Booth Park Commission approves minutes, hears museum grant, observatory repairs and tree-safety plan

The Booth Park Commission voted unanimously to approve minutes from its March 19 meeting and spent much of its next regular session on event planning, museum news and maintenance needs at Booth Park.

The commission’s routine approval of minutes came at the start of the meeting and was recorded as carrying unanimously. Members then discussed logistics for the park’s May 18 opening day, including distribution of an event flyer; a commission member offered to email the flyer to anyone who requests a copy.

The commission heard that the Railway Museum received a $25,000 check from CT Humanities; the award was presented by Joe Gresco to Caitlin Jake, who the commission identified as a museum contact. The museum reported several required grant stipulations and said it will use the funds to support projects during the coming season and to staff the museum on opening day.

Commission members spent considerable time on the town’s amateur astronomy operations and equipment. Mark (astronomy-club representative) said the astronomy group has had steady visitor numbers and will participate in both the James Walk and park opening events with telescopes and brochures. He reported the club has about $6,600 toward a computer-controlled mount for its 16-inch telescope and estimated it needs roughly $10,000 to complete the purchase. The group also described several older telescopes donated by deceased members; some are 1960s vintage with cast-iron parts or no functional tracking and likely will be repaired, repurposed or disposed of as scrap after the club attempts to salvage mirrors and reusable components.

Members discussed outreach plans tied to local schools. The astronomy representatives described recent and planned STEM-night activity at local schools, said they most recently supported events at Eli Whitney and other nearby towns, and asked the commission to share the club’s contact information with town school coordinators. The meeting identified Migda Carrero as the town central-office coordinator who is planning an expanded townwide STEM event next year.

Putney Chapel reported that renovations to its lower level are complete and invited commissioners to a grand opening and ribbon cutting set for Thursday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m.; the mayor is scheduled to perform the ribbon cutting. The commission read a rental-contact email for Janet Halliday and noted the chapel’s new appliances and kitchen upgrades.

Bill (museum representative) reported that the museum’s third floor is now office space and that the only remaining major exterior work is window replacement. He said state historic-preservation authorities retain review authority over Booth Park because of prior state funding tied to the property through 2030, and that the museum was told replacement windows must match historic standards. The commission was told there are at least 28 windows and a contractor estimate of $40,000–$50,000 for replacement; members said the Home Depot Foundation has indicated a possible donation of windows and installation if they meet the state’s standards.

Members also raised a public-safety concern about a large dead tree near the front driveway and asked that the town tree warden walk the park and identify trees that are dead or invasive and should be removed before the May 18 opening. Commissioners said they will contact Kelly Kerrigan, the tree warden, to arrange an inspection and will offer to meet on site to point out the specific tree near the handicap parking and driveway that has shed a large branch in the past.

Commissioners noted other community activities: the Rose Garden mulch day with Stratford High volunteers, a Catholic-church brunch at Booth Park on Sunday, Aug. 10, and the Stratford Community Band’s planned performance at that brunch. The commission’s newsletter was recently distributed, and members encouraged submission of items for the next edition.

With no further new business, a motion to adjourn carried unanimously. The commission scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. to review park-opening results and other follow-up items.