Newtown Re-Establishes Parks & Rec Board, Adopts County Hazard Mitigation Plan

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Newtown Township Solicitor Richard Sokorai explained at Monday night's supervisors meeting that in 1995, and Newtown township created a joint Leisure Services Board (at the ) in which the ordinance at the time had disbanded the Newtown Parks & Recreation Board.

Sokorai confirmed that the township's Parks & Recreation Board will not conflict with the joint Leisure Services Board and will act primarily as an advisory board to the township's parks and open spaces.

Sokorai said the board will "evaluate our parks and provide us with recommendations regarding rules, expenditures, maintenance, purchase of park land, and the use of park land." The Board of Supervisors will then approve any expenditures and recommendations from the Parks & Recreation Board.

The township's Parks & Recreation Board will work with the joint Leisure Services Board to schedule the use of Newtown Township parks. The board unanimously approved the re-establishment of the township's Parks & Recreation Board and unanimously approved the appointments of seven members to the board.

The supervisors approved the following appointments: Bill Ebbecke and Mike D'Annunzio for two-year terms; Mimi Avellino and Paul Seligson for three-year terms, Nick Coco and Bob Blaisse for four-year terms and Chris Anderson for a five-year term.

The positions on the board are not paid but may be eligible for reimbursement for expenses, pending upon the township manager's approval. Board members are expected to serve out their full term unless through an unexpected event. The annual reorganization of the board will occur soon after the supervisors' reorganization meeting in the first week of January. The appointed positions have been in effect since Jan. 1 of this year.

Supervisors Adopt the Delaware County 2011 Hazard Mitigation Plan

"The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires state and local governments to develop and submit for approval a mitigation plan that outlines processes for identifying their respective natural hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities," read Supervisor John Nawn from the resolution that was passed unanimously by the supervisors on Monday night.

In addition, according to the resolution, the Delaware County 2011 Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed to recommend "mitigation activities that will reduce losses to life and property affected by both natural and human-made hazards that face the county and its municipal governments."

The resolution will now include Newtown Township into the Delaware County Hazard Mitigation Plan and the plan will be the township's official hazard mitigation plan.

The resolution was approved unanimously. Supervisors Vice Chairman Dr. Ross Lambert assured that the plan is in compliance with the township's emergency services plan.