Parks & Recreation Committee

Minutes for May 22 at 7:00 in New Borough Hall  

Next Meeting in office July 7

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

Attending:  Lori Kesilman, Lorraine Brutschea, Tess LaMontange, Derek MacMillan, Andrea Antell

Absent: Gwen Preston-Yamamoto, Ed Glasgow,

Committee Organization:

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

1. Lori will look into Orchard sign
2. Wanted to know if we can have representation on the Appointment Committee

•  Since Derek would be a conflict of interest.  We would like another member to be present.  Is that OK?
• We know Lori can’t do it because there is one council member already on the committee

3. Orchard trees

• Cut trees that are dead
• Need chipper can use volunteers to do the labor.  Derek will look into this.
• Work Day #1 for Orchard Park – chipping day - Date to be decided

4. Someone is lawn mowing.  (Lori will ask Robin)

• Who is it?
• How much is the mowing costing?
• Is it coming out of our $5,000 budget?

• Robin says - I can give you a good estimate of about $1500.  They really cut on an as needed basis.  It is usually every two weeks, but sometimes more.
• POD Landscaping does our mowing.  The Orchard Park is $100 per cut and it does come out of your Park maintenance budget.

5. Prune back others

• Volunteers for this

6. People are mowing the orchard park asif their property.

• Lori will ask Robin if we can investigate, and stake property line as well as sending out letter about encroachment.

• Tom Yatsky says -  The property is staked out and he will be more than happy to show you if you would like.  He said mowing is not considered an encroachment.

7. Maybe conservation job done by a DelVal student

• Derek will look into this

8. Meadow needs weeding

• Tess will set a date for a group weeding day (will be Saturday)
• Derek will find out about a drumming circle for a summer solstice event
• We will ask if we can have an email sent out to residents asking for help.

9. Chalfont Safe School path

• 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.

10. Trails (Lori will ask Robin)

• 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.

• What is the steering committee’s job?  When do they meet?

• Robin says - We are looking to appoint a Steering Committee.  We need 4-6 people (we have 2) to participate and help with the decision making for the project.  They will likely meet once every 6-8 weeks.