Minutes for our second meeting:

January 13, 2014 at 7:60 in New Borough Hall  

Attending:  Lori Kesilman, Anthony Volpe, Lorraine Brutschea, Chris Stanford

Absent: Derek MacMillan, Ed Glasgow, Andrea Antell

Next meeting: February 5th

First Topic: Committee Needs and Organization:

1. Derek is chair
2. Lori is secretary
3. We want to meet on first Wednesdays of the month

Second Topic: Covered Bridge Park and Bike Trail

1. Chris Standford will share - The Borough received a grant in the amount of $150,000 to put a trail/sidewalk from Tamenend Ave. to Pine Run School along Butler Avenue.  Chris wants to discuss options for this grant, so that a decision could be made for the best use of the money.  

• PA State grant $150 - reduced from the $250 we thought.  Looked at paths from Tamenend to Pine Run.  Easements will be requested.  We looked at 4 options.  Two of which we liked.  Option #3  was our first choice and Option #4 was our third (these options were on a handout Chris gave us - I have copied for Andrea, Derek, and Ed).  

Third Topic: Orchard Park

2. Update from Tess

• Grant done!  Good job Tess!

Fourth Topic: Trail to Pine Run from Tamenend Ave

3. Would also like the pedestrian/ bike bridge built as far away from the Covered Bridge as it can be safely engineered, and within budgetary constraints.

• We wanted near parking lot due to flooding.  Chris seemed to think it would not be a problem.

4. Would like to have a copy of the bike/hike survey’s exact route through the park made available to the public on the Borough and N.B.C.A. websites

• Chris will look into it and get the info to Robin to post on website after easements have been requested

5. Is there a budget for upkeep of the trail/path in the event it becomes damaged or is in need of repair?  Who would pay for that?

• Chris will clarify usually - a park agrees to own and maintain the trail

6. How easements are obtained?  How and when people are alerted if there is a path going in on their land?

• Borough will contact people for easements.

7. Civic

• What is Civic’s liability is for insurance?

1. Chris will clarify and the Borough will most likely be asking Civic for an easement.  The easement would include liability.

• What the path is going to cost the Civic Association?

1. Chris will clarify usually - a park agrees to own and maintain the trail

8. Will our bathrooms be able to handle the traffic?  Do we have plans to improve them?  If we think bathrooms or something else is necessary, as a result of the trail, who takes care of that...Civic Association or Parks and Recreation?

• Does not anticipate a problem

What we want Derek to discuss at Del Val meeting:

• Conservation plan for the 5+ acre property

• We need to know exactly what parts are considered wetlands
• Want to keep it a fruit orchard.  Saving and replacing trees would be needed.
• Ground clearing - bramble removing
• Identification of what we have in the way of trees
• Signage for tree identification
• Wildlife habitat and possible nesting areas?

• Andrea - Do we need anything for the community garden part?

Members of the group :