PALMER TOWNSHIP RECREATION MEETING

May 18, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Palmer Township Recreation Board was held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Board members in attendance were Chairman Marc Knox, Vice Chairman Jeff Young, Treasurer Cheryl Nielsen, Secretary Bill Webb, and members Bob Walker and Bob Johnson. Chairman Knox opens the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Board welcomed Bob Johnson to the Board. Knox stated Bob will work with other liaisons to get used to what is going on and next year he will be appointed liaison to certain sports.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL – On motion by Young, seconded by Nielsen, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes from the April meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT – On motion by Walker, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the Treasurer’s Report was approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT/CORRESPONDENCE –

Rich Freiler request to use Fairview Park for Team Dynasty –

Walker noted that Freiler will not be attending tonight’s meeting but would like the approval to use Fairview field for practice for four days - June 1; 9; 23; and July /14. Webb noted the township wants to do work on that field starting mid August. Fee would be our set fee of $50 per field per day. Walker motioned to approve this request. Webb seconded the motion. Young asked if this is the team the kids are on that we lost? He was told yes. Walker stated Johnson has been working with this so he’ll report on it. Johnson stated Olah contacted him and asked him to go to meeting for the legion league and he received a list of 11 sign ups. At meeting he found out there was only 4 and no coach and no pitcher. Mickey Corpora informed the kids that Palmer was not having a team and that there would be a place on the Easton Legion for them. Freiler is taking a total of 5; who are kids that were not signing up for Legion. Through a lot of work there still was not enough to have a legion team. Township dropped out of league which was the best was to dissolve the legion team. It was better than having to forfeit and be dropped from the league. Knox called for a vote which was 4 aye, 1 no, 1 abstaining.

Joe Olah – Palmer Township Athletic Association - table until next month.

Lehigh Valley River Dogs – This is a lacrosse team that is requesting the use of Mill Race field for practice. Knox informed the representative that the township is shutting this field down because the field needs to have maintenance on it. No one can make any decisions on this for 2 weeks. They wanted to use it on Tuesdays in the month of July. They play scrimmages, no tournaments. It is a combination of area kids. He was told to check out field 6. Also contact the school district for field use.

Adult Recreation – Knox stated the volleyball league is expanding to Wednesdays. The league is growing. On motion by Nielsen, seconded by Walker, and agreed by all, the Board approved the Volleyball League to expand their playing days to include Wednesdays to their original request of Tuesdays.

Knox stated he spoke with the adult soccer team that has been using Mill Race field and told them they will not be able to use field next fall. They are to look somewhere else.

Baseball – Young reported that Bill Webb resigned as baseball commissioner as of the end of this year. This is not a good thing and he is very sorry he is going and wishes he wasn’t going. Young stated that the AA President is always stating that he supports all the commissioners. This is not true. Commissioners should be the representative at meetings for their sport, not someone else. If the AA President is not available to go he should contact the Commissioner, not send anyone else. Walker stated through all this with the legion all Palmer had to do was state we weren’t having a team. This is not an embarrassment to the sport or township or AA. Olah insisted we were having a team.

Dropping out was a lot better than forfeiting teams and getting kicked out of league. Knox stated that the Board appreciates what Webb has done and hopefully the program will continue and succeed. Hopefully he can help the new commissioner.

Young stated when the township ran the legion years ago they should have never given it back to the AA to run. There is a shortage of kids, yes but it could have been run better. Johnson stated they did the back ground checks on the coaches which had to be done so the signups were extended and all players from last year should have received email regarding signups.

Johnson recommended that they get this program back and be sure there is a head coach. Pat O’Connell stated an interest and there will be kids from Junior Legion that would move up next year. Knox stated they need to get back to a baseball committee which would include Bob Walker and get things going now. Now is the time to get this started.

Baseball - Young reported that things are going well in 9-10-11 level. He also noted that the Township is taking excellent care of the fields. Great job to all. Fields are great.

Knox met with Bob Smith and Tom Adams and maybe next year we will be able to put coach pitch at Fox Run or have 3 or 4 fields in one spot.

Budget – Knox stated that the AA will be getting a new chairman next year and he/she needs to get all budgets for all sports to Knox by August 1^st, if the Recreation Board representatives would pass this along.

Egg Hunt – Need to order more candy. There was the largest crowd ever at this last event. Whatever candy we don’t use the pool or the baseball/football can use at their snack bar.

Maintenance – Knox stated to Bob Smith that they recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the field turf person come in and look at fields to see what can be done. There are more weeds than grass and the fields need to be done. He asked about the football field sod and Smith stated Adams is working on this and will have an answer in 2 weeks.

Softball – Young reported everything is going fine. Fairview field is real nice. Smith stated the township received a quote for lights of $22,000 utilizing existing poles/breakers/wire. They decided to wait until next year after the season is over.

Young stated this year they bought a different kind first aid kit but this new type is really going to work out better. It’s the type that gets refilled. Suburban EMS will fill them in when needed.

Nielsen asked if anyone knew the team that is playing at Fairview on Sunday mornings, it is an organized team and they are parking on wrong side of road. Young will check this out.

Playground – getting a meeting together with new instructors. Have a full staff.

Lacrosse – season going well.

Development – 2 small minor subdivisions. – Rappa – Northwood Avenue – is making a lot into a flag lot. Recommend fees. On motion by Young, seconded by Walker, and agreed by all, the Board recommended fees be paid in lieu of land.

Stocker/Carlson – Young stated he would love to see a bike trail up Van Buren Road and suggested this plan leave extra width for bike path. On motion by Young, seconded by Walker, and agreed by all, the Board voted to recommend fees be paid in lieu of land and also asked that extra width be reserved for a future bike path along Van Buren Road.

Community Center – Dan McKinney requested the use of a baseball field/softball field at the Palmer Complex during day during the summer. This would be for the Palmer Summer Camp to use when needed. The only thing that is going on during the summer is the Catz camp. This is being held in mid-June. McKinney was told the closest field is #7 – walking distance. On motion by Johnson, seconded by Young and agreed by all, the Board approved the request for the Community Center to use a Palmer Complex field when needed during the summer at no charge.

New Business –

Nielsen read a letter from a township resident that lives adjacent to Briarcliff Park. She was complaining about the parties that rent the pavilion. They are very loud, noisy and loud music. They can’t enjoy their back yards. The neighbors want the park there but people are loud, noisy, music very loud. Should check this out and think about not renting this out next year.

Young stated that having sign ups at the Community Center is a pleasure!!! The only problem is data entered by the parent, which is incorrect some times.

Young stated that he was aware Joe Olah was coming to the Board to discuss sports out of season. He noted this is a Recreation Board issue not an AA issue and the Board is happy with the way things are now. There was discussion on the fees that the Community Center gets for the sign ups. McKinney stated they really don’t do anything and feels this money should go somewhere. Young stated none of this money should go to AA it should be in a separate fund. There was discussion on sports playing at the center out of their regular season. Everything is fine the way it is.

Young stated he and some others were invited to go to school board meeting. It was very interesting and feels everyone should watch the clip of this meeting. There were four groups present and a letter was drafted to the school board on sports being cut. Young stated the arts also. Need people and support for both of these programs.

Johnson – reported that during a baseball game there were two kids that collided and the one was seriously hurt – broken leg in a few places which also affected his growth plate. He went to the hospital and ended up going to the children’s hospital in Philadelphia. This injury should be reported to the AA.

No further business to come before the Board on motion by Nielsen, seconded by Young, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Diane Grube, Corr. Sec.