A Look At How The Town Manages The Old, The Young And Fun

This week I will look at the three major human services commissions in Waterford.   The State Statutes are not as detailed regarding the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Senior Citizens Commission, or the Youth Service Bureau but do provide some limited guidance that is filled out by Town Ordinances.

Charter

There is a recreation and parks commission with authority of Chapter 97 of Statutes

The senior citizens commission is established with authority of Chapter 97 of Statutes and as ordinances may direct.

The Youth Service Bureau is not listed in the town charter.

Code of Ordinances

Recreation and parks commission is responsible for the management, control and development of town’s recreational and park facilities and the control of expenditures made in that task

There are nine members of the commission serving staggered three year terms and appointed by the Board of Selectmen .

The commission is authorized to rent residences at Waterford Beach Park on a month to month basis.

Chapter 12.08 of the Code outlines the regulations for Waterford’s parks and recreation areas including Waterford Beach.  These regulations define appropriate bathing attire as opaque cloths covering the female and male genitals and the female nipples.   Swimming hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or as posted by the commission.    The Commission may set fees for use of Waterford facilities and are specifically authorized to waive fees for Waterford residents over age 65.  Alcoholic beverages and gambling are prohibited on Waterford property.   Permits are required for large groups or after hours events , camping, or the sale of any items on Waterford property.  Violating some of these regulations could result in up to a one hundred dollar fine or up to thirty days in jail.

There is a specific section regarding the use of the Jordan Park House for public or private meetings.

The recreation and parks commission must request public works department assistance if needed on commission supervised properties to insure that the commission is properly charged for use of public works equipment.

Senior Citizen Commission

The senior citizens commission is an eight-member commission appointed by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for three-year terms to study, sponsor, initiate, and coordinate programs for seniors in town.

The commission will appoint a representative to the regional commission on aging.

Although financed like any other board or commission, the senior citizens commission may accept donations to the senior citizens special revenue account that will be administered as directed by the donor.

The commission is to formulate, and administer programs that reflect the needs of seniors in relation to housing, economics, employment, health, transportation, recreation, and any other matter concerning the welfare of seniors.

 Youth Services

The Youth Services Bureau was established in 1990 to be responsible for the planning, coordination,  evaluation, and implementation of programs for the youth of the town.  The bureau was to have a director and additional personnel as possible within budget constraints appointed by the board of selectmen, to carry out programs and the mission of the youth services bureau.  A Youth Services advisory committee was established to assist the director in carryout of the assigned duties.  Specific persons or positions are prescribed for the Advisory Committee who are also appointed by the board of selectmen for three year terms.  The bureau may apply for grants and accept gifts that are applied to a special revenue fund for Youth Services.

State Statute

State Statute calls for the establishment of a “Public recreational facilities authority” with five to nine members to administer a town’s or a region’s fields and recreational buildings.  If the Town chooses to make the “authority” a “department” of the municipality then it must be governed by town ordinances rather than the enabling state statutes.  This is the case in Waterford.  The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is tasked with assisting municipalities in obtaining grants and other funding of their recreational services.

Although the State Statutes require the municipality to appoint a “Municipal agent for elderly persons” that is a member of the municipal commission on the aging, it does not detail the exact role of a “Senior Citizens Commission”.    There is detail regarding the “Municipal Agent”  duties and responsibilities.

Waterford’s Youth Services Bureau was established in the early nineties as an outgrowth of a state mandated drug and alcohol prevention program in the late nineteen eighties.

State Statutes also require a municipality to appoint a “Municipal agent for children” who is a member of the municipal “Youth Services Bureau”.   Once established, the Youth Services Bureau is able to tap into numerous state and federal programs and grants.  In Waterford, the grant funding is much greater than the budget provided by the town in the budget process.