PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION MEETING

February 17, 2009

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. with all members in attendance.  Supervisor/Liaison Smith was also in attendance.  Chairman Knox opened the meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY - On motion by Nielsen, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the minutes of the January meeting were approved.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT – September/October/November/December/January – Nielsen submitted this year’s budget for everyone and on motion by Walker, seconded by Worley, and agreed by all, the Board tabled the treasurer’s report until next month.  Nielsen noted there was a very small number of purchase orders submitted and she will have a new format for the report by next month.

     

PUBLIC COMMENT/CORRESPONDENCE –

 

Bill Webb requested field use at the Palmer complex for the Lehigh Valley Stealth group for July 11 and 12.   He asked if the fees were still $50 per field per day and he didn’t have a problem with that.  On motion by Worley, seconded by Young and agreed by five, Webb abstained, the Board approved the use of the fields at the Palmer Complex, which included Field #6 for the L. V. Stealth for July 11 and 12 with no rain date requested.

 

Bill Webb asked for the use of the Palmer complex fields and Briarcliffe for July 16 through the 19th for a baseball fundraiser for Palmer Baseball.  On motion by Walker, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved the use of the Palmer complex fields, including field #6 and Briarcliffe Park for a fundraiser.  Fees were waived for this request.  

 

Palmer Softball Association – Bill Raven submitted a request for the two fields at Riverview Park for the Palmer Softball Association.  He had submitted all information that is required.  He is requesting weekdays from March 30th to October 30th, Monday thru Fridays and weekends April 4-5; 11-12; 18-19; May 2-3; June 13-14; 20-21; 27-28; July 4-5; 25-26 for tournaments.  He is also requesting Keystone/Tracy fields for tournaments for May 2-3; June 13-14; 20-21 and July 4-5.  He will support portable restrooms for these tournaments and will also police the fields/parking areas for any problems.  Board commended him on his submission that he had everything that was required and also that there hasn’t been any problems in the past with tournaments.     The Veteran’s League was in attendance also and they reviewed the dates in which Raven was requesting Keystone/Tracy.  There will not be any effects with soccer.  On motion by Worley, seconded by McBrairty and agreed by all, the Board approved the request from the Palmer Softball Association for the use of Riverview Fields and the field request for the tournaments.

 

John Kerbaugh was present with an application for field use of Keystone and Tracy Fields for April 1 through August 31, 2009.  There was discussion on when they can hold their tournament and it was noted that they cannot have it during Palmer Weekend which is August 20-23 and the following weekend is the soccer tournament.  Kerbaugh will get back to his organization and they be in touch with Diane.   Rosters will be handed in when they get them.  Young noted in past years these fields have been used for practice for our teams.  Webb noted they will not be using it this year.  On motion by Nielsen, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the Board approved the use of the fields for their season of April 1 through August 31 and will wait for a new date for the tournaments.

 

Roy Cortez was present to request the use the LaBarre Park field for his group - 64 and over.  They would be using it mornings, Mondays and Wednesdays.   He stated there is never conflict with anyone since it is in the morning.  Young said this is a great use for the field, the more you use it the better it gets.  It is used by softball teams but that is just for practice and not the mornings.   Board informed him the fee would be $10 per player that played.  Nielsen asked if they would play all their games in Palmer and Cortez stated no, they do go to different fields.  Board also informed him that they would need insurance and rosters.   On motion by Worley, seconded by McBrairty, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request of LaBarre Park field use for the 64 and over league from May through September, pending information being submitted to Diane.

 

Donna Myers was present with the request from the Palmer Summer Adult Volley all League to use the Keystone Park courts.  Her application was submitted and she asked if the courts were going to be resurfaced.  She also asked about new nets.  The nets they used last year had holes in them.  She also noted that the antennas are shot.  Diane will check on the nets.  Myers asked if the fee was still $45 a team and was told yes, the fees have not been raised.  On motion by Walker, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved the use of the Keystone Park Volleyball Courts for the summer adult league from June 3 to August 26th, for Wednesday nights from 6 – 9:30 p.m.

 

Pastor Daniel Cook of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church was present with a request for a field for a softball league from March 23rd to July 6th, either from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. or 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. If it is the later time they would need a field with lights.   Board informed him we do not have fields with lights.  Cook noted they would need it one day a week.  Board discussed LaBarre field and stated maybe they would not use it for these few days.  There were other suggestions such as Riverview fields.  Young noted he would speak with Bill Raven and see what could be done to get a field for the church.  Board discussed this and felt they could tentatively approve the request pending field availability.  On motion by McBrairty, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church for the use of a field for one night a week from March 23 to July 6, pending availability.  Fees were waived.

 

Grube stated she received a call from a Daisy Troop leader who was looking for a park to use for two hours for an Easter Egg Hunt.  She would also need a pavilion.  There was discussion on this and the Board agreed that they should use Mill Race Park on April 11th.  There are large areas there for their use as well as a pavilion and bathrooms, if they are opened for the season.  On motion by Webb, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request of the Daisy Troop use of Mill Race Park for April 11th.  

 

The Board had tabled the request from VIA who wants to hold a Marathon on Sunday, September 13, 2009.  It was tabled pending the organization discussing this request with the police department.  Grube submitted an email from VIA and Lieutenant Trinchere from the police department which stated they did not have a problem with this request.  The route was the same as they had last year.  On motion by Young, seconded Webb, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request from VIA for their annual race to be held on Sunday, September 13, 2009.  Fees were waived for this request.

 

REPORTS –

 

Adult Recreation – Worley/Nielsen liaisons for 2009.  Worley noted he was happy to see that finally all the organizations were in attendance with information that has been asked for.

 

Baseball – Young/Walker liaisons for 2009.  –  Webb reported there were 360 signups.  Down slightly but not by much.  He noted that the Over 15 group was down so there will not be a Connie Mack team this year.  Dan McKinney asked if this was contradictory with what the AA reported on at their meeting.  Webb stated signups for baseball are officially over, there are no extensions for baseball.  If anyone signed up now for baseball it would be $45 and they would be put on the roster thru an availability basis, there will not be any new teams established.  Webb also reported that they are in good shape for uniforms except for the senior legion; coaches are set and their equipment expenses will be at a minimal this year.

 

Basketball – Walker/McBrairty liaisons for 2009.  – Walker reported that Mary Jo Ballent keeps saying she is collecting money from the teams that are using the community, the Non-Palmer teams but this money has not been turned in yet to the AA Treasurer.  Ballent also said the AA approved this use, the AA President.  Bob Smith noted this was not approved by the AA.    Board request Mary Jo and Barry Fulmer attend their next meeting to discuss with them what that they do not have the authority to approve this.  Worley wants to know how we ended up with a U17 team at In The Zone.  McKinney wondered who was paying for this court time since Palmer teams are asking for more time and these non Palmer teams are using these courts and haven’t paid. 

 

Budget – Young/Nielsen liaisons for 2009. 

 

Egg Hunt – Nielsen liaison for 2009 – She reported the candy has been ordered.  She also noted that there is no hard candy or any peanut products but we will have peanut butter eggs.  Egg Hunt will be held on Friday, April 10th at 10:00 a.m. at Palmer School; rain place – the Charles Chrin Community Center at 10 a.m.  Everyone should get there by 9 to help set up. 

 

Maintenance – Bob Smith will report to the Recreation Board for 2009 – Smith reported he had a meeting in regards to baseball fields and presented a play of proposed dug outs and fields.  He stated the Board of Supervisors is trying to get this project started.  These dug-outs could be for Field 1 but Nielsen asked how would the spectators see and felt it would block the view of the field.  Other Board members agreed and Smith asked if they felt it would be better at new fields at the community center.  Members asked if legion would be moved to the community center and Smith felt they would be at Fairview for quite a while.  They are proposing two baseball and one softball field in place of the band shell.  Members stated the original plan was for legion to go to the center but the BOS agreed that the legion would have to stay at Fairview.   Webb asked why can’t softball have the Fairview complex.  Young noted parking was always a problem.  Smith also informed the Board that there was a major setback at the center’s property as far as the new storm water laws.  Outfields mix will now have to be a mix to absorb the water. This new mix is very, very expensive.  Nielsen asked about walking paths to the fields and Smith stated there would be as well as restrooms.   

 

Softball – McBrairty/Worley liaisons for 2009

 

Wrestling – Worley/Young liaisons for 2009 – Webb reported the season is over. They had a very good year end tournament and the picnic is scheduled for May. 

 

Cheering – Nielsen/Webb liaisons for 2009

 

Football – Young/Walker liaisons for 2009

 

Playground – Nielsen liaison for 2009.  She reported that she had a meeting with Bob Anckaitis and Diane Grube in regards to the summer recreation program and charging a fee for it this year.  She noted that the Board of Supervisors said that there will have to be a fee charged this year and Anckaitis figured out the price to $150 per child.  He figured this on 30 children that he said he was told attended the program.  (It was determined that this was an incorrect number, that there are 30 children at each playground which would be approximately 120 children registered for the summer.)  If there was more than one child per family there would be deductions per child.  This went to the Board of Supervisors and they agreed on $35 per child.  Smith reviewed what the Supervisors agreed on and noted that he wanted this decision to be tabled until he could bring it back to the Recreation Board for review but the manager said he needed a decision made that night as he had to get the article ready for the newsletter so the Supervisors decided on the $35 per child to be equivalent with the sports programs.  Young motioned that this subject be re-visited.  He feels very strongly that the summer recreation program should not be cancelled under any circumstances, and that this deadline date should be removed.  No one knows what they are doing until the summertime.  This date is ridiculous.  Worley seconded the motion and it was agreed by all. Young feels this should have come back to this Board for review first before the Supervisors made this decision.  The lack of respect for the Recreation Board, that they weren’t considered to review this is unacceptable.  The expenses for this are already in the budget for this year so we should have this program this year and look into next year’s during this season.  Board members are very upset about the outcome of this.  Nielsen and Knox will go to the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday night to discuss this.   

 

Soccer – McBrairty/Knox liaisons for 2009

 

LaCrosse – Knox/Webb liaisons for 2009 - McKinney reported that he met with Todd Doerner and discussed the practicing in the gym with the rubber balls.  He told him that if anything got damaged this permission to use the gym would be revisited. 

 

Development – Young

 

Young reviewed plans with the Board as follows –

 

Sussex Wire, Palmer Industrial Park proposed addition.  On motion by Young, seconded by Nielsen and agreed by all, the Board voted to require fees be paid in lieu of land.

 

Woodridge Falls III – Young reviewed this plan with the Board.  This is new and hasn’t been through planning yet.  On motion by Webb, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the Board voted to table action on this plan until next meeting.

 

Community Center – Knox/Worley liaisons for 2009 – McKinney reported that he was contacted by Soccer Magic who is interested in running a camp at the center for a week in June 22 to 26th.   He would charge $150 per child and we get $10 a child.  Board felt he should use Mill Race field.  On motion by Nielsen, seconded by McBrairty and agreed by all, the Board approved the soccer camp for the week in June to be held at Mill Race Park and run through the Community Center. 

 

McKinney then informed the Board that through the BIP there may be a playground constructed outside at the center.  They have met with 3 companies and he showed sketches of proposals.  Smitty reviewed what the BIP was doing and the fundraiser they had for this project which includes benches, permanent picnic tables, the playground itself and ADA accessible area.  Hopefully in will be in by summer and maybe before so the after school program can use it.

 

New Business – Webb asked if Palmer has the rights to use field at the Kunkle Tract.  He was told yes but he had to go through the proper channels by contacting the school district and filling out the proper paperwork.    


Young they noted that we have been saying throughout the night that people will be contacting Bob Van Horn for certain things.  He reported that Scott Kistler is now the head of the Parks/Public Works Departments and he should be the person to be contacted.  Diane will speak with him in regards to the nets.

 

On motion by Webb, seconded by Walker, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

 

                                                                              Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.