Parks,
Recreation & Trails Committee
Minutes from Meeting of April 8, 2008
Attendees:
Tom
Bierl
Lawrie Bolger
Chris Conaway
Bill Haaf
Zeke Hubbard
Ricki Stumpo
1. Open Meeting: Hubbard called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Because many of those in attendance also
serve on the Trails Feasibility Committee, there was discussion of the assignments
made at that meeting regarding trail identification and installation
feasibility assignments. Bierl suggested that links and easements could
potentially be coordinated with Open Space Acquisition funds, State funding
opportunities, etc.
2.
Announcements: Solar speaker
scheduled for April 17 at the
3.
Public Comment: David Misciagna of
4.
Review of Minutes from March 11, 2008
Motion: Tom Bierl moved; Bill Haaf seconded, to
approve the minutes of March 11, 2008 as submitted. Motion approved by all in
attendance except
5. Sub-Committee Reports
Clean
Ways: Lawrie Bolger reported that plans
for the April 19 Earth Day Community Clean-Up are on track:
-
PennDOT supplies (
bags, gloves, signs, vests) were picked up by Public Works crew
-
Lawrie e-mailed
local contacts and posted notices at many local businesses.
-
She has
asked businesses to help clean up (Route 52 and Pocopson Roads, in
particular).
-
Representative
Barrar and Senator Pileggi
have been invited.
-
Brandyridge subdivision
will do a neighborhood cleanup
-
Lawrie
will call other HOAs, will specifically ask Courts at
Longwood and Four Streams to clean Route 52.
-
Lawrie
to work out bus route from park, pick-up time with Zeke.
-
Scouts
and other groups with children will clean at
-
Bill Harwood
will drop off supplies for neighborhood cleanups to one contact person per
community.
-
Sample insurance
liability forms have been provided by Towship’s insurer;
form will be retyped and copied for completion that day by each participant.
-
Insurance
for Northbrook Canoe bus has been provided.
-
Neighborhood
cleanups are covered by their own HOA insurance policies.
There was a discussion of how best to notify
the community about events like the clean-up. One idea was to ask residents to
sign up for automated e-mails on Township events. It was noted that because
there is a Public Notice requirement that affects BOS Meetings, public
hearings, etc., there may be legal ramifications to doing this. However, all
agreed that it was an idea well worth pursuing.
Motion: Retzlaff moved,
Bierl seconded that the PRT send a letter to the BOS presenting the idea of
creating an elective subscriber list to notify residents of community events.
Motion approved by all in attendance. Consultation with the Solicitor about
legal ramifications, with our website provider about the potential costs of
this service, and with the BOS about staffing, may be needed.
Park:
The insurance agent for the Township says
they won’t insure the sliding board at the playground due to safety concerns.
Bill Harwood talked to General Recreation, from whom the Township purchased the
equipment, to request documentation attesting to the safety of the slide. The Township
insurer may then reconsider his decision. The slide cost $2,400. If it
continues to be deemed uninsurable Harwood will ask General Recreation to
replace the one we have with something that will meet our insurer’s
requirements.
The park fields have been aerated and
fertilized. A shed being donated by a local landowner should arrive in May; it
will be used to hold bases and other equipment.
The pavilion siding and possibly the cement
floor are expected to be completed by May.
Motion: Bierl moved to send a letter from the PRT
to the BOS requesting release of the funds budgeted for the pavilion at
Bill Harwood will broach this issue in his
Public Works report at the next BOS Meeting.
Action
Item: Each member received a copy
of the Township’s park ordinance and a sample of the form used by
Trails:
Chris Conaway reported that his research has
indicated that using GPS to identify trails can have legal ramifications. Therefore,
he recommended that trails be identified by physical survey with monuments
placed down the center line of each trail. Subsequently, those trails must be
marked and signed, with installation to follow as soon as possible.
There was a brief discussion of how to fund
the surveys. Opportunities may be available through the Trails Feasibility
Committee.
Motion: Conaway moved that the PRT recommend to the
BOS that in 2008, the trails at
BOS may wish to consult with the Solicitor about
whether GPS marking is adequate, or whether physical surveying is required.
Stream Team:
- Two stream samplings are planned, one in April and one in May.
- Have revised the handout explaining the partnership between the Stream Team and property owners with streams who may be interested in riparian buffer plantings.
- Bill Haaf completed the application for a Docksteader grant to purchase sampling equipment and to subsidize informational pieces to residents about streams.
Sustainability:
- Energy Assessment report has been given to the BOS.
- They will focus on energy efficiency at the new building, with some minor changes in existing facilities.
- Payoff period is affected not just by the Township’s use the existing buildings; when we vacate, the value to renters may well be higher if there have been upgrades in lighting, insulation, heating efficiency, etc.
Founders Day:
- West Chester Library is coming and will do a make-and-take craft.
- SPCA will bring dogs that are up for adoption.
- Roundabout work is not scheduled to begin until 2009 so access should not be a problem.
- Committee is still looking for volunteers to run the vendor group, to help plan events, and to assist on the day of the event
-
Lawrie will ask
- Planning a parade of old tractors.
- Haywagon might be a nice attraction; currently under discussion.
- Farm animals to be on site for display, not petting; will probably have cows and chickens, and perhaps sheep and pigs.
10. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM.
_____________________________________________________
Ezekiel C. Hubbard, Chair, Parks, Recreation & Trails Committee
______________________________
Peggy
Lennon, Recording Secretary