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Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board / Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 13 Sep 07 at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Barn
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 5): Cindy Solic, Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Kathleen Matason, Roy
Harpster. Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.
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, Senior Center Director Barbara
Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler.
Guests: James Steff, COG Executive Director; Dr. Rick Marboe representing Millbrook Marsh Nature
Center Capital Campaign
II. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none
III. AUTHORITY / BOARD ORGANIZATION
Mr. Woodhead indicated that Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, School District representative, submitted a letter
of resigned since he is moving from the area. The school district has been asked to recommend
another appointee for Borough Council consideration. Since Dr. Mawritz was the elected secretary of
the Authority, a new secretary should be appointed or elected for the remaining officer term
(through January 2008). Ms. Matason volunteered and was confirmed as the Secretary of the Centre
Region Parks & Recreation/Centre Regional Recreation Authority Board through January 2008.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the August meeting were approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms.
Matason. All in favor.
V. ACTION ON VOUCHERS
The vouchers for August were approved on a motion by Ms. Matason and seconded by Ms. Mascolo.
All in favor.
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Woodhead related that the Ad Hoc committee started to
discuss the formula for funding the regional parks. The committee asked Mr. Woodhead to
check on what the costs were of developing other large parks in the state. The committee
would like to have the funding formula finalized by the year end. Ms. Solic suggested the
figures given for the Bernel Road Park project may be used as an example; also, maybe
Circleville Road Park costs.
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - A presentation will be made later in the
meeting.
Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members
- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Meeting will be Monday
- Borough of State College: No report
- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: No report
- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported they continue to meet to develop
the Bernel Road Park Master Site Plan.
- Ferguson Township: No report
- State College Area School District: No report.
VII. STAFF REPORTS
August 2007 Activity Report - Mr. Woodhead reported that summer activities ended in August and
preparations were made for the publishing the Fall Leisure Guide.
Publishing of the Fall 2007 Leisure Guide - Ms. Lee reported that the Fall Leisure Guide was
published and distributed in the Centre Daily Times on Sunday, 26 Aug 07. The Leisure
Guides have been distributed at businesses and municipal offices across the region.
Supervisor Highlights:
Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Ms. Lee is working to obtain as much
free radio advertising as possible and then target certain items. The fall programs will begin
at the end of the week.
Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The Eagle Scout finished his “trail swale bridge” project at Thompson
Woods Preserve. The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Boardwalk has been extended almost to
the Quonset Hut and is very nice and very popular already. The crew has been working on the
Spring Creek Park garage extension.
Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The pools are closed and swim lessons for fall begin on Monday at
the High School natatorium.
Molly Hetrick , Recreational Supervisor - Nature Center - Ms Hetrick introduced Jennifer Watts-Matise
who has been serving as the seasonal Program Coordinator for programs at the nature center.
Ms. Hetrick also commented that the extension on the boardwalk is amazing. Millbrook Marsh
will celebrate its 10th birthday on Sunday at the annual Spring Creek Day at the Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center. There will be free cake and coffee to celebrate.
Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - Registrations for fall programs are going well. The bus
trip to Franklin, PA, is full. An avenue for new revenue called “Senior Center Calendar
Partners”provides advertising space in the annual and monthly calendars.
Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - The registrations for fall classes is going very
well with over 60 registered in the Start Smart youth programs (soccer, football, golf), 6
classes of tennis, 130 in fitness classes, 18 adult flag football teams, and adult basketball and
volleyball leagues to start soon.
VIII. COMMUNICATIONS
Centre County Greenway and Recreation Plan - Mr. Woodhead was invited to attend the kick-off
meeting on 30 Aug 07. The county process will take a year or so to complete. Mr. Humphrey
related that Centre County has stayed away from eminent domain with respect to their rails-to-trails plans. Mr. Woodhead indicated he thought people were concerned about what was to
happen with the abandoned rail properties. A flyer concerning the program was included in
the Board member packets. In addition, county staff have been invited to attend a future
Board meeting to discuss the process.
IX. OLD BUSINESS
Welch Pool Renewal - Master Site Plan Schedule - There is a special meeting of the Board
members on 24 Sept 07 at the COG Building at 3:00 PM to review the Welch options that will
be presented by the consultants. The consultants will also present these same options to the
General Forum that evening.
Park Forest Renewal - Nothing in addition to information in the Agenda. A status report is expected
at the October meeting.
2006 Audit Report - The information given to the staff concerning Ms. Conway’s question was that
there was a mistake by the auditors but not one that changed the bottom line number.
Therefore they will not be publishing a revised 2006 report, but they will check future audit
reports.
X. NEW BUSINESS
2008 Detailed Budget Proposal - Mr. Woodhead led a discussion on the 2008 budget that was
enclosed with the Board member packets. The staff will meet with the COG Finance
Committee on 25 Sep 07. By that time, Mr. Woodhead expects that the municipal
contribution requests will be more manageable (reduced).
Senior Center Registration Policy - There has been some discussion as to age requirements for
participation in the programs at the Senior Center. The Office of Aging listed one criteria and
the Center used another for some of the programs. To clarify, a policy was written by agency
staff and approved by the Centre County Office of Aging - for Authority consideration. It was
recommended that the Authority officially approve the policy. Ms. Mascolo moved to accept
the policy. Mr. Harpster seconded. All in favor.
COG Grant Application for Whitehall Road Parklands - Master Site Plan - The COG General Forum has
authorized a state grant application for $40,000 to develop a Master Site Plan for the
Whitehall Road Parklands. After a discussion about the property, the Board members were
asked to authorize a letter of support to accompany the grant application. Ms. Conway moved
to authorize the letter of support. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor.
The PA “Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund” - The Authority/Board was asked to
authorize a letter to our state delegation in support of the maintaining the current funding
levels of the PA Keystone Fund. Ms. Conway moved to authorize the letter. Ms. Matason
seconded. All in favor.
Focus on Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
- Mr. Marboe presented the “2007 Nature Center Update” that he presented to the COG
General Forum on 27 Aug 07. On 16 Sept 07, the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center will
celebrate their 10th birthday. Ms. Conway asked if other school districts beside the State
College School District have been approached to bring their classes to Millbrook. Yes, schools
have been contacted and more emphasis will be placed on other schools participating.
-Capital Campaign - The capital campaign has been very successful so the Authority was
asked to authorize a letter to Governor Rendell to formally request release the $1.25 million
in the State Capital Budget for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Ms. Mascolo moved that a
letter be written. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.
-Extension on PSU Lease for Millbrook Marsh - The 35 year lease with three 5-year extensions
from the University to the Authority has less than 25 years remaining. Since borrowing may
be necessary for the construction of the Spring Creek Educational Building, the COG Finance
Committee has asked if it would be possible to extend the current lease to ensure at lease a
25-30 year term that a lending institution may require. Mr. Harpster moved that the staff
and the Authority Solicitor work with Penn State University to extend the current land lease
for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. The updated lease would then be provided for official
action by each party (CRRA and PSU). Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.
-Fee Waiver for Spring Creek Day - The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee
recommends that the Authority waive the facility rental fee for 25th Annual ClearWater
Conservancy
Spring Creek Day scheduled for Sun., 16 Sept 07. It was expected that the fees would have
totaled $285. Ms. Mascolo moved the fees be waived. Mr. Harpster seconded. All in favor.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:18 PM on a motion by Ms. Mascolo
and second by Ms. Conway. All in favor.
A SPECIAL MEETING has been scheduled to review the Welch pool options to be delivered
by the consultants, Monday, 24 Sept 07, at 3:00 PM in the COG General Forum Room
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 11 Oct 07 at 12:15 PM, COG Building, Forum Room
These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 11 Oct 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
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