A meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Committee Meeting
Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:45 P.M.
The President in the Chair.
PRESENT: President Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner E. Harris Baum
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis
Commissioner Debra Wolf Goldstein
Commissioner Kumar Kishinchand
Commissioner Philip Price, Jr.
Commissioner Victor Richard, III
Commissioner Doris A. Smith
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Commissioner Leon Tucker
Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
Mary Mason, Designated Representative of Council President Anna C. Verna
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
ABSENT: Commissioner John K. Binswanger
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
ALSO Philip Goldsmith, Executive Director
Barry Bessler, Chief of Staff
PRESENT: Lawrence Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Carol Roache, Commission Secretary
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of Development & Planning
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Observers
APPROVAL OF JULY MINUTES
A motion was made and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the July
Commission meeting with the modification as follows:
A motion was made to change the Art Museum parking fee only at Eakins Oval.
APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A motion was made and unanimously carried to formally appoint Philip Goldsmith
as Interim Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Commission.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Philip Goldsmith, Executive Director, introduced himself to the Commissioners
and spoke briefly on his approach to the new position and promotion of the Park.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendation of the Finance Committee.
(A) Fairmount Park Commission Trust Portfolio Account
To approve the recommendation of the portfolio manager to:
Sell 7 Shs Agere Systems Class A
185 Shs Agere Systems Class B
300 Shs Freddie Mac
8 Shs JM Smucker Corp.
60 Shs Travelers PC-A
124 Shs Travelers PC-B
$50,000 GMAC note of 7% due 9/15/2002
Buy 600 Shs International Paper
2,100 Shs MBNA Corp.
400 Shs Wells Fargo & Co.
$50,000 U.S. Treasury note of 5.75% due 11/15/2005
The motion was unanimously carried.
(B) Report of Committee Chair
Commissioner Bloom reported to the Commission of his intention to interview
money managers as potential Commission investment advisors. No action was
required.
REPORT OF THE NATURAL LANDS RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
COMMITTEE
The Committee heard the report of Program Administrator, Mark Focht. There were
no action items for the Commission.
REPORT OF THE PARK USE REVIEW COMMITTEE
(A) Cancer Research Foundation of Americas Colossal Colon Tour
Commissioner Syrnick, Chair, tabled the request of the Cancer Research
Foundation for permission to display a 40 replica colon at JFK Plaza from
September 30 to October 5, 2003 until the October meeting at which time more
information and photographs will be available.
(B) United American Indians of the Delaware Valley Festival
The United American Indians of the Delaware Valley requested permission to use
Belmont Memorial Grove on October 18 to October 20, 2002 for an American Indians
Festival and asked that the Commission waive all fees. The motion was made and
unanimously carried to grant permission for the festival but not waive the fees.
(C) Vision Quest Event
Commissioner Syrnick reported to the Commission that Vision Quest is holding an
event at Belmont Memorial Grove on September 14 and 15,, 2002, and all required
fees were paid. No action was required.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE
(A) The Irish Memorial
The Irish Memorial, Inc. requested approval of Phase One of the Irish Memorial,
located at Front and Chestnut Streets. The motion was made and unanimously
carried to approve Phase One with the understanding that the endowment necessary
to maintain the structure upon completion will be studied prior to returning to
the Commission for approval of Phase Two.
(B) Recognition Plaques at Washington Square
The American Revolution Patriots Fund requested permission to install 3 granite
plaques in the ceremonial area in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of
the American Revolution. This item was tabled to the October meeting with the
understanding that the American Revolution Patriots Fund would work with Park
staff to find another suitable location and consider reducing the number of
plaques from three to one, possibly eliminating the salutation in favor of the
contributing donor.
(C) Mural at Papa Playground
The Papa Advisory Council requested permission to paint an 8X20 mural on the
Lansdowne Avenue side of the building at Papa Playground. The motion was
unanimously carried with the understanding that the Advisory Council will work
directly with the Citys Mural Arts Program in the design, planning, and
installation of the artwork.
(D) Band of Brothers Memorial
Joseph Ricci requested permission to install a 28X42 granite plaque honoring the
Band of Brothers at Marconi Plaza in front of the Marconi statue. This matter
was referred to Park staff to find another suitable site either in the Park or
elsewhere and tabled to the October meeting.
(E) The Water Mill at Manayunk
Albert M. Greenfield & Co., Inc. requested approval of a landscape plan for 100
Lexington Avenue, which fronts the towpath in Manayunk. This matter was referred
to Park staff to review easement rights, property lines and access to the
towpath. This item was tabled to the October meeting.
(F) Replacement Fence at Historic RittenhouseTown
Historic RittenhouseTown requested approval for replacement fencing at #207
Lincoln Drive in accordance with the Trusts guidance and recommendation. The
motion was unanimously carried.
REPORT OF THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE
(A) Transfer of Water Works to Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust
The Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust requested approval to place the
Water Works on their list of designated properties. This matter was tabled to
the October meeting pending a memorandum of law from the Solicitors Office with
input from the Trust and the Capital Programs Office.
PRESIDENTS REPORT
(A) Search Committee
President Nix thanked Commissioner Price for raising the funds to initiate a
search for a permanent executive director. President Nix asked Commissioner
Price to serve as Chair of the Search Committee and Commissioners Bloom, Makadon
and Tucker also to serve on the Committee. Any other commissioners interested in
serving on the Search Committee were invited to contact Committee Chair Price.
Commissioner Smith also confirmed that she would serve.
(B) Commission Events
President Nix announced that a Breakfast with the Friends groups has been
scheduled for September 24th at the Horticulture Center. Fairmount Park
Commissioners have been invited to attend the Parks Volunteer Reception at the
Horticulture Center on October 22nd at 5:30PM. On November 22nd, the
Commissioners will hold their second planning/retreat session at one of the Park
houses. Director Goldsmith announced that a Park staff tour will be held on
September 27th and all commissioners are invited to attend. Finally, President
Nix asked Commissioner Syrnick to chair a Golf Fundraising Committee to hold a
golf outing at Cobbs Creek Golf Course in June 2003.
(C) Use of Memorial Hall
Both the Please Touch Museum and a Civil War group have expressed interest in
the use of Memorial Hall as a possible museum site. Commissioner Baum made a
motion to secure appropriate funding to undertake a general feasibility study
regarding the potential uses of Memorial Hall. The motion carried with the
understanding that Commissioner Baum will return to the Commission with the name
of the funder and consultant before the feasibility study begins. Commissioners
Bloom and DiBerardinis opposed.
(D) Presentation by Mr. Goppelt
Mr. Goppelt, webmaster of Hallwatch, thanked the Commission for taking on the
responsibility of reforming the park system and reminded Commissioners to file
their financial disclosure forms.
PRESENTATION BY BARTRAMS GARDEN
William LeFevre, Executive Director of the John Bartram Association, presented
the Commission with a plaque honoring the Fairmount Park Commission for the
architecture to the barn renovations.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, October
9, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. at Lloyd Hall, #1 Boathouse Row.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held September 10, 2002 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.