PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION BOARD

FEBRUARY 21, 2006

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 with all members in attendance except Worley. Also present was Supervisor Liaison Robert Smith. Chairman Walker convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Knox distributed this report. On motion by Nielsen, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the report was approved.

MINUTES FROM JANUARY MEETING – Motion by Knox, seconded by Nielsen, the minutes were approved after a change which is as follows. Under new business when the Board discussed which accounts would be charged for the gator, the minor equipment should be changed to maintenance account.

Palmer Township Softball Association - Bill Raven was present with his application for using Riverview this year. He noted there will not be any tournaments at any other place this year except Riverview fields. They do not have as many teams as before so all the tournament games will be able to be held in one park. He has submitted the application for fields as well as their financial statement and 2005 roster. Young asked if they will be having a fall league and Raven noted yes. He also asked if they were able to accommodate the soccer and Raven noted he spoke with Emsweller last year and there was no problem with them using the fields but they never did. Raven stated he will be submitting the 2006 rosters when all information is given to him and he will inform all teams that they will not receive their game balls until they hand in this information. He will hopefully have everything together shortly because their season does start the beginning of April. He then discussed that financially they are not as strong as they have been in the past. They just fixed Smithco and purchased new refrigerator for the concession stand. They have spent a lot of money already this year and they will be losing money this year since they can’t do beverage tent for community weekend anymore. Raven would like to discuss the agreement with the township on extending the payment plan that was made. Smith will discuss this with Anckaitis and get back to Raven. Knox motioned to approve the use of Riverview fields for the Palmer Township Softball Association pending the 2006 rosters being received. This was seconded by Bellis and agreed by all.

Palmer Veteran’s Softball League Senior Division – An application was submitted to Diane from John Crisafulli requesting the use of the Veterans fields. He noted he will hand in rosters after their meeting next week. A financial statement was submitted. Bellis motioned to approve the use of the veteran’s field pending rosters being submitted. Knox seconded, and it was approved by all.

Dave Cornish of U K Elite was present asking for permission to run a camp for soccer this year, June 24 to 28^th at Keystone soccer fields. He distributed pamphlets of his company and equipment available. He stated they ran the camp last year and they had about 25-30 children attend. The Board asked who makes the money for this and he responded that they company gives back $10 for each player. Knox stated the soccer committee has a request before this Board for a camp with another company which has a $20 refund back to the league for each player. Knox stated that UK Elite has not contacted the soccer commissioner or league to discuss this. Cornish noted he spoke with Emsweller and was told to contact the Community center director. Board noted request for fields go through Diane and the company should have been told to contact the present soccer commissioner. Bellis motioned to have this request tabled until such time as they get together with soccer committee. This motion was seconded by Young, and agreed by all. The Board noted that depending what comes out of this meeting there could be two camps this year.

Lorraine Plantone – Palmer Twin Rivers Soccer organization was present asking for approval to use Keystone field only for a soccer clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 21 through June 8^th. There will not be any games, this is for practice only. This would be for all age groups and Palmer Township residents only. They have done in the past. Any of the children can practice if they want to. They do not have to, this is not a requirement. If fields are not in good shape they will not practice. If the kids play under this organization they are insured and there are no fees for this. McBrairty brought up the fact that just a little while ago the AA and this Board put on season dates for each sport. This is going out of the season and will open the window for all sports to do this. Board agreed with this comment but noted that this is not the Palmer program and they are not using township equipment and township is not paying insurance. Bellis again stated there are sports over lapping again and we set dates but recognizes this is not township. There are other sports that will be coming in for the same type of events. Nielsen motioned to approve this request and waive any fees. Young seconded this motion adding that this is for Palmer Township residents only. Nielsen amended her motion to include this. Walker took a vote and it was approved by all.

Baseball – Rich Freiler was present with a request for Fairview Legion field for the Twin River Longhorns which are 14 and under teams. They need 3 dates in April for practice. They would all be Palmer kids. Dates needed are April 9 and 23 and May 7^th. Other games are played in other communities. Walker stated the Board had recently given permission for MS society to use Fairview Park for April 23^rd and they will be having a very large event. Freiler noted they will not use Fairview this day. On motion by Knox, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all the Board approved this application for the use of Fairview legion field for April 9 and May 7^th. Freiler stated they have insurance and will submit it.

Rich Freiler was present to discuss the Connie Mack league. He wanted to know where they stand with this league. Freiler stated they learned not having that not having this team that there were 16 year olds that did not have a place to play. The Board welcomes this league back and feels it is an important age group to be able to have a place to play ball.

Freiler, baseball commissioner of Palmer in-house teams stated the signs up are going good. He also stated there was a lot of response for coaching help.

Board asked the representatives from the AA that were present if they had any problems initiating the activity fee during baseball/softball sign ups. Kim Snyder noted there are a few parents that who are refusing to pay but the AA Board is speaking with these parents explaining the fee and there has been some that have paid after that.

Freiler noted that the Legion team is going to a tournament game at State College, June 23, 24 and 25. There will be College coaches and teams from all over. Florich has donated some money for this trip. The American Legion Post asked if they would be interested in holding a pancake breakfast as a fundraiser for the team. Freiler will discuss this with them.

Bellis thanked Florich for the good job he did with baseball and noted that ever year it seems to change gears but this year it seems to be back on track. The legion and junior legion teams were placed under township last season. Where are they this year under the township or back under the AA? The Supervisors agreed that this was done due to conflict of coaching and the Recreation Board should decide where the leagues should be for this season. On motion by Bellis, seconded by Knox and agreed by all, the Recreation Board agreed that the legion, junior legion & Connie Mack teams should be back under AA for this year; subject to the Athletic Association’s decision. Board members asked if the AA wants it back. Florich noted this has been discussion. The registration fees have to be straightened out; they have to go to the Athletic Association or the township. Florich will go to the AA with this and get their Boards decision on this.

Applications were submitted for all township in-house teams – On motion by Bellis, seconded by Young and agreed by all, these applications were approved for using township fields for the season.

Tom Adams was present and went over plans for the shed at Keystone Park. Board agreed that there should be a garage door only, no windows. There is electric on the back pole when and if needed in the future.

Board received information from Bob Van Horn on the backstops/fencing on ball fields as well as information for new bleachers. The Board is to review this information and give their ideas back to Bob Smith. Board should take a tour of all the parks and decide what has to be done to which fields. Smith noted he would visit parks, take pictures of everything and forward pictures everyone for their review.

Also distributed was a memo from Adams to the Recreation Board highlighting different projects that are going on in the township and the status of them. Nielsen will get together with Adams in mid-March to go over the playground at Briarcliffe Park.

Reports –

Egg Hunt - Nielsen noted it was coming up. Check on number of eggs purchased last year.

Softball – Young stated he told Scott Helm he would be able to use LaBarre Park fields this year. Planning Director Amanda Jensen responded to the comments from the last meeting and she spoke with the developer of the Starlite Estates development. The parking lot will be in but it will be stone only. This will be okay to use this season.

Wrestling – McBrairty note they will be finishing up shortly. He stated Dave Sutton and Bruce Lehr did an exceptional coaching job this season and they had good tournaments.

Playground – Nielsen stated since we will not be able to use the Villages at Mill Race fields it was suggested that one day a week they should use Keystone Park. This could bring in children from the two developments in this area. This would be in place of two days at Wolf’s Run.

Soccer – Walker noted that since Marc Knox is Commissioner for the AA he asked Nielsen to take over as liaison and Young as alternate. Knox noted there was an incident that took place and it was discussed. Walker noted there were applications for in-house teams which included the Mill Race fields. There will be a player valuation from July 10^th to 22^nd. On motion by Bellis, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved all soccer dates regular season of August 7^th through November 11^th pending the availability of the Mill Race fields. These fields include Keystone; Tracy; Mill Race; Old Orchard, and the Palmer bus garage area. Also approved was the soccer tournament which runs August 25th through 27^th; as well as the BMYSC soccer camp being held at Keystone July 24^th through the 28^th.

Wrestling - Walker stated he has appointed Jim Worley as alternate for wrestling.

New business –

Smith stated that as soon as wrestling is done in the basement of the Municipal Building everything will be moved over to the community center where wrestling will be housed from now on and there will be an equipment room made. There will be an equipment manager hired which will organize equipment for every sport. Once this is in motion he will meet with the AA and Recreation Board to discuss how it is going to work.

Smith also noted that they are having good meetings for the special committee that he appointed and once everything is completed he will meet with the Athletic Association and Recreation Board and discuss how this is to work. He would like to have a special meeting with the two organizations to go over everything.

Smith noted he has the bill for the gator and will work on the purchase of this.

Smith also noted the township will be hiring two people, preferably retired people, to be in charge of fields; the striping and anything else other than regular maintenance.

Old Business –

Walker asked if the committee for the parks rules and regulations has a report. Young, Knox and Worley met and went over these rules and regulations. Young noted there are people who use the bike trail early in the morning or later in the evening when it is dark. These rules are proposing the closing of parks including the bike path at dusk. This committee feels there are people who would like to use Fairview Park/bike path/basketball courts in the evenings and proposed that Fairview Park and the bike path closing time be 10:00 p.m. There was discussion that organized sports are needed to be played at the parks. When people are around there is less opportunity for trouble. What about a summer basketball leagues. Police stated that if there isn’t an ordinance to cover the problems that are occurring and that they feel are violations there is nothing they can do about it. Committee also discussed Penn Pump and fishing season. Young motioned to recommend Fairview Park and the Bike path hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Keystone Park, Riverview Park and the Palmer complex, where there is lighting, there will be organized sports so these parks are opened until the sporting event is over. Also, recommending that the first two weeks of fishing season, Penn Pump Park and Riverview Park be opened 24 hours a day. Nielsen seconded this motion, and it was agreed by all.

Smith noted he had a meeting with Anckaitis and Heckman and the lease for the concession stand for the AA has been dropped. There was talk on the wrestling mats which cost $7000. These mats will need to be rolled to be stored. Snyder asked does the 25% of the door take for the dances held at the center still have to be forwarded to the community center. Smith will check and let Kim know by Friday. Snyder asked Heckman if they had to clean up after the dances and she responded that the AA would be responsible for all clean up except for the gym. Snyder also noted that the workers informed some AA members if they did not want to do the clean up, that they could tip the workers and they would do it. Smith noted the Supervisors noted the AA will not do the mopping of the floors or cleaning the bathrooms. Snyder noted they would definitely do the normal clean up of the snack area and lobby area.

On motion by Bellis, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.