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Lycoming County Prison Board approves termination of Sharif Mercer, elects 2025 officers
Summary
The Lycoming County Prison Board voted to terminate the employment of Sharif Mercer, approved 2025 officers by single ballot, and passed routine administrative items. Public commenters asked the board to include meeting times on posted agendas under the Sunshine Act.
The Lycoming County Prison Board voted to terminate the employment of Sharif Mercer and approved a single-ballot slate of officers for 2025 during a public meeting.
The board, meeting as the Lycoming County Prison Board, approved the personnel action after a brief executive-session referral and a subsequent public vote. Commissioners then moved through routine administrative business, including approval of minutes and acceptance of the expenditure report, and passed a single ballot electing officers for 2025. A public commenter also urged the board to include meeting start times on posted agendas to comply with the Sunshine Act.
The personnel motion concerned the termination of employment for Sharif Mercer, identified in the motion as an employee of the Lycoming County Prison. A motion to terminate was made and seconded in open session; the chair called for the ayes and the motion carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote listing each member by name.
Nominations for leadership were opened earlier in the meeting. A speaker nominated “Scott” for chairperson; another nomination for vice chair was recorded as Commissioner Soreman; for secretary the presiding officer noted a nomination for “the DA.” With only one candidate in each slot, the board passed a single ballot electing the three officers for 2025 by unanimous voice vote on the record.
The board also moved and approved routine business: a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and a motion to accept the expenditure report were both seconded and carried by voice vote. Separately, a motion described in the record as to “accept the personal option” was made and seconded and carried; the item was recorded as approved but the meeting record does not specify further detail about what “personal option” refers to.
During the public-comment period, a caller identifying themselves as Lycoming Yahir said posted agendas often omit meeting start times and reminded the board that, under the Sunshine Act, public agencies must provide date, time and location for meetings. The board secretary replied that the time will be added to future agendas.
Reeve Mercer spoke at the public microphone after the personnel vote, addressing the board directly. Identifying themselves as “born and raised in Lycoming County,” Reeve Mercer said they would not “allow this action to define” them and thanked staff and board members for their work. The transcript does not show a stated relationship between Reeve Mercer and Sharif Mercer.
The board set its next meeting for Feb. 14 at the same meeting location, and then adjourned.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve 2025 officers by single ballot: approved (voice vote; individual yea/nay names not recorded). - Motion to approve minutes from previous meeting: approved (voice vote; individual yea/nay names not recorded). - Motion to accept expenditure report: approved (voice vote; individual yea/nay names not recorded). - Motion described as “accept the personal option”: approved (voice vote; details not specified in the record). - Motion to terminate employment of Sharif Mercer (Lycoming County Prison employee): approved (voice vote; individual yea/nay names not recorded).
