Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 9 Feb 06 at the COG Forum Room

I.       CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Chair Cindy Solic called the meeting to order at 12:16 P.M.

Board members attending (6 of 6): Cindy Solic, Sue Mascolo, Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Roy Harspter, Kathleen Matason, Donna Conway. The Borough Council Liaison (non-voting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.

Staff members present: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor Programs & Special Events Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor Nature Center Molly Hetrick, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Office Manager Diane Ishler.

Absent: Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum

II.      REORGANIZATION FOR 2006

New Representative for the Borough of State College - Donna L. Conway is the newly appointed representative to the CRPR/CRRA Board from the Borough of State College. Her term will expire 31 Dec 10. The group welcomed her to the Board.

Election of Officers for 2006 - Ms. Mascolo moved that, except for the Vice Chair, the same officers serve through 2006. Mr. Harpster seconded. All in favor. Mr. Harpster moved that Ms. Mascolo serve as the Vice Chair for 2006. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. The 2006 Board/Authority Officers are:

                    Chair             Cindy Solic

                    Vice-chair      Sue Mascolo

                    Secretary      Kenneth Mawritz

                    Treasurer      Roy Harpster

III.    COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

IV.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES  The minutes for the January meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Dr. Mawritz. All in favor.

V.       ACTION ON VOUCHERS  The vouchers from January, distributed with the February agenda packets, were approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms. Mascolo. All in favor.

VI.     COMMITTEE REPORTS

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Ms. Matason reported that the last committee meeting was a reorganizational meeting with Jennifer Shuey re-elected as Chair and Richard Marboe re-elected as Vice Chair. They also confirmed the subcommittees. Ms. Jean Aron is recommended as ClearWater Conservancy’s second representative to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee. Ms. Matason made the motion to appoint Jean Aron to the Advisory Committee. Mr. Harpster seconded. All in favor. Her term will expire on 31 Dec 07.

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Woodhead reported that the Ad Hoc Committee has been focused on completing the Articles of Agreement for Regional Park Planning & Development. A copy of the final draft was included with the Board member packets for review and comment. The draft was also sent to the COG Solicitor for comment. Mr. Harpster stated that this is just the beginning of a process aimed strictly for planning and construction money. Mr. Woodhead indicated that the operation costs (maintenance and programs) would be included by Centre Region Parks & Recreation the same as other municipal parks.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Ms. Matason reported that the group reorganized for the new year.

- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo reported that Ferguson Township Parks & Recreation has received bids to construct new tennis courts at Homestead Park. This time they seem to be reasonable and Ferguson will be choosing one of the bids.

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that they discussed work plans for 2006; some projects include the parking lot at Stan Yoder Perserve and working on the Harpster property reported to have a bike path around the property and 30% of the 50% open space is to be parkland. CRPR may be asked to take over this parkland in 2007.

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported that Patton Township committee reorganized for 2006. She also indicated that the school district distributed bid documents for the renovation of their tennis courts beside Circleville Park on the Haugh Tract.

          -Borough of State College - Ms. Conway is the new representative for the Borough of State College.

-State College Area School District - Dr. Mawritz reported that the school district is working hard on the phasing plans for the new school construction. Mr. Woodhead has been working with Mr. Poprik, State College School District Physical Plant, on the project phasing issues and the district appreciates that.

VII.    STAFF REPORTS

January Agency Report - Mr. Woodhead had nothing to add to the January report.

Nature Center Program Summary 2005 - Mr. Woodhead emphasized the way the number of visits have increased at the Nature Center.

Annual Program Report for 2005 - Ms. Solic suggested that the increase in adult activities shows that we are moving in the right direction with the new programs offered. Mr. Hall indicated that while the adult classes are increasing, the youth programs have decreased. A discussion followed about the decrease in youth participation. Dr. Mawritz indicated that the numbers of some age groups are decreased in the District.

Forms-of-Payment Report for 2001-2005 - Mr. Woodhead reviewed the Method of Payment report indicating that 40% of the customers paid by credit card.

2006 Account Starting Balance - Mr. Woodhead indicated that all the fund balances, except aquatics, were very good. In most cases, the fund balance exceeded expectations.

Staff Guide - Winter/Spring 2006 - The staff guide for Winter/Spring 2006 was provided to the Board members so they could see the staff required to provide programs for this time of year.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Winter programs are running smoothly. Mr. Hall is working on ballfield reservations and on the upcoming spring programs.

Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick has been working hard on the Capital Campaign. She is also working on the scheduling school groups for spring and summer.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor -Programs and Special Events - Ms. Lee is working on the Summer Leisure Guide, due to be published 2 Apr 06. She is also finalizing some summer camp details and creating a summer camp flyer in preparation for the Summer Youth Fair to be held Saturday, 11 Feb. 06, at the University. Attendees at the fair will be able to get camp information but will not yet be able to register.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The parks crew is working on ballfields, depending on the weather. The ballfield mix has been delivered for finishing the leased school fields. The present crew has a lot of skills and is refurbishing equipment. The PCC crew is removing invasive species and power washing the Wet Lab at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The first session of swim lessons have ended and the second session is about to start. Mr. Todd Roth is trying to find more sponsors for the special events he has planned for the pools this summer. The RFP documents for the Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan were mailed out.

Ronald Woodhead reported for Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - Ms. Lindenbaum was out of town so Mr. Woodhead reported that the indoor walking program started by the Senior Center is so popular that the Centre County Office of Aging would like to begin this program in the other Senior Centers in Centre County. The walking program has the seniors walking the back hall of the Senior Center - the Borough is allowing the seniors to decorate the hallway to make it a nicer place to walk.

VIII.  COMMUNICATIONS - none

 IX.     OLD BUSINESS

Pool Renewals:

          Welch Pool: Nothing new

Park Forest Pool - Master Site Plan

-“Scope of Work” and RFP documents were approved by PA DCNR and mailed out on 31 Jan 06 to 1 lead design firm, 15 Aquatic design firms, and 8 land surveying firms. HP Architects has previously been specified by the Authority as the Lead Design firm. The proposals are due by 21 Feb 06 and Board members will be asked to approve the selection of firms at the next meeting.

-Appointment of Pool Renewal Project Committee members. The committee would consist of: 3 from CRRA - Cindy Solic, Roy Harpster, Sue Mascolo;

2 Pool Patrons/Community Members - George Vlismas & (1 more volunteer needed);

                              2 Student Reps from SCAHS - Dan Henning & Anne Lawrence;

                              2 Swim Team Parent Reps. - Rick Madore & Karen Foard

                              1 SCASD - Heather Shakely, HS Natatorium Manager.

Ms. Matason moved to approve the Pool Renewal Project Committee members. Dr. Mawritz seconded. All in favor.

X.       NEW BUSINESS

Agreement to Participate in the Central Westmoreland COG’s 2006 Vehicle Purchase Program - Mr. Woodhead recommended that the Board authorize a $130 “2006 Membership”in the Central Westmoreland COG so that we can participate in their cooperative purchasing contract. This will enable us to obtain the best prices on the 2 new trucks to be purchased by CRPR in 2006. Mr. Harpster moved that Mr. Woodhead be authorized to sign the membership agreement for CRRA participation in the program. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor.

          Follow-up Report:

          Truck #1:      Sticker Price $27,778          Contract Price $19,555.

          Truck #2:      Sticker Price $30,768          Contract Price $23,148.

                    The new trucks were picked up in Monroeville on 1 Mar 06.

Annual Agency Goals - Mr. Woodhead reviewed the 2005 agency goals, what was completed and what was ongoing. Ms. Mascolo moved to accept the 2006 goals. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.

Mr. Humphrey asked if the grant application for the development of the Welch Pool Master Site Plan was submitted. Mr. Woodhead indicated that it was submitted in September per the state deadline..

XI.     ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Ms. Mascolo moved to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:10 P.M.

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 9 Mar 06, 12:15 PM at the COG Building, Forum Room

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 9 Mar 06. They will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD, and posted on the CRPR website.

Meeting minutes prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager