Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - July 23, 2026
Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - July 23, 2026
The Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met remotely on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 6:32 PM, chaired by Rep. Daniel R. Sandford. The committee approved fee schedules for the E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course and Terry Conners Ice Rink, authorized a contract and bid waiver for boiler controls at the Government Center, and reviewed noise management policies at Mill River Park following a June 21 concert event. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM.
Consent Calendar
- OPR32.012 – Golf Course Fees: Public hearing held and closed with no public comment. Resolution establishing fees for E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course 2026 approved by voice vote (8-0-0).
- OPR32.013 – Ice Rink Fees: Public hearing held and closed with no public comment. Resolution approving fee schedule for Terry Conners Ice Rink approved by voice vote (8-0-0).
- OPR32.015 – Boiler Controls Contract: Approval of a contract agreement and bid waiver with Blake Thermal Sales & Service, Inc. to update boiler controls and associated upgrades for two Cleaver Brooks natural gas boilers at the Stamford Government Center. Scott Butch, Director of Facilities, explained that the boilers (original to the 1986 building) are in good condition but controls are outdated; the boilers should last 25–40 more years with updated controls. A bid waiver was necessary because Blake Thermal is the only authorized Cleaver Brooks representative in Connecticut. Approved by voice vote (9-0-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up or spoke during the public hearings for items 1 and 2.
Discussion Items
- OPR32.016 – Mill River Park Policy and Procedures Review: Chair Sandford initiated the review after receiving complaints about a June 21 concert event at Mill River Park titled "Resurrection on the Green," which generated excessive noise. Nette Compton, President & CEO of Mill River Park Collaborative, described the event as an outlier—a first-time promoter operating at unprecedented scale. She outlined corrective actions taken the following week: meeting with organizers, consulting sound engineers, and coordinating with the City to implement decibel monitoring at the soundboard and property line for all future events. The Health Department now formally includes a noise waiver in the permit approval process. Compton emphasized the park’s commitment to balancing vibrancy with being a good neighbor. Rep. Finkel requested a written statement for constituents; Compton agreed to prepare one. Rep. Didelot suggested the Health Department stay on-site during events to monitor noise levels. Rep. Boudreau noted the absence of Director Quiñones (Parks) and Director DeRubeis (Emergency Communications) and said he would follow up with them on permitting and enforcement procedures. Chair Sandford acknowledged that the city non-emergency line was overwhelmed by calls during the event, leading to misinformation on social media.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (OPR32.012): Approved 8-0-0.
- Item 2 (OPR32.013): Approved 8-0-0.
- Item 3 (OPR32.015): Approved 9-0-0.
- Item 4 (OPR32.016): Report accepted; the committee will receive a written summary from Ms. Compton for constituents. Chair Sandford noted that Rep. Boudreau and others would follow up directly with city directors on permit procedures.
- No further action was taken on this item.
Meeting Transcript
I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. My name is Dan Sanford. I'm the chair of the Operations Parks and Rec Committee. It is 632 on July 23rd, 2026. And in attendance right now, I will try to do this, Sheila, but just make sure that I'm right. I've got myself, Representative Politia, Representative Beckham, Representative Didalo, Representative Gardner, Representative Salais, and Representative Zachary representing the committee. Yes, that's what I see. Yeah, what you see. Okay. Ex officio members, I got Representative Budreau. And I think someone else just joined. Oh, Representative Bradford is now here for the committee as well. Yes. All right. So the only person I believe we're missing is Representative Finkel. Um and then from the administration, we have Director Murray from Parks and Rec. And I saw some others. Oh, Mr. Nagashima from the uh golf course. And then also our guest, uh Nettie Compton is the president CEO of Mill River Park. So also uh Richard Johnson. Hey, Richard, sorry about that. All right. Well, we've got a full schedule. We'll go ahead and start uh going through this. I know everyone's got a lot of stuff to do. So the first item up for business is OPR 32.012, which is a resolution and public hearing establishing the fees for e-gainer Brendan Golf Course 2026. At this time, I'd entertain a motion to take up item number one for discussion and public hearing. So moved. Is there a second? And I have a uh motion and a second for resolution and public hearing. So this is the public hearing for establishing fees for e-gain or Brennan golf course. The time is 6 34 p.m. I'll go ahead and open up the public hearing now. Do we have anyone signed up, Sheila? I did not see anyone. No, we do not have anyone signed up. There is anyone, please raise your hand or let us know. Um seeing none. I am going to go ahead and close the public hearing at also 6 34 p.m. And at this time, I'll open up the floor for discussion from the committee. Again, this has already been discussed in the last meeting, but if there's any more discussion from the committee members or ex official members, please let me know. Is there anyone willing? Uh anyone's got their hand raised. If not, I will entertain a motion to approve item one OPR 32, which is the fees for e-Gain or Brennan Golf Course 2026. So mobile. Oh, sorry. We do it. So I have a motion for establishing fees for e-Gayner Brennan Golf Course 2026, and I have a second. Is there any discussion from the floor?
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