|
CENTRE REGION PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
CENTRE REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY
Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 9 Oct 08, in the COG Building - Forum Room
I. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
Chair Sue Mascolo called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.
Board members attending (4 of 6): Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Chris Hurley, Donna Ricketts
Absent with prior notice: Kathy Matason, Roy Harpster
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
Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center Molly Hetrick
Office Manager Diane Ishler
II. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the September meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by
Mr. Hurley. All in favor.
IV. ACTION ON VOUCHERS
The September vouchers were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Mr. Hurley. All
in favor.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members
- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Mr. Hurley reported that Patton Township took a van
tour to view the new park landscaping and equipment installations. They stopped at
the Park Forest Pool and Mr. G. Roth reviewed a plan with the new facilities.
- Borough of State College: No report
- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: No report
- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo had no report but was extremely pleased with the progress
on the expansion of Tudek Park (pavilion, tennis courts, volleyball, paved parking, etc.).
- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: No report
- State College Area School District: Dr. Ricketts reported that (1) Dr. Best is retiring and (2)
the school district is holding meetings to prepare plans for the future (including
community schools and community use of school facilities). The next meeting will be in
November.
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Ms. Hetrick reported that the Advisory
Committee worked on the Architect’s Services Proposal and the funding of the Nature Center;
including the 2009 budget.
COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Ms. Ishler reported the committee met 18 Sept 08 and
discussed the loan request for the Fireman’s Relief Assn., the pool renewals, Hess Softball
Fields Complex, COG Committee Reorganization and COG Equipment Storage Facility.
Regional Park Planning Committee - Mr. Woodhead reported that an ad was placed in the paper
advertising the two Oak Hall Planning meetings. Also, an email was sent with the information
to 1,800 customers in the parks data base. He asked that the Board members attend either
the Wednesday or Thursday meeting if available. There are good comments coming in from
the regional parks survey. Mr. Hurley asked if the comments would be open for the people to
see. Mr. Woodhead indicated that both the statistical survey and the website survey results
would be presented posted on the CRPR website and presented to the CRRA in November. The
paper survey results will be kept separate from the web-survey results. So far, 20% of the
paper surveys have been returned with comments - more than expected.
VI. STAFF REPORTS
September 2008 Activity Report - Mr. Woodhead distributed an updated activities report (with the
parks maintenance section) and had nothing to add to the report.
Summer 2008 Program Report - Mr. T. Roth thanked the staff providing for the info to compile the
report that lists the summer programs counts.
2009 Budget Process: Mr. Woodhead thanked Ms. Mascolo for attending the COG Finance Committee
Budget Review of the Parks and Recreation Agency. Ms. Mascolo explained that the Finance
Committee asked to have a copy of the pool renewal Cash Flow schedule incorporated into the
Detailed Budget. The increased request for the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center municipal
contributions generated considerable discussion in terms of both the amount and the
philosophy behind the request; each Finance Committee member was going to discuss the
nature center budget with their municipality. On another subject, the Senior Center budget
includes the Centre County Office of Aging contributing 50% of the “shared expenses” - which
again includes the salary and benefits of the Staff Assistant. The County declined the full 50%
reimbursement for 2008 and for 2009 they offered approximately $7,884 less than the 50%
reimbursement. At the COG Finance Committee budget wrap-up meeting, the members
authorized a letter from COG requesting that the County pay their 50% share. The alternatives
involve cutbacks in services and / or using some of the Senior Center Reserve Funds. Mr.
Hurley asked if we know why the County is not willing to pay the entire 50%. Mr. Woodhead
indicated that it was for budget reasons; they do not want a tax increase. Mr. Woodhead
thanked the Board for their budget suggestions and support.
PNC / United Way “Day of Caring 2008" - Mr. G. Roth reported that there were approximately 130
people who were staining, spreading chips, cutting brush and trimming. He reflected that
previously it was mostly adults who volunteered; now there are a lot more school student
volunteers.
Supervisor Highlights:
Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - In addition to Day of Caring, the crews were able to topdress some of
the sportfields. This will reduce the amount of fertilizer required, and they are also cleaning up
the parks for fall.
Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Mr. Hall related that there are 9 Start Smart
Programs with 162 children and parents. Ms. Mascolo asked about the Start Smart Programs.
Mr. Hall indicated they were soccer, basketball, golf, football programs that teach the parent
how to play the game and teach those skills to their children. Mr. Hall also said that there are
7 fitness classes, 3 Adult Volleyball leagues, 2 Adult Flag Football leagues, and the Adult
Basketball league.
Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The first session of swim lessons ends next week (13 Oct 08), then
another session begins. Mr. Roth is trying to work with the school district to schedule more
time in the pool for lessons - especially for another session in December. He also continues to
work on the pool renewal projects.
Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Beth relayed that on 27 Oct 08, Dark
in the Park will be held at Sunset Park in cooperation with the Schlow Centre Region Library;
then the Halloween Parade will be held on 28 Oct 08. The fall programs are underway so she
is getting ready for Winter/Spring. She will be attending the Annual National Recreation and
Park Congress next week (14-18 Oct) in Baltimore MD (with Todd Roth and Molly Hetrick).
Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - Ms. Lindenbaum reported that the Senior Center had
210 doses of flu shots and all are reserved. The hospital supplies the flu vaccine and the Home
Nursing administers them. The Fall Foliage Senior Center Trip will be on 14 Oct 08.
Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor for the Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick is working on the 2009
Budget and the Historic Harvest Festival scheduled for 2 Nov 08 at the Millbrook Marsh Nature
Center.
VII.COMMUNICATIONS
Grant Reimbursement - Mr. Woodhead confirmed receipt of the $159,000 grant reimbursement from
PA DCNR for the purchase of the Whitehall Rd. parklands.
VIII. ACTION ITEMS
A. Park Forest Pool Construction:
1) Mr. Woodhead brought two plaques to the meeting; one honored Dr. Edward Fagan, and
was posted at Park Forest Pool since 1991. It has now been refurbished for the new PF Pool.
The other plaque is a matching new one to identify the two groups responsible for the pool
renewal; Centre Region COG and Centre Regional Recreation Authority. These plaques will be
placed at the entrance gate at the renewed Park Forest Pool before it opens next May.
2) Mr. Woodhead noted that the Pool Renewal Cash Flow Plan was compiled to provide the
projected municipal contributions and to plan for necessary loan draws. He thanked Ms.
Wyatt, Patton Township Finance Director, and Mr. Gibbons, Concord Public Finance, for their
assistance. As the project proceeds, the document will be updated.
3) The change orders and purchase orders authorized by the Authority at the September
meeting have been executed.
4) A donation was received from the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1600, which brings the total donations
from patrons and supporters to $5,745. A thank you letter and receipt was provided to all
donors.
5) Mr. Woodhead asked the Board members to endorse the Director’s prior approval of Change
Order #P-01 that increases the Plumbing Contract by $2,880.26. The increase converts the 7
water closets (toilets) from floor-mount to wall-mount models. This amount is within the
Authority’s Change Order Policy. The new plumbing contract sum with the change order is
$196,780. Mr. Hurley moved that the Authority endorse the Director’s prior approval of
Change Order #P-01 that increases the Plumbing Contract by $2,880.26. Ms. Conway
seconded. All in favor. Mr. Woodhead reported that 75% of the excavation is completed and
(so far) they have been very lucky with regard to not finding rocks or sinkholes on the site.
5) These are the other items that may be addressed as the project moves ahead:
- A deduct to omit the water chiller unit from the drinking fountain.
- Finalize the credit due for the lead-based paint removal and disposal; it is expected to
be $33,000.
- Add a 10' wide vehicle gate to the 8' perimeter fence at the rear of the complex to
permit maintenance access to the woods and the stormwater corridor.
- Add a microphone jack to the Pool Entrance / Office.
- Install the bathhouse entrance hall ceiling lower than specified, and increase the
height of the two iron gates (one entering each changing room).
-Finalize a proposal from the Swimming Pool Contractor to revise the pool gutter design and the specified pool surfacing materials. No change in the contract price is
proposed.
B. Welch Pool Renewal -
The “Background and Topic Summary”, completed by the Director and distributed to the Board members earlier, was reviewed and discussed at the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee
meeting where they authorized the document to be sent to the Solicitor with some additional
comments. A copy of the document was also provided to Mr. Poprik, SCASD Physical Plant
Director. It is hoped that the $400,000 grant requested from PA DCNR will be among those
announced in October. Mr. Woodhead asked for official endorsement of the summary by the
Authority. Mr. Hurley moved that Mr. Woodhead move ahead with the document for the
shared parking/access and access to the bathhouse. Dr. Ricketts seconded. All in favor.
C. Conservation Corp Grant Application - The staff proposed that the Authority authorize Resolution
#4-2008 as part of the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps grant application process for year
2009-2010. The estimated value of the grant is $100,000. If approved, this would be the 8th consecutive year that the Authority would be awarded a competitive grant. It is also proposed
that the Authority again partner with Mt. Nittany Conservancy for this project. Dr. Ricketts
moved to approve the resolution. Mr. Hurley seconded. All in favor.
D. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center - Architectural Services - Mr. Woodhead and Ms. Hetrick reported
that HP Architects has submitted a professional services proposal to provide architectural
services for the design and construction of the Spring Creek Education Building. Since the
Advisor Committee will not meet until 15 Oct 08, they received a copy of the proposal and
were asked comment. Thirteen (of 16 total) individual members of the committee endorsed
the proposal; 3 did not respond. The original proposal costs were reduced due to the engaging
of Mr. Moses Ling by HP Architects for HVAC consulting. Mr. Woodhead asked that the
Authority consider approving this proposal with the stipulation that the proposal is formally
endorsed by the Advisory Committee and the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee. Mr. Hurley
moved that the Authority approve this proposal with that stipulation. Dr. Ricketts seconded.
All in favor.
IX. DISCUSSION / INFORMATION ITEMS
A. Pool Fee Schedules
Prior to January 2009, the Authority will be asked to approve a fee policy for 2009. In order
for the staff to prepare this fee schedule, Mr. Woodhead asked the Authority to begin to
consider options related to the 2009 Pool Fees. Mr. Woodhead asked the Authority members to
look beyond 2009 when both pools will be renewed and in operation - that 2009 will be a
transition year when we have one new pool (all summer) and one older pool (open until 1 Aug
09). A draft CRRA Swimming Pool Fees 2007-2010 was distributed; it listed the actual fees for
2007 and 2008 and some possible fees for 2009 and 2010. There had been some discussion
about extending resident and non-resident fees to the daily admissions. Mr. Woodhead asked
the Authority to comment on how the staff should proceed when looking at this. Mr. Hurley
asked if the staff checked with other pools to see what they are doing? Mr. Woodhead referred
to page 2 of the draft where it explained about the 2006 pool survey of other pools but
because of the uniqueness of the Authority, COG, and the two pools, there were no easy
comparisons. Ms. Mascolo asked about the 10-Visit Pass. Mr. T. Roth said there have been too
many problems with the pass and we would instead like to encourage the purchase of a season
pass (which are not transferable). We will still have the group rate available. One suggestion
was that there is a set rate and the residents (with proof of residency) would get a discount -
rather than the past practice of charging more for nonresidents. A discussion followed
concerning how to structure the resident/non-resident rate. Dr. Ricketts wanted to focus on
the resident with a higher rate for a nonresident - since that’s what we’ve done for years. Ms.
Mascolo suggested it might be better to wait until 2010 to change since both pools will be
renewed and open then. Mr. Hurley supports charging a higher daily fee to nonresidents but
doesn’t want to spend more to implement it then we would receive. After more discussion of
whether to have (1) a higher rate and then give a resident discount or (2) have the rate set at
a resident rate and charge more for the nonresident, it was decided to continue the way it has
been done (resident rate + 50% for nonresidents. Staff will refine the fee policy for the
November meeting and in December the Board will be asked to adopt the entire fee policy.
X. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:29 PM on a motion by Mr. Hurley
and seconded by Dr. Ricketts. All in favor.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 13 Nov 08, 12:15 PM, at the COG Building Forum Room
These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 13 Nov 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
|
