PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION
Reorganization Meeting
JANUARY 16, 2007
The
reorganization meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. with all members in attendance
except Worley. Chairman Walker opened
the meeting and called for nominations for Chairman.
On motion by
Knox, seconded by Bellis, Cheryl Nielsen was
nominated as Chairman. Nominations were
closed as agreed by all and Cheryl Nielsen was
appointed Chairman for the years 2007 and 2008.
Walker
then turned meeting over to newly appointed Chairman Nielsen who called for
nominations for Vice Chairman. On motion
by Walker, seconded by Bellis, Marc
Knox was nominated as Vice Chairman.
Nominations were closed as agreed by all and Marc Knox was appointed
Vice Chairman for the years 2007 and 2008.
Nielsen then
called for nominations for Secretary. On
motion by Bellis, seconded by Walker,
Jeffrey A. Young was nominated as Secretary.
Nominations were closed as agreed by all and Jeffrey A. Young was
appointed Secretary for the years 2007 and 2008.
Nielsen then
called for nominations for Treasurer. On
motion by Walker, seconded by
McBrairty, James Worley was nominated as Treasurer. Nominations were closed as agreed by all and
James Worley was appointed as Treasurer for years 2007 and 2008.
MINUTES OF
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER – On motion by Knox,
seconded by Bellis, and agreed by all, the minutes of the November meeting were
approved as written. On motion by Walker,
seconded by Knox, and agreed by all, the minutes of the December meeting were
approved as written.
TREASURER’S
REPORT – On motion by McBrairty, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the
Board approved the new budgets for the year 2007. Knox printed out a budget sheet for each
sport and will distribute them to the commissioners at the AA meeting so they
are aware of what was approved.
Nielsen
thanked the officers for what they did in 2006 and looks forward to working
with this Board over the next two years.
PUBLIC
COMMENT/CORRESPONDENCE –
Mr.
Rick Weaver of Pinnacle Racing was present with a request to use part of the
bike path for a 26 mile run. Weaver
stated he has spoken with the Easton Mayor about using their streets and
received approval from him. He has
spoken with Wilson and West
Easton and they are reviewing this proposal next week at their
respective meetings. Weaver stated he has driven through Forks, Williams
and Palmer and feels Palmer is the best place to hold this race not only on the
bike path but also on township roads. He
noted that his original proposal states he would like to start at the high
school and travel on the bike path and roadways and back to the high
school. Since the time he submitted this
proposal he has traveled through the township and now he would like to stage
the race at the community center. He
feels this is a better place to start and end.
Nielsen asked if there is a profit being made from this race and Weaver
stated a modest profit and stated that last year for every six (6) volunteers
supplied from an organization for traffic control they contributed to that
organization $250. They will do the same
this year. Smith asked if the AA would
allowed to do this and Weaver stated yes, any voluntary organization. Young asked how many participants he
estimated and Weaver stated he would like to see 400 participants. He would like to schedule it for Sunday, October 28, 2007. Bellis noted this is football season and
there would been some serious traffic problems.
Bellis feels this is a good idea but will have to check on home games
and his schedule doesn’t get done until beginning of the summer. Weaver noted they would start the race at 8
or 8:30. Board feels with that many participants and
workers there would be a large parking/traffic problem. Weaver stated maybe the volunteers and some
of the participants could park some other place such as the high school or mall
and get shuttled to the center. He
stated there is a church in the area and the Board stated that there of course
would be services on Sunday morning. Palmer
School will be parked up if there
is a football game. Smith stated this
request will have to go to the Board of Supervisors and they will work with
this request if the Recreation Board gives their okay. Weaver’s tentative race route would be
leaving the community center onto Green Pond Road to the west and travel Nulton
Avenue, down to William Penn Highway, travel south through Old Orchard and Old
Orchard Park to Mine Lane Road and Milford Street, to the bike path and back to
the community center. Board’s consensus
is they do not have a problem with the concept but the parking is going to be a
problem due to it being on a Sunday and during football season. On motion by Walker,
seconded by Bellis, and agreed by all, the Board recommended approval of this
request by the Board of Supervisors and that the Board works with this project
on the proposed route. Weaver then asked
if a section of the bike path is Palmer’s jurisdiction and was told no that it
was Bethlehem Township’s
and he would have to speak with them.
Weaver to contact Diane Grube to set up
a meeting with Bob Smith and Tom Adams on this project.
Mr.
Tom Adams, Public Services Director for Palmer
Township was present if anyone had
any questions for him. Smith distributed
a list that Adams had made on proposed projects; some which
are being funded through the recreation/park development fund. Adams noted the path
in front of concession stand at Palmer complex is marked out now and Bellis
should look at it and see if it is okay.
The back stop will be a portable one which will be moved out for
football. Young asked how the township
was going to fix the area where it is full of ruts and stated a berm above this
area should be built higher. This would
prevent the water run off that is always there.
Young asked if this Board has a say on any of these proposed projects
and Smith stated yes they would like the Board’s input and suggestions. Board stated they would like to see a plan of
Riverview Park
parking lot and what is proposed to be blacktopped as well as the LaBarre parking
lot. Bellis asked if there is anything
going on with the garden area and Adams reported there
is money in budget to purchase land in the area but no communications with any
land owners at this time. Knox asked
about Mill Race fields. Smith stated they
are still waiting for the developer. Young
asked where the bleachers were going to be placed and Adams
noted the legion field/Fairview Park. Others are needed throughout the parks and
they will be done in the future. Young discussed
Penn Pump
Park baseball field. He noted it was stated that this field was
not going to be repaired and questioned this.
Adams noted that the back stop is still there but
the field is loaded with gravel due to the bad rains and floods. Young noted that LaCrosse stated they were
going to use this for practice. Young
feels this field should be fixed as much as possible. Smith stated they were not going to repair
something that constantly is being flooded out.
There is an organization that is going to be dedicating a Boccie Ball court
north of the existing building in the play area.
REPORTS
–
LIAISONS - Nielsen distributed new assignments
to all. The liaison for the Recreation
Board to the Community Center will still be Worley.
Representative
to from the Recreation Board to the AA will stay the same for one more
year. Walker
stated he would officially withdraw from this committee as Bellis will be in
attendance and then there would be four Recreation Board members. Knox and Nielsen will remain the other
representatives.
There
was discussion on the equipment manager position and the Board feels that this
person should answer to the Recreation Board and/or Chairman of the Recreation
Board and Bob Smith, Liaison of the Recreation Board and not the township
manager. The Board did not have any contact
with Rick and feels this is the Board that should be met with. On motion by Bellis, seconded by Knox, and
agreed by all, the Board strongly recommends to the Board of Supervisors, that James
Schwab be considered for the position of equipment manager if the position
becomes available, based on his long association with Palmer
Township. Board feels whoever is in this position
should be at the Recreation Board meetings before each sport season and to get
together with the commissioner of that sport.
Adult
Recreation – Knox stated there was some discussion last month on the fees being
charged for softball/volleyball. Grube
distributed to the Board a survey she did of other townships and what they
charge. It may be a good idea to have a per
team fee but something has to be done about this. Young stated he feels if there is a per
player fee the leagues will not be able to handle this payment as it would
result in a large payment. Walker
feels these associations cost the township money and something has to be done
with this. Board requests the presence
of all the leagues representatives at the next meeting to discuss this. Grube
will contact these representatives including volleyball.
Baseball
– sign ups will be shortly. Knox
reported that there will be try outs for Legion, Connie Mack, and Junior Legion
in February and that they have lowered the age for the Connie Mack league. Board members were very upset with this as
they did not know it and this is can not be allowed unless it comes before the
Board. Bellis will address this at the
Athletic Association meeting.
Bellis
reported that the Baseball representatives would like to run a tournament at
the end of year. It will not conflict
with anything and will be run through the organization. They will have try outs for the team and
invite everyone interested to try out. Everyone
has an opportunity.
Home
Run Derby day was discussed. Board would
like to make a decision on the day as they are looking at getting the Phillies
in for the day. Last year it was the
beginning of June and Board noted it used to be later. On motion by Knox, seconded by Young, and
agreed by all, the Board voted that the Home Run Derby will be held on
Saturday, June 23rd and that all in-house baseball to be ended by
June 30th.
Egg
Hunt – Nielsen noted she ordered more peeps and plastic eggs will be ordered
shortly.
Wrestling
– McBrairty noted things are going well.
They are at their new location and things started a little shaky but
doing well now. Bellis stated the AA
appointed Maria LaValva to be the liaison for the Athletic Association to meet
with the community center director just like the Recreation Board did. The 2007 schedules are complete and LaValva will
meet with Heckman shortly. Recreation
Board has to do the same.
Football
– Nielsen stated Bellis and his coaches did a wonderful job this year and felt
the blow up helmet was great to have.
Development
– Young had a plan for the Redner’s complex and the proposal for an addition to
the strip mall. On motion by Walker,
seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the Board voted to have the developer pay
recreation fees in lieu of land.
LaCrosse
– Knox stated they have not received the donation from the interested party yet
but will have it shortly. Todd
Doerner is at the League meeting tonight. They had stated they wanted to practice on
Mill Race field.
On
motion by Bellis, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Diane
Grube, Corr. Sec.