Jul 23, 2002 By April Straughters 3 min read

LUZERNE TWP. – After a tumultuous beginning, a meeting to discuss future decision-making for the jointly owned Brownsville-Luzerne Park had a fruitful ending. Brownsville Borough officials and Luzerne Township supervisors, along with members of the Brownsville-Luzerne Park (Pasty Hillman Park) Board, met Monday to discuss complaints from township supervisors of being ill-informed on park business.

After complaints from Supervisor Ron DeSalvo, who has said the township knows nothing about park business, particularly proposed logging there, the three groups with the help of solicitor Jack Purcell came up with a solution.

Purcell advised meeting minutes and annual reports be sent to both municipalities; the park be audited annually and that the three groups hold an annual joint meeting. He also said financial reports should be made available to the public.

“Joint interaction is essential,” Purcell said. “I grew up in this area, and the same animosities I saw as a kid seem to never have ended, but they have to end. With state and federal government (funding agencies), that’s what they want to see, municipalities getting together. The park has an opportunity to create something powerful for this community.”

Frank Ricco, president of the park board, agreed. He said when people are thinking of moving to the area, the first questions they ask are about the schools, hospitals and recreation.

The Brownsville-Luzerne Park, which officials said is really named the Patsy Hillman Park and should be called by that name, is 466 acres with a lake and a pavilion. Browns-ville and Luzerne Township jointly own the park, and each has five representatives that sit on the park’s board of directors.

Officials from both Luzerne Township and Brownsville addressed issues concerning the running of the park.

Luzerne Township supervisors addressed concerns over proposed logging that they say they knew nothing about. They said they are not informed of park business, mentioning grant-writing projects and also talked about needed police protection.

In response to their lack of information concerning the park, Ricco said that should not be an issue when the meetings are made public, are covered by the media and the township has five representatives on the board.

Bella said the issue over the logging is a misunderstanding.

“That was definitely a lack of communication. We never voted on anything, we opened proposals. There’s no withholding information,” he said.

As far as police protection from the borough, council President Jack Lawver said the borough police have no jurisdiction at the park, which is in Luzerne Township. He also said they only have one patrol officer and have a contract with another township for police protection.”Our police are nothing more than security guards in that area,” he said.

Brownsville representatives expressed concerns over the financial contribution to the park, saying that they pay $2,500, while Luzerne Township provides free fuel, labor and repairs. “I think both municipalities should work on financial part of the park. We appoint 10 members and ask them to progress the park and don’t give them anything to work with,” Lawver said.

DeSalvo said the township gives approximately $500 worth of fuel to the park. He said he counted $3,500 worth of repairs and other services given to the park, not including money given.

Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan said the park budget has remained the same since 1964 at $8,500. She said increasing the funds with the times, the budget should be up to $40,000 in 2002.

Ricco said the park has a $10,000 budget if you only include funds from the municipalities. He said if you include in-kind funds that would push it to almost $20,000 available to the park.