Votes at a glance: commissioners approve payables, grants, contracts and financing measure

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 19 approved a series of routine and programmatic resolutions, including payroll/payable authorizations, grant agreements, community development contracts and a county approval required for a university-related bond issuance.

The board voted to approve current payables, a renewal of the medical assistance transportation grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, submission of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant by the district attorney's office, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) construction contracts for Old Forge and Taylor, a licensing agreement for judicial tax sales at the Scranton Cultural Center, and a resolution approving a plan of financing by the Scranton Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority for University of Scranton projects.

Key items passed

- Payables: The board approved General Fund payables (inclusive list number 382504382659 as read) totaling $1,691,255.32 and electronic fund transfers including payrolls as read.

- Medical assistance transportation grant: The board approved entering a renewal agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for the county's medical assistance transportation program covering July 1, 2024 through July 2025. Kelly Matone, identified as director for the presenting department, told the board the program transported 3,400 medical-assistance clients during the last fiscal year. Matone said the program "ensures the citizens of Lackawanna County have safe and reliable transportation at a low cost to meet their medical needs."

- VOCA grant: The board authorized submission of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for $198,368 covering 2025'2027; Donna Cirillo, victim-witness supervisor in the district attorney's office, said the noncompetitive grant supplements salaries for seven individuals in her office.

- Old Forge Senior Center renovation (CDBG): The board approved a cooperation agreement and awarded the construction contract for the Old Forge Senior Center Renovation Project to Sean Burton Construction, identified as the lowest responsible bidder, for $391,000. Kristen Magnotta said the project is 100% funded by the Community Development Block Grant Program and is to be completed by Sept. 20, 2025.

- Taylor ADA curb ramps (CDBG): The board approved entering a cooperation agreement with the borough of Taylor and awarded the ADA curb ramp construction contract to Staferski Paving Company for $35,615, also to be completed by Sept. 20, 2025 and 100% funded by CDBG.

- Scranton Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority financing: The board adopted a resolution approving the authority's issuance of revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $65,000,000 to finance University of Scranton facilities and to refinance prior authority-issued debt. Attorney Bill Rhodes explained the board's approval is required by the federal tax code and Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act; he emphasized the county's credit or taxing power would not be pledged and that the bonds would be payable from university revenues.

- Judicial tax sale license agreement: The board approved a license agreement with the Scranton Cultural Center to rent the main theater for judicial tax sales on March 24 and May 2, 2025, at $10.50 per sale. Tax Claim Director Barbara Leddy said the Tax Claim Bureau charges a $35 bidder registration fee that covers the rental cost.

All items were adopted by voice vote after motions and seconds; the clerk recorded that the "ayes have it" for each resolution. No roll-call vote tallies by commissioner name were read into the record during the Feb. 19 meeting.

Members of the public spoke during the meeting's public-comment period on issues ranging from utility rate increases and nonprofit exemptions to concerns about staffing reductions at Steamtown National Historic Site; those remarks were heard after the afternoon voting and did not alter the resolutions approved during the meeting.