Northumberland County commissioners ratify demolition fund ordinance and approve dozens of contracts, amendments and purchases

The Northumberland County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance establishing a county demolition and rehabilitation fund and approved multiple contracts, grant amendments and operational purchases during its public monthly meeting.

The actions matter because they create a new county fund under a cited state act, change county land‑use and stormwater rules, and authorize contracts and funding adjustments that affect county services and capital projects.

Solicitor Mr. Garrigan introduced Ordinance 001‑25, described in the meeting as an ordinance enacted pursuant to Act 48 of 2024 to establish a county demolition and rehabilitation fund and impose a fee collected by the Tax Claim Bureau and the sheriff from certain sales. The board voted 'aye' and carried the motion to enact the ordinance.

Commissioners also approved a range of administrative and operational items recorded in the meeting minutes. Notable approvals included payrolls (payroll number 8 for $757,667.75 and payroll number 9 for $754,195.47) and payment of county and liquid fuels bills totaling $6,718,395.71 for the period March 29 to May 2, 2025. The board ratified an option to extend a lease with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for two years starting March 1, 2025, at $2,010.27 per month (CPI‑adjusted annually). The chair was authorized to execute a Penteladata agreement to provide a backup internet connection for the 911 public‑safety department.

Land‑use and regulatory amendments approved at the meeting included revisions to the Northumberland County subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO) — amendments to sections 809, 811 and 902 — and changes to the county Storm Water Management Ordinance (SWMO), including article 2 (definitions), section 601 (fees and expenses), sections 803 and 805 (enforcement/penalties) and appendix A. Both motions were carried by unanimous 'aye' votes as recorded.

The board approved contract and grant items: a three‑year contract with Maximus US Services Inc. (effective July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2028) to provide cost‑allocation services for the controller’s office at $8,600 per year (ratification); authorization for the chair to sign a letter of engagement with Clasick and Associates for auditing services for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024, at $107,000 plus out‑of‑pocket expenses; and contract renewals and awards on behalf of the weatherization program including Green Kite Inc., FTQ Services LLC, Boyer QCI LLC and others for the funding period FFY 2025–2026 or until funding runs out.

Other approvals included: a $62,400 modification to an FFY 2021 Community Development Block Grant (contract C000082259) shifting funding from Housing Authority of Northumberland County slum‑blight Phase 2 to Phase 3; a project‑period extension and $116,043 increase to the subgrant for the Northumberland County indigent defense program from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD); and an amendment with CDECOG adding a $4,000 environmental‑review fee and a $6,000 fee for Davis‑Bacon and Pennsylvania prevailing‑wage enforcement on the Herndon Borough–Jackson Township Joint Municipal Authority Route 147 waterline replacement project.

The board authorized the purchase by Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (BHIDS) of a 2025 Ford Bronco and a 2025 Ford Maverick from Sembree Motors at a total cost of $75,909; approved an affiliation agreement with Shippensburg University for internships in the adult probation department; and granted consent for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to conduct reclamation work on specified county‑owned parcels (property IDs: 020‑00‑074‑011; 020‑00‑065‑118; 008‑00‑076‑040; 00C‑00‑077‑021 in Coal and Zervey townships).

The commissioners also ratified a cooperation agreement described in the agenda as a "RAC P cooperation agreement between Northumberland County and Drive to support the Clark's Female Expansion Project" (recorded in the minutes as a ratification) and adopted resolution R09‑25 approving multiple agreements, amendments, grants, leases and reports for human, senior and social services providers as listed in the agenda.

Most motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried by unanimous recorded 'ayes.' The board set a work session for May 20, 2025, and the next regular public meeting for June 3, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Administration Center in Sunbury.

Several proclamations and certificates of recognition were also presented during the meeting, including National Correctional Officers and Employees Week and National Nurses Week.