Lackawanna County commissioners approve payables, grants, contracts and appointments in voice votes

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on July 2 approved a series of resolutions covering county payables, municipal grants, contract extensions, equipment financing and multiple appointments.

The board voted by voice on each measure; the record in the meeting transcript shows “ayes have it” or similar voice-vote language for every item. Presenters and department heads briefly described each action before the board moved and seconded the motions.

The most immediately quantified item was the approval of current payables under Resolution 25-0166, which the clerk read as covering general-fund checks 387802–388282 totaling $2,941,142.11 and electronic funds transfers, including payroll, totaling $7,363,652.86. The board approved the payables by voice vote.

The board also awarded the Municipal Electronic Recycling Collection Event Grant (Resolution 25-0158) to several municipalities — Archbald, Clarks Summit, Mayfield, Moscow, Roaring Brook, Scott Township and Scranton — authorizing reimbursements up to $1,000 per participating municipality. Nicole Shapiro, director of recycling, told commissioners the grant boosted county electronics recycling tonnage from single digits in 2021 to as much as 53 tons in 2022 and about 30 tons in recent years. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Resolution 25-0159 ratified Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program modifications for federal fiscal year 2020 submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Director of Economic Development Kristen Magnotta said the changes include reallocating funds for Dixon City’s Crystal Park ADA walkway and creating a new Bernard Simitsky ADA Accessibility Park activity with a combined allocation of $78,907.80; Dunmore Borough’s modification redirects $1,000 to housing rehabilitation. Magnotta said the projects are due Sept. 9, 2025, and that CDBG projects are no cost to the county. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Under Resolution 25-0165, the board authorized deaccessioning several heavily deteriorated trolley-related items from the Electric City Trolley Museum collection so the pieces can be scrapped; Steamtown will facilitate disposal and split scrap proceeds with the county. County solicitor Don Fredericksen explained the items have been scavenged and are now scrap metal; the board approved the deaccession by voice vote.

Human resources director Joanne Decker presented Resolution 25-0167 ratifying a memorandum of understanding to extend prescription benefits management services with Rx Benefits, Inc., for a 12‑month term beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Decker said early renewal yields a $39,000 invoice credit and projected higher rebate rates that she said will produce $1,100,000 in savings in 2026. The board approved the ratification by voice vote.

Resolution 25-0145 authorized execution of a lease-purchase agreement to finance equipment with expected lease obligations not to exceed $3.8 million. CFO Dave Bozzoni said the total equipment acquisition cost is $4,842,339.24, with $1,064,992.40 previously allocated from ARPA funds; the county budgeted prorated 2025 lease payment of $329,288.93. Commissioners approved the financing by voice vote.

The board also extended the county prison’s food-service agreement for one year via Resolution 25-0160, approving a fourth amendment to the management agreement with Aramark Correctional Services LLC from Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2026. Bozzoni said the extension keeps current unit costs in line with peer counties and noted projected costs remain within the 2025 budget; the resolution passed by voice vote.

Resolution 25-0161 authorized entering an agreement with HRG to perform a broadband assessment plan pending solicitor review; the broadband item was discussed separately at greater length (see separate article). The board approved the assessment plan by voice vote.

The commissioners also approved a set of appointments by resolution: appointments and reappointments to the Lackawanna Susquehanna Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention Advisory Board (Resolution 25-0162), the Lackawanna County Disability Action Committee (Resolution 25-0163) and the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (Resolution 25-0164). The board formally reappointed and appointed named individuals; each resolution passed by voice vote.

All the above measures were adopted in regular session on July 2. The meeting record shows motions and seconds for each resolution and voice votes recorded as “ayes have it”; no roll-call tallies or dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-0166 — Approve current payables (general-checks $2,941,142.11; electronic transfers $7,363,652.86). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0158 — Award municipal electronic recycling collection event grants (up to $1,000 per listed municipality). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0159 — Ratify CDBG program modifications for federal fiscal year 2020 (Dixon City and Dunmore reallocation and new ADA park activity). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0165 — Authorize deaccession of trolley-museum items for scrap; proceeds to be split with Steamtown. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0167 — Ratify MOU with Rx Benefits, Inc.; one-year renewal with early-renewal credit and projected rebates. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0145 — Authorize lease-purchase agreement up to $3,800,000 for equipment acquisition (total project cost $4,842,339.24; ARPA allocation $1,064,992.40). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0160 — Fourth amendment to food-service agreement with Aramark (09/01/2025–08/31/2026). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0161 — Approve broadband assessment plan (HRG) pending solicitor review (contract cost discussed). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0162 — Appointments to Lackawanna Susquehanna BH/IDD/EI advisory board (listed individuals and term dates). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0163 — Appointments/reappointments to Lackawanna County Disability Action Committee (listed individuals and term dates). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 25-0164 — Appointment to Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (listed individual and term date). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

The meeting provided presenters an opportunity to summarize why each action was brought forward; no formal roll-call vote counts or recorded no/abstain votes were provided in the transcript. Several items (CDBG modifications, Rx Benefits, lease purchase and Aramark extension) were discussed with budget and timing context cited by department directors.