HANOVER TOWNSHIP RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD

3630 Jacksonville Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017-9303

Minutes 1/09/2003

MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Dean Koski, Tom Black, Michael Caffrey, Betty Soltys, Bill Hursh, and, Mike Stasak.

Call to order: 7:45 PM by Dean Koski. Motion to open the meeting by Mike Caffrey, seconded by Betty Soltys.

Review and acceptance of December 2002 minutes – Motion by Mike Stasak, seconded by Betty Soltys. Approved by all members.

7:45 – 8:15 – Budget Information solicited by Betty Soltys.

• Paint bldg. at Pharo and Westgate.
• ~ $200K earmarked for Crawford Park.
• $1.6K for benches at Troxell.
• $3K for shade at the pool.
• No budget 2003 allocation for the infant pool and pool slides (to replace the high dive).

8:15 – 8:30 – Recreation Director Report

• Recreation will have four pages in the HanoverView newsletter.
• HTCC Newsletter will reduce to one mailing per year. Recreation Advisory Board will add some information to the newsletter regarding the Board’s charter and vision.
• It is beneficial to the HTCC Director for the Recreation Advisory Board to oversee the creation and upkeep of the Township parks. This allows the Director to concentrate on, but not limited to, the HTCC and recreational programming.
• Saturday, March 29 – Health and Safety Day.
• January Walk-and-Talk program with Lehigh Valley Hospital has been very successful and informative.

8:30 – 9:45 – Discussion on the Recreation Advisory Board purpose and mission.

Key Issues Discussed:

• Charter states to "…supervise, regulate, equip, and maintain Township…funded recreation programs and facilities…" (Hanover Township, Northampton County Ordinance).
• Need more open lines of communication with the residents, Board of Supervisors, Township Manager and Recreation Director.
• Semi-annual workshop with Board of Supervisors. First meeting scheduled for 2/18/2003.
• Set annual specific goals and report on progress. Need to put these goals in writing in the minutes and note progress monthly.
• Invite our Board of Supervisor liaison and Township Manager to the third meeting of each quarter to review progress.

Recommendation: The Recreation Advisory Board (RAB) will adopt the following tenets to become a more effective board in representing the needs and wants of the residents:

• Concentrate efforts on priorities.
• Communicating recommendations effectively.
• Cultivating relationships with the Community, Board of Supervisors, and, other Township Advisory Boards.
• Commitment of RAB Members to follow-up and close action items.
• Regular check points to follow-up with the Board of Supervisors.

9:45 to 10:15 – Recreation Advisory Board 2003 fiscal priorities.

1. Completion of Crawford Park Phase I items and implementation of Phase II.
2. Ensuring the safety of existing recreation facilities. Park upgrades.
3. Shade for patrons of the community pool.
4. Children’s pool/pool slides.
5. Planning for bike path/Rails-to-Trails link.
6. Parking at Pharo Park.
7. Pool pavilion.
8. Jaindl development park planning.
9. Wegman’s donated land development.

Recommendation: In an effort to better direct energies, Recreation Advisory Board will use the preceding list of priorities to guide activities for the year 2003. Motion by Bill Hursh. Seconded by Tom Black. All members voted in favor.

10:15 to 10:20 – Member Meeting Attendance. (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

– 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

10:20– Motion to close the meeting by Mike Caffrey, seconded by Mike Stasak. All members voted in favor.

Next meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2003.

Submitted by: M. Caffrey