TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
PARK & RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES - JANUARY 14, 2003
The regular meeting of the Park & Recreation Board of the Township of Lower Makefield was held in the Municipal Building on January 14, 2003. Chairman Fritchey called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Those present:
Park & Recreation Board: David Fritchey, Chairman
Ron Smith, Vice Chairman
John Kuebler, Secretary
Henry Carpenter, Member
Richard Jutkiewicz, Member
Andrew Newbon, Member
Others:
Absent: Patricia Martin, Park & Rec Member
Scott Fegley, Supervisor Liaison
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of December 10, 2002 as written.
REORGANIZATION OF PARK & RECREATION BOARD FOR 2003
Mr. Carpenter moved, Mr. Jutkiewicz seconded and it was unanimously carried to elect officers for the year 2003 as follows: David Fritchey, Chairman, Ron Smith,
Vice Chairman, and John Kuebler, Secretary.
UPDATE ON SNIPES SUB-COMMITTEE
Mr. Smith stated the Sub-Committee met one week ago at the Township Building with
Ms. Martin, Ms. Liney, Ms. Ann Langtry, representatives from the Township engineer’s
office, and himself in attendance. They discussed the historic background of the tract,
reviewed available aerial photos, and other documents relating to the tract. The Sub-
Committee decided that they needed to see an updated aerial since the photos they reviewed
were ten years old and the surrounding area has changed in that time. They agreed to
submit a request to the Township Manager for an updated aerial photo and some other survey work which needs to be done so that when they meet next they will be better informed. This work will need to be scheduled, and Ms. Liney will advise when this
information is ready. They will then schedule another Sub-Committee meeting. Mr. Smith
stated it was very helpful having Ms. Langtry on the Sub-Committee as she was a valuable
asset.
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Mr. Hackman stated he has never been on the property and feels it would be a good idea to
have an on-site visit. He stated in the past he felt there should be a driveway off Dolington
Road. He noted existing road conditions and stated there is quite a distance on Quarry
Road and they could bring in an entrance road directly across from Quarry Court rather
than on Dolington Road.
Mr. Smith stated they did have some initial discussion about an ingress/egress and initially
felt it would be good to have an entrance and exit on Quarry Road, although they were not
sure where these should be located. They felt they may not need as many parking spaces
on the tract if they were able to use the School parking lot. Mr. Hackman stated he did not
feel this would be advisable since they would have to cross Quarry Road where there is
now a fair amount of traffic even when the Schools are closed. He noted traffic is also
coming down from Newtown Township toward I-95 which adds to the traffic volume.
Mr. Smith noted people are crossing Edgewood Road now when there are certain events at
the Township baseball fields. Mr. Hackman stated he feels they should plan for adequate
parking on the site, although they may have to use the School parking lot for over-flow.
Mr. Smith stated they also had preliminary discussions on what would be suitable for the
area and there was some consensus that the location would be a good area for soccer.
They noted the natural buffers and desire to minimize the impact on Elm Lowne which is
why they are considering a Quarry Road entrance. They also discussed the type of
soccer which would be best for this area and whether it would be geared to younger or
older players. Mr. Smith stated as the YMS liaison, he feels this would be a good area for
the younger players. He stated there are new rules coming in soccer which will impact the
sport since there will be more of an emphasis on smaller size teams and there will be the
need for smaller fields so that they can accommodate the new rule changes. These changes
are coming from EPYSA, their National organization. It is felt the new rules will be more
beneficial to the players since each player will get to touch the ball more. He stated they
may have to adjust some of the fields to meet these rules.
Mr. Hackman stated he feels the Board of Supervisors will want to see as many of the
recreational need problems solved as possible across the board.
SUPERVISOR REPORT
Mr. Hackman stated the bids for the Pool upgrades were rejected because they came in
higher than anticipated. They are making some changes and will go back out for bid.
He stated because of this delay, the handicap ramp will not be able to be installed this Pool
season; although they will proceed with the bid and then do that work in the fall. He stated
they do want to see the bathrooms renovated before the start of the season. Mr. Newbon
asked if bathroom renovations were the biggest area of concern listed in the surveys, and
Ms. Liney stated this is correct. It was noted the number two concern was with regard to
the snack bar. Ms. Liney stated the Pool Manager has requested that the “dirty
trees” be removed from the tot pool area because of the debris coming off the trees that goes into the baby pool. In place of the trees, there will have an expanded eating area with picnic tables. Mr. Newbon stated he did not feel the problems with the snack bar were with respect to the food or prices, but with the delay in getting served. Mr. Hackman stated the operator of the snack bar has a tremendous amount of equipment in the snack bar which may create this problem and also adds to the amount of heat inside. Ms. Liney stated the vendor has one more year remaining on her contract. Ms. Liney stated the
January 14, 2003 Park & Recreation Board - page 3 of 5
feature in the baby pool will be installed in-house which should result in a cost savings. Wallover will re-package the bid specs and go out for advertising shortly.
Mr. Hackman stated work on the Golf Course is continuing. He invited the Park &
Recreation Board to tour the site. They are currently pushing dirt on the site. They would
like to be in a position to plant seed in August. At the next Board of Supervisors meeting
they will vote on going out to bid on the club house, pump house, and the maintenance
building. The pump hose and maintenance building need to be in operation by August
when they do the seeding. They are currently considering how the Golf Course will be
run. There is a strong feeling that they should have professionals managing the Course
although they have not eliminated the possibility of in-house maintenance. They are
currently interviewing management companies. He would like to see this decision made by
March or April. He stated there is a debate on whether the person who will maintain it
should be on board during construction. He stated they still have to consider the fact that
they do not want the Golf Course to cost the Township taxpayers money. Mr. Hackman
stated the Jury of View has met once and will have second Hearing a week from this
Friday. They hope that they will know the final decision on the cost of the land in three
months time.
Mr. Hackman asked about discussions on the Samost Tract, and Mr. Fritchey stated they
are waiting to get an aerial photograph. He stated he also wants to know about the
grading. Mr. Hackman stated they do have grading plans for the tract since there was a
development plan submitted for this site. Mr. Kuebler stated he felt in the past they had
asked the Township engineer to lay out what type of fields would fit on the site, and he
feels this would be more beneficial than just looking at a map. Mr. Fritchey stated PCS
will be involved. Mr. Hackman stated the Samost property was also a condemnation, and
the Jury of View for this site will be sometime in the next week.
RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Liney stated she is in the process of issuing the paperwork for upcoming purchases
and projects which were approved in the Operating Budget. She reported that all 2002
summer programs have expressed interest in returning and some would like to expand their
programs. Ms. Liney stated that the Township will enroll all Park & Recreation Board
members in the Pennsylvania Park & Recreation Society for 2003. Ms. Liney stated the
Park & Recreation Department is continuing to compile figures and formulate a draft estimated Operating Budget for a proposed Senior Center to be presented to the Board of
Supervisors. Information has been received from all area Senior Centers, the Area Agency
on Aging in Doylestown, and from the architects. Ms. Liney stated that the Park &
Recreation Department will continue to support the Earth Day Celebration and work on the
start up of the Pool.
LEAGUE REPORTS
Pennsbury Athletic Association
Mr. Kuebler stated he feels given sufficient time, PAA should be able to pay for lighting of
the baseball fields. He feels they should advise PAA how much the lights will cost and
how long the Township will give PAA to pay for them. Mr. Kuebler stated he feels the
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Township should pay for the lights and then require PAA to pay them back over a period of
years. He stated he would be in favor of approving a proposal of requiring PAA to pay no
money down and give them ten years to repay the Township. Mr. Fritchey stated he did
not feel a majority of the Board of Supervisors was in favor of lighting these fields. He
stated if they get to the point when they are considering the Senior Center on the Samost
Tract which will require a certain amount of lighting, the resistance to lighting these fields
may diminish. He feels the timing to propose lighting the fields would be better at that time
than currently. Mr. Smith stated he felt when they discussed this matter previously, they
discussed the fact that lighting these fields would be for the most part unobtrusive.
Mr. Fritchey stated he feels the PAA leadership should be making this request to the
Township including how much they are willing to pay. Mr. Fritchey stated if PAA were to
make a proposal, he does not feel Park & Recreation would refuse to recommend it.
Mr. Carpenter moved that the Park & Recreation Board is in favor of lights at the LMT
Baseball fields and would favorably consider any proposal PAA would have for funding
the lights. Until such time that this proposal comes in, the conversation will be tabled.
There was no second to the Motion at this time.
Mr. Smith stated he feels they should contact the PAA leadership that they will not consider
this matter further until something comes in from PAA. Mr. Hackman suggested that
Ms. Liney advise Mr. Morrison of the discussions held this evening and advise that while
the Park & Recreation Board is willing to consider this matter, PAA must come in with a
proposal.
Pop Warner Football
Mr. Kuebler stated registration begins tomorrow evening. There will be no expansion in
the near future as the existing size is functional. He stated their organization appreciates
everyone’s support. He stated he personally will no longer run the Program but he will
continue to be the owner and will insure that it is run properly.
Lower Bucks Lacrosse
Mr. Jutkiewicz stated they had their last registration for the spring season and have 400
registered. They did have to turn away some first and second graders since they did not
have sufficient coaches. He noted this is a growing program. Ms. Liney stated Lacrosse
does purchase their own equipment and lines their fields.
Yardley Makefield Soccer Club
Mr. Smith stated the soccer organization is in the process of considering fees and costs to
run the Club. He asked how much it costs to pay lacrosse, and Mr. Jutkiewicz stated a
starter pack costs approximately $225. He stated they charge $125 at the third and fourth
grade level and they re-use the jerseys from the previous year. He stated there is a financial
commitment in lacrosse as well as a travel commitment since many of their games are
played in New Jersey. The first and second grade teams do not travel as this is a clinic, but
they do have to have equipment. He noted the insurance is also high.
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Mr. Smith stated YMS is beginning registrations for spring which has been well received.
He stated they will have to increase their fees. He noted they will continue to work with he
Township on Earth Day this year.
There being no further business, Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
John
Kuebler, Secretary