Hello everyone. Today is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. We're here in Cranberry for a meeting of the Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation Commission. Let us begin to with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh, can we have a reading of our statement of adequate notice, please? 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. >> Thank you. Uh, can we have a roll call
for attendance and report of our volunteer hours? >> Uh, Christina is excused. Brendan, >> present. Uh, three hours. >> Okay. Katie >> present two hours. >> Kelly >> present one hour.
>> Uh Omar >> present one hour. >> Okay. Sally present zero hours. Okay. Deepox is excused. Fallon >> present one hour. >> And Michael's not here. Okay.
>> All right. You have before you um the minutes. um you have before you the minutes if you've had a chance to review them and um does anyone need further chance to review them or have any corrections? If not, um I will entertain a motion and a
second to adopt the minutes. I know there are some email double uh two authentic two- factor authentication issues that somebody some of us may have uh had trouble looking at the email draft minutes. So take your time if you need to take a look at them
now. Are we ready? >> Yeah, I'll entertain a motion when any if anybody's whenever we're ready. >> I'll make a motion. >> All right, we've got a motion from Kelly. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you.
>> Roll call, please. >> Brandon, >> yes. Katie, >> yes. >> Kelly, >> yes. >> Omar, >> abstain. >> Sally, abstain.
>> Not here. Fallon >> also abstain. >> All right, that's three yeses and three abstains. >> I think that's sufficient. I'm not sure, but either way, there's nothing to be done about it right now. All right, uh, moving on to our reports. Um, we don't
have our recreation director here today. He is absent and excused, but um, I have a brief reports from him. Although I don't have any but what I'm going to say. I don't have if there's questions I cannot answer them. Uh, it I've got here, this is from
an email from yesterday. Water filling stations will be installed next week. Plumber will be working on Monday and Tuesday. Camp registration has begun. We have done a few counselor interviews and have completed the uh bus bids. Tickle uh tennis pickle ball tickle tennis pickle
ball courts are almost done and should be open very soon. And we are still working or Ken is still working to and the rec department still working with school to add camps looking and looking to have that uh field hockey and soccer um if possible. Again I that's all I
have. I don't have any answers. Uh if there are any questions um having said that are there any pressing questions or or matters of concern that would we would benefit from talking about now or not? All right, I like it. Um
Omar, can you turn your mic off just for sound stuff, whatever? I we I know we can all hear each other in here very well, but on the recording stuff like that does make a difference. And also when you don't use your mic, it's not picked up. and I have decided in the last month that I'm going to be extremely pinickity about it so we all make a habit so that when we look back
at these recordings or if one of us is absent and wants to uh watch we can all hear every everything instead of just most of us. Um if I can remember and be bold enough to uh constantly complain at all you who don't use your mics every time.
>> To your point uh the last meeting I reviewed uh online and it was very good. Could hear everybody. So >> yeah, you guys you guys do pretty well. Hi. Um, >> I heard it in California. >> Yeah. >> Hi, welcome. >> Oh, good. Good. >> Yes. Welcome indeed. Um, parks preserve
updates. Does anyone have any matters to report? Saw >> um my son went through a village today and he said that there's two doors apparently to the tennis pickle ball court and and the main one was locked
but the other one was unlocked. So, um, he said the tennis nets are up, but not the pickle ball nets. So, I'm not sure whether that means people can go in it or it's not ready yet and it was unlocked inadvertently or also I've had
um several communications from several members even when I was out of town about the condition of Cranberry Brook Preserve and Yunami that there apparently still a lot of trees down. I have not personally walked them,
but um I think that we need to ask DPW to go and and check that. I think there's still a lot of trees down from some apparently bad weather you had. >> I can confirm. I I walked Cranberry Book Preserve. Um this is maybe three weeks ago now. Um or
more possibly. No, less. Three weeks ago. Um, and there were um quite a bit of trees down and branches down and one path in particular was passable, but that stretching the use of the term. Um, and I me and my mother had
to like practically crawl through it. Um, it was you couldn't just walk through it and use your arms and move a branch. You it was like an obstacle course. And since um uh residents are no longer allowed to use their own tools in there, we need DPW to get on top of this
because I've had several um people come to me about it. >> Um any other reports uh for uh the our parks and preserves? Any updates? I have Go ahead, please.
So, it reminded me when you mentioned the cranberry preserve. I read something the other day on um the All About Cranberry Facebook group that I guess um the environmental commission is is also
kind of keeping tabs on the So I just wanted to confirm when it comes to who is everyone just reporting things to DPW and is that like official or are we like hitting them with too many? I don't want it to get to a point where like we're annoying them like they're
hearing like the same thing from like 10 different people. >> We don't have >> You guys, it's enough. I get it. I get it. A branches down. >> There's there's really no established official or even semiofficial channel of communication on this. Um,
DPW does not report to us on these matters and we don't give them instructions, but we and any person in town or any person in the world can feel free to uh flag to them that there are things that need to be taken care of. It's really up to them and to the
township administrator and the township committee how and when they handle it. Um, and we're of course free to express our views, but and try to get them to be as responsive as possible, but at the end of the day, they are I mean, they're here to serve the public and and they
do, but like they, you know, we don't we can't give them orders and instructions, but we can give them uh tips and alerts and such. >> That's I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something where they hear from >> Yeah. >> 50 people at a certain point. >> Yeah. I
>> um >> well see I don't I don't agree with that. I I think in order for them to get it done they need to hear from 50 people. >> I told the people that have said to me I said email the head of the EC and the DPW and Denise Marabella and let them know too.
>> Um and I think unless we let them know from many different angles they may not consider it important. >> Yeah. I just realized that there were other organizations doing it and I know they said they were utilizing
>> they said that they were utilizing everyone can hear um also the um Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. So I think one of the trails they said the the youngest Cub Scouts recently like just over the weekend or something cleared so something should have been taken care of
and we didn't even need to ask DPW DWP whatever the letters are. That's great for all the little stuff that's encroaching, but they can't use chainsaws for the stuff that's going across. That's what we need DPW for. >> Not unless you teach them early.
>> Early and often. >> Okay. Um I don't have Hold on. Um, I'm not sure where else to fit this on the agenda. So, I will flag here that
there is an Arbor Day celebration in town Friday, April 24th at the Crary School main entrance. Um, that Sha Tree is organizing uh Friday uh Friday, April 24th at 2
p.m. I think. I'm not sure I said the time, but I have now. So, that is something to keep an eye out for. We have no official role in that. You know, we don't have any work to do on it, but it is an event that we are interest that we might have an interest in and might be interested in individually attending.
Um, I have an invitation from the or not an invitation actually from the Cranberry Business Association that they are pleased to invite us to participate as a
vendor or or table haver at the 2026 Cranberry Colonial Fair. This is going to be Sunday, May 17, uh 10 am to 3 pm at Cranberry Millstone Park. It's jointly hosted by the Historical Preservation Society and the Cranberry Business Association. I actually got an
um invitation from Well, yeah, this is from Steve Elsano, who is a Cranberry Business Association member and a Cranberry Historic Preservation Society trustee. >> What were the times of that again? >> The time again is Sunday, May 17, 2026.
I think I spotted this maybe in one of the mayor's updates. I'm not sure. Um it's 10 to 3 Sunday, May 17 at Cranberry Milstone Park. And they will be doing a um besides the fair, it's going to have the historic plaque dedication for the
1713 East Jersey Cottage. There will be a lecture by Dr. David Martin, colonial music, and various activities. and food will be available on site from the Cranberry Inn and Market on Maine. They want to know if we are interested
by April 30th in um tableabling there. Um I'm certainly interested. I don't know if I can commit to it, but I'm certainly interested. What What do we think? I The only thing is I don't know what we can offer other than
ourselves and like knowledge about our our park. you know, we don't have like resources that people can use in the meantime. We could just be there. Um, >> I think the maps of the of the trail system is is always popular. >> Yeah. >> I mean, most people some people see that
on Cranberry Day, but some people don't. So, that would be one thing we could do. I don't I don't think we have anything for handouts or >> Yeah. >> give outs or anything. But >> I wonder also if it if it's not um just more productive if
one or several of us just go and like walk around instead of like sitting at a table with like one or two handouts. What do we think? We uh ought to uh make a decision because they
they did ask to know by April 30th and the event is May 17 which I believe is before our next meeting. Um, if we do end up having somebody that is able and willing to sit at a table, I mean, you can have information about rec camp, you can have information about any
of the um, like the historic baseball game I'm thinking of off the top of my head, but just some of the upcoming town events that are taking place in parks. >> Um, let me >> and even like a write in ballot box.
What are some activities you'd like to see? >> Okay. taking requests. >> It looks like I am free that Sunday, although I'm certainly not committing to sitting at that table for five hours consecutively by myself. So, >> is there um
just like let's do like a little show of hands. Do should is this worth our effort? Should we do it? >> Not is this not worth our effort? >> Feel like most people didn't vote. I >> I think I think could we possibly comi combine with EC like we do on cranberry day? >> I was thinking that too. We don't we
don't do anything on cranberry day which is a much bigger audience to spend our time at this very small audience by ourselves is um concerning to me. I mean >> all right so I will um I think is does
that sound good to everyone? I think that is a good idea. I'll reach out to EC and ask about that if they have decided to do it if we can horn in on it. And if they haven't decided to do it, I'll propose that we like sort of
staff a table jointly. All right. So, cross that off the list. Um, then I have another update and I think Matt may have something for this
here too. Um, an email uh from uh the director of the library about the planting of the trees along the pathway. uh and at the chess tables. Quote, I am definitely open to the idea. End quote.
Um and then do do we have like a proposal or design or something that they can share or more going forward? Um we don't have anything but like the bare skeleton of a proposal and design in terms of trees. I I talked to Kathy East at shade tree. Actually,
I should just move I should say that for the shade tree commission report. Um well, I can just do it now. They do I mean they don't have anything that they're able to do in the next few months that like it's not something they're saying no to, but they have other priorities already slotted for what they're doing with their time and
resources and money in terms of tree planting at least until the fall before they can start to consider doing it. Um Matt, do you have more on this or >> Yeah. Um, this is basically me taking
her idea, sending to the PC and fortuitously the director library was there. So, she's like, "Yeah, great idea." Um, so I would say you guys should, you know, take a look at the space and come up. And she also mentioned, I said in the email, but she was interested in landscaping and trees.
So, um, if you guys, uh, maybe go over there, take some photos and think about what you want to do eventually. I think >> wouldn't that really totally be shade tree? I mean, we don't have any a lot of expertise in planting trees.
>> Well, not the tree part, but you're pretty good at flowers last I checked. So, I mean, you could Yeah, whatever trees they want, but u I think like a design idea suggestion. >> I think Sally, you're the foremost landscape architect in town. >> Seriously,
>> with that with >> Don't sell yourself short. Okay, done. Done. >> Um, so I suppose this is encouraging news from the library. Um, although you know we need more than for them to be open to
it in order for it to happen. Um, does anyone I'm happy to reach out and see uh how much what we can do um what shared interest or or what have you opportunities there are. Um I'm happy to
reach out to Brooke Basista Basista >> Batista >> the library director. Um I'm also happy to hand that off to somebody else if they want to volunteer for it. But I'm happy to do it. So >> was it who suggest wasn't it Kelly? Was it you? >> Wait, what?
>> Callie's busy. I'll do it. >> Um, >> yeah. I wasn't listening to to the >> uh the reason I brought it up to the library director was somebody the last meeting I attended was like, "We need trees there." >> It was one of you >> was it? Okay, good.
>> I think I Okay. Yeah. Anyway, I will uh >> took a right turn from the chest table having trees. It it's meant it's meant to be trees for the chest table and the other landscaping is incidental. Okay. Um that's all we have for parks and preserve updates.
Um the >> just to to let Matt know that one of our main concerns at the beginning of this talk that was about the condition of the Yunami Woods in the Cranberry Book Preserve. There are a lot of trees down that need uh attention from DPW and we I
don't know whether we've let DPW do. I had several residents contact me about that. So, I'm not sure. >> Is that a DPW function or because like the Reinhardt trail, >> they need they need chainsawing and uh citizens are no longer allowed to
use their chainsaws on the on the public land. >> Why is that? >> Insurance. >> Yeah. >> Reasons. According to >> were citizens ever allowed to I just went twice today. We've said it's been currently >> they did they did >> they weren't disallowed.
>> Paul Paul Mullen and my husband used to go and chainsaw and when they found out about it um >> we we had to take a court they had to take a course in chainsawing which they were willing to do but then Paul resigned so that never happened. But so you know as I said my husband's very willing to go and cut these things off
but he's not allowed to. So DBW needs to do it. That that's all there is to it. And I don't know whether TC has any influence on that too. Um Katie was concerned that we're we're bombarding them from all different areas, but I think it needs doing.
>> So >> agreed. Um we can circle back to that a little bit in the TC report. Um for now, moving on to memorial benches. Um we don't have any new applications. We don't have any pending applications. We don't have any approved applications with than the benches yet to be
installed. um environmental commission report. Sally, did you attend the the meeting on Monday? >> Next Monday. >> This next Monday. Never mind. Um I did go to their meeting in um March that they had, no, February. And I took notes
and I don't have them with me. Um but the notes were uh mostly gerine to their work. They didn't really touch on anything that was particularly specific to our work. Um just like keeping informed kind of >> I probably can't go next Monday because my daughter's coming in from Germany. Um, is there any way you can go next
Monday too or anybody else? >> I'm happy to do it. >> Okay, thank you. >> Um, just make a note of that. Okay. Um, Sha Tree report. We I spoke to uh Kathy Eastston, the chair of Sha Tree today and she had a
report for me. Um she wanted to flag uh that Arbor Day event I already mentioned at the school on the 24th. Um Sha Tree is planting or replacing a uh what was a flowering dogwood with a multi- stem dog wood. This is at Village Park replacing
a tree planted two years ago that did not make it. Um what word is what did I write there? Heritage. Okay. at Heritage. They're planting an American Holly near the um Cody Foundation sculpture. Um that is I believe she said
also to replace a tree that's in poor health. And that is going to these trees are going to be watered by the contractor who's doing the planting for one year. So that should help them stand a good solid chance of uh enduring because there is a drought these days.
um which I didn't know, but Kathy Eastston said that there is and there there's some concern there. So, they're pleased to have that watering. Um and they're also keeping their eye on the memorial trees and heritage. Uh uh chest tables, we already covered
that. They're working on other projects right now. They have things in their pipeline and they're not saying no to uh chest tables, but that would be once they clear some of the stuff they already have on their deck. Um, she asked if we are any of us are aware of
any pruning needs in any of the parks to report that to uh shade tree to Kathy Eastston's email or or you can report it to me and I'll loop in shade tree um for the shrub planting at Millstone Park where that lion's plaque is the um where
it was once um a little bit of landscaping around that plaque now is they are they do have that on their agenda in their pipeline but Now is not a good time to plant these shrubs given the drought and it's also a little
bit too late into I gather the um the season of spring for for that to work. So that's maybe in the going to be in the fall for them. Um and then that is it. That's my report from Sha
Tree. Um like my report uh that Ken gave me, I don't have any answers to any questions you have. Everything I know, you know. Um having said that, are there any questions that we want to have answered on that or that we want to ask?
All right. If not, then let us move on to um town committee report. >> Hi Matt. Um I don't have >> so uh sorry before you start we do want we do want to communicate to you that we
would like to see if you can in your dealings with uh the other TC members and with the mayor and with uh the town administrator and with DPW um emphasize that the some of the trails uh are not in great shape and could use >> writing that email right now.
>> Good stuff >> as we speak. >> All right. >> Um yeah so that it's a good question. I I don't know if you know the answer, but I mean historically I thought that all of our trails were maintained by volunteers. >> No, tell me otherwise.
>> DPW goes out and we let them know and they go out. Okay. >> I've done that before in in uh all the trails, Yunami. >> Um >> Okay. And you guys feel like that's not getting done or >> Yes. And I'm not sure whether it was due to the harsh weather this winter and other things on there, but I just know
that several residents have contacted me about it. >> And um and >> Cranberry Brook Trail on the on the West Property side, too. >> They've they've always done it.
>> I mean, I'm sure Brian Hart's in bad shape, too. I don't know that, but like I feel like it always is. was there last week and there's a lot of trees down so >> yeah um yeah I don't have any news um I don't know if you guys discussed it unfortunately Ken's not here but uh it
looks like the the uh tennis pickleball courts at Village Park are nearly done the surfacing is done and they're painted um we just have to wait for uh the contractor to install the u the netting on the fences and uh do a site
clean up. So I think in maybe two weeks was the date that I would got from Tom. >> My son noted today that one of the gates is open. >> They are. >> Yeah. One is shut locked but the other is open. >> Oh. >> So I don't know whether it's we don't know whether it's supposed to be or inadvertently left open or
>> might have been inadvertently left open. Was the the netting up? >> Did you No, >> you said tennis netting was up. Pickle ball was not. >> No, I mean around on the perimeter. >> I don't know. >> Okay. Um yeah, I don't I mean we don't have like an official although we were
thinking of actually doing a little ceremony with invite Linda Greenstein um due uh maybe Friday, May 1st, but I'm not positive on that. Um, and then there was another email I'd send you, Brendan, uh, that Lisa had
forwarded to me about a bike rodeo. That ring a bell? >> Yes. H, I forgot to talk about that. Literally looking at earlier today when I was printing out all this other stuff. So this was uh from
the program coordinator at Keep Middle Sex moving hoping to plan a bike rodeo in Cranberry this year. Bike rodeo is a family-friendly event where kids of all ages can learn bike safety through obstacle course and games. Um they suggested maybe the idea of
having one during cranberry day. They spoke to Barbara and Lisa. Um, and they want to have a meeting to discuss. Um, I'm happy to have that meeting, but I don't know what we can do or offer
necessar like, >> uh, looks like they want a decision by June 1st. So, >> yeah. Um, I don't know if we've ever done this, but I think it just needs, you know, a mediumsiz parking lot.
>> We have a couple of those, so I'm sure we could find one, right? >> Um, okay. I'm happy to have that conversation. I don't know that we like as a body can like within our mission from the in the as in our establishing ordinance have anything to do with that,
but I'm happy to have that conversation and you know provide information or whatever and see if >> Well, it was I mean it was forwarded to you by the mayor. So, take it. >> I'm I'm taking it. >> I'm taking it. I feel like Wreck Camp used to do a bike rodeo
um like officially at the end of I don't know if it was like every Friday or certain Fridays. So I don't know if it's something that we could tie together and then it would officially be something involved. >> Katie, do you know what a bike rodeo is? Because I don't. No, I just remember if
you asked him about it, I he used to do something and I'm >> usually usually the police are involved and they talk about proper helmet fitting and prop, you know, the proper size biking and they have the cone set up for the kids to go through. >> Kids of all ages, quote, kids of all ages can learn bike safety through
obstacle courses and games. >> There be like bulls or something or >> obstacles and games can be fun. Yes. >> And learning. That's fun. >> Learning is always fun. >> If you want bulls, we'll ask the mayor if we can get bulls at the bike rodeo.
There you go. >> All right. Um, so I'll be in touch with them about that and report back to us here. Uh, anything else for us, Matt? >> Yep. >> All right.
Anything anyone have for Matt? All right. Let's move on to our old business. Um the circle procurement for village park I we don't have any I think should we roll this off our old
business? I I don't know that there's anything to do on this moving forward. I I don't necessarily like that, but I don't know that there's anything to do. >> Our from my understanding, it was not approved anything for the budget for this year, but I don't think we should let it
slide. >> No, I don't want to like forget about it, but I I just like until there's stuff to do, I I'm not sure we need to talk about it today or um on a monthly basis. Yeah, I thought we the last last thing I thought we discussed at the last
meeting was that we were going to start brainstorming less expensive, more within our reach ideas, right? >> Well, I thought we were we gave over sort of top three, five ideas and we were going to see if that sort of fit in there because and this also has nothing
we can do about it right now, but does it even make the list of everybody's kind of >> top things right? Not saying it's a bad idea, just we can't do anything about it. And is it one of our biggest things we want to impact this year? >> Yeah. Um, unfortunat I I haven't heard
from Christina with that list and she's not here today. >> Yeah. >> But >> I think we keep it on even if we just, you know, skip it each month and then once it gets closer to the end of the year when we really have to decide to put in things for budget time for next year.
>> Yeah, I think it's fine. I think you weren't here for it. I think people frankly are getting a little frustrated by items just never going anywhere. And so, so people were like, do we have to keep staring at this thing on the list or are we going to have a list that actually is actionable? So, I don't think there's anything wrong with
leaving it on there. I just think we're not doing anything about it and we're not even talking about it. So, it's not like you're not going to forget about it for sure. I don't think any of us are. So is why keep putting it on the list if we're literally just going to say check every meeting and move on until we get
to like September. >> When if when something that's been brought up as new business and then move to old business gets removed from old business and if we want to talk about it again, does it have to get agenda as new business again? It okay, it doesn't matter. >> We're just tableing it.
>> Yeah. Okay. All right. Um well, for now we're definitely tableabling it because we don't have anything to say about it. But speaking of items that just keep appearing on the agenda, we don't seem to have any business for. On the bottom of your uh papers, I have a sheet that I put up based off of our conversations
last year of um what I have titled draft recommendations for amendments to uh the township code for the parks rules and regulations. Um we had broad agreement from what I recall on all of these items
um except for the first one which is I'm not sure. I think we were agreed, but I don't know how broad it was. Um, so with if you think it's all right if unless you think there's a better way to handle it, I'm just going to run through these quickly and then um happy to hear if
this is something we want to endorse or um or um uh pull out one or two things to talk about and endorse the rest of it. Uh but for now, I'll just go over what's here. Uh so we have the hours of operation parks are open dus dawn to
dusk. Um I proposed based off of our conversations from prior months that parks remain closed but like it should maybe be permissible all hours of day to if you need to use the walking trail either to get from A
to B or to walk your dog and it's 5:30 in the morning and it's not the sun hasn't come up yet that should be allowed. I don't again that's the one I was least sure about but >> are we discussing this now or after you've gone >> after I think after we go through them all. Um but like make a mark or something if
um okay the second one was tennis courts replace any reference to tennis with tennis and or pickle ball. Um athletic fields baseball field C2 is under a list of fields. That field doesn't exist. It's now a volleyball court. So remove that from the township code. uh
regulations. Um section B or subsection B here says the following activities and conduct shall be prohibited within any park belonging to or leased or operated by the township. And then it's followed by numbered paragraphs and lettered subparagraphs. And all of those numbered
paragraphs, they're not like lists of things that quote activities and conduct that shall be prohibited. They're just like complete sentences on their own. They don't belong under this heading of the following things should be prohibited. Some of them aren't even prohibitions. Some of them are things
you're required to do. So that's merely a wording change. It doesn't impact what is proposed or what's required or uh prohibited. But I think that ought to that need we agreed. I think we agreed. I certainly know I think that that
should be cleaned up so it reads better. Then uh B16 there's a prohibition on the use of fireworks. Uh the proposal here is to insert language fireworks prohibited. quote except as authorized by the township committee or recreation department so that um we can regularize
uh the legality of the fireworks displays that we do in the parks on the fourth on the 5th of July. B17 we have no oper no person to operate motor vehicle. I proposed an exception for a motorized vehicle. I proposed there be
added an exception for those motorized personal mobility vehicles like an electric scooter or electric wheelchair or some such thing. Uh turning over the page on the back, uh B24, there's a prohibition on skateboarding or inline skating. This is another one I
wasn't super 100% sure there was broad agreement on. I suggest proposed here in this list. Create an exception to allow for skateboarding and inline skating on like the connecting paths in Barn Park and Milstone Park and on the multi-use trails in Heritage Park and Village
Park. Again, if we'll let me know if you want to pull that one out or something. Then there's this section D. Any person who violates any park rule or regulation may be denied the future use of these facilities. I don't know how that works. It doesn't say it. That's the whole section. I would say delete that section
since it doesn't seem to have a criteria or mechanism by which it can function or clarify what the criteria and the mechanism for it functioning are. And then the last one I had was there is um a list of penalties and the penalties
are assessed against the violator or if it's a group or organization reserving park facilities and it's one of their members who is the violator, the penalty can be assessed against the group. I just wanted to clarify that that only works if it's a member using the park as
part of the group pursuant to the reservation. You can't just be like, well, you're in the women's club and the women's club had an event and then three weeks later one of your members did something and you that groups can only be held accountable for things that happened at the time pursuant to the
reservation and not just by their members whenever. Not that I'm like super worried about this, but the language was unclear. Um, all right. Thoughts? Sally, you had some. Um, I have strong questions about allow
all hours use of walking and multi-use paths. Um, first of all, why just the walking and multi-use paths? There might be times when people want to go and lie out in the middle of the green and watch meteor showers,
which I do many times. Um, and the other thing is if you say that you are allowing people to use the walking and multi-use paths after dark, you're opening up a total can of worms for the condition of the sidewalks of the paths.
And in if you are allowing people to walk after dark, they either need to be lit or those paths need to be maintained so that there are not a tripping hazard. That's my concern there. So just saying
all hours use of walking. You may want to just if you want people to be able to use the parks after dark, say something like passive recreation allowed in the parks after dark, which is what heritage is, is a passive. And Milstone, you can do the passive stuff. You can't play
tennis or volleyball or something like that. But that's those are my concerns. um that people want to use more than just the paths and the legality of opening it up without lighting. >> All right. I don't know if you had any others, but even if you do, let's take
them one at a time. Um I'll start by saying I I agree with most of what you just said. Uh the proposal I had here was what I thought we all did agree on. I would agree it should go further. Like if you want to sit out in the park at night and look at a meteor shower, why
should you be disallowed from doing that? Um, but I don't know. This is the only thing the the walking pass I felt like was the only thing we had sufficient consensus on, but I'm happy to go further. Um, I don't know the answer to the liability question, but I assume they're, you know, we're
obviously liable just as we would be if somebody was walking down one of the streets on the sidewalk or one of the streets that doesn't have a sidewalk at night and injured themselves. >> Um, what about the rest of you folks? Do we
>> Brendan, do we have buyin from the police department in terms of what it may affect their patrolling and their um pers, you know, perspective on on this rule? >> I I haven't spoken to the police department. I would we don't have buyin, although I I don't think we have
opposition either. Um I think that's something my my personal feeling is that's something for the township committee to consider. They're going to be the ones who decide what to do with these recommendations. um they're going to want to consult other groups. But from our point of
view, like I care as a citizen what the police department thinks about this, but from our my point of view as a member of the parks and recck commission, I'm just looking at it through that lens for now. >> And I think the police do patrol as you know, >> they patrol now, but >> they'll kick you out. That's what
they'll do. >> Yeah. U my advice would be uh less less is more. Um because your your point about liability is correct, right? We have a our uh GIF insurance coverage. No
one's allowed in the parks at night. So I would just omit any any discussion. I wouldn't go anywhere near this topic because you're just going to get >> I mean you guys let people in the park every year on the 5th of July. >> There's no like it's just I don't know.
I don't know what to say about that. I just think you're going to >> Well, just how trouble the same way that you said fireworks except for >> Yeah. >> Think could you say no nobody allowed in the park except for township sponsored events? Um, I mean that we um
>> I think I like where you're going, Sally, but I think a conversation for another time maybe because we have the wreck director and the TC can both um amend the rules like for an event if like a picnic or not a picnic, a meteor
shower viewing or a firework display or something. They we don't need to amend the ordinance for that because the township committee or the rec director can do it by themselves. on a ad hoc basis. >> Yeah. >> Leave it with no I did not realize that
our insurance Matt did not cover the parks after dark. So that's a really good fact to know. And because of that I I think we leave it as it is. >> All right. So >> sorry. I hate looking at this piece, ma'am. >> What do you mean?
>> Like this isn't the whole code. I I think it needs to be looked at like not just random little sections. >> Oh yeah. No, I'm like this is I'm not >> because generally speaking, do we really
care what that says if it's if there's no mechanism where you really get in trouble for violating it, >> right? like >> receive meter hours, but if the worst thing that happens is you're asked to leave.
>> I don't think that we need to spend a lot of time talking about >> Well, the issue isn't that your the worst thing that happens is that you're asked to leave. The worst thing that happens is your life is a convenience and more difficult because you can't do it. It's it's not meant to be amended for the
people who are breaking it. meant to be amended for the people who are following it. The people who want to walk their dog at 5:30 but don't. The people who never will do it unless it's allowed. >> That's who I'm targeting more than the people who already are doing it and not getting in trouble. The people who want
to do it but don't because it's it's not permitted. >> I don't see how we invite people to a dark park in a law. I just don't. I feel like everything about that I'm looking at it I'm like this is absurd. >> Well, it's not an invitation. >> A dark path and trip. It's not an invitation. It's an allowance.
>> It's right, but it's like you're taking on a lot of responsibility. >> All right. Well, let's pull that one out. Um, and consider the others. >> Yeah, I hate to use that word. >> Um,
were there any others besides the uh skateboarding and inline skating? Any issues with any of these other ones, Sally? >> No, I'm I'm skateboarding. Um, let me ask that question differently. Was there agreement on these others except for the
skateboarding one? >> I I'll take it. Uh, skateboarding. >> Oh, wait. I can't agree to 1084 because I need to see the whole paragraph. >> Uh, well, you can I mean, you can see part of the sub paragraphs like 17. >> Yeah,
>> you know, I know it's annoying. >> No, I get it. I just didn't want to print out uh more than I needed to. Lazy on my part. Um Sally, >> well, just the the wording. It just says on paths
>> and I'm thinking there are no paths in Barn Park and Millstone Park, but there are sidewalks. >> Yeah. So, so the wording paths slash sidewalks maybe if that's what you >> Well, it's not truly a sidewalk because
it's not on the side of a road, but it does it's like the same appearance and same style as the sidewalks. >> Yeah, that's a Yeah, I I I just, you know, I think of a path as a and Matt's Matt's like, what is she doing with this wording here? But, um
I just look at it's like, where's the path in Barn Park? There's no path in Barn Park. Yeah, >> this one to me feels a little bit like the dark paths. Like you're sort of inviting accidents, I would imagine, for people who are walking leisurely on some of these paths and then you have
somebody like skateboarding behind them or inline skating. And I just feel like if nobody's complaining or actively getting in trouble for activities that maybe they're already doing and it's gone just fine, I would personally not be inclined to
introduce that hazard for people who are just using it for walking purposes. >> I I feel that I refer you again to the fact that it's not for the people who are doing it and not getting in trouble. It's for the people who aren't doing it because they think they'll get
in trouble. Um, also we there's all sorts of hazards for walkers, including people on bicycles and joggers. >> There are no designated skate areas at the same time. We don't have skate parks. So, are there designated? >> Not to my knowledge.
>> So, why don't we just take that out? >> Take out the no person shall engage in skateboarding or inline skating except it doesn't say since we don't have any designated areas. >> Yeah. The only reason I would want to keep that in is so that people don't do it in like the parking lot.
Well, if it's a nice clean parking lot and there's no cars in it, it's better than the middle of a street. >> No, >> you know what? >> I just wouldn't mention it at all.
>> What about bicycles? Bicycles are just Does it say anything about bicycles on? >> No. Then just take out the thing about the skateboarding bicycles are just or even more dangerous. >> Well, >> and for that matter, when you when you talk about the the uh motorized
vehicles, it says such as wheelchairs/cooters. Now, you don't mention well, you say personal mobility vehicles, but a but a motorized scooter that I've seen kids going around Heritage Park in is a personal mobility
vehicle. They might not need it because they're handicapped, but they're using it. So, that's allowing kids with scoo motorized scooters to go around in the park. And I mean, I'm I'm okay with that. I think kids need a place to play
>> as long as they're careful and stuff like that. But but this is saying that you're absolutely allowing it. The wording is really tricky. >> Yeah. Well, that's why I I gave up on the wording and just had sentences
>> to be recommended and let the TC and their lawyers figure out the wording. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I I mean I I know that ebikes go faster and can be perceived as more dangerous, but I I mean we're trying to make time
stand still. Those are going to be allowed in 10 or 20 or 30 years everywhere. Well, so a regular bicycle. >> Yeah. When kids are riding, they don't recognize how fast they're going. >> Yeah. >> There's a lot of dangers out there in
this world, sadly. All right. So, um I I don't think I said this when I started, but I didn't want to put this to bed today. I wanted to like get we I mean we've had the conversation going before, but I wanted to advance the
conversation today. So, I don't think unless there's anyone here itching to sort of like write something in stone here, I think we can ruminate on this and circle back to it. Um, and I can
talk to you individually and look at this again and come back with another draft maybe. Does that work? or do we want to plow ahead? Now, >> I'm personally frustrated that we keep putting things off and putting things
off. I think if we're here, we're talking about it. We should either make decisions to put this through to TC as it is or table it all together. That's my California opinion.
What good is another meeting? We've >> Well, I feel like when I read this code, the thing that jumps out at me is all the the penalties for violating it. And the last time that we looked at it, I
they were like inconsistent and weird and maybe unevenly enforced. And I'm interested in talking about those. >> I did I that was going to be my I was going to circle back to that. I wanted to do it in like digestible sizes. This
was going to be the prohibitions and next time was going to be the penalties for violating them. >> You're more interested in >> um >> as long as we're not just tableabling. as long as >> No, no, I don't. Yeah. >> Um,
>> I mean, what are the contention points? >> Well, I think we were we were all cool with like I don't know. >> Everything except one. >> Everything except one. Yeah. Right. >> And it's the >> the hours of operation >> skateboarding. You know, we would like to see that eliminated all together.
>> Yeah, I'm happy to do that. Okay. Um, >> and and possibly in B17, make sure it's somehow for handicapped or something and so that people can't don't think they can just take their their scooter. Unless you
want them to just take their scooter. >> No, that that I meant to when I wrote that, I meant to say just like um accessible for accessibility. That's what I had meant to write. And I didn't write it. >> Since we say such as, can't we just drop
scooters since it's sort of like such as wheelchairs? >> I'm thinking like a jazzy scooter, >> but like do we have to say scooter if it falls under the like mobility accessibility? >> Well, I the this isn't this language isn't meant to go into the township code. This is meant to go to the TC for
them to put into like uh legal language. But I'm happy to uh create an exception for motorized personal mobility vehicles. >> Well, there must be another word, an adjective we could put before scooters. >> Yeah. You know what? >> Disability scooters or something like
that. >> Erase what those I mean, I think mobility I thought mobility vehicle covered it. >> I I do too that I sort of feel like you don't need to say scooter if you're saying it's a mobility vehicle, right? Like if somebody's going to make that
argument that that's why I need this, it should be covered under that description. >> All right. Um >> All right. Sounds good. All right. Let's We're good to put that to bed for now
>> and move on. Um not put it to bed, but just, you know, move on in our meeting. >> So, is it um >> Are you going to be sending that to me? >> Um I can, but I I this is like just >> I'm not I don't think we're ready to
like advise formally the GC that this is what we want you to look at because we want it rolled in with the penalties we're going to we I intend to review next month. Yeah, but I can give it to you. I I'm happy to give you the document for reference. >> SQL.
>> Yeah, >> I can email it to you. >> Okay, >> I can actually hand it to you right now. Sorry, I should have done that. >> I mean, the you know, parks are running well. So, >> just wait. They'll be even better. >> All right. Um, >> wait. I have I'm sorry to interrupt, but
I there was something I forgot to mention. >> Um, at the tail end of our last TC meeting, uh, we had a gentleman come up. um who um was very adamant that at the next Fifth of July um that we or you um have
someone read the Declaration of Independence. This is something that he's been doing for years. He lives off of off of the lake um and he said that he doesn't want to do it anymore, but he really would like to see um >> a member of the TC.
>> No. Maybe. Yeah. No, he was suggesting, you know, teachers or somebody who, you know, civic-minded. Yeah, maybe a TC member um to uh at some point during the ceremonies that evening have someone read the Declaration of Independence, which we on the TC wholeheartedly
endorsed. I think it's a great idea. So, I bring it to you. See if you guys want to run with that. >> Any any volunteers? We I just since this year is like a big celebration year, >> like this is a really good idea, but I'm
thinking like they probably we probably will be doing this in connection with the 250th, you know. So, we should probably loop in >> um the group that's organizing that for this year and then going forward. >> I mean, we can stop doing. >> Yes. I
>> guess um question I have is like logistics. Do we have a PA set up? Is there like There's a band. >> There's a band. Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I don't I don't know anything about logistics. >> Ken kind of organizes it
>> from that point like and where people are when they close the parking and the cars and stuff that. So, Ken has that. >> Is by chance the resident in question with us today? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Hello. Um,
I'm happy I'm happy to hear from I'm happy to hear from you now instead of waiting to public comment since it's come up. >> And by hear means recite. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> My name is >> Can you just try to get a bit closer to
the mic just for uh the recording? >> It doesn't matter. My name is Guy Butterworth. I live on at 12 Station Road. Before I start, I'd like you all to know how much I I'm a pole worker
and I'd like you to know how much I appreciate the work of Debbie Rubin and Dot for for the things they have to do to get us ready to have a a no
incident. um election and I see them come and also try and make certain that everybody has a chance to vote. That is
what America is about and that's what they do. Anyway, that's that that um I went a with my request for a minor dog and pony show to the township committee
on Monday night and I was directed to come here as this group is in charge. I didn't know that that is in charge of what happens in parks. I lived in Japan for almost 29 years and
28 of those I spent in a provincial city on the island of Kyushu. And every fourth of around the 4th of July, I try to have a kind of all comers party
on the the river bank in front of my small house. And those parties didn't end, but they were when it got dark, we had a few minor
fireworks. And before the fireworks, I used to get up and welloiled as I was at the time, I read the Declaration of Independence.
Then I came here and I see the a similar kind of situ environment in which reading the Declaration of Independence would seem obvious and it's not done.
And so that's what I'm coming to suggest. I am not um auditioning to read the Declaration of Independence for two reasons. One is that you don't allow drinking in the
parks and I couldn't get welloiled enough to read to read it. And the second thing I forgot anyway, it doesn't matter. Um,
I would like to urge that the reading of the Declaration of Independence be included in the that big thing party. >> Well, I'm happy to help facilitate that.
I think we're all agreed that that's a good idea or if we're not agreed to it, we certainly don't think it's a bad idea. We're we're on board with that. Um, I the problem is I don't know anything about the logistics of that ceremony, but I'm thinking that our rec
director may know or perhaps we can loop in, uh, somebody from the Historic and Preservation Society. Um, if you stick around, um, or if you don't want to stick around, if you could just write down your number or something on a piece of paper and I I can talk with you
further about that and we'll, uh, see what we need to do to make it happen. and then we'll we'll do what we need to do to make it happen. >> Well, thank you. Um it's just that um if I want to see fireworks, I'd go back
to Japan. They know really how to do fireworks. And I don't have a big family, so I don't wouldn't go to a nighttime picnic out lunch kind of thing. However,
that doesn't mean I I don't think that reading the Declaration of Independence is a minor request. >> Okay. >> Can we put it on our agenda for next month? And I think Kelly had a really good idea with talking to the 250
um committee. >> I I also apologize because I find this room has the most the worst >> Yeah. >> acoustics. Yeah. for someone with hearing aids that I can imagine.
>> It's it's it's I don't know what you can do about it. But um I I can't I hear hear you talking and and some of it sounds like things I
would like to know hear. >> Oh, I'm I am sorry. I catch individual words every now and again, but I can't get put it all together. >> I am sorry about that. Um,
Kelly, did you want to take this? Okay. Um, I I felt like you were itching to. All right. Well, we'll um have you do that then. Uh, I might add that every year NPR
gets a group of their readers together and divides the Declaration of Independence. And I would think that if you went to if somebody went to the school or to
Princeton High, they could get together a a group of young pe younger people who would do a very nice job job of reading the reading it in parts or scouts. You could you could you could
do some uh judicious editing of one or two places which probably you should leave out but anyway it's there. It is our founding document.
And the very last part of it is that they pledge their their their lives, their fortunes, and their face, sacred honor for this road that they're going down. And I'd like to stay on that road.
>> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Um, and thank you for bringing to that us. I thank you for bringing that to us. I uh know from personal experience that it's not always fun to stand up in front of a group and and talk about what you
want them to do. So, thank you. Um all right, Kelly's going to take that in hand. Moving on, we have uh chess tables, which we already talked about historic baseball game. Brendan, as far as u back to rules and regulations, I
just noticed in the minutes or in the agenda for the upcoming TC meeting somewhere online that they are approving or they are have something before them to um raise the fees, the park usage fees. So, I don't know whether that was
mentioned at the last meeting or not. I didn't see it in the minutes, but that's something that we had talked about and asked about and I see that it's being moved on by the TC. Was that approved, Matt? >> The upcoming meeting or the past meeting? >> I'm not sure whether I saw it on an agenda. >> It was not on It's not on our agenda for
the past meeting. >> So then an upcoming meeting it must be. >> Oh, that was camp fees. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Very good. >> Oh, okay. I thought it was for the park park use fees. Okay. So, that's something that we still
want to follow up on, too. Is it not increasing the should that be on our agenda or brought to >> or >> It's something that only the TC can do. I mean, I I just do we want to agenda that. I don't know what to tell the
people the the fee should be. I feel completely unqualified to >> I thought Kenned had the idea to just sort of equalize them with surrounding towns. We could just throw that in with the propo rule proposal changes because it's a rule like >> but one of the rules was you have to do this and pay this fee.
>> Well, I mean here here's I I hate to I almost am afraid to say this out loud but do we just want to let Ken handle that? Like do we need to weigh in on the dollars or do we want just Ken to work directly with the Denise and the TC on that one? >> I mean we can when he when we're we're going to come back next month and do
part two. We could just make it as part of part two and wrap it all up into one thing that we're sending in. >> Yeah. Well, well, the fees aren't the fee schedule isn't part of the township code. It's part of like a it's also, but it's a separate >> No, I understand. I'm just saying like in terms of things we're trying to change that they have to vote on.
That's, you know, the fees and some rule proposal changes. I think they kind of wrap >> together. They bundle. Well, >> yeah. >> My concern is just that it's getting pushed under the table again. We need to >> I think we need I think it needs to be on the agenda so that we can >> we can address it and
>> finalize it. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Maybe you weren't here, but I thought you guys poured over it at some point. >> You talking about TC or for >> Yeah. >> Talking about parks has talked about the fees for for pavilion usage and all that
is and fields is much less than surrounding towns. and Ken was going to look into different surrounding towns and come up with comparable rates. And then we were going to ask if that could be raised in Cranberry to to have more revenue for
the town. >> Let's add that to our agenda and get to >> Excuse me. Let's add that to the agenda for next month and get Ken to report on it. Um, >> if you can remind him ahead of time, maybe Brendan sent an email that had it came up and >> we want to move forward.
>> I think he said he had him. I think I remember him before Christmas him saying he had the >> the information. >> So, um, >> I mean, I might as well remind him, but I'm just saying I think he has it already. >> I will get uh in touch with him on that when he's available. I think he's taking
some time off, but I I mean, well, I'll email him anyway and he'll see it when he sees it, and then when he's back, I'll talk to him. Um, and we I'll I'll add that to the agenda, too, for next time. Um, so chess tables, we already covered historic baseball game. They have not, to my
knowledge, uh, obtained their permit yet. Nothing else to report there. New business goals. >> Do we have a date for that? >> Uh, we do, but I don't have it in front of me. >> I have the date. date. >> I can tell you the dates.
>> Yes, one of those. >> Hold on a moment. >> I have them wanting to do it. Uh, September 26, noon start. Okay. Goals and priorities um for the
year. I do. We want to open this with since we don't have uh Christine here to report on on the compilation. >> What? >> I think I think we need her list. >> Yeah, I think so too. >> That was the point of it. >> Um other than to say that I I if we're
not done with this, but the rules thing by the end of the year, I'm not going to be happy. Um that's a goal of mine. Um all right, so let's just move on to action items. Um I have for myself uh attend the EC meeting. I have talked to uh the library
director regarding the for also for myself trees and these are all for myself trees and uh the chess table. Uh talk to the EC about the colonial fair. See if they are doing a booth or if they want to do a a booth or a table or whatever together. Uh talk to the bike
rodeo person. Um do more on the rules and regulations including um the penalties. And we have adding to this is not an action item, but we'll add to the agenda uh the fee schedule. Um we'll add to the
agenda a report back on the Declaration of Independence reading. And I have Kelly to um work on that. >> I don't think I had any other Oh, wait. I did. I just said it. I just didn't write it down on this particular piece of paper. I wrote it down on a different piece of paper. Um talk to Ken about the
fee schedule. Um, any other action items? Anyone captured? >> If you could get me the Or I guess I can walk over and do it, too. The chest table dimensions. If all we need is a plan, like I just did like an architectural plan for the path in like
30 seconds with AI. So, like we can do that pretty easy. I just need the dimensions and like location. >> Okay. And like I took an aerial picture through Google Maps and it drew a very detailed landscape plan, which if that's all they
want from us that we could give them a landscape plan pretty easily. >> Uh the library. >> Yeah, the library path because that's that seemed to be the like stopping point there is that they want some sort of plan. >> Um I don't I don't think it's even that much. I just think they're they're ready to start the conversation.
>> Yeah. Michael, you want to forward that to me? Yeah, it's we can get it done. >> Brendan, if you'd like me to take on the bike rodeo call, I'm happy to do that. >> I'm happy to give that to you. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um I'll send you the information, though.
>> Um All right. Uh, also I this wasn't I didn't get an opportunity to notice this because I didn't get it to on our agenda to the public and then put it on agenda because I didn't get the information till after that went out. But I have an
email out there and a conversation you need to have with somebody um from hold on I want to make sure I get this right uh from the chair of the historic preservation committee um about the
cranberry station hamlet area. There is some talk about um a new park, quote unquote, a small park that like preserves one of those buildings as opposed to like a big thing with recreational facilities. Um like,
you know, we're not adding a big soccer field or anything like that, >> right? Something like that. They um I don't have any more information on that other than that their committee, the historic preservation committee is having a meeting on Tuesday, April 21st at town hall. This email says perhaps
your team could join us to ensure the committee members and neighbors have an opportunity to review. Um but I again I will I don't I need to do more on that. I don't know. I haven't had the conversation. I'll try to keep you in the loop. Um and feel free also to in if
your time and interest allows uh go or follow afterward what what happened at that uh April 21st meeting. Um other than that let's move on to public comment. Let's open it up for public comment. Three minute comment by members of the public.
There are no members of the public wishing to comment. So I'm going to close public comment. Um, and if uh that's all, I will entertain a motion and a second for adjournment. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second.
>> Thank you. Thank you, folks. We're adjourned.