General Forum
Ferguson Township Municipal Building
3147 Research Drive
Tuesday, May  27, 2008
7:30 PM
 

AGENDA

1.            CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Abrams will convene the meeting and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.                  CITIZEN COMMENTS

Members of the public are invited to comment on any items not already on the agenda
(five minutes per person time limit, please).  Comments relating to specific items on the agenda should be deferred until that point in the meeting.

3.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

                A copy of the minutes of the April 28, 2008 General Forum meeting is enclosed.

4.                  FAREWELL TO GREG MUSSI

Mr. Greg Mussi will resign as the Centre Region Code Administration Director effective
June 12, 2008 to operate the Autoport Restaurant with his wife.  During the last twelve years, Greg has capably served the Centre Region in the following positions:

Rental Housing Inspector                11/4/1996

Senior Housing Inspector                6/9/1997

Plans Examiner                                   8/31/1998

Agency Director                                  8/25/1999

On the behalf of the General Forum, Mr. Abrams will express appreciation to Mr. Mussi for his years of service and best wishes for his future success.
 

5.                  REPORTS AND ACTIONS

A.                  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL – presented by Mr. Jim Steff

On August 26, 2002, the Centre Region COG executed a five year contract with Penn State University for Emergency Management Services.  The agreement established a joint COG/University Emergency Management Program, wherein the two parties share a single Emergency Management Coordinator (Mr. Steve Abrams).  The Coordinator is a University employee who works at the COG on Tuesdays (four hours), Wednesdays (eight hours), and Thursdays (four hours).  The COG provides a reimbursement to the University for the hours the Coordinator commits to the COG.  The COG’s contract with the University for Emergency Management Services expired on August 31, 2007.

During its June 25, 2007 meeting, the General Forum approved the following motion to extend the agreement to August 31, 2008:

“That the General Forum, as recommended by the Public Services Committee, extend the Emergency Management Services contract with The Pennsylvania State University for a period of one year, ending August 31, 2008, under the conditions recommended by the Centre Region Emergency Management Council; and in addition, that the General Forum ask the EMC to evaluate the need for a full-time Centre Region Emergency Management Coordinator for the General Forum’s consideration by December 31, 2007.”

The Centre Region Emergency Management Council (EMC) has prepared a recommendation regarding the need for a full-time Centre Region Emergency Management Coordinator.  The EMC’s discussions included Mr. Steve Shelow, Director of Penn State University Police Services.  Mr. Shelow oversees the University’s Emergency Management Program and supervises the University/COG Emergency Management Coordinator.

The following principles guided the EMC’s discussions:

Ø      The proposal should provide for a close, collaborative relationship
between the COG and the University for Emergency Management Services.

Ø      The proposal should be affordable to the municipalities.

Ø      The proposal should provide adequate staffing for the Emergency Management Program.

During its April 9 and May 19, 2008 meetings, the Public Services Committee reviewed the enclosed three documents relating to the joint Emergency Management Program for the six Centre Region municipalities:

·         Proposal for a full-time COG Emergency Management Coordinator

·         Revised COG/PSU Emergency Management Coordinator Agreement

·         Anticipated 2009 Emergency Management budget

In discussing this agenda topic during its May 19, 2008 meeting, the Executive Committee identified an alternative to full-time staffing of the COG Emergency Management Coordinator position.  This option would assign emergency management responsibilities to the COG Fire Administration Office.  The staffing of this position could possibly be accomplished on a part-time basis (20 to 30 hours per week) by the individual currently assigned duties as the part-time Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.  The part-time Coordinator would report to the Fire Director.

This proposal would reduce the redundancy of having three (3) full-time Emergency Management Coordinators within the Centre Region (Centre County, University, and COG coordinators).  The Executive Committee believes this position is critical to the public safety of Centre Region residents, but that it must be staffed in a way that will keep the emergency management process streamlined and less bureaucratic.  If, after a temporary period of operation with documented plans and projects to be completed, the duties appear to be more than a part-time staff person can handle, then a proposal for a full-time position should be entertained.

The Public Services Committee noted that the main advantage to the Emergency Management Council’s proposal is that it provides additional time for developing
and implementing training exercises, as well as for preparing pre-planned responses
to specific types of emergencies, both of which tend to be labor intensive.

To continue the process for the municipal review of the Emergency Management proposal and revised COG/Penn State University Emergency Management Agreement, the Public Services Committee unanimously asks the General Forum to approve the following motion:

“That the General Forum, as recommended by the Public Services Committee, receive the Emergency Management Proposal, revised COG/University Emergency Management Agreement and anticipated 2009 budget for the joint Emergency Management Program and refer them to the municipalities and Penn State University for review, with comments provided to the COG Executive Director by June 24, 2008
for distribution to the Emergency Management Council and the Public Services Committee.

To assist the General Forum in its continuing review of the proposed revisions to the COG/PSU Agreement, the following background documents are enclosed: 

·         Centre Region Emergency Management Strategic Plan (identifies near and long term work objectives)

·         History of the Centre Region Emergency Management Program

B.                  2008/2009 CATA BUDGET – introduced by Mr. Bud Graham and presented by Mr. Hugh Mose

During its April 28, 2008 meeting, the General Forum reviewed the proposed 2008/2009 CATA budget as presented by the COG Finance Committee.  The
Finance Committee had no recommended changes or concerns for the General Forum’s consideration.  To continue the process for the municipal review of the
CATA budget proposal, the General Forum unanimously approved the following motion:

“That the General Forum receive the proposed 2008/2009 CATA budget (and recommendations, if appropriate, and refer it to the municipalities for review; and further, that the municipal comments on the budget be forwarded to the municipal representatives on the Finance Committee by 8:30 AM, May 20, 2008 for consideration.”
 

The remaining process for continuing the budget review is:

MAY               Comments and concerns raised at the municipal board/council meetings were referred to the Finance Committee for discussion during its May meeting.   A final recommendation regarding the CATA budget was prepared by the Finance Committee for consideration by the General Forum.  The General Forum will refer the final CATA budget to the municipalities for adoption.

 JUNE             Municipalities authorize funding for their share of the CATA budget, in accordance with the General Forum’s recommendation.

For the CAPITAL budget, CATA requests $62,400, no increase from 2007/2008.
In 2002, the COG Finance Committee asked CATA to implement a capital reserve account that would even out the large year-to-year fluctuations in local shares for capital.  The $62,400 proposed in the budget addresses the anticipated need for funding of capital projects in the near future.

The CAPITAL budget proposes the municipal shares be allocated as follows:

For the OPERATING budget, CATA requests no increase in local funding.  Due
to the vagaries of the Miller Formula, once again this year the shares of individual municipalities rise and fall with changes in the number of miles in each jurisdiction and the productivity of each route.

The OPERATING budget proposes the municipal shares be allocated as follows:

During its May 20, 2008 meeting, the Finance Committee reviewed the municipal comments provided in response to the General Forum’s request.  The municipalities had no recommended changes to the budget.  

To proceed with the municipal approval of the 2008/2009 CATA budget, the Finance Committee unanimously asks the General Forum to approve the following motion:

“That the General Forum refers the 2008/2009 CATA Budget to the participating municipalities for adoption by June 30, 2009.”
 

C.            MODEL AD HOC STREAM BUFFER ORDINANCE – introduced by Mr. Dennis Hameister and presented by Mr. Seb DeGregorio

During the summer of 2007, the General Forum received a report on behalf of the
Ad Hoc Stream Buffer Committee recommending the referral of a draft Model Stream Buffer Ordinance to the Centre Region municipalities for review and comment. Municipal comments on the Model Ordinance were provided to the COG Executive Director in December 2007.  

During the fall of 2007, CRPA staff attended all municipal planning commission and elected body meetings to review and discuss the draft Model Stream Buffer Ordinance.  The COG Ad Hoc Stream Buffer Committee then reconvened during the first quarter of 2008 to prepare the following four enclosed documents:  cover memo, response to municipal comments, revised draft Model Stream Buffer Ordinance, and memo on agricultural exclusions.  This information will be presented by Mr. Seb DeGregorio, CRCA Senior Planner; his report is expected to be ten minutes long, in addition to time for questions.

To continue with the municipal review of the revised documents relating to the
Model Stream Buffer Ordinance, the Ad Hoc Stream Buffer Committee, during
its April 2, 2008, meeting unanimously asked the General Forum to approve the following motion:

“That the General Forum, as recommended by the Ad Hoc Stream Buffer Committee, refer the revised Model Stream Buffer Ordinance
to the Centre Region municipalities and Penn State University for final review and that comments be provided to the COG Executive Director
by July 31, 2008.”

D.                  LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTATION – presented by Mr. Chris Lee

During its March 17, April 21, and May 19, 2008 meetings, the Executive Committee discussed the municipal appointments to the Board of Trustees for the Schlow Centre Region Library.  Recently, Halfmoon Township adopted an ordinance to join the library and appointed a representative to the Board of Trustees.  This change has raised a question regarding the status of Ferguson Township’s second representative to the Board of Trustees.

To bring resolution to this matter, the Executive Committee asks the General Forum to approve the following motion:

“That the General Forum confirm that the Joint Library Articles of Agreement for Schlow Centre Region Library be followed as currently written, which rotates one seat on the Board of Trustees among the municipalities.  If a municipality (currently Harris Township) were to forgo accepting the rotating seat for a three year term, the Library Board, at its discretion, would assign that seat to another municipality.  The current membership on the Library Board will be maintained until January 1, 2009.”    

E.                   COMCAST FRANcHISE AGREEMENT – presented by Mr. Tom Fountaine

The Executive Committee invited Mr. Tom Fountaine, Centre Area Cable Consortium, to the General Forum meeting to provide a brief update on the status
of the discussions between eight local governments (Bellefonte Borough, Benner Township, and the Centre Region municipalities) and Comcast regarding the
renewal of the cable franchise.

6.                  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mr. Steff will report on current activities.  See the enclosed May Activity Report.

7.                  UNIVERSITY REPORTS

Mr. Sieminski will report on current University activities of interest to the municipalities.  
This month’s presentation will focus on the University’s plans for the Arboretum.

8.                  COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.                  Executive Committee – Mr. Lee will report on the meeting held on May 19, 2008
that included discussion relating to the COG’s committee structure, municipal representation on the Schlow Centre Region Library Board, and the COG/University Emergency Management Services Agreement.

B.                  Code Administration Committee – Mr. Koll will report on the meeting held on
May 14, 2008 that included discussion relating to the job description and recruitment process for the Code Director, the status of State College Borough’s participation
in the regional rental housing inspection program, and an update on the sewage management study. 

C.                  Finance Committee – Mr. Graham will report on the meeting held on May 20, 2008 that included a review of the municipal comments made in response to the draft 2008/2009 CATA budget, a presentation on a draft COG Employee Wellness Program, and continued review of the loan closing process for the regional pools renewal project.

D.                  Personnel Committee – Mr. Wilson will report on the meeting held on May 13, 2008 that included a review of the job description and recruitment process for the Code Director.

E.                   Public Services Committee – Mr. Hameister will report on the meeting held on
May 19, 2008 that included continued review of the revised COG/University Emergency Management Services Agreement.

F.                   Transportation Committee – Mr. Luck will report on the May 21, 2008 meeting.

G.                  Centre County Planning Commission – Mr. Irvin will report on the Planning Commission meeting.

H.                  Centre Regional Planning Commission/CCMPO – Mr. Crum will report on current Planning Commission and Centre County MPO activities.

I.                    Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee – Mr. Klees will report on the May 15, 2008 meeting that included a recommendation to extend the level of municipal contributions to the Parks Capital Fund for the 2009 calendar year.

J.                    Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board/Centre Regional Recreation Authority – Mr. Woodhead will provide an update of Agency operations and capital projects. 

K.                  Ad Hoc Stream Buffer Committee – The Committee did not meet.

9.                  OTHER BUSINESS

A.                  Matter of Record – Next month’s meeting of the General Forum is scheduled for Monday, June23, 2008 at the COG Building.  Tentative agenda items are the revised COG Sexual Harassment Policy and Parks and Recreation program updates (bids for the Park Forest Community Pool, Oak Hall Master Plan, and SCASD discussions on parking at Welch Pool).

B.                  Matter of Record – Enclosed is a copy of the joint State College Borough/COG response to Ms. Jeanne Murphy’s letter of inquiry regarding the real estate she owns adjacent to the main Alpha Fire station on South Atherton Street.

C.                  Matter of Record – Enclosed is a communication from Mr. Steff to Tom Fountaine regarding the recommendations contained in an evaluation of the regional Rental Housing Program.

D.                  Matter of Record – Enclosed is a communication from the Governor’s Office regarding the status of the capital request for funds to construct an education building at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

E.                   Matter of Record – Enclosed is a description of the recruitment process for the Code Director as reviewed by the Code and Personnel Committees.

10.              CALENDAR

Enclosed is a COG and municipal meeting calendar for the months of June and July.

11.              ADJOURNMENT