Lackawanna County commissioners approve series of resolutions including provider contracts, grants and capital purchases

Lackawanna County commissioners at a May 21 public meeting approved a series of resolutions that cover provider contracts, grant amendments, capital purchases and appointments.

The board adopted each listed resolution by voice vote; commissioners recorded “ayes have it” for each item. Measures approved included provider contracts for behavioral health, intellectual disability and early intervention programs; detention and foster-care provider agreements for the Office of Youth and Family Services; a cultural partnership grant for Scranton Tomorrow’s July 3 fireworks; amendments to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations for Dunmore and Jessup borough projects; authorization of design and engineering services for Murley Sarnofsky Park; a cooperation agreement with Metro Action to relaunch a small-business revolving loan fund; and acceptance of a bank proposal to finance roughly $3.8 million in computer and IT equipment purchases.

Why it matters: the approved items touch county social services, infrastructure projects, community events and capital investments that county staff said are funded through a mix of state, federal, ARPA and program-specific funds. Several directors who presented items noted state or federal reimbursements for contract costs and project-specific deadlines.

Key approvals (resolution number and summary): - 25-0124: Approval of current payables for the general fund and electronic fund transfers (amounts recited in packet). Approved. - 25-0115: Provider contracts for Lackawanna–Susquehanna behavioral health, intellectual disability and early intervention providers for FY 2025–26 (presented with allocation totals). Approved. - 25-0116: Detention center agreements for the Office of Youth and Family Services with Bucks County, Chester County and Central Counties Youth Center; per-diem rates recited. Approved. - 25-0117: Foster care provider agreements for FY 2025–26 with a list of named providers and not-to-exceed amounts (state reimbursement noted). Approved. - 25-0118: Data sharing agreement enabling Outreach Center for Community Resources to perform family finding for child welfare cases under Act 118 of 2022. Approved. - 25-0119: $15,000 cultural partnership grant to Scranton Tomorrow to support the July 3 fireworks. Approved. - 25-0113 (amended): Authorization to amend a statewide Local Share Assessment (LSA) grant application/cost for North Scranton Little League batting cages (project cost adjusted). Approved. - 25-0114: Ratification of CDBG modifications and reallocations for Dunmore and Jessup borough projects across multiple fiscal years, with revised dollar amounts and a project completion deadline recited by staff. Approved. - 25-0122: Award of design/engineering contract to BDA Architecture & Design for Murley Sarnofsky Park lakeside facilities (contract amount $113,500). Approved. - 25-0123: Cooperation agreement with Metro Action to administer a revolving loan program using repaid CARES-era funds (program terms and loan parameters presented). Approved. - 25-0127: Acceptance of M&T Bank proposal to finance acquisition/leasing of computer and information technology equipment — up to approximately $3,800,000 — with ARPA and lease-structure details discussed. Approved. - 25-0121: Appointments to the Lackawanna County Auxiliary Board of Assessment and Appeals with terms beginning immediately and expiring Dec. 31, 2025. Approved.

Vote details: Most measures were adopted by voice vote; the meeting record shows commissioners responded “aye” and the chair declared the ayes carried. Formal recorded roll-call tallies were not included in the meeting transcript for these items.

Next steps and deadlines: staff presenters cited contract start and end dates, FY 2025–26 service periods, CDBG project completion requirements (projects must be completed by Sept. 25, 2025, per staff), and project-specific procurement or grant-acceptance actions that will be completed by departmental staff or the chair/CEO as authorized by the resolutions.

Public comment and context: the meeting included public comment on other agenda items, and commissioners used the session to highlight upcoming events and administrative matters.