The Centre Region Council of Governments last night unanimously recommended to member municipalities that they approve a revised a state-mandated sewage facilities plan.

The member municipalities present at the general forum -- State College Borough and College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton Townships -- met after the meeting and voted to accept the legislation.

Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan outlines how sewage treatment and disposal should be handled.

Members of the Centre Regional Planning Commission will meet Jan. 30 with Halfmoon Township officials, absent from last night's meeting, who will then vote on the plan, said Regional Planning Director Robert Bini.

If the plan is adopted by all the member municipalities it will be sent to the Department of Environmental Resources for approval. The agency then has 120 days before it must approve or disapprove the proposal, Bini said.

Failure of COG to adopt a sewage plan acceptable to the DER resulted in development bans being placed on parts of the region.

The restrictions placed on the plan's existing five- and 10-year sewer service areas last year are as follows:

--No subdivision plans can be approved by municipalities.

--No sewage permits for on-lot septic systems may be issued by municipal sewage enforcement officers.

--No building permits can be issued for developments which do not already have DER planning module approval for a public sewer connection.

During the meeting COG officials discussed the plan and made a few minor revisions concerning wording and implementation dates.

The DER rejected COG's last Act 537 proposal because of concerns with the amount of sewage pumped through the plant during the Phase II expansion of the University Area Joint Authority sewage plant, among other things, said Regional Planner Bob Crum.

The revised proposal shifts some of the implementation dates and allows the Centre Regional Planning Commission more time to evaluate its long term sewage disposal needs and goals.

In other business, the COG officially inducted its new chairman, Dan Harner of Ferguson Township, who replaces Ruth Lavin, also a member of the State College Borough Council.

The meeting began with a tribute to Lavin by the COG members for her service to the organization.

Lavin was presented with a plaque and COG Vice-chairman Elliot Abrams read a poem to her, that ended with, "Dear Ruth Lavin, you're one class act."

James Steff, COG executive director, said after the meeting,"I think we've had a very productive year -- Ruth did an excellent job in guiding the proliferations of 29 public officials."

Lavin, who will remain a member of the COG general forum, was also complimented by her replacement, Harner, for her work in establishing a regional recycling program.

Harner said after the meeting he is looking forward to his new position.

"I think that the '90s are going to present some real challenges to the Centre Region," he said.