West Goshen Township
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
November 15, 2000

Minutes

Attending: Bob Cifone, Dan Dixon, Kathy McDevitt, Jennifer Grey-Rice,
Ed Smith and Joe Waters

Township Representatives: Mark Bertolami, Kathy Hahn, Ray Halvorsen,
Ken Lehr, Sharon Lynn and Al Roth

Friends of the Park: Kelly Cifone, Pat Kelly and Peggy Niemeyer

Meeting called to Order: 7:07 PM by Chairman Dan Dixon

 After a review of the minutes submitted for the October 18, 2000 meeting, a motion was made by Kathy McDevitt to accept the minutes as submitted.  The motion was second by Joe Waters and passed.

 The Financial Report dated October 31, 2000 was reviewed. There were no questions of comments pertaining to the Financial Report.

Parks: Mark Bertolami reporting for Kent Wise informed that Road-Con Incorporated completed paving the base and topcoat on the new parking lot at the South Concord Road Park. Additionally, work to install the new playgroup equipment at the South Concord Road Park is underway and there are plans to install a new post and rail fence at the park along South Concord road.  At Richard C. Cloud Park, the installation of the final 300-ft section of post and rail fence should be completed by the end of this week (November 17^th). Mark Bertolani reported that the crews have started their "fall cleanup" activities at Hallowell field and Coopersmith Park.

Recreation: Al Roth informed that there is nothing new to report at this time.  Al Roth reported that he plans to meet with Ken Lehr in December to talk about the staff for next year's Summer Camp program and begin work on putting together a Summer Camp orientation booklet.

Friends of the Park: Kelly Cifone reported that the Friends are planning to display approximately 800 luminaries along the paths at the Community Park for the planned December 8^th "Holiday Event".  Kelly Cifone stated that she would need the members of the Park and Recreation Board to help with the process of putting sand and candles in the luminary bags. Dan Dixon suggested having the volunteer's start early in the day on December 8^th to ensure that the required luminaries would be ready for the event. Kelly Cifone indicated that the majority of her volunteers work during the day and would not be available until later in the day on December 8^th.  Mark Bertolami stated that members of Kent Wise's crew would be available to help with the luminaries.  Dan Dixon indicated that he would be able to line up 3 or 4 community service people to help with the luminaries and suggested that the process to fill the luminaries should start Friday morning (December 8^th) with as many people as possible. Bob Cifone suggested loading the sand required for the luminaries into a pickup truck with an attached trailer. Once the luminaries are completed, they would be loaded onto the attached trailer and disbursed throughout the Community Park. Finally, Kelly Cifone indicated that she is working on the budget for the Summer Concert series for next year and stated that she is ready to go.

Old Business: Ken Lehr reported that the December 14^th bus trip to Radio City Music to see the "Rockettes" has been sold out.  At this time, about ¼ of the tickets have been sold for the Saturday, December 2^nd bus trip to Madison Square Garden to see "A Christmas Carol".  Sharon Lynn indicated that the response for the December 2^nd bus trip has been great since the event was advertised on the sign at the Township building.

Ken Lehr reporting on the "Holiday Event" informed that this year's program has been scheduled for Friday, December 8^th at the Community Park and indicated that the actual starting time for the event still needed to be determined.  Ken Lehr informed that the West Chester Christmas Singers, storyteller Bill Wood and a Jazz Group performing selections from "A Charlie Brown's Christmas" would provide entertainment. The entertainers will perform 1 at a time in an area close to the Pavilion.  Jennifer Grey-Rice requested that anyone planning to attend the event should bring a lawn chair in order to free up as much of the area under the Pavilion as possible. Kathy McDevitt asked if the Township could utilize the picnic tables for the "Holiday Event". Peggy Niemeyer stated that the Township used the bleachers from the Community Park baseball fields when "Cast in Bronze" performed for a December event several years ago at the Community Park.  Jennifer Grey-Rice stated that volunteers would be needed to help place luminaries around the Community Park and string up lights at the pavilion and the gazebo. Jennifer Grey-Rice reported that the Township planned to have displays representing the 3 December Holiday themes at the Community Park and indicated that Kent Wise would pick up the Christmas Tree for the "Holiday Event" on December 7^th.  Jennifer Grey-Rice asked if Ken Lehr could supply the folding tables required for the Holiday theme displays.  Joe Waters asked how the Township was planning to advertise for the "Holiday Event".  Ken Lehr informed that he is planning to send fliers advertising the event to the local schools. Additionally, advertising for the planned "Holiday Event" will appear in the Township Newsletter and displayed on the Township Letter Sign. Jennifer Grey-Rice asked that all volunteers should be at the Community Park by 5:00 PM.  Finally, Joe Waters indicated that he had Santa Clause suit and asked if someone wanted to use it for the "Holiday Event".

Kathy McDevitt reported that the Summer Concert sub-committee had a meeting to firm up the options for the 2001 season.  Kathy McDevitt informed that the Township is currently looking at the possibility of using a Mummers Band containing approximately 20 members for the July 1^st concert.  The entertainment for all of the proposed 2001 concerts with the exception of July 1^st has been confirmed and the Township is preparing to send out contracts. Kelly Cifone indicated that fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Park should be able to cover the cost of the 2001 Summer Concert Series.  Ken Lehr informed that there is a cushion in the 2001 Budget that could be utilized in the event that the cost of the 2001 Summer Concert Series can not be covered via the fundraising efforts. The preliminary schedule for the 2001 Summer Concert series is listed below:

Ken Lehr reporting on "Movie Nights" informed that 125 people attended the October 21^st presentation of "The Nightmare before Christmas" at the Community Park.  Information on "Movie Nights" is listed below:

Dan Dixon stated that Ken Lehr has done an excellent job on the initial presentation of "Movie Nights" building the foundation for a nice family event. Ken Lehr indicated that the Township is planning to present "Movie Nights" again next year. Dan Dixon suggested that the Township should look into adding a popcorn machine for next year's proposed events.

 Ken Lehr reporting on the year 2001 budget informed that the Board of Supervisors approved the recommended 2001 budget that included the purchase of the Risograph machine.  Ken Lehr informed that this year's budget surplus would be used to purchase a new pop-up tent, a Digital camera and a wireless microphone.  Additionally, Ken Lehr stated that a new movie projector would also be purchased if the Township could find one at a cost of around $1,100.

New Business: Dan Dixon asked the members of the Park and Recreation Board to review the handout containing proposed committees for 2001 and place their name next to the committee(s) they would be interested in serving on.  Dan Dixon indicated that he would collect the handouts at the end of the meeting and use this information to formulate the year 2001 committee assignments.  Dan Dixon informed that he was considering dropping the number of Park and Recreation Board members assigned to certain committees such as the Easter Egg Hunt, July 4^th Decorated Bike Parade and Harvest Day since the requirements for these events are well defined. Kelly Cifone expressed concern that all of the work for these events could fall on one person. Jennifer Grey-Rice stated that based on his role as Park and Recreation Director, Ken Lehr would automatically be assigned to each committee. Dan Dixon reported that he planned to assign each Park and Recreation Board member to the large events such as Community Day. Dan Dixon stated that he had also added a new Teen committee for the year 2001.  Jennifer Grey-Rice informed that Al Roth has some great ideas for Teen activities and asked if it would be possible to have Al Roth serve on this committee. Joe Waters stated that he believed Al Roth would make a great chairperson for the Teen committee.  Dan Dixon reported that he would contact each Park and Recreation Board member to confirm their 2001 committee assignments and have a plan in place for the 2001 committee assignments to report at the January Park and Recreation Board meeting.  Kelly Cifone asked if the members of the Friends of the Park would be allowed to participate in the committees. Dan Dixon stated that any help the Friend of the Park could provide would be much appreciated.

Joe Waters reported that the Friends of the Park received a $365.00 check from John Leary their share of the Concession Stand revenues from Community Day.

Dan Dixon began the discussion on the year 2001 officers by informing that West Goshen Township is designated with a 2^nd Class County code that requires an election to fill officer positions (Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary) on an annual basis. Joe Waters stated that the Park and Recreation Board should continue their practice of rotating officers every 2 years and made a motion that for the year 2001, Dan Dixon, Kathy McDevitt and Ed Smith should continue to serve as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary respectively.  The motion was second by Jennifer Grey-Rice and passed.  Ray Halvorsen stated that it is a good policy to continue to rotate the Park and Recreation Board officers every 2 years.

Kelly Cifone reporting on Harvest Day thanked Kent Wise and his crew, the Friends, members of the Park Board and Township representatives for their efforts in making this years Harvest Day a success.  Ken Lehr estimated that between 500 and 600 people attend this year's event. Joe Waters commented that Harvest Day was great and that everyone attending had a good time.

Members of the Park and Recreation Board discussed the option of not holding a meeting during the month of December.  Based on the discussion, Kathy McDevitt made a motion recommending that the Park and Recreation Board would not hold a meeting on the third Wednesday in December.  The motion was second by Bob Cifone and passed. Joe Waters asked if the Park and Recreation Board is responsible for notifying the public of this decision. Sharon Lynn indicated that the Township would provide the notification to inform the public that the Park and Recreation Board would not hold a meeting on the third Wednesday in December.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.  The next meeting is scheduled for January 17^th.

     Respectfully Submitted,
     Ed Smith

Copyright 2008, West Goshen Twp.