Recreation Committee Meeting - October 16, 2007

 

Present: Denise Brennan, Peter Holmberg, Mike Prevoznik, Scott Richards, Pete Sentowski

 

Absent: Debbie Bednar, Dede Conlan, Mike Davies, Celia Flynn, Ed Kubliski, Rich Mancuso and James Smith

 

  1. Welcome New Member(s) - Peter Sentowski was welcomed as Rec’s newest member.

 

2.      Minutes - The September 18, 2007 minutes were approved.

 

3.      Special Events

Haunted Halloween - Sunday, October 28 will be Haunted Halloween at Midvale for 4th and 5th grades.  High School volunteers have been enlisted.

Tree Lighting- this year it will be Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Denise confirmed there are no conflicts with the Jewish holiday.    

 

  1. Summer Rec - Denise confirmed that only 198 children attended Rec this past summer.  Denise will host an “open forum” for parents to determine why the attendance dropped.  The Commission agreed greater controls on the number of summer rec counselors will be needed in 2008 to keep better aligned with the number of campers.

 

  1. Budget Planning – The Commission discussed the 2008 budget process.  Dede had recommended capital improvement projects as part of her Beach Report.  Denise spoke to Mark Prussina about the potential “bounce-back” wall at the high school tennis courts to be built by the Board of Ed and maintained by the Borough.  The Commission recommended that dollars be set aside for upgrading Briarcliff Park in 2008.  Denise will circulate the 3 year capital plan from last year for the Commission to review and make any other suggested changes.  Denise will present an initial draft of the 2008 operating budget at our November meeting.

 

  1. Recap of Facilities Tour – The tour was October 6, 2007.  Attending were Rich Mancuso, Celia Flynn, Peter Sentowski, Denise Brennan and Mark Prussina.  They went to Midvale, the Briarcliff boatracks and the Esplinade.  Rich and Peter had previously taken pictures of different Rec sites that appeared to be in disarray.  It was clear to the Rec members that DPW is understaffed and underbudgeted.  Mark agreed to ensure 17 public sites were properly prioritized and monitored to appropriate standards.  Most sites will not get addressed until before a particular event.  The Commission asked Denise to draft a letter to send to Council to raise the Commission’s concerns.

 

  1. Other Business – Denise would like to schedule a Rec roundtable, potentially in January.

 

 

Next Meeting:  November 20, 2007

7:30 p.m. DPW Building

55 Pocono Road