While board members are uncertain of a 2015 budget without Unity's financial support, the name of Latrobe-Unity Parks and Recreation will become Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation.

As the 10-year intermunicipal agreement expires at the end of this year without renewed participation from Unity, board members wanted to acknowledge the city and school district that are still contributing financially to the partnership in the new name.

Executive Director Jeanne Ashley first suggested reverting to the name prior to the agreement, Latrobe Parks and Recreation, but with the tagline “serving the Greater Latrobe School District.”

Susan Mains, representing the school district on the board, preferred “Greater Latrobe Parks and Recreation.”

Ashley said she realized the contribution from both the city and the school district needed to be represented, favoring the tagline.

“I've been thinking about it for a long time, thinking we need to continue to maintain our autonomy but somehow illustrate our cooperative relationship,” she said.

Latrobe Mayor Rosie Wolford, one of three representatives for the city on the nine-member board, said she preferred reverting to the old name.

Without the contribution from Unity, which has totaled about $160,000 annually, fees will rise for Unity residents on a three-tiered schedule with the lowest price for Latrobe residents, a slightly higher price for Greater Latrobe School District residents and the highest fees for participants outside the school district.

Wolford said if the name included Greater Latrobe, the separate fees would not be clear.

“If I live in Unity Township, and this is the Greater Latrobe Parks and Rec, I'm really confused as to why I have to pay more,” she said. “With Unity pulled out, I think it makes sense to go back to Latrobe Parks and Rec.”

Wolford said she favored the tagline to acknowledge the continuing connection with the school district.

“The same two that started this are left,” she said. “No one's saying that the name's changing the intergovernmental agreement.”

Jim Okonak, executive director of McFeely-Rogers Foundation, attended the board's Thursday meeting. He suggested instead recognizing the school district directly in the name.

“It puts the two strong commission members there,” he said. “It solves the problem, and it's a great partnership.”

The board passed the measure to change the name unanimously.

Before discussion about the name, several board members and Okonak lamented the loss of Unity's participation in the agreement.

“There was such great opportunity here,” he said, adding that it's a “sad day,” but he is encouraged that the amount of effort put toward differences with Unity officials can now solely be committed to programming.

“I commend you all for what you have accomplished,” he said.

Mains said she was encouraged when the community came together with the agreement 10 years ago.

“It's sad it didn't work out,” she said. “I don't know what the future holds, but we'll keep going here, pushing and trying our best.”

The budget will be presented in January. The commission will reorganize in February.

Board members will decide then whether to keep nine members or subtract the three representatives from Unity, Ashley said.

Stacey Federoff is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6660 or sfederoff@tribweb.com.

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