An Alpha Fire Co. member updated the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) last night on the company's progress in evaluating the recommendations from a study finished in February.

COG Executive Director Jim Steff said both the Boalsburg and Alpha fire companies participated in the study, which resulted in more than 100 recommendations for the companies' organizational and structural operations.

He said two of the recommendations involved the appointment of a paid fire director for Alpha and a training and recruitment coordinator that would benefit both companies.

Alpha Fire Co. member Carmine Prestia said that of the total number of recommendations given, only six are currently being considered.

"Some things have immediate effects," he said, "and there are some things that are just a good thing to do."

Prestia said some of the suggestions, such as the one for a paid fire chief, are no longer being considered at the present time.

"There has been a paid fire administrator for 10 years," he said.

"Some things don't need to be considered in a planned strategic process," Prestia added.

COG also approved a request from the Alpha Fire Co. to purchase a new fire engine at its meeting last night.

The replacement engine, which will cost about $397,000, is the next in an ongoing line of replacements.

"It's essentially identical to the last two engines we've purchased," fire administrator Walter Wise said.

Wise said that the replacement of the fire engine is standard procedure and the money is consistently worked into the annual budget.

"We should buy a new engine every four years or so," he said.

"The old engine is 25 years old," Wise added.

He said the fire company wanted to reduce the replacement schedule from 25 years to 20 years because the technology quickly becomes out of date. He added that a new piece of equipment is purchased every two years to keep the engines in working order.

COG also approved the funding agreement for Schlow Memorial Library presented by COG member Jack Jenkins at last night's meeting.

College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton townships and the Borough of State College agreed to finance interest payments up to $2 million in the form of pledges accumulated over the course of construction for the new library, which will be located on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street, where it had been located before it was demolished for construction.

The library has a $2.1 million line of credit from Omega Bank, which will incur interest once used.

"The library has not drawn anything on that line of credit at this time," Jenkins said.

He added he anticipates the construction costs will require the credit line starting in June 2005.