Lycoming County commissioners approve routine contracts, grant corrections and staffing actions

Lycoming County commissioners on March 20 ratified routine financial and contracting items including approval of invoices totaling $2,152,656.36 and a series of professional services agreements and contract renewals.

County finance staff presented invoices due through March 26, 2025, to be paid March 19, 2025, totaling $2,152,656.36. The presenter reported funding sources split roughly 40.6% from the general fund, 19.58% from other grants, 11.2% from RMS and 23.13% from escrow. The board voted to ratify payment.

The commission approved several professional services agreements presented as budgeted items: a solicitor agreement for the controller’s office with Clark, Gallagher, Barbiero, Amuso and Glassman Law; a renewal with Jillian Psychological and Counseling Services for psychological services for sheriff’s office hiring; and a professional-services agreement to provide Spanish interpretation and translation services at $65 per hour with a projected not-to-exceed total of $9,009.99 (approximately 40% reimbursed by the state). The board also approved agreements to provide outside counsel for the public defender’s office when conflicts arise, including an agreement with Johanna Bridal not to exceed $35,000 and an agreement with Matthew Diemer not to exceed $60,000.

County commissioners reapproved an amendment to a $200,000 DEP recycling equipment grant after the county was notified of a clerical error in the original submission. County staff said the reapproval corrects the clerical error in the grant application.

Other items approved by voice vote included:

- a West Physics Consulting agreement to maintain radiation-monitoring equipment through Dec. 31, 2029; - a licensing and channel addition with COVA Corporation for primary and redundant reporting channels ($7,959); - an extension of the contract with Ford Elevator; and - a budgeted $1,400 training package for hazmat training for first responders through Bucks Community College.

The board also ratified personnel actions including conditional offers of employment: one listed hire was Zachary Miller as recycling labor, pay grade 4, at $14.50 per hour with an anticipated start date of March 24, 2025.

On litigation, the commissioners ratified county counsel’s recommendation to withdraw from pursuing the addition of certain pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to an amended opioid-related complaint after counsel advised the cost and resource burden would be significant for smaller plaintiffs. County counsel said the change followed legal review and that pursuing PBMs could require substantial additional resources and costs for the county.

Separately, county staff announced a broadband infrastructure survey to collect resident input; the county website for the survey was to go live March 24 and paper copies will be available at local libraries, the county planning office and participating municipal offices. Staff said individual responses will not be released to third parties and the survey will remain open until the desired response rate is achieved or for up to 90 days.

All listed consent and action items were approved by voice vote during the meeting.