PARK
AND RECREATION BOARD
NEWTOWN
TOWNSHIP
MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2003
Approval of Minutes
The Newtown Township Park and
Recreation Board met on Tuesday, January 7, 2003. In attendance and voting were
Bernard Bires, Chairman; Michael Clancy, John Davis, Joel Grosso, Kathy Kelly,
Buck O'Neill, Susan Sutton and Anne Marie Zambriscki, members. Also in
attendance were Scott Harp and Richard Weaver, Township Supervisors, Bill Wert,
Park and Recreation Director and Russell G. Strover, Naturalist.
Mr. Bires called the meeting to
order at 7:15 PM.
Change in agenda.
Mr. Bires introduced Mr. Michael Clancy as a new Board member.
Mr. Bires added the
reorganization of the Board to the Agenda.
Mrs. Zambriscki moved to
nominate Mr. Bires as Chairman of the Park and Recreation Board. Mr. Davis
seconded and the motion passed 8-0.
Mr. Bires moved to nominate
Mr. Levine as Vice-Chairman. Mr. Grosso seconded and the motion passed 8-0.
Mr. Harp thanked the Board for
the work that they did in 2002, especially the completion of the Roberts Ridge
Park Playground. He also informed the Board that Mr.Strover, as a Township
employee, would no longer vote on Board motions, but would continue to attend
Board meetings and to advise and assist the Board with grant applications and
with the work of the Shade Tree Commission.
Approval of the Minutes
Mrs. Kelly moved to accept the
minutes of November 6, 2002. Mrs. Zambriscki seconded and the motion passed
7-0, with Mr. Clancy abstaining.
Shade Tree Commission
Mr. Strover reported that 24
trees had been placed in the ground at Roberts Ridge Park, with planting to be
completed when the cold snap breaks. Five additional trees will be planted in
the spring. Currently there are 71 trees of 50 different species. He hopes to
complete identification tagging during this winter.
Park and
Recreation Director's Report
Mr. Wert reported that four benches, five table and bench combinations and four trash barrels, donated by the Newtown Rotary Club in honor of founding member H. Stanford Roberts, have arrived and will be installed at Roberts Ridge Park when the weather breaks. Mr. Wert reported that he has discussed possibly planning a family fun day with the Rotary Club, as a fundraiser.
The Recreation department has seen a 9% increase in revenue and a 19% increase in participation in its programs. The Department offered 578 programs. The winter brochure will be mailed shortly. The Department is now 85% self-sufficient.
Mr. Wert
reviewed the 2003 Park and Recreation budget. He noted that money had been
allocated for a Silver Lake Park Site Plan, which will be the first step toward
grant applications for park improvements; $50,000 has been budgeted for a
gazebo and restrooms at Roberts Ridge Park; $15,000 has been allocated for site
amenities at the Clark Nature Center; $100,000 has been allocated for a skate
park; and the Newtown Trail is to be extended in front of Goodnoe School, to
connect Roberts Ridge to Andrew Drive, and along Richboro Road, connecting
Newtown Crossing to Tyler Park and the Newtown Middle School.
Mr. Bires
suggested that the sub-committees formed last year be re-activated to work on
these projects. Mr. Levine will continue to chair the Roberts Ridge Park
Sub-Committee. Mr. Clancy agreed to work on this committee. Mrs. Kelly will continue
as chairman of the Silver Lake Sub-Committee. Mr. O'Neill agreed to continue as
chairman of the Skate Park Sub-Committee. Mr. Clancy agreed to help with this.
Mrs. Sutton will chair the Clark Nature Center Sub-Committee.
Mr. Grosso said
that he felt that a Sub-Committee should be formed to investigate expansion of
active recreation parks. He said that fields are needed for soccer, softball
and baseball. He said that the Newtown Colonials had changed to "The Rock
Softball" and were growing very quickly. The available fields are no
longer adequate for all of the sports being offered in Newtown.
Mr. Wert said
that the Township owned 48 acre Wohl Tract on Rte 413 had been earmarked for
active recreation, but there was not a budget for improvements at this time. He
said that access to the tract from Rte 413 is a problem that must be resolved
with Penn Dot.
Mr. Grosso said
that he would like to begin gathering information and data now to bring this
need to the attention of the Board of Supervisors for long range planning. He
suggested that he chair a Sub-Committee for Active Recreation. He said that he
would contact Joe Garvey of The Rock Softball, to ascertain the girls' needs.
Mrs. Zambriscki
agreed with Mr. Grosso that the Board should begin planning for additional
fields, and she volunteered to work with Mr. Grosso on the Active Recreation
Sub-Committee.
Members
Comments
Mr. Bires said
that he would like the boys Little League and the Rock Softball to work
together to agree on field allocation. Mr. Wert said that the Rock Softball
would like to help with field maintenance.
Mr. O'Neill
said that Newtown Little League had been approached by Coke about sponsoring
the league, supplying the snack sheds and providing a new scoreboard at
Pickering Field that would feature the Coke logo. This is not a firm offer
yet.,
Mr. Wert said
that the Park and Recreation department is investigating possibly offering an
Archeology day camp next summer. Use of the Clark Nature Center as a possible
site was discussed.
Mr. Weaver
briefly discussed the summer camp Scholarship criteria.
Mr. Bires asked
if the future Board meetings could be held on the first Wednesday of the month
at 7:30PM. All agreed.
Mrs. Kelly moved to adjourn at 8:45 PM. Mr. Davis seconded and the motion passed 8-0.
Respectfully
Submitted,
_____________________________
Mary
Donaldson