TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MAKEFIELD
PARK & RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES - APRIL 8, 2003
The regular meeting of the Park & Recreation Board of the Township of Lower Makefield was held in the Municipal Building on April 8, 2003. Chairman Fritchey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Those present:
Park & Recreation Board: David Fritchey, Chairman
Ron Smith, Vice Chairman
John Kuebler, Secretary
Henry Carpenter, Member
Richard Jutkiewicz, Member
Patricia Martin, Member
Andrew Newbon, Member
Others: Donna Liney, Recreation Director
Wes Hackman, Supervisor Liaison (joined meeting in
progress)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Kuebler moved, Mr. Newbon seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of March 11, 2003 as written.
YARDLEY BASEBALL DISCUSSION
Mr. Robert Buckley, President of Yardley Baseball, was present. Mr. Fritchey noted
Mr. Buckley had sent a letter to the Board asking for time to speak this evening.
Mr. Buckley stated he understood that some further discussion took place on this issue
after he left the meeting in March. He stated Yardley Baseball is now registered through
AABC for both teams and provided documentation in this regard. He stated as of today
they have twenty registered participants. He also provided information from Babe Ruth
and Little League that two teams can apply as a League in their first year. Mr. Fritchey
stated he is less concerned with what they constitute as a League than he is with whether
Mr. Buckley’s organization constitutes an intramural program. He feels what is proposed
is only practice for the travel team. Mr. Buckley stated he reviewed the Township’s
intramural definition and feels his organization more cohesively follows these rules and
regulations than the other organization in the Township. He stated according to the rules,
three quarters of PAA does not constitute intramural after age eight. He stated he does feel
the Township rules need to be changed.
Mr. Smith asked where else Yardley Baseball will be playing other than Lower Makefield
Township. Mr. Buckley stated they did get a School District field from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
five days a week, but because of the time allotted, they will not be able to use it for games.
Mr. Buckley stated they are looking for another field to play games. He stated he was
given four hours on Sunday by the Township. Ms. Liney stated they were permitted
for 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Mr. Buckley stated he does not feel he can tell his ten
year olds that they will be playing two double-headers every Sunday. He stated he needs at
April 8, 2003 Park & Recreation Board - page 2 of 5
least one more solid time during the week and probably they could intermix some dates that
are not used by PAA so that they could have three days a week. Ms. Liney stated PAA
does feel they are going to require what they have been given. She stated she is sorry that
she does not have any additional fields to give Yardley Baseball. She stated she has
requested schedules from PAA and if it looks like they can plug something in for
Mr. Buckley, she will gladly do so but at this point she does not feel she can promise
anything.
Mr. Smith stated he assumes the other games Yardley Baseball plays will have to be away
games. Mr. Buckley stated if they do not get the additional field time, they will have to
fold the League. He felt after leaving the last meeting that he was going to be given
equitable time. Mr. Kuebler stated when Mr. Buckley was last present he only had
seventeen players and did not really have even two teams. They are now into the baseball
season and Ms. Liney is trying to give Mr. Buckley space as best as she can. He stated
since they came in late and only had only one team, his recommendation was that they
should do everything they could to help them. Mr. Smith stated based on the permit which
was provided, this has been done. Mr. Kuebler stated the Township does not define a
League and prior to the information presented this evening from Babe Ruth and Little
League, he felt that a League must have four teams.
Mr. Buckley stated PAA has not yet submitted a schedule and instead simply indicated they
wanted everything that was available. Mr. Smith stated PAA has come in repeatedly over
the years asking for lights on the existing fields since they did not have sufficient field
space to handle the players they already had. He stated this has been a discussion which
took place well before Yardley Baseball came to the Township.
Mr. Fritchey stated twenty players is still not two full teams. Mr. Smith stated he felt
Mr. Buckley had indicated that he was only looking to get started in the spring and
indicated that he would be able to double the number of players by the fall. Mr. Smith
stated by giving them some field time, the Township is giving them the opportunity to start
their organization so that it can grow in the fall. Mr. Smith stated he feels Ms. Liney has
done a good job at giving time; and he is concerned that he is now hearing from
Mr. Buckley that if he does not get more time, the League will fold. He feels this shows a
lack of commitment.
Mr. Buckley stated he went to the School District allocation meeting and PAA had fifteen
60’ field permits and he received only one field from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. which he cannot use
for games.
Mr. Kuebler stated he does not feel that they would have to play two double-headers if here
are two teams since each team would be playing some other team. Mr. Buckley stated they
are going to play other teams if they can find someone to play. He asked if PAA could not
be given the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. slot on Sunday and give his organization one other time
during the week. Mr. Kuebler stated it is Ms. Liney’s job to permit the fields. Ms. Martin
stated she has already received her son’s PAA schedule and would be concerned if it were
now changed. Mr. Carpenter stated he did not feel it would be difficult to swap one of the
slots with PAA to take over some of the time on Sunday and give Mr. Buckley’s League
one of the other slots during the week. Mr. Kuebler stated part of the problem at Stoddart
is there is if there is a rain out, it would involve all three fields and it is difficult to
re-schedule. He stated apparently some PAA schedules are already out or are going out
shortly. He stated he would encourage PAA, Yardley Baseball, and Ms. Liney to see if
there is a way to accommodate a change.
April 8, 2003 Park & Recreation Board - page 3 of 5
Mr. Morrison stated they are organizing eighty teams for practices and games, and this is
an enormous task. Mr. Kuebler stated when PAA submits the full schedule, Ms. Liney
may be able to find some open slots.
Mr. Buckley asked about his status as far as sanctioning and if there are any deficiencies he
should address. Mr. Fritchey stated he feels they have been given the “green light,” and
the time they have been given is generous given the number of players they have. He
stated he feels they need to have a girls and boys program, an intramural program distinct
from a travel program, and have more than one age group. He stated this means more than
Mr. Buckley’s son’s team. He assumes Mr. Buckley will have this in the fall when there
will be less competition than in the spring and he should have significantly higher numbers
of players. Mr. Smith stated he feels they have been given provisional sanctioning.
Mr. Kuebler stated they are going to consider changes to the rules and regulations
considering sanctioning. Mr. Smith stated he does not consider Yardley Baseball to be an
organization and at this time, they have only been issued a permit.
Mr. Fritchey stated they felt that an organization that wanted to be sanctioned would
comply with the existing rules regarding insurance, having a Board of Directors, etc. and
would have programs for boys and girls and for multiple age groups. Mr. Smith stated
Mr. Buckley indicated that if he was given field time in the spring, he would be coming
back in the fall with a full program. He stated they have now given him this field time.
Mr. Buckley stated Ms. Liney advised him that he was not sanctioned and when the rules
were changed in the fall, he would not meet the sanctioning requirements. Ms. Liney
stated she did not advise Mr. Buckley that he was not sanctioned. She stated they would
have to meet the requirements for sanctioning. She stated she looks at a number of factors
when making decisions on field allocation and tries to serve the largest number of
Township residents. Mr. Buckley stated he felt Ms. Liney indicated a “deal was struck
with PAA.” Ms. Liney stated she did not state this.
Mr. Kuebler suggested they consider having interlocking games with PAA ten year olds.
Mr. Morrison stated they have scheduled Friday nights as the make up night. Mr. Buckley
stated he does not feel they have received a great deal of cooperation. Mr. Fritchey stated
he feels the Park & Recreation Board and Ms. Liney have been very cooperative and have
given Yardley Baseball a significant amount of field time for the number of players in their
program.
RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Liney stated the Township is in the process of obtaining proposals for installation of
units to provide climate control in the concession stand at the Community Pool.
Ms. Liney stated she has been in touch with the representatives of Yardley Men’s Baseball
and the Township was able to satisfy their requests.
Ms. Liney noted that the Community Pool restroom renovations are on schedule. Staff
work weekends have started, and the Pool servicing company has done some initial
preparation. The tot pool feature will be installed upon receipt. The Township continues to
process memberships and enrollment is ahead of last year.
April 8, 2003 Park & Recreation Board - page 4 of 5
Ms. Liney stated the survey maps for Snipes have been provided to the Park & Recreation
Board and they will contact adjoining property owners and advise them of any future
meetings. The survey map for the Samost property should be completed within the next
week or so and will be forwarded to the Park & Recreation Board in their packet.
Ms. Liney introduced Mr. Harbinger who was present this evening and is interested in
applying for the Park Ranger position. Mr. Fritchey stated the Park & Recreation Board
does not have a role in doing the actual hiring. Ms. Liney stated she did advise
Mr. Harbinger that the Township Manager will be making this decision.
Mr. Hackman joined the meeting at this time.
SUPERVISOR LIAISON’S REPORT
Mr. Hackman stated the Township will be making a decision shortly on the management
company for the Golf Course. He noted the firm they are considering will make a
presentation at an upcoming Supervisor’s meeting and hopefully the Board will then make
the appointment. He stated this firm is a top-flight professional organization. They hope to
be able to open the Course in July, 2004.
REVIEW LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP PARK & RECREATION POLICY STATEMENT
Mr. Fritchey stated there was discussion at the last meeting that the Board should look into
the existing rules and regulations and Mr. Smith, Mr. Kuebler, and Mr. Jutkiewicz have
discussed this matter.
Mr. Smith noted the section dealing with sanctioning which speaks to a Mission Statement.
Mr. Fritchey read the Mission Statement. Mr. Smith stated he feels the rules are rather
vague and could put the Park & Recreation Department in a difficult position if a new group
comes in every month requesting use of the Township facilities. Mr. Smith stated he
would recommend a new Section “E” regarding Newly Formed Organizations - “Newly
formed organizations must have a reasonable and representative number of registrants
across several age brackets, commensurate with the specific sport.” He also recommends
modifying Section (C) as follows: “Any organization meeting the sanctioning criteria will
be given fair treatment in gaining access to and scheduling of the playing facilities, but the
Park & Recreation Department shall have discretion to take into consideration the existing
volunteer organizations which have historically served the Township. He recommended
modifying Existing Section “B” as follows: “Newly formed organizations shall meet all
criteria above with the exception of #7 and #11. After the first year, the league will then be
required to meet the criteria of #7. A new organization will be given a one year period to
implement an intramural program to comply with the criteria of #11.
There was discussion on whether a new organization should be given one year or one
season to implement an intramural program to comply with the criteria of #11.
Mr. Carpenter stated he does not want to make it too difficult for someone to start a new
organization if they are not happy with the program being offered by an existing
organization. Mr. Newbon stated he does not feel they are trying to make it harder to get
an organization formed. He stated he feels they are just trying to make it more clear.
April 8, 2003 Park & Recreation Board - page 5 of 5
Mr. Smith stated Section #11 in the existing requirements indicates that 50% of the
participants in the travel team should be Lower Makefield residents, and he feels this
should be increased to 65%. It was noted that it may be difficult to get this percentage
since it is more competitive at this level. Ms. Martin stated she feels a majority of the
players should come from the Township since it is Township taxes that pay for the fields.
Mr. Morrison stated program wide they would meet the higher requirement, but would not
meet them for girls softball since a number of those players are from outside the Township.
It was noted these requirements would not be required team by team but would be based on
the whole organization.
Mr. Hackman stated he feels that whoever wants to be sanctioned should be sanctioned by
January 1 if they want to be considered for fields in the spring and by June 1 if they want
to be considered for fields in the fall. He stated Yardley Baseball just came last month with
their request and this created an administrative problem.
The matter was tabled and this time and will be considered again in the future.
Mr. Kuebler stated Mr. Buckley did contact him at home and he advised him that neither
the Park & Recreation Board nor Ms. Liney were considering changing the rules for
sanctioning in order to “box him out.” Mr. Smith stated all they are trying to do is look at
the rules to see if they need to be changed.
LEAGUE REPORTS
Ms. Smith noted that the YMS Awards Dinner will be held Wednesday, April 30.
There being no further business, Mr. Newbon moved, Mr. Jutkiewicz seconded and it was
unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Kuebler, Secretary