SALISBURY RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
NOVEMBER 17, 2008

A regularly scheduled meeting was held at the Township Administration building.  The meeting was brought to order at 7:30 P.M. Committee members in attendance: Frank Adamcik, Walt Aungst, Randy Moyer (L), Genny Baillie and Twp Mgr. Randy Soriano.

September minutes were approved. M/Walt Aungst.

UPDATES
Bike/ Walking trail for Lindberg Park:
After a brief discussion with input from Randy Soriano and Jerry Collins the committee felt that even though people do take walks in the area they would not use the trail.  Their preference would be a neighborhood walk. Construction and maintenance of the trail was also a concern.  The plans for the bike/walking trail were placed on hold for the present time.

Geese problem at Laubach Park:
The Township has appropriated money for implementing solutions.  It was noted that to achieve the greatest success the program should begin in February.  This is the opinion of professional goose management personnel.

Kennington Eagle Scout Project:
This project has been completed at Devonshire Park.  It consisted of planting shrubs, tree, and placement of benches.

A proposal was made to establish new criteria for assigning baseball fields.  This would be based on a proportional distribution of fields by the number of teams that each Organization would have that year. 

The number of teams would be divided into the amount of available practice slots. This was established as seventy-two for the nine Township fields. Monday thru Friday = 5, Saturday=3, total = 8 per field.  Example: Hamilton Park has six teams and SYA has eighteen. Twenty-four would be divided into seventy-two, that would give each team three practice slots per week.  This would replace the current method that is used based on past assignments. 

Each Organizations contact person(s) must call each other to receive additional practice time, or give up practice time depending upon their needs.    This new method would eliminate phone calls when practice begins because the fields would already be assigned according to the practice needs of each Organization.  A lengthy discussion on the proposal ended with the Chairperson requesting Ms. Baillie to compare both methods next year when she makes the field assignments.

In an email Jerry Collins (HPYA) asked the Recreation Committee to find out if the baseball fields could be prepped sooner?  Practices begin in the beginning of April and the fields are not done until later in the month.  He also stated that it would be great if the Township crews could do some field maintenance during the season. When you drive by the Allentown fields they always look well groomed.  Previously the SYA has also made a similar request.   We know that Allentown has a Parks Department that is why their fields always look good.  The main reason for the delay in prepping the fields is that the ground is soft and trucks hauling the mix cannot access the fields without tearing up the area. Adamcik will meet with John to see if something can be done to improve on the time frame for the field work.

The issue of dogs in the parks was discussed.  Most of the time when people bring their dogs to the park they are not there to walk them on a leash.  They are there to utilize the open space and let the dogs run free.  There are dogs running loose even when the summer program is in session.  Ms. Baillie was in receipt of a letter suggesting that dogs on a leash be allowed at Lindberg Park because they are permitted at Franko Park.  Dogs are allowed at Franko because of the walking trails.  The Committee does not plan to propose any changes to the current ordinance at this time.  Violators can be cited.

The 2008 Project and Remedial list was reviewed.  Changes were made to both because of the continued efforts by the Public Works Department.  Recently a sand volleyball court was installed at Lindberg Park.   At Green Acres the brush from the area known as the hideaway and more along that line was cleared.  New play equipment is being installed.  The garden area at Franko has been elevated and a dead apple tree was cut down.  This was only some of the work performed this fall.  Again, we congratulate them for all that was accomplished this year.  Both lists will be submitted to John Andreas.

Adamcik and Aungst were re-elected to serve as Chairman and V. Chairman for 2009.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M. M/S Moyer, Aungst.

Respectfully submitted by,

Frank Adamcik