WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
                                                             RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
                                                                                     JULY 3, 2007

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.

M. Kries,  J. DeFranza, W. Godfrey, D. Schott, R. Berrie.  WTRC Administrator N. Godfrey and Committeeman B. Mueller were also present.  S. Fritts, D. Detrick, J. Miller and B. Jeffries were absent. Guest: R. Flint.

The Regular Meeting of the Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairman M. Kries at 7:30 p.m

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by D. Schott, seconded by W. Godfrey to approve the Regular Minutes of June 4, 2007. All in favor.

MEADOW BREEZE PARK

Restroom Restoration - A check for approximately $20,000.00 from the Insurance Company has been received and given to the Finance Dept.  Included in this amount is cost covering the rental for the three (3) port-a-johns being used in place of the restrooms to date and the pumping out of the compost in the restrooms by Russell Reid. P deBoer has been in contact with Bio Sun and they will be doing the repair work when they can fit it into their schedule.

Security Cameras - The Township Committee approved the purchase of the Security Cameras. The cameras have been ordered and a purchase order has been prepared.  P. deBoer will be contacted about the delivery date.

Walking Paths Mileage Marking - D. Schott and D. Detrick walked the paths and came up with some suggestions on how to improve the markings and make them a little better to understand. It should be marked so no matter which way you go there is an arrow coming one way or the other. After a brief discussion D. Schott will get in touch with J. Cooper (DPW) and work with him on the additional markings.

Park Sign on Kayharts Lane - New sign is being ordered by P. deBoer to replace the missing one.

Ice Skating - Morris Canal - Nothing new to report. Will wait for D. Detrick to report at next meeting.

D2 Dugout Roof Repair - B. Jeffries not at meeting to report on, however, it appears still not to be fixed.  If it doesn’t get done soon then we will ask DPW to repair. 

Player Benches - (D2) - The bench at third base is a little rough on top.  The top of the benches could possible be replaced with a composite board over the winter.  We might consider replacing the D4 benches with aluminum benches.  N. Godfrey will get prices on aluminum player benches and also composite board.

Electrical Outlet New Basketball Courts - The electrical wiring has been run to the courts and the outlet was to be installed today or tomorrow.  Courts will be ready for the start of WTYA Summer Basketball League.

Tennis Courts - A crack has formed on the newly resurfaced tennis courts that runs across the whole court. N. Godfrey will discuss this matter with P. deBoer and see what needs to be done.

OLD BUSINESS

Walking Path Extension - Nothing new to report.

Mill Pond Rd. Property - P. deBoer and R. Lucy prepared a rough drawing on how three (3) soccer fields with parking could possible fit on a portion of this property.  N. Godfrey supplied copies to members of the sub-committee (J. DeFranza, D. Detrick & R. Berrie) for their review.  The sub-committee will have to decide if they will all be soccer fields or possibly putting another baseball/softball field in that area and then go to the Township Committee to see if they are interested with going forward on this project.
 
Dr. Wasser Memorial Bench - M. Kries reported that it should take another month for the bench to be ready. P. deBoer was okay with the location picked out for the bench. 

Volunteer lifetime achievement Award - B. Miller will bring this up at the July Township Committee meeting.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

N. Godfrey reported an additional $3000.00 was put into the Recreation Budget this year from the monies collected over the past couple of years from the farmer who farms the Township’s property. This money should have been given to the Recreation Commission over the past few years, but it wasn’t. Our beginning budget this year was $8000.00 not $5000.00. R. Berrie reported that currently there is a balance of $5779.00 in our current fund and a balance of $6893.42 in the park use fee fund. He will have a more detailed report for the Commission next month.

ACTIVE AREAS

N. Godfrey reported that as of Friday, July 6 every soccer field in the park will be closed for grooming and preparation for the fall season. Field closed signs will be placed on every field and the nets will be chained together.  N. Godfrey has contacted all the soccer head coaches and notified them of this.

PASSIVE AREAS

R. Flint reported that at Pohatcong Creek the bridge that the DPW repaired is still intact and he had cleaned up a blown down tree. He has been doing trail maintenance up at Roaring Rock Park. and while doing this he has noticed that ATV’s are still using the paths. 

NEW BUSINESS

Announcement Stand - J. DeFranza reported that the stand is being built and he met with P. deBoer today about the electric and where it should be run from.  There is an electrical box at the refreshment stand and also one in the shed that the horseshoe players used. He would like to be able to use the box that is in the horseshoe players shed, but we need to make sure that they will not be needing the lights. The stand will be painted gray with blue trim, the same as the refreshment stand.

There will also be a football tournament between the JV teams on August 18 and they will be using the football fields and another field in the outfield between D2 & D3 J. DeFranza has already spoken to P. deBoer about this and R. Lucy has a rough idea how the field should be laid out.  Panther football will put the goal post in on this field and take them out.

There has been a request that the Recreation Commission revise the ordinance pertaining to fishing at Lake Marguerite to change the fishing age from 14 years old to 16 years old in order to coincided with the State of NJ legal fishing age.  This may be a deed restriction so N. Godfrey will check the deed and if the age of 14 is deed restricted, she will ask the Township Attorney about how, if at all possible, it can be changed.

Having no further business to discuss, a motion was made by D. Schott, seconded by R. Berrie to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. All in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Godfrey
WTRC Administrator

cc: P. deBoer - DPW
     D. Dempski - WTYA
     Twp. Committee