Summer camp, air show added more than $27,000 to New Garden coffers
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
A presentation by Jonathan Martin, manager of New Garden Flying Field, elicited applause from the audience at Monday night’s New Garden Township supervisors’ meeting.
At this past week’s New Garden Township supervisors’ meeting – which was firmly grounded in routine business – an airport presentation not only elevated the interest level, but it also generated an uncommon reaction: applause.
“Jon, hats off to you,” Supervisor Bob Norris said as Jonathan Martin, manager of New Garden Flying Field, completed a presentation that included a summary of the Future Aviators Summer Camp, the 2013 air show, and a status update on maintenance and expansion projects. Supervisor Pete Scilla called the programs “win-win all around” for the township.
Martin said the weeklong summer camp began in 2009 with 28 participants and just finished its fifth year with 104 young campers and a more than five-fold increase in profit – from $1,731 to $9,222. He said the camp, which has been publicized primarily by word of mouth and social media, attracted participants from as far away as Texas. He said few programs offer an opportunity for field trips and hands-on activities for young, aspiring aviators.
The 2013 Festival of Flight represented a similar success, Martin said. Held on Aug. 24 and 25, the air show generated $18,563 in revenue for the township after expenses were paid. Plans to expand the airport, which had been on hold, are back on track through the New Garden Hangar Association LLC, a group of pilots who intend to serve as developers and move forward with the construction.
In other business, Peg Jones, a member of the township’s Historical Commission, presented information on the cost of making repairs to Lamborn House, which is located in New Garden Township Park, so that the township might be able to rent it. “Old houses that aren’t lived in deteriorate,” she told the board, which requested that she get estimates from at least three contractors for the work.
After discussion over several meetings, the supervisors voted to approve a refinancing agreement with National Penn Bank for the administration building, despite a plea by Norris to table the vote. The supervisors rejected earlier suggestions that the loan amount be increased since the township needs a permanent police station, opting to deal separately with that financing at a later date.
New Garden Township Police Chief Gerald Simpson said progress is being made on both a new “temporary” station as well as a report on what will be needed to ensure a permanent solution. “It’s not a good fit, but we’re going to make it work,” Simpson said of the new trailer that was put in place near the existing, mold-infested building.
Norris, who is working with Simpson to compile suggestions for a permanent station, said the two had been visiting other departments to see what setup might work best. “We’re moving ahead, “ Norris said.
After voting to approve the township’s monthly bills, Supervisor Robert Perrotti said he wished that Interim Township Manager Spence Andress wanted to make his position permanent; however, since Andress has indicated otherwise, Perrotti echoed a recurring theme on the board, imploring the group to begin working on finding his replacement, a process that could take up to six months. “We’re paying a ton of money for an interim manager,” Perrotti said.
The next supervisors’ meeting will be held on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
