West Goshen Township
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
February 20, 2008
Minutes

Attending:  Bob Cifone, Jerry Napiecek, Michael Pillagalli, Ed Smith, and Megan Zug

Township Representatives:  Casey LaLonde,Ken Lehr, Tom Steines, and Kent Wise

Public Representatives:  Matt Benyo – Boy Scout Troop 55

Meeting called to Order:7:03 PM by Vice-Chair Jerry Napiecek

After a review of the minutes submitted for the January 16, 2008 meeting, a motion was made by Bob Cifone to accept the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Jerry Napiecek and passed.

The Financial Report dated January 31, 2008 was reviewed.  There were no questions or comments pertaining to the Financial Report.

Parks:  Kent Wise reported that the crew completed winter maintenance efforts and started spending time building park benches.  Kent Wise informed that the crew plans to build six to seven benches. Three benches have already been completed.  Additionally, Kent Wise reported that the crew is cleaning, sanding, and repainting the trash barrels located at the various Township parks.  The crew has completed about ¾ of the work on this effort at this time. Kent Wise reported that he spent one day at the skatepark assisting with the task of replacing panels on the skateboard ramps.  The equipment was under guarantee and the defective panels were replaced with steel panels at no charge to the Township.  Kent Wise informed that the crew spent a couple of days at Richard C. Cloud Park clearing out the bank from the edge of the parking lot to the corner of the lot.  Additionally, the crew spent one day at Barker Park removing the damaged telephone poles located around the perimeter of the parking lot. Kent Wise indicated that at this time it has not been determined if the telephone poles will be replaced with parking bumpers.  Kent Wise reported that the parks crew has also been assisted the road crews with salting and plowing during the recent inclement weather.  Kent Wise reported that vandals damaged the slide at South Concord Road Park.  The damage was severe enough that the slide will need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $1,500.  Megan Zug asked if the Township's insurance would cover this cost.  Casey LaLonde informed that the Township's insurance policy carries a $1,000 deductible.  A decision on whether to file a claim has not been made at this time.  Kent Wise, reporting on the clean-up efforts at the Box Elder pond, informed that the areas surrounding the pond are too soft and, as a result, the efforts to add a new drainage pipe/spillway at the back end of the pond and locate additional plantings would have to wait until the Spring/Summer timeframe.  Finally, Kent Wise informed that the crew has staked off the area at the Community Park required for the small children's Egg Hunt to deter the geese from landing.  Kent Wise indicated that this action seems to be keeping the geese away at this time.

Recreation:  Tom Steines, reporting on the Summer Recreation Program, informed that the Township is focusing on lining up the counselors. Tom Steines informed that the Township has received over twenty applications, and indicated that additional applications would be accepted until February 29^th.  Tom Steines reported that the Township would conduct interviews starting in March.  Registration for the Summer Recreation Program is scheduled for Saturday, May 10^th (8:00 am to 11:00 am) and Saturday, May 17^th (9:00 am to 11:00 am).  Counselor orientation (including CPR training provided by Good Fellowship) is scheduled for Saturday, June 7^th.  The 2008 Summer Recreation Program is scheduled to begin on June 23^rd and run through August 15^th. 

Tom Steines, reporting on the Summer Teen Program, said registration for the Summer Teen Program is scheduled for Saturday, May 10^th (8:00 am to 11:00 am) and Saturday, May 17^th (9:00 am to 11:00 am).  The 2008 Summer Teen Program is scheduled to begin on June 23^rd and run through August 15^th.

Friends of the Park: Megan Zug, reporting for the Friends of West Goshen Parks, said the next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for the first Thursday in March (March 6^th). Ken Lehr informed that he is working with Lee McFadden to get letters out to sponsors as part of the Friends' fundraising efforts. Ken Lehr stated that Lee McFadden is being very aggressive in his efforts to line up sponsors to support this year's activities.

Old Business:  Ken Lehr, reporting on the Egg Hunt and Decorated Hat Parade, said that this year's event is scheduled for 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 15^th with a raindate of Saturday, March 22^nd.  Ken Lehr indicated that the fire truck has been lined up to bring the Easter Bunny to Community Park for this year's event.  Ken Lehr asked that all volunteers arrive at Community Park by 9:00 AM to help with preparations.

Ken Lehr, reporting on the Summer Concert Series, informed that at this time the Township has lined up the entertainment for all five concerts. Ken Lehr informed that a recommendation coming out of the Community Day Planning session was to limit the Summer Concert Series to five concerts and focus the fundraising efforts on offsetting the costs of lining up a headline band (Blackthorn) for Community Day. Information on the 2008 Summer Concert Series is listed below: 

Ken Lehr, reporting on Community Day, informed that he has contacted a representative from the band 'Blackthorn' to see if they would be available to perform at this year's event.  Additionally, Ken Lehr reported that he had contacted several local restaurants including the Stadium Grille, K&G Pizzeria, Crawdaddy's, and Piatto Pizza to see if they would be interested in participating in this year's event as part of the proposed "Taste of West Goshen" theme.  Ken Lehr indicated he would need to manage the food selections to ensure a variety of options would be available to patrons attending the event.

Ken Lehr, reporting on Township bus trips, informed that to date 39 people have signed up for the trip to the Flower Show on March 3^rd.  Kent Lehr indicated the bus for the Flower Show has a capacity of 53 people and the break-even point for the trip is 40 people.  The March 29^th trip to Washington, DC has filled up 3 buses to date (1 bus from Krapf's coaches and 2 from David Thomas Tours). Ken Lehr informed that the April 19^th Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island trip is about ¼ filled at this time.  Ken Lehr reported that the tickets for the May 4^th Yankee Stadium trip have been ordered. The Township was not able to purchase any of the tier reserved seats. As a result, the Township purchased enough bleacher seats to fill two buses.  Ken Lehr stated that anyone who signed up for the May 4^th trip expecting the more expensive tier seats will be offered a partial refund if they still want to attend the May 4^th game, a full refund if they cancel their order or a ticket for the August 17^th trip that will feature the tier reserved seating.  Ken Lehr reported that at this time, eight to ten people have signed up for the June 21^st trip to New York City.  Ken Lehr indicated the Township is still looking at the feasibility of offering a trip to Cape Code in the October 1^st to 6^th timeframe stating the Township is enlisting the help from the folks that organize the Township's Radio City trips.  The proposed Cape Code trip would be a joint venture with the Borough of West Chester and East Goshen Township.

Ken Lehr, reporting on the Senior Water Walking, informed that at this time all of the spring sessions are filled with a wait list.  Ken Lehr indicated that the Township would look to line up the fall sessions in the early summer.

Ken Lehr, reporting on the Yoga-Pilates sessions, said that due to the popularity of the program, the Township is offering a winter 'Yoga-Pilates Fusion" session from February 12^th through March 11^th.  Ken Lehr indicated that due to increased demand for these sessions, the Township is offering two time slots (6:30 PM and 7:30 PM) for the winter session.  Ken Lehr informed that nineteen people have signed up for the winter session.  The Township is also offering a winter/spring session from March 25^th through April 22^nd and a third session from April 29^th through May 27^th.  Ken Lehr, upon questioning by Michael Pillagalli, reported that the average age of the participants appears to be in the mid 40's and stated that about 60% of those attending are Township residents.  The cost of the session is $50.00 for West Goshen Township residents and $60.00 for non-residents.

Ken Lehr reporting on the Adventure Boot Camp for women said that no one signed up for Session 1 (January 21^st through February 15^th) and at this time only one person has signed up for Session 2 (March 3^rd through March 28^th).  A third session is scheduled to run from April 14^th through May 9^th.

Ken Lehr began a discussion on a request the Township received from Peter Rathman, the director for the USA Hockey National Championship for Girls requesting the use of the Community Park on April 2^nd to support the opening ceremonies for an event to be held at Ice Line.  The opening ceremonies would also include fireworks.  Casey LaLonde informed that he met with the fire marshal on this issue and also brought the issue of the proposed fireworks display to the attention of the Board of Supervisors.  Casey LaLonde reported that the only way to meet the required safety distances for the fireworks display would be to set off the fireworks from inside Community Park. Casey LaLonde stated that the Township would allow the group to utilize Community Park if the group made a $1,500 donation to the Friends of West Goshen Parks.  Ice Line would be responsible for all clean-up efforts for the event.  Additionally, the Township would need to supply six to eight police officers to support the event. Casey LaLonde stated that a decision on the proposed event should be made tomorrow (February 21^st).

Ken Lehr began a discussion on the Township's policies regarding requests for park use by charitable groups, informing that the Board of Supervisors has discussed this issue and is in the process of coming up with an appropriate charge/fee for this type of request.  Ken Lehr indicated that at this time the Board of Supervisors is looking at some type of tiered payment scale. There should be something concrete to report at the next Park and Recreation Board meeting.  Ken Lehr informed that he is receiving many requests to utilize the parks for community service.  He is holding off making any decisions on the requests until a final decision is made on a charge/fee structure.

New Business:  Ken Lehr reported that he recently met with the attendants for the skatepark.  Two of the attendants will not be available in the spring due to baseball commitments. As a result, the Township will need to hire two to three new skatepark attendants. Ken Lehr indicated that he has received eight applications for the open positions and is currently interviewing candidates.

Megan Zug asked Casey LaLonde for a status report on the dogpark.  Casey LaLonde informed that he, along with Ken Lehr, Kent Wise, Tom Steines, Ray Halvorsen, and Dorine Hannum went on a field trip two weeks ago visiting dogparks in Upper Dublin Township and Montgomery Township to see how these parks dealt with the issues that exist at West Goshen's dogpark. These issues include the inability to grow grass within the facility, erosion, muddy conditions, and the failure of patrons to adequately curb and clean up after their dogs.  As a result of these visits, the Township has identified the following solutions for the West Goshen Township dogpark:

   1. To eliminate the existing erosion problem, excavate
     14"of topsoil and replace with 8"-10" of stone with
     wood mulch for the surface area.

   2. Remove dog water fountains and maintain the hose
     bib so the Parks Department can wash the concrete
     area once per week or as needed.

   3. Parks personnel will no longer be responsible for
     picking up dog waste.

   4. Park users will be directed to remove their own dog's
     waste and police the area for trash.

   5. Parks personnel will only mow/string trim and empty
     the trash cans at the park.

Michael Pillagalli stated that the Township also spends $5,000 annually for dog bags patrons are supposed to use to clean-up after their dogs. Kent Wise informed that the other Townships that were visited did not allow dogs in any of their parks except for the dogparks.  Kent Wise estimated it currently costs the Township $350.00 a week to take care of the dogpark, and that when the dogpark opened, the Township hired an additional employee.  Bob Cifone informed that there is a company that will clean up dog waste at facilities like the dogpark.  Ken Lehr indicated that the Township has already looked into the feasibility of this option.  Jerry Napiecek stated that the Township's plan for the dogpark is excellent, indicating that it appears to address most of the issues facing the park.  Michael Pillagalli asked if the Township could post a sign indicating dogs entering the park need to be licensed and tagged.  Ken Lehr indicated that this information is already spelled out in the rules for the dogpark.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.  The next meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2008.

Respectfully Submitted,
Ed Smith

Copyright 2008, West Goshen Twp.