RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2001
Tom Badcock called the meeting to order at 8:00 pm. In attendance: Richard Bezeg, Fran DiRocco, Joe Dunn, Denis Kilduff, Tim Kozlak, Janet Phillips, Paul Taguer, Ed Testino (Councilman), Richard Greene (Councilman), Megan Condran (student rep.) and Anthony Marinos (student rep.). Carol Norberg was present to take minutes. Attending part of this meeting was Officer Bob Weiss. Absent: Barbara Felice, Joe Criscuolo, Gerard Haran, John Piovesan, Joe Pruiti, Harold Reck, Joe Rumolo.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the May meeting will be voted on at the next meeting (October 24th) when there are more members present.
OLD BUSINESS
1. YMCA: Janet handed out her latest report on the YMCA and requests that now it is up to Council to get involved. Tom mentions that the Red Bank YMCA will be giving a short presentation at Nov. 19th council meeting to supplement Janet's report. Council President had told Tom that there was a full agenda in October, so the YMCA wasn't able to give their presentation sooner. Officer Bob Weiss (HS swim coach) joined the meeting to give his input on the importance of a YMCA and that it is important to get the Council to support the YMCA. He offered his help to the Recreation Advisory Committee. He mentioned the importance of the YMCA for the school swim programs.
2. Skatepark: Tom mentioned that overcrowding was not a problem in the summer and that half of the usage came from out-of-towners. We would not have to implement fees at this time.
3. Ice Hockey Program: Jr. Knights program is now underway and doing well.
4. Lake Lucern: Fran mentions this lake needs to be cleaned.
5. Golf Course Feasibility Study: Joe D. asks about the status. Tom mentions we should have the results of the second study by the next meeting.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
1. Civic Center Basement: 95% complete and have temporary Certificate of Occupancy. Anticipate being able to use it for the fall programs.
2. Higgins Rd. Soccer Restroom & Concession Bldg.: 95% complete. Waiting for electrical and water hookups.
3. Mannino Park: (Queen Yacenda) Was dedicated on 9/22/01. Potential site of YMCA.
4. Ticetown Parking Lot: Waiting to finalize design for parking area. Hopefully lot will be completed for next fall.
5. Laurence Harbor Senior Center: $250,000 renovation to be done by Gallant Construction (same company that did the Civic Center Basement) Should be starting work soon.
6. Laurence Harbor Recreation Bldg: Contract was awarded to raise building and change elevation. Next phase would be interior renovation using CDBG funds.
RECREATION PROGRAM UPDATE
Tom mentions that we are short staffed due to Barbara Felice needing to take some time off for a medical testing and Laura Anderson's maternity leave. Registration is underway for a good fall season with program and ice registrations.
CAMP ROBIN UPDATE
Latest report was handed out at meeting. In addition, Tom explains that the 12th Annual Golf Tournament was successful. The 13th annual tournament will be moved to spring instead of fall.
Also, we will be providing our own transportation for the participants of the Camp Robin program instead of through the county.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Mayor's Trophy Game (Football): Denis is looking to Tom Badcock and the Recreation Advisory Board to make a decision about how to proceed with Mayor's Trophy game. They can either play how it has been done for the past ten years which is for the odd team out to play the winner or, as one of the leagues wants, having a round robin tournament. After much discussion, the decision was made (with Paul abstaining) that it should be kept as was in the past. Also noted that this was the majority decision of the three football leagues.
2. Geick Baseball Fields: Joe Dunn requested from Tom that the grass is too high and needs to be cut more often. Tom explains that the mower is set on "high" in the summer so that it doesn't burn, he will ask Will to set the blades lower for the fall season. Joe D. also asks if the pitcher's mound can be covered. Tom mentions that it would make more sense to cover the whole infield. He will look into cost and feasibility of covering with one large tarp or small tarps. Also need to consider the manpower needed to put these tarps on and off. We may need some help from the league if we do cover the infield or parts of it.
3. Cheesequake Baseball: Joe D. mentioned that he talked to Brunetti Jr. about putting in another small field for 5-6 year olds at Cheesequake. Brunetti told him he was totally against it and that they would need to look for other fields. Tom mentions that Mannino Park has many possibilities and that it would need to be coordinated with all the Little Leagues about who will use it.
4. All Purpose Mat Building: Paul mentions that he is glad to see that the all purpose mat sports building will stay on the capital projects list.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
If you'd like to hear the meeting in its entirety, the cassette tape is available for borrowing from Carol Norberg.
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