Environmental And Recreation Committee

Environment and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 7, 2025 6:00 PM Present: Committee Members Liz Wyckoff (Chairperson), Ben Bell, Connor O’Hanlon, and Dennis Livrone. Also present were Sustainability Coordinator Grant Rowe, Borough Manager John Davis, Director of Parks and Recreation Caitlin Hernandez, and Finance Director Caroline Brinker. The Minutes from June 30, 2025, were approved as submitted. The Green Street – Revised Concept Plan was provided by John. He gave a brief background of the Bike Hike path along Green Street to Pebble Hill Road, ending at Edison Furlong Road. The Borough has received a technical assistance grant, and we have asked the engineer who prepared it to give a more detailed concept plan for the Borough’s phase of this project. There is a round of grant funding that has a deadline in October 2025. The cost to fund the grant application is approximately $6,000. John walked the Committee members through the proposed plan and gave detailed explanations of the plan's specifics. The pros and cons of the proposal were discussed extensively and will be brought to the Borough Council in October. Caroline shared the Fanny Chapman Pool Concrete Repair. Gilmore and Associates has drawn up a plan and would like to put out for bid for the repairs of the 98-year-old pool. The floor of the pool is showing signs of wear and needs to be repaired. The only pool involved with this bid is the main pool. The Fanny Chapman Pool Board has maintained its fiscal affairs in such a way that this will not impact its reserves in any significant way, and no money from the Borough will be needed to assist with the repairs. A motion was made and seconded to advertise the bid for the repairs to the main portion of the Fanny Chapman Pool. Caitlin gave her Recreation Director Report. Caitlin highlighted improvements made to the basketball courts at War Memorial Park and Chapman. The Burpee all-purpose court and basketball court have been resurfaced, and new posts, backboards, and benches were installed. The tennis courts at Neis have all been resurfaced, and new nets and anchors are on the way. The Arts and Crafts program ended in July. We got excellent feedback on the new Director, Kate Gale. The Summer Shows series was also successful. The Concerts at the Commons series will be returning in the fall. We have received a presenting sponsorship from Fred Beans to help reach our fundraising goal. Under the topic of new business, local business owner and resident, Daniella Sulimay, addressed the Committee with concerns about the wildlife at Chapman Park. She expressed a desire to have educational signs to help visitors identify various lifeforms in the creek at the park. John recommended taking this concern to the Environmental Advisory Council, since they are more focused on the educational side of the environmental aspects of her concerns. Grant offered to help with the project and to take this to the EAC. As there was no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Erika Fellman Minutes Secretary