CENTRE REGION PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
CENTRE REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY

Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 11 Sept 08, in the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

I.        CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL - Chair Sue Mascolo called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.

Board members attending (6 of 6):          Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Chris Hurley, Roy Harpster, Donna Ricketts, Kathy Matason

Staff:  Director Ronald J. Woodhead
Recreation Supervisor for Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall
Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events Beth Lee
Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth
Parks Supervisor Greg Roth
Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum
Program Coordinator for Millbrook Marsh Jennifer Watts-Mattise (for Molly Hetrick)
Office Manager Diane Ishler

II.      COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES  The minutes of the August meeting were approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Mr. Hurley. All in favor.

IV.     ACTION ON VOUCHERS  The July and August vouchers were approved on a motion by Mr. Hurley and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

V.       COMMITTEE REPORTS

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Continued discussion on finishing Circleville Park and will be taking a parks tour of just the Patton Township parks on Tuesday, 16 Sept 08.

- Borough of State College: No report

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: No report

- Ferguson Township: Contractors are paving the two tennis courts, basketball courts, and grading the new parking area at Tudek Park.

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: No report

- State College Area School District: Dr. Ricketts brought the SCASD Community Education fall schedule brochure to share.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - The committee reviewed the 2009 detail budget proposed for the Nature Center and Nature Center Capital and voted to move it forward.

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - The committee discussed the Welch Pool Renewal planning and grant funding status of the “Musser Gap Greenway/Trail” as proposed by ClearWater Conservancy. The proposal to make this group a standing COG committee continues to move forward. It was proposed that the importance of maintaining a partnership with the CRPR Board be noted with that charge.

Regional Park Planning Committee - This committee has not met since the last Board meeting. Mr. Woodhead indicated that he has not set up the dates for the next meeting yet. Surveys were mailed out to 2,422 on Thursday, 4 Sept 08, and 160 completed surveys were received by Tuesday, 9 Sept. There will be a reminder card sent out just before the deadline. After this survey is finished, a survey will be released on the website that anyone can complete.

VI.     STAFF REPORTS

August 2008 Activity Report - The Park Forest Construction Project is on the website with pictures of the project as it continues, with weekly photo updates. The Park Forest Pool closed 3 Aug 08 and construction began on Tu 5 Aug 08. The Summer Program Report will be presented at the October meeting.

Fall Leisure Guide - A copy of the Fall Leisure Guide was included in the Board packet and was published in the Centre Daily Times on Sunday, 24 Aug 08. The response was good with the first registration being on the internet at 12:02 AM that day.

2009 Budget Process:

2009 Detailed Budgets -Version 2

The numbers for Version 2 of the 2009 Detailed Budget were included in the Board packets. The line item descriptions and explanations of those numbers will be sent to the Board members separately. Mr. Woodhead went through each of the eight funds that make-up the Parks & Recreation budget. He then asked the Board members to endorse these proposals for presentation to the COG Finance Committee. Ms. Conway moved to endorse the 2009 Detailed Budget (eight funds) for presentation to the COG Finance Committee. Dr. Ricketts seconded. All in favor.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Architectural Services -

- The proposal from HP Architects for services related to the Spring Creek Education Building at Millbrook Marsh authorized by the Authority in July has not been received.

- A letter was received from PA DCNR confirming the $200,000 grant for the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Capital Campaign that was pledged from Centre County through “Growing Greener II”

Supervisor Highlights:

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - Mr. Roth reported that College Township re-paved the Spring Creek Parking lot and the tennis courts. The restrooms for Fogleman Fields are finished and can be opened as soon as inspected; the irrigation system at Fogleman is also finished. There is new playground equipment installed at Suburban Park.

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Mr. Hall reported that there are 13 adult programs: 6 adult leagues with approximately 500-550 participants (flag football, 19 teams; 3 volleyball leagues; basketball leagues.), 7 fitness classes; indoor soccer; indoor volleyball; and tennis. There are 12 Youth classes being offered including Start Smart (football, basketball, golf and soccer); tennis, Judo, and 7-8th Grade basketball league.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Ms. Lee is promoting the new programs through Active.Net by the use of mass emails. Programs offered this fall include Hip Hop, Rythmic Gymnastics and Parent’s Night Off. She is busy planning for the Halloween Parade to be held 28 Oct 08 and recruiting volunteers to help with the parade.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - Welch Pool closed for the season on Labor Day. The season was great. Next week swim lessons begin. He reviewed the planned work schedule for the Park Forest Pool Renewal with the pool being ready to open in May 2009.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - The registration for fall programs has been strong with Tai Chi the more popular, both new and ongoing. Two bus trips are planned - one for Fall Foliage and one a Christmas trip.

Jennifer Watts-Mattise for Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor for the Nature Center - Ms. Watts-Mattise reported that fall programs are beginning and they are trying to hire a p/t naturalist for fall programs. The scouting programs are very popular and Spring Creek Day will be held at the Nature Center later in Sept. CRPR will have a display as part of Spring Creek Day.

VII.COMMUNICATIONS

Release of Funds - As a follow-up to Governor Rendell’s response related to release of the $1.25m for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Capital Campaign, a letter was sent to all four of our state legislative officials requesting their coordinated assistance. Mr. Woodhead thanked Ms. Mascolo, Mr. Klees and Ms. Hetrick for attending the luncheon for the Governor.

Penn State Donation - Mr. Woodhead referred to the letter sent to Penn State University thanking them for their donation of surplus laboratory furniture to the nature center wetlab.

VIII.  ACTION ITEMS

A. Park Forest Pool Construction - Mr. Woodhead reminded the Board members that 1 Oct 08 is the deadline to commit to some of the available bid alternates in the pool renewal contracts. He recommended that Authority rescind some of the choices made when accepting the contract. Mr. Hurley moved that “based upon the Contract Status Report, the Authority authorizes the approval of the following items related to the Park Forest Pool Renewal Contracts, prior to the 1 Oct 08 contract deadline:

1. To rescind the prior selection of Deduct Alternate #G5 for $13,200 so as to restore the ceramic tile to the changing rooms;

2. To rescind to prior selection of Deduct Alternate #E3 for $3,733 so as to restore the public address system;

3. To rescind the prior selection of Deduct Alternate #E2 for $3,626 so as to restore the enhanced lighting controls;

4. To authorize staff to issue a Purchase Order for the plan-specified bathhouse benches from the PA Cooperative Purchasing Contract for $15,800 and for staff to install same;

                    for a total cost of $36,359.” The motion was seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

          B. Welch Pool Renewal - Shared Agreement with SCASD - Mr. Woodhead indicated that he had been unable to prepare the draft agreement related to the shared parking and shared bathhouse uses for municipal discussion but he would have an outline of the agreement to be sent to the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee, Ed Poprik, and the Authority.

IX.     ADJOURNMENT   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 PM on a motion by Mr. Hurley and seconded by Ms. Ricketts. All in favor.

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for Thursday, 9 Oct 08,
12:15 PM, at the COG Building Forum Room

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 9 Oct 08. They will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD and posted on the CRPR website.
Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager