RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF JANUARY 22, 2003
ATTENDANCE
This meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm.
In attendance were Tom Badcock, Director, Parks, Recreation and Social Services Dept., Lisa Cooney, Assistant Recreation Director, Ray Battaglino, Nancy Calogera, Joe DeSimone, Fran DiRocco, Kerry Frew, Gerard Haran, Robert Pepe, Janet Phillips, Kevin Ruffler, and Tom Stead.
Denis Kilduff entered at 8:30 PM Al DiRocco entered at 9:25 PM Councilmen Baker, Calogera and Greene were present. Carol Norberg was present to take the minutes.
Absent from this meeting were: Richard Bezeg, Joe Dunn, Tim Kozlak and Paul Taguer. New members Kerry Frew and Ray Battaglino were introduced to the committee.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the November 2002 meeting were approved.
RECREATION/CAMP ROBIN UPDATE
Camp Robin Reports were included in all members folders. Lisa Cooney mentioned the new Recreation brochures (new format) will be ready beginning of February. The Mat Rat Tournament will be this coming weekend. An additional site will be added at the East Campus for the summer camp to alleviate the overflow from Sandburg. The next special event will be for Easter on April 12th at Geick Park with money being donated by possibly Commerce Bank.
Tom mentions that the new brochure is expanded and improved and commends Lisa and Beau on their hard work on it.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
1. YMCA - The YMCA had a series of meetings with focus groups and they feel a significant amount of money can be raised to support this project. The next phase will be a random sampling to see if families would be interested in joining under different types of memberships to get an idea if there would be a surplus of funds to be put toward the bond that would have to be paid. Donations from local businesses and/or organizations to build the building are being actively sought. A location needs to be decided; the two being considered are Mannino Park, and at the Municipal Center by removing the tennis courts. The pros and cons of these sites were discussed. The Red Bank YMCA will be running this YMCA.
2. Golf Course - Jim McLoughlin, Golf Consultant, will be at a golf committee meeting next Thurs. An investigation will be done on the use of a grey water system for the golf course because there are less restrictions and this system is environmentally friendly.
3. Woodland Trails - 196 acre park across from the Ticetown Rd. soccer fields. The Township took the condemnation and will pay $18 million of which the attorney is going back to court to challenge this as it is too high. The town has secured Green Acres funds and funds from the State Infrastructure Trust. Also, Middlesex County pledged $2 million for this purchase.
4. Laurence Harbor Beachfront - Repairs being done on the sluice valve. Old jetties are being repaired and extended. The Laurence Harbor Recreation building will be renovated. The Cliffwood Beach basketball court is being redone.
5. 9/11 Memorial - The Council will be meeting with the artist who has been designing the memorial. The site that was chosen is at the municipal center on Cottrell Road by the Library and the Arena.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Bill Baker mentions it would be a good idea to define the committee’s goals and responsibilities for the new members. By-laws and the latest ordinance will be handed out at the next meeting.
Tom mentions that his door and Lisa’s door are always open if anyone has questions.
Some members mention what they’d like to see in the town. Fran DiRocco would like a bird sanctuary. Joe DeSimone has started a petition for a skatepark in Cliffwood Beach. Bob Pepe mentions he’d like better communication and cooperation with the Board of Ed. Ray Battaglino would like a park like Liberty Park in Freehold. Kevin Calogera thinks small neighborhood parks would be desirable. Tom Stead says more sports fields and gym space is needed.
Tom mentions that the town is very fortunate to have a hard working and talented parks crew who keep the fields and parks in great condition.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
It was mentioned that Janet Phillips did a great job with the chairperson position last year. Janet indicated that she is not interested in doing it again. Joe DeSimone nominated Gerard Haran.
All members who were able to vote were in agreement. Gerard nominated Dennis Kilduff as Vice Chairperson. All members who were able to vote were in agreement.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Members viewed for a second time a video tape used by the St. Barnabas Plan so that the members who were not present at the November meeting could view it. It was decided to get Kevin Driscoll back for a second time to give his presentation so those members who missed his first speech could benefit from hearing him. It was determined that it would be better for this topic to be covered in the next meeting to allow all members time to review the material.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM
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