West Goshen Township
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
January 21, 2004
Minutes

Attending: Bob Cifone, Dan Dixon, Mary Lou Enoches, Jerry Napiecek, Michael Pillagalli, Jennifer Grey-Rice and Ed Smith

Township Representatives: Ken Lehr and Kent Wise

Meeting called to Order: 7:00 PM by Chairman Michael Pillagalli

Michael Pillagalli began the January 21^st meeting by leading the members of the Park and Recreation Board in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

After a review of the minutes submitted for the November 19, 2003 meeting, a motion was made by Mary Lou Enoches to accept the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Jerry Napiecek and passed.

The Financial Report dated December 31, 2003 was reviewed. There were no questions or comments pertaining to the Financial Report.

Parks: Kent Wise reported that construction on the Maintenance Shop at the Community Park is complete.  Kent Wise informed that the crews are busy painting, installing shelving, running air lines to the new shop area and completing the grading on the exterior of the building.  Kent Wise stated the new facilities created about 40 additional feet (double the current capacity) of storage for the Parks Department.  Kent Wise offered thanks to the members of the West Goshen Police Department for allowing the Park Department to share their garage space at the Township Building during the 3-month construction process.  Kent Wise reported that the crews are busy performing their regular winter maintenance that includes cleaning and painting the grills and trash barrels at the Township parks.  Additionally, Kent Wise informed that the crews are restoring the wooden park signs at the Fresh Meadows and Paoli Pike Parks.  At the South Concord Road Park, work to remove the large hickory tree has been completed.  At the Community Park, the crews are currently busy doing tree work to clean up the area adjacent to the reservoir. Kent Wise informed that he planned to plant new trees in this area of the Community Park once the clean-up effort is complete. Kent Wise reported that the park crews continue to provide assistance to the road crews during inclement weather conditions. Dan Dixon asked if the walking path at the Community Park would require any maintenance this year and inquired if there is a line item in the budget to cover this expense.  Kent Wise indicated that the Township does not have any plans for maintenance on the walking path in 2004 and stated that walking path may need to be re-coated next year (2005).

Recreation: Ken Lehr reporting on the Summer Recreation Program informed he would be providing supervision for the program and Al Roth would continue to be the Director for the Summer Recreation Program. Ken Lehr reported that as a result of this change, Al Roth would not be required to attend the monthly Park and Recreation Board meeting. Ken Lehr informed that confirmation letters have been sent out to returning Summer Recreation Program counselors and indicated that applications would be accepted until the end of February.  Ken Lehr reported that the Township had also received applications from three new candidates for Summer Recreation positions and indicated an advertisement for Summer Recreation positions appears in the current Township Newsletter.  The 2004 Summer Recreation Program is scheduled to begin on June 21^st and run through August 13^th.

Friends of West Goshen Parks: Ken Lehr reporting for The Friends of West Goshen Parks informed that the quarterly board meeting was held on Thursday, January 8^th at 7:00 PM. Ken Lehr indicated that the terms for two of the Friends officer positions (President and Secretary) are due to expire this year. Ken Lehr stated that current President Pat Kelly has indicated that she does not wish to stay on in that roll for another term.  Ken Lehr reported that current Vice President Kelly Cifone and Treasurer Megan Zug expressed a willingness to remain in their current positions for 2004.

Old Business: Ken Lehr reporting on the 2003 Community Day informed that Michael Pillagalli, Ed Smith, Holly Niemeyer and Peggy Niemeyer attended the Community Day wrap-up meeting that was schedule for 6:00 PM on January 21^st prior to the Park and Recreation Board meeting. Ken Lehr informed that the Township was required to utilize the rain date for last year's program.  Additionally, poor weather conditions on the rain date forced the Township to make alterations to the program hours, relocate the crafters to the lower parking area, relocate the inflatable rides to the grassy area next to the gazebo and cancel all activities requiring the use of one of the Township ballfields. Ken Lehr stated that the 2003 Community Day went very well in spite of the inclement weather conditions.  Ken Lehr reported that the Township would have the crafters set up on the soccer fields at the Community Park for this year's event.  Ken Lehr informed that the Township was in the process of identifying a headline band for this year's event that would be available to perform on both the primary and rain dates.  Ken Lehr stated that at this time, three bands ("Rhythm and Bluefish", "The Exceptions" and "The Sensational Soul Cruisers") were under consideration. Ken Lehr reported that Peggy Niemeyer would continue to be the Township contact for the crafters and indicated that she was looking for help with the task of scheduling volunteers to support Community Day activities. Additionally, Ken Lehr informed that David and LaRue Morgan would no longer handle the duties of collecting baby food jars for the sand art activities and indicated volunteers would be needed to support this task. Ken Lehr reported that the major concern expressed at the wrap-up meeting was the shortage of volunteers for the 2003 event. Ken Lehr indicated that some of the volunteer shortage was a direct result of shifting the program to the rain date. Ken Lehr stated that the Township would like to get more groups involved with providing support for Community Day activities and indicated that the employees of the Microtel Hotel located within the Township were looking for Community Service opportunities. Ken Lehr reported that the Township would like to have the Stadium Grill provide the food selections for this year's event. Michael Pillagalli suggested that the Township should have the smaller of the 2 Community Day banners updated in June with the 2004 Community Day information and display the updated banner at all of the Summer Concert Series events.

Ken Lehr reporting on 2 December bus trips to New York informed that the Monday, December 1^st trip to Radio City Music went very well.  Ken Lehr indicated that the Township received many positive comments on the evaluations completed by people attending the event. Ken Lehr reported that the open bus trip to New York on Saturday, December 6^th had to be cancelled due to the weather conditions. Ken Lehr indicated that the Township would receive a credit from Werner Coach for December 6^th trip.

Ken Lehr reporting on the Summer Concert Series indicated that the tentative dates for the 2004 Summer Concert Series are June 13^th, June 27^th, July 11^th, July 25^th, August 8^th and August 22^nd.  Ken Lehr stated that the themes being considered for the 2004 Summer Concert Series are Children's Night, Military Band, Folk, Motown and Country.  Ken Lehr indicated the Township still needed to come up with one more concert theme.  Ken Lehr suggested offering the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County's "Trial by Jury" and asked for feedback from the members of the Park and Recreation Board.  Ken Lehr stated that part of the cost of the Gilbert and Sullivan presentation would be a $300.00 costume charge. Michael Pillagalli informed that the Gilbert and Sullivan presentation brought in a large crowd at the Borough of West Chester's Old Fashioned Christmas. Jennifer Grey-Rice suggested offering a Spanish/Latin music concert in 2004.  Dan Dixon stated that offering a Latin concert would offer more diversity for the 2004 Summer Concert Series.  Ken Lehr reported that "Special Blendz" (Motown), "Country Joe and the Honky Tonk Heroes" (Country-Western) and the U.S. Navy Jazz Band "The Commodores" (Military Band) would be making return performances this year.  Ken Lehr indicated that the Township has tentatively schedule the Children's Concert for June 13^th, Motown for July 11^th and Country-Western for August 22^nd.  The members of the Park and Recreation Board recommended filling one of the open dates on the schedule with the Gilbert and Sullivan performance.  Information on the Summer Concert Series is listed below:

Ken Lehr reporting on the Holiday Craft Workshop informed that 6 people participated in this year's workshop.  Ken Lehr reported that Kelly Cifone provided the guidance for the patrons at this year's event.  Ken Lehr informed that some of the funding for the workshop was cut from the 2004 Budget and indicated the surplus supplies purchased in 2003 would be enough to support a 2004 Holiday Workshop.

Ken Lehr reported that about 40 people attended the December 20^th Holiday Breakfast with Santa at the Stadium Grill. Ken Lehr offered thanks to Mary Lou Enoches for lining up the wonderful Santa for this year's event. Jennifer Grey-Rice stated that the inaugural Holiday Breakfast with Santa was a good event and indicated that attendance should increase next year if the Township advertises early for the event. Jennifer Grey-Rice suggested having activities such as crafts (Christmas ornaments) for the children to work with at next year's event. Ken Lehr stated that holding the Holiday Breakfast with Santa at the Stadium Grille poses no financial risk for the Township since the Stadium Grille only charges the Township for the people that attend the event. Finally, Mary Lou Enoches asked if it would be possible to piggyback the Holiday Breakfast with Santa with the arrival of Santa by helicopter at the Community Park.

Ken Lehr reporting on a proposed December holiday event asked the members of the Park and Recreation Board if the Township should consider offering this event in 2004. The members of the Park and Recreation Board indicated that the Township should only offer the event if "Cast in Bronze" can be contracted to perform.  Ken Lehr indicated that he would work with Mary Lou Enoches to see if there were any activities the Township could offer in conjunction with the West Chester Chamber of Commerce's Old Fashioned Christmas activities.

New Business: Ken Lehr reporting on upcoming bus trips informed that the Township has planned a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 8^th.  The bus trip is a joint venture supported by West Goshen Township, the Borough of West Chester and East Goshen Township.  The bus will depart from the Municipal Complex at 9:00 AM; and arrive at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 10:00 AM.  The bus will depart from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 4:00 PM returning to the Municipal Complex at 5:00 PM.  The cost of the bus trip is $40.00 per person.  Additionally, Ken Lehr indicated that the Township has received requests to look into the possibility of offering bus trips to the Phillies new ballpark, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, New York City, Atlantic City, Lancaster and a Broadway Show ("The Producers"). Ken Lehr indicated he would review these requests at the February Park and Recreation Board meeting.

Ken Lehr reporting on the CHESCO: Every Step Counts walk informed that the inaugural event has been scheduled for April 4^th at the Community Park.  The event will feature a 2-mile walk promoting a healthy lifestyle through walking. Ken Lehr informed that he had a meeting with representatives from Chester County Hospital in November to begin the planning process for the event. Ken Lehr stated that the program has set goals for participants to be able to complete 10,000 steps (about five miles) in one day within the first month of entering the walking program. Ken Lehr informed that CHESCO: Every Step Counts would recognize participants who record one million steps within six months. Ken Lehr indicated that the volunteer requirements for the April 4^th event would be finalized for review at the February Park and Recreation Board meeting.  Ken Lehr reported that the Township is also promoting a healthy lifestyle by forming the West Goshen Walking club. The club will meet at the Community Park each weekday at 7:00 AM starting on April 5^th.

Ken Lehr reporting on event committee assignments asked Michael Pillagalli to verify that the Park and Recreation Board members plan to support/organize the same events as they did in the previous year. Jennifer Grey-Rice indicated that she had a conflict and would not be able to support the Easter Egg Hunt this year. Jerry Napiecek volunteered to take on the role of organizing and supporting this 2004 Easter Egg Hunt. Dan Dixon volunteered to be the Park and Recreation Board liaison for Movie Nights.  Mary Lou Enoches volunteered to represent the Park and Recreation Board on any activities associated with 2004 holiday events.

Dan Dixon began a discussion on the passing of Kathy McBratney, the Recreation Director for the Borough of West Chester, by stating there was always great cooperation between the Borough of West Chester and West Goshen Township. Dan Dixon informed that two funds (one by the family and one by the Borough of West Chester) have been established in memory of Kathy McBratney.  Dan Dixon made a motion to have the Township make a donation in the name of the West Goshen Park and Recreation Board to one of the funds established in memory of Kathy McBratney. The motion was seconded by Mary Lou Enoches.  The members of the Park and Recreation Board voted unanimously to make a donation in the amount of $250.00. Ken Lehr indicated that the request for the donation would need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Jennifer Grey-Rice stated that if the request is not approved, the members of the Park and Recreation Board could make donations themselves. Ken Lehr informed that he also would to contribute to any donation to one of the Kathy McBratney memorial funds.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.  The next meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2004.

     Respectfully Submitted,
     Ed Smith