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"Are you in or out?" township supervisor Chairman Dave Sarley was asked at the meeting by Doug Lowery, MCRec executive director.
"Consider us out," Sarley said. "I think I would make contingency plans."
Penn supervisors were asked to support a strategic study of MCRec this fall and to commit to funding for 2010. The dual request was made this month by Manheim Borough, which along with Rapho Township approved the proposals. The three municipalities are partners in MCRec with Manheim Central School District.
Penn Township now is set to leave MCRec at the end of this year. Without Penn, it is unclear if the organization can continue.
Justin Wolgemuth, the district's MCRec representative, did not attend the Monday meeting, but he said Tuesday that MCRec could be in trouble.
"Absolutely, no doubt. It takes all (of the partners) to support (MCRec)," said Wolgemuth. "I'd rather go back to the drawing board and present something new. If it's falling apart, I am willing to try it another way."
Penn officials want MCRec to adopt reforms including per capita funding, reorganization of the board and having each municipality maintain its own facilities. Otherwise, Penn supervisors are considering joining the Lititz rec center.
"I'm just not sold that we're getting $85,000 worth of service that we're paying for," Penn supervisor Ron Krause said. "I'd almost rather see the $85,000 go to a library fund."
"I'm not spending a nickel on another study. After six years I don't need anyone to tell me what is wrong with MCRec," Sarley said. "I'm not wasting any more time in mindless meetings that go nowhere when the solution is right in front of us — per capita."
Penn Township looked at the cost per resident and found that Manheim Borough residents paid the most at $19.40, Penn residents paid $10.99 and Rapho Township residents paid the least at $9.03 per resident. Penn proposed revising the formula for municipal contributions to $13.14 per resident for the 2010 budget year.
Sarley accused Rapho Township of not paying its fair share, competing with MCRec for government grants and loading the cost of its recreational facilities onto the MCRec expense sheet.
"All I have from Rapho is, 'We're not going per capita,' " Sarley said. "All we said was real simple, 'Stop trying to break MCRec by loading it up.' "
Bonnie Martin, Manheim council president, said the borough is caught in the middle.
"We can't force anyone," she said. "We have to have a consultant. (MCRec) programs are suffering from it. Everyone needs to decide where they're at on this."
Supervisor Dave Wood said under the MCRec agreement three partners can vote for per capita and the fourth has to accept it.
Matt Parido, borough manager, said he agreed with per capita spending, but he wanted the consultant.
Wolgemuth sided with the Penn Township plan, but he said per capita payments can be phased in over a couple of years.
"The per capita is a fair way of funding it," Wolgemuth said. "My hope is that we can come together in the end."
