Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting: October 8, 2025

Attendance

Members**

After each member’s name, Yes indicates present at meeting, No indicates not present.

Deb Faucher (Chair) – Yes, Ed Harley (Clerk) – Yes, Sherry Horeanopolous – Yes,

Martin Sterman – Yes, Addison Barwise – Yes*, Andrea Surabian (Alt 1) – No,

*Arrived at 7:56 during Spooky Walk discussion

** There is currently an open/unfilled Alternate seat.

 

Other Attendees       

Walter Zawacki, Advisory Committee and liaison to P&R

Administrative

Call to Order

Deb called meeting to order at 7:32 PM

Approve Minutes

Deb made a motion to approve the minutes from September 3, 2025.  Sherry seconded.  All in favor.

Director’s Position – next steps

The position was posted in September and they are accepting resumes.  Three resumes have been received as of today.  Deb solicited feedback about what committee members view the primary responsibilities of the director.  Thoughts were:

• Field and facility maintenance
• Strategic plan
• Scheduling
• Maintaining good relationships with other town departments and organizations

Focus should not be programming and activities since the commission is handling these items.

Sherry H. will take point on interviewing candidates with Sherry Patch.

Public Comments

None.  No public attendees.

Updates/Discussion Items

Financial

Yearly Funds Available:       Starting (7/1)=$21,819, Previous(9/3)=$20,789, Current(10/1)=$9,615

Revolving Funds Available: Starting (7/1)=$14,824, Previous(9/3)=$19,406, Current(10/1)=$19,836

(not including donation funds)

• Large decrease in yearly funds due primarily to Field 2 repairs
• The balances are certainly enough to cover the same expenses as last year. There isn’t a lot of extra to cover new expenses.

Events/Programs

Scarecrow Alley / Trunk or Treat / Spooky Walk (in Goodnow Park) – Deb/Sherry

• One scarecrow has been placed on the commons. Deb has heard from many other organizations and businesses that they are intending to put up scarecrows as well.
• Sherry surveyed the Goodnow Park path and figured out what could be done safely when dark. They have identified a good path.
• She is still waiting on Selectboard approval before we are able to proceed. They have raised concerns about nefarious things happening on the walk and are considering a request for police detail (at our expense). Sherry will attend next Wednesday’s Selectboard meeting to support the spooky walk, and Deb requested commission members attend to support Sherry.
• If approved, Sherry will then reach out to TPS students via flyer to solicit people to set up stations on the walk. They will be responsible for setting and cleaning up their station.
• Deb will be putting up signs soon to advertise the event. She will also post on all of the social media outlets.

Touch a Truck

• Deb set up a table at the event with announcements and sign-up sheets to volunteer. Two people signed up!  She also got a lot of comments about them noticing our activities and the improvements they are making to the town.  A lot of positive conversations.
• Again, Parks and Rec sponsored the two additional porta-potties for $240.

Ski Program Update – Deb

• Laura has not responded to Deb’s communications. Addie will reach out to her daughter to see if she can get a response.

Boxwood Class and Cookie Swap – Deb/Sherry

• Boxwood class will be held at the Congregational church. Deb and Sherry will reach out to get it scheduled for early December and iron out the other planning details.
• Deb and Sherry like the idea of doing the cookie swap at Mountainside café.

Basketball – Ed

• Tuesday night has been going strong. We’ve had 15 to 20 players each night. Fees collected so far total over $550.
• Thursday night “Slow Pace” basketball is off to a very slow start. Only Ed and one other person the first two nights.  A few people have expressed interest but aren’t able to attend until November.  A few people I have talked to that have played in the past hadn’t even heard about it.
• An advertisement will go out in the next issue of Redemption Rock News and Sterling Meetinghouse papers; hopefully that will reach a wider audience.
• Martin suggested sending out an announcement via “Town News”. Deb suggested sending it out as part of a P&R Newsletter that covers all our upcoming activities.  Deb will work on this over the next few days.

Fields/Parks

Krashes – Martin

• We should present to the select board a request to transfer responsibility for the parking lot, paved paths, and fieldhouse from Parks & Rec to the Highway Dept and Buildings Dept. This is consistent with all other buildings and lots in the town.  They are equipped to handle it much more than Parks & Rec.
• The Field 2 renovation was completed.  It is being irrigated regularly.  We are only watering field 2 because of water restrictions, and there has been sufficient water for this so far.
• We will need to make a decision if we only continue to focus on maintaining Field 2 and complete the necessary steps following the maintenance (fertilization, etc), or do we want to also include work on Fields 1 and 3. Field 2 is currently on track for being playable next fall 2026.  Martin has given the go ahead for $800 for fall fertilization of Field 2.
• Cost is roughly $14,000 for all three fields for the full year. Martin will ask for updated quotes, one for just Field 2 maintenance next year and one for all three fields.
• The town completed a thorough ADA assessment, and Krashes is completely out of compliance.  It is possible, should someone complain, that Krashes could beshut down due to this lack of compliance.  We would need an ADA compliant parking spot and paving repaired to each field to be in compliance.  Martin suggested that we turn this responsibility over to the highway department for coordinating or completing this work since this is in their wheelhouse.  All were in agreement.

Baseball Diamond at TPS

• Scenic Scapes continues to do a great job keeping weeds under control and the infield looking great.

Playgrounds

Sawyer – Addie

• Neighborhood meeting led by Addison. They liked the idea of fixing the equipment with new swing seats, etc.  They would like to replace the slide with something newer, but they don’t want to remove it until there is a replacement.
• They are planning a fall clean-up of the park.
• People were very willing to take on maintenance of the ice rink if it were set up there. Addie will check with Ed Sweeney to see if there is a flat enough location.  Need to make sure a liner is available also; Addie will reach out to the supplier that Deb recommended.  The fire department likely will help with filling the rink, although this still needs to be confirmed.
• There is also interest in a walking path/track.
• There is an ADA plan for Sawyer field in the Princeton selfassessment completed in June 2021. Per Martin, most of the items are fairly modest cost.  He strongly encouraged that they  be included in any improvement plans for Sawyer field.

Other Business

• None

Director’s Update

• N/A – since the position is currently vacant.
• The position was posted in September

Next Meeting

Nov 5, 2025

Adjournment

8:41 PM  Deb adjourned the meeting.