TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
PARK &
RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES -
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
The regular meeting of the Park & Recreation Board of the Township of Lower Makefield was held in the Municipal Building on September 11, 2001. Chairman Fritchey called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Those present:
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Park & Recreation Board: |
David Fritchey, Chairman |
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Ron Smith, Vice Chairman |
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John Kuebler, Secretary |
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Henry Carpenter, Member |
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Patricia Martin, Member |
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Andrew Newbon, Member |
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Others: |
Terry Fedorchak, Township Manager |
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Donna Liney, Park & Recreation Director |
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Fred Allan, Supervisor (joined meeting in progress) |
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Jack Morrison, PAA |
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Absent: |
Angie Mancuso, Park & Recreation Member |
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Scott Fegley, Supervisor Liaison |
Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the June, 2001 Minutes as written.
Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the July, 2001 Minutes as written.
DISCUSSION AND MOTION REGARDING DOLINGTON ESTATES BIKEPATH
Ms. Liney stated she received today a letter from Toll Bros. about the proposed bikepath at
Dolington Estates proposed for Lindenhurst Road from Washington Crossing Road to
Woodside. Ms. Liney noted the proposed location of the bikepath on the map which shows an extension down Washington Crossing Road approximately 1500 feet and ending. They met on the site and there are safety concerns and concerns about practical use for this bikepath. It was recommended that the bikepath end on Lindenhurst Road and not cross Washington Crossing Road and extend 1500 feet instead accept Fee-In-Lieu rather than have them install the extension. She stated this would be 1500 feet to 2000 feet of bikepath which would equate to $15,000 to $20,000. She also stated it should be stipulated that Toll Bros. will complete it to Woodside Road once the easements are obtained from the Gas Company.
Mr. Fritchey moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to recommend
to the Board of Supervisors acceptance of Fee-In-Lieu of the bikepath extension down
Washington Cross Road and accept dedication of Dolington Estates with the stipulation that
Toll Bros. complete the bikepath on Woodside Road once the necessary easements are
obtained.
Ms. Liney stated she provided the preliminary 2002 Budget in the Board’s packet.
She noted the Fee-In-Lieu funds will continue to decrease, and for 2002 the funds will be
61% less than they were in 2001. She stated proposed capital projects for 2002 are new
construction and re-surfacing of bikepaths in the amount of $75,000, replacing fencing at
the Community Park tennis courts in the amount of $80,000, and enlarging restrooms at
Macclesfield Park in the amount of $50,000. Ms. Liney stated they will need to think of
creative ways to finance improvements in the future because of the lack of Fee-In-Lieu
funds.
Mr. Allan joined the meeting at this time.
Mr. Fedorchak stated the General Fund is maxed out at the current time.
Mr. Allan stated they are moving ahead at Stoddart. He feels they will start construction of
the new building possibly in the next two weeks. They hope to have it under roof before
the middle of October. Mr. Allan stated Pepsi-Cola has offered to donate two scoreboards, one 20 feet long and one 14 feet long. PAA would run the electric and put in the boxes. Mr. Allan stated they do not want the advertising to face the street so they are trying to determine where the best locations for the scoreboards would be. Mr. Smith stated there also may be a way to screen the advertising in some way with landscaping. Mr. Allan stated there is also a possibility that they may be able to get them to donate a third scoreboard.
Mr. Fritchey moved, Mr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously carried to recommend to
the Board of Supervisors acceptance of donation from Pepsi of two scoreboards Model
MM-168-PC, Model MM-170-PC, and a third scoreboard if possible.
Ms. Liney thanked the organizations for their continuing cooperation during the permitting
process. She stated field availability continues to be a challenge.
Ms. Liney stated Rivergate residents have requested permission to sponsor a community
picnic in Macclesfield Park in the area adjacent to Field M. The date will be October 12,
2001 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. She stated she does plan to issue this permit.
Mr. Fritchey stated Morrisville Borough’s version of Kids Kingdom was recently
vandalized and he asked that the Park & Recreation Board send a letter to Morrisville
expressing their regret over the vandalism and indicating that their residents are welcome to
use Lower Makefield’s Kids Kingdom. This was acceptable to the Park & Recreation
Board.
Mr. Allan suggested that Ms. Liney write the letter and provide it to Mr. Fedorchak for his
review. Ms. Martin asked that additional security be put in place at Kids Kingdom.
DISCUSSION AND MOTION REGARDING CLEAN-UP OF DISPOSAL SITE IN MACCLESFIELD PARK
Ms. Liney provided a copy of a draft letter to be written on behalf of the Park & Recreation
Board giving their support for the clean up of the disposal site at Macclesfield Park.
Mr. Fedorchak stated this involves approximately four acres of land where dumping was
done many years ago. The area is currently fenced in. Mr. Fedorchak stated once the area
is cleaned up, they can then provide four additional acres of usable ground at Macclesfield
Park. He stated this clean up will also take this risk off of the Township books.
Mr. Fritchey moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to recommend
to the Board of Supervisors that the Township proceed with the clean-up of the four acre
area at Macclesfield Park which was previously used as a disposal site by Westinghouse
Corp.
Mr. Kuebler stated the Lower Makefield Football Association held their first game
Saturday.
Mr. Morrison of PAA thanked the Park & Recreation Board for their assistance at Stoddart
Field. He stated he understands monies are allocated for dug outs. Ms. Liney stated
Macclesfield B, H, and the Pool Field are included. She noted they also had funds set
aside for Stoddart and Mr. Allan stated these should be included. Mr. Morrison asked
about the batting circles which he feels are necessary due to safety concerns particularly at
Macclesfield B and the girls’ fields. Ms. Liney stated prior discussions indicated concern about Little League rules which may be involved. Mr. Kuebler stated he feels this is a safety issue and safety is of primary importance. Ms. Martin stated she does not feel they should be spending money on something Little League has deemed as unsafe.
Mr. Morrison stated they are Babe Ruth affiliated and he feels spending money on the batting circles will help protect against liability. Ms. Martin stated she would only be in favor of batting cages. Ms. Liney was asked to put this item in the 2002 Budget.
Mr. Morrison stated he is very concerned about the traffic at Macclesfield Park and hopes
the Police Department will monitor the situation more closely.
Mr. Morrison asked if the Park & Recreation Board would be in favor of lighting the fields
at Stoddart if PAA would be willing to pick up the expense. Mr. Fritchey stated this was
considered in the past, but the costs came in much higher than anticipated. Mr. Fritchey
stated the Board of Supervisors was only in favor of lighting two of the three fields at
Stoddart as they did not want to light the field closest to the existing home.
Mr. Carpenter moved, Mr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously carried to recommend
to the Board of Supervisors that they support the proposal to light Fields 1 and 2 at
Stoddart Field with PAA paying the expense.
Mr. Smith stated like Mr. Morrison he too is concerned about traffic safety at Macclesfield
Park and stated he would recommend that the bike police be in this area to help with the
traffic conditions and to give tickets. Ms. Martin stated she feels it would be difficult to
give tickets since the stop signs at Macclesfield Park are not really legal stop signs.
Mr. Fedorchak stated they may need to make some of these legal stop signs as well as to
address some design issues including speed humps. Mr. Smith stated there are also still
problems with the vendors parking in areas where they are not permitted to park. He stated
this is not being enforced. He stated he feels a police vehicle must be in this area when
there are many people using Macclesfield Park. He stated people are parking their cars in
areas where they should not be parking. Ms. Martin stated if there was a full-time Park
Ranger at Macclesfield Park, he could address this problem. Mr. Allan stated if someone
sees a problem occurring, they should contact the Police Department and ask them to get
someone out to that location. Mr. Fedorchak stated he will discuss this matter with the
Police Department.
Mr. Smith stated Field J is in very poor condition and he feels it should be closed down and not used until late spring. Ms. Liney stated these fields have been used for non-stop practice, games, camps, etc. so they are getting worn down. Mr. Smith stated they would schedule elsewhere if they had that option, but they do not have anyplace else to go.
Mr. Dennis Wysoki, YMS, stated he feels the field conditions are getting so bad he feels it
is getting dangerous.
Mr. Fritchey moved and Mr. Smith seconded to recommend to the Board of Supervisors
that they utilize existing currently undeveloped park land in order to meet a crisis in soccer
field availability at the midi-field level as current field conditions are approaching a
dangerous level.
Ms. Martin stated she feels they must then be willing to close certain fields off so that they
can recover. Mr. Smith stated at the current time they do not have sufficient fields in order
to do this. Mr. Allan asked if they are using all the school fields as well, and Mr. Smith
stated they are.
Mr. Wysoki asked if they could move the fields, and Ms. Liney stated YMS sets the fields
and they would rotate the goal mouths. She stated the Township also tries to aerate, seed and fertilize the fields, but the problem is very heavy use. Mr. Wysoki stated he would be willing to help work on this problem.
Motion carried unanimously.
There was discussion on use of fields at Macclesfield Park by others outside of the
community who do not have a permit. Mr. Newbon stated if there is an Ordinance in
place, they should enforce it and assess a fine.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Allan stated bringing Ms. Liney onto the Pool has helped that situation.
There being no further business, Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Carpenter seconded and it was unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Kuebler, Secretary