County delays corner building furniture purchase after commissioners question $63,071.57 bid

Lycoming County commissioners on Thursday voted to table a contract for $63,071.57 to buy furniture for the county's corner building, citing unexpectedly high line‑item costs and questions about procurement and installation.

Why it matters: The county staff presented a SupplySource vendor agreement for furniture and installation; presenters said lead time required prompt action but commissioners pressed for lower prices and alternatives. One commissioner moved to delay the vote for one week to review options and pricing; the motion passed by voice vote.

Details: County staff said previous estimates for furnishing the building had varied during planning, and that funding would come from the coroner/cremation fund that had been saved since a 2012 feasibility study. Commissioners noted price differences among vendors and questioned specific high unit prices for chairs and conference tables. Commissioners discussed whether county maintenance staff could retrofit or install some items rather than pay a higher installation fee to the vendor.

The board expressed concern about consistency across county purchasing decisions after members said similar chair requests had been denied in other departments. One commissioner urged finding lower‑cost alternatives and directed staff to report back; another said the board should be more disciplined about routine purchases of expensive office furniture.

Outcome: The board unanimously approved a motion to table the SupplySource contract for one week to allow further review of pricing, vendor options and installation costs. No new appropriation or contract was signed at the meeting.

Next steps: County staff were directed to meet with procurement and department leads and return with alternatives and cost comparisons at the next meeting. No firm replacement schedule or delivery date was established during the meeting.