Parks & Recreation Committee

Minutes for August 4 at 7:30 in New Borough Hall  

Next Meeting in office September 1

Meeting in park Sunday morning – Lorraine will organize a park day

Attending:  Lori Kesilman, Tess LaMontange, Derek MacMillan, Andrea Antell, Gwen Preston-Yamamoto

Absent: Ed Glasgow, Lorraine Brutschea,

Committee Organization:

• Derek is chair
• Andrea is the vice-chair
• Lori is secretary
• Lorraine is on the appointment committee
• We meet on first Mondays of the month  

1. Orchard Park and Trees

• Volunteers for tree removal – Jeff is willing to do this with Derek
• Derek suggested we ask council for “tree bank” funds to get new trees.  This would be for next year.

• Robin, can you tell us about the tree bank?  How much is in the fund?  Can we use it? Robin said there is about $6,000 in the tree bank that can be used to replace trees.  We would need to figure out how many trees we want replaced and then get approximate costs.  We could then ask the council for use of the tree bank money.

• We are thinking about having different types of fruit trees
• Lori and Tess will work on a sign.
• We have a discussion about possibly adding clover at some point in the future.  Committee was split on this. We are going to ask DelVal to help us come up with a conservation plan.

• Derek will reach out to DelVal and report back

1. Chalfont Safe School path – Andrea reported

• Steering committee met and walked the path.  It will be a sidewalk, not a bike path due to width.

• Surveying is done
• Engaging homeowners.  Andrea will followup with Chris Stanford and get back to us.

• Lori will ask Robin  - Can you see what the status of the sidewalk to Pine Run from Chalfont?  It appears it stops when it gets to New Britain.

• Robin says - I have contacted Chalfont to find out the status of the sidewalk to Pine Run.  It does stop at the school.  Our grant for the Greenways Trails along Butler extends to the school.

2. Trail to Train - Lori reported

• What is happening in with the trail to train station?
• What is the status of the trail to Pine Run?

• Robin says - The trail to the train station is an ongoing project and is not expected to be constructed until 2016.  We are still going back and forth with the PennDOT Safety Committee on squeezing the trail between the road and the trees, trying to save the trees on the Church property, but the safety committee is questioning it.  They want the trees cut down.  They do not think it is safe to have the trees close to the trail.
• Robin, can you write a letter to PennDot and tell them that we do NOT want to see the trees cut down. - Lori spoke with Robin, she will look into it.

1. If this does not work, we would like to contact the church and see if we can find an alternate route on the church property.

3. We are in need of a new committee member.  Gina on Keeley Ave may be interested.  Lori will contact her and then talk to Jeff.
4. Create camp questionnaire at next meeting – We have some ideas.