03-21-2019 Recreation Council Meeting

Fairlee Recreation Council Minutes

March 21, 2019

Meeting called to order at 6:39 pm. Members present: Meg Bourn, Cammie Buster, Samantha Hickman, Matt Jung and Amanda Perry.  Matt will remain the chair and Amanda was elected to secretary.

Town Beach Review

Emma made a report on inventory and what worked well last summer.  Matt reached out to Emma and Luke about the upcoming swim season. Emma will not return, but Luke may.  Also interest from a junior lifeguard, Keo Hallmartel.

First session signups are too long, we may shorten it.  Second session sees fewer people signing up. Last season there were a lot of complaints about the cancellation of the first session and there were a lot of second session cancellations due to weather. Private lessons seemed to go well, but won’t be offered this season due to liability.

Seasonal Employment

Matt asked Tad for an ad with 3 positions: Beach manager ($14/hr.), a head lifeguard/swim instructor and 3 other lifeguards.  We want to target a junior or senior in high school or in early college. Amanda will send a flyer home in backpack mail at the elementary schools and ask Angel at the Academy to send it via email blast to the older kids.  Meg will ask about posting at CCV. Individuals will share the ad on their own Facebook pages. The Council will pay or reimburse for people to get their certification.

Goal is to interview in April and hire mid-late May.

Mission Statement/Bylaws

The Council doesn’t have a current mission statement and the bylaws are from 1947.  We need to reevaluate all. What are our goals? Do we want to be less or more than the beach?  The Planning Commission seems excited about our potential and could help us expand if we want.

Other Agenda Items

The town hired a town handyman, perhaps he can help with the beach house.  We need to adapt a user policy for the sand wheelchair that was donated.

Maybe we could have a “warming house” at the beach during the winter.  Sam could check out skates, snowshoes, ice fishing equipment, etc.. at the library.  Maybe even bikes during the summer.

Let’s reach out the the Fairlee gardeners about maintaining the gardens at the beach.

Next meeting will be Monday, April 22 at 6:30 at the library.  Meeting adjourned at 8:06 pm.