Pike County commissioners approve hires, salary changes and $271,100 paving contract

Pike County commissioners on June 4 approved a series of personnel hires, salary changes and contract authorizations and awarded a $271,100 contract to ER Linde Construction Corporation for the Better Avenue paving project.

The meeting included routine approvals of the meeting agenda and minutes and several financial actions. Commissioners approved payment of county bills from the general fund totaling $205,247.14 and from the bridge fund totaling $49,771.82.

Personnel actions approved included hiring part-time drivers in the transportation department retroactive to June 2, 2025; the promotion of Lisonbee to resource conservationist at the Pike County Conservation District (retroactive to May 23, 2025); and multiple hires in public safety and human services. The board acknowledged hiring letters for full-time correctional officers effective June 23, 2025 (with benefits after 90 days); approved hires of caseworkers in children and youth services effective June 16, 2025; and approved creation of a part-time temporary assistant public defender position running July 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, and the hiring of Eric Hamill into that role.

The salary board, convened during the meeting, set hourly and annual pay rates for several of the newly approved positions. Among the actions were setting part-time drivers at $15 per hour (retroactive to June 2, 2025); setting the hourly rate for full-time correctional officers at $27.01 per hour effective June 23, 2025 (with benefits after 90 days); and setting annual salaries at specified amounts for new and existing staff, including Joseph Dunn and the part‑time temporary assistant public defender. The board also approved a salary increase for Tara Burnham, district manager of the Pike County Conservation District, to $72,411 retroactive to June 1, 2025; commissioners noted that increase is funded from the conservation fund rather than the county general fund.

On procurement and contracts, commissioners voted to reject and re-advertise proposals for providing services to eligible older adults and disabled persons on behalf of the county—s area agency, and they tabled award of proposals for a strategic management planning program pending a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The board awarded the Better Avenue paving contract to ER Linde Construction Corporation for $271,100 and approved a set of human services payment vouchers, including amounts recorded in the meeting record for the state food purchase program ($627.22) and the human services development fund ($1,562.55).

Other authorizations approved included: executing a request for quotation to purchase and install load-posting signage for Pike County Bridge No. 22 on Broad Street in Milford Borough; executing a subcontract between 3 Sisters Cleaning Services LLC and Pike County on behalf of the area agent; authorizing an agreement described in the record as a "person view authorized test center agreement" for the correctional facility as recommended by the prison board; executing an agreement between My Family Services and Pike County on behalf of Children & Youth Services; and authorizing the chief clerk to execute a sales confirmation between NG Resources LLC and the county (details in the record were not specified).

Several name and spelling inconsistencies appear in the meeting transcript and were noted by the board during votes (see clarifying details). The meeting moved to press and public comment after the listed business items; remarks in public comment included a brief historical note about Harvey Milk, presented as a recognition and not a county proclamation.

The board tabled the strategic management planning award pending the DCED grant outcome; other approved items will proceed according to the effective dates and conditions recorded in the meeting motions.