PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION BOARD

AUGUST 15, 2006

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. with all members in attendance except Bellis and McBrairty. Supervisor liaison Robert Smith was also in attendance. Walker called the meeting to order.

MINUTES OF THE JUNE MEETING – On motion by Knox, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the minutes of the June meeting were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Due to a new computer system in the Municipal Building a report was unavailable. Hopefully there will be one out by next month.

PUBLIC COMMENT – None.

REPORTS -

ADULT RECREATION –Knox noted he spoke with the volleyball commissioner and it was discussed that they need to advertise. It was suggested putting something in the newsletter. This may help with getting more teams to participate. Also, maybe something on the web site would help.

Knox also stated that there is a very large hole at Tracy field. The school district is taking care of this and he feels that there should be fencing around this large hole for safety reasons. Board feels there should be a note sent to the school district representative regarding safety issues; Board feels the sink hole needs to be fenced in for soccer tournament. Knox will speak with Bob Van Horn and ask him to speak with Tim Case to see what they are doing with this.

Walker asked if we received all Rosters for leagues. Grube stated yes she has received them. Board wants to review them to see how many players are from Palmer. Board needs to discuss with the leagues if we are going to charge fees for non-resident players. Need to tell them beginning of next year.

Baseball – Bob Walker reported. Young stated that Rich Freiler is not lining fields anymore. Mick Corpora noted he had some kids that could do it. Fall softball will have to line their own fields for their games.

Basketball – Worley informed the Board that the gym is availability at the community center and stated that we officially do not have a commissioner but Jeff Quinn will help. We are in the process of searching for one. Worley further stated that he met with Kemie Heckman, director of the community center, and discussed schedules. They are working together to get a good schedule for practices and games.

Wrestling may be a problem with all the other scheduled activities in the all-purpose room. Mats in the Municipal Building are practice mats and the games mats are at Palmer School. Mats for the all–purpose room should have been ordered by now by Heckman. She knew the type she wanted and needed so it was her responsibility to order them. Worley will find out the status of the practice mats in municipal building, they may have to swap out with ones from Palmer School. Worley will be having a meeting with wrestling representatives and will discuss all this. Progress is being made with scheduling the rooms at the community center so no one should do anything unless they speak with Jim Worley.

Previously the Recreation Board appointed a Liaison to the Community Center, which was Cheryl Nielsen. This position has been relinquished to Jim Worley with approval by the Board of Supervisors.

Budget – Committee will get together for this. Commissioners should get their budgets together and sent directly to Knox who will then get with Bellis to go over the budgets. Smith noted he would like the sports commissioners to attend a Recreation Board meeting so the budgets could be discussed.

Board noted they need to know what is going on with the equipment manager. Smith noted the equipment manager was hired for a year and he now has everything recorded. We need to know the status of this and who is doing what in the future. Knox will contact Rick and find out the status.

Maintenance – Board wants a copy of the phone repair proposal for the field house. Board noted this needs to get repaired.

Softball –Young reported on this and noted that a player from the Palmer Days

Event won the area Home Run Derby.

Cheering – has good numbers this year.

Football – Worley noted the numbers are extraordinary. There are so many children, great turn out. First game is home against Williams Township. Stated the schedule should be put on web site. Worley noted the field looks real good, that Bob Smith did a great job on it. Thanks for the hard work.

Smith noted there was an issue with the fryer and Richard’s Drive-In donated their used ones for the refreshment stand.

Smith asked if anyone felt the field house should have a defibrillator. There was discussion on this and it was felt it is a good idea but you have to be trained. Board felt it was a good idea to get a grant to purchase one.

Playground – Nielsen stated that the season-end report has been distributed to all. Marc Knox, Jr. did a wonderful job as did all the other instructors. Nielsen did a review of everything they did this year and noted she would like to increase budget for an air conditioned bus for the field trip for next year. They go on their annual trip the hottest time of the year. It was very uncomfortable this year. Nielsen noted they were over budget this year but she had purchased quoit boards which made this over expenditure. There were many great compliments on the program this year and Keystone was a good location. The instructors took count of how many children attended each park. Also, discussed the possibility of using the community center for rain days or very hot days if available.

Soccer – Knox reported that the numbers are strong but they were dropped in numbers at an age group. Younger ages are good. Alan Wolfe is doing a great job. Need someone to paint fields. Find some kids that would be interested in doing this. Storage building will be in shortly.

Development – Young discussed the proposed plans before the township at this time. There is a cheering school on Corriere Road and on Milford Street self storage units proposed. Board feels that fees should be required as there is no land they would be interested at these sites. On motion by Young, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board voted to require the recreation fee be paid in lieu of land. Young noted that the Milford Street storage units will be having more green area then what is there now and they will clean up scrub area. On motion by Young, seconded by Knox and agreed by all, the Board voted to require the recreation fee be paid in lieu of land. Young discussed the Laubach property development on Bethman Road which is partially in Bethlehem Township and partially in Palmer. Young discussed with the Board the proposed road pattern and asked the feelings of this Board. It was the consensus that there should be access from this development to the community center and not to close Nulton Avenue. On motion by Worley, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Recreation Board voted to keep the bike trail and connect the two open space areas between Bethlehem Township and Palmer Township.

Mill Race – Young noted the damage is not as bad as everyone thought and we are still looking at the end of the year for the township to get the fields. Board discussed removing this open space from the calculations for the development which is the flood plain. Board noted we need to get more open space; when the land is gone it’s gone. Board should write letter to the Board of Supervisors stating they should be purchasing land to get open space. They could then rent it out. Board thought a letter should be sent letter to land owners throughout the township asking if they would be interested in selling some of their property. On motion by Nielsen, seconded by Worley, and agreed by all, the Board voted that this letter should be sent by the Supervisors.

Walker stated they should rectify action that was taken in the month of July in regards to field usage. Lower Briarcliffe baseball field was approved for use for fall baseball as was Fairview field. The team using Fairview had to pay as it was a special team. The team using Briarcliffe did not, it was an open team, and any one could try out for it. Also, six children were allowed to play with Palmer soccer or they would not have a place to play. On motion by Nielsen, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the Board voted to approve these uses.

Board then discussed having a meeting every month next year instead of skipping July and December. There is too much going on to not have meetings every month.

Board feels we need to have a discussion on this “off season” sports.

Young noted the township has hired a company to place banners/flags on poles throughout township. They will not be placed in residential areas. Sponsors are being looked for.

Nielsen distributed pictures that she received from Lou Smull who sells picture package for sports. Board felt he should contact Heckman at the community center to see about fund raiser.

On motion by Nielsen, seconded by Knox, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.