Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 12 Oct 06 at the COG Forum Room

I.         CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Chair Cindy Solic called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.

Board members attending (6 of 6): Roy Harpster, Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Cindy Solic, Kathy Matason. The Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) 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, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center Molly Hetrick, Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler.

Absent: Parks Supervisor Greg Roth              Guest: James Steff, Executive Director

II.       COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            The minutes of the regularly scheduled September meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Ms. Conway. All in favor.

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

            The vouchers for September (included in the meeting packet) were approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

V.        COMMITTEE REPORTS

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - The committee’s last meeting was in August; they will meet on 19 Oct 06.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - The Advisory Committee met on 20 Sep 06 with the following items on the agenda: reviewed the programs and discussed fall programing; reviewed plans presented by Architect Alan Popovich for the Wetlab that is to be completed in the MMNC barn; and noted the laboratory glassware that was donated to the Wetlab by PSU. The committee reviewed a letter from the Smith Partnership concerning Thompson Woods and ClearWater Conservancy will coordinate a response. Approximately $531,000 has been pledged for the MMNC Capital Campaign to date.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: No report.

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that Harris Township will be dedicating Stan Yoder Preserve on 29 Oct 06.

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: No report

- Ferguson Township: No report

- Borough of State College: No report

- State College Area School District: No report

VI.      STAFF REPORTS

Grant Status - Mr. Woodhead reported that the grant status would be reported every month since 4 grants are in process. The Master Site Plan for Park Forest Community Pool Renewal ($22,000) is completed. The construction grant for Park Forest Community Swimming Pool Renewal has been submitted. All of the other grants have been approved: Master Site Plan for William L. Welch Community Swimming Pool Renewal ($33,000); Parkland Acquisition (75 acres) off Whitehall Road ($159,000); Master Site Plan for Oak Hall Parklands ($38,000).

August Agency Report - Mr. Woodhead highlighted the increase in revenue over last year.

Summer 2006 Program Report - Mr. Woodhead related that Ms. Mascolo distributed a draft of the Summer Program Report to Ferguson Township Supervisors. Ms. Mascolo said the supervisors suggested that a copy of the Amusement Park Ticket flyer be sent to the townships to include in their newsletters.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - All the fall sessions are up and running except Youth wrestling that has a November start. Mr. Hall is getting ready for winter/spring programs.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The second session of swimming has just begun and the pools are being winterized and buttoned up for the winter.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events - It has been very hard to hire staff for gymnastics this fall, but gymnastics has been going very well. A new class “Car Care for Women” was successful, so we may offer it again. Dark in the Park will be held 18 Oct 06 at Sunset Park and the Halloween Parade is scheduled for 29 Oct 06.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - The staff at the Senior Center is busy scheduling flu shots (210 appointments so far). The 2007 Senior Center calendar is at the printer. Carolyn Clitherow, PT Senior Center Program Assistant, participated in a retirement fair. The event coordinator complimented Carolyn on the great job she did.

Molly Hetrick , Recreational Supervisor - Nature Center - The Millbrook Marsh is hosting school groups, adults, and regular fall programs with a great deal of success. November 5 will be the Historic Harvest Festival at the Marsh; PSU students are in charge of planning the event. Ms. Hetrick is planning events in late winter and early spring. Ms. Conway asked about the construction that was underway at the Marsh. Ms. Hetrick explained that it was the Slab Cabin Run reconstruction project that PSU is doing that includes installing stream veins to channel the water replenishing the wetlands. This project was previously approved by the Authority and funded by PSU.

Mr. Woodhead reported for Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - Mr. Greg Roth was attending a meeting with Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. concerning the parking lot at Millbrook Marsh. They will be providing paved entrances into the new parking areas; the lot itself will be constructed by the Parks Maintenance crews and will consist of gravel, not paving. A report was distributed listing the sites and 146 volunteers for United Way Day of Caring. Overall, the current challenge is that summer employees are leaving but the work continues.

VII.    COMMUNICATIONS - None

VIII.   OLD BUSINESS

Park Forest Pool Renewal

Master Site Plan - The adoption of Resolution #4-2006 for the final master site plan report was approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms. Mascolo. All in favor. This will allow the Authority to apply for grant reimbursement in the amount of $22,000.

Status of Consultant Payments - The project was within budget and currently at least 10% of the consultant fees have been withheld pending DCNR approval of the report.

PA DCNR Grant Application for Construction - The grant application for $350,000 was submitted to Harrisburg in September on schedule. Mr. Woodhead thanked Mr. Todd Roth for his work on the grant application.

Meeting with Concord Finance - Mr. Woodhead reported on a meeting held with Mr. Chris Gibbons of Concord Public Finance. The purpose of the meeting was to gather information about possible funding strategies for the pool projects and other large regional projects. The COG Finance Committee will being reviewing the options and making a recommendation to the COG General Forum. This report was just to keep the Board informed. There was some discussion as to who would be borrowing, which will be part of the COG Finance Committee discussions.

XI.      NEW BUSINESS

Master Site Planning Process - - Mr. Woodhead led a discussion on the Master Site Planning Process

for Welch Pool. In order to minimize the confusion for the public, it is proposed that the public meetings for the Welch Pool Master Site Plan and the Oak Hall Master Site Plan be held with a 30 days delay (one month) behind the other. What happens next depends on DCNR. The staff would like to use the same companies as they used for Park Forest Master Site Plan, but we cannot proceed until we hear from DCNR. A scope of work and RFP would still be sent to these firms. Ms. Mascolo asked if we have a 25-year lease for the land from the school district. Mr. Woodhead indicated the lease is currently being developed, and that we have to ensure the land will accommodate our needs in terms of expansion, that there will be adequate parking, that we receive state funding, and that it will be funded by the five participating municipalities. There was concern that with the public disagreement with the school district over their renovation plans might leave Welch Pool plans without the necessary land or parking for the renewal plans. Dr. Mawritz indicated he didn’t think that was a problem; that the land has been dedicated to the pool in all the SCAHS plans.

2007 Budget- Mr. Woodhead explained the changes were made to the budget per the COG Finance Committee since the budget copies were given to the Board members at the last meeting. Updated copies will be provided to the Board.

X.        ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Ms. Mascolo moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:30 P.M.

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

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

Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager