The New Ipswich Select Board has appointed an interim recreation director while current director Nichole Talbot is on administrative leave, though most summer recreation activities are on hold due to coronavirus.
The board appointed Shawna Kutyla, a teacher at Highbridge Hill Elementary School, to the position during its meeting on Tuesday night.
In addition to her teaching position, Kutyla has been a volunteer with the recreation department for several years, and also has prior experience as a lifeguard, according to Selectman John Veeser.
Selectman David Lage clarified with Kutyla that this is an interim position while Talbot has been placed on leave. Talbot was placed on administrative leave in April, after being arrested following a motor vehicle crash. Talbot allegedly initially told police she had been behind the wheel, but later allegedly recanted and admitted her husband, selectman and recreation coordinator Shawn Talbot had been driving at the time, despite not having a valid license. Nichole Talbot was charged with several misdemeanors related to her initial false report and has been placed on leave pending the resolution of the matter.
Prior to appointing Kutyla, the board discussed with her the scope of the duties of a recreation director for the coming summer, with multiple programs canceled due to coronavirus.
The department usually does not run any summer sports programs. Spring programs such as softball, baseball and an AAU basketball league have been canceled, and the town will be reaching out to parents to either return or issue credit for deposits for those sports.
Kutyla said she was prepared to take on the duties of running the town’s farmers’ market, which has a projected opening of June 6. Other markets have been able to open under social distancing guidelines. She said she was researching best practices outlined by the state, as well as the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, to ensure proper safety measures were in place, but anticipated being able to move forward with the market.
The board also discussed the New Ipswich Town Pool, and whether it would open this year. Kutyla said she had already reached out to the director of the town pool in Greenville, Wanda Knisley, to discuss with her the plans for their summer. Kutyla said Knisley told her the town is waiting to make a decision about the operation of the town pool until the state issues guidelines on the matter, and advised that New Ipswich do the same.
Lage said it would be difficult to enforce social distancing measures on the pool deck and between parents waiting for children to complete lessons.
The board did not discuss Kutyla’s compensation during Monday’s meeting. The town’s recreation director receives an annual stipend of $7,000, paid quarterly. While the board did not vote on the matter, Veeser said it is likely that Kutyla will be awarded the stipend for the time she is in the position. Nichole Talbot is not being paid while on administrative leave.