GENERAL FORUM
April 28, 2008

Chairman Abrams called the regular April 28, 2008 meeting of the Centre Region Council of Governments to order at 7:35 PM in the COG forum room. 

Members present:  Mses. Goreham, Lafer, Lawrence, Messrs. Filippelli, Hahn, Rosenberger, State College Borough; Ms. Shoemaker, Messrs. Fryer, Klees, Koll, Remick, College Township; Messrs. Heinsohn, Irvin, Mascolo, Miller, Ferguson Township; Ms. Spencer, Halfmoon Township; Messrs. Graham, Hameister, Lee, Warner, Harris Township; Messrs. Abrams, Luck, Troxell, Wise, Patton Township

Others present:  Messrs. Steff, COG Executive Director; Sieminski, Penn State University; Brumbaugh, College Township Manager; Kunkle, Ferguson Township Manager; Erickson, Patton Township Manager; Dunlap, Kurtz, State College Borough Assistant Managers; Woodhead, Parks and Recreation Director; Buckalew, CRPC; Joseph, Centre Daily Times; Mose, CATA General Manager; Vorwald, CRPA Planner; Parker, COG Fiscal Coordinator; Mses. Farkas, Harris Township Manager; Liggett, CRPA Planner; Ombalski, ClearWater Conservancy; Prosek, Recording Secretary

MINUTES

Motion was made by Mr. Hameister and seconded by Mr. Hahn that the minutes of the
March 24, 2008 General Forum meeting be approved as presented.  Vote in favor was 23-0-1 with Mr. Mascolo abstaining.

GOVERNOR’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Mr. Abrams reported that the 2008 list of Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence included the COG and Centre Regional Recreation Authority in the category of building community partnerships for the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, and Harris Township Supervisor Bud Graham for his community service as the COG Finance Chair, an elected official, past president of PACOG, and as a volunteer firefighter.

2008/2009 CATA BUDGET

Mr. Bud Graham, Finance Committee Chair, presented the 2008/2009 CATA budget, noting that total municipal shares for both the capital and operating sides remain the same as 2007/2008.  He referred members to the chart of municipal shares and applauded Mr. Hugh Mose, CATA General Manager, and the CATA board for their good stewardship of the public transit program.  Mr. Graham reported that due to the recent passage of Act 44, state transit funding should be increasing with the expected revenue that follows the tolling of Interstate 80. 

Motion was made by Mr. Hahn and seconded by Mr. Warner 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.  Vote in favor was 23-0-1 with Ms. Spencer abstaining as Halfmoon Township does not participate in the CATA program.

PLANNING WORK PROGRAM

Mr. Bob Crum, Director, provided a general overview of the program components and corresponding staff for the Centre Regional Planning Agency.  He then reviewed the 2008 project list for the Agency that included:

Area Plans                                                            Sewage Management

Beneficial Reuse Marketing                           Affordable Housing

Stream Buffer Ordinance                                 Developments of Regional Impact

Regional Open Space Inventory                    Wind Farm Ordinance

Mr. Crum encouraged the elected officials to bring forward any work initiatives they may recommend for 2009.

WORKFORCE HOUSING

Ms. D.J. Liggett, CRPA Planner, provided a brief background on the issue of workforce housing and referred members to a summary report included with the agenda packet.

Ms. Liggett then reviewed common themes occurring with the issue of workforce housing in the Centre Region and noted that workforce housing is defined as housing that is affordable to the typical worker and is also safe and accessible, encompassing no more than 30% of the household’s annual income.

Ms. Liggett then reviewed the program obstacles, information gathering methods, and the alliance with Centre County Land Trust.  She reported that in October or November 2008, CRPA will plan to present the General Forum with a draft ordinance.

Ms. Spencer stressed the importance of accessible transportation to successful implementation of workforce housing programs.

Mr. Heinsohn read a prepared statement in opposition of developing a program that only focuses on new construction units and ignores rental units and resale properties.

Ms. Lafer reported that the Borough has worked many years in all of the program areas referred to by Mr. Heinsohn.  She noted that a consultant’s needs assessment would have to pull out the student numbers in order to accurately reflect the true data.

REGIONAL REFUSE & RECYCLING PROGRAM

Mr. Brooks Parker, Fiscal Coordinator and contract administrator for the regional refuse and recycling program presented a brief summary of the program and the results of a recent customer satisfaction survey.  He noted that the current contract was extended in 2007 for three years and will be re-bid in 2009.  In addition, he noted, the current partners include the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton, and recently, interest has been shown by Halfmoon, Spring, Benner, and Walker Townships to join in the program.

Mr. Parker stated that program information and announcements are available on the program’s website, including the survey results.  He said he was pleased to report that of the 12,000 customers served, 1,428 responded, showing a high level of satisfaction in the areas of collection, cost, and billing.

MUSSER GAP GREENWAY/TRAILWAY

Ms. Katie Ombalski, ClearWater Conservancy, requested that the elected officials consider supporting a greenway/trailway that would link the newly acquired Musser Gap with Whitehall Road along the regional parkland soon to be developed.  Ms. Ombalski then provided a brief overview of the proposed project.

Mr. Dan Sieminski, PSU Assistant Vice President for Business and Finance, said that since the University owns much of land that the greenway project crosses, easements from the University through legal agreements with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be given.  The main costs for the project, he said, involve engineering studies to bridge Slab Cabin Run and cross Route 45.

Motion was made by Mr. Hameister and seconded by Mr. Rosenberger that the General Forum ask the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to prepare a recommendation on the possibility of regionally creating a greenway/trailway from the recently acquired 423-acre Musser Gap property to Blue Course Drive.  Vote in favor was 23-0-1 with Ms. Spencer abstaining as Halfmoon Township does not participate in the regional park program.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mr. Steff directed members to the April Activity Report and offered the opportunity for questions.  He provided highlights on the following:

Resignations – A letter resignation from Mr. Greg Mussi, Code Director, was read.  Mr. Mussi will be leaving June 12 to join his wife in a business opportunity.  Mr. Brooks Parker, Fiscal Coordinator, will be following his wife to Connecticut sometime in June.

Bulk Waste Collection – The semi-annual bulk waste collection for customers in the refuse/recycling contract program will be held during the week of May 19.

911 Communication System – At a recent meeting, county officials announced that the current 911 radio system has outlived its life cycle, and it is estimated that $4.5 million may be required to replace it.  Mr. Steff noted that if a new system is put in place, regional radios used by police, firefighters, and emergency personnel may have to be replaced

UNIVERSITY REPORT

Mr. Sieminski provided a presentation on the University’s “green” buildings.  Highlights of the presentation included: 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Executive Committee – Mr. Lee reported that the Executive Committee met on April 21, 2008 where the following issues were discussed:  COG committee structure, library board representatives, and the resignations of the Code Director and Fiscal Coordinator.

Code Committee – The Code Committee did not meet.

Finance Committee – Mr. Graham reported that the Finance Committee met on April 15, 2008 and that in addition to the CATA budget, the Committee reviewed a proposed medical insurance waiver program.

Personnel Committee – Mr. Steff reported that the Personnel Committee met on April 8, 2008 and reviewed the COG’s sexual harassment policy and a proposal relating to the waiver of employee health insurance.

Public Services Committee – Mr. Hameister reported that the Public Services Committee met on April 9, 2008 and reviewed a draft agreement for the Emergency Management Coordinator.

Transportation Committee – Mr. Luck reported that the Transportation Committee met
April 16, 2008 and reviewed proposed bridge repair priorities and a discussion of the process to advance the intermodal transportation center project.

Centre County Planning Commission – Mr. Irvin reported on the Commission’s April 15, 2008 meeting that included discussion on five land development projects, four of which were approved and one tabled.

Centre Regional Planning Commission/CCMPO – Mr. Crum reported that the Commission will be meeting on May 1 to discuss the Musser Gap greenway project and the Long Range Transportation Plan.

Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee – Mr. Klees reported that the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee did not meet in regular session; however, on April 1, 2008 the Recreation Board, along with the Ad Hoc Committee, met with the State College Area School District Board to discuss the Park Forest and Welch Pools, including site plans and parking.  An additional meeting was held on April 11, 2008 with a subset of members from the groups.  Mr. Klees referred to agenda inserts regarding the issue.

NEXT MEETING

Mr. Abrams announced that the next meeting of the COG General Forum is scheduled for May 27, 2008 at the Ferguson Township municipal building.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the April 28, 2008 meeting of the COG General Forum was adjourned at 9:45 PM.