Blair County commissioners approve courthouse attorney access policy and multiple contracts, grants and agreements

Blair County Commissioners voted on July 10, 2025 to approve a consent agenda that included a county policy effective July 14 allowing private attorneys accelerated access to the Blair County Courthouse on presentation of a current bar license and photo ID, and approved a series of contracts, grants and intergovernmental agreements.

Commissioners approved the consent agenda — listed as Resolution 3262025 — by voice vote. The consent agenda included ratification of 10 warrants, budget transfers, a letter of recognition to Ambuks at Altoona for its 100th anniversary, a support letter to the Center of Child Justice (a program of Family Services Inc.) for a Child Advocacy Center program director funding application, internship approvals (a Fort Roberdeau intern and a George Washington University student job shadow in the public defender’s office), and the courthouse attorney access policy (item g). The policy requires presentation of a current bar license and photo ID; courthouse security screening and metal-detector checks will continue for attorneys.

The board separately approved the following motions (all listed outcomes are as recorded in the meeting):

- Approval of a quote from TD Fabrications and Welding LLC for fabrication and installation of doors and food pass units at the county prison in the amount of $12,700. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approval of submission of the Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOGO) grant application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) in the amount of $33,540 for the period Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2026. Outcome: approved (motion seconded; voice vote).

- Approval of a first amendment to a fiscal year 2024–25 contract between Blair County Department of Social Services and Jeffrey R. Kranch (contractor name listed in the meeting) to continue specialized accounting services and raise the not-to-exceed amount from $48,000 to $53,000. Outcome: approved (voice vote). The discussion clarified the amendment was needed because two fiscal staff left and the contractor’s hours exceeded original expectations; the amended amount covered work to process June payments and the contractor was also approved under a renewal for 2025–26.

- Approval of fiscal year 2025–26 contracts and agreements for Blair County Children, Youth, and Families, including a contract with Impact Counseling Services LLC and a purchase-of-service and HIPAA business associate agreement with Centre County Youth Service Bureau for the period July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. Outcome: approved (voice votes).

- Approval of an agreement for purchases below bidding threshold between Blair County Adult Probation and For Imprint USA for event materials (example cited: a personalized tablecloth used at job fairs and public events). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approval of an agreement with the Salvation Army to administer the state food purchase program for Blair County for a five-year period, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approval of an intergovernmental agreement between Blair County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through the Department of Corrections, to provide technical assistance and recommendations related to physical construction and operational practices at the Blair County prison. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Most motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; vote tallies were not recorded with member names in the transcript. One commissioner recorded an "aye with an extension" related to payments to Hollidaysburg Borough and to Thomas and Chandra Gendor during consent approval; the transcript does not provide additional detail on that extension.

The board adjourned at the end of the meeting and scheduled its next commissioners meeting for Thursday, July 17 at 10 a.m.

Votes listed above reflect items discussed and approved during the July 10 meeting as recorded in the meeting transcript; contract numbers, ordinance numbers and other formal identifiers were not specified for most items in the transcript.