Thursday, 9 Mar 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 (5of 6): Cindy Solic, Sue Mascolo, Roy Harpster, Kathleen Matason, Donna Conway. The Borough Council Liaison (non-voting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended. Absent: Dr. Kenneth Mawritz

Staff members present: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor Programs & Special Events Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor Nature Center Molly Hetrick, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler. 

II.       COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none 

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes for the February meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor. 

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

The vouchers from February, distributed with the March agenda packets, were approved on a motion by Ms. Matason and seconded by Ms. Mascolo. All in favor. 

V.        COMMITTEE REPORTS

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - No report

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Harpster reported that the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee is working on the Joint Articles of Agreement for Regional Parkland Planning and Development. A copy of the agreement was sent to the COG Solicitor for recommendations. It is hoped that the comments will be received by the Solicitor so they can be discussed at the 16 Mar 06 Ad Hoc Regional Park meeting.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported that Patton formalized a survey concerning Circleville Woods to be sent to the Township residents. They also decided to change the name of Crust Tract to the Burnell Road Park to comply with the Patton Twp. naming policy.

- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo reported that Ferguson did open the bids for the Homestead Park tennis courts and are planning to move ahead with the construction of the courts.

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that the Township employees are going to construct a gravel parking lot at the Yoder Preserve. The Township is also planning to send out a survey to Harris Township residents, trying to get feed back from them about the parks in the township.

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: The committee did not meet.

- Borough of State College - Ms. Conway asked that since she is a new appointee, how she should go about finding out the information that is to be reported at the meeting. Mr. Greg Roth volunteered to provide Ms. Conway with a name to contact for information. He related that a large tree fell over crushing the fire truck climber and other items in the new play area at Holmes Foster Park.

-State College Area School District - No report

VII.     STAFF REPORTS

February Agency Report - Nothing to add to the report

Central Westmoreland COG Membership - Mr. Woodhead reported that because the Board members approved membership in the purchasing program of Central Westmoreland COG, the agency saved $15,800 off the sticker prices when they purchased two new trucks through this Cooperative Purchasing Contract.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Winter programs wrapped up last week and spring programs start next week. There are over 100 registered in the fitness classes.

Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick reported that the spring calendar is full of programs for school children.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor -Programs and Special Events - The Summer Leisure Guide will go to print on 23 Mar 06 and be published in the CDT on 2 Apr 06. The spring gymnastic and rhythmic gymnastics classes have waiting lists. Ms. Lee is providing the staff with information on projects to fill in for her while she is on maternity leave.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The ice rink at Blue Spring Park is empty and will be taken down so the field can be prepared for softball. The crew is preparing fields for softball, courts for tennis, and getting the parks ready for the spring and summer seasons. The PCC is putting playground equipment together.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The winter/spring second session of swim lessons have started. Mr. Roth is working on new ideas to get people to come to the pools to swim including donated items for special events. Also, he is getting the summer staff hired and working on the pool renewals.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - The indoor walking program at the Senior Center is trying to transition to an outside walking program as the weather permits. The Walk Across America kickoff is to be 3 Apr 06 at the Bryce Jordan Center; it encourages everyone to be active.

VIII.   COMMUNICATIONS - none

IX.      OLD BUSINESS

Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan - Mr. Woodhead reported that the RFPs and Scope of Work for the Park Forest Community Swimming Pool were sent and of those received, the following recommendations are made:

Land Surveying Services - Based on quotations received from six firms, it is recommended that the Nittany Engineering Co., Inc. from Millheim be accepted with a quote not to exceed $3,900 (plus reimbursable expenses). Ms. Matason asked if it was usual to have such a wide variance of costs when getting quotes? Yes it is. Mr. Harpster moved that Nittany Engineering be accepted as the Land Surveying provider for the Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

Lead Design Firm Services - The lead design firm is a local firm that will supervise the aquatic design firm. The recommendation is to use HP Architects as the lead design firm and accept their quote of $16,416. The grant for this project approved by the State totals $44,000 ($22,000 from the state and $22,000 from the budget). Ms. Mascolo moved that HP Architect’s quote of $16,416 be accepted. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. This action is subject to the approval of DCNR.

Aquatic Design Services - Mr. Woodhead, Mr. Todd Roth, Alan Popovich, and three of the Centre Regional Recreation Authority members (Cindy Solic, Roy Harpster, and Sue Mascolo) interviewed (Tu, 7 Mar 06) three of the six Aquatic Design firms that applied: Aquatic Facility Design, Wallover Architects, and Counsilman-Hunsaker.

Ms. Mascolo recommended Counsilman-Hunsaker. Mr. Harpster had initial concerns about the fact that Councilman-Hunsaker are located in St. Louis, but in view of their quote amount and that it included all travel expenses & reimbursable costs, he also recommended the Councilman-Hunsaker firm. He was very impressed with their presentation. Ms. Solic was impressed with the experience the Councilman-Hunsaker firm had with a variety of projects. She felt their firm would be best to give us the best suggestions for what we need. After some discussion, Mr. Harpster moved that the Authority accept Councilman-Hunsaker as the design firm with the total Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan project not to exceed the $44,000 budget (including HPA and CHA costs). Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. This action is also subject to DCNR approval.

X.        NEW BUSINESS

Nature Center Wetlab - The bottom floor of the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center barn now has a concrete floor and has been prepared to be a Wetlab for educational opportunities. The Authority approved a proposal from HP Architects for architectural services in the amount of $3,900 to continue the Barn Wetlab improvements (including code requirements) on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and a second by Ms. Conway. All in favor. This cost will be funded by donations.

XI.      ADJOURNMENT    There being no further business, Ms. Matason moved to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:10 P.M. THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for Thursday, 13 Apr 06, 12:15 PM at the COG Building, Forum Room

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 13 Apr 06, they will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD, and posted on the CRPR website. Meeting minutes prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager