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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025_11_18 Recreation Commission Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 18, 2025 PRESENT: James Druker, Chairman Graham Gutter Darren Moss William Paonessa Susan Sigel ALSO PRESENT: Jill Fisher, Superintendent of Recreation Vicky Laoutaris, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Jaine Elkind Eney, Town Supervisor Jeffery King, Town Board Sabrina Fiddelman, Town Board Anant Nambiar, Town Board Robin Nichinsky, Town Board Meredith Robson, Town Administrator Tracy Yogman, Town Comptroller Allison May, Town Clerk Matt Angst, Ice Rink General Manager Toni Barnes, Commission Secretary EXCUSED: Joyce Callahan CALL TO ORDER: The meeting held at the Senior Center; 1288 Boston Post Road was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairman Druker. Supervisor Elkind Eney made a motion to open the Town Board meeting at 7:00 P.M. All in favor. Administrator Robson stated that the information and recommendations being presented are not those necessarily of the staff but are based on conversations at the Town Board level and are required for direction from a budgetary standpoint. ICE RINK: Ms. Fisher stated tonight's presentation allows for discussion and recommendations for balancing the ice rink's budget to now cover benefits and debt service expenses. The 2026 revenue is projected at $1 ,545,017, and direct operational expenses are budgeted at $1,159,864. Total expenses including benefits and current debt service for 2026 are estimated at $1,732,525. There would be a shortfall of approximately $187,508. In order to cover that shortfall, significant adjustments would be required which could include fee increases, program reductions, and/or scheduling changes. The future compressor replacement and a new Zamboni are not factored in and would not go into effect until 2027. Comptroller Yogman added that proposed revenues currently fund 88% of the total expenses for the ice rink. The shortfall is approximately 12%. Ms. Fisher presented the following suggestions that could address this shortfall: Ice Rental Fees: Increase fees by $50/hour. Public Session Admission: Increase fees by $2. Youth Hockey: Increase fees by $40 per participant. Skating Lesson Fees: Increase fees by $5/session. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 — Page 2 ICE RINK CONTINUED: These proposed suggestions would provide an annual revenue increase estimated at $141 ,000. Since contracts and programs are currently in place for the 2025/2026 season, the only fee increase that can be implemented as of January 2026 would be daily admissions. Matt Angst, Ice Rink General Manager stated that 79% of those attending public skating sessions are non-residents totaling 19,000. Residents make up the balance at 21%, 3,700 (attendees) for public sessions. A variety of other programming changes were discussed but are not being considered at this time. Administrator Robson stated concern that if fees continue to increase, at some point participation may decline. Commissioner Moss suggested looking at which days yield a larger majority of non- residents and potentially eliminating some public sessions and renting out the rink. Commissioner Moss inquired about asking if the Rangers would want to sponsor the rink. Administrator Robson stated they would have to look at the legality and would require a separate conversation. Administrator Robson stated there must be a decision made about whether the Town will continue to subsidize the ice rink or have participants cover more of the costs. HOMMOCKS POOL: The Hommocks Pool is estimated to have a 2026 budget shortfall of$522,435. Ms. Fisher stated direct operational expenses for the pool are $868,339. The total expenses including benefits are $964,435 and do not include any new debt service. The pool revenue is estimated at $442,000. The pool rental costs total $398,000, 41% of the operating costs. There are 624 households with active pool permits, which is approximately 5% of town wide households. Supervisor Elkind Eney inquired if there have been discussions with the school district regarding their pool rate charges. Administrator Robson stated she had a brief conversation with the Superintendent of Schools regarding the continued increase in fees who will discuss these concerns with school staff and provide feedback. Supervisor Elkind Eney inquired about the pool costs for the school district and what they are charging the Town. She reminded everyone that there are services provided to the school, like garbage collection, that the school district does not pay for. Council member Fiddelman stated it is necessary to work with the district; but if they cannot come down on the price for the pool, we should look to increase rink rental fees charged to the school district. Chairman Druker revisited the discussion about the $1,000,000 the Town gave the school district many years ago towards the retractable roof project. Chairman Druker suggested a credit at $100,000/year for 10 years be requested. Chairman Druker suggested an independent forensic accountant be hired to review their books. Ms. Fisher reviewed the following proposed suggestions to offset the loss: • Permit fees would need to double or triple. • Renegotiate pool rates with the school district. • Consider a reduction of hours. • Offer indoor pool only during the summer months. There is concern that the more hours that are reduced, the greater the risk of fewer people buying memberships and enrolling in programs. Commissioner Moss suggested day camps pay for the use of pools during the summer. Ms. Fisher stated this is being considered as another revenue option. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 — Page 3 PROPOSED HOMMOCKS POOL RENOVATION PROJECT: Comptroller Yogman discussed the proposed pool renovation project. The Town has two DASNY grants; each for $250,000. One grant is for design and expires on 10/31/2026. The current estimate for the design of the entire pool complex is $360,200. The Town has funded $48,500 for design. If we go forward with the pool project the Town will have to fund an additional $61,700 for the design of the pool project. The second $250,000 grant is for construction that expires 6/3/2028. The current renovation cost estimate is $7.3 million. The Town has applied for a SWIMS grant to help with this project for $5.8 million. A response to our submission is expected this winter. If the DASNY grant is used to fund the design and the pool renovation is not completed, the Town would have to fund the design costs. The debt on the bond for 20 years is approximately $518,000/year. Therefore, fees would have to increase significantly for this additional cost. Administrator Robson stated the Town is looking at a design to cover the entire complex with emphasis on the Splash Pad. The cost to complete the splash pad only would be $1 .2 million. Tracy Yogman, Town Comptroller, stated the project can be done in phases. The first phase would be kick-off, and a master plan which would cost $130,000. Commissioner Moss inquired if the grant could be used in another way and asked what other kinds of larger facilities are possible. Administrator Robson replied there would have to be a complete change to the actual grant because the grant is specific to the pool complex. Supervisor Elkind Eney stated that recreation offerings are a big reason people move into a community; thus, it is worth spending the money to have recreation as a part of the community. Council member Nichinsky agreed that the community expects something from the Town and whatever decision is made needs to be responsive to what the community wants. HOMMOCKS FIELDS: Comptroller Yogman stated the actual costs in the 2026 budget allocated for the maintenance of the fields total $107,500. The total usage of the fields is 2,952 hours. Ms. Fisher explained the current usage by group is as follows: Town: 5.7% Lacrosse: 6.4% Soccer: 28.7% School District: 59.2%. Currently there is an even allocation of the maintenance cost charged to each user; however, it is recommended that field cost reimbursements should be based on the actual percentage of usage. With this change, the school district would pay $64,000, Soccer $31,000, Lacrosse $7,000 and the Town would be responsible for $6,000. This would reduce the Town's operating costs by approximately $24,000. PROPOSED HOMMOCKS FIELDS RENOVATION PROJECT: The 2026 Capital Budget includes $310,000 for the design/engineering of the fields. The 2027 Capital Budget estimate for the field renovations is currently $8 million dollars. No final design has been made at this time. Council member King stated the fields need to be addressed and that the project needs to get started. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 — Page 4 PROPOSED HOMMOCKS FIELDS RENOVATION PROJECT CONTINUED: Councilwoman Nichinsky suggested the Town think about a much lower option than the $310,000. Chairman Druker stated there are three options regarding the fields: 1 . Keep what we have. 2. Install drain talent and not with hybrid turf. 3. Install drain talent with hybrid turf. Chairman Druker suggested this matter be discussed at the next meeting. MEMORIAL PARK SHADE: Administrator Robson presented the status update for Memorial Park Shade. The 2026 Capital Budget includes $200,000 for half of the cost of the proposed shade structure and trees. The second half of$200,000 is in the 2027 Capital Budget. There has been no finite word from LaBella for the initial work using the $200,000. Over the course of 2 years, the Town would get shade structures and trees. Chairman Druker suggested the Town get something substantial done by next summer. ESTIMATED DEBT: Comptroller Yogman reviewed the three capital projects discussed: pool renovation, ice rink compressor, and the Hommocks Fields, all totaling $17.7 million, which would be borrowed over the next two years if these projects come to fruition. The estimated debt is as follows: Expense Debt Service Pool Renovation: $7,189,000 $518,000 Ice Rink: $2,225,000 $160,000 Hommocks Field: $8,310,000 $598,000 In 2026 the Town would be borrowing for the design costs, which would be $31,000. The debt service would begin in 2027. The balance of the three projects would be borrowed in 2028 for a total of $1.2 million. This could be a direct expense to our operating budget. Ms. Elkind Eney stated concern that $17 million is an extremely high amount of debt to take on at the same time. Comptroller Yogman stated the annual tax increase within the town would be as follows: 2027: $4 2028: $165 These increases are without any other budgetary increases. SUMMARY: Administrator Robson stated there needs to be a decision about increasing the general admission rates as of January 1 , 2026. Commissioner Sigel recommended charging non-residents $2 more for general admission and no increase for residents. Chairman Druker made a motion to increase the Hommocks Park Ice Rink Non- Resident General Admission rate by $2. All in favor. Administrator Robson stated for the fields, we will move forward on 60% of the Hommocks Field design in 2026 and the balance of design in 2027 and the cost for construction. All final decisions about the fields will take place at a later stage. The pool will require an additional $60,000 for the design cost for the master plan with the focus on the splash pad. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 — Page 5 SUMMARY CONTINUED: Commissioner Sigel recommended to budget for a master plan. Supervisor Elkind Eney agreed that the money should go in the budget for design for the master plan. The Town Board was in agreement. Council member King made a motion to adjourn the Town Board Meeting at 9:49 P.M. Seconded by Council member Nichinsky. All in favor. ACCEPTANCE OF MEETING MINUTES: On a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Paonessa, the Meeting Minutes of October 14, 2025, were unanimously approved. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE: Chairman Druker made a motion that the field maintenance costs for 2026 be billed as follows: School District: $63,655 Soccer: $29,885 Lacrosse: $17,920 Seconded by Commissioner Paonessa. All in favor. The 2025 skating competition fees were approved as submitted, on a motion by Commissioner Sigel, seconded by Commissioner Moss. All in favor. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, on a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Sigel, the meeting was adjourned at 9:53 P.M.