PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
COG Building - Forum Room
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
12:00 Noon

AGENDA

1.            CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Hameister will convene the meeting.

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 to that point in the meeting.

3.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A copy of the minutes from the May 19, 2008 Public Services Committee meeting is enclosed for approval.

4.                  FIRE EVALUATION STUDY

The 2003 and 2004 COG budgets included $30,000 ($15,000/year) to conduct a comprehensive review of the organizational and operational needs of the Regional Fire Protection Program.  In addition, Harris Township committed $15,000 for the Boalsburg Fire Company to be included in the review.

Tri Data Consulting of Virginia conducted a similar study in 1990.  The study was completed in 1991, and in the subsequent 13 years, many of its recommendations were implemented.  For example, one recommendation of the Tri Data study was the appointment of a Fire Administrator.

During its July 26, 2004 meeting, the General Forum awarded a contract to Emergency Services Consulting, Inc. (ESCi) in an amount not to exceed $45,000.  The ESCi study produced two documents:  an evaluation report and a strategic plan for fire protection services.  The strategic planning process was coordinated by a 17 member Ad Hoc Fire Program Evaluation Committee (members included:  Bryce Boyer, Dennis Hameister, Craig Humphrey, Steve Miller, and Dave Wasson).

Enclosed is a copy of the ESCi report’s Executive Summary.  Steve Bair, COG Fire Director, will update the Public Services Committee regarding the status of the study’s main recommendations.

The Committee should decide whether to refer this status report to the General Forum for consideration at its June 23, 2008 meeting.

5.                  REFUSE AND RECYCLING PROGRAM UPDATE  

The current COG/Veolia Environmental Services contract for residential refuse and recycling services expires December 31, 2009.  The contract covers 12,000 properties in College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships.

Mr. Brooks Parker will review with the Public Services Committee a draft timeline for the bidding process.  He will also highlight some of the areas of the current bidding specifications that should be considered for modification.  Finally, the committee should discuss its interest in forming a sub-committee to discuss potential contract modifications versus submitting an application to the PA DEP technical assistance program.

The timeline shown below follows a pattern used for the development of new bidding specifications (RFB) in the past:

1. June through December 2008 – Public Services Committee (PSC) discusses conceptual RFB changes and potential for employing technical assistance.
    
2. September 2008 – Ask Halfmoon Township if it is interested in participating in the program.
    
3. January 2009 – Draft RFB documents are reviewed by PSC.
    
4. February 2009 – 2^nd Draft RFB, including comments and corrections, is reviewed by PSC.
    
5. March 2009 – RFB circulated to Municipal Managers, CCSWA, and potential bidding haulers.
    
6. April 2009 – RFB Document Finalized.
    
7. May 2009 – Mail RFBs to potential bidders and hold pre-bid conference meeting.
    
8. June 2009 – Collect and open bids.
    
9. July 2009 – PSC reviews bids and refers recommendation to award bid to the Executive Committee.  Executive Committee forwards to the General Forum for final approval.
    
10. August 2009 – General Forum formally awards refuse contract to lowest responsible bidder.
     
11. September through December 2009 – Refuse and Recycling Administrator works with successful bidder and current vendor to prepare for new refuse contract in 2010.  Public education and outreach would take place during this time.

6.                  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL

During its May 27, 2008 meeting, the General Forum approved the following motion:

 “That the General Forum receive the proposal for a full-time Emergency Management Coordinator position, COG/University agreement, and anticipated 2009 budget for the regional 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.

The municipal review sessions for the Emergency Management proposal that have been scheduled to date are:

·         State College Borough – June 2^nd  – Council approved the proposal

·         College Township –  June 19^th

·         Harris Township – June 9^th

·         Halfmoon Township – June 12^th

·         Ferguson Township – June 16^th

·         Patton Township – June 18^th

Messrs. Steve Bair and Jim Steff will report on the meetings that have occurred to date.  This item is presented for informational purposes only and does not require Committee action at this time.

7.            CENTRE REGION UTILITY/PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING

In August 2006, the Public Services Committee issued a report titled “Use of Local Emergency Personnel for Extended Periods of Time,” that documented this problem
and offered a series of potential recommendations for improving the situation.  Two of
the recommendations were:

·         As required by Act 101, utility companies should meet annually with county and local emergency management personnel in developing and updating their emergency response plans, and then meet with the COG Public Services Committee and the Emergency Management Council to indicate the results of the joint effort.

·         The Public Services Committee should meet annually with PennDOT officials to review their emergency response plans.

A meeting was held on September 12, 2007, which brought together public safety representatives, local utility providers, and PennDOT officials.  The meeting was very productive, and it was suggested that similar meetings be held annually to discuss current issues as they relate to the use of public safety resources for managing utility and road construction projects or issues.

The Centre Region Public Works group, made up of local public works departments, engineers, municipal authorities, and emergency management representatives, will be meeting with local utility representatives on June 25, 2008 to discuss 2009 capital construction projects. 

The potential exists for a joint meeting with the Public Works group, to which additional public safety representatives would be invited.  The Committee should discuss this possibility and decide whether to pursue a joint meeting or to try to schedule a separate and distinct meeting to continue the dialogue between public safety, utility providers, and PennDOT representatives.

8.            ACTIVITY UPDATE

                COG Staff will provide an update on the following activities:

a)       The Public Services Committee has an open invitation to visit the Public Safety Training Facility

b)      Renovations to the main fire station

c)       Rehabilitation of the aerial fire truck

d)      Installation of traffic pre-emption devices

e)       SAFER Grant advertising for Fire Company recruiting and retention

f)        Recruitment of COG Refuse/Recycling Administrator:  six individuals were interviewed.

9.            OTHER BUSINESS

A.            Matter of Record – Enclosed is a copy of the minutes from the May 1, 2008 meeting
of the Centre County Public Safety Training Committee.  The Public Services Committee asked to receive Training Committee minutes as a means of staying informed about developments at the Centre County Public Safety Training Center.

B.                  Matter of Record – Enclosed is a recent PSATS article that highlights Public Services Committee Chair Dennis Hameister.

C.                  Matter of Record – Enclosed is a letter to Mr. Steve Shelow, Director of PSU Police Services, soliciting his comments on the Emergency Management proposal.

10.         ADJOURNMENT