PARK & RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES- NOVEMBER 9, 2004
The regular meeting of the Park & Recreation Board of
the
Those present:
Park & Recreation Board: Ron Smith, Vice Chairman
John Kuebler, Secretary
Patricia Bunn, Member
Richard Jutkiewicz, Member
Andrew Newbon, Member
Others: Donna Liney, Recreation Director
Brad Sharp, Pool Manager (left meeting in progress)
Absent: David Fritchey, Chairman – Park & Rec Board
Henry Carpenter, Member – Park & Rec Board
Frank Fazzalore, Supervisor Liaison
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Newbon moved, Mr. Jutkiewicz seconded and it was unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of October 12, 2004 as written.
RECOMMENDATION TO ADJUST DAY GUEST PRIVILEGE ADMISSION FEES TO COMMUNITY POOL
Ms. Liney stated the Preliminary 2005 Community Pool Operating Budget is based on
the Pool Complex’s upcoming needs both short and long term. She stated the Township
is pleased to announce this will be the eighth consecutive year that the Pool Membership
Fees are proposed to remain the same. Pool membership enrollment is approximately
1400 families, 350 individuals, and 85 seniors for which there will be no increase.
Ms. Liney stated there are a number of resources required to maintain state-of-the-art
facilities including facility maintenance issues, personnel, insurance, equipment,
sanitation and chemical balance.
Ms. Liney reported that in 2004, there were approximately 6,000 guests at the
Community Pool. She stated while the Board of Supervisors makes the ultimate decision
November 9, 2004 Park & Recreation Board – page 2 of 6
on what the fee contribution needs to be, she would propose that the Park Board consider
a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to adjust the day guest fees for the 2005
Pool Season for guests on weekday, weekends, and holidays for ages three to sixty-one
from the current $5.00 to a proposed $10.00 per guest. She also would propose that the
Park Board consider a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to adjust the after-
5:00 p.m. per guest fee from $2.00 to $4.00.
Ms. Liney stated that while the Township is always sensitive to fee increases, these
adjustments will allow for a more equitable allocation of the costs associated with
increased guest attendance, such as additional required staff, pool water sanitation and
chemical balance and facilities maintenance. She stated these adjustments are not out of
line with other pools in the region as most guest fees range from $8.00 to $15.00. She
stated the last adjustment in guest fees was in 1999.
Ms. Liney stated no changes are proposed for Senior Citizens age 62 or older or the
special weekly rates. Children under 3 are free.
Ms. Liney stated that Mr. Carpenter asked that the Board discuss distributing five free
guest passes for each family.
Mr. Newbon stated he would like to see something tied to giving away guest passes such
as issuing the free guest passes if members complete their Pool Survey.
Mr. Smith stated he is concerned that a member who has guests coming to stay with them
for the weekend will now have to pay $40 to bring in a family of four. He stated he also
does not want to discourage membership by having an overly liberal guest policy which
may result in less people joining the pool and instead just coming in as guests.
Mr. Sharp stated there are days when they have over one hundred guests.
Mr. Newbon stated if they give five free passes to all of the members, it will result in a
very large number of free guest passes. He feels they should limit free passes to two to
three.
Mr. Kuebler stated he feels it will complicate matters if they start offering guest passes
and questioned why they are considering this now. He asked if there are Budget
problems, and Ms. Liney stated improvements and maintenance items will need to be considered in the future. Mr. Kuebler stated the alternatives are to double the guest fee or increase the membership fees. He stated he would prefer not getting involved in free passes.
Mr. Newbon stated he feels giving free passes could encourage people who come in on a
free pass to join the Pool in the future.
November 9, 2004 Park & Recreation Board – page 3 of 6
Mr. Sharp stated this year they had the guests sign in along with the member who brought
them. He stated a lot of the guests are neighborhood children of families who chose not
to join the pool and are brought in by member children.
Mr. Smith stated now that he has considered the matter further, he would be in favor of
limiting any free passes to two per family provided they send in a completed survey.
Ms. Liney stated they will do a survey again perhaps after the completion of the 2005 Season.
Mr. Sharp stated they are anticipating more guests this coming year because of the new
slide.
Mr. Kuebler asked if they could consider doubling the guest fee during the day and
keeping it the same after 5:00 p.m. Mr. Sharp stated they have a lot of parties at the Pool
with ten to twenty children coming in with a member after 5:00 p.m. He stated he is
concerned about the volume of guests that could potentially be coming because of the
new slide, and this would require additional staff. He stated if they keep the guest fees
low, it could encourage people not to join the Pool.
Mr. Newbon stated he agrees that the slide will attract a lot more guests. He stated they
must consider what the free guest passes would do noting that it could increase Pool
Membership if people have the opportunity to visit the pool as a guest or it could just be
used by someone wanting to bring in a guest that is visiting for the weekend. Mr. Smith
stated this is why he would like to offer only two free passes.
Ms. Liney stated they still offer the Special Weekly rates, and they are not prosing that
this be changed. Mr. Sharp stated if a member has guests coming to stay with them for a
week, they do offer a special weekly family rate for $35.
Mr. Kuebler stated he feels it is important to promote the Pool and expand membership,
but this needs to be directed at the days and times that they have capacity. He stated he
feels they should be limiting guests in order to enable the members the opportunity to use
the facilities that they have paid for.
Mr. Sharp stated he does not know what the problems will be that they will encounter
with the new slides until it is in use.
Mr. Newbon stated he would be in favor of doubling the fee as proposed but also offer
two free passes to those who complete the next survey.
Ms. Bunn stated she is not in favor of doubling the fees across the board. She would be
in favor of doubling it on the weekends.
November 9, 2004 Park & Recreation Board – page 4 of 6
Mr. Sharp stated the number of those using the Pool is dependent on the weather. He
stated they have different people coming during the week than they do on the weekends.
He stated during the week they have mothers with young children and young teenagers
aged eleven to fourteen. During the weekend they get more families.
Mr. Smith asked if they have more guests on weekends, and Mr. Sharp stated he feels it is
probably an equal amount. He stated the majority of guests are kids coming in with their
member friends. He stated individual kids are bringing in the same guests twenty to
thirty times per summer.
Ms. Liney stated what they are proposing with regard to the increase in guest fees is not
out of line with other pool prices and other entertainment opportunities in the area.
Mr. Kuebler asked if there is a way to keep the children rates the same and only increase
the rates for adults. Mr. Sharp stated he is concerned that they will be getting an
extremely large number of guests because of the slide and then the members will not
have much of an opportunity to use it. Mr. Sharp stated Wallover proposed that they
charge a slide fee at a higher price and issue a wrist band to those paying this higher fee
and only those with the wrist band would be able to use the slide.
Ms. Bunn stated she feels they should not simply double the guest fee and should
consider raising it for adults only or only increase it on the weekends. She feels many
members will be opposed to this increase. Ms. Liney stated she did call the Swim and
Dive Board of Directors and alerted them, along with some of the Seniors who she
knows who bring in their grandchildren, and certain other Pool Members who have
brought in family members in the past and notified them about the increase. She asked
for their input and invited them to come to the meeting this evening. She stated she did not get any further comments.
Mr. Kuebler suggested that they proceed with the recommendation unless there are serious objections.
Mr. Smith stated now that he is aware of the opportunity for a Special Weekly Guest
Family Membership, he does not have a problem with the increase in the daily Guest Fee.
Mr. Newbon moved and Mr. Kuebler seconded to recommend to the Board of
Supervisors that they proceed with an increase in the Guest Fees from $5.00 to $10.00 on
weekdays, weekends, and Holidays and the after 5:00 p.m. Guest Fee from $2.00 to
$4.00. Motion carried with Ms. Bunn opposed.
Mr. Newbon moved and Mr. Kuebler seconded to recommend to the Board of
Supervisors that they offer two free Guest Passes contingent upon return of a survey. It
was agreed not to consider this at this time but to consider it again in the future. No vote was taken.
November 9, 2004 Park & Recreation Board – page 5 of 6
Mr. Sharp left the meeting at this time.
RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Liney reported on the recent Budget Work Session with the Board of Supervisors.
She stated the Preliminary Park & Recreation Budget was accepted with the
recommended re-allocation of capital project funds from construction of a 90ft ballfield
on the Samost tract to lighting Fields H and F at Macclesfield as the Park Board
proposed. She stated the Preliminary Pool Budget was also acceptable. She anticipates
the Board of Supervisors adopting of the Budgets sometime in December.
Ms. Liney stated in follow up to the discussion last month at the Park Board Meeting
regarding the proposed bikepath along
Realen Homes had funds placed in escrow in lieu of the installation of the bikepath, the
Township engineer is still working with the solicitor on this determination. She will
continue to follow this issue.
Ms. Liney stated the Park Board packet included a copy of the permit issued to YMS for
the upcoming College Showcase to be held November 26 through November 28 at
Macclesfield. She stated the Township has attempted to permit limited activity in the
rear of
side of the Rivergate Development. She stated there will be a Police Officer on duty
during this Showcase; however, in light of the Thanksgiving Holiday and prior family
commitments, Park & Recreation will not be able to supply staff for the event. YMS has
assured the Township that they will have the required volunteers for this event to run
smoothly.
Mr. Newbon asked if there has been any feedback from Dr. Buckley, and Ms. Liney
stated there has not and she has not received the return-receipt confirmation. Ms. Bunn
noted he has also not paid his fees.
Mr. Smith asked about the multi-camp information which was included in the packet.
Ms. Liney stated this is a camp proposed for five-year-olds which introduces them to a
number of sports. She stated she does not have all the information on this as yet.
Mr. Newbon asked if they have anything further from the tennis group who had indicated
they would be putting together a business plan. Ms. Liney stated she feels this will not be
until later.
November 9, 2004 Park & Recreation Board – page 6 of 6
LEAGUE LIAISON REPORTS
Mr. Jutkiewicz stated Lacrosse is getting ready to have Registrations. He asked if the
Board would consider reserving one of the fields for games only and not allow any
practices on that field. Mr. Smith stated he has been told in the past that the fields are to
be used. He stated YMS has tried to restrict use of Fields C and D for game play, but
does not feel this is the policy of the Township. The Township permits fields to the organizations, who schedule the use on them.
Mr. Kuebler stated the Pop Warner Season is now over, and they held their end of the
year banquet.
Mr. Smith stated YMS will be holding a Showcase on a limited basis during
Thanksgiving weekend for those trying to get College Scholarships. He stated
November 14 should be the end of the soccer season for the majority of the teams.
There being no further business, Ms. Bunn moved, Mr. Smith seconded and it was unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Kuebler, Secretary