Lackawanna County commissioners approve payables, contracts and multiple grants; several administrative appointments confirmed

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 1 approved a series of resolutions covering vendor payables, short-term consulting, laboratory services, grant agreements and administrative appointments.

The board approved county payables and electronic fund transfers; enacted a three-month consulting services agreement to provide part-time accounting support for the controller's office; ratified a toxicology testing services agreement for the district attorney's office; accepted multiple youth- and family-service contract addenda and memoranda of understanding; entered a state grant agreement for the area agency on aging; and approved a financing resolution supporting Redevelopment Authority issuance of tax‑exempt revenue notes for the Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System. The board also authorized submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and designated county staff to serve as the county’s fair housing officer and Section 3 compliance officer to maintain HUD funding eligibility.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25‑0236 (payables): Approved. County general fund payables (numbers listed in the resolution) totaling $2,760,187.70 and electronic fund transfers (including payroll) totaling $3,956,540.29 were approved as presented.

- Resolution 25‑0230 (consulting services): Approved. The board approved a three‑month consulting services agreement with Reginald H. Mariani ("Reggie Mariani") at $100 per hour to assist the controller's office following the deputy controller's retirement. Controller Gary DeBiglio briefed the board; he said the contract is part‑time and “no cost to the county” relative to negatively affecting the budget and that the office remains open to interviewing accountants with auditing experience.

- Resolution 25‑0230 (naming collision in packet; consulting item recorded): Approved (same action above listed in packet).

- Resolution 25‑0230-series (Northern Tier Research support services for toxicology): Approved. The board ratified a support services agreement between Lackawanna County (District Attorney's Office) and Northern Tier Research for toxicology testing for calendar year 2026 (term 01/01/2026–12/31/2026). District Attorney administrative officer Brian Finnerty presented the request.

- Resolution 25‑0231 (Adopt-an-Angel MOU): Approved. A memorandum of understanding with the nonprofit Outreach Center for the county Adopt‑an‑Angel program was approved; the MOU runs 10/15/2025–01/31/2026 and the not‑to‑exceed amount from community donations was stated as $2,585.

- Resolution 25‑0232 (University of Pittsburgh Child Welfare agreement): Approved. A training agreement was approved to allow an agency employee (Elizabeth Maros) to pursue a master's degree through the University of Pittsburgh Child Welfare Education for Leadership program while continuing employment at the Department of Human Services Office of Youth and Family Services.

- Resolution 25‑0233 (Outreach contract addendum — Office of Youth and Family Services): Approved. An addendum adds family‑finding services to the outreach contract at no additional county cost but adjusts monthly flat and reimbursable fees; the total contracted maximum remains $859,311.59 as presented by Director Carrie Browning.

- Resolution 25‑0234 (Area Agency on Aging grant): Approved. The board entered into the older adult services grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging; the State Department awards program funding to Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging in the amount of $3,671,853 for the state fiscal year 2025–2026. Director Sarah McDonald presented the item.

- Resolution 25‑0235 (Redevelopment Authority financing for Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System): Approved. The board adopted a resolution declaring it desirable that the Redevelopment Authority finance certain projects for the Diocese’s Catholic School System and that the authority may issue tax‑exempt revenue notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,250,000. County counsel Brian Kozlinski said the action is a tax code requirement and reiterated it creates no county obligation to repay the notes.

- Resolution 25‑0241 (Edge Insights agreement): Approved. A one‑year agreement with Edge Insights for waste cost management analytics was approved; the board was told the proposed renewal is fee‑based at $5,400 annually and allows 30‑day extensions. CFO David Bozzone presented the terms and described prior savings‑based compensation that expired in October 2025.

- Resolution 25‑0242 (Waste Management contract extension): Approved. The board approved a one‑year extension with Waste Management for county facility hauling services (excluding the government center) at a proposed cost of $118,761.48 for the year; the CFO said the amount represents an increase from the current contract and that the county will need to bid the service in 2026.

- Resolution 25‑0237 (CDBG application authorization): Approved. The board authorized the community development manager to prepare and submit a Community Development Block Grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for fiscal year 2025 funding; director Kristen Magnotta noted the application is due in October and that the county’s citizen participation process informed the plan.

- Resolution 25‑0238 (Fair housing officer designation): Approved. The board designated the county community development manager as Lackawanna County’s fair housing officer to assist persons alleging housing discrimination and to ensure HUD compliance.

- Resolution 25‑0239 (Section 3 compliance officer): Approved. The board designated the department’s labor compliance officer as the county’s Section 3 compliance officer, responsible for implementing and monitoring Section 3 requirements tied to HUD‑funded programs.

- Resolution 25‑0240 (Workforce Development Board appointment): Approved. Carlo Carlucci (director, Community Technology Center of Lackawanna County) was reappointed to the county Workforce Development Board for a term commencing 10/01/2025 through 09/30/2028.

Several items were introduced by county staff and department directors; most motions were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the meeting minutes. No failed votes were reported during the Oct. 1 meeting.