Commissioners approve multiple contracts and grants; household hazardous waste fee recommended to rise to $0.75 per pound

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved multiple contracts and contract amendments across children and youth services, mental-health and intellectual-developmental-disabilities (MHIDD) services, public-works engineering and county technology and recycling programs.

Children and youth services: The board approved a contract with Bethany Christian Services of Western Pennsylvania, a foster-care provider; staff said the contract includes increases ranging from about 66.9% to 110.8% driven in part by higher foster-parent per diems, which staff said grow between roughly 13.75% and 83.95% depending on placement. The board also approved Clock Tower Schools as a new residential provider for delinquent and dependent males ages 14 to 18; staff said Clock Tower Schools will be used primarily by the juvenile probation office for difficult placements.

Safe Harbor PILOT: The board approved a pilot payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for parcels Safe Harbor purchased to develop affordable housing. The agreement sets payment terms in lieu of standard property tax on those parcels.

Drug and alcohol services: Staff told the board that a funding stream used in prior years for the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania contract will not be available. County staff identified replacement funding for most of the shortfall; the board approved a 5% reduction in the contract pending a future amendment if additional funds are identified.

MHIDD contracts and grants: MHIDD staff presented four contract actions. Staff said an early-intervention contractor (Easterseals) needs an amendment for additional interpreted-service billing; supports coordination with the Center for Community Resources requires an approximately $10,918 increase as the provider expanded midyear; the county will host a regional train-the-trainer crisis program funded by a MHIDD grant for a March 2025 session in partnership with Dauphin County; and the NHS Stevens Center contract was amended to add roughly $1,242,754 to fully fund the fiscal year through June 30, 2025 (staff noted this is about $305,955 less than the fiscal-year 2023-24 total).

Rowan Tree Farm and HRG bridge work: Planning staff presented a $5,985 addendum to the Rowan Tree Farm rotational-grazing-installation contract; staff said the addendum is covered by the grant budget and includes a 10% landowner match. County engineering presented an addendum to HRG's contract for engineering, bidding and construction administration for rehabilitation of a personal bridge in West Pennsboro Township. Engineers said overweight vehicles have contributed to structural deterioration and staff will coordinate with PennDOT on deterrents and enforcement options.

Records and technology: The board approved an optical storage and records-alert contract change to consolidate billing into a single monthly invoice for LANDEX software and a records-alert system.

Household hazardous waste: County recycling staff outlined the county's 2025 household hazardous waste registration and reimbursement-grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for four collection events (two Thursdays, two Saturdays). Staff said the Recycling and Waste Authority recommended raising the user fee from $0.55 per pound to $0.75 per pound to match projected contractor price increases tied to the Department of Agriculture's ChemSuite contract. The board approved proceeding with the application and the fee recommendation.

Votes at a glance: All items were approved by voice vote without a recorded roll-call tally unless otherwise noted. The MHIDD NHS Stevens Center amendment and the household-hazardous-waste application drew substantive staff explanation but no recorded opposition.

Why this matters: The approvals fund direct services for children and youth, mental-health and IDD populations, maintain county infrastructure work and update technology and recycling fee structures. Several actions adjust prior-year budgets or reflect contract amendments needed to keep services operating.

Ending: Staff said they will return with contract amendments if replacement funding is secured for the Family Health Council contract and will move forward with the hazardous-waste events and reimbursement application.