Now that the Farrell Recreation Commission can spend Community Development Block Grant funds, the commission has to decide what to do with them.

In the past, the money has been used for Farrell sports teams and organizations to pay for league fees, insurance, trophies and T-shirts, and other recreation-oriented expenses. But the commission talked Thursday about breaking with that tradition.

The commission receives about $10,000 in CDBG funds a year from the city but has not been able to spend any this year while the state reviewed the program in light of an audit.

The audit of the 2001 books showed that the commission, a joint effort of the city of Farrell and the Farrell Area School District, did not keep $20,053 in expense invoices, a violation of block grant rules.

The state notified the city last month that policies and procedures the commission had enacted since the audit were sufficient and allowed the commission to spend CDBG money.

The commission already had $2,631 in CDBG funds, said treasurer Stella Ceslak. Chairman Riley Smoot said the city informed him Thursday that the commission has another $21,300 in CDBG funds going back to 2000 available.

Commission member Louis Falconi, a Farrell councilman, suggested setting priorities for the use of CDBG funds and said he would like to buy new equipment for city playgrounds.

Recreation Director Anthony Retone presented an inventory of equipment at three Farrell playgrounds -- at Emerson Avenue, the elementary school and Ragster/Southwest Gardens on Darr Avenue -- and found some equipment in poor condition at each one.

Aside from playsets installed last year at the elementary school -- the Farrell Elementary Parent Teacher Organization secured a Community Revitalization Grant from state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, Hermitage, D-7th District -- the newest equipment dates to 1991, and Retone called the ground around the pavilion at the upper end of the Emerson playground "a tragedy waiting to happen."

The city has received a $17,500 state grant, which it had to match with an equal share, for new equipment at Emerson, Ragster and Veteran's Square, and Retone will talk with city officials about what is planned before the commission can further discuss buying equipment.

Smoot added that Mercer County Housing Authority is planning to connect a walking trail to be built in the HOPE VI redevelopment area of Steel City Terrace to Ragster, and thought there would be some money to upgrade the park.

Falconi suggested not honoring any requests from outside organizations for funding until the commission decides whether to buy playground equipment.

But the commission did honor two requests for payments from Mercer County Regional Council of Governments.

COG assessed Farrell $1,022 for use of the softball complex in Shenango Township, and billed $2,500 for Farrell's participation in a program to bus children from low-income parts of town to the Chestnut Run Swim Beach in South Pymatuning Township.

The commission did not want to honor the second request until Farrell Mayor William Morocco, who is not a member of the board, protested.

COG had approached the city about the program a year ago, and council passed on the request for commission consideration with CDBG funds.

With CDBG funds frozen, the commission could not discuss it until Thursday.

Farrell was allotted nine days over the summer, and 15 to 20 children went to the beach each day. Commission members found that quite pricey.

But Morocco said council's action essentially committed the commission to honor the bill.

Commission members agreed to pay the money, but said they would not be interested in doing it again. Many noted that the school district opens the pool during the summer, offers swimming lessons and serves lunch.

"If you want to spend $2,500 for swimming, we'll put it to good use," said commission member James Guerino, a Farrell school board member.