The Alternative Press

CHATHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ - The Colony Pool Report was a strong topic of discussion at the Chatham Township Committee meeting on Thursday night.

Jack Conway, the director of Parks and Recreation, gave a summery of many of the problems and areas for improvement at the Colony Club.

Although membership comments are predominantly positive, as Conway and the committee members pointed out, there seems to be a need for a more unified management at the club. In recent years the management has become loosely centralized and each department has been focusing on its-self needs and responsibilities.

Committee member Kathy Abbott, spoke of the need for a “better view of the overall,” by one person who would oversee all of the club’s programs. Committee members Kathy Abbott and Laura Nonnenmacher are both on the Colony Advisory Committee to the Township.

More regulated use of the tennis courts and paddle tennis courts by colony members was also spoken of, as well as improvements to the snack area. Staffing for the various programs was also a concern.

Conway noted that Colony Club has room for 70 percent growth in membership before the facility would reach capacity.

Some suggestions for larger equipment improvements were also discussed, and the committee agreed to look into them and determined what could be done based on the Township budget.

Nonnenmacher said that one of the goals of the Advisory Committee is to increase the current membership numbers by 130-150 new families. These numbers will increase revenue for the club enough for the Township to hopefully break even on expenses and will aide in alleviating some of the taxpayer’s burden.

Storm precautions for the upcoming bad weather were also discussed briefly with the chief of police, the public works director and the committee.

Chief John Paton and the committee wanted to remind residents that both the township website and the police department website would have updates of pertinent information during the storm. They also reminded residents to sign up for Nixle messaging alerts from the police department that would be sent to resident’s cell
phones. To register for the alerts: text- 07928 (the township zip code) to 888777.

In addition to the Colony report and the storm update, two proclamations were announced at the meeting.

First, November was announced as Chatham Township Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Second, November 22, 2012 (Thanksgiving Day) was announced as Chatham Turkey Trot Day. There will be a Family Fun Run as well a 5K run. All proceeds will go to the Chatham Fire Department and the Diabetes Research Institute.