Penllyn Park Community Center to soon have a wifi signal
Can you hear me now? In what Lower Gwynedd Township Supervisor and Board Chairperson Danielle A. Duckett called a “black hole” of signal strength, the supervisors agreed it was finally time for a change.
The Penllyn Woods Community Building will soon have new wireless capabilities.
Verizon FIOS will provide service to the township’s community center as of July 1, with an installation cost of $149.99. Thereafter, the township will pay a monthly fee of $195 to continue wifi accessibility in and around the center.
The hardware and equipment for a firewall to protect the signal will also be installed, but through the township’s usual contractor All Covered.
Board Vice President Michael Twersky questioned the total for the All Covered firewall estimate, which came to $5,467 for the work, noting it was three times the total for the actual materials of both soft- and hardware.
“It seems like when the government is the payor, things just sort of add up,” said Twersky. “I’m not sure if wanted to put a firewall in my house, that it would be $5,400, but this is the price. And everyone feels it’s a fair price. It just seems like it’s an awful lot.”
Chairwoman Duckett agreed.
“No, it absolutely seems like an obscene price, and I think we’re being gouged,” said Duckett. “But, I don’t think we have any other choice. There is no wifi there. It does prohibit parks and rec and a whole bunch of other community groups from engaging in meaningful activity there.”
“I still think we need to do it,” said Twersky. “But, I think we need to have a conversation with All Covered at some point.”
After reviewing the scope of work, the supervisors were still puzzled as to how the hourly rate of labor could be so high.
“I did get them to drop the price a little bit,” said Finance Director Melinda Haldeman. “It was over six grand. I did get them to eliminate some things.”
Among the price changes from an earlier version, Haldeman said that a clear plastic protective box and cover was removed, as the equipment will be stored in a utility closet. The township will instead use plywood to mount the router and firewall package.
The firewall is necessary for the township’s signal, so that those that log into the signal are protected from hacking. Should supervisors, for example, opt to hold a meeting at the facility, computers tuned into the meeting are required to be protected.
“This is what I got them down to,” said Haldeman.
Duckett explained that, as All Covered is also a preferred vendor with the township, it is likely simpler to stick with a known entity.
“We probably could [seek other organizations for a quote],” said Twersky. “But, this has gone on long enough. We need wifi. I just think it’s more.”
While the community center will be provided with wifi starting July 1, however protection in the form of a firewall will not be available until All Covered completes its scope of work. Once approved, the company will build the firewall and ship it to the township. The township’s Public Works will be responsible for installation. The project is projected to take two to three weeks to complete.
“They have to order it, send it to their place, then get it configured,” said Haldeman. “Then it will come to us.”
Prior to a vote on the approval, Township Manager Mimi Gleason did note that the inclusion of wifi was not an item initially in the supervisors’ budget for 2024.
“It may be that we have to adjust the budget,” said Gleason. “We may be a little over budget with this, because of this cost.” Gleason wanted to inform the supervisors prior to the vote of approval.
“I mean, we have to have internet in the community center in the township building,” said Supervisor Janine Martin. “It’s absurd.”
“I think we’ll be fine,” said Duckett. The motion was made by Ducket, and seconded by Martin, in order to amend the budget for wifi inclusion. The motion passed with all supervisors voting in favor of the change.
The Penllyn Woods Community Center is located within Penllyn Woods Park, located at 185 Penllyn Woods Park Drive. In addition to the community center, the park boasts three baseball fields, a soccer/lacrosse field, a multipurpose field, walking trails, two picnic pavilions, a pond, and a boardwalk within its 77 acres.
