Susquehanna County commissioners approve routine contracts, hire public facilities director

Susquehanna County commissioners conducted routine business on July 8, approving minutes, bills and a series of contracts and personnel actions by voice vote.

The board approved minutes of June 25 and payment of the countys bills. Commissioners approved a change order (Item 4) with Hudak for demolition of an existing block wall and pouring a new wall as part of an addition, at an additional $8,940; commissioners praised contractor work on building improvements.

The board authorized a contract with JJ Companies to survey the old historic jail (Item 5). Commissioners approved a cybersecurity consulting agreement with CRO LLP (Sarasota, Florida) for an endpoint detection and response (EDR) configuration review and related consulting at $5,500, per the county IT directors recommendation (Item 6). The board also approved entering a contract between Susquehanna County Children & Youth Services and Avantco International (Clifton, Virginia) for an upgraded version 18 of the child accounting and profile system (Item 7).

On transportation services, commissioners approved an agreement with Treehab to provide shared PWD and MATP services; the countys vehicles that are owned by the county will be leased to Treehab for $1 per vehicle (Item 8). The board approved the hiring of Robert Bendaga Jr. to the full-time nonunion position of director of public facilities at $69,000 per year effective July 1, 2025 (Item 9). Commissioners recognized the termination of Allison McGee from the position of second deputy/fundry clerk of courts on the recommendation of Jan Karpinski (Item 10).

Commissioners authorized advertising at least one county vehicle (a 2020 Ford E-450 van) for sale (Item 11). The meeting was then closed (Item 12).

Votes at a glance

- Item 2: Approve minutes of June 25 — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 3: Pay the bills — motion moved by Commissioner McNeuer, second by Commissioner Hall; voice vote, carried. - Item 4: Change order with Hudak for demolition and new wall (+$8,940) — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 5: Contract with JJ Companies to survey the old historical jail — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 6: Contract with CRO LLP for cybersecurity consulting (EDR configuration review) — $5,500 — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 7: Contract between Children & Youth Services and Avantco International for upgraded version 18 of the child accounting and profile system — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 8: Transportation services agreement with Treehab; county vehicles leased for $1 per vehicle — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 9: Hire Robert Bendaga Jr., director of public facilities, $69,000 per year, effective 07/01/2025 — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 10: Recognize termination of Allison McGee, second deputy/fundry clerk of courts — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 11: Authorize advertising a 2020 Ford E-450 van for sale — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried. - Item 12: Close meeting at 09:14 (as recorded in minutes) — motion moved and seconded; voice vote, carried.

No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; all motions were recorded as carried by voice vote.