Politics & Government

Forks Community Center Looking to Go High Tech

Key-card entry and POS system could be on the way

The Forks Township Community Center is trying to go high-tech.

On Thursday, the township Board of Supervisors will consider approving a contract to allow the parks and recreation department to install a paperless system. The system would enable center visitors to use key-card entries and paperless billing and payments for things like room rentals, gym memberships and equipment rentals.

Last month, the supervisors allowed a draft contract from Canada-based Active Net to be reviewed by township Finance Manager James Farley and township Solicitor Karl Kline. Township Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Sulzbach has suggested that the department enter into an agreement with Active Net.

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“I looked at nine different companies and Active Net was the company that was able to provide us with what we were looking for and for a reasonable price,” said Sulzbach in a recent email.

According to Farley, two options were looked into for a new system -- paying a monthly charge or purchasing a software program.

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The first option would allow the department to use an online software program from Active Net at an initial setup cost of $17,023. The cost would include training of staff, integrating the existing system and installing point-of-sale hardware and receipt printers, he said. There would also be a fee of $350 per month. The software would never be purchased by the township and would include a user fee of $2.99 for any credit-card payments made by residents who use the payment option.

The second option would purchase a software package from another vendor. The estimated costs for outright purchase of a software program is between $40,000 and $75,000, Farley said. Employee training would not be included, he said, and the software would cost an additional $2,000 per year in upgrade fees.

During the supervisors meeting last month, Farley suggested going with an online software provider. But Supervisor Robert Egolf expressed concern over entering into an agreement with a company outside of the United States.

“Is there any company in the U.S. that does the same thing?

According to Sulzbach, Active Net has several satellite offices throughout the United States.

If approved, the township could enter into a three-year contract with an automatic three-year renewal unless one-year advance notification is given.

Farley said the new software program would reduce manual labor time by 30 to 50 percent.

“What’ were trying to do is put some tools into place to help them run more efficiently,” he said.

Egolf said he would like to see a presentation before approving such a system.

“We definitely need a system," he said. I just have to be convinced that this is the system."

The Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for 7:30pm Thursday in the municipal building, 1606 Sullivan Trail.


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