A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Commission
Conference Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:25 P.M.
Vice-President Shrager in the Chair
PRESENT: Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Richaed Roy
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Mr. William Carapucci, Deputy Commissioner, Recreation Commission, representing
Commissioner Victor N, Richard
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President
Anna C. Verna
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
ABSENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard
Commissioner John K. Binswanger
ALSO
PRESENT: William E. Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff, Fairmount Park
Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning
Valerie Robinson, Counsel to the Commission
Robert J. Hunter, Secretary, Fairmount Park Commission
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Beth Ounsworth, President, Friends of Philadelphia Parks
Observers
approval of summary of meeting held March 14, 2001
The Commission voted to approve the summary of the meeting held March 14, 2001.
report of Finance Committee
The Commission voted not to adopt the recommendation of the Finance Committee to
move forward on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Special Events Policy. The
Commission then moved to adopt the Benjamin Franklin Special Events Policy. The
motion carried. Commissioners Bloom and Clarke opposed.
report of Natural Lands Programs Committee
The Chair reported there were no action items for Commission.
report of park use review committee
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use Review
Committee:
(A) Request of the Philadelphia Ceili Group
To grant at the request of the Philadelphia Ceili Group approval to hold its
event at Memorial Hall on September 8, 2001 from 12:00 noon until 11:00 p.m. The
motion was unanimously carried.
(B) Request of the American Society of Association Executives
To grant at the request of the American Society of Association Executives
approval to hold its event on the East Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
on Saturday August 4, 2001 from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
The motion was unanimously carried.
(C) Request of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
To grant at the request of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee approval
for the graphics for its banners to be used in conjunction with the regatta
subject to the approval of the Art Commission. The motion was unanimously
carried.
(D) Request of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square
(1) To grant at the request of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square approval of its
Littlest Friends Festival on Wednesday June 20, 2001. (2) To grant at the
request of the friends of Rittenhouse Square approval for the Ball on the Square
to be held Thursday June 21, 2001. The motions were unanimously carried.
(E) Request of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
To grant at the request of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
approval to use the grounds of Memorial Hall to host their Centennial
Celebration on Sunday, May 19, 2002 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The motion
was unanimously carried.
(F) Request of Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association
To grant at the request of the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association approval
to host a five-day exhibit of fine art on the Square from Wednesday June 6, to
Sunday June 10, 2001. The motion was unanimously carried.
(G) Request of Philadelphia City Paper
To grant to Philadelphia City Paper approval to host its 20th Anniversary Party
on the East Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, July 20, 2001
from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The motion carried. Commissioners Bloom, Nix,
Pauciello opposed; Commissioner Levy abstained.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
Request of the John Bartram Association
To approve the request of the John Bartram Association for final approval for
the construction of an office building and barn on land recently acquired by the
Commission. The motion carried.
Request of the Streets Department
To give final approval for the relocation of the Abraham Lincoln Statue and the
reconfiguration of Kelly Drive. Commissioner Syrnick abstained. The motion
carried.
report of PROPERTY COMMITTEE
The Property Committee Chair reported Committee had received the request of La
Salle University to consider transferring or leasing property from the
Commission on a long-term basis. The property is adjacent to the University.
There were no action items for Commission.
REPORT OF designee to Mann Center for the Performing Arts
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Robert N. C.
Nix III, Designee to the Mann Center for The Performing Arts. The Commission
moved to accept the report. The motion was unanimously carried.
report of designee to loudoun mansion board of directors
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Robert N. C.
Nix III, Designee to the Loudoun Mansion Board of Directors. The Commission
voted to accept the report. The motion was unanimously carried.
Report of the director of fairmount park
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of William E. Mifflin,
Executive Director of Fairmount Park.
The Commission voted to adopt a resolution designating Fairmount Park as a
Commonwealth Treasure. The award comes with no strings attached and $1,000 a
year to cover administrative costs. The motion was unanimously carried.
Report of the Friends of Philadelphia Parks
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Beth Ounsworth, President,
Friends of Philadelphia Parks.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Mason inquired as to how permits for Chamonix Tennis Courts are
given out. Director Mifflin explained that permits are controlled by the Friends
of Chamonix and for the most part they have exclusive use of the courts.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, May 9,
2001, 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held April 11, 2001 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.