for Yeah, for vendors. And then >> did Chris look at the contract agreement with the vendors? Do you want me to

63
00:17:09.760 --> 00:17:26.959
throw it in front of town council or are you good with it? >> I mean, I'm fine with it, but if you want to, you can. It's very, very simple. Um, all I did was like put their information here, what their activity date, all their information. Then I just kind of put what the program requirements would be, if they want to get rosters, how to get them, um,

64
00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:42.559
cancellations, the program cost, and how to get their payment. >> Okay. Did we put anything in there about them cancelling mid mid program after programs were already on the books? >> I guess I'm just worried that we're going to have another incident like last year where we had um we had a program

65
00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:58.240
fill out on us. So, I did say in the cancellation section um if they if they cancel if they cancel a class during the session, the fee will be adjusted accordingly on their end, not on our end. So, I did put that in there. I don't know if you want me to be more

66
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:16.000
specific or outline it more. >> Will you do me a favor? Can you send it over to Tanya and we'll just have Tanya take a look through it and see what's So, the gist of this conversation is last year we had a program that was running. we had a behavior by a students in the in the camp. Um we actually had

67
00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:32.000
to remove the student from the camp program. It turned into more of a bigger deal and the um the parents ended up pulling their child completely and their sibling from the rest of the camp. Totally understandable. Um but then the

68
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:49.440
program the vendor pulled out and we already had another camp on the books. So now we were left in a position where we had camps, we had registrations, and now we had nobody to run it. Um, and I want to just make sure we're protected in that because if they had chosen to pull out midweek, I it just would have

69
00:18:49.440 --> 00:19:04.960
left us really in a bind because all of this is a reflection on the parks commission, the recck department, and the town. Um, so if you could maybe throw some eyes on it for us and not not to throw you under the bus in the first No, not I I've experienced this before.

70
00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:20.480
He claims she's going to sit here and listen and not >> I'm not trying to be an active listener. >> My husband laughed at that for the record that my husband sits on the finance committee with her. So, >> all right. So, what else? >> I'll just need to get your >> Yeah, it's it's the last name is Doll D A L L. So, when you type in um on the

71
00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:35.760
town page, if you do T doll, it'll autoop populate. >> Okay. >> And we think Dan is going to be D Burns. There's a question. I've got to figure it out. There's one showed up. I have either shared all of the parks documents with a Dan Burns that maybe works at the

72
00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:51.520
fire department or something like that or >> I'm the only one in town. >> Yeah, he said >> town clerk said that Dan Burns doesn't exist. Not that it's a different person. So >> So I think that it's him. I'm gonna I forgot to send an email earlier to Cara to sort of figure it out. But

73
00:19:51.520 --> 00:20:07.120
>> you got a full name. You'd be like me. I have a full name email >> because C. Sullivan goes to other and I found that out and um apparently people now think I am the um finance director because I got a whole bunch of emails in a short period of time.

74
00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:24.480
>> It's all covered behind the scenes. >> Figure it out. So, okay. What else you got, Christa? Um, so I did put together also program policies for like how we communicate credit refunds, cancellations. Um,

75
00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:39.919
let's see what else like an inclusion philosophy, implement weather, resident versus non-resident, all that kind of stuff because there we don't have anything on it. Y um, also a program behavior policy. But I do have all of that as well. Um, Chris did look at it.

76
00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:56.480
He said it was fine. Okay, that's I feel like a lot of this falls to dayto-day. So, okay, >> I'm okay with not going through it. One thing I would encourage you to possibly do is um two things. One, understand the requirements of um a school when they

77
00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:11.440
have a child in one of their programs that's on an IEP versus the town. So, where the town um because you may because every season this seems to come up. A parent registers a kid that might have a one-on-one aid. Um

78
00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:28.799
>> that is from my understanding not something that we are required to offer. If we can, that doesn't boost the programming fee. Certainly, we can um but it's usually cost prohibitive um for a small program. So, you may want to understand that. Um, and the other one is, um, and we, Angela and I learned

79
00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:45.760
this the hard way, sort of the hard way last year, is understanding like on the ADA stuff, um, what the process is if somebody has a grievance, um, what the process is to sort of get through that grievance. Um, because it usually involves the town manager. Um, so

80
00:21:45.760 --> 00:22:01.679
usually when when it gets to that level, um, and the same thing like if you ever get a public records request, unless it's like right on your um your screen, it's always best to send all of that over to um Melissa at the town manager's office to sort out because public

81
00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:18.480
records request has a specific time frame. We're required by law to meet and um um the ADA stuff is Jen's wheel wheelhouse. So >> I do have a decent background in it, too. So I do know a good amount of it. So you're not going to masters in

82
00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:34.480
therapeutic. >> Sweet. So we're not going to you're not going to be like us when Angela and I were like, "What?" Like it was so foreign to us. So we had to learn on the fly. Sweet. Awesome. >> You know, all those things that you redone or done for the first time are getting they'll be uploaded on the

83
00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:50.400
>> Yeah. So cool. >> Yep. That's what that's kind of why I wanted to bring it up before I upload it at all. So, if you guys haven't know that it's coming. Um, just cuz I want to I really want to get the foundation built before like we do too much and it just gets ahead of us. Like you said,

84
00:22:50.400 --> 00:23:06.720
something happens and we don't have a policy or something in place for it. So, and and something still may come up that I didn't think of, but at least we have something like something to start with. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> And then I guess just a quick thing for programs. Um, I'm just waiting, I

85
00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:23.280
haven't heard back from the school yet about using the fields for the soccer camp and the multisport. Um, I did talk to the library about using their space for kids test kitchen and I have to meet with them tomorrow. Um, so I'm just kind

86
00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:39.039
of waiting to hear back on space right now. That's kind of my biggest issue with programs. >> Shed some light with my understanding is the turf is going to be closed for the summer. Yes, they did tell me about the turf, but they said we could use the grass fields. So, they gave me permissions to like request the bookings, but

87
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:54.480
>> originally when they first gave me the permission, it wasn't letting me do that. So, they had to redo the permissions. So, it just went through >> ML schedule. >> I did. They give you ML schedule that the >> website Yeah, it was through the school. >> Yeah, they use a software called ML schedule for >> Is that what it's called? I don't

88
00:23:54.480 --> 00:24:09.760
remember what it's called. I just know >> if you don't get a response by tomorrow, will you and you're not getting a response at all from them. Will you um just send a message to either Chris or I or both of us so we can we need to be very clear with these folks that like

89
00:24:09.760 --> 00:24:27.120
our programming is dependent on facility usage and we need to we need to figure that out. If for some reason the library doesn't work tomorrow, is it a weekday program? The >> Yeah. So the part of the issue is they don't open till 10:00 but the program starts at 9:00 because it's a 9 to 12 program. So, we're gonna talk about

90
00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:43.279
different options and see what we can do because Okay. I could definitely go if I need to. >> I don't know what week it is, but I could open it as well. Yeah, it's in August. >> Yeah, they usually they're usually good about giving a key. >> Um, so, um, >> so I'm just I'm going to go figure it

91
00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:58.960
out tomorrow, >> right? Um, but yeah, so my biggest concern though is like like you said, trying to get confirmation because getting the information out to give people enough time to sign up and all of that kind of stuff is very it's very crunch time especially for summer

92
00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:15.120
because people need some plans. So >> Okay, awesome. Yeah, we can help with that if you need to. >> And then the other thing on programs I just want to mention um is volunteers. So, I started to put together like a volunteer handbook and packet and all

93
00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:30.720
that stuff. I did when I put the survey out, show the community, ask for volunteers if anyone would be interested. So, I do have a list, but in order for programs and stuff to grow, I can't do it by myself, especially with limited hours. Uh, I wish I could, but I

94
00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:47.919
can't. Um, so I will be relying on volunteers. So, I just wanted to put that out there. and like if events come up and stuff, maybe you guys are willing to help out or run programs and stuff as well or help with that would be great. So, I just wanted to mention that.

95
00:25:47.919 --> 00:26:04.159
>> Yep. Yeah, we'll get something off. Do >> you have specific areas where you're asking for volunteers right now? >> So, I do have some summer event ideas that I would like to do, but um I don't have the volunteers. So, like I want to do a Pirate Island adventure at the A bunch of the programs I'm trying to do right now are kind of mainly at the

96
00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:20.799
beach um to get more people in there just to see what's going on. Um and then I have a couple of the programs that I was thinking about doing on this back Ritter field. Um because it's just great open space and it's easy to to use so I don't have to ask for permission.

97
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:37.600
>> Right. Great. >> Yeah. That makes it easy. So I I mean and I can send you the program list. I have them all written down. Um that I just I'm excited about. So I saw the pirate island on the our screen. So

98
00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:54.880
>> as I say on the weekends I am a professional pirate. So if you >> seriously >> My husband calls him the sword guy, but you know. >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. >> Great. He just made fun of spend a lot of time as a pirate. Let me know what help. So you have your you have your

99
00:26:54.880 --> 00:27:12.480
>> I have full pirate guard treasure chests tap the whole nine yards. Let me know when and and what you need and I'm sure I can >> He's probably going to resign from this commission in a week. But >> no, that's great. I'm excited for that. >> Awesome. >> All right. Um do you do you have

100
00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:28.559
anything else before we move on to your mission statement? >> No. >> Okay. So Chris has spent some time putting some mission statements together. Um she gave three options. You'll see them in your um packets that I gave you >> and feel free to adjust them however wanted. I was just kind of throwing some stuff together. >> I'm looking to see where I put it cuz

101
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:45.440
why would I have saved it? But apparently I didn't save it. I have it in my So it might be on the back of the page. >> It's probably right there. >> Yep, it's right there. Sorry. >> I don't know why my um thing suddenly started printing

102
00:27:45.440 --> 00:28:02.320
differently. Let me get my thing open. All right. So um the first one was to provide recreational opport opportunities through programs and events that are fun, safe and affordable while bringing families and neighbors together creating lasting memories. Number two is create a

103
00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:19.200
welcoming environment by providing recreational opportunities where individuals connect, learn, play and grow. To enrich the quality and the third is to enrich the quality of life for our community by providing a variety of programs, events and services to promote healthy wellness, learning and

104
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:34.159
having fun. Does anybody have any I know throwing this at you right now. Does anybody I mean I can start if you want me to. Um, >> it just like in the first one just the word affordable just it's receptive to

105
00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:49.520
different people. So that's the only that jumps out of me now. But I mean I like I like the thought of a mission statement. I like the you know kind of a a theme to kind of carry things through. >> I'm drawn to two or three I guess just >> for you know for that kind of

106
00:28:49.520 --> 00:29:05.679
>> scenario the promotion of health and and um you know services and things like that. So, I guess I'm kind of drawn to three, I think. >> Okay. >> Well, I unbeknownsted breaking meeting. >> No, you you didn't because I grabbed you before you did.

107
00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:20.240
>> Um, you know, >> when we send an email, if I send I I can't share opinions of all of the commission in an email. And if I ever send anything like this, because I didn't create it, it was created by Angela. I can share that, but we can't

108
00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:36.880
discuss it via email. So, if you ever get that, >> go ahead, Tia. What? It's open meeting law. >> It's open meeting law. We can't discuss anything that could be considered a deliberation. We can't discuss. >> Yeah. We can't we can't have an email dialogue with >> Yeah. You can have one-on-one dialogue. >> We're truly very fortunate that Karen

109
00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:51.919
does supply these things early so that we can have like meaningful meetings here and not be like surprised right >> with anything. Um so I have written a mission statement for uh Arlington Recreation and it was really important to the town. It was quite a thing cuz

110
00:29:51.919 --> 00:30:07.200
everybody wanted to be involved in this. 50,000 people there, not just 10. Uh, but they came up with the mission statement. Um, uh, and I kind of tweaked it a little bit. Uh, Loomberg Recreation Department offers safe, highquality, and affordable programs for community members of all

111
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:22.320
ages and abilities. So, that kind of encompasses, you know, seniors, you know, families, children. Um, and I don't know if we want to keep the abilities in there because we I mean this is going to be your expertise. Um,

112
00:30:22.320 --> 00:30:37.440
is it opening us up to be able to offer programs that we can't really offer because of disabilities or abilities? Um, so, you know, bringing the community in and the safe, the affordability. I mean,

113
00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:53.120
$220 for a whole team is pretty great. Um, and I think you're going to be bringing some high quality stuff here, too. just listening to this pirate thing. Uh, I think we should mention that we're going to be offering those types of >> Sorry, there is a bug in her

114
00:30:53.120 --> 00:31:09.399
there and she's been crying >> on me. >> Tried to click it off. >> Send it this way. >> Thank you. >> Oh, there you go. >> I didn't want to come for you. I might be freaking out.

115
00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:26.960
>> Yes, that was a film. Um, take any minutes and everything. >> Um, so, so that was my input. I love all of these. These feel more um, town friendly, like very small community friendly than this, >> but maybe a combination.

116
00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:42.880
>> Okay. >> Yeah, I would say I I really like the first one. I would I would swap the word affordable for accessible. I think it gets the same same feeling. >> I'm going to throw a curve at you in a second. Don't write too much down. Go ahead. Okay. Uh uh and then probably I

117
00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:57.840
probably remove the last three words. Creating lasting memories is a good good feeling. I just think it makes it a little too wordy and super superfluous. Um but I think that that I like all three of them. Um

118
00:31:57.840 --> 00:32:13.360
>> I was trying to get access. >> I was trying to touch different parts on all three. That's why I think you got to if you want to move things around like that's why I was curious what you guys were thinking. I sort of took number two and and and rewrote it because that was the one that

119
00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:29.519
I liked. But I'm open to anything. But I'm going to read this to you because maybe there's some verbiage in here that we might want to utilize if we go with one of the others. Um to foster a welcoming and inclusive community by providing recreational opportunities that encourage connection, learning, play, and personal growth for all

120
00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:47.919
individuals for individuals of all ages. You know, just something that again cuz it covers all ages. >> Yh. I read that fast. Um, so >> I don't know if this is just me or not, but for when we say like all ages, all

121
00:32:47.919 --> 00:33:02.480
abilities, all of that kind of stuff, I get a little hesitant only because >> I feel like when we're talking about the community, that kind of I feel like it brings everybody together rather than singling each >> thing out. I don't know if that's just

122
00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:19.840
how I'm looking at it or not. Um, so I like focusing more on like the community aspect of it, which is why I didn't really put too much of the the abilities or individuals or people in it. Um, but if that's the route we want to go, like that's >> Oh, it doesn't matter. I just >> I just thought

123
00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:36.159
>> keeping it a whole instead of separating was just >> what I wanted would like to do with a mission statement like this is to we have been known as the group that accommodates baseball bot, >> right? It's youth based and it's very

124
00:33:36.159 --> 00:33:51.440
youth based. And um if you've ever heard like my husband at a finance committee meeting when he talks about stuff like this is he'll say I want stuff for people like me. >> Um so I just want to make sure whatever we use it somehow is signifying that we're encompassing everybody and that

125
00:33:51.440 --> 00:34:08.399
we're not just focused on one um one group of of people, right? >> Um but I'm game for whatever. I think in other cities or towns the recreation department has a broader like reputation. Yeah. Already but as you said when you first came here you

126
00:34:08.399 --> 00:34:24.399
thought it was just soccer right or >> well I thought it was I thought parks commission was program. >> Oh just soccer I thought you program and I'm like what did that mean any >> and a lot of people here think of the recreation department as the beachies >> from when I moved in like recreation was

127
00:34:24.399 --> 00:34:40.159
like really focused on the beach and then really focused on baseball and I was like okay that's all it is. there's no other programs. But I did learn that there were other programs for adults, pickle ball, >> um things like that. But I felt like the consensus of the the residents when I talked to them that it was very kid

128
00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:57.040
focused or child focused. So if we maybe if we can put it in >> let's let's which one of these do we like? Why don't we pick the one that we like the most and then we can tweak the wording to better match what we may be wanting it to say if we have to tweak it at all.

129
00:34:57.040 --> 00:35:13.280
I like the word events because you are going to do events, the pirate thing. >> Um, >> I'd like to see health or wellness in there. It doesn't have to be both, one or the other. I think they're kind of interchangeable a little bit. Wellness, I think wellness is fine because it could be u physical, mental, you know,

130
00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:31.760
whatever may, you know, whatever it may be. Um, but I I like including the word, you know, wellness. Um, >> do we want to rewrite one today or do we want to unfortunately give Chris some homework and ask her to sort of take our

131
00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:47.839
feedback and then come back next meeting? >> Sure. How soon do you want to put it out? We meet once a month. >> Once a month. >> How many time? >> We've gone like 300 years almost. How many years have we been? >> 298 years. >> We've gone 298 years without one. I'm

132
00:35:47.839 --> 00:36:03.839
thinking like >> I'm shocked another shock too. I was like wait first thing on the page usually. >> I know. That's why I was like wait we don't want to get to help. >> Yes. No. No. I'm I'm glad they >> Yeah. I can take what you guys are

133
00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:21.040
saying um like I know you mentioned health and wellness programs. You had mentioned um like accessible and keeping um things fun and safe. And I've kind of circled stuff >> and if we can do whatever we do um I

134
00:36:21.040 --> 00:36:36.640
mean obviously recommend you know say some programming or events however you want to phrase it but it would be nice to know that there's we have under your umbrella are things that like a playground you know it would be nice for people to sort of understand that we're

135
00:36:36.640 --> 00:36:52.800
more than just organized programming too that we can you know we also encompass the static activities of like playground ground or an open park or um but whatever you decide is perfectly fine with me and I say that I'm not going to

136
00:36:52.800 --> 00:37:09.440
be chair next meeting. So >> I mean ahead of time we can digest it and then so that we're not going to third meeting. >> Okay. So am I able to send that to you guys so you guys have time we just can't deliver? we can't deliberate on it and we so like when you

137
00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:26.240
send it um you can send it out to everybody individually or >> just remember we have a fourth member if you send an email to parks at lunbergmma.gov it comes to all of us >> I just have to make sure that you've been moved on to that Dan um >> but otherwise you just there's five of us so you just want to make sure you

138
00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:42.000
send it to all five of us or you can send it to Chris or I because I still have the control of the um SharePoint and we can just update it upload it onto the SharePoint and then share it. >> Okay. I can do that though. Yeah, I'll come up with a few and then I'll >> No, the member the park's email is not

139
00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:57.119
updated yet. >> Okay. How'd you find out? >> So, I just type the email and you can click my members. >> Yeah, the member >> community. No, I think the town has >> What happens if you click those three dots? >> Give feedback. >> Okay. >> Community.

140
00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:12.960
>> Okay. Well, um, we'll get on that. Anita's still on too. So, good thing I didn't bug Cara earlier. I'll bumper all at once with all of this at one time though. Okay. So, you'll do that for us. Awesome. >> Yeah. >> All right.

141
00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:28.160
A big important part of our meeting. I'm going to give a little bit of background. Most of you are going to know this, but I'm going to give it anyway because I feel it's important to make the full picture here. Um, so our recreation director position part-time

142
00:38:28.160 --> 00:38:45.119
um came into existence around 2019. So, this position is 7 years old and in that time we've had multiple w directors. Um, some of it was because COVID hit and it just wasn't fitting the lifestyle, whatever. We, you know, now we have Christa. It took a

143
00:38:45.119 --> 00:39:00.720
while after our rec director left in August um of last year to find Christa and we have hit the jackpot with her. So, um, a week or two ago, um, there was a conversation going on between the finance committee chair and my and town

144
00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:18.000
manager that I of course was overhearing and it got me thinking and I immediately started sort of putting my thoughts into action. Um, so that thought is to um, so a few years back we had talked about

145
00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:33.760
moving the rec director position to full-time. We went in front of the select board and had their support. We went in front of finance committee and didn't have their support. And the plan had been to utilize our rec our um revolving account, which we have. It

146
00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:49.520
currently has $77,000 in it. The plan had been to use that revolving account to help bring this person to a full-time position um and help cover some of the costs because not only when you have a full-time position um not only do you have their salary but you have benefits

147
00:39:49.520 --> 00:40:06.480
which are approximately $30,000 on top of their salary. So trying to you know say to these folks you know this is what we want to do. We really want to get to be self- sustaining that was the discussion back then too. Um, but at the time our revolving account wasn't set up

148
00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:22.240
correctly. You probably remember this, Chris. Our revolving account wasn't set up correctly. It was a like a 73D. We needed to be a 73E and a half. There was a lot of conversation and the finance committee was like, "No, like you need to get your ducks in a row." Totally

149
00:40:22.240 --> 00:40:38.320
agree with that. But when I was thinking back to that, I said to myself, why can't we try it with a part-time rec director? we have the money in our revolving account to cover a rec director at at the part-time level um and give it a shot. And so I went to all

150
00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:53.760
the people in town that needed to started with Chris Ruth. I went over to town manager, talked to town manager and I talked to um the finance director to make sure we actually had as much as we thought we had in that account, which is roughly 77,000. And then last week I

151
00:40:53.760 --> 00:41:09.839
came and talked to Christa because I was not going to I didn't want to present an idea to all you folks and then have Chris Christa say to us tomorrow, well I thought my job was done on June 30th. So I've applied elsewhere and I just accepted a job. So I wanted to cover all the bases

152
00:41:09.839 --> 00:41:26.720
>> and I had the reasoning of why it was ending. It's it was the it was part of the override. Correct. >> Just so we spell that out. >> Yep. Yep. So when the over didn't >> when it didn't pass and because we didn't have this position filled I do not believe that it was something that was in the front of our mind to say well

153
00:41:26.720 --> 00:41:41.520
why don't we just do it ourselves because at that point we were thinking we weren't going to end up with anybody Chrisa just sort of it just popped >> out of nowhere it was a perfect it was a perfect situation so you know I I I

154
00:41:41.520 --> 00:41:58.480
am just I'm cautious because I think that in In order for this to work, it needs to be as self- sustaining as it can be. Um I, you know, I'd said that to Chrissa, which is why some of her comments around utilizing volunteers and that sort of thing had come up. Um she

155
00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:14.319
knows it's going to be an uphill battle. Um it's not going to be as easy as, you know, I think we think it's going to be. I think there's going to be some work to do. Um, and I think that if we can evaluate it going forward, you

156
00:42:14.319 --> 00:42:29.359
know, throughout the year to see where we are, to see what the progress is, we'll have a better idea come, you know, the springtime of whether or not we think this is going to work to be able to, if it does, if it's successful, it can be recommended again for fiscal year

157
00:42:29.359 --> 00:42:44.560
28 and we can keep moving. And this would put us in a if we can pull this off, I think it would also put us in a good path to also make the town beach self sustaining and self-funded. Um because right now that position, the

158
00:42:44.560 --> 00:43:01.680
town beach is not scheduled to have any town funds appropriated to them in FY28. We have enough to be clear, anybody watching, we have enough funds to run through FY27 um which is or this current beach season which is um we'll go

159
00:43:01.680 --> 00:43:18.319
sometime in June through the end of August. We have enough funds for that. We are talking beach closure for the following summer. Um that's a year from now. So I don't want to be too aggressive in trying to figure that piece out yet because I think that we need to do one piece at a time. Um, so

160
00:43:18.319 --> 00:43:34.079
after talking with town manager, you'll see in your packets probably on the other page of that. Um, you have something that um, see if I still have that there. >> It's on the other side of the >> Yeah, it's on the other side of the making statement. Um, you think I have a

161
00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:50.400
copy of that? Nope. >> Okay. >> I didn't make a photocopy for myself. Um, all right. So, yeah, I'm going to use that in a second. Um, so you know, I I even have in my notes, is this a gamble? Absolutely. I'm going to say maybe on

162
00:43:50.400 --> 00:44:05.359
that piece of it. But I think at this point, um, to give it a try on a trial basis, I think that it will give us the opportunity to to sort of put our money where our mouth is, where we've been trying for this. Let's give it a shot with a part-time person. Um, and let's

163
00:44:05.359 --> 00:44:21.440
see how close we get to that target. Um, and if we get close enough, even if we don't quite hit that target, if we're close enough to it, I think it's an easier sell to the town, um, and to town manager and the select board and the finance committee to include it in a

164
00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:36.880
budget if we get close to the the target. I mean, if we bring in nothing and we're still looking at a, you know, a salary line of $33,000 and we don't have, you know, we're not bringing in anything near that, then they may be like, you tried, it didn't work, you

165
00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:52.720
know, back to the drawing board you go. Um, but I think it would be worth uh um conversation. And I do think that um um keeping all those groups in the loop going forward to make sure that they know that we're still here that this is

166
00:44:52.720 --> 00:45:08.640
what you know if we decide to do this this is what we decided to do. This was the risk we were you know we decided to take um in order to do it though um in order for town manager to get behind it um she asked for something in writing. So I sent her I included Chris on it in

167
00:45:08.640 --> 00:45:25.200
the five days that I wasn't on the parks commission last week. Um I I did this um so this is what I sent over to um town manager um and both she and Chris had no issues with this and I think Chris Sullivan had agreed with it as well. So a one-year trial recreation director

168
00:45:25.200 --> 00:45:41.119
funding model. The recreation director position would be funded on a one-year trial basis through the parks revolving account. The primary objective during this trial period is to ext expand and strengthen revenue generating recreation programming with the long-term goal of moving the recreation department toward

169
00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:57.760
a more self-sustaining operating model. We'd request that the recreation director develop, implement, and oversee income generating recreation programs for youth, adults, families, and seniors, which she already does, and she's already implementing some of those now. identify new recreation opportunities that can operate at a net

170
00:45:57.760 --> 00:46:14.400
positive revenue, which he's also doing because the test kitchen is would be new to us. Um, expand marketing and communication efforts to increase registration and public awareness. Um, and I would be leaving that to her because right now we're using Facebook and my racket. There may be other

171
00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:31.440
avenues that she deems, you know, would be important to use. Um, and then come the spring of 2027, the parks commission would review the financial performance of the programming, progress towards self- sustaining operations, and the net financial impact to the revolving account. Um, there's no, from what I

172
00:46:31.440 --> 00:46:48.000
understand, there's no large expenses slated to come out of that revolving account. >> I don't think any money's come up since I've been here. >> It it does. It does. >> Does it go back in? >> Yeah, it does. So, it's truly a revol depleted anything. I think we start at 77. I don't know remember what we were at but we do because the programming

173
00:46:48.000 --> 00:47:04.000
funds come in and then that money is used to pay for um >> that money's p used to pay for the vendor then we have utilities that will come out of that line and um you know every it's the beach revenue at one point was being

174
00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:20.160
used as um to supplement salaries because that line item which has been about 24 to $25,000 um was wasn't enough to cover beach salaries. So, at one point it did Chris, but it's a it's a moving game like

175
00:47:20.160 --> 00:47:35.280
defeated significantly. >> It hasn't. And you know, I literally um I stormed a meeting. Um >> I went over to town hall and um the admin made the mistake of letting me in her office to talk to me. And I'm like,

176
00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:51.760
"Oh, town manager here." And she says, "Yes, she's in a meeting." I'm like, "Oh, perfect. Who's she talking to?" And she's like, "The finance director." I'm like, "Awesome. I need her, too." and like and I went and they immediat like they were super responsive. Karen went and pulled the other Karen went and pulled our um >> they're pretty

177
00:47:51.760 --> 00:48:08.880
>> went and pulled our >> the revolving account. Um and I did I you know I went back to Chris and made sure in writing made sure there was no big expenses coming out. So what is everybody's thought on this and giving it a try? You know, is it worth a try? Is everybody too afraid to try it? Are

178
00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:25.200
we giving Christa her papers and sending her packing on No, don't in the room. >> And I'm going to say this and I I would say it whether she was in here or not. And that is we're looking at a position, not a person. So, as much as I adore her, we have to look at this as a position.

179
00:48:25.200 --> 00:48:40.240
>> I was also going to say too, just for you guys, I understand this whole how this is a risk as well. Um, and because like I know I have great ideas. I know I can bring in money, but at the same

180
00:48:40.240 --> 00:48:57.440
time, if I don't have the space or I don't have the help, I'm telling you right now, it's going to be very difficult. So, I personally want to put that out front, too, because I don't want to let you guys down in a way that like, you know, you guys are hoping and and wanting all this, which I would I

181
00:48:57.440 --> 00:49:13.280
want to, but I also want to be realistic and understand like 19 hours a week trying to do more programming, trying to do all the the stuff behind the scenes, putting into my rack, making the flyers, do like it is a lot. And I don't mind

182
00:49:13.280 --> 00:49:30.800
like volunteering time if I need to as well. >> Please don't though because then it just gives a it gives a false sense of what we actually >> You're right. I'd rather you use volunteers and be able to say um like and I'll give you a great example of this. um you know I am home every day and I have you know volunteered at many

183
00:49:30.800 --> 00:49:46.559
different organizations and I have sort of cut back on that but I've said to town manager where can I be the most useful and maybe the most useful would actually be in the department that I currently volunteer for as a parks commissioner to be able to handle some of that but I can tell you without a

184
00:49:46.559 --> 00:50:02.960
doubt um and if Chris doesn't do it I would do it and but I it probably best coming from the commission to be able to sign the commission as a whole to go back to town administration and include our school committee and our school administration on this and say, "Listen,

185
00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:19.920
parks is taking a gamble on this. This is what we're looking to do, but we can't do it if you drag your feet in getting us responses because we need space in order to run programming." And at the end of the day, anything that we do supplements their programming because it just it helps their students, it

186
00:50:19.920 --> 00:50:37.119
helps our seniors. there's so saying to them like time is of the essence when you get a request in on this stop dragging your feet. Um that's a conver that's a road that I'm willing to go down with them because we've done we've had to do it in the past when programming was scheduled and nothing

187
00:50:37.119 --> 00:50:52.640
was approved then it got on the calendar still nothing approved and then it was like the day before and we were just getting approval for the program. We can't do that, >> right? Because then you're not going to get the signups or the registrations and then if you get two, you can't run it. Then you have to tell those two people that it's not happening. And nobody

188
00:50:52.640 --> 00:51:08.960
likes being told multiple times that programs aren't happening because then you become unreliable. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I have some thoughts. Do you want to go first? >> Yeah. I say I what are we actually looking at re in terms of numbers like what is our current revenue and by how

189
00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:24.640
much do we need to increase it in order for this to be self- sustaining? What is the actual So, the number that I'm looking at right now for the salary line would be I'm saying 33,000. I think it would be a little bit under that. Um, I'd have to go back and look at what they were putting forward if the

190
00:51:24.640 --> 00:51:39.839
override passed, but I just went with the I believe that's what I put down. Um, the revenue portion of it. Um, we really don't have a great number on that. I'm going to say we >> like best estimate from last year. Um

191
00:51:39.839 --> 00:51:56.720
but so with the with the beach stuff um I think we've somewhere around would 20 sound about right between the beach seasons passes swim lessons and then some of the camps and that's excluding what we brought in

192
00:51:56.720 --> 00:52:13.920
for user fees for the fields. >> We also have to understand that we didn't have a rec director from August until >> recently. So there wasn't anybody running any programs. So, I don't know if we can take like that chunk um as like solid numbers because we

193
00:52:13.920 --> 00:52:28.319
didn't have anybody running. >> And even at that, like because my husband asked me the same thing, Dan, and it's it's hard to sort of figure out what that number is because we had a rec director who was she was also great. um she was with us through co and then she left and then somebody

194
00:52:28.319 --> 00:52:45.440
not so great came in and we had trouble finding our footing under this person and then that person left and then Angela eventually came on board but she was coming in in a situation where she was a lot of people didn't even know we existed and it was it was after co and

195
00:52:45.440 --> 00:53:01.119
there was a lot of stuff like Chris Ruth was new um and trying to figure out the billing and there was a lot of like catchup and then we had the whole Marshall park project sort of mixed in that Angela was, you know, she, it's not like she was doing a tremendous amount of work for it, but she was doing a lot

196
00:53:01.119 --> 00:53:18.960
of billing for it. So, I think a lot of the time was spent on other things other than programming. Um, but I would I I believe my my sort of guess on this is somewhere around 20,000 that we've brought in between fees and um swim

197
00:53:18.960 --> 00:53:36.720
lessons um and some of the programming that we did do. I could be completely off on that. So I'm afraid to sort of throw >> that's not net though and we're paying out each salary and debt. >> So my thoughts are as you know a finance person but also someone who like parks

198
00:53:36.720 --> 00:53:51.520
and wreck is my heart and soul and I think it can be a heart and soul of a city or a town. Um and just doing a deep dive on the person but also knowing the qualifications that she has. It's not just the person, it's what what she can

199
00:53:51.520 --> 00:54:07.920
bring. Um, so when I look at this, what I what I would like to see if I if I was going to sit on and and look at this as a finance thing, I like the I like the question there. Um, I like to see what was generated and I'd like to go back a little bit further to the good days to

200
00:54:07.920 --> 00:54:23.119
see when programming was up and running. But additionally, um, you know, when we say we we request that the recreation director does ABC, um, I think there needs to be kind of a strategic business plan on here with some examples. And I think you already

201
00:54:23.119 --> 00:54:40.480
have some of those. Um, you know, that list the the recreation programs that we already have. Um, maybe give some examples of some new opportunities um that can generate some positive revenue. um uh on the marketing and communication efforts, maybe work

202
00:54:40.480 --> 00:54:56.720
with the school in their media program to have students who are overseen by teachers run the social media. They love that stuff. I don't know, you know, it could be a Tik Tok, it could be a Facebook, it could be an Instagram, but under the under the supervision of staff, teaching staff, right? Um, it

203
00:54:56.720 --> 00:55:12.079
really gives these kids who want to go into communications a little bit of extra stuff to put on their college resumes when they're applying to different schools. Um, and then also utilizing some of our town programs, um, our AV

204
00:55:12.079 --> 00:55:27.200
programs. Maybe they can mentor some kids. Um, additionally, I also think that the schools, we have to work together. They have to give us space in a timely

205
00:55:27.200 --> 00:55:42.640
fashion. They have to It shouldn't be like there shouldn't be a bottleneck there. This is a town program and these are their kids and their residents and their community. So, you know, there really needs to be a workflow kind of of

206
00:55:42.640 --> 00:55:59.599
the expectation of when approvals go through and also utilizing like if there's a giant grassy space back here, uh maybe utilizing as much as we can our own free space. Yeah, that's >> you know, but again, the school should be opening up in the winter and letting

207
00:55:59.599 --> 00:56:14.799
us use the facilities. I know that that comes with a little bit of additional costs, but you know, the library, there's other places that we can be using that are public public buildings and spaces and we need to work together. So, I think a meeting with the school committee or whoever makes those

208
00:56:14.799 --> 00:56:31.359
decisions or where that workflow goes through, I don't know how it kind of works with requests for space through the schools. um it needs to come come together. Uh and I think with with the town coming together and the tri board that there's relationships that have just been built that are a little bit

209
00:56:31.359 --> 00:56:47.280
more um cozy. I guess people know each other, they like each other, they you know work together, but we that's a huge like the space thing is huge, >> right? >> Um so I think I you know I'm a go for this. I think having a one-year

210
00:56:47.280 --> 00:57:03.280
contingent plan >> is good because you can show and prove the revenue that you're going to generate. And if it's even 3/4 of it, then we can say, hey, like this is what they've built in this tiny amount of time coming in.

211
00:57:03.280 --> 00:57:19.520
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I don't think it's like, oh my gosh, you didn't bring in $35,000 this year to cover her salary. Like, that's a lot of money. I think I think it can be done and I think you're the person to do it. But um I think if we have to see like growth, we're not going to see huge growth like in the first six

212
00:57:19.520 --> 00:57:36.400
months to a year, but we are going to see a good amount of growth. So I think we just need to keep that in mind and not like put all this pressure and be like if you don't generate $35,000 of revenue, you know, >> and that's why I put out there like I want you guys to understand >> fully. Yes. No. If there's anybody fully

213
00:57:36.400 --> 00:57:51.359
aware of that, I'm trying to I'm and I'm paying attention to all of you. I'm actually going back in my emails trying to um see if I could pull something. >> I did want to say though too on my wreck, that's what I was doing while you were talking. I was still listening because I wrote down stuff you were saying. But I can pull up the credit

214
00:57:51.359 --> 00:58:08.480
card um in like the income reports from my wreck and how much we make. So even I can change the start date, but right now it's just from May 1st to to today. And it says the credit card public is at 4500 475. So, that's what we already have coming

215
00:58:08.480 --> 00:58:25.280
in just for May. And I'm pretty sure it's all beach stuff. It is all beach stuff. Um, but that's just for that. So, I can go back and look at all of that and try to pull those. >> Yeah, we'd have to pull the um we'd have to pull the match to um see what went out to those vendors, too. >> Right. So, I know that there's I haven't

216
00:58:25.280 --> 00:58:41.680
done all of these reports yet cuz I never had to at my previous position. I've only used some of them, but I can play around with it because if I go into financials >> reports, I can get all these different types of reports. So, I can try to play around with it and figure out what

217
00:58:41.680 --> 00:58:58.480
>> we can ask her, too. >> And, you know, here's here's the other thing that I'm going to say about this, and I I totally get your questions. Absolutely valid, and and everything that you threw forward is absolutely valid. I'm sort of looking at this almost like a clean slate like you know because we haven't had somebody because

218
00:58:58.480 --> 00:59:16.160
I think there may be a time that um we have to be saying to you and probably having conversations with Chris Ruth as well. If there's something that becomes overly timeconuming that's not a money-making activity on your side, we're going to need to talk to Chris and sort of to figure out how to make this

219
00:59:16.160 --> 00:59:33.599
work. Um because we've never this is not something that we've ever thrown out before. If we were expending our revolving account down to zero every year, I wouldn't be sitting here saying, "Let's try this." But as far, you know, when I look at it, the way I'm sort of looking at it is that this money, this 33,000, yes, we have money that's come

220
00:59:33.599 --> 00:59:49.119
comes comes and goes, but this is, do you remember how much we transferred from the 53d to the 53 and a half? It was a substantial sum of money. So, I feel like some of this money is money that's sort of been we've been >> there, >> you know, we've been saving. You said,

221
00:59:49.119 --> 01:00:04.720
>> you know, I thought it was 77. I was like, >> we haven't done anything with the >> I I am to be very clear, I am not a no on this at all. I think if we're going to to make a take a risk, this is is exactly the risk that we should be taking. I just want to make sure that

222
01:00:04.720 --> 01:00:21.040
we're being realistic about the risk that we're taking. uh because we're not really just looking to make her position self- sustaining because right now a large chunk of our revenue is coming from the beach which we also need to make self- sustaining. So it's it's not

223
01:00:21.040 --> 01:00:37.599
a matter of increasing revenue by 60% it's a matter of increasing revenue by like 160%. Correct. >> Um so it's a a very sign this is a a significant uphill battle. Um, and one thing I don't see in this proposal is a

224
01:00:37.599 --> 01:00:55.440
mechanism or a timeline for us sort of keeping track of the progress of this until spring of 2027. And if this is something that needs to be there a we need to have a much more structured um sort of you can put whatever parameters

225
01:00:55.440 --> 01:01:11.359
out there whatever it is you >> Yeah, you can put whatever parameters you want out there. I was not comfortable speaking for the entire commission as especially last week where I technically worked for 5 days was not the commission. Um you know I mean you were >> I I was but you know I I didn't I didn't

226
01:01:11.359 --> 01:01:28.240
want to I didn't really want to be running rogue on it without and throwing all of this stuff forward because >> if you all remember part of the reason I wanted to be done with the parks commission was because it's been 10 years of me working on a lot of the stuff. It's not It can't be the Karen

227
01:01:28.240 --> 01:01:44.079
paperwork anymore. It's got to be the commission as a whole. So, I didn't want to run too rogue on that. >> I tell you though, too, I can send like seasonal reports if you want. So, I have always done this when I do programs. I

228
01:01:44.079 --> 01:02:00.000
put the programs, what it costs, all the fees and everything so that I can see what we make from everything and where it comes out. So I can even have that almost at the beginning of a season if I know a program is going to run or not. So I can send those to keep you guys

229
01:02:00.000 --> 01:02:15.599
informed and in the loop of what what's happening and where maybe you guys could be like, "Oh, is we're missing maybe this or could we try this or what's happening?" You know what I mean? So that way you guys have a little bit more input and help on that as well. So I don't mind sending anything that I have

230
01:02:15.599 --> 01:02:32.240
to keep you guys in the loop for that. So Chris, we had asked Chris Ruth for financials. >> I was just going to say that we try and get every other meeting or so financial >> he and we have been getting into it just because everybody's been busy. So you know we could go back to and request all

231
01:02:32.240 --> 01:02:49.200
of those again which would show obviously the revolving account balances, you know, that sort of thing. Um, and I don't think we're going to get push back from anybody because if there's somebody that she helps more than us and the town as a whole, it's Chris Ruth and his office and getting stuff done. So, um, I don't think he

232
01:02:49.200 --> 01:03:05.839
would push back on anything that we are requesting. I also think we need to look at this because of the state of the town and the override and things are being cut as a partnership between this board and the recreation director position.

233
01:03:05.839 --> 01:03:21.520
Um, and we honestly could put on our agenda at once a month to have Christa come in and do a financial presentation for 5 minutes like this is what we did this month. >> And that, you know, if you put that in the in the strategic plan, that's also showing that, you know, if even if you

234
01:03:21.520 --> 01:03:37.119
had a bad month, we can be like, okay, we can also brainstorm here at these meetings and be like, oh, well, why didn't that work? And the cultural knowledge that's sitting here is ridiculous. And this I don't know anything. I don't know you've been here. Um, I just have cultural knowledge of

235
01:03:37.119 --> 01:03:52.480
recreation departments in itself, but >> I know we want you you're here for the duration of this though, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, yeah. >> The year. >> Probably not a year. >> Unless she's unless she's changing her phone number and moving out of town.

236
01:03:52.480 --> 01:04:08.000
>> She like that's the thing. I'm not going anywhere. Okay. I think I you know I was saying to Dan earlier like how this >> Jenna meetings at her house. you know how the how these commissions how this commission functions as a very welloiled

237
01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:24.240
group of people who have the best interests in town. There has never been politics that has ever gotten to these meetings that have caused any issues. So when it's when it's friendly like that it makes people want to stick around. And even now like previous chairs I can

238
01:04:24.240 --> 01:04:40.240
go back to any of our previous chairs and ask questions on something that they might have done. Um, so I'm not going anywhere, but my it would be my intention that this position at a minimum will show up on the ballot next May. And in order to do that, I I probably can't be here much longer than

239
01:04:40.240 --> 01:04:56.160
six months. So, >> okay. >> All right. So, this is a year-long. >> Yeah. And I think >> this is is this when does this contract end? >> This would this would start July 1. Okay. >> And it would run through June 30th. And Okay. the budget season starts usually around like

240
01:04:56.160 --> 01:05:10.960
>> and conversations are going to start because we're going to have to, you know, do the whole capital plan and all that kind of budget stuff. But then in um January, February time frame is when the finance committee has folks appearing at their door and town managers really starting to hone in on

241
01:05:10.960 --> 01:05:26.000
>> on things. And I I you know, I think it may give us a good idea of um >> So, what's your commitment to March? >> No, my commitment. >> She's not giving it to giving it. Okay, great. Well, we know I'm here for two years. You're here. I don't even I don't even know that >> next year. Next year.

242
01:05:26.000 --> 01:05:41.599
>> Okay. Um, yeah. So, I mean, we have to make a commitment as a board to to be supportive and be able to I know you're going to volunteer and do all the things. I know. >> And this could fail. I want to be completely honest. I don't want anybody to think that I'm like living in a field of roses where this is all coming up

243
01:05:41.599 --> 01:05:57.200
beautiful and you don't have any brainer to me, Karen. It really does. if you have the the plan and answer the questions and put in the finance >> and if you know the money is there I think it's worth the gamble. It's a in my head it's still sitting at 5050 maybe

244
01:05:57.200 --> 01:06:14.079
51% success and 49% no I don't know I have you know I and I don't want Christa to think that if this doesn't work that she has let us down because that is nowhere near because I've seen what she has put in so far. If you hadn't been presenting, that one meeting alone last

245
01:06:14.079 --> 01:06:32.079
month was a huge telltale of how where we were going with this department and your what you were able to provide us. And I've gone in and I've asked questions and I don't have to go in and be like, "What is she doing?" >> That doesn't happen with her. I can go in and I can see what she's doing because it's there and she's planning

246
01:06:32.079 --> 01:06:48.079
and all the feedback. I mean, I even had to go to her last Friday and be like, "You can say no to me because there's another department that wants you and if you if you don't want to be here." So, you know what I mean? Like, it's people are recognizable. >> Well, are you going to make a commitment for the year?

247
01:06:48.079 --> 01:07:03.599
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, and if she doesn't, that's fine. I mean, we'll we'll deal with it as it comes, but >> Well, you don't want to go and ask for this position and then end up with someone that's not, right? So, I mean, >> you never know, though. I don't want to I don't want anybody to ever, you know,

248
01:07:03.599 --> 01:07:18.720
because I think people are very well-intentioned when they give a yes answer and then sometimes life hits and things change. >> I understand that. But right at sitting at this table, we're all kind of committing to >> Yeah. >> moving forward. >> I would let me I actually have a a

249
01:07:18.720 --> 01:07:33.200
motion prepared more because >> I want to make sure town manager was comfortable with everything. Um I am not that I think we need to please her, but I think that a partnership works well when you have communications. So, let me read you what she said, but I want to

250
01:07:33.200 --> 01:07:50.160
also say that we can work out the rest of the details. We can do it today, we can do it next month of what the, you know, what you're looking for for information back from um Chris in terms of the financials. If there's anything else specific that you're looking for,

251
01:07:50.160 --> 01:08:08.720
we can do that. This doesn't preclude having that discussion. So, um the motion that I had um run by town manager was um where is it? >> I don't know how to even read anything.

252
01:08:08.720 --> 01:08:26.400
I I'm just I can see over her shoulder and the font is so small. It's so zoomed out. >> Let me let me get it. >> Everything is at 40.5. >> I know. I know. I'm like I've always like this looking computer so I make it huge.

253
01:08:26.400 --> 01:08:41.679
>> Okay. So my motion would be to appropriate up actually it's 31,000 to appropriate up to $31,000 from the park commission revolving account to fully fund the salary of the part-time recreation director position

254
01:08:41.679 --> 01:08:58.319
for the fiscal year 27 on a one-time trial basis. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate whether the position can become self-supporting through recreation programming revenue under its programming revenue under its current operational structure which is a one

255
01:08:58.319 --> 01:09:14.480
part time. Yeah, I I think we do need to add that the rep that the recreation director will provide a strategic plan with these points under it, which I think she already >> um as long as we add to it and don't take

256
01:09:14.480 --> 01:09:29.600
away from it. >> No, I love I love it. >> All right. So, what do you look >> you know that it says here we'd request that the recreation department uh director do these things, but I think we should have something in writing from her. >> So, what do you want me to do? Do >> you want me to to give me a sentence to

257
01:09:29.600 --> 01:09:45.920
add to the motion. >> I thought you were going to write it for me, Trent. >> So, um, >> the purpose of this trial is to evaluate whether the position can become self-supporting through recreation programming revenue under its current operational structure. >> Okay. Um the reparation director will

258
01:09:45.920 --> 01:10:07.360
provide a >> one strategic plan, >> one year detailed strategic plan >> and then these three things that you already have. >> You want me to put it in? >> I don't think that needs to be in the >> You wanted to say a strategic plan.

259
01:10:07.360 --> 01:10:24.760
>> We just say a one a one year detailed strategic plan. >> Yes. Okay. But this is what we're expecting. >> Yeah. with >> he knows >> with periodic reporting >> with monthly financial with monthly reporting to the commission

260
01:10:25.120 --> 01:10:39.440
>> do you come to all these meetings is that how that works >> can we do by monthly >> yeah I want to be I just historically I want to be respectful of the fact that she is part time >> can we make it we make it periodic that way we can at the end of it doesn't have

261
01:10:39.440 --> 01:10:56.480
to be you know it doesn't make sense to present in July if the season is wrapping up in August. Like >> where were you last year in the year before and the year before? cultural consult. I'd love to have you share like this was a great month like and you don't have to be like and again like don't like you can just send a

262
01:10:56.480 --> 01:11:11.760
report >> and we can look at if we have questions we can come back and ask later like just send a report you don't don't feel you know I think that's >> you know we can as long as the numbers are spelled out it's clear we have a finance person like >> but also feel free to um >> bad months

263
01:11:11.760 --> 01:11:28.239
>> put yourself on the agenda for like brainstorming because we are partners with you you know >> um >> you can call any of us the pirate or me, the soccer coach. >> Coach, >> the finance lady. >> Yeah, but you want to do a toddler

264
01:11:28.239 --> 01:11:44.560
program with Hey, listen. I started my time in recreation with toddler gymnastics. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, you're doing toddler gymnastics. >> That's how I started myation program. >> There we go. Um All right. So, let me read this again before I make my final comment as we close out some of this

265
01:11:44.560 --> 01:12:02.719
stuff, too. So, um, the motion would be, um, where did the rest of it go? Hold on. Hold on. I lost the first part of it. Hold that thought. Oh, I didn't copy and paste it. Do Do you know off the top of your head,

266
01:12:02.719 --> 01:12:20.880
I believe 31,000 covers your salary? >> Look, I can add it up. >> I think so. Do um >> Is it a job description? No, you know where we can find it on the um the town website for the override because her position was being restored with the override. Can you look at the town side

267
01:12:20.880 --> 01:12:36.560
and just if you go under the >> rec? It's right around there. >> Yeah, that's what I think the number is. >> 30 30,628. So 31 would cover it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I was like there it is. >> Such a bargain. >> Tell me about it.

268
01:12:36.560 --> 01:12:53.840
Tell me about it. All right. So, the motion would be to appropriate up to $31,000 from the park commission revolving account to fully fund the salary of the part-time recreation director position for fiscal year 27 on a one-time trial basis. The purpose of

269
01:12:53.840 --> 01:13:09.120
this trial is to evaluate whether the position can become self-supporting through recreation programming re programming revenue under its current operational structure. The recreation director will provide a one-year detailed strategic plan with periodic financial reporting. Do you want to say

270
01:13:09.120 --> 01:13:26.400
current operational structure? Because I think she's going to update the operational structure >> under it. Current I said current operational structure. >> I feel like you're going to be tweaking the operational structure. Well, >> I think current operational structure is just one one part or one director. Okay.

271
01:13:26.400 --> 01:13:42.000
>> No new staff. No. >> All right. All right. All right. All right. I'm like processes and operations. I see that you >> processes are going to do things. Um, but just in in terms of collaboration, it's the wall hard. >> Yeah, >> it would just be hard. The oneman bands

272
01:13:42.000 --> 01:13:56.719
>> hopefully not playing what is it the clarinet when you or the violin as you like? >> I play some flute. >> That would work. That would work. >> Does anybody want to add anything to this? Change anything? Offer any other input on this? Chris is I feel like

273
01:13:56.719 --> 01:14:12.400
Chris's wheels are turning. No, I I mean I just go back to like I I think this is the right this is the right decision. Um the money's there. Um you know I I think there's buy in from

274
01:14:12.400 --> 01:14:30.719
everybody. Um with you know that as we have time we can commit time and and try and move this along. I think we're going to get regular reporting so we can keep track and understand it all. Um, you know, I think it'll be that again getting with the schools is going to be critical to to keep that rolling

275
01:14:30.719 --> 01:14:46.400
forward. Um, so I think we're in the right, you know, we're on the right track. >> You know, I I want to be respectful of at least understand the fact that in the back of my mind, you're really new to the position. Like this is not like a

276
01:14:46.400 --> 01:15:02.159
year, you know, you haven't had a year of kind of moving things along and so forth. I think there there was a lot of good programming in the past. So hopefully some of that can be picked back up and it's going to just kind of keep that rolling. But you know, you're you're new in a position. So I'm trying in the back of my mind being mindful of

277
01:15:02.159 --> 01:15:18.400
that as well. I think is you know as we gauge success that's a piece in the back of my mind. And it does it won't change like the report like we're funding this and we're asking for financials and all that kind of stuff but she still falls to

278
01:15:18.400 --> 01:15:34.400
facilities which facilities falls to the town. So it's not like we're moving her to be our direct employee. We're not doing that. Um it just changes and I think the conversation I would beg of you guys to not let this conversation

279
01:15:34.400 --> 01:15:51.040
stop. I think that if if this is successful, the conversation needs to happen, but so doesn't it have to continue to happen if it's not successful. I there needs to be um a plan um moving forward because we're not if we're not getting rid of any fields. We still have field space that needs to

280
01:15:51.040 --> 01:16:07.280
be dealt with and field requests and user groups that are coming in. Um, you know, I I we need to keep these conversations because the more we keep these conversations, the more they're on the forefront of people's minds and they don't forget that we exist because there's for a long time I think people

281
01:16:07.280 --> 01:16:22.960
forgot that we even had a parks commission. It wasn't until probably eight or nine years ago that we finally were like, "Hey, we're here." So, all right. So, that would be Do you want me to read my my motion? I I'll make the motion. Does do you want me to read it again or you

282
01:16:22.960 --> 01:16:39.440
>> I just I would read it one more time so we can vote on it. >> All right. So, I will make the motion to appropriate up to $31,000 from the park commission revolving account to fully fund the salary of the part-time recreation director position for fiscal year 27 on a one-time trial basis. The

283
01:16:39.440 --> 01:16:55.280
purpose of this trial is to evaluate whether the position can become self-supporting through recreation programming revenue under its current operational structure. The recreation director will provide a one-year detailed strategic plan with periodic financial reporting.

284
01:16:55.280 --> 01:17:11.280
>> Second, >> where were we last year again? Um, any discussion on this? >> Awesome. Um, all in favor? >> And I from myself. Um, I did do my due diligence and I did speak with town manager today just to make sure if we

285
01:17:11.280 --> 01:17:27.679
approve this like what else has to happen? She doesn't think anything, but I will. Um, I'll make sure you're CCd with Chris on this email that goes >> So, who does the funding say on this? >> I believe it's us. Well, sort of. I It's We're in a weird gray spot of this. Um,

286
01:17:27.679 --> 01:17:42.800
I I think it's going to be us because we can fund it >> because we are allowed by charter to run programming and things like that. So, I think that's how it's going to end up um >> sort of coming out in the wash. But I'm sure if she finds a snag in it, let us

287
01:17:42.800 --> 01:17:57.120
know. And if we need to meet before the end of June to fix that snag, we'll we'll certainly do that. >> Right. Awesome. So, that's done. I have no skate park update because um Kristen, stick around for a second. We can do the

288
01:17:57.120 --> 01:18:13.679
vendor. Um I have no update. We sent it off to town to town manager, then to town council weeks ago. Never have not gotten anything back. Followed up with her what, last week? Um, and she did send another message back earlier this week saying that if we didn't hear

289
01:18:13.679 --> 01:18:28.719
anything by Thursday, she'd follow. >> He's meeting a town >> council tomorrow. >> I mean, I don't really understand this. Um, when I first came to Lunberg, I met with Anthony, is that his name? And sent him several um grant opportunities

290
01:18:28.719 --> 01:18:45.679
um to help, although I still was like, who's who's maintaining? Like, I don't get this. I still don't get this. Um, so I, you know, I haven't heard from him in about, >> you know, we have a skate park. I should have given the Okay, >> I So, >> yes, I know the legend of the skate

291
01:18:45.679 --> 01:19:01.760
park. >> The legend. >> A quick 60-second history on this. The um back in seventh grade, these kids are now juniors in college, finishing their junior in college. So, what that's four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, nine years ago.

292
01:19:01.760 --> 01:19:16.640
>> Nine or 10 years ago. >> They were seventh grade. They were seventh grade there. >> So, seventh, 8th, 9th, 10th. Oh, yeah. Juniors in college. Never kidding. So, all those years ago, they came forward to the parks commission. We were a three member board at the time. They had this

293
01:19:16.640 --> 01:19:31.600
grand idea that they hatched during a genius hour project at the middle school. We told them if any of our properties came back up on top to come and talk to us. We didn't see them again. They had gone to in front of the select board. They made their case and the next thing we know without any

294
01:19:31.600 --> 01:19:48.320
consultation with the um parks commission they were building over next to TC Pasios and at the time we were just relinquishing care and control of the um the turf fields and it it had been proven difficult for one group to

295
01:19:48.320 --> 01:20:03.280
have care and custody but another group to own the actual land. So we didn't want to be involved in that mess again. We told the select board and the um the skate park that we wouldn't support it at that location, but we would entertain supporting it at Marshall Park because

296
01:20:03.280 --> 01:20:20.159
we were at that point starting to really talk about Marshall Park and what was going to come up. And so that's where we that's where we got here. So they then switched their plans and they moved over to Marshall Park about a year and a half ago, maybe two years ago. They had a

297
01:20:20.159 --> 01:20:36.480
right of entry agreement signed with us. This is a private project going in on town land and um they had a right of entry agreement signed with us but they didn't have the funds to fulfill such project. That right of entry agreement then expired and you can't extend an

298
01:20:36.480 --> 01:20:53.920
expired entry agreement. You have to start basically over again. So in the process of starting over they realized that there was an issue with getting a bond that they were required to have to actually guarantee they were going to finish this project. They have gotten creative. they have a a private um

299
01:20:53.920 --> 01:21:09.920
entity willing to put up a cash bond on this. Um so those details were the what were we were working out and now it is at town council to try to figure it out. What the select board didn't do when they decided to take this on and tell

300
01:21:09.920 --> 01:21:25.360
the parks commission that we could run it over there was make a plan for how it was going to be maintained. So, it's going to it's going to fall under us under our m our general maintenance line and we will have to figure out the pieces of that as we um and hopefully it

301
01:21:25.360 --> 01:21:41.520
actually does come to fruition in the next year or so because it would be nice for these kids to actually get it done while they're at least in school, some sort of school, college. >> Well, we can still reasonably call them kids. >> Exactly. Kids to me. um even though half of them

302
01:21:41.520 --> 01:21:59.199
are double my size. But um yeah, so that's that's a quick history on that and and how we got here. And um you know, it was just at the time it it it didn't make sense um for the parks commission to support it over next to Pacios. Um, and I wish in hindsight it

303
01:21:59.199 --> 01:22:13.920
had gone a bunch of different ways, including us being involved in the discussion from the get-go with the select board, but it was at a time where groups were they very much ran independently. Nobody communicated. You did like I literally found out about it

304
01:22:13.920 --> 01:22:29.679
through an article in the ledger. So, this wasn't somebody trickling down from town hall. Um, so >> in hindsight, we will um do things differently. >> Here we are. >> All right. Well, Christa is still here. Um, chair updates. So, the vendor fair, as I said in the beginning, which was

305
01:22:29.679 --> 01:22:45.760
scheduled for Saturday, has now been postponed to Sunday. >> Is it still 11 to 5? >> 11 to 5. >> Is it in DCP? >> It's because it's supposed to rain Sunday. I saw >> correct. Correct. >> Well, it's a 40% chance of rain on Sunday, I think.

306
01:22:45.760 --> 01:23:03.360
>> Earlier today, Sunday. >> I think they're going to try to open something up inside. Um, I'm not 100% sure. what the plan is. Um, >> but my question to you is we're so originally Christa had talked to me about possibly putting up a table for

307
01:23:03.360 --> 01:23:20.320
parks and wreck and she could man it for a couple of hours and then we could fill in anybody on the commission who wanted to fill in for the rest of it. You know, hand out some flyers about swim lessons at town beach. If at that point, I don't think we'll know, but if any programming was um, you know, coming up um we could

308
01:23:20.320 --> 01:23:37.360
certainly um, you know, advertise for that. throw out some of the larger we have some games we've got like uh Connect 4 and whatever we have upstairs in the office that we could put out as sort of an activity for people. Um but then it changed to Sunday. I didn't want to assume that you were ready and um um

309
01:23:37.360 --> 01:23:54.159
I'm actually not feeling well. So I don't know what my I don't know what the rest of my night's even going to turn into. So um if you are available and you want to do a table, then we can move forward with doing a table and we can see what we can get for coverage. And if you're not available, then we'll just continue on and whoever from parks wants

310
01:23:54.159 --> 01:24:10.800
to go and volunteer on the day of just go and find Josie Gilchrist. And >> I say I'm I'm going to be sword fighting there all day. So I'm happy to put flyers out or >> the first two hours of Sunday. Like I can still do 11 to like 1. >> I'm going to I'll be over there.

311
01:24:10.800 --> 01:24:27.360
>> I'm on grand baby watch. I'm having a new grandchild any day now. I don't want to come in and they be like, "Sorry, that's more important." Yeah, it is more important though. It is. And if you haven't heard my spiel on this before, before I relinquished the seat, we try to be the most real group of people in

312
01:24:27.360 --> 01:24:43.600
town. >> I've had kids playing high school sports. Chris had play kids playing high school sports. We've, you know, our former member does a lot of traveling. We will do our best to accommodate schedules. So, if you, if there's a topic coming up that you can't be there for, but you want to be, we can try to

313
01:24:43.600 --> 01:24:58.880
adjust our schedule. Sometimes it means being in a tiny room upstairs, but we can do that. So, um, family always comes first. There's no, it's not optional in this group. It's, it's the reality of our our lives. >> Yeah, I can still do it. I just need to

314
01:24:58.880 --> 01:25:15.440
know where to go. And, um, like I'll print some stuff out for, like you said, the swim lessons. I might even print out like a volunteer interest sheet so if people are interested, they can contact me. >> So, I'll tell Josie Gilchrist that we'd like a table. I have not talked to her

315
01:25:15.440 --> 01:25:31.120
um since I started not feeling well. So, I want to I I do want to talk to her because I feel like I was some stuff that I was supposed to cover and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to. So, we'll work out the details over the next um day or so on that. if anybody's available to volunteer and if nobody's

316
01:25:31.120 --> 01:25:46.880
available just leave the table with some flyers on it and people can can grab them or hand them off to Dan and Dan can >> if you do a Google sheet or something like that with like a QR code or a volunteer or something rather then people can just take it with them and you're not deal like like you can just >> I've never made one of those though

317
01:25:46.880 --> 01:26:03.440
>> a QR code >> it's easy super easy QR codes are fun >> really >> all right I'm going to address >> you guys like help me create a QR code it'll take you to a website and you just put the I want to address some Facebook comments um from the community in my my

318
01:26:03.440 --> 01:26:19.440
outgoing chair's report. >> I think that the community as a whole is extremely well-intentioned in their desire for volunteers and to help raise funds by fundraising for various activities in in town and not just for

319
01:26:19.440 --> 01:26:36.320
parks across the board. But what tends to happen is people come up with a great idea and expect somebody else to execute it. So, if you're sitting at home and you're listening to this, we want your good ideas, but we need your help in executing them. We can't just pass them off to volunteers who have really busy lives to begin

320
01:26:36.320 --> 01:26:52.400
with. Um, so if you have a great idea that you want to have happen, I mean, somebody had mentioned a bake sale. I'm not sure we're going to be able to have a bake sale and make enough money to keep the town beach open because I don't know if people fully understand the cost of that town beach. I But I think that

321
01:26:52.400 --> 01:27:07.679
even some of those small endeavors are worth it. We need your help to make those happen. We can't just say, "Oh, the parks commission should do this. The parks commission also needs to mow their lawn and take care of their kids and their grandkids and work full-time jobs

322
01:27:07.679 --> 01:27:23.679
and everything else." So, we have time and we're willing to work with you, but we need you to help execute that. So, if you're willing to volunteer, reach out to anybody on this board and we will help you figure out how to do it. um you know, I read those comments and I just

323
01:27:23.679 --> 01:27:38.480
they're extremely well-intentioned, but then they stop there and I'd love to see them to um actually come to fruition. Um any and you're everybody is always welcome at our meetings. They're welcome to be part of the discussion. Um there's no idea there's no such thing as a bad

324
01:27:38.480 --> 01:27:55.679
idea in this group. Um and that's this is the only way creativity is the only way we're going to keep parts of our town alive at this point. and that includes recreation in Town Beach. So, that's my outgoing spiel. >> All right, let's reorganize this board. Oh, actually, let's do approval of

325
01:27:55.679 --> 01:28:10.719
minutes. >> Um, did I obviously read them. Did you read them, Chris? >> Yeah. >> You haven't seen them because you weren't there. Did you read? >> No. >> Okay. >> I don't know if I would have to approve past minutes. >> You can, but you don't have to. Um, but I think two of us is I think as long as we have a quorum here, I think two is

326
01:28:10.719 --> 01:28:26.960
enough because they just abstain. >> They can abstain, right? >> And they're not a no vote. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second that. Um, so all in favor is going to be I. So two yeses and you're both abstained. Perfect. >> All of our minutes, um, I we try to be timely in it, but they do go into a

327
01:28:26.960 --> 01:28:43.760
folder that I share with you. They start off in pending minutes and they get moved over to approved minutes. The only thing I haven't quite figured out how to master yet is when we make a motion at a meeting, how to document it so people can see it in real time without having to constantly remind myself to upload them to that SharePoint drive. So maybe

328
01:28:43.760 --> 01:29:00.320
we can figure out how to like >> So like we made a motion. We've made a couple of motions tonight. Things you know from small like meeting to >> I we have a we have a master list but like if a rec director wanted to know do we have a policy on this?

329
01:29:00.320 --> 01:29:16.639
>> It would be easier for her to probably read through like to scan through quickly because I sort them by category to say oh yeah they have a policy on this. I just need to find it versus or like we made a decision on something um like the little free library

330
01:29:16.639 --> 01:29:32.560
that was, you know, um we put put that in, but what if somebody didn't install it and now somebody comes back 5 years from now and says, "Oh, I'm putting this in it to be able to see that we actually approved it." Um you know what I mean? So like I don't know how to keep those up to current status. But if anybody has

331
01:29:32.560 --> 01:29:47.520
ideas, all right, so those are approved. I'll get those over to town and let's reorg this board. Um, does anybody have any interest in being the chair of this commission? >> Yeah, >> I I I think I'm the least qualified

332
01:29:47.520 --> 01:30:03.040
version chair of this commission. Um, >> um, >> you very happy to be an effective. >> You don't think 88 minutes you're 88 minutes into the finance is like so much

333
01:30:03.040 --> 01:30:19.440
in this town. It's like a fulltime job. >> It is. I am looking to Chris. I will >> let's do it in one big slate instead of doing it separately. So Chris is going to go for the chair. Does anybody have any qualms against that? >> No. >> Okay. The next question is what do you guys and we do have another member but

334
01:30:19.440 --> 01:30:36.560
she's I'm she's very much in the same category as you guys. I don't think she's come enough to necessarily be overly confident in taking it. So the question is what do you want to do about vice chair? We can go without one. I'm willing to step in and continue helping Chris in that role as long as somebody

335
01:30:36.560 --> 01:30:52.800
is watching very closely what I'm doing so that when I leave in a few months you take it or one of you take it and I will >> what are the qualifications of what are you supposed to be watching? So why wouldn't somebody >> I was going to learn. >> Do you know what I mean? So like why

336
01:30:52.800 --> 01:31:08.080
wouldn't somebody who's new like Chris not me >> Daniel not me not this person >> because you are like if um some people want to see how a meeting is run. So like how we set up a meeting and that sort of thing. I'd rather one of you

337
01:31:08.080 --> 01:31:24.639
guys take it and hold your hands through it. If like Chris can't be at a meeting and an agenda needs to go in or I'd rather be that person to answer the question than actually take the role because again >> I I am more than happy to to step into that role as long as I have some

338
01:31:24.639 --> 01:31:43.600
>> guidance. I think I'm going to lean very hard on you as that as that person to answer questions. And to be honest with you, I don't I don't anticipate changing the way I do a lot of things. Like I probably will be stepping on Chris's toes and he'll be like, "Can you back

339
01:31:43.600 --> 01:32:00.960
off?" Cuz I still plan on coming in and talking to >> I plan on talking to Christa. You know, I do stuff at town hall. You know, I we just do on this board. We're not We don't have to wait for a unless you're going absolutely rogue. You don't have

340
01:32:00.960 --> 01:32:16.880
to go through a chair in order on this commission to sort of, you know, vet some ideas if you have ideas. So, >> I say we'll run that past >> I'm I'm pretty he's followed my lead the last 10 years. He's probably good with

341
01:32:16.880 --> 01:32:31.600
it. So, I'm going to make a motion to nominate Chris as chair and Dan as vice chair. >> Second. >> All in favor? I I Sweet. Dan, you are a rock star. I don't know what the title of the ledger needs to be this week, but it has

342
01:32:31.600 --> 01:32:48.480
to be something about Dan Burns, >> you know. I just But you have had some cultural counsel. >> I have some experience setting agendas and meeting minutes and all that. >> Sweet. So, our um next meeting is supposed to be the 4th.

343
01:32:48.480 --> 01:33:05.920
>> Yes, we typically meet the 4th uh Wednesday. >> Wednesday, which is the 24th of June. Um, what is everybody's availability that like do you want to do that week? Do you want to bump to the week before? Or we can even wait. Um, I think we

344
01:33:05.920 --> 01:33:21.040
should keep it only because it's going to be like right of our our kickoff of the new position >> and the beach opens up Monday. >> Okay. >> The 22nd. >> Yeah. Oh, so >> that's what we have it scheduled for. >> Um, all right. So, let's stick with the

345
01:33:21.040 --> 01:33:38.239
24th. Um, oh school doesn't full. >> Yeah. Um, so we'll stick with the 24th uh for our next meeting date. If anything changes, Chris will be in touch with you. >> Sweet. Like yes. >> Are we good with setting a couple just to put >> didn't count or we just set a couple?

346
01:33:38.239 --> 01:33:55.199
>> So then the the next one um would actually be the 22nd of July. Does that work for most people? >> It's a Wednesday. >> It's a Wednesday. It's going to open.

347
01:33:55.199 --> 01:34:14.159
>> You're open. >> Okay. And then in August, it would be um the 26th of August. >> You're around because Rogers doesn't start till the week after. >> She wasn't going to be. >> Oh, I don't know. I've only spent the

348
01:34:14.159 --> 01:34:31.199
last 12 years. It is very late. August. >> Uh 26. >> Uh 26th. So we generally just meet on Wednesdays. Yeah. The fourth. >> Yeah. And please like if we find that like over time like if Wednesdays don't work like we'll figure it out and go from there. Yep.

349
01:34:31.199 --> 01:34:47.920
>> Our meetings are very free flowing so we don't really have we don't really hold like public comment for the first three minutes of the meeting or what like we generally will have an interact if there's people here they're on include them in the discussion. um August.

350
01:34:47.920 --> 01:35:03.520
>> We don't have the exact date, but it's like mid a because we have to wait to find out the schedules of the >> lifeguards. Okay. Y those college kids that go back to college and free. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And school will start usually will start um like that last week

351
01:35:03.520 --> 01:35:19.679
>> like the 25th or something. >> Yeah, that's school that week. Like school will start. >> So September will be our probably our first finance. You've had a season blah blah blah. >> Yep. Yeah. >> And I don't think you're going to get anything anything useful until September. >> Yeah.

352
01:35:19.679 --> 01:35:34.880
>> Yeah. And then I'm going to send out my ideas so that you guys can tell me what you can volunteer for. >> And you guys can reply back to her. You just have to go directly to her. You can't include everybody on the reserv. >> Okay. So, if we have contacts with like vendors that can provide athlet, you

353
01:35:34.880 --> 01:35:50.400
know, programs at no cost to us. I can give her that information on the side. Okay. I would tap like I mean I think from a like I forget I don't remember who said it but I would tap into um kind of the art department or or kids in

354
01:35:50.400 --> 01:36:06.639
school before school gets out >> well >> to work on to work on advertising but like kids that do art like they're really engaged with with they can probably help you with >> you know Canva posters or not any anything like that like I think they'd be helpful with with something like

355
01:36:06.639 --> 01:36:22.880
that. Um, I'd be careful in the summertime. >> Well, they're going to have to report to you as opposed to a teacher in the summertime kind of deal. >> Um, >> and Dan's cultural council where he came from, they that was the grant

356
01:36:22.880 --> 01:36:38.960
opportunity that we've never taken advantage of that we need to take advantage of this year. It's not a very detailed >> Do we apply for grants here on this uh committee or does how does that work? >> We can do it however we want to do it. So, um, you know, when we were doing Marshall Park, um, it was us that

357
01:36:38.960 --> 01:36:54.960
applied applied the for the grants. Um, the cultural council looks nothing like the Marshall Park million-dollar grants, but that's a good thing. >> Cultural is where all the money is. >> And that's where um that's where um Deb Goodsell, she applies she applied for

358
01:36:54.960 --> 01:37:11.760
those that she Yeah, she so um there is some because some of their some of your grants go to out or when you were on the commission went to outside. a lot of homeland counsel groups and I know at least the the makeup of the council as it was would have preferred to see them stay in town.

359
01:37:11.760 --> 01:37:27.920
>> So I think we have an opportunity to and sometimes I think they just subsidize some of the programming so we can I'm happy to help you figure that piece out. >> Okay. Um, so yeah, and then the, you know, if we can get this off the grounds, I think

360
01:37:27.920 --> 01:37:44.880
get this off, get save our rep director, save the town beach, and then let's figure out how to bring band concerts back because I think that would be something easily that would fall under us that can be covered by a grant. And I think we're smart enough on this commission. I say users love it. two,

361
01:37:44.880 --> 01:38:03.040
the library director and um the senior center director. They we had like department meeting um all three of us and they were talking about doing summer concerts together as like >> all together, but they were looking at trying to like have each department fund

362
01:38:03.040 --> 01:38:19.840
like two for the summer and then like so that was just like a brief conversation, but that was before this whole position is going to be funded now. So, I don't know where that leads anything. >> The band concerts were we had did six band concerts a year at $1,000 each.

363
01:38:19.840 --> 01:38:36.199
>> What is the cop like what what's the >> I guess $1,000. >> No, no, no. What does that go to? >> I think the salaries of the bands. >> Yeah. And normally goes to pay the and then like the question >> in my naive brain

364
01:38:36.639 --> 01:38:53.199
like a salary for >> like my husband said like you hear >> that's just me being naive. I don't know. >> Yeah. It's not a judgment. >> And then you hear about sponsors. He's like, "These are we hear that these events are sponsored, but it apparently isn't monetary sponsors. They're just like in name only sponsors." So, I don't

365
01:38:53.199 --> 01:39:08.080
know. They need to figure it out. But I think that's one of the things that if we if they are not brought back, that's something that we can I think it >> that's that's my other question. Can we fund raise as a like a >> I don't know. So, we need to go back to

366
01:39:08.080 --> 01:39:25.679
um I would think so because I mean we sold um we sold the bricks at Veterans Memorial Park on the ground like there's engraved bricks on the ground and I think that was some sort of fundraising event. So, well, just >> somebody asked me about it when I

367
01:39:25.679 --> 01:39:41.600
brought up so I didn't know. >> The next time um town council's in when you see that email come out from town hall um look to see what it is. If it's during your hours, let somebody know and one of us I mean you can go alone but one of us can go with you too and we can ask him we can like ask him how that

368
01:39:41.600 --> 01:39:58.639
would work >> and what we would need to do the legalities of it and Jen may know too because she's well versed in all this stuff >> right so >> okay awesome municipal department >> yes >> yes >> okay yes you can >> okay so I just don't know the like and

369
01:39:58.639 --> 01:40:13.040
notes >> nonprofit friends and parts rec organization you can do that through there Yeah, there's got to be a way to do it. I just don't know how. >> According to the rec commission found recreation commission >> you said too like we accept so like say

370
01:40:13.040 --> 01:40:29.199
we accept a donation or something that has everything has to go through the town too. >> So when we accept like a a an item property that's been gifted to us like a park bench >> um by for however our town charter and bylaws are written we are we accept it

371
01:40:29.199 --> 01:40:44.960
as a gift. the parks commission can recommend the acceptance of the gift and then it goes to the um select. >> What if somebody wanted to donate like say $100 for a scholarship? Does that have to be approved? >> I I can't I can't imagine but I don't know. So the way we did it is we

372
01:40:44.960 --> 01:41:00.560
established like a friends of the recreation and like a I think it was like a 501c3 >> C3 something like that. Um so we had that fund and that's where all the donations came through. So there were scholarship donations, there were um monetary donations, >> right?

373
01:41:00.560 --> 01:41:15.520
>> This tax, you got to follow the tax Y scenario. It's a lot of I think a lot of work on the 5013 C 501c3 side for the taxes. >> I mean it's not too I mean with your 19 hours that might >> Yeah, I was that was in my head. like no

374
01:41:15.520 --> 01:41:30.400
right now. >> We can ask. I think it's worthy of asking and figuring out because I know that we've received monetary do like other departments in town have received monetary donations before. So, >> um >> because I just think about like programming and fundraising and all that

375
01:41:30.400 --> 01:41:47.360
kind of stuff to also help sustain the programs themselves and then the the department. So, >> yep, >> that's why I was Yeah. I mean, I think we even considered our um program fees and memberships like kind of almost like fundraising or funding. Yeah. Under

376
01:41:47.360 --> 01:42:02.239
there. But thankfully, I don't know anything about it and I don't know may not be around long enough to happen. You keep saying that, but you promise me it's all right. I will take a move >> on before we go on the scheduling of the school. Let me know if it is ML schedule

377
01:42:02.239 --> 01:42:18.800
that you have access to. Make sure >> I think it was called facilities booking. That's what it was going through. Like it was look it was like through the school. I can pull up the website. We'll have it >> here. Let's let's adjourn this so and then you guys can figure it out after. So I'll take a motion to adjurnn at

378
01:42:18.800 --> 01:42:29.280
8:41. >> 77. >> All in favor? >> I we are done. Thanks folks. >> Okay. So this is what they told me