PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION BOARD

MARCH 18, 2008

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 with all in attendance except Walker and Webb. Chairperson Nielsen opened the meeting.

MINUTES OF FEBRUARY – On motion by Knox, seconded by Worley, and agreed by all, the minutes of the February meeting were approved as written.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Worley reviewed the report. Knox noted under Soccer there was a charge to soccer that should have been for LaCrosse. Worley questioned why the two league fees for baseball were different and asked if they were correct. Young noted that these fees were correct but he didn’t know why there was a difference. On motion by Knox, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the report was approved after the correction was made for the LaCrosse expense.

VETERAN’S SR. LEAGUE – Joe Capanna, representative for the Palmer Veteran’s Senior Softball League – Over 50 division – was present seeking approval to use Keystone fields starting April 1 until September 15, 2008. Their schedule runs until mid August but the 35 and over league holds their tournament later in September so that is why their request is until mid September. They help each other out. Knox noted they never have a problem with soccer. Young noted last year the younger kids were able to use these fields until the veterans used them but noted that no one used it. Their actual season starts in May and they are asking for April for practice. The Board did not have a problem with this. Capanna has the application but needs to check on the Insurance. Diane will check what was done last year. He stated he also has the rosters and financial report and asked if the fee will stay the same and was told yes. On motion by Young, seconded by McBrairty and agreed by all, the Board voted to approve the request of the Veteran’s League to use Keystone Park from April 1 to September 15, 2008 conditioned that all paperwork gets straightened out.

Mike Torcivia – Ultimate Flag Football Group – was present requesting permission to use a section of the Fairview field between the fences for their flag football group. He explained the ultimate flag football league and noted that they use Lachenour in the fall for this league. They would like to use it April to June, Sundays only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with approximately 6 games a day. He noted they have already practiced there and Young pointed out that there are rocks in grass – very large rocks. Young asked since they need 50 yards what about the outfield at Riverview Park. Torcivia also noted that Penn Pump Park field is big enough. Their rules stated that they do not play in rain so they will not ruin any fields. Knox pointed out the small soccer fields at Tracy which are big enough for their use. They are not there on Sundays and there is plenty of parking and bathrooms available. Nielsen noted they need insurances and need to pay the fees that other leagues are paying. Torcivia also stated that they are not allowed alcohol or profanity on the grounds where they are. He is in the process of getting quotes and information for insurance. They do have waivers players need to sign. Board noted the fees would be $50 a team ($10 a player). Knox motioned to allow the Ultimate Flag Football League to use the small soccer fields at Tracy, pending insurance and paying of fees be complied with, from April 6 to June 8^, 2008, also noting that rosters with all information be submitted to Diane. Motion was seconded by Worley, and agreed by all.

Volleyball – Donna Meyers – Liability insurance discussion. Donna noted she spoke with the teams and discussed the insurance coverage. She also spoke with insurance companies and she needed to know what minimum amount of insurance was needed. Nielsen noted this league never had this insurance before and it was started by a group of ladies and just wanted to play volleyball. Nielsen noted if we keep adding on fees it may hurt the league. We started the fees last year and now this is new. Meyers spoke with her league teams and stated they have 2 choices = not to play or to pay. Jill from the CCCC noted that there is a league waiver through USA Volleyball for liability and will check into this for Meyers and get back to her with the information. Young noted he wants this league to continue. See what the quotes are and the Board will definitely work with this league. Diane will check policies she had submitted last year for information.

John Zackman – was referred to this Board suggesting the township create a dog park. There aren’t any in this immediate area and showed the Board a newspaper article on a dog park at Illick’s Mill Road. He noted it was a great place with 2 areas – one for small dogs and one for large dogs. We would have to have 2 acres which would have to be fenced with benches and trees. We would also have to have a water line for water in the park for the dogs. He asked about the large field in the back of the Municipal Complex. There already is parking available around the building. Young asked who cleans up after dogs. Zackman noted each owner must clean up after their own dog and they have bags and garbage cans available for use. Young suggested at the end of Berks Street. There would have to be water run there same as in the back property. Board thanked Mr. Zackman for his suggestion and noted they would look into it.

Mike Kennedy – Easton Area YMCA was present asking to use Fairview Park and the Bike Path for their annual “Fire Cracker” 4^th of July Run. He stated they used it last year and everything went very well. It is a four mile run. On motion by Knox, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the Board voted to approve the request for the Easton Area YMCA and waive fees. Kennedy noted they will be setting up very early that morning and will need the key/handle for the water. Kennedy will get in touch with Diane when the time gets closer.

Baseball – Young reported that Florich put a bill through to cover tryouts for legion at The Zone and Lehigh Valley Baseball Academy. Young stated this was not discussed during budget meetings and he informed Florich that the Recreation Board would not pay for this, he would not sign the purchase order. Florich had this under league fees. Nielsen stated after the February AA Board meeting they talked about this and they noted they would discuss this at a later time. Young noted this came up before and Recreation Board noted they would not use tax payers money to pay this. Florich told Young that the Recreation Board required them to have the tryouts early so the Recreation Board should pay this. Young told him this was not correct. Florich told him they have to have tryouts in February because once high school starts they can’t touch the kids until their season is over. What about other leagues, why aren’t they having this problem.

Knox feels this is misappropriation of funds. If he would have had a line item or asked for this in his budget there would have been a discussion. It’s too late to address how the kids get on the leagues. We are here just to talk about the funds. Young noted he will not sign this purchase order and the Board agrees with him. Worley stated the issue of tryouts is not going to get straightened out now. The issue on the spending of money has to be discussed now. Worley noted this is two separate issues and noted if we pay this it gives them the feeling they can put anything through. McBrairty questioned what we do next year. We have to set guide lines that we stick with for next year. Need to review budgets and what they are asking for.

Young noted baseball has large sign up numbers. Marc noted no one uses Wolf’s Run field and it is a nice field. There was a problem in the past with the homeowners private kids teams that were playing there but they aren’t now. Someone should utilize it.

Basketball- Young noted some teams are in playoffs. Jill stated she does not have a schedule and she needs to know how many teams are playing and when. Young noted Barry Fulmer is making the schedules and he should get in touch will Jill to straighten this out. He can e-mail the schedule to her so she has it.

Budget – Nielsen noted she gave the AA Treasurer the sports budgets and a listing of what the Recreation Board pays.

Egg Hunt – Nielsen noted all the candy and plastic eggs are in. It will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at Palmer School or the Community Center if rainy. Need help. Be there at 8:15 a.m.

Maintenance – Knox reported that he gave permission for LaCrosse to use the smaller field at Mill Race tonight. Jill asked if the were done at the community center and Knox stated yes, she could remove them from the schedule.

Lacrosse – Knox reported that there was damage done at the community center due to them using their sticks. He also noted that they purchased indoor balls. Jill stated they use regular lacrosse balls but they denied it. The kids are throwing the balls against the walls. There is no supervision for the kids. Worley stated we don’t allow sticks in the community center. Knox agrees as the rest of the Board does. Jill noted they can use the lower parking lot if they need to practice with the sticks. She also stated that the cushions on the walls all marked up. Jill informed the Board that the commissioner came into the center to get the league pictures taken and set up but never notified her. The doors were blocked off and there was too much going on since he was never scheduled. From now on if he is the center he must notify them and there will be no sticks used at the Community Center for LaCrosse – no sticks, no exception!! Knox to inform Doerner.

Knox stated that the girls’ varsity soccer team was practicing in the heavy, heavy rains at Tracy fields. Nielsen notified the EASD Athletic Director who told her he would will talk to the teams and not play in the rains.

Softball – Young reported they had evaluations and picked teams. The numbers are down at the older level. Need more on teams.

Playground – Nielsen reported they will need workers this year. Three are not coming back, maybe four. Must be college students.

Development – Young reviewed plans that are before the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors.

Corriere Road Office Complex; Magnetic Windings Self Storage; Tracy School Bus Parking; Milford Street Plaza; Park Avenue Market and Palmer North Industrial. Young discussed what each applicant was planning and it was motioned by Young, seconded by Worley, and agreed by all to request recreation fees be paid in lieu of land.

Board asked that the Board of Supervisors keep in mind that with Tracy School extending their bus parking they will be using the fields that we use for soccer, which will take away fields for the sports program in the north end of the township. Also, we need to know when this applicant is going to start the expansion as we have soccer tournaments in August and the Board just approved the Ultimate Flag Football League to use these fields.

Community Center – Jill reported that next year the schedule for basketball needs to be tighten up. The schedules that were given were helpful but need updated ones. Wrestling went fine this year and she already has the schedule for next season. The large tournaments are a problem though. She has a list of them and scheduled all rooms for wrestling only to use for the overflow of people.

Young asked McBrairty if the Commissioner of basketball could get the schedule out sooner. The league needs to help with this also, not just the commissioner. He also noted that they lost the Tracy School time slot and will be losing Paxinosa School shortly.

Jill informed the Board that Knox did a great job with indoor soccer pee wees.

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

Diane Grube, Corr. Secretary