Pike County commissioners approve multiple personnel actions, contracts and grants; reject Area Agency on Aging proposals

Pike County commissioners on July 7 approved numerous personnel actions, salary adjustments, contracts and a community development payment and voted to reject and re-advertise proposals to coordinate services for older adults and people with disabilities.

The board voted to approve payroll and fund payments, including $319,901.77 from the general fund, $1,500 from liquid fuels and $85,365.70 from the Pike County Employees Health Insurance Fund. The commissioners also approved multiple hires and promotions recommended by county offices and the prison board and set corresponding hourly and annual rates.

Among personnel actions the board received letters and approved hires or promotions retroactive to June 30, 2025, or with nearby effective dates: appointment of Mark Ravizzi as full-time maintenance staff at the correctional facility; Victoria Senek as full-time administrative clerk at the correctional facility; promotion of Justin Gietry to sergeant at the correctional facility (pending successful drug screen); temporary and part‑time accounts clerks including Sharon Bartsch and Calvin Cronin; continuation of Kathleen Cronin on a temporary part‑time basis through Dec. 31, 2025; elimination and creation of certain district attorney office positions and the appointment of Frank Zick as director of central booking (retroactive to June 30, 2025); hiring of Giovanni Green as a clerk in the recorder/register of wills office; Nicholas Azolini as benefits clerk in Human Resources; and Tanice Talbert as caseworker I in Children and Youth Services. The salary board set hourly and annual rates tied to those appointments and approved an experience-based hourly increase for correctional officer Brent Shorter under the collective-bargaining terms between Pike County and the Pike County Correctional Officers, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, District Council 87, Article 9.

The commissioners authorized execution of several agreements and actions: the Zelenovsky & Axelrod LLC proposal related to a contractor replacement audit (costs to be shared equally among Pike County, Delaware Township and Delaware Valley School District); the Pocono County Workforce Development Board program cost reimbursement agreement for grant year 2025; a memorandum of understanding with Johnson College on behalf of the correctional facility; and a 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) payment voucher for $3,385.99 payable with Hailstone Economic on behalf of the Office of Human Services. The board also authorized advertising the 2025–2026 annual beverage bid for the correctional facility and appointed Brian Altamare to the Pike County Economic Development Board for a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025.

On a separate motion, commissioners rejected proposals received to coordinate and provide service delivery to eligible older adults and disabled persons on behalf of the Area Agency on Aging and voted to re-advertise that request for proposals.

The meeting record notes a county license‑plate replacement event scheduled for July 12 at the State County Training Facility to assist residents with paperwork for failing Pennsylvania plates. The board also offered condolences for the death of Wendell Kaye, a former Wayne County commissioner and county solicitor, described by the chair as a longtime colleague of Pike County officials.

Votes at a glance

- Approve general fund payment: $319,901.77 — approved. - Approve liquid fuels payment: $1,500 — approved. - Approve Pike County Employees Health Insurance Fund payment: $85,365.70 — approved. - Acknowledge hires/letters (Mark Ravizzi; Victoria Senek; Justin Gietry promotion; Sharon Bartsch; Kathleen Cronin continuation; elimination of DA office administrator; creation of DA director of central booking; appointment of Frank Zick; hiring of Giovanni Green; hiring of Nicholas Azolini/Azawini; hiring of Tanice Talbert) — approved (see clarifying details for dates/conditions). - Salary board actions setting hourly/annual rates tied to hires and approving an experience-based increase for Brent Shorter under AFSCME agreement — approved. - Reject proposals for Area Agency on Aging service coordination — approved (motion to reject). - Re-advertise request for proposals for Area Agency on Aging service coordination — approved. - Advertise 2025–2026 annual beverage bid for correctional facility — approved. - Execute Zelenovsky & Axelrod LLC proposal (audit/contractor replacement) with cost-sharing among Pike County, Delaware Township and Delaware Valley School District — approved. - Authorize chairman to execute Pocono County Workforce Development Board cost reimbursement agreement for grant year 2025 — approved. - Authorize chairman to execute Johnson College MOU on behalf of the correctional facility — approved. - Approve 2022 CDBG payment voucher: $3,385.99 payable with Hailstone Economic — approved. - Appoint Brian Altamare to Pike County Economic Development Board (term to 12/31/2025) — approved.

The meeting record indicates all of the listed motions were approved with the chair calling for the ayes and no recorded objections in the transcript. Several hires and promotions were recorded as contingent on successful drug screening; where the motion contained a retroactive effective date that date is noted in the clarifying details below.

Ending

The board adjourned after completing the listed votes and a short series of miscellaneous announcements.