like to call to order the meeting for Parks and Rec recreation commission for January 21st, 2026. We're going to start with a pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Going to read the statement of adequate notice. Pursuant to the open public meetings act, notice of this meeting was sent to the Cranberry Press,
the Trenton Times, and Home News Tribune on January 5th, 2026. posted on the bulletin board, posted on the township's website, and sent to those who requested a copy of this notice. We are going to move to roll call and hours. Christina
>> here two hours. Okay. Brendan >> here two hours. >> Katie here 1 hour. Okay. Kelly >> here two hours. >> Omar >> here 1 hour.
Sally here three hours is excused. Fallon >> here three hours. Okay. Michael >> here one hour. >> Hour and we also have Matt Scott the TC
liaison present and Ken Jacobs recreation director. Okay. We're going to move to the election of the chairperson. I'd like to open nominations for chairperson. >> I'd like to nominate Kelly
Lavy. >> That's so nice. But that's all right. I'm going to nominate Brendan. Is that okay? >> That's okay. >> So, Kelly, you are not accept
another year. But thank you so much, So sweet. >> Do we have any other nominations? >> Oh, we do roll call. >> Do you have any seconds for the nomination? >> Do I have a second for Brendan? Sorry. I'll second.
Okay. Any other nominations for chair going? It's going twice. All right. I'm going to close the nominations. We're going to go to roll call vote for Brendan. Christina, >> yes.
>> Brendan, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Kelly, >> yes. >> Omar, >> yes. >> Sally, >> yes. >> Not here. Fallon, >> yes. >> And Michael, >> yes.
>> Congratulations, Brendan. >> You say, >> thank you. Um, thank you everybody. I don't think I will um pursue this uh I have no interest in serving as chair
again next year. So keep that in mind everybody. La this is my last go around. Um let's move on to our election of a vice chairperson. Um are there any nominations for vice chairperson
or I would like to nominate Kelly. Is there a second for that nomination? >> Second. >> Thank you. And are there any further nominations for vice chairperson? Okay. So, hearing none, I guess we close
the nominations and we vote on our nomination for Kelly Lowry for the role of vice chairperson. >> Christina, >> yes. >> Brendan, >> yes. Katie, >> yes. >> Ellie, >> yes. >> Omar, >> yes.
>> Sally, >> yes. >> Off here. Fallon, >> yes. >> And Michael, >> yes. >> All right. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> All right. Moving on to our minutes from our December 17th meeting. Um, if there
are no corrections, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the minutes. Um my one thing I couldn't remember if we did this regularly and I didn't check that we don't have on the draft minutes uh listed separately that um Ken Jacobs is in attendance as a non-member in
attendance. Is that do we standardly list that or is that not normally just because it's he's the rep director? Um, but I guess just for the record and also for posterity, maybe we we can make a
practice of doing that. >> Well, we know it does. Um, anybody else with any modifications? If not, um, a motion to approve the minutes or adopt the minutes. >> I move that we adopt the minutes.
>> Thank you, Sally. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. >> All right, let's have a roll call on um approving the minutes. >> Christina, >> yes. >> Brendan, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Kelly,
>> yes. >> Omar, >> yes. >> Sally, >> yes. >> Fallon, >> yes. >> And Michael, >> yes. >> Okay. All right, the minutes are adop approved. Uh let's move on to our reports. Starting with a report from our
recreation director, Ken Jacobs. >> Thank you. Um I submitted three items for the capital budget for this year. I can pass these along so you see exactly what I
requested, but it was for the gazebo at Village Park, the replacement of the dock at Village Park as well, and the replacement of the storage shed for the uh camp items that's at the end of the
uh school driveway that that's falling apart. and we really have trouble keeping our our uh camp equipment um from having to throw it out every year. So, if you want to see it, you could I could certainly pass this around if
you'd like. The um two of those items I'm actually going to put in for the state grant uh for the park improvement. It's called the um I believe it's a the state park improvement uh grant. Um last year we
got money to to do the tennis courts. Um we've gotten money to do um the basketball courts as well. So uh it's it's a grant that most of the time if you put in for you
get the money. Um so I'm going to put the gazebo and the dock in there. So really the one item that we would ask for the council or committee to fund would be the uh the replacement of the
shed. Um, so I'm going to the um council or council, I'm sorry, committee meeting on February 1st uh for the for the capital budget to make my my case, I guess, for the for the
>> it's it's No, it's at the end of the school parking lot by the baseball field. The the large baseball field. Yeah. >> That was built by a Eagle Scout many many years ago. and we did as much of the repairs that we could possibly do to
it. Now it's just really falling apart. So >> there's a lot of lot of animals there. So So that's um that's one of the things that we have the Department of Public Works list. I I again we I think we've
kind of cleared that and the pickle ball tennis court update I pretty much gave at the at the last meeting. um that you know they are going to have to come back in the uh as soon as the weather breaks to be able to finish that that project.
Um I did send out today the um an email blast uh for uh summer camp trips um that and it's up on the webs our the township website. Just like a it was a good little time to give a little
tickler to people to remember. Don't forget about summer camp. Here are the dates. We're going to start registration in in beginning of March like like we always do. Um we there's still some costs to figure out like busing and and
uh trips to so we could figure out the pricing for the uh for each week. So um working on that as well. So that's my update. Any any questions or >> Yes.
>> Um, we also had said at the last meeting that we were going to put $5,000 in our budget for a feasibility study for a bathroom in Village Park. Is that something that you would entertain or does how >> does that work for a from my budget
request? I mean, I think something like that would probably just come out of the the trust fund. That's not something I would um submit as part of my my um township budget per se if that's something that we really want to pursue. >> And we have that money.
>> We do. >> Okay. Because it we my notes say that we were going to ask for it in the budget. >> Yeah. I I could tell you that anything I anything other than what I usually ask for will not get approved most likely.
So, if that's something that we really want to pursue, I think we would have to say that we're going to take that out of the trust fund because um uh my budget has actually gone down over the last three or four years just about every
year. So, asking for more is not going to I don't think be um looked at favorably. Okay. Anything else? Um, anyone else for Ken? Um, on any of the matters he reported or on any other
matters. Um, >> did you pass that? >> All right, let's move on. Thank you, Ken. >> Let's move on to our park preserve updates. Um, I will note that I don't
it it's been a it's been a real long time since we've had enough snow that it didn't melt off like pretty much all the pavement in uh 2 or 3 days, but none of the sidewalk at um
at Milstone Park has been cleared. um which I don't know for a fact but would presume is incumbent on the township to do since it's incumbent on the property owners to clear the sidewalks in front of their own property. Um but that sidewalk hasn't
been cleared. Um anyone else for park preserve updates? lots of branches and even large ones down in Heritage Park from that last windstorm, but I'm presuming DPW is aware of that. They will get to it at
their convenience, I'm sure. >> And it's hard to see a lot of what else is going on the park right now because they're all covered in snow. Um, I hope people are en enjoying the park in different ways with the snow on the grounds.
um sledding, snowman making, etc. All right. If there are no other um report updates for the park preserves, um let's move to memorial benches. I don't have any new applications. That's
and there are none in progress to report any updates on either. Um environmental commission. >> Yes, I attended the meeting last night. Um, a couple of things that of of note to us. The there was a a resolution passed by
the township for people to be responsible for their catch basins or for catch basins in town. And if you're not aware of that, that's the like the grate that goes over where the water goes into. And so they are having
an adopt a catch basin um where people can they have every catch basin in the town that's numbered and you can go it's they're going to put out some forms and you can choose a catch basin that you're in charge of to
keep it clear. The disappointing part to me is that the county roads are not included. This is only township roads. So, Main Street on all those catch basins, they're supposed to be cleaned by the um
county and um hopefully they will, but I've noticed many times they're not. So, I'm hoping that eventually we can take over the county catch basins, too. I don't know how that works. Um it was not discussed at the meeting.
Um another thing is that April 25th is the stream cleanup this year. Unfortunately, it's the same day as the townwide yard sale again, but uh April 25th. And the other thing that they mentioned that, well, they didn't
mention, but it's of pertinance is I'm going to be gone the next two months. And so, I'm asking for a volunteer. I asked if they would send somebody to this meeting, and they said they would like us to send somebody to their meeting. Parks Commission is on their agenda every month. And what I do is I
take minutes at this meeting and I I put an asterisk next to what might be pertinent to the EC and then I mention that at the EC meeting. Um so I'm looking for volunteers for somebody to go to the next two EC meetings
and uh they are usually right before the park meetings. So you would take the minutes at this meeting of anything that's pertinent. For example, you could say in our budget next year, we're asking for a gazebo money for a gazebo, a dock, and a camp shed. You know, that is something that EC would be interested
in. >> So, they are the normally the third Monday, but this week there were the third Tuesday because of the Martin Luther King Day holiday >> and same for February because it's President's Day, so that would be the
>> the 17th. I can attend on the 17th >> and that's of which month? >> Uh about February. >> Okay. >> And then they're going to be looking at meeting on March the 16th,
which I can also attend. >> Thank you, Brendan. They're very interesting. They had a representative from the watershed institute there last night and he they was a a very long discussion about how
the um whole watershed the state is asking for the townships to and I I I I kept looking at Don I'm like do you understand what they're saying? I didn't understand everything they were saying, but the state is asking for people to be
for the towns to be responsible for the watershed in their town. And um there we're in the Millstone watershed and we're with maybe six or seven other towns, 11 other towns. And um so the
question now is do we do this on our own as Cranberry or do we join in with the other 11 groups and do it? And there's financial aspects to doing it on our own and to doing it with the group. And so they they haven't decided on that. But it was
very interesting how this is all they're really concerned about the our watershed and the pollution of it. Phosphates and some other thing that had a bunch of letters to it, DTS stems or I don't know what it was, but um so that that was really interesting. But so they'll
probably talk about that next month. Well, thank you Brendan for going to the next two meetings and I'll see you guys in April. >> All right. Thank you Sally for um your report and for your diligent um note takingaking. I have
for myself for next month um so far from what we've gotten to just release uh the budget items that we're looking for. Um is did you have anything else that
you would have reported on other than that? >> Sorry. What >> if you were to have gone yourself? Would you have anything else to report so far? >> Not so far. >> Okay. And I'll take >> Well, I I would probably say that Brendan and Kelly were elected and and um
>> I forgot about that one. Okay. Yeah. >> Um Donna, will you let EC know that Brendan will be coming to the next two? Thank you. >> All right. Um anyone else have anything on EC? If not, uh, Shade Tree
Commission, I don't have an update on that. Although I was in touch, uh, with Kathy Eastston, though we decided that we should meet, we didn't do it yet. Um, township committee.
>> Uh, good evening. Thank you. Um, don't have much report. I just I know there's a couple things. Maybe Kelly will talk about it, but the uh 1713 house and the signage proposal um you'll address that. Yeah.
>> Oh, perfect. Very good. Um other thing I would just uh remind uh Ken already mentioned it, but our our budget meeting is uh Sunday, February 1st at 9:00 am. Um I don't know, will you be there to present?
>> Okay, good. There. my understanding. >> Yeah, good. That'll be perfect. Um, Brandon, I know you're aware, but there's a a discussion of a uh a repeat of the historic baseball game in Village Park coming up in August, August 26, I
think. Um, so I don't know what you'll address that, I'm sure. Um, and then I look forward to hearing about the survey. But that's it. We don't have anything from the TC as far as parks and wreck. anything active. So, it's all on you guys.
>> All right. I did um I did notice when I was looking at our minutes that I never sent um anything in writing about our accomplishments from last year. Um nor did I uh
um even remember that I forgot to do it. So, I will be doing that. >> Um okay. Okay. So, do you want to submit that for the next Well, next meeting is Monday, but >> Yeah. >> Okay. Fantastic. >> Um, anyone else or anyone have anything
for Matt >> for the historic baseball game? Is is the thought that it'll be pretty much exactly as it was last year >> or is it still kind of in infancy? That's that's >> I don't yeah I don't have really
anything to go off there other than that they are looking to schedule for a particular date and I have that date written down somewhere but not in front of me. Um and all all that really needs to happen from the township's end is they need to we need to get them
permitted or um and their fee paid or their or decide to wave the fee since it's like a township sponsored thing. because I'm just wondering if we could turn it into something bigger because I know in the past it was held at village but when we've talked about trying to create more community events in town and
I know previously we had talked about trying to kind of recreate the event that we had done with um uh Tyler Cincy's uh bike >> thing that ended at Milstone and then it was the colonial fair there that maybe
we could do something that ties in and and ends with the baseball game at Millstone because there was also a baseball field there. >> Um and a ton of space to do and it would also help drive more traffic to the game because I know my Girl Scouts, you were there also. We ran like the little concession stand. Yeah. >> Um and there were people there that
watched but it wasn't like big attendance, but maybe there's some way that we can kind of like piggy back >> and build it into something a little more dynamic. >> Yeah, I I think that's a great idea. Um, we'll discuss it further, but um, Lisa Canarum, I know her husband's involved with it, so I will relay that. So, I
think they just, you know, kind of picked Village Park really maybe weren't thinking about expanding it, but I think that they would probably love that idea. >> Yeah, I feel like there's something I feel like there's something there. >> Yeah. Um, let's think about um if I I'll agenda
that for our next meeting if we uh have stuff to have anything more to really uh discuss or report back on that. So, I'll be looking for that. Um, all right. Anybody else for Matt? All right. Thank you, Matt. Let's move
on to our old business. We don't have anything new on the ser procurement. We I mean I guess we should re Can we rename old business or does it have to be taken off as old business and reagended as new business because we're
now not we're now definitively asking for a gazebo and not just a big circle item. Um but we don't have any new update on that other than um the the budget ask. But so let if everyone's good with that, let's move straight to
community interest survey. Yeah. All right. Val, do you want to go? >> Yeah. Um, so I sent literally minutes before this meeting. Um, and thank you, Donna, for catching it and printing out
um the summary files. There's one sort of highlevel kind of executive summary page that I think is a good snapshot of what came out of the community interest survey. Um we maybe unsurprisingly I think the greater
the greatest number of respondents were families with young children. I think that was probably a product of the distribution methods um that were at our disposal. But I think it it worked and we did we did get um a lot of responses um in particular with families with kids
under the age of 10. Um we had the second largest cohort was families with older children, teens sort of 11 to 21. Um seniors were not as well represented. So I think that's just something we should keep in mind with the data. Certainly there were some um but I think
it was not um an enormous number the same way you saw with with families with young kids. The overall number was 101 responses as of this morning. I kept it open as long as humanly possible. Um, we just broke a hundred this morning actually. So, um, you know, the extra
time helped a little bit. Obviously, that's not um, you know, it's a fraction of cranberry size, but I do think the people who filled it out, and I think you'll see this in the data, they were really thoughtful responses. I think people were um, more balanced than I
anticipated. There was some favorable um, you know, feedback about parks and the maintenance and what goes into them. And then there were, you know, some strong opinions laced in as well. But I think one of the big takeaways for me is programming is really like people really
want programming um both for kids but also for families and just sort of general community building events. I know we've talked a lot about that. So I feel like that is, you know, probably the biggest area of opportunity for us looking at the coming year. to Katie to your earlier point there
obviously we probably could have guessed this but I think some of the most visited parks right village park heritage park cranberry brook preserve sort of lagging behind that and then Milstone Park um but I think uh Heritage Park I'm sorry Cranberry Brook Preserve
but Milstone Park in particular it's like 25% and I feel like there is an opportunity to think about some of those areas that might be underutilized and how do we draw people there and maybe think about, you know, whether it's improvements um or enhancements to those
areas, even if it's through programming um to bring people can >> to those spaces. >> Sorry to interrupt. Um >> sure, >> the data for most visited is that or what's bulleted here is most visited. That's percentage of respondents who
>> reported visiting it, not percentage of respondents who said it was the park that visited the most. >> That's correct. Okay. Exactly. Um I did there. It's not printed here because it's sort of an unruly data file, but I did attach the Excel file so you can see the actual responses and there's a tab
where um Google survey will give you like snapshot charts of the responses. So that's in a tab of the Excel file that's actually helpful to look at. Um and you can again see the breakdowns more precisely there. This is just a snapshot. Um,
we talked about programming being sort of green field for us to think about. You know, there's data on what residents do currently. Um, primary sports use. This is like people 10 or more had 10 or more references. Tennis, soccer, baseball, softball, pickle ball. Um,
what residents want. I tried to break this down into different C categories. We did ask about park hours because that was something that we talked about over the course of 2025. the large majority preferred to keep dawn to dusk. Um so whether we want to adopt that that was just um the feedback
that came in but the other attachment that I had printed is actually Mike and I were just talking about this the write in responses. Interestingly a lot of people wrote that oh we'd really love lighting or it would be nice to have parks open a little bit
longer. So, while they voted for the dawn to dust, there were a fair amount of respondents who actually said something um about looking for those sort of evening hours in particular. So, just something to keep in mind. Um let's see. Communication, another big one. I
think we've talked about this. Um lots of people, you know, I put the percentages here. Township email, word of mouth, social website. That's how they're getting information currently. But again, there were a lot of write-in responses like, "I hear about it after the fact or I found a flyer, but it
wasn't sent to me intentionally, and I wish it was easier to get this information." So, um, these are like the most visited, you know, spaces for people looking for information, hungry for information. But I think if we can just keep in mind that
for anything we're setting up or putting on and especially things intended to bring in revenue like the camp, maybe we want to be a little bit more targeted um in how we're getting that out there. I put this here just to think about because I Kelly, I know you mentioned this, it like turned to be January one
and everybody is like, "What are your kids doing this summer?" And um it's a little intense, but what I would say is that's enough. Like I see ads all the time on social media. And not to say Cranberry needs to go the ad route, but I feel like there are paid opportunities where you can put that in front of the
right people with the right like demographic in level of interest. >> Um key takeaways. I mean, I'm open to everybody's feedback once you've had a chance to digest this, but I think you know generally there was some really great feedback. the parks are really
enjoyed in Cranberry programming can be improved and I think there's demand for that and so we should just think about how we want to go about that and then stronger and more targeted communication would be appreciated. I think that's sort of um uh you know an undercurrent
to all of this. Um, there are specific ideas, but I think without getting into a lot of those, the other attachment that I had put in the email that would be helpful, I did attach all the write in responses. They're um they're interesting and I would just recommend
reading or scanning them in your spare time. There's um a couple of maintenance points and so I feel like it doesn't need to be this meeting, but maybe for the next meeting and I just didn't get a chance to like pull these out. we should just go through and look at the maintenance requests because those can
be pretty easy action items to the extent we want to address them. Um, but thank you everybody for helping to distribute and push this out and for responding. Hopefully we all did. Um, open to any questions if you have them.
>> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. >> No, if I may. Um, lucky for you guys, I will be liazison for next year, my my senior year, last year. But the point being like I I I want to help make this like a standardized annual event. And so
with that, 101 is great, but there's 5,000 people in Cranberry. So, what do you think? >> I don't know this world. You might know it better than I, but what do you think is the best way to to do that? I know you mentioned targeted ads. I mean, >> yeah, >> I don't think they're that expensive.
>> No, I don't think they are. They're for sure not. And I think I would think about that strategically for like programming. And I was thinking about it less about the survey, though that's a fair point, too. Um, I also think we struggle like we sent this out right around the holidays, right? Like the
year was sort of ending. So, I think some of it is just thinking again about our timing and being strategic about it. I really feel like there is a nice window right after summer camp, frankly. Like people are people people are outside. They're using parks. They've just been >> Now you have it. I mean, we could pull
the trigger on it in >> Yeah. >> September. Yes. >> Whenever >> to just set up earlier and I again, I feel like over the course of this year, maybe we have some um you know, we narrow in on questions and areas that we really want to focus on. This was like a
really good broad survey. And so I think this year it's just an opportunity to think about, okay, what are the narrower questions we want to do? Um, I would have loved to be better about getting it in every townwide email. We got it in a few. Yeah. Um, and >> again, I think we were like, let's
extend the window because we wanted to get more responses. So I think a lot of it was timing driven to be honest. And I think if we were more >> strategic about like this is the window we're opening, we're keeping it open to November one if we start in September. um you know use the school channel which
I think helped a lot. We can think again about our sort of individual networks and really pushing those. There's also um I think it goes out with the tax bill, but there's actual a snail mail that we send out, right? So, I think that adding that um I forget when it's done, but
>> yeah. um adding the the opportunity to answer the survey to everyone that be really helpful because my my goal is to be able to um >> because so often I I report back to the TC, you know, which whatever it is, splash pads or
>> any other projects in the world or any ground swell or any support for it >> and I've got you all supporting it, but I don't have anyone Yeah. >> to say, you know. >> Yeah. >> Be nice to have that >> for sure. Um again I feel like this was
it was our first fora and kind of exercise with the whole thing. Um you know even understanding too that like the TC wanted to see it and sort of look through that right that is all >> it's all data that I feel like will help us improve the next time around. I agree like 100 is
>> it's nice people did it. I think the responses were really thorough which I appreciated. So, I do think it's it's you made this point, Mike, and I'm going to steal your line, but it's like 100 more responses than we had previously, which helps. Um, but it's, you know, kind of scratching the surface on what we really should be getting.
>> Could you uh send all this to me so I can I'll share with the TC? >> Yeah, of course. >> When I report back on Monday, I'll let them know about this. >> Alan, do we have a count on It's 100 responses, which ideally should be 100 households, unless we had some duplicates. >> Yeah. Um, do we have we did ask how many
people we're in the households. Do we have a count uh in front of us right now of how many people those 101 responses represent? Like do we have Okay. Well, seven people said that they were a household of four. Eight people said they were household
five. >> No, we do not. I think we had taken out any like identifying questions that might have helped us like narrow. >> Right. We just were asking about do you have somebody in this age bracket? not the number to your point >> Google forms was not as
>> yes not as um >> functional as we would have hoped >> correct yeah it wouldn't let you do like the multiple choice and writeins so that was just kind of a nuance you know I to be honest with you I had a hard time reading the data I was like okay so this
person is saying they've got two people under the age of 10 and it it was it's like not the most digestible way to receive information so I would love to reframe that and even think about again like maybe narrowing those age ranges a
little bit like 11 to 21 is a pretty big age range that we used. So um again I think it depends on the topics and the areas we're looking to probe but we could probably adjust the questions um to like to meet those needs and and really target those demographics. The
other area, and I mentioned this earlier, was seniors. And so I feel like we could be more thoughtful about like how that's gets pushed out to them. And um this was done primarily via link if that's like the snail mail option might be better. Um
>> well, I was thinking even tying it to like elections. Our senior population tends to be very civic-minded. So having something even if it's just signage at our election post like here downstairs that says we have these surveys or having surveys available or some option
there just because that's going to be more than necessarily >> a QR code. Yes. >> That they're going to see like in online somewhere. >> Yeah. Yeah. Or and feel compelled to actually do >> right. Somewhere that's going to be a little more and again like at the library or something like that that's a little more physical.
>> Yeah. Thank you for doing this. I know it was a lot of heavy lifting and you made sure that everyone was involved and kind of got their feedback. So, I think this is great start for something that we could do annually. >> Yeah, >> I know we're we're not digesting the
feedback, but I just I kind of circle two things that maybe can we need to look out rather sooner rather than later. There's Ken. So, so, um, the spin wheel at Village
Park needs service and, um, the swing needs new straps is on page four of this. So, maybe we could do a >> that that spinning that we has >> Can you put your mic on? >> Oh, >> yeah, that thing has been serviced. It was It was greased. It has to be
greased. >> So, that that's great. And then I notice also um Milstone Park, someone um stated that it's unusable and installed incorrectly. So we might want to just look at that. This is >> We've We've looked at that. I think it's
it's more of the how it's like raised up. Yeah, that's it's not installed correctly. It's just higher. So >> the other just in the vein of programming and the things that we can
influence or at least like really push forward this year without a ton of budget ask and things like that. Um, a lot of people said like more sport. I go to all these other towns for my sports leagues or clinics or lessons.
And I think they really want to do it in our community in Cranberry. And um I know those things aren't born overnight and we can't necessarily start all these leagues, but I think it would be worth thinking about if we could um start to do some of that maybe through the summer
camp and if we thought about like even enhancements on particular degrees and it's going to be the you know soccer clinic every Thursday for these partic this particular age range or whatever we can come up with. I know we talked about having a session to think about summer.
Um, but I feel like that would be very responsive to a lot of this even if we're not, you know, blowing through the gate right away. Um, >> yeah, with camp being only six weeks, there's a number of open
weeks. You know, we did the >> we did the field hockey camp this year. Last year >> too late. the coach, basketball coach wanted to do something >> so we could try to do that. We we've we
we cannot support here like a league. We could we could do clinics. >> Yeah. >> But but there we will never get enough kids to to be able to support our own our own league here. Yeah. >> But like you said, >> yeah, >> clinics for sure. Um, I can I can bring
back the multisports camp that we've run in the past. Um, and try to do that on some of those later weeks after after camp is is closed down, too. Yeah. And and reach out to the coaches at the school and yeah, and try to get them involved.
>> Um, that was a great connection with the field hockey coach um this past summer. So, um, I'll I'll I'll even ask them if if some of the other coaches would be interested. >> That'd be great. >> I mean, I mentioned that at the last one. I just feel like to hear what
you're saying is there's got to be more wreck >> in the parks and wreck. >> Yeah. >> discussion. Like, we have a lot of park discussion and you come up with that stuff every time, >> but I feel like our focus is like 80% park >> and like 20% wreck. And when you read this,
>> Yeah. Like there's a lot of whether they're the answers or the written answers, there's a lot of >> Yeah. >> young and old people commenting on things that like >> Yeah. >> just feels like something. There's got to be some stuff there. >> Yeah. >> And they could be theoretically fee
generating for the town potentially as well too. So it could be a win-win. It could help the trust fund >> and >> also be something people wanted to participate in. But you're right. It's tough because I know we're not going to suddenly get a giant league of
>> sports things going, but >> there's got to be something. >> Ken, for the um clinics that you're thinking about, are we allowed to use the school basketball court for example? >> Um if we did it well when they were still open. Yes.
>> And and we could maybe use the, you know, the half court in the back for that and still have camp going on. We could we could do it at the same week as a camp as our camp and or maybe have it in the afternoon afterwards. You know, >> there's some there's some things that
>> Do you think this year though with maybe the construction basically being over for all those big spots that maybe they'd have some of it? You know, I just still don't understand how they're filling an auditorium and two gyms for that week to get ready for school. There just there aren't even that many
kids in the school. So, I just I don't understand the reasoning behind we can't have somebody >> like the door is at the gym. >> We're not even asking them to like use the whole building. >> There's two bathrooms right there. >> It's like so self-contained. I just don't understand the concept of like we
can't have anybody in there for that week. It just feels like >> we can ask. >> Yeah. It just I mean I can understand before when they only had one gym and then the also the auditorium wasn't done but by the summer >> all those things should be settled >> and it feels like they should have
enough room to be able to >> Sorry. What's what's the ask? >> The ask was just having an extra week to be able to do an extra camp or an extra clinic or something in the by using the school facility. But >> potentially that last week I always the
seventh week. >> The seventh week of August basically. >> Yeah. The last week of August >> and our camp our camp ends >> our camp ends with two weeks left. >> Okay. >> And there's two dead weeks there. I know even my kids I've been like well we we definitely use it if we have an extra
>> Yeah. And this and this Labor Day is really late. It's the 7th of September. I don't know when the school's probably going to start. I would imagine before >> probably. um Labor Day >> and the after. >> Oh, right. Yeah.
>> And the the push back has been that they what >> there was something about that they need the facilities. >> Well, no, they Yeah, they they close down to prepare for the um upcoming school year. But a lot of times with the gym, they'll do the that coating on the
floor and it has to sit for a week or two before you guys are looking for just daytime sort of open. >> Yeah. Potentially to be able to use that space if it was for a basketball camp or or the camp
>> like it just could mean an extra week of camp which would also be extra revenue for the town. >> And is it um the the school I think ends June 19th. I don't know when camp starts. Is there like a >> Yeah, we a lot of our staff is in in a different
school district and they don't finish until the week after. So that's why we can do >> you know well we can do those a couple maybe sports camps that week in between so we can fill that with um with something.
>> Yeah. In the survey, people are also asking for like a night this like a night basketball in the school gym league or >> Yeah. I mean, we we used to have that. >> You don't have that anymore. >> What's that? No.
>> No, they we don't do that. >> People want it back, right? So, >> so we could set we could set something up where it's like an eightweek program and you pay ahead of time and if we know we get enough people, uh, then we can do it. Yeah. I mean, we used to have like a
open volleyball, too, when I first started here and and the participation for >> we had we had like a we had a volunteer who was participating every week. They'd go and help set up and they would >> Yeah. Is it worthwhile
uh looking back at records or even Ken just jogging your memory and thinking about what activities and events that we used to have and maybe even think about why they kind of trailed off >> well worth a lot of times it's the
person who was running it either either got too old to do it and left town or the participation from the group itself you know >> to the point demographic changes, people age out, but then >> to your point, I mean, if
>> people who are becoming middle-aged want to still do that, they probably don't know about it, but if they knew about it, maybe they would do it. So, >> and something that, you know, it worked in the town, it's feasible in the town. So, it is something that we could possibly potentially resurrect, >> right? It could be something start with
asking for volunteers around certain are people willing to volunteer to be a >> basketball person or a volleyball like >> nobody know >> right
>> all right this gives this is a lot of good stuff and a lot to think about um I would suggest that we um do some of that thinking look over some more more finely some of these results or
answers. And not just the responses, but think about how many of these responses are uh feasible or how many of these respon or what responses are like deeply firmly held or like just a thought that pops in and out
of the head because that that'll matter when it comes time to pay for things. >> I see a lot of people want to bring the pool back. I mean, I that's that sounds great, but I don't think we can do that. >> A lot of people want kayaks. >> We're seeing that, too. Yeah.
>> Wait till you see the survey. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Um, there's a lot of water related stuff, quite honestly. just add one thing before I forget because I will forget when when you guys hopefully uh
repeat the survey maybe in early fall. One thing I forgot to add, I should have added before, but you know what the Cranberry Chronicle, it's like a monthly Yeah, it's a monthly newspaper. It's put out by um >> Four Seasons. >> Yeah, Four Seasons. Thank you. Yeah, put out by four seasons, but it it has a a
massive reach amongst the seniors. >> Okay. >> Advertising is free to nominal. >> Um, so that would be a really good place to >> Okay. >> Sorry, I just want to get that on the record. >> All right. Um,
looping that in with the other two items here, we've got rules and regulations for the parks, park, and field use application. I left the ozone here as old business. I don't have anything new today to discuss except in the context of the community interest survey. Um,
but I do want to come back next month with ideas on how we might adjust the rules and regulations to better fit the community and as informed by um the community
interest survey. Um, I don't know what to make of the fact that we've gotten all the like we had what was it a like a a medium small number of people
interested in extending the park hours, but then we it seems like we had a lot of people interested in lighting, which it doesn't necessarily >> sync up. I think what they're just thinking though, a lot of them says like I think they're talking about like lighted courts or something like that for example. It seems like you know like
a lighted tennis courted. They're they're not literally saying necessarily the entire park system. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. But I mean if the park is closed at dusk why would you buy >> I just don't think they're connecting that dot and >> oh walking trails too. They want >> Yeah. Walking trail or something like that. But they're not thinking that to
do that necessarily the park has to be open. They're just thinking I'd like a trail to walk down and it be lit. So, I think >> I don't know what I don't know what people think it means to close a park if Do they think you can close the park and you can still use it? That's not >> It's Yeah, you get wonky stuff in
>> Well, I've I've certainly been guilty of >> answering one question completely inconsistent with the last question I answered on a survey. Um, so I would like to do that and um I think we we want to talk about this again obviously.
Um, is everyone good with that? What what else how else uh do the members feel like we want to incorporate this into our work either today or at our upcoming meetings next month or following? >> I mean, I thought the investment stuff was nice to see that there's very little
like it's all the stuff we're kind of talking about around bathrooms and playground upgrades and splash pads and lighting. Like, it's pretty much in line with where we said. and even that the bathroom was probably a priority thing.
60% of the people said that, right? That's a pretty high. I know it's only 100 something people, but it's a high percentage of those. When you start getting into 60 70% ranges for even 100 people, that means it's a pretty statistically significant >> number for people to be interested in
something. So, >> I think that's uh that's good. But I mean, also that the satisfaction with the park is so high is >> great to see. Yeah. Right. because people are generally pretty grumpy on surveys. >> Yeah. >> So, >> it's good to see that the the overall
and and these are people with if you look at weekly and daily, it's like almost 60% of the respondents are using them really frequently. Those are usually, you know, grumpy. >> I use them a lot. This is broken. That's not right. So, like it's good to see that you get a lot of people using them
and >> such a high satisfaction thing. Yeah. >> But I think what Fallon said about the wreck thing is was the biggest takeaway for me. It's just over and over again. >> Yeah. >> People wanting more recreation activity. Like the park facilities seem like they're pretty good with some investment,
>> but there's a very obvious gap. >> Yes. >> Around recreation. >> Yeah. I think it's like that juxosition, right? People seem really happy with the parks and the percentage is there and then they're like not that satisfied with the programming, right? And so I I just feel like that's like the biggest
green field for us to think about across the different cohorts and what we could offer or deliver. What's you know lowhanging fruit like the summer camp? How do we incorporate sort of little programming enhancements into something that already exists? And then are there you know opportunities to bring things
back that people would really enjoy? Um, yeah, I can think just in the 10 years that I've lived here, the noticeable difference in the recreational activities just for specifically younger children because that's what I had at the time that were available and none of that's available, right,
>> at all anymore. And it kind of just each one kind of drops off individually. You don't recognize till you look back in Oakland. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Those were the days. >> Yeah. I also I you know it's worth saying too we're a young family who moved here, right? We have another young family who
moved onto our block. This is like speaking from a very narrow perspective. Um but you want to keep those people happy, right? Like that's that is the future of Cranberry. We want to raise our kids here. We want to be here for a long time. And I think to the extent that some of these ideas actually really
meet the needs of those residents, >> right, >> that's an important part of Cranberry. Um, so that'll be my last. >> It might it might be interesting too to see if there's anybody from whether the Dr. Dizzle or somebody like would come in and from a school perspective too
because they've got to hear >> about that quite a bit. Like why can't the school offer this? Why can't we do this? Like they probably have a lot of >> feedback about wreck >> type at least for the young >> Yeah. >> portion of it. >> Yeah. >> That they would have some feedback for
that. So it might be interesting to >> interview them or something. just thinking, like I said, I feel it just should be a an ongoing agenda item to >> Yeah. >> You know, we do our hours in the park. >> We should be thinking about >> rec. >> I mean, the that's the other part of it,
too. We we had like a a wave of of different population you get. Like I remember just a few years ago there was like two kindergarten classes. There was like none. >> Yeah. I mean, so for us to run a program, try to run a program at that
age group, it was almost impossible because almost every kid would have to sign up. Now that I think it's shifting a little bit and maybe coming back around, >> then we got to look to readress that and and try to start programming again for that
>> for that age group. Um, so because I remember it was weird. It was like there was a ton of seventh and eighth graders and there was hardly any any kindergarteners. >> Yeah. >> And and it and they've gone through the the system now a little bit. So, um
>> Yeah. So, that's a that's another um point. So, if we we tried running things and we didn't get them and we have to keeping the the the place that >> we work with that's running them is not gonna want to keep doing it. Yeah. You know, we tried we were doing b we tried
basketball a winter basketball program for three years in a row and we couldn't get enough kids to run it. >> So, we stop we had to stop because, >> you know, we we spent a lot of >> uh we advertised it, we we reserved the
gym and then we had to cancel the gym and then we took money in and had to refund it. So, you know, there's there's all those things to think about, but look, we can I think it's time from what we're seeing to
>> readress those and and bring them back. Um, if I could uh offer a suggestion and I'm happy to be a liaison, but maybe um it sounds like the time has come for like you guys have a conversation with maybe the the principal or the assistant
principal um to to touch on some of these issues and to actually have open lines communication. I mean I could sort of somebody wants to volunteer. >> Yeah. I mean because I I think that what you said about young families I think we >> Yeah.
>> Um you know at least at the TC we hear from the same people over and over again but there's a huge cohort of people that move into town. >> They don't think they can actually just come talk to us and ask us about these services and what can be done. So um and I think that the the school is the best
place to reach out to them, right? Because they interacting with them at a very intimate basis. So uh yeah, be happy to I can send an email and include you include Ken and then sort of start that conversation. >> Okay. >> I think we should try doing the same
thing with CPNS >> because like there in the survey it's like a lot of um people before they get to school. >> Yeah. those families that don't have anyone at the school, they wouldn't like be represented in there, but they might be in like the 2-year-old program or the
Yeah, >> the exercise that we did uh late 24, I have that handy. It's in my file here, but we had a a set of ideas which had programming suggestions by age group. We
can go back there to your suggestion. I mean, like, you know, you need to have somewhere to start. Um, I think there is a there is a start. I'll I'll circulate this back up for everybody to take a look at. Um, for instance, for the, you know, for the grown-ups, I think we had
we had a bunch of leagues that were called out. Um, just read it out very quickly. I think we said uh pickle ball league, there was a tennis league, movies in the park. We said that that might be programming that's easy. Uh there was winter sport
facility/programming which I think has kind of like shown up here. Volleyball uh a seasonal 5k or a 10k trivia night. So there there was a bunch of things that was that and then the same thing we had for each age group. So if we kind of want to use that that can be an
actionable sort of starter kit for like w programming. >> All right. I think we should um I do want to be conscious of the time. Um, I think we we need to uh obviously continue talking about this at our our next meeting. Um, I'm additionally dig
more into some of uh the finer points of these details. Um, I don't know how what form that will take yet because I I still have to uh look into the finer points of some of these details. But um I would be interested to hear from all of you
between now and the time I have to set the agenda on what we should zero in on. Should we have another general conversation? Should we focus on a few particular points? Um but I think that um we're we're going to want to keep going here. Um
is every does everyone else have anything to add before we move on? Um, I would like to recognize uh the love for the fairy garden on the outskirts of Heritage Park as a bucket list item and mention that this is Sally
O'Grady's yard that she maintains. And I don't know how long you've been doing it, but my children have loved it every year that we have lived that we've lived here. So, thank you. >> Thank you. And I was just going to >> I can write this to somebody else who loves it just as much as us. >> It's really special. I was just going to
thank uh Fallon and Michael and whoever else is involved in the survey. It was a lot of work and I really appreciate the effort and time. Thank you. >> All right. Uh so let's uh not let that effort go to waste and come back to it
uh again uh next month and do it again this later this year or next year. Um village park entrance signage. No update to report there. Uh let's move on to new business. We have a agenda here 1713
East Jersey Cottage signage at Millstone Park. We have um some stuff here. Did you want to report on that, Kelly? >> Karen Kelly is here and she's knows everything about it. So, >> please come on if you will. If you want
to. >> Don't let me tell you what to do. She could speak on this. Yes, we got the um we have we had an email um correspondent. Can you put um the mic on? >> We can all hear you, but just for um the recording for the record.
>> So, let me just open it up. We have um who is it that got the grant? The township. Uh the historic >> represent the Cranberry Historical and Preservation Society. >> Yeah. And we were awarded a grant from the county um
>> for for signage to know >> for signage. Well, we chose that to use the grant money for signage to identify the 1713 East Jersey Cottage. Um actually I have the word uh language
here if you want to put that in the minutes from the county. Its grant funding has been provided by the Middle Sex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middle Sex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
So, we were awarded $5,000. Um, and this is involved uh with 250th anniversary of the American Revolution projects. So, we're using money with your support and the
approval of the township to erect a sign. Uh, we'll have a dedication ceremony on May 17th. There'll be a lecture at the time after the ceremony by Dr. um
David I'm blanking out on his name now. I'll I'll think of it in a minute. and we'll have some music at that time and possibly hopefully Cranberry Business Association will be able to wrap around
um that dedication ceremony, the colonial fam fair which we had two years ago. However, I'm here about the sign and we need your support. We want to identify the cottage. We want to explain
the background, the historical background of the cottage on this sign and um talk a little bit about its construction. So, we're asking to erect a sign that would be consistent in size and design
uh to two other signs in town. one being in the barn park in front of the parsonage barn and the second sign in front of the Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center on Main Street.
It's a cast aluminum sign with a black background. Uh the lettering is exposed so it appears to be silver in color. And um I don't know question.
>> So this is um not well this not a question but so it's like um well this is it. It's in your email for those >> who um forgot what the email image looked like for a minute um like I did. So it's um the
black sign with a single uh support pole in the ground. >> Yes. And I'm gonna see I would like a a black pole to support it >> if we can arrange that. I'm working with a West Patter pattern works company
uh right now. I've been talking to them >> and um the email we that Kelly sent the members mentioned um installation we
obviously on this body don't don't work for the town we can't do that um uh DPW doesn't work for us so we uh can't tell them what to do were you looking for something like that from the town for
assistance with that? >> Uh, yes. So, I guess I would have to approach the township. It would be great if they could support us. >> Yeah, I um I think so. Um because yeah, we I we don't we I I think
this it's great and we should have a sign. Um, but I uh I'm not I'm not sure exactly who to point you to for uh other than DPW to ask uh about that such a matter. >> Okay.
>> And this and this guy here. >> Sure. Uh yeah. So on Monday, I'll be happy to bring this up >> at the TC meeting um and see that uh DPW can help install the sign because it shouldn't be that. >> I would appreciate it.
>> Yeah, I think that's fine. Um, I just have a quick question if I may. >> So, we're talking about a sign at the 1713 house. Yes. And then two additional signs. >> No, I was using the other two signs that Okay. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I think
that um >> I can't speak for the TC, but I think that it'll be looked upon favorably. So, but >> thank you. >> I will uh bring it up Monday. Do any of the members uh have any questions um or concerns or uh comments on this uh
matter? >> Uh no, but um do we need to make a motion? Can I make a motion to approve the um sign that they're asking to put in Milstone Park? >> I just want to see if there's any more discussion first. Um,
well then, um, I think yes, you can. >> Okay. I'd like to make a motion to approve the sign that's being asked for in Milstone Park. >> I'll second it.
>> All right. Uh, can we get a roll call for that? >> Christina, >> yes. >> Brendan, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Ellie, >> yes. >> Omar, >> yes. >> Sally, >> yes. >> TP, >> yes.
>> Ellie, yes. And Michael, >> yes. >> All right. I um Let's see. So you'll do we need to like talk to the TC about this in particular or are you
going to take that? >> Uh I know at least two members are in favor so I'm in favor. So but I will u we have our meeting on Monday so I I'll bring it up. >> All right. Excellent. Um >> the only question I have is exact location. That will be decided at a later date.
>> Uh yes. Although we talked about it. Um, of course we want it in the front but possibly set aside a little bit so when we take photos of the building it's not in the way or you could have it inside. >> Oh yeah.
>> So yeah. So just a little off center from the house but we'll we'll still have a lot of discussion about that. I am uh working with Steve Galisano and um also with Dr. John Chambers on
the text. We're all collaborating together. So, a lot of time has been put in so far, but a lot more has to be done. >> When was the date of installation? >> Um, well, we would love it to be in
place by May 17th. So, the installation would be backed up a few weeks from that. And I have to make sure less pattern. They say this is plenty of time, but some >> so the installation may be sometime
before like the installation cere or dedication ceremony or what have >> say the by the end of April. >> Um and can you just um keep us in the loop on not necessarily like you know dayby-day updates but the final version
of the text that uh you're proposing. >> Oh sure. Not necessarily for us to like give you a thumbs down just to um by way of information. >> Yes. Okay. Sure. >> And I do on this sign we do have to mention about the funding and the county
people who are responsible. That's important. >> Well, we won't insist that you mention us. >> Um >> I don't have the text right now. I know the township will >> insist on it.
We're just >> No, please don't do that. >> We're restricted in word count and I don't know if we can get parks and recreation committee also. >> We might insist. We might have to insist that you don't mention us. >> Okay.
It's like you drive over like some like bridge over a stream and like there's a dedication plaque with like every member of the board of county commissioners who was like there when they they were broke round on it as if like it was a personal project that they were all involved in
>> like the one in Memorial Park. Uh I just want to thank you for your efforts. >> Thank you. >> You did you did great. Thank you for for following through and for coming and and >> thank you. It's pleasant when everything goes in place and works out, right? >> Very rare. >> Doesn't have to.
>> I would just ask is there any interest um >> short not interest? Yeah, interest not a plan, but is there any interest or thought medium long term of like I don't know like a path or
something from the uh parking lot up to the cottage? Um >> I'm just curious. >> Not really because number one we know you know the township that's township property. So
>> um and also we're so focused on moving along on the project that no we haven't really talked we're still walking on the rain garden >> uh behind the building but nothing about paths. No we haven't talked about that but that's a nice idea.
>> All right. Um, >> and we're always looking for volunteers. >> And you live close. >> I I live closer than anybody to that. >> I walk by your house every day and think, "Oh, Brendan would be a good person to work on this project."
>> My window's in the back. >> Oh, >> but I did shovel the sidewalk in front of my house. Um, which we didn't manage to get done. Um, all right. I think that wraps it for that agenda item. Thank you. Okay, thank you. I appreciate your support.
>> Um, chest table shading. Who had an update on that? Was that you as well? >> Also circulated a detailed update about every kind of tree and who has a one tree in their budget? >> Um, it was right after I sent this other very long email. It was on January 9th.
So, I was just gathering some information about tree funding. Um I don't know what there is for us to discuss or decide on this other than to
be aware of it until you know we have until I can get some answers from Shaitri until Shaitri and us can both get some answers from the town on what it's budgeted for in terms of trees. Well, my takeaway is I think that we as
a body were wanting trees to shade the chest tables and that's not something that we do as parks and wreck and it would be shade tree but we didn't ask shade tree to get trees. So there's no
tree um moving that no one has a tree request. Maybe it's too late or maybe it's not >> well for the year. You mean? >> Yeah. >> I mean, they have they have other priorities. I think that they're looking to to spend money on in terms of trees
before they they move to that. >> I thought that the the library their last position was they wanted to wait, right? The >> the chest tables are so far from the library, >> but still there.
>> I know. But the if I recall we discussed it and they basically said why don't we wait until because when when were they installed right side up >> was it >> I not that long I not remember it was
this year like 2025 like >> okay so it' be a year this spring >> yeah yeah >> so I don't know that's just my understanding so >> yeah Um >> well I think the the the point is if we
want trees by those tables weren't we have to ask shade tree and it probably won't be now it would be this time next year. >> Yeah. Um I will put that on my list of things to talk. >> What about Arbor Day? When the children
in town plant a tree somewhere? Can we ask them to plant one there? It's very tiny. >> It's like this. >> It's so tiny. >> Well, >> they grow >> still growing in our backyard. My daughter, we call it the odd tree. And she brought it home this day and it is
literally like taller than me now. I love it. >> And I have a pine tree in my fairy garden, the biggest pine tree, which is one that my daughter brought home and one of my kids brought home in fourth grade. The biggest biggest tree there. >> Yeah. I mean, that that's what's going to have to happen. We're not going to be
able to to plant a full grown shade tree. Um I don't know enough about trees, guys. >> They grow at different rates. >> So, is this something we can also give
to Ken to ask for in our budget since shade it's too late for shade tree? It's EC's not concerned about it. >> It's not our perview though for trees I think is what we're saying. I think you say you ask shade tree to keep it on
their list of of shade of trees that they ask for. >> And I think the bigger issue is probably less actual tree. But then >> can you >> um I think the bigger issue is the more planting the actual trees than the ongoing maintenance. The first year that you plant a tree requires so much
frequent watering. So, it's that investment and in labor and time and cost. >> I personally speaking just for myself am not hot on the idea of shade trees for the chest tables. I I mean I wonder
how many people are even going to use the tables. >> They won't if it's 100°. >> Well, that's what I was going to say is like if you build it >> I mean I worry they won't 72 degrees. and sunny, not raining. Beautiful.
Also, I worry for shade tree. Like, the shade moves and chest takes a long time. >> Like, people aren't going to be in the shade consistently. >> Are they that discerning about where they plant? I don't know enough about shade tree, but like it sounds like we
need a tree. We need shade. >> Yeah. >> A couple. >> Yeah. doesn't seem like >> there's not a lot of risk from I don't know, right? Like whether you use them or not, at least they're shaded and people could use them if they wanted to.
>> You guys are being way too reasonable. >> Yeah, I know. I just too long. >> Will people feel strongly about this? I'm like, >> right, I vote once we're done with this discussion, I vote that we take a vote on at least asking them, right? >> Like the response is you guys never
asked us, >> right? So, this is just us being like, "What about a tree?" But we've never asked people that are tree procurers. Yeah. >> They're also looking for volunteer waterers. >> So, if anyone wants to be part of that, >> right? >> I volunteer to water the baskets on the
bridge every summer. >> Oh, that's nice. >> All right. I'm happy to um talk to Shri about this. I >> just simply don't think that they're going to >> I feel like I hate >> see this as a priority.
>> I know, but who cares? >> Well, I'll do it. >> Say it in a positive way. >> You're the most negative and you're like I'm going to be the guy. >> I'm just managing expectations with that attitude. >> But I guess it's the issue is it would
be why wouldn't we? Like I keep getting back like you said like if it's two trees and we want more shade and they're the shade tree commission like >> shouldn't they seems or if they came back and said well we can't financially we just don't have those trees you'd have to find somebody to donate them.
Okay. Well then that's the next step is figuring out how we come up with a few hundred dollars to donate two small trees. >> You know what I'm going to Should we invite Kathy East to come speak to us next month? >> I don't think this requires an invite. I'm going to take this on because I'm the tree per
>> you do have a lot of information on trees. >> Yeah. I'm going to email them and say, "Hello, could you put some trees?" And then the library will probably say, "Absolutely not. Why are you buying? >> Why are you being so negative? You have to be more positive." >> That would be a problem.
The biggest the biggest complaints about those chess tables are that there's no shade. >> Yeah. >> So, if we want them used, >> we should look into that. >> I mean, even if they're not used as chess tables, just tables. I walk by them I don't know how many times and like there's no way you can sit there.
It's like >> you're baking in that thing. So, no one's going to use them for chess tables or a lunch table. I just like them to be used as something and there's no way they're going to be used without some sort of shade there. Whether that's this
year or whether we need to wait three years for the tree to get bigger. Um I feel like if we if it comes down to a money thing, we could figure out some organization or something that's willing to donate a few hundred dollars for a couple of trees.
>> For sure. >> Yeah. >> All right. Like I'll I'll donate it from the business. That's not a big deal. >> Thank you for taking that on, >> Kelly. >> Guys, there might be groves of trees by the time I'm done with this. There will
be so much shade people cutting down. >> It's going to be a forest. >> Why is this Can't even see the parking lot. >> All right, folks. Are we ready to move on to action items?
>> All right. Uh, moving on to action items. I have that I'll attend the EC meeting um next month and in March as well. I have we're all going to review the survey um details and think about them uh with an eye toward uh discussing
them again at the meeting next month. Uh um Kelly is going to plant a tree or something. >> This is why you're not >> Kelly is going to talk to Sha tree committee.
Um what else did I have? I didn't write anything else in my paper. Thank you. >> No, you said you were doing something else. I I do remember that. What was it? >> In the beginning, I I am asked to be
excused from the next two meetings for my absence from the state. >> You know what, S? You've earned it. >> Since I joined Since I joined this group in 2019, you've missed one meeting. So, >> and that was for the birth of the baby. Now, I'm going to take care of her for
two months. I will watch you on uh >> YouTube, so be be uh be good. >> All right. >> Um, >> no, you definitely had another item. >> I'll watch the video even though I hate
watching on video. >> You said you were going to talk to them or something. >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Well, we can always go back to the tape >> if she had her mic on when she talked about it.
All right. Um, is everyone anyone else have action items? I I don't have anything else. >> I just had a question because I don't I mean, this is my first flip of the calendar here. Do we ever have like a goals kind of discussion like not these
tactical things like higher level like increase rec participation or whatever like whatever it is >> I think >> it just >> that >> we we have had those conversations and I think that we should agenda that
>> I can agenda that for next month >> um especially with the the community interest survey to review >> it just because you went with through the accomplishments at the end of the year. It' be nice to tie those back to, you know, thoughtful goals that we had at the beginning. >> I didn't want to set goals on the agenda
before this month before we had our >> sort of guideposts for what our goals should be. >> But I think that would be a good um agenda item for next time. >> Uh Brandon, if I may just add something. So, I'm gonna I'm gonna email Katie and
be uh principal and vice principal at CC Ken about a discussion of expanding wreck opportunities and working with the school to outreach to parents to let them know of potential wreck opportunities and what past ones were.
So, >> yeah, I mean, one of the things they still allow us to do is do flyers through the schools. We don't we don't do them very often, but you know, in in West Windsor, they don't let us do that anymore. And that that to me is a key
way of getting into, you know, getting information into the hands of the parents. And as we were talking about the this um the survey, I was like, man, I'm like, why didn't I even think of that? We should have done a flyer that had a link to it in through
the schools. >> We did. you guys did. >> Yes. >> I think we did the >> Yes. >> the ebl. But was it a eblast kind of thing or was >> No. >> So we we could actually we we actually
do physical hand paper flyers. >> So I actually I didn't my kids don't go to cranberry school so I didn't know about that. I think we used it for the seniors. We had we did use the flyer for posting for people to like put up their phone and have the QR code and have
access. Um I didn't know about like >> preferred copy distribution avenues, but it's a good point. A couple people did say flyers. It was a minimal number, but they did say like these things like that. >> And speaking for myself, that's how they land on my kitchen table and I find them on a Saturday. So,
>> but so one of the things I'm going to do is I'm going to check the um existing facility use right now at the Cranberry School gym to see what kind of availability there is. I know Cranberry Soccer Club has like at least two nights
a week I think in the gyms that they're using, but we would get priority over them if we put it in before they did. So, uh and they only do that through the winter. So in the springtime we should be a there should be some availability and and you know something that
>> we could we could try to do something you know as early as next month if we wanted to try to do something to as far as a sports program or a clinic or something like that. So >> that's that's on my list of things.
>> I just have one last thing. So the budget meeting is on February 1st. I know Ken will be there. I will be there. Um, if I could just get like a a blurb maybe from you, Sally, regarding the gazebo, sort of how, why, what
>> I'm going away. >> I know, but you you have a computer. You mean like a written? >> Yeah, >> I think Christine is the one for that. >> I'm I'm happy to represent, but I'm not as well verssed in the reasoning and, you know, the benefits.
>> And Christina did did come up with that. You had a whole presentation on it about um how it would be good for the teens and you know, people to hang out and um I I don't have it in front of me. I didn't bring it, but you had that with pictures and everything. So, Oh, yeah. That's right. Sorry.
>> Yeah. >> Can you just give me like an executive summary and I'll >> see I told you. >> All right. So, that is another action item. Also, I had I'm going to email the TC with the accomplishments that I was neglected to and do and also neglected
to remember that I forgot to do last month. Um, all right. Anything else for action items or anything else? >> Well, I'm just curious. Did you put together our goals and objectives for this coming year and our accomplishments from last year? >> We discussed it last month, I believe. I
didn't like print it out and like circulate it before the meeting though. >> Okay. It would be good to see that. >> All right. I will um see what I have and um >> do you want me to present that at some point? >> The CC?
>> I think so. Yeah. >> Okay. Give it to me. I Okay, I will >> and I'll I'll I'll uh copy the rest of you all. >> I think if I'm >> I had I have one other just item just so you know. We have a we have a seven
member board and two alternates, right? Because we were doing roll call for everybody. If everybody is here, the alternates do not vote. So, whoever I'm not sure who the alternates are. Okay. So technically during during the meeting
if every full member is here you guys do not have a you have a voice but you do not have a vote just so you know. All right but most likely more than at least one member of the of the commission is not here which is this is a great thing
that everybody's here tonight but a lot of times one member won't be here. So >> Oh yeah. In in last um month's minutes it said that Mr. Mr. Hansen reported that he will email the commission's accomplishments and goals to the township committee.
>> Right. Yeah. I didn't do that. >> Okay. So, if you could do that and also send them to us, I think that would be great to see so we could review. >> You got it. All right. Let us move on to public comment. Um, and open up public
comment for anyone wishing to comment, but there's nobody here. So, I'm going to close public comment and I will accept a motion and a second for the motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. I'll second that.
>> All right. Thank you everybody. We are adjourned.