A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Commission
Conference Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:00 P.M.
The President in the Chair
PRESENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis
Commissioner Kumar Kishinchand
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of Mayor Edward G. Rendell
Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Mr. Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President Anna C. Verna
AbsenT: Commissioner John K. Binswanger
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
PRESENT: Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff, Fairmount Park
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning
Robert J. Hunter, Secretary, Fairmount Park Commission
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Tracye R. Grinnage, Counsel to the Commission
Jamie Hazelton, Manager, Ranger Operations
Craig Melidosian, President, Fairmount Park Commission Advisory Council
Observers
approval of summary of meeting held June 7, 1999
The Commission unanimously voted to approve the summary of meeting held June 7,
1999.
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD JULY 30, 1999
The Commission unanimously voted to approve the summary of the of the meeting of
the Executive Committee held July 30, 1999, and ratify the action taken by the
Committee.
Report of the development committee
The Chair reported for information that the committee received a report prepared
by Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of Planning, on the cost and the funds
raised to date for the progress on the Water Works.
The estimated cost of the project is approximately $22 million dollars. Over $21
million dollars has been raised. An additional $1.74 million dollars will be
needed to complete the project.
report of Finance Committee
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee:
(A) Fairmount Park Commission Portfolio
To approve the following changes to our portfolio as recommended by our
investment advisor:
Buy $100,000 U.S.A. Treasury note, 5.875% due 11/15/05
The Chair requested the Finance Committee be authorized to approve the
consolidation of the Commission accounts and to have an accounting procedure
where each fund is given a share in the total combined accounts. The chair
stated that at it's next meeting the investment advisor would come before the
Committee to report on the consolidation
(B) Philadelphia Museum of Art Request to Lend Paintings from the Wilstach,
Elkins, McFadden, and Mastbaum Collection.
To approve the Philadelphia Museum of Art request to lend the two following
paintings from the Wilstach Collection:
Portrait of Eugene Coppens de Fontenay, by James Tissot.
Marine in Holland, by Edouard Manet.
The paintings will be insured on a wall to wall basis and accompanied by a
courier for travel and handling.
To approve the Philadelphia Museum of Art request to lend the following painting
from the Elkins Collection:
Old Friends (The Silent Conversation), by Josef Israels.
The paintings will be insured on a wall to wall basis and accompanied by a
courier for travel and handling.
To approve the Philadelphia Museum of Art request to lend the following painting
from the McFadden Collection:
Conversation Piece (portrait of Sir Andrew Fountaine with Other Men and Women),
by William Hogarth.
The paintings will be insured on a wall to wall basis and accompanied by a
courier for travel and handling.
To approve the Philadelphia Museum of Art request to lend the following
sculptures from the Mastbaum Collection
The Thinker, by Auguste Rodin
Two Hands, by Auguste Rodin
Thought, by Auguste Rodin
Crouching Women, by Auguste Rodin
Andromeda, by Auguste Rodin
The sculptures will be insured on a wall to wall basis and accompanied by a
courier for travel and handling.
The Chair asked for authorization to meet along with the Commission President,
the President of the Art Museum to discuss the implications of having Rodin
sculptures on loan during a time when the City will be hosting a major
convention. Authorization was granted.
report of Natural Lands Programs Committee
The Chair reported there were no action items to present to the Commission .
report of park use review committee
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use Review
Committee:
(A) Friends of Pastorius Park
To grant at the request of the friends a 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for
Pastorius Park
(B) Request to Host the Philly Hometown College Festival
To grant at the request of staff the use of the parking area of the Mann Music
Center on October 9, 1999 for a City sponsored concert in an attempt to attract
and retain undergraduate and graduate students to the Philadelphia area.
REPORT OF Planning Committee
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
(A) The American Patriots Fund
To grant approval to the American Patriots fund for permission to place in
Washington Square a bronze plaque as a tribute to Ambassador Tom Foglietta for
his efforts towards the restoration of Washington Square and the entire National
Park area. Commissioner Syrnick: Opposed.
(B) Friends of Pennypack Park
To grant approval to the Friends of Pennypack Park for the installation of a
commemorative plaque at Verree Road and Susquehanna Avenue recognizing those
involved in the renovation of the neighborhood playground at that site.
report of property committee
The Chair reported for information that the Committee received the report of
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Property Management for the Fairmount Park
Commission. Currently, staff is in the process of distributing the non-profit
organization questionnaire and hopeful that the process will be completed by the
spring of 2000. In addition, earnest negotiating of long-term leases with
various entities on Boathouse Row has begun. The Chair recognized Deputy
Director Waller for his excellent report.
report of Designee to Glenn Foerd conservation Corp. board of directors
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Borski,
Designee to the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp. Board of Directors.
report of the designee to bartram's garden board of directors
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Ballard,
Designee to the Bartram's Garden Board of Directors.
report of the designee to pegasus riding academy board of directors
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Deputy Director Dennis
Waller, Designee to the Pegasus Riding Academy Board of Directors.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FAIRMOUNT PARK
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Executive Director William
E. Mifflin.
report of the fairmount park ranger corps
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Jamie Hazelton, Manager,
Fairmount Park Ranger Corps.
report of Fairmount park commission advisory council
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Craig Melidosian,
President, Fairmount Park Advisory Council.
NEW BUSINESS
(A) Commissioner Mason:
(a) inquired as to the procedure for getting onto the Commission Agenda.
Director Mifflin explained that all requests are directed to his office in
writing.
(b) inquired as to who has responsibility for trees in the City.
Director Mifflin noted that the Commission is responsible for trees in the
public right of way and briefly reviewed the Commission policy.
(c) requested to have entered into the record her appreciation to Deputy
Director Waller for his help and intervention resolving a conflict between two
groups regarding the use of a picnic area.
(B) Commissioner Clarke:
inquired as to the Park's Capital Budget process. Deputy Director Craighead
responded that all City money must follow the City's bidding process and
whenever private money is involved, the Commission attempts to mirror the City's
requirements as much as possible.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, October
13, 3:00 p.m., in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held September 15, 1999 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.