Environment And Recreation Committee Meeting

Environment and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 5, 2024 6:00 PM Present: Committee Members Liz Wyckoff (Chairperson), Ben Bell. Recreation and Special Event Coordinator Caitlin Hernandez and Building and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland also attended. The Minutes from May 6, 2024, were approved as submitted. Karyn explained the Community Choice Aggregation Support Letter to the members. She also briefly reviewed the CCA’s history and role in energy choice. The committee reviewed a draft letter to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and voted to recommend to the Council that the letter be sent to the PA PUC with some changes to the draft letter. Liz wants to change the name of the Borough Bike/Hike Trail to Bike and Hike Route since it is on the existing roads and not a separately built trail. She provided a copy of a map that shows how the new route will be integrated into the borough streets and neighborhoods. Liz answered the questions about various symbols on the map and explained how the route could be utilized. She likes how this route emphasizes purposeful connection to multiple parts of the Borough, like how someone can ride from Maplewood to the western border on low-impact streets and roads. Liz also discussed Pump Track Maintenance. She noted how all the topics on the agenda tonight tie into the Blue Zone. The question is whether the track should be paved or if it should remain as dirt. It’s noted there is an additional expense to pave the track. The dirt track has been maintained primarily by volunteers with some help from the Borough. The track is now so packed down that it is as hard as cement. If the track is paved, the annual maintenance on the pump track will be eliminated. It is very degraded now; the tool shed has been vandalized, and graffiti has been found throughout the area. The committee members and staff debated the pros and cons of paving the track versus keeping it as a dirt track. Liz provided the Blue Zone Update. She briefly explained how this concept ties in with all the other wellness initiatives the Borough already participates in and how utilizing some of their ideas can lengthen life expectancy. Bicycle Friendly Community Status/Bicycle Advisory Committee was applied for in 2019, and we were awarded our bronze status then. We were given a report card and a list of items to move to the silver level. Our membership was reviewed a while ago, and we weren’t ready to reapply. There are still some steps we need to take before considering reapplying. Caitlin provided the Recreation Director’s Report, which gives updates to the Borough’s parks and improvements over the past few months. Caitlin also reviewed the final numbers of the Arts and Crafts program. The scenic stroll starts soon, and Sherry Sullivan returns to lead the group. The summer shows had a good turnout. Yoga did okay for the spring session, but the numbers dropped in the summer. There will be a trunk or treat event for Halloween. It will be held in the parking lot behind Borough Hall, and there will be activities, including a bonfire in the park across the street. We capped our numbers at 300 kids, and that sold out in a matter of hours after registration opened.  Environment and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 5, 2024 6:00 PM Old/New Business None There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.