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Votes at a glance: commissioners approve jail education contract, commissary vendor, pension audit engagement and grant ratification
Summary
At the April 9 meeting the board approved multiple routine resolutions: GED prep classes for the county prison, a three‑year commissary services contract, a pension‑audit engagement, ratification of a Riverfront Park grant application and several appointments to the county Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners approved several resolutions on April 9 that the board described as routine actions to support county services and ongoing projects. Each item below lists the resolution number, a brief description and the outcome recorded at the meeting.
• Resolution 25‑00586 — Approval of payables: The board approved county general fund payables (checks numbered 383671–383985) and electronic fund transfers including payroll. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded; no dissent noted).
• Resolution 25‑0085 — Award GED prep course at Lackawanna County Prison to Outreach Center for Community Resources: The contract runs April 1–Dec. 31, 2025, and is not to exceed $200,117.32. Warden Tim Betti told the board the program will be funded from the inmate canteen account rather than the general fund and that the county aims to have the prison approved as an official test site. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded).
• Resolution 25‑0088 — Inmate commissary services agreement with Keefe Commissary Network LLC: Three‑year term beginning June 1, 2025. Warden Betti said Keefe agreed to hold pricing for two years, offered a lower commission rate and proposed improved admission and indigent kits. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded).
• Resolution 25‑0084 — Engagement letter for county pension audit with Zelenkowski Axelrod LLC: Contract covers pension‑fund audit services for years ending 2024–2027; contract compensation cited at approximately $15,000 with modest annual increases. CFO Dave Bolzoni told commissioners the prior auditor withdrew and the county sought proposals to keep the audit process timely. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded).
• Resolution 25‑0082 — Ratify application to Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for Riverfront Park Project Phase 1: Director Krista Magnotta said the application (requested award $500,000) was filed on deadline and that the UGI remediation work on the property will serve as the required match; awards to be announced in fall 2025 and work could begin spring 2026. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded).
• Resolution 25‑0087 — Appointments and reappointments to Agricultural Land Preservation Board: The board approved four appointments/reappointments with staggered term expirations ranging from Dec. 31, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027. Outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes recorded).
What the votes mean: The approvals reflect short‑term contracts, routine procurement and grant application ratification; the GED program and commissary contract were described by the warden as costing the county no general‑fund dollars because they are funded from inmate canteen revenues. The pension‑audit engagement was presented as a near‑market replacement after the prior auditor withdrew.
Meeting record: Each resolution was moved and seconded and adopted by voice vote during the meeting; the public record did not show individual roll‑call tallies for the items presented.
