The township is working to comply with county and Green Acres standards while cutting down on taxpayers contribution.
At its Feb. 27 meeting, mayor and township committee voted to adopt a new park ordinance designed to comply with county and Green Acres regulations while also encouraging sports organizations in town to invest in the sports fields.
According to Mayor Anthony Minniti, the ordinance was also restructured to comply with grant requirements, health regulations, and controlling outside activities such as rallies, fundraisers, and illegal vending as well as limiting use of those who live outside of Cinnaminson, as this decreases Cinnaminson residents’ access to said facilities.
“Our priority has been, and remains, that Cinnaminson residents who are largely shouldering the cost of developing these parks should be the primary beneficiaries,” Minniti said. “The ordinance is going to change over the year as the needs of our community and groups change.”
Committeeman Ben Young also chimed in on why he thinks the ordinance is a positive change, saying the lights are often left on overnight without being used.
“If we’re all participating, someone might think a little bit more about turning those lights out,” Young said. “It’s to raise awareness and to gain some participation. That’s what it’s all about.”
“The demand for field space, and in particular lighted field space, is a growing concern,” said Committeeman Donald Brauckmann, liaison to parks and recreation. “There are times when we have three sports groups competing for one lighted field space in one small area.”
Township administrator Michael King says committee wishes to keep some of the park maintenance costs off taxpayers, and engaging sports organizations can help.
According to King, the township has invested more than $6.2 million into park improvement since 2009.
“On average, the township spends $440,000 [annually] on parks and recreation maintenance issues,” King said. “Last year alone, the township spent more than $83,800 on lighting and more than $11,000 on watering sports fields.”
The ordinance will include sports organizations paying application fees and field fees of anywhere from $300 to $1,500 based on the number of permits and whether they’re a recognized organization.
The sports organizations can make an annual contribution of needed goods into Cinnaminson parks and fields, which may result in the permit fee being waived depending on the amount contributed.
In other news:
• Minniti swore in the Rev. John Doll as police chaplain. Doll is a pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Cinnaminson.
“When I looked into going toward the direction of police chaplain, he’s the first one I thought of,” said King, who is also the director of public safety. “He will be an asset to our police department.”
Doll has already completed all of his chaplain training.
- Cinnaminson Lacrosse treasurer Daniel Eckard was appointed to the township’s parks and recreation committee after a lengthy debate. Brauckmann as well as Cinnaminson baseball president Matt Kravil pushed for the appointment of Cinnaminson baseball vice president Ryan Horner to be appointed to the recreation committee.
Kravil has clarified that Cinnaminson Baseball has no issue with the park ordinance, just with the process that was used in selecting the parks and recreation committeemember.
Kravil inquired as to why Horner had not been selected, and both Kravil and Brauckmann pointed out that Horner had expressed interest more than a year and a half ago. According to Minniti, there was no communication between Brauckmann and the rest of committee and committee had not been aware of the extent of Horner’s interest in the position, as committeeman Brauckmann had left early from the meeting in which the position had been discussed.
Minniti further explained that the rest of committee was unaware that Horner had expressed interest so long ago, and that Eckard had already been extended an invitation to join the parks and recreation committee by the time committee was informed of Horner’s interest. All committeemen, with the exception of Brauckmann, voted to appoint Eckard.
- Minniti is taking the lead in creating a Cinnaminson Sports Commissioner Advisory Group. The group will be comprised of one representative from each recognized in-town sports organization as well as memberships considered Non-RSOs, provided that the organization is at least 50 percent Cinnaminson residents and are the only organizational sports offering. Minniti says this will allow all RSOs to have a voice in matters affecting Cinnaminson parks.
