[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6046751,"mediaKeyId","3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd","parentId",3541083,"title","Commission approves December minutes, agrees to Zoom meetings during town hall renovations; Morgan Francis item paused","audioSeconds",1558,"startMs",10000,"endMs",1568000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd&start=10&end=1568","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd/thumbnail_10000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046751/Connecticut/Commission-approves-December-minutes-agrees-to-Zoom-meetings-during-town-hall-renovations-Morgan-Francis-item-paused","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046751-851c8b5cebf2a01f970c60562ee717f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442668&Signature=Ag~k3J5vSefM7dRaIk3d6fJeuiyzakeYw191P5L84WKamDW12~UQVIH634m5D8fUOMFmMx2xgJM7OJ9ArGQHwZAxL628GzrmMGMrMyzjIjv~7flCvrFcbTNd8NgiqRtxuI2yOzU3RGmcCyvT-IuylioCX5F7B0k7SqHdoUouUgkhC5aYbfz8ZbyKV72PKuXDAfuhE0f5LY9iqO3tIr4Slmgyv24wK26vzUayvzXsARH5VcH7c2XI5BudiFKGj9C5lmLVSR6wucuewrCmnN6HsVG-olB53M0LnHey7SCUFOe1wJB7~aDLcdpITgn0k1peCJWGGgtThcL99HQ1KyU6FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Stratford, CT","date","2025-02-09T22:26:59Z","article","The Town of Stratford commission approved the minutes of its regular December 2024 meeting by voice vote and discussed meeting logistics while town hall renovations continue.

An unnamed meeting chair opened the meeting and asked for a motion to approve the December minutes. \"I'm in Rick Bartone. I'd like to make a motion to approve the, minutes from the regular meeting on December 2024,\" said Rick Bartone, who moved approval; another participant seconded the motion. The chair called for discussion, none was offered, and the chair closed the vote with the minutes approved unanimously.

Under continuing business, staff reported the Morgan Francis property matter remains on hold until spring while state or other agencies working on the project make further contact.

Under new business the chair proposed holding the commission’s meetings by Zoom for the period the group is scheduled to meet at the Baldwin Center while town hall renovations proceed. Commissioners said they were comfortable with Zoom; the chair asked staff to have meetings scheduled via Zoom for the next few months.

The next meeting date was set for Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5:30 p.m. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to approve minutes of the regular December 2024 meeting: moved by Rick Bartone; second not specified; outcome: approved (chair reported unanimous voice vote; individual tallies not recorded in transcript).
- Motion to adjourn: mover and seconder recorded in the meeting audio (names given as Rick Marconi moved and another participant seconded); outcome: approved (voice vote reported).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Stratford Parks and Recreation Meeting - February 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved the December 2024 minutes unanimously, agreed to hold meetings by Zoom while displaced to the Baldwin Center for renovations, and noted the Morgan Francis property item remains stalled until spring. A motion to adjourn also passed.","taxTitle","Town of Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",80257,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6046753,"Recreation superintendent previews expanded youth programs, notes Ella pool is leased from state",543,719000,1262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd&start=719&end=1262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd/thumbnail_719000.jpg","/articles/6046753/Connecticut/Recreation-superintendent-previews-expanded-youth-programs-notes-Ella-pool-is-leased-from-state","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046753-4205078d57955e8b30ae18ae07e6392f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442668&Signature=VkifQVL2aU5LZzyxz8A5~rdZe7YRW2uzGs3o5fILzA2qekMEW8r6ybY0xDUTK3JBFW4IDjBc~IZJOBD~xtw7pfTMEXaf7DPjoV1rc9pE1W0ZOprIQ5Nku7hzyghb8sKctixcez6lkf8p3PrK0YOw9di~xWXw8Q-U6Yd1I~6EM7W0GN80FNOMwnFFUPpEPFj3oBXVhy2voqvvfIAB~81RrIPzKjkBcXztiwMCi89p5l69m6-ZRkl1jMO~lA25~hdkypFMz8yvApt6K2kiSprRtgfrxweg67mqGD5g-oL721y9zUkIeAdWk8z~JJ1JCPeWX0cR7ehoTkh4B8PVwkv0eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Noort, recreation superintendent for the Town of Stratford, reported a larger-than‑usual roster of youth teams, new program offerings and summer hiring postings, and described constraints on the small Ella pool, which she said the town uses under a state lease.

\"We have our most teams ever since I've been here,\" Noort said, describing six younger girls’ basketball teams and multiple older teams. She said the department will travel to nearby Milford to play an opponent that has only two teams.

Noort listed upcoming and current programs: kindergarten and preschool basketball, soccer, track, theater, art, an introductory kitchen program, after‑school offerings (mad science, tennis, school‑based art), and an introductory youth pickleball program that had no signups at the time of the meeting. Adult programs include daytime pickleball, two yoga classes, aquatic workouts and open swims.

On staffing, Noort said the department recertified 15 lifeguards during a recent training and posted summer job openings online in January after a minimum‑wage adjustment. \"I've posted all the summer jobs. They're up online now,\" she said.

Several participants raised questions about the town’s long‑term plans for the Ella pool. Noort said the pool sits on property controlled by the state and that the town uses it under a lease: \"We have a lease from the state to use that. So we're using it. It's really the state's property, and they allow us to use it.\" She advised residents to raise long‑term decisions about the facility with the town council and mayor’s office.

Noort noted the pool's size limits lesson capacity and viewing; the deepest part is about 5 feet and the shallow part about 2 feet, and she said the facility suits young learners rather than lap swimmers. She said winter swim lessons and open family swims have been well attended while college‑age staff are home and that the department plans further sessions beginning in mid‑February.

No formal actions were taken. Commissioners thanked staff for outreach and social media updates and asked Noort to share schedules for spring and summer programming when available.","Recreation superintendent Amy Noort outlined expanded winter and spring youth programming, summer hiring plans, and clarified that the Ella pool is on state property under lease to the town.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6046758,"Town reports completion of Barnum Avenue tree wells, outlines playground upgrades and tree pickup schedule",564,70000,634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd&start=70&end=634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541083-26a828776ef55179719581625bcb3efd/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6046758/Connecticut/Town-reports-completion-of-Barnum-Avenue-tree-wells-outlines-playground-upgrades-and-tree-pickup-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046758-9cff1a7a8f3dad39b3795581ab39c5be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442668&Signature=f62-TzJUDoecgpW7xJGKp2CfdUE4hb5zjKYioza8UH8~RjkgiFi~F3Ii04NTAQjvRV8B15ioNYRxvr0mMV0ik2iJV74SPuc5V6Y5DG4P~scAe1xPA1N-Om3Qy9~d5~PkL5m9ZGxqveozGof9KGxRU9KaXYfvjuR7QwCJtWCTjK14to71wmfdkWM6u6J6wY13Ojyz8EMdQcskAQpSCQIH82TO0VT5dV~NupAJEmgMix4xqn6OP~kuNbXPY1R6pW9nVkLLkXM8qpjR~uvqsm5Lj~EHEkXa94JrOHHsAs6oyAf3zRYZztnF7JNBgyyeOFcWq86XG1SNzV-gZD5kHfpG0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chad, the park superintendent for the Town of Stratford, told the parks commission that crews have finished installing rubber tree wells along Barnum Avenue and are preparing for seasonal maintenance and upcoming playground renovations.

He said the Barnum Avenue project replaced metal grates with porous rubber wells \"which is porous. It allows rain in, allows gas exchanges, and it flexes as the trees grow.\" The change affects about 80 tree wells, he said.

The town is finalizing playground designs for Booth Park, Stony Brook and one park identified as Motel. Chad said the work remains in design and will proceed as budgets allow. He warned that recent changes to the state bid process affect procurement: \"If the state bid contract goes over a hundred thousand, it's up to the municipality to go after that,\" and projects above that threshold trigger prevailing‑wage requirements and a competitive bid process, which can lengthen timelines.

Chad also outlined the town’s annual post‑holiday Christmas tree pickup, saying crews typically run collections for about four weeks starting roughly the week of Jan. 12, though pickups sometimes extend when residents miss the scheduled collections. \"We usually do it for about 4 weeks, but it always goes beyond,\" he said.

Commissioners asked whether playground equipment would be age‑specific; Chad said Booth Park will have both 2‑to‑5 and 5‑to‑12 components and that other park playgrounds will be evaluated by location and proximity to other facilities. He estimated the town has about 26 playgrounds when counting school and park sites.

The superintendent said the town will present park playground plans to the commission for review before going out to bid.

Less urgent maintenance items mentioned in the report included routine winter cleanup and tree work. No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners received the report and asked for follow‑up details on scopes and timelines.","Park superintendent reported completion of 80 rubber tree wells on Barnum Avenue, outlined playground renovation plans constrained by state bid rules and prevailing-wage triggers, and gave a multi‑week Christmas tree pickup schedule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves December minutes, agrees to Zoom meetings during town hall renovations; Morgan Francis item paused

Recreation superintendent previews expanded youth programs, notes Ella pool is leased from state

Town reports completion of Barnum Avenue tree wells, outlines playground upgrades and tree pickup schedule