Stamford Operations Committee Meeting: Golf & Ice Rink Fees, Eversource Update – June 18, 2026
Stamford Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting – June 18, 2026
The Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee of the Board of Representatives held a remote meeting on June 18, 2026, at 7:01 PM, chaired by Representative Sandford. The committee addressed three agenda items: proposed fee increases for the E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course and Terry Conners Ice Rink, and an update on the Eversource Underground Cable Modernization Project. All items were discussed with presentations from city staff and Eversource representatives.
Consent Calendar
- No items were listed on a consent calendar; all three agenda items were discussed individually.
Discussion Items
- OPR32.012 – Golf Course Fee Schedule: Director Kevin Murray and Golf Course Superintendent Hidago Nagashima presented a proposed three-year fee increase for E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course, with a $2 per year increase over three years. Changes include reclassifying Friday as weekend pricing, eliminating senior/junior discounts on that day. Revenue will fund irrigation, bunker renovations, and cart path improvements. The committee discussed timing of the increase (expected to take effect in August or September 2026 if approved through the full board process). Representative Zachary asked about inflation adjustments and comparison to competitors; Director Murray noted the course is currently the lowest-priced in the area. The committee voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the resolution and public hearing.
- OPR32.013 – Ice Rink Fee Schedule: Director Murray and Ice Rink Manager Rich Johnson presented a five-year fee increase plan for Terry Conners Ice Rink. Last increase was in July 2023, and the rink now lags 36% behind nearby rinks. Proposed increases target birthday parties, ice rentals, and summer camps, with a 2.5% increase on ice time (about $125 per skater for Stanford Youth Hockey). Summer camp fees rise from $375 to $390. The committee expressed appreciation for keeping costs low and voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the resolution and public hearing.
- OPR32.014 – Eversource Underground Cable Modernization Project Review: Eversource representatives Eric Barber (Project Director), Glenn McDonald (Senior Project Manager), and Chris Farrell (Community Relations) provided an update. Construction began in January 2026; 13 of 26 vaults have been installed (50%), and duct bank (trenching) is 8% complete. Project timeline remains unchanged, with completion expected through 2027 and into 2028. Questions from Representative Finkel addressed traffic detours and residential complaints; Eversource noted that traffic management plans are approved by the city but sometimes altered by police. Representative Didalo asked about pavement restoration and coordination with Aquarion Water Company; Eversource explained temporary restoration standards and ongoing work with Aquarion to address aging water mains discovered during excavation. Chair Sandford inquired about project pacing; McDonald clarified that vault installation is front-loaded and duct bank work will accelerate. The committee agreed to schedule another update in October or November 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Resolution for Golf Course Fee Schedule (OPR32.012): The committee voted 8-0 to approve the resolution and public hearing, sending the proposal to the full Board of Representatives for a public hearing in July 2026 and final approval in August.
- Approved Resolution for Ice Rink Fee Schedule (OPR32.013): The committee voted 8-0 to approve the resolution and public hearing, following a similar timeline.
- Eversource Update Received: No vote was taken; the committee noted the progress and agreed to a follow-up update in late 2026.
- Next Steps: The public hearings for both fee schedules will occur at the July 18 and 19, 2026, meetings of the full Board. Eversource will continue its outreach and provide another update before the winter holidays.
The meeting adjourned at 7:43 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Alright, I think we have a quorum here. So I am going to go ahead and get started. The time is 701. Today is June 18th, 2026. My name is Representative Sanford, and this is the Operation Parks and Rex meeting. At this time, I will go ahead and take attendance. I have myself, Representative Politia, Representative Beckham, Representative Bradford, Representative Didalo, Representative Finkel. I see Representative Gardner, Representative Zachary, and Representative Salas is excused. Are there any ex officio members? I do not see any. And then from the city, we have director Kevin Murray and his staff. And then from Eversource, we have Mr. Barber. And I'm assuming any staff. I don't know their names right here. So without further ado, I know we have some people from Eversource Online. We have a couple of approvals that we need to get through, and then we'll turn it over to yourself. So I appreciate your patience. It's just kind of the order of how things happen. At this moment, we've got three items. I will now entertain a motion to take up item OPR 32.012 for approval, a resolution and a an approval of public hearing establishing fees for e-gainer Brennan golf course. So move. Second. So there's a motion to approve resolution and approval of public hearing establishing fees for e-gainer Brendan golf course. And there is a second. At this time, I'll open it up for discussion and I'll turn it over to Director Murray, if you or someone from your team wants to brief this one. This is the first item. Yes, uh good evening, uh Chair Sanford and representatives. Uh thank you um for having us tonight. Um before you we have um the Ganner Brennan uh golf course fee increases. Um and tonight I have with me uh the EG Brennan um golf course superintendent Hidago Nagashima, um and he can run through those um increases. Um you did receive um in your prior is the the fees that are the current fees um and also the fees that we would like to increase too um Hidago. Yes, good evening, everybody, and thank you for your time. Um forgive me, I don't I don't have um uh our proposal in front of me. I'm I'm taking this uh meeting from home. Um, but the board has um analyzed the fees of uh all of our golf courses and our competitors in the area, and um they've came made the determination that we are the uh lowest uh of uh our competitors uh significantly in some areas, and so they wanted to create a fee structure uh for the next five years or so uh to um bring us a current to um what the industry and the area um uh needs. So I'll thank you, Kevin. Um, so I think we are looking at uh uh two dollar uh increase per year uh over three years, and that'll put us in um kind of uh more competitive um with our uh competitors. I I appreciate it, and thank you for sharing your screen, uh Kevin. I think it's good for for just the audience and public in general to kind of see it. At this time, are there are there any questions from the committee on the fee changes or anything that anyone would like? I don't see any hands. Oh, Representative Zachary, floor is yours. Thank you, Chair Sanford. Uh yes, it's could you make that a little larger? I actually can't see it, and uh maybe it's my limited eyesight. But the first question is is this built have you built in some kind of inflation kicker? And um Kevin, scroll down to the bottom where it says 100% bottom right, that might be able to do it. Okay, yeah. Other way.
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