HANOVER TOWNSHIP RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD

3630 Jacksonville Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017-9303

Minutes 2/13/2003

MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Dean Koski, Michael Caffrey, Bill Hursh and, Mike Stasak.

Call to order: 7:45 PM by Dean Koski. Motion to open the meeting by Dean Koski, seconded by Mike Caffrey. Approved by all members.

Review and acceptance of January 2003 minutes – Motion by Bill Hursh, seconded by Mike Caffrey. Approved by all members.

7:45 – 8:05 – Recreation Director Report

Writer from Time Out Lehigh Valley to write an article regarding the Community Center.
Historic Bethlehem Program 2/20.
Rec. Director requires an article (1/2 page) by early next week.
Westgate Mall is coming on as a corporate sponsor.
National Heart Association and National Park and Recreation Association have a special program called "Hearts and Parks" aimed at increasing outdoor recreation and health. Lehigh Valley Hospital will partner with Hanover Township Community Center and kick it off on Family Fun Day.
10% membership growth each of the last 2 years. 80% are township residents. 60% are fitness memberships.
Hanover Swim Club will donate $500.00 towards shade at the pool.

8:05 – 8:20 – Shade Tree Committee has 100 shade trees that they will be planting this year. They are requesting assistance in locating some of the shade trees in Township parks. The Shade Tree Committee and the Recreation Advisory Board members will meet to review the planned placement of trees.

Definite sites are north of Stoke Park Road along the run-off water swale.
Potential sites are in the tree line in Birchwood Park, along Hanoverville Road east of Harriet.
In addition, Recreation Advisory Board members will visit local parks to identify possible sites for new trees.

8:20 – 8:30 – Mrs. Karen Kennedy presented herself for consideration as a potential Board member. 4203 Maria Lane, Bethlehem, PA. 18017.

8:30 – 8:45 – Rails to Trails update.

Key Topics:

Plans are already in place to connect Valley Center Industrial Park over Stoke Park Road to the Liberty North Industrial Park. Plans are to then extend the trail to Pharo Park and up to Orchard Road.
Keep plans on the table to connect the property on the Southwest corner of Stoke Park and Jacksonville Roads to Delta Manor Park when it is developed.
Plans have already been made to allow access to the new park in the Jaindl development from Hanoverville Road. The Recreation Advisory Board would like to connect to this access from the trail that currently ends at Harriet and Hanoverville Roads.

8:45 to 9:00 – Shade at pool update. Mike Stasak was able investigate potential possibilities.

Recommendation: Recreation Advisory Board recommends that we purchase the "semi-cantilever" or "wave units" style artificial shade structure from Sunports International. Motion by Mike Stasak, seconded by Mike Caffrey. All members voted in favor.

9:00 to 10:00 - Recreation Advisory Board/Board of Supervisor workshop priorities.

Completion of Crawford Park Phase I items and implementation of Phase II.

Building footprint, turf upgrading, equipment purchase.

Ensuring the safety of existing recreation facilities. Park upgrades.

Shade for patrons of the community pool.

Purchasing awnings for the Summer 2003 season.

Children’s pool.

Long-term recommendation is to maintain a Children’s Pool at the municipal facility.

Planning for bike path/Rails-to-Trails link.

Park Updates – Foregone this meeting.

Delta Manor – Tom Black.
Municipal Park – Mike Stasak
Village View – Mike Stasak
Troxell – Bill Hursh
Crawford – Dean Koski
College Heights – Mary Ellen O’Connell
Westgate – Betty Soltys
Pharo – Mike Caffrey

Birchwood – Mike Caffrey

Macada North – Mary Ellen O’Connell

10:00 to 10:10 – Executive Session was convened to discuss the open seat on the Board.

Recommendation: Recreation Advisory Board recommends that the Board of Supervisors appoint Mrs. Karen Kennedy to fill the open position on the Recreation Advisory Board. Motion by Dean Koski, seconded by Bill Hursh. All members voted in favor.

10:10 – Motion to close the meeting by Mike Caffrey, seconded by Mike Stasak. All members voted in favor.

Next meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2003.

Submitted by: M. Caffrey

Member Meeting Schedule. (BOS – Board of Supervisors; TM – Township Manager)

January – BOS – Hursh, TM – Caffrey
February – BOS – Koski, TM – Black
March – BOS – Soltys, TM – Hursh
April – BOS – Stasak, TM – Soltys
May – BOS – Black, TM – Koski
June – BOS – Caffrey, TM – Stasak
July – BOS – Hursh, TM - Open