Middle Smithfield Park & Recreation Board

 

April 7, 2008

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:50 pm. Present members: Pat LaPeter, Chair, Bob Spano, Pat LaPeter, Al Decker, Joyce Fenical. Excused: Maria Oliveras. Guests: Dawn Gorham, Pocono Heritage Land Trust, Paddy Mancuso.

 

Joyce Fenical agreed to take minutes.

 

Dawn Gorham discussed available Regional Open Space funds. The remaining $354,911 in County Open Space funding, Phase II, is available to the region (Smithfield, Middle Smithfield, Price Townships and the Borough of Delaware Water Gap). Of this $45,000 is available to Middle Smithfield. Any expenditure must be agreed on by the regional municipalities, whether cooperative projects, or MST projects. These funds require a match and must be applied for by the end of the year. Other grants (DCNR, etc.) can be applied for to cover the match. In addition the County Boarders have appropriated $4 million dollars under the … program. A joint meeting of the Smithfield and Middle Smithfield Open Space Committees will be held April 28th at 7:30 at Middle Smithfield Township. Leap’s Bog is currently under consideration either as purchase of a conservation easement or as fee simple acquisition (?) The cost would be based on “highest and best use.”  Al mentioned that he thought at one time we had first right of refusal on the Penn Dot properties adjacent to the By-pass. Virginia asked for information about Camp William Penn. Ms. Gorham has not been able to confirm that it is for sale and feels this was a rumor only.

 

The minutes of the March 3, 2008 meeting were accepted as presented.

 

Echo Lake Park  Al Decker, Virginia Manbeck and Laurel Bishow have are completing the DCNR grant application for building the pavilion. The application is due to DCNR by April 25th. This is the only round of DCNR grants for 2008. Board members felt the estimates for labor and materials were high. Virginia and Al asked members to try to get lower estimates. The funding for purchase of equipment for the pavilion, facilitated by John Siptroth’s office, has been confirmed. There will be a ceremony when the check is received.

 

Municipal Park

 

14 consultant proposals were received. Three have been selected for follow-up: Urban Research and Development/Hanover Engineering Associates, Inc, Gilmore and Associates, Barry Isett. Virginia will set up interviews.

 

Resica Park

 

Installation of the fence for the field started on Monday, April 7.

 

Day in the Park, September 20th.  Discussion of combining this with the yard sale and a farmers’ market.  Discussed relocating this event to Echo Lake Park for visibility. Board agreed to table this and contact BOS regarding best location re parking, etc.

Halloween Trail

 

Board voted 4 – 1 in favor of doing the trail at Foxmoor. Bob Spano will ask Scott to discuss this with the owner. Need to recruit volunteers now. Ask Maria re contacts at the college. Contact Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for help. Al and Pat will inventory the equipment in the trailer in May. All Board members are invited to help.

 

Regarding moving meetings to Wednesday night, there was agreement that the Board would continue to meet on Monday nights. Special meetings with the consultant for Municipal Park may be scheduled to Wednesdays.

 

Joyce attended a rain barrel seminar sponsored by the Conservation District. Board will send a letter to BOS suggesting that Middle Smithfield should present this seminar possibly in connection Damien’s lecture on water. Virginia will follow up with the Conservation District regarding sources of grants so that rain barrels can be made available at a discounted price ($20 instead of original $140). The Board viewed the rain barrel in the lobby that Joyce received at the seminar. Pat LaPeter suggested Sherry email the rain barrel information.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm

 

The next meeting will be May 5th at 6:45pm