Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 11 Jan 07 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 (5 of 6): Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Cindy Solic, Kathy Matason, Dr. Kenneth Mawritz. Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.

Absent: Roy Harpster (out of town)

Staff members: 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, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler.

II.      BOARD & AUTHORITY REORGANIZATION FOR 2007

-Pending Reappointments:

• Dr. Ken Mawritz for the SCASD by the State College Borough. His current term expired 31 Dec 06. Mr. Woodhead indicated that although he has not yet been reappointed, Commonwealth law states that he is authorized to serve until reappointed or a replacement named.

• Ms. Kathy Matason has been reappointed by College Township Council. Her 5-year term will expire on 31 Dec 11.

- Election of Board and Authority Officers for 2007:

For the office of Chair, Ms. Mascolo moved to re-elect Ms. Solic as Chair. Dr. Mawritz seconded. All in favor.

For the office of Vice-Chair, Ms. Solic moved to re-elect Ms. Mascolo. Dr. Mawritz seconded. All in favor.

For the office of Secretary, Ms. Mascolo moved to re-elect Dr. Mawritz, pending his official reappointment, as Secretary. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

For the office of Treasurer, Ms. Mascolo moved to re-elect Mr. Harpster as Treasurer. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.

- Authorize the monthly meeting schedule through January 2008:

Ms. Matason moved to accept the proposed meeting schedule through January 2008, continuing on the second Thursday of each month. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor. A legal ad will now be placed by staff in the Centre Daily Times.

III.      COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

IV.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

V.        ACTION ON VOUCHERS

The vouchers for December (included in the meeting packet) were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Dr. Mawritz. All in favor.

VI.      COMMITTEE REPORTS

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - No report; their next meeting is on 18 Jan 07.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - No report; their next meeting is on 17 Jan 07.
Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Ms. Matason reported that College Township P&R Committee asked for the PowerPoint presentation concerning the proposed Puddintown Bikeway (and prepared by the College Township consultants).

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster was not present.

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported the Township is working on the Bernel Road Tract Master Site Plan with their consultants: YSM, York, PA.

- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo reported that the Township is still working on updating their Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan (done every 5 years).

- Borough of State College: No report.

- State College Area School District: No report.

VII.     STAFF REPORTS

Winter & Spring Leisure Guide - The Winter/Spring Leisure Guide was published and included with the Centre Daily Times on Sun., 7 Jan 07. Since the start of registrations (3 days prior), the agency has accepted just under $20,000 in revenue. Mr. Woodhead thanked the staff for their efforts with a special thanks to Ms. Lee, who prepares the Leisure Guide for printing.

December Activity Report - Mr. Woodhead had nothing to add to the report that was included in the Board packet.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Mr. Hall reported that Youth Basketball League started this week. Only the Grade 7-8 League will be playing; the leagues for the other grades (Grades 3-4, 4-5, 9-10) were cancelled due to low registrations. Fitness classes are scheduled to begin and are filling up quickly. He also reported that ballfield reservation requests are coming in already.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events - Now that the Leisure Guide has been published, Ms. Lee is promoting the programs with flyers in the schools, TV, radio, etc. The new programs are filling up: Hip Hop and Pin Blasters (youth bowling). She is now beginning to plan for summer since camp registrations will be accepted in Feb. (which is new).

Molly Hetrick , Recreational Supervisor - Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick is getting ready for summer and for the spring school-group programs. She is also continuing to work on the Capital Campaign and revising the fee schedule presented at the last meeting (to incorporate the suggestions made by the Authority in December).

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - Winter swim sessions begin next week. Mr. Roth is also preparing for summer in terms of staff and the pools.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - Seniors are now registering for the trip to Washington, DC. The registrations for the oil painting class are low so it may have to be cancelled.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The parks crew has been working on general maintenance since the weather has been so mild. The PCC crew is working at Walnut Springs Park. The materials to build the Blue Spring Park ice rink are ready but the rink has not been constructed due to the warmer weather. Depending on the long range forecasts and in view of the costs involved, it may soon not be worth building the rink this winter.

Fall 2006 Program Report - The report was included in the Board packet for review. The 2006 Annual Program Report will be included with the Board packet for the February meeting.

Status of Parks Capital Projects -

- Park Forest Community Pool Renewal Master Site Plan - The final Master Site Plan reports have been received and a request for grant reimbursement ($22,000) has been submitted to DCNR. The plan is posted on the CRPR website, and printed copies of the report are available by request.

- Park Forest Community Pool Renewal Construction Grant - The grant announcement is expected some time in June 2007. The COG Finance Committee is moving forward in developing the funding strategy. The Finance Committee will recommend to the General Forum that Concord Financial Services be engaged to help develop the financing plan and that the funding be accomplished jointly rather than as separate borrowing by each entity. They are also looking at one finance package to include the renewal of both pools.

- William L. Welch Community Pool Renewal Master Site Plan - The land surveying and mapping for the new pool site has been completed by Sweetland Engineering. DCNR is reviewing the Scope of Work that was submitted on 16 Nov 06. DCNR cannot officially authorize the study to begin (or permit us to engage the consultants) until they have a copy of the (new) 25-year lease with the school district. They indicated that CRRA can negotiate with consultants now - but they cannot be engaged. When the Lease is approved and the Scope of Work is officially approved by DCNR, the consultants selected by CRRA can be proposed to DCNR for approval.

- Whitehall Road Parkland Acquisition (75 acres) - This project is moving ahead under the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee. Details of a proposal to prepare the land survey and subdivision request are being finalized. The expected closing is in June 2007.

- Oak Hall Parklands Master Site Plan - This is a COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee responsibility. Tuesday is the deadline for quotes from surveyors to provide 1' contour data about the 68-acre site, then the committee will meet on Thursday to act on the quotes.

VIII.        COMMUNICATIONS - None

IX.      OLD BUSINESS

Welch Pool Surveying Project & Draft Lease - Sweetland Engineering completed the land surveying and mapping for the Welch Pool site. Mr. Woodhead had copies of the plans for the Board to review. This survey data has been incorporated into the draft of the lease. He was asked if this plan included land outside the current fenced area. Yes, it does. The expanded site shown on the survey includes 3.32 acres, an increase from the current leased area of 3.15 acres (which includes lands inside and outside the pool fence). This purpose of the survey was to provide land info for the consultants and for the proposed lease. Ms. Conway asked if this is the maximum amount of land the pool can get at that site. Mr. Woodhead relayed that it is the maximum due to the adjoining stormwater basin and emergency spillway.

An extensive discussion followed about the challenges and possibilities of using this site for the renewed pool. Will it have enough space to provide the kind of pool people want? After some discussion, Dr Mawritz asked the other members of the Board if they were really happy with the fact that the pool would be at this location. Ms. Solic reviewed the long discussion about Welch Pool and whether the pool should be renewed at its present location or relocated. There was some concern about the Welch site due to the proposed renovation of the High Schools and the uncertainty of what will become of the South Building and the surrounding land. Dr. Mawritz indicated that in all the plans he has seen, the Welch site has been reserved for the pool. Although he cannot speak for the School Board, he said that there is a lot of support on the School Board to keep the pool at the present site.

The consensus of the Authority after the discussion was that it was better to proceed with Master Site Plan for the pool at the present site - but have the footprint of a facility that could be used at another site - so the work and funds would not be wasted if the site would change.

The Authority reviewed the draft 25-year lease that Acting CRRA Solicitor Terry Williams had prepared for the expanded Welch Pool tract between CRRA and SCASD. Mr. Woodhead indicated that Mr. Scott Etters from Miller, Kistler, & Campbell is the CRRA Solicitor, but he is also the Solicitor for the State College Area School District. As a result, Mr. Williams will be the counsel for CRRA. One member was concerned that both solicitors are from the same firm, but another member, knowing both individuals, was confident there would be no conflict.

With regard to the draft agreement, it was suggested that the liability insurance sections be clarified as to who was insuring whom and when. Ms. Conway asked that page 3, #4B of the lease be clarified as to the location of shared parking. She was concerned about pool patrons crossing the road from the North Building to the pool. She suggested that the shared parking section be specific with “on the south side of Westerly Parkway.” Dr. Mawritz was not sure the School Board would agree with the location requirement. A discussion followed and consensus was that the proposed lease should be changed to say that Lessor/Lessee would share parking at that location. Ms. Mascolo moved that the Authority endorse the lease draft as revised for comments by the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and then the State College Area School District. After comments by Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and State College Area School District, the draft will come back to the Authority to seek authorization for signatures. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

X.        NEW BUSINESS

Review status of approved 2006 Agency Goals - Mr. Woodhead referred to the report of the status of 2006 Agency goals. The goals proposed for 2007 will be presented at the February meeting.

XI.      ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Ms. Mascolo moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:20 PM.

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for Thursday, 8 Feb 07 at 12:15 PM, COG Forum Room.

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 8 Feb 07; they will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD, and posted on the CRPR website. Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager