Recreation Advisory Board

WESTWOOD RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes of Feb. 13, 2023 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 8:04 P.M. by Chair Angelo Pira Present: Chair Angelo Pira, Vice Chair Bermari Roig, Members Eric Dougherty, Tim McDevitt, Yash Risbud, Jennifer Scardino, Karl Seitz, Holta Xhillari, Recreation Director Gary Buchheister. Absent: Councilman Robert Bicocchi, Members Kenroy Morrison 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Scardino made a Motion to Accept the December Minutes as presented, Vice Chair Roig seconded the Motion. All in favor, the Motion was Approved. 3. OPEN PUBLIC FORUM: 4. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: No report in Councilman Bicocchi’s absence. 5. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: a. Winter 2023 Program Update: Director Buchheister provided a season summary reflecting that many programs are full, the remainder are almost at capacity. The Robotics Class, with a full registration, was cancelled due to the last-minute loss of an instructor. The new, Adult Wednesday Pickleball program is full with several on the Wait List; the new Adult Saturday Pickleball program has 25 people registered. Member Holta, a participant in the program, stated that the program is a great success, the participants love the program and the skill level of new players increases very quickly. Discussion continued on the programs and future schedules. b. Capital Project Updates: The Community Center’s kitchen renovation has been given the Certificate of Approval from the Building Department and Mr. Buchheister invited the Board Members to review the renovated kitchen after the meeting. The McKinley Park Bocce Court will be installed in the Spring; The Brookside Park Pavilion’s installation will be completed this week. The only remaining item is the installation of an interior dome light. Brookside Park’s new playground equipment will be delivered in late March and will be installed in April to be ready for Spring and Summer activities. The Voorhis Park basketball court: The Council will vote on Approval of the Grant funding this week; if Approved the Bid process will begin. The installation should be in late Fall, 2023 or early Spring, 2024. The Bergen County Pascack Brook Park’s tennis / pickleball courts renovation project has stalled. Councilwoman Collins and Director Buchheister will attend the next B.C. Commissioner’s meeting with several residents, to address this matter and the overall upgrade of the facility. Discussion followed including Westwood’s youth pickleball program. c. Recreation Basketball and Wrestling Updates: Director Buchheister reported that the nine Travel League teams are doing very well and he anticipates six of those teams making the League Play- Offs. The remaining three teams are very competitive with close scores at every game. 5. c. The Recreational Basketball League is proceeding well with no significant difficulties. Discussion followed on a few incidents that have occurred throughout the league and a discussion of league rules and playing time. d. Preschool, S.N.A.P., F.Y. Update: The Pre-School semester is proceeding very well, No current updates on S.N.A.P. or Forever Young Programs e. 2022 End of the Year Report NJRPA award: The New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association has named Westwood’s 2022 End of Year Report as the winner of the annual ‘Publicity Award’. The award will be presented at the N.J.R.P.A. Conference in Atlantic City in March. Director Buchheister attributed the overwhelming credit of the award to Rose Ann Ciarlante who produced the report. f. Recreation Board Chair / Vice Chair Elections: Director Buchheister requested nominations for the election of the 2023 Chair and Vice Chair. Member Seitz nominated Angelo Pira for Chair, All voted in favor. Member Xhillari nominated Bermari Roig for Vice Chair, ALL voted in favor. Director Buchheister congratulated Mr. Pira and Ms. Roig and thanked them for continuing to serve. g. Director Buchheister announced that Member Kenroy Morrison has resigned from the Board, due to work obligations. Mayor Arroyo will appoint a resident to fill Mr. Morrison unexpired term. 6. OLD BUSINESS: Tabled a. Committee Assignments: Over 55 Programs; Teen Center; Youth / Pre-School Programs; Facility Improvement (Parks / C.C.); Sponsorship. 7. NEW BUSINESS: Director Buchheister requested that Member Risbud, former Westwood Baseball Assn. Commissioner, follow up with D.P.W. Manager Rick Woods regarding the increasing problem of geese residue in the Borough parks. Several methods of mitigating the problem are under review. Discussion followed. 8. ADJOURNMENT: Member Seitz made a Motion to adjourn the meeting, Member Seitz seconded the Motion, All in favor the meeting adjourned at 8:31 P.M. The next meeting will be the third Monday, March 20, 2023 at 8:00 in the Community Center.