WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
                                                           RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
                                                                                    APRIL 4, 2006

Adequate notice of this meeting, in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, has been given by posting one copy of the Notice of Meeting in the Washington Township Administrative office, by making copies to the “Express Times” and “Star Gazette,” and to the municipal clerk in Washington Township.

ATTENDEES
F. Loughlin, M. Kries, S. Fritts, R. Barrie, D. Schott, W. Godfrey, R. Harrison, S. Backer (arrived at 7:40), B. Mueller, Twp. Committeeman and N. Godfrey, WTRC Administrator were also present.  Guest: R. Flint and R. Plenge

The Regular meeting of the Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairman F. Loughlin at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by D. Schott, seconded by M. Kries to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting of March  7, 2006, as written.  All in favor.

R. Plenge - Basketball Program Presentation

F. Loughlin introduced Rob Plenge, a lifetime township resident and business owner.  Over this past winter Rob has been organizing and gaining a lot of interest in basketball programs in the elementary schools and middle school and he is coming to us with some suggestions on how the Recreation Commission could help him get a summer program started.

R. Plenge stated that when he started checking around he discovered that there was no basketball program for young children in Warren County so he talked it over with a few people who were also interested in starting a program and they decided to give it a try.   They first started this winter with 2nd grade basketball, had 46 kids, they did it on Saturdays, rented Port Colden School and rotated kids with two sessions each hour,  it was a great success.  They would like to do the program in the summer and feel that both our new courts and the old courts would work out fine.  They would like to see us install 8'6" poles with adjustable rims on the old courts to accommodate the younger kids (3rd & 4th grade level).

Rob asked if the Recreation Commission would be interested in purchasing Two (2) Porter Model 176-540 gooseneck posts, 6' extended with rectangular steel backboards and heavy duty goals at a cost of $1625/ea including delivery, to be placed on the old basketball courts.   The cost of installation (approx. $1800.) would be covered by his group.   M. Kries thought that the project was worthwhile and that we should try to get three additional quotes.  R. Berrie felt that we should try to see if we can do better on the price by looking into different companies. 

After a in-depth discussion  F. Loughlin suggested that the Commission allow a subcommittee to be formed consisting of R. Berrie, D. Schott and himself to go out and get quotes from other vendors and agree on the lowest price, along with input from P. deBoer on the supervision of the installation, then we could proceed.   S. Fritts, made a motion that the subcommittee consisting of F. Loughlin, R. Berrie and D. Schott be formed to work on the  replacement of the used basketball poles and backboards, at the old courts, be sanctioned to get the lowest price, get the approval of the Township Committee and the okay from the DPW for the  supervision of the installation, and to proceed with the purchase of this equipment, seconded by D. Schott.  All were in favor

F. Loughlin brought up the issue of having an secured electrical outlet installed up at the new basketball courts, in order to be able to plug in an electric scoreboard, to be used during league basketball games.  R. Plenge said that he would be able to have someone install the outlet at no charge to us.   F. Loughlin made a motion to allow the WTYA to install an electrical outlet at the new basketball courts, at no cost to the Recreation Commission, with an approved, lockable box and that only they would have access to by a key that would be issued to them by  N. Godfrey and that key would be returned to N. Godfrey at the end of the season, S. Fritts seconded the motion.   All were in favor.
 
MEADOW BREEZE PARK

Tennis Court Resurfacing Project - F. Loughlin and R. Berrie attended the March 21 Township Committee Meeting and with the help of Committeeman B. Mueller were able to get approval to move forward with the bidding process for this project.  The day after the meeting R. Berrie contacted R. Miller, Township Engineer, informed him that we had obtained approval to move on with the bid specs, with a target construction date of July.  R. Berrie also ask Miller to stay in contact with P. deBoer, DPW, to see what portions of the job can be handled by DPW in order to keep the costs down. 


F. Loughlin had spoken to P. deBoer who said that there would be no problem with DPW taking down the fence and doing the regrading and re-seeding when it was done.  There was a discussion on what to do about locks and whether or not we should lock it at all.  The general consensus of the Commission was to wait and see what happens after the courts and fence are completed.  If it works without locking the courts up, fine, if not, we’ll make the adjustment then.

Horseshoe Court - Repair Existing Lighting - N. Godfrey spoke with P. deBoer, DPW, and he will be getting quotes from electricians to make the repairs we requested.  S. Backer will be in touch with deBoer regarding the installation of the replacement poles.

OLD BUSINESS

Review/Amend Recreation Commission 5 Year Plan - The revised/amended plan is listed below:

2006
Complete Tennis Court Resurfacing/fencing project
Finish Meadow Breeze Walking Path extensions (on hold pending approval from DEP)
Upgrade horseshoe lighting project (in process)
Final completion of restroom project (still need CO from State)
Level fields S8 & S9 (between tennis courts & field house)
Replace roof on D2 dugouts
Remove All of Old Playground (December 1, 2006)
Obtain quotes for replacing old playground in early 2007
Installation of a secure electrical outlet at new basketball courts
Replace basketball pole backboards at new courts
Investigate installation of shade cover/awning over player benches
Level fields between Tennis Courts & Field House (after tennis court project is completed)

2007
Complete one additional field ( possibly a whistle field at new Municipal Bldg.)
Investigate lights on football field - Panther football
Investigate lights for basketball courts
Investigate lights for tennis courts
Look into changing ordinance regarding closing time of park for special athletic events using lights
Create survey and overlay map for future plans of Mill Pond property for athletic fields
Investigate Tot Lot/Playground in another location on Township property, if necessary

2008
Investigate the use of Mill Pond Rd. Property for athletic fields / Develop plan / pending Township Committee approval
Build Softball dugouts
Tot Lot/Playground in another location on township property (if not completed)

2009
Begin work on Mill Pond Rd. Property for additional athletic fields and renovations

2010
Complete Gym/Rec Center, if feasible
Concessions/Kitchen/Restrooms on Kayhart Lane side of existing park

FINANCIAL REVIEW

We’ve collected $2700. in use fees so far this year which brings our total to $6785.59.  Budget figures were not available from the Finance Office in time for this meeting.

ACTIVE AREAS

R. Lucy, DPW reported that when the water was turned on at the park there were a few problems with leaks in the lines and they are trying to run a water line to the bathroom so they can be cleaned.  The only fields that can be watered by the water wheel are D1 & D2 and until the water line to the bathroom is done they can’t water D2.  Right now the most important thing to do is get the water line in for the bathroom so they can be cleaned.  There has been a problem with people misusing the facilities and cleaning them has become a very difficult matter to attend to.  He also reported that the DPW is still trying to figure out how to rotate the soccer fields. S1 still has the hay on it and it won’t be removed anytime soon.  If they want to play on it the lines can be painted over the hay.  It’s not the best but it will have to be for the time being.

F. Loughlin suggested that we talk to R. Miller, Twp. Engineer, about when safety inspections need to be done on playground equipment, bleachers etc. 

R. Berrie reported that the soccer teams have been very understanding about the conditions of the fields right now and that they have only been using the Meadow Breeze fields for game.  They have been using the fields at both Port Colden and Pacesetter for practice.  They have asked if they could have port-a-john put in place at these locations since there are no restroom facilities available at these fields.   It was also noted that a port-a-john would be needed at the D2 field.  N. Godfrey would see that they were ordered & delivered.

PASSIVE AREAS

The new park benches have been put in place.  R. Flint reported that the Department of Corrections are coming next week to complete the deer protection on the remaining plants along the Riparian Buffer and during the 2nd week of May they will be planting 74 more new plants, which will include watering & mulching the new shrubs.  Elsewhere, at the Log Cabin there is a picnic table that has been vandalized and he has spoken to Pete to see if it is repairable.   At Roaring Rock Park he is still working on the new trail and he would like to request that the Recreation Commission have a sign made to put up on that side of the park basically just like the one that is erected on the other side of the park identifying what it is. 

NEW BUSINESS

R. Harrison reported that he had obtained quotes for new field hockey goals.  Three (3) pairs of new field hockey goals from Collegeic Pacific at 229.00/per set, which would be $687.00, shipping & handling would be 15% of cost which comes out to $103.05, total cost will come to a total of $790.05 with a 5 year warranty.   A motion was made by M. Kries to purchase field hockey goals in the amount of $790.05, seconded by D. Schott.

N. Godfrey said that the Open Space Committee still has a opening for a Recreation Commission Member to fill.

The Hackettstown Community Band will be giving a free concert again this year at the park on Thursday, July 22, 2006.

Having no further business to discuss a motion was made by . Schott, seconded by M. Kries to adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Godfrey
WTRC Administrator

cc:  P. deBoer - DPW
       R. Miller - TWP Engineer
       WTYA
       Mayor & Twp. Committee