WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
APRIL 5, 2005

Adequate notice of this meeting, in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, has been given by posting one copy of 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.

The regular meeting of the Recreation Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

ATTENDEES 
M. Kries,  F. Loughlin, S. Fritts, M. Buyofski, R. Berrie, D. Schott, J. DeFranza, WTRC Administrator N. Godfrey and Township Committeeman M. Kovacs was also present.  S. Backer arrived at 8:10
Guest:  R. Flint

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by M. Kries, seconded by J. DeFranza to approve the Regular Meeting  minutes of March 1, 2005  as written.  All were in favor.

MEADOW BREEZE PARK
The epoxy has been put down on the restroom floor today and it is hoped to have it completed by tomorrow. The men and women’s restroom signs should be put up within the next day or two and the automatic door locks have been put in and are working.  If all goes well, the restrooms should be opened by this weekend.

The Park Map has been put on the Township web-site.

We still have not heard from the Warren County Horseshoe Pitcher’s Club regarding reserving the horseshoe courts for the 2005 season.  S. Fritts will contact Lou Mecsey or Bob Labell and have them get in touch with N. Godfrey for paperwork.

It was suggested that the Commission consider changing the Fee Schedule to include a per use fee for the athletic fields.  This fee would be for  one time use and after some discussion regarding the amount that should be charged, a motion was made by D. Schott that the Fee Schedules be amended to include a Per Use Fee for Athletic Fields, in the amount of $20.00, for both Township and Non-Township residents, pending Green Acres approval, S Fritts seconded. All were in favor.  At the same time D. Schott made a motion to amend the fee schedule, for use of the Pavilion, to include Holidays, S. Fritts seconded.  All were in favor.

N. Godfrey will prepare an Amended Fee Ordinance stipulating these changes and present it to the Township Committee for their approval and 1^st reading at the April 18^th Township Committee Meeting.

The Tennis Courts are in need some serious repair.  We may want to consider completely redoing and relocating the courts.  This will be further discussed at a later date.R. Flint reported on the Riparian Buffer Project, he has met with the North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development agency and they are contacting groups with regards to volunteering their services to help with this project. N. Godfrey reported that Chief McDonald has been contacted to see if he could help with getting community service workers to help with the planting.  She has also been in contact with the Fire Department to see if they would be able to help with watering the plants after they are planted, however, the Fire Department informed her today that they would not be able to help us out at this time.

N. Godfrey reported that request for use of the Pavilion by Stepping Stone Day Care for Day Camp activities has been received from June 20^th through September 2, Monday - Thursday, and have agreed to pay a use fee of $1625.   Also, St. Joseph Catholic Church would like to use the Pavilion on July 2^nd for a gathering prior to American Diabetes Association Walk-a-thon.  There will be no charge for this gathering since it would be for less than one hour and would not interfere with anyone else using the Pavilion at this time.

OLD BUSINESS
Horseshoe Court Lighting project & Walking Path Extensions - Bob Miller, Township Engineer, is in

the process of filing the necessary permits.  M. Kries and S. Fritts are working on the Horseshoe Court Lighting and P. deBoer with the help of R. Flint are working on the Walking Path Extensions.

Restroom Completion - Proposed opening April 8 or 9

Ice-skating Rink - D. Schott and S. Fritts will get more information from D. Dempski for additional options.  A project plan needs to be developed.

D2 Dugout Roof - S. Backer will get quotes for  the material needed to repair the roof.

Port Colden Field Restoration - R. Berrie will contact P. deBoer to get a figure for the engineering cost.

Field House Clean Up - No change (S. Backer)

Tennis Court Repair - Will begin in June after Warren Hill High School is finish using them. R. Flint has volunteered to help with this.

Additional Parking  - No change (M. Kries, P. deBoer)

Sponsorship Policy - Dead Issue

Old Playground Renovations - No change (N. Godfrey & Mayor)

Millpond Rd. Property - Received approval from Green Acres regarding using the property for active recreation.  Property is still under contract to be farmed until 2009.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
Berrie reported that to date we have Use Fees totaling $4250.00, of which $2055.00 have been collected.  We have a balance of $750 carried over from 2004.

ACTIVE AREAS UPDATE
Ralph Fiore - WHRHS Tennis Coach has requested that they would like to put a  plastic storage box near the tennis courts to store their equipment.  They will supply the box and remove it once they finish using the courts in June.  No one on the Commission had a problem with this.

We have already received a request from WHRHS Varsity Soccer for use of soccer fields for the Fall Season.  They will be contacted when we schedule the Fall scheduling meeting.

Opening Day Ceremonies for WTYA Baseball/Softball teams will be April 16 at 10:00 a.m.  S. Backer asked Dick Flint to throw out the first pitch.  

PASSIVE AREAS UPDATE

A new Passive Areas informational hand out was distributed.  Dick Flint reported that he would like to stake out some new trails on the north side of the Roaring Rock Park area.  M. Buyofski has offered to assist him with this new endeavor. They plan to walk and mark out some of this area together on April 16^th.

NEW BUSINESS

D. Schott requested that a plaque in memory of Doc Wasser be placed somewhere at the horseshoe court. Everyone from the Committee was in agreement with this suggestion and details will be discussed in the future.

We received a request from the Easton Municipal Band to play at the park.  They charge $500/hr. and $700 for1½ hrs.  The Recreation Commission does not have the funds available to hire the band to play at the park.

A request was received from the Hackettstown Community Band to play at the park this summer free of charge.  They have played at the park for the past few years and it has always been a great success.  It was decided to have N. Godfrey contact them and arrange for a date that they would be able to play. Once a date has been set we must work on aggressively advertising the concert.

The Township Committee agreed to the use of gas grills at the pavilion, with prior approval of the WTRC. N. Godfrey will amend the Pavilion Request Form and Park rules to include this use.

Mayor Dempski would like to move Mary Buyofski to a regular member (replacing Doc Wasser) and move Joe DeFranza from Alternate #2 to Alternate #1.  Walter Godfrey has expressed his interest in filling the Alternate #2 position being left open by Joe DeFranza.  Walter has submitted his Community Volunteer Form to Mayor Dempski for his review.  The Mayor will make these appointments at the April 18^th  Township Committee meeting.

Having no further business to discuss a motion was made by D. Schott to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m., seconded by M. Buyofski.  All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Godfrey
WTRC Administrator/for Joe DeFranza, Secretary

cc:        P. deBoer - DPW
             B. Miller - Twp. Engineer
             WTYA