WATCH: Schuylkill County Commissioners Meeting on October 11, 2023

Don’t miss the Public Comment and the final couple minutes of today’s meeting!

Published

October 11, 2023

Watch the entire Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting here:

Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting minutes from Oct. 11, 2023:

Commissioners Action Items

Here is a rundown of the actions Schuylkill County Commissioners took during their regular board meeting this week:

Approved a contract agreement with Penn State Health, Hershey, for child protection team consultancy service at a per unit rate of $175. This contract enables the County’s Children & Youth agency to request an expert opinion from a licensed physician on medical records received on allegations of child abuse. The contract runs from July 1, 2023, until June 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)
Approved an agreement with Pathways Adolescent Center, Oil City, for residential and transition living services. The agreement is for the per diem rates of $385 (shelter), $267.64 (transitional living), $250.22 (New Beginnings program), and $230.64 (Pathways program). The term of the agreement runs from July 1, 2023, until June 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)
Approved an addendum to the agreement with Wesley Family Services. This agreement is dated Oct. 12, 2022 and the term is now extended to include the 2023-2024 fiscal year at its current rate and terms. (Vote: 3-0)

Approved a grant-in-aid application to administer pass-thru funds for the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission for improving juvenile justice services in Schuylkill County. The grant package is $1,767,671 and is effective from July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)
Approved an order to execute Juvenile Probation Services grant agreement from the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission for improving juvenile justice services in Schuylkill County. The award amount is $250,042 and is effective from July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)

Approved an order to increase the monthly contract with Korn Ferry, Philadelphia (Contract #2019-130) for professional actuarial services from $2,777 to $2,804 monthly. The contract rate is effective from Jan. 1, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)

Approved a contract with Gabriel Fera Law Firm, Pittsburgh, for legal services related to the merit system. These new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and extend until Dec. 31, 2024: $225 (Hourly rate for partners), $210 (Hourly rate for senior associates), $190 (Hourly rate for associates), $190 (Hourly rate for paralegals). (Vote: 3-0)

Commissioners approved budget adjustments in the following departments for the following amounts: Controller’s office: $81; Risk Management: $150; District Justices – Courts: $354; Adult Probation: $1,000; Public Works: $5,035; Children & Youth: $35,000. These budget adjustments reflect the departments moving money that’s already been budgeted at the beginning of the year from one line-item to another and do not reflect any new spending. (Vote: 3-0)

Commissioners took action on the following items listed under New Business on today’s Agenda:

Approved the application for a Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED) community development grant in the amount of $1,156,649 for federal fiscal year 2023. (Vote: 3-0)

Approved submission of an application to the office of Justice Programs of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The application requests grant-in-aid funding for fiscal year 2023-24. (Vote: 3-0)

Approved a contract with Antz Energy Systems, Shenandoah, to replace and install chiller 1st stage compressor replacement at Schuylkill County Courthouse. The contract is for $17,500 and runs from Oct. 12, 2023, until April 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)
Approved a contract with Advanced Enviromation Inc. for automatic temperature controls for Courtroom 3 and Courtroom 4 and DDC controls on fan coil units and heat pump control upgrade on the first floor of the Courthouse. The contract is for $17,055 and runs from Oct. 12, 2023 until April 30, 2024. (Vote: 3-0)

The Commissioners approved the following personnel actions:

Promotion: Robert Cazonie (Children & Youth) to County Caseworker 2 at a rate of $21.73/hour.
Promotion: Pearl Robertson (Drug & Alcohol) to D&A Administrator at a salary of $65,138.
Appointed: Emily Faschnact (Senior Services) as Intern at a rate of $7.25/hour.
Appointed: Jacob Sobel (Election Bureau) as Clerk Typist I at a rate of $13.94/hour.
Appointed: Orlando Varano Castillo (Prison) as Corrections Officer at a rate of $23.07/hour.