Township of Fredon
Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes

This meeting is in compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act, Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, and Sections 4 and 31, as advertised by annual notice.

Chairman Coltelli called this regular meeting of the Fredon Recreation Commission to order at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance: Joe Coltelli, Jocelyn Keppler, Pete Klimek, Bob Wilson, Dave Greene, Doug White.

Absent: Steve Russell, Moira Kenah

Additional Attendees: Keith Smith

Minutes:  January 19th minutes needs to be amended;
Field Maintenance: ONLY grass seed was purchased, not fertilizer.

Correspondence: None

OLD BUSINESS:

Ice Rink: Being that there was a lot of snow this season, it hindered how often the rink was used. Tentative date for disassembly is March 12th  at 9:00 a.m. If not, then March 19th at the same time; depending on the weather.

Field Maintenance: The aerating will begin in the beginning of April when the irrigation system is turned on. Barry will be asked to mark the location of the sprinkler heads. Also, Nicole Scholier, coordinator of softball, informed the commission that she will be tilling (6-8 inches deep), re-grating and dragging the field sometime in mid March.

Home Run Fence Team: Mr. Russell suggested that next year a new sign deal should be implemented; “purchase a sign, sponsor a team, receive team giveaways”. Also, it was suggested that a sign should be displayed at the pavilion, listing all of the sponsors. Pending

Fredon Day 2011: The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 1st, at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal building.

Movie Night: It was agreed to postpone the winter movie night until the spring, due to lack of interest.

Concert in the Park: This even is tentatively scheduled for June 17th. The commission will be hiring “ Street Hassle” to perform in Lodestar park from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 (9:45). The fire department has agree to sell beer/wine, and the recreation commission will be selling soda/water. John Pascal’s BBQ is one of the food possibilities; Mr. Klimek will confirm. The Sheriff’s department will be asked to bring over three (3) lights.  All Little League teams will be informed that there will be no games/practices that night. Janet Carsten’s will be asked to sell her snow cones. Pending.

Easter Egg Hunt: The egg hunt will take place on Sunday, April 10th, beginning at 11:30 a.m., after the pancake breakfast. Recreation members will arrive at 10:15 a.m. for set up. There will be pictures with the Easter bunny, the egg hunt, and possibly some games with prizes. It was also discussed that the smaller children should collect their eggs from the football/all purpose field (instead of the Little League field).

FREDON RECREATION LEAGUE REPORT/FINANICAL REPORT
No financial report this month.
Basketball reported the following:
Hampton, Stillwater, Fredon and Hardyston would like to organize an end of the season tournament. The tournament would be an extra cost of $400, but the children would be playing two more additional games this season. According to Mr. Constantino, the  numbers were low for coach volunteers, also the registration numbers were low with the basketball clinic. Aaron Copeman was recommended as a replacement coordinator, however Mr. Constantino added that he would stay on as coordinator with Aaron Copeman; thus easing his workload with basketball. It was suggested that basketball use the concession stand, or adding sponsors, to offset the cost of referees ($25 for 3rd/4th grade teams, $30 for 5th/6th grade teams).

Softball reported the following:
The registration deadline has  been extended. Playoff dates are the weekend of June 6th, 7th and 8th (double headers), and only six (6) teams advance to the playoffs. There is no senior team; two (2) rookie teams, two(2) intermediate teams, and one (1) junior team.

Soccer: Registration forms are coming in, the deadline is February 2nd, and Scott Lobban will be helping with the field preparation.

FREDON RECREATION WEBSITE

Softball and soccer registration forms have been added to the site.

FREDON RECREATION COMMISSION FINANCIAL REPORT

Pending.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE/RECREATION LIAISON REPORT

Budget discussions will begin in March.

NEW BUSINESS

Recreation Basketball: The Commission was informed of an incident that occurred at Fredon School involving two (2) coaches and a referee during a scrimmage. The two parties involved will be asked to give their statements about this incident. Also, the Recreation Commission will develop a mission statement (code of conduct) for all coaches to sign before the start of each season.

Bike Right: A non – profit company contacted Mr. Coltelli about having a bike rights/education/safety courses. Some of the topics that the residents will learn about are bike rights, defensive skills for biking and biking with confidence. The age groups for these courses are 5 years old to adult (advanced).
Pending.

Protect Youth Sports: A representative from this company contacted the Recreation Commission about doing background checks for the coaches, at $10 per coach.
Pending

Spring Newsletter: Articles are due before March 21st. Some articles that will be submitted are: Easter Egg Hunt, Concert in the Park, Fredon Day 2011/Miss Fredon Contest, Movie under the stars, and the Fredon Recreation website. It was suggested that a small contact form be added to the newsletter for residents to fill out and send in, if they would like to be notified about any township news/events, etc. Pending.

FACILITIES USE APPROALS

1) Little League and the 9U Travel team facility use forms have been approved. Joe Befumo and Mike Grace will coordinate use of the filed and once agree will send in another form.
2) Softball Use forms are approved.
3) Fredon School Playground Committee submitted a request to use the Civic Center hallway on February 26th from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Approved.
4) Kittatinny Girls Youth Lacrosse Club requested use of the gym for skills practice on March 13th and March 20th, from 10a.m.  – 12 p.m. OR 8:00 a.m. – 10 a.m., depending on availability. Approved.
5) Kittatinny Youth Lacrosse would like to use the gym for their practices. This is approved based on availability, dates need to be checked with basketball.
 

There being nor further business before the Commission, Mr. Coltelli made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m., with a second by Mr. Greene. All in favor. So moved.

Respectfully submitted by,
Jocelyn Keppler
Fredon Recreation Commission Secretary

This meeting is in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, and Sections 4 and 13 as advertised by annual notice.

Chairman Coltelli called this regular meeting of the Fredon Recreation Commission to order at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance: Joe Coltelli, Steve Russell, Jocelyn Keppler, Pete Klimek, Bob Wilson, Dave Greene, Perrin Masi, Anthony Thonnerieux, Doug White.

Minutes: February 23rd minutes to be amended; Mr. Russell’s sign suggestion should be moved under the Recreation League heading of the minutes.

Correspondence: The Commission received a brochure about free funding for fingerprinting/background checks for coaches, assistant coaches, etc. Mr. Wilson will find out more information about this service.

OLD BUSINESS

Ice skating rink:  The rink has been disassembled. There is a possibility of purchasing a new liner and brackets for next year. There were questions about how to remove the snow from the ice; one suggestion was to use a snow blower. Pending.

Field Maintenance: The pavilion water will be turned on before the egg hunt. The multi-purpose field will be aerated using vibration. The soil is very compact and it needs to be broken up. This is to begin the second week of April. The softball field will be tilled over the weekend of March 26th, weather permitting. Volunteers from Little League and 10U travel baseball maintain the Little League field.

Home Run Fence Team signs: Eighty-seven (87) renewal and new letters/forms have been sent out. A list will be made of all businesses that paid as the forms/payments are received.

Fredon Day 2011: The next meeting will take place on March 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal building. “Sandwich boards” will be used for advertisement. One side will advertise for Fredon Day and the other side will advertise for the concert in the park in June. Mr. Coltelli will look for different price quotes for renting tents.

Movie Night: The first movie in the park will take place at the closing of  Fredon day. The next one will possibly take place in July.

Concert in the Park:  John Pascal will be catering this event on Friday, June 17th. The fire department will sell adult beverages and the Recreation Commission will sell soda/water. Janet Carstens will be asked to sell snow cones and nuts.  The Sheriff’s department will be asked for the use of three lights as well as police presence.

Egg Hunt: This event will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 10th. Commission members will arrive at 10 a.m. for set up. Two hundred and fifty (250) chocolate bunnies were purchased, and the eggs have been ordered. Mr. Russell will set up the p.a. system and the fire department will bring the Easter Bunny.
Pictures with the Easter Bunny; A frame will be built, using a fabric canvas, for the backdrop, and flowers will be used as well. There will be games such as egg races with spoons (larger one for the older children, smaller spoons for the younger children). A registration form will also be available for any resident who would like to write down their email address for updates on Fredon Township.

Bike Rights: A non-profit organization from Cedar Knolls sent information about free bike classes to residents of all ages. Pending.

Protect Youth Sports: Pending

Basketball on Sunday:  More children are attending each week. There may be a possibility of having to split the gym; one side for the older kids and the other for younger children.

FREDON RECREATION LEAGUE REPORT/FINANCIAL REPORT

Softball has requested locks for the box by the field that stores the equipment. They are also looking for something to use to line the field. The softball play offs dates have bee changed due to a school event/trip. Game schedule are pending.
Soccer asked if they could use the all-purpose field on Saturdays. Soccer registration numbers are down this year from last year, and they are accepting registration forms from Stillwater residents who do not have a soccer team. Soccer will not be using the concession stand, and will begin the third or fourth week in April and will continue until June.
No report from Basketball.

FREDON RECREATION WEB SITE

Mr. Russell has updated the site with new information; the disassembly of the rink, the Easter Egg hunt and a thank you to the Fire Department. There is also a sponsor tab for the businesses that have Home Run Fence Team signs.

FREDON RECREATION COMMISSION/FINANCIAL REPORT

The budget for 2011 remains, close to, the same as 2010. Pending
 

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE/RECREATION LIAISON REPORT

Mr. Thonnerieux and Mr. White spoke about the budget, as well as the township taxes and the possibility of purchasing new snow plow trucks. There was also some discussion about solar panels being added for different township facilities, Civic Center/gym, Fredon School, Municipal building.

NEW BUSINESS

Kittatinny Travel baseball: A representative from travel baseball, David Bowe came to the meeting to discuss the use of the field.  Travel baseball will be allowed to use the field on Wednesday nights, and all day Sunday.
They would like to work with Little League and other baseball teams to organize use of the little league field; they can use the field on Saturday (either 3 p.m. or 6 p.m.) only if they can’t play on Sunday. This is pending.
 Travel baseball requested rolling of the infield, and grass/clay. The Commission informed them that the dugouts in the little league field are fenced in and other fences will be repaired.

FACILITY USE APPROVALS

1) The Bears Running Club requested use of the park plus the woods adjoining the park for the 5 K plus 1 mile Fun Run, on Sunday, April 10th, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Approved.

2) The Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services/Nursing has requested use of the Civic Center gym for a blood screening and bone density screening clinic on Tuesday, April 12th, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Approved.

3) Mrs. Scholier submitted a site modification request form for the softball field to dig up the field with a teter machine and re-grate the dirt about 6.8 inches deep.
      Approved.

4) Kittatinny Cougars Travel baseball submitted a request form for use of the Little League field starting March 2011 until October 31st, 2011; specifically Sundays, as well as Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons. (Use of field on Saturday afternoons only if they are unable to play on Sunday) Approved.

5) Stillwater- Fredon Little League requested use of the Little League field/pavilion concession stand, starting March 26th – July 30th, and then for Fall-ball, September 1st – October 31st, from Monday – Friday (with the exception of Wednesdays) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., possibly 4:30 p.m. No use of Sundays, until Fall-ball begins. (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Approved.
6) Fredon Township Girls softball requested use of the softball field from March 2011 – June 2011. Monday – Thursday from 4:30 – 8:00 p.m., and weekends (times T.B.A). Approved.

There being no further business before the Commission, Mr. Coltelli made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 p.m., with a second by Mr. Russell. All in favor. So moved.

Respectfully submitted by,
Jocelyn Keppler
Fredon Recreation Commission Secretary