Old Lyme - As a town committee works to revise plans to renovate the Fred Emerson Boathouse at Hains Park, the Board of Selectmen voted Thursday to expand the committee to include more participation from the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Parks and Recreation Commission had put forward the recommendation of reconstituting the Boathouse-Hains Park Improvement Committee with the addition of three of its members, a Board of Finance member and three members with "project-specific expertise," such as representatives from the school system and Old Lyme Rowing Association.

In correspondence to the selectmen, the Parks and Recreation Commission said - as the town commission responsible for Hains Park and with experience overseeing athletic clubs - that it felt the proposal to reconstitute the improvement committee was balanced.

On Thursday, First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said the committee didn't need to be reconstituted, but agreed it was a good suggestion to add more members.

The selectmen appointed Parks and Recreation Chairman Bob Dunn as a committee member. They also approved John Flower, the town's building official and a Parks and Recreation member, as well as John Rhodes, the director of facilities and technology for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, as ex-officio members. The selectmen also will reach out to Don Bugbee, director of Parks and Recreation, to gauge his interest and availability since he has other town responsibilities, and discuss the proposal with the town's Board of Finance chairman.

Earlier this fall, residents had approved allocating $405,000 in town funds towards an $883,000 improvement project to tear down the existing one-story boathouse, install a new two-story boathouse and improve the surrounding park area. The town has a state grant to fund the remaining $478,000.

But the town is re-examining the project after an issue arose last month that the renovated two-story boathouse would qualify as an educational facility and therefore need to be accessible to all. The improvement committee is considering eliminating the second floor, rather than install a potentially costly elevator.

On Thursday, Reemsnyder agreed that it was important to have Parks and Recreation aligned with the committee's work on a master plan for Hains Park.

"I think having Parks and Rec engaged in this process is very important," said Reemsnyder, adding that the selectmen originally had reached out to commissions, including Parks and Recreation.

But Reemsnyder said existing committee members could already address some of the points raised by Parks and Recreation, including providing guidance on the state's bidding requirements. The committee also intends to continue its discussions with building officials.

She said the committee supported additional members.

Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal said she was not comfortable voting on appointing new members until she received an application from them.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich