CITY OF LEWES
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting Minutes
October 22, 2012
The regular meeting of the Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Monday,
October 22, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. in Lewes City Hall in accordance with proper notification with the
following present: Chairperson Elaine Pease, Jon Woodyard, Dennis Davison, Louis Papp, Ex-Officio
City Councilman Fred Beaufait and Recording Secretary Jackie Doherty. Don Long, Preston Lee, Jack
Schulze and Christine Besche were excused.
1. Call to Order and Opening Comments
Ms. Pease stated Ms. Besche will not be here for tonight's meeting because she is doing volunteer
work in Guadalupe National Park. Things are shaping up in the 'learning garden' in Stango Park.
Pres Lee and Jack Schulze are on vacation and Don Long contacted me stating he would not
attend tonight because he is not feeling well. Sposato will turn off the irrigation in the parks on the
morning of November 19th. Wright's Lawn will do the final fertilization within the next week or two.
They will apply a 24-0-11 slow release and spot treating weeds, Zwaanendael Park has been
completed.
Mayor and City Council meeting on October 15th:
All trash carts need to be removed within 24 hours after pick-up.
November 15th leaf collection begins in the City and continues through December 28th, call City
Hall Extension 101 to schedule a pick-up.
October 7, 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the Lewes Police Department.
Lewes Steps Out did over 10,000 miles this year.
Beginning October 18, Monroe Avenue from Freeman to Railroad Avenue will be closed for two to
three weeks for work on the railroad tracks.
PRC had two agenda items: In reference to University Research Park, Mayor Ford stated PRC will
have a role, but not a leading role, in planning. In reference to the bocce ball courts, additional
information is needed about confirmation to use the leased land and this will be an agenda item for
next month.
Mr. Beaufait stated the request to Mayor and City Council was for two bocce ball courts.
The next PRC meeting will be Monday, November 26th--late due to City Hall being closed Monday
November 12th for Veterans Day.
2. Presentation and consideration of the September 17, 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes
ACTION:
Mr. Woodyard made a motion to approve the September 17, 2012 regular meeting
minutes; Mr. Papp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
3. Old Business
a. Strategic Plan--"SWOT analysis
Mr. Woodyard stated Ms. Besche and Mr. Davison submitted a list for the analysis and copies
were given for all to review.
Discussion included: Under weaknesses--the City relies too heavily on volunteers--this should not
be a problem due to the City being full of willing volunteers; this could be a problem if the right
volunteers were not available for the work needed or lack expertise; a volunteer workshop meeting
is needed; all volunteer hours should be recorded which can be used to apply for grant monies.
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Under opportunities--expand the Friends of Canalfront Park to include all parks--this has been
discussed in the past to incorporated all parks into the organization, but was not approved by
Mayor and City Council; the question is if this is an opportunity or a weakness; have each park be
identified with a group of volunteers for support; the Friends of Canalfront Park has a mission for
fundraising and not doing actual work, while the other parks have a mission to do the actual work;
the monies go to Greater Lewes Foundation and, according to a Memorandum of Understanding,
$5,000 is given to care for the park yearly.
Added under weakness--there is a lack of a volunteer organization to support all the City's parks.
Mr. Woodyard stated he would make a draft including tonight's comments for this to be an agenda
item for November.
4. New Business
a. Discussion of lights in 1812 Park
Due to illness, Mr. Long requested this be postponed until November.
b. Discussion of concerts and recreational events for the City
Ms. Pease stated there is a shortage of volunteers, including for the trees and concert planning.
The number of concerts will need to be reduced. Suggestions to ask for volunteers included
sending a letter to residents in their Board of Public Works bill; Mayor Ford doing an
announcement on the radio; an article in the Cape Gazette and Coast Press.
5. Commission Reports--All
Canalfront Park
Ms. Pease stated Mr. Lee requested everyone be given a copy of the layout changes for the front
of the park, being coordinated with Sposato, for review. The cost will be taken from the park's
budget to replace all the plants that did not survive because these were the wrong choices for salt
water.
Discussion included the cost for Canalfront Park, and the enhanced design for plantings, being too
expensive for the City; the $5,000 from Greater Lewes Foundation to Friends should be used to
improve and enhance the recreational design of the park instead of the plantings.
1812 and Mary Vessels Parks
Ms. Pease stated Mr. Long asked her to report the landscaping bed that joins Mr. Putterman's
home and 1812 Park was completed. Mr. Long purchased the plants and Rick Lawson did the
installation.
Stango Park
Ms. Pease stated Ms. Besche asked her to report:
Children's Learning Garden Update: The split rail fence was installed by Mr. Wayne Hawkins who
donated time and materials for the fence project. Warren Golde of Lewes in Bloom will oversee the
next phase and will be removing sod, putting down mulch and installing raised beds. Lewes in
Bloom is on schedule to have the project ready for spring planting.
Lewes in Bloom would like to acknowledge the following private donations:
1. Carl Ducyk & Dennis J. Ford in the amount of $1,250.
2. Rick and Louise Pharr in the amount of $2,500.
On line donations on the Lewes in Bloom website are being accepted. Lewes in Bloom is also in
the process of writing requests for grants.
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There has been a suggestion by Lewes in Bloom to put up temporary signage designating the
future site of the garden as a way of gaining interest and donations for the project.
Sposato performed a light weeding and clean-up as requested.
General Park and Library Update: Annuals in front of the library walkway will be pulled in early
November and bulbs and pansies planted for the upcoming season. Lou Papp is coordinating a
mass planting of tulip bulbs in the Magnolia bed to be installed by Sposato. Future plans to install
more tulip beds in Stango would include a new bed around the Stango memorial, which can be
included in the 2013 budget.
George H.P. Smith Park
Mr. Davison reported the Lewes Lions Club delivered two picnic tables, one bench and one grill for
the pavilion with donations from their fundraiser. Mr. Davison would like to have a thank-you letter
sent from Mayor and City Council. Mr. Davison stated he met with Mr. Schulze on Friday and on
Sunday with Thom Nobile for a walk through of the park to identify native trees and plantings.
Mr. Davison would like to have his yard certified as a National Wildlife Habitat. After review by the
Delaware National Society's Mr. Monroe, he also agreed to review the park. Mr. Monroe will send
the qualification list of the items need for the park to meet the criteria.
Mr. Davison reported some of the fence, gate and posts need repair and will check with the
contractors for an estimate. The large willow tree near the hospital is dying and limbs need to be
removed. The walkway at the path needs to be trimmed and cleaned.
Ms. Pease stated she received a list from Ms. Brady of all the tree work to be done and the willow
trees in the park were listed for removal.
Recreation
Mr. Woodyard reported all the details for the 2012 Summer Music Concert Series have been
completed. The tennis and basketball courts are improved with new lighting and transformer. Ms.
Pease stated the lighting bill will be paid from the budget.
Zwaanendael Park
Mr. Papp reported after proper preparation, the entire lawn was planted with a good quality tall
fescue seed, germination has begun and a bright green surface is evident. Six sprinkler heads and
a leaky irrigation valve were repaired to insure park-wide water coverage as the new grass grows.
All the summer annuals were removed from the flower beds and replaced with fall/winter pansies.
Additional hydrangeas were pruned in preparation for next year's growth. It is possible the
sprinkler heads were too high and not recessed after watering that caused the damage. Ms. Pease
stated irrigation and lights have been over budget.
Mr. Woodyard stated the horseshoe pits in George H.P. Smith need a box to be built around. Mr.
Davison suggested boxes being built around 8 x 8 feet with a backing added as a safety feature.
ACTION:
Mr. Woodyard made a motion to adjourn at 8:15pm, Mr. Davison seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jackie Doherty, Recording Secretary
Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission
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