RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF APRIL 24, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 pm. In attendance were Tom Badcock, Barbara Felice, Lisa Cooney, Nancy Calogera, Fran DiRocco, Joseph DiSimone (entered at 7:55), Joe Dunn (exited at 8:20 PM), Gerard Haran, Denis Kilduff, Tim Koslak (entered at 7:52), Robert Pepe, Janet Phillips, Kevin Ruffler (exited at 8:15 PM), Tom Stead (entered at 7:50 PM), Paul Taguer, Bill Baker (exited at 8:15 PM), Rich Greene (entered at 8:05 PM). Carol Norberg was present to take the minutes. Absent from this meeting were Richard Bezeg, Frank Piccillo, Joe Pruiti and Ed Testino. Also absent were the student representatives. Al DiRocco joined the meeting at 8:35 PM
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of February and March were approved.
Janet explains that she will be making an agenda for each meeting. If anyone wants to discuss a particular matter, let her know before the next meeting and she'll place it on the agenda.
ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED:
A. Veteran's Park - playground equipment (swing set) is discussed. Another bay will be put in according to Tom.
B. Ice Skating Rink - the concession stand will remain open after all the team players have time to get what they want.
C. Ticetown Soccer Fields - Tom mentions Phase II next year will add curbing and black top the parking lot. A playground will be put in near the building. An irrigation system will be put in and the soccer league offered to contribute toward it.
D. Middlesex County Park in South Old Bridge - Janet mentions that she read an article that they have $5 M to fund this park. Janet asks if we can request someone to come to one of the advisory board meetings to let us know what their plans are. Tom mentions he will call Ralph Albanir Tom mentions that some towns are asking for cricket fields to be put this park.
F. YMCA - Looking for an architect to do preliminary plans and site selection. Tom mentions that he sent RFP proposals to 6 architects today. We will provide them with five sites and they will review with us for advantages and disadvantages of the different sites. The town will make the final decision on what site will be the best. This may cost between $25,000 - $75, 000 for these preliminary proposals.
Fran asks about the difference between a community center and a YMCA. Tom explains that Community Center means that the town is going to build it, YMCA means that they are going to build it. A final decision has not been made which way to go. Tom mentions that a financial feasibility study will have to be undertaken in order to help make the decision which way to finance this project. Paul feels that a feasibility study should be done first. He also asks what the time difference would be if the town funds this project or if the YMCA funds the project. Janet says it may be a difference of 10 years to build.
G. Golf Update - Tom mentions that the council has put in a first reading $100,000 bond ordinance to move on the golf course. A golf committee has been established by the council, of which Tom mentions he is on the committee in addition to others such as Bill Baker, Joe Dunn, Tom Stead, Gerard Haran. We have representation of the recreation advisory board. Also, Himanshu Shah and Tom believes the Mayor is on the golf committee. The council has also appointed others, Russ Azzarello and Greg Matzel. The purpose is to review and move forward on this project. Tom's recommendation is to hire a golf course consultant to guide the town through the process.
Gerard asks what happens to the golf subcommittee that was formed by members of the rec. board now that there is one by the council. He wants to know if the recreation advisory sub-committee should disband now that he and Joe Dun are on the council's committee? Bill Baker suggests to keep the subcommittee in tact right now until we see how the council's committee progresses. Joe Dunn would like to keep it together.
RECREATION/CAMP ROBIN UPDATE:
Tom mentions that Barbara Felice will be retiring May 1st and introduces Lisa Cooney who will be taking Barbara's place as Assistant Recreation Director.
Barbara mentions that Pete's report is in the folders. Spring programs are now winding down. Summer programs will be registering in May. Beau Byrtus has been working very hard on the summer program. May 18th we will be holding "You Name the Event Day" in Geick Park and on June 15th we will be having the Father/Daughter Dance.
CAPITAL PROJECTS:
1. Ticetown Soccer League - As discussed previously, the engineers are working on the plans for the parking lot. Once they are OK'd, they will be going out to build.
2. Heath Building - 60% complete on this building's renovation.
3. Laurence Harbor Sr. Center - 70% complete. Gallant Construction is doing a fine job on this renovation.
4. Laurence Harbor Rec. Center - A contract has been awarded to Mario Barone Assoc. to design the renovation for the inside of this building. Construction should start sometime in the Fall.
5. Waterfront Project by County, Phase I, should be done by July 4th.
6. Lambertson Acquisition - we now have a deal with the owners of this property. We did not go to condemnation.
7. Cedar Ridge II Trust is discussed.
OLD BUSINESS:
Nancy Calogera asks about when the Laurence Harbor Rec. Center teen center is open. Barbara explains that usually it is open every Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 - 11 PM and in the summer it is open 6 days a week from 7 - 11 PM Right now it is closed pending a leak repair.
Joe DeSimone asks if a skatepark could be put in Cliffwood Beach. Tom explains that the land is needed and the kids would need to come to council and express their desire to have a skatepark.
Fran DiRocco asks about Lake Lucerne cleanup. Tom mentions it will be cleaned up as soon as the weather cooperates. Tom urges and residents if they see anyone dumping to get a license plate number and alert the police.
Joe DeSimone thanks the parks men in their hard work to get the Laurence Harbor baseball fields ready.
Meeting is adjourned at 8:40 PM
This meeting can be heard in its entirety on a cassette tape that can be borrowed from Carol Norberg in the Recreation Dept. |