Pike County commissioners approve payments, hire part‑time public defender, adopt veterans resolution; TAN award tabled
November 06, 2025 | Pike County, Pennsylvania
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Pike County commissioners on Nov. 5 approved a slate of routine payments and personnel actions, adopted a veterans resolution, and delayed action on bids for the county's 2026 tax anticipation note.
The board approved payment vouchers from the general fund, the election fund and the debt service fund, and authorized a payment of $66,564.68 to EOR Whitney Construction Corporation for work on the Bennett Avenue paving project and Change Order No. 1 for EOB Construction Corporation related to the same project. Commissioners also approved a $50,000 transfer from the Act 13 administration account into the general fund and several small grant and voucher payments for housing and human services programs.
In personnel business, the board voted to hire attorney Lindsay Collins as a part‑time assistant public defender in the public defender's office (under 1,000 hours per year), effective Nov. 10, 2025, pending successful drug screening. The board recessed into the salary board and set Collins's annual compensation for the part‑time position at $55,000. The board also approved a personnel transfer moving Shannon from a full‑time clerk position in the commissioners' office to a full‑time benefits clerk role in human resources, effective Nov. 10.
On county debt, commissioners opened competitive bids for the 2026 tax anticipation note (TAN). Staff and board members discussed several bid offers, associated legal costs, and funding rates; after questions about legal counsel fees and interest calculations the board voted to table the award until a Nov. 19 meeting to allow additional review.
The board opened bids for sheriff's office surplus items (three safes). No bids were received and commissioners voted to re‑advertise the sale.
Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 25‑26 supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans and declaring November 2025 a time to salute veterans. In discussing the resolution, a commissioner highlighted recent work by the county veterans' service office and noted it has helped secure an estimated $15 million to $16 million in benefits for local veterans since an increase in staffing.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the Nov. 5, 2025 agenda — approved (record: roll call not specified; general "Aye" responses recorded).
- Motion to hire Lindsay Collins as a part‑time assistant public defender (effective Nov. 10, 2025; contingent on drug screen) — approved.
- Salary board: set part‑time assistant public defender annual salary at $55,000 — approved.
- Motion to transfer $50,000 from Act 13 administration to the general fund — approved.
- Motion to authorize payment to EOR Whitney Construction Corporation for $66,564.68 (Bennett Avenue paving) — approved.
- Motion to authorize Change Order No. 1 for EOB Construction Corporation (Bennett Avenue) — approved.
- Motion to adopt Resolution No. 25‑26 (Operation Green Light for Veterans) — approved.
- Motion to open bids for the 2026 tax anticipation note — bids opened; motion to table award until Nov. 19 — approved.
- Motion to re‑advertise sheriff/commission surplus items after no bids were received — approved.
- Multiple grant and payment vouchers for housing and human services programs — approved (amounts and payees recorded on the meeting agenda and voucher list).
What the record shows
The meeting transcript records unanimous "Aye" responses for many votes and identifies at least one explicit abstention on a salary board minutes approval. The transcript does not include a roll‑call listing of each commissioner's vote for most motions, so precise individual vote tallies are not specified in the public record of this meeting.
Why it matters
The hiring of an assistant public defender and the salary board decision finalize a personnel change that takes effect Nov. 10. The TAN decision will affect short‑term county cash flow and borrowing costs; tabling that award gives staff additional time to compare rates and legal fees before committing the county to a short‑term loan. The Bennett Avenue payment and change order are examples of ongoing capital projects that draw from county construction budgets.
Next steps
- The board will reconvene on Nov. 19 to consider the TAN award.
- The county will re‑advertise the sheriff's surplus sales and accept new bids.
The board approved payment vouchers from the general fund, the election fund and the debt service fund, and authorized a payment of $66,564.68 to EOR Whitney Construction Corporation for work on the Bennett Avenue paving project and Change Order No. 1 for EOB Construction Corporation related to the same project. Commissioners also approved a $50,000 transfer from the Act 13 administration account into the general fund and several small grant and voucher payments for housing and human services programs.
In personnel business, the board voted to hire attorney Lindsay Collins as a part‑time assistant public defender in the public defender's office (under 1,000 hours per year), effective Nov. 10, 2025, pending successful drug screening. The board recessed into the salary board and set Collins's annual compensation for the part‑time position at $55,000. The board also approved a personnel transfer moving Shannon from a full‑time clerk position in the commissioners' office to a full‑time benefits clerk role in human resources, effective Nov. 10.
On county debt, commissioners opened competitive bids for the 2026 tax anticipation note (TAN). Staff and board members discussed several bid offers, associated legal costs, and funding rates; after questions about legal counsel fees and interest calculations the board voted to table the award until a Nov. 19 meeting to allow additional review.
The board opened bids for sheriff's office surplus items (three safes). No bids were received and commissioners voted to re‑advertise the sale.
Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 25‑26 supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans and declaring November 2025 a time to salute veterans. In discussing the resolution, a commissioner highlighted recent work by the county veterans' service office and noted it has helped secure an estimated $15 million to $16 million in benefits for local veterans since an increase in staffing.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the Nov. 5, 2025 agenda — approved (record: roll call not specified; general "Aye" responses recorded).
- Motion to hire Lindsay Collins as a part‑time assistant public defender (effective Nov. 10, 2025; contingent on drug screen) — approved.
- Salary board: set part‑time assistant public defender annual salary at $55,000 — approved.
- Motion to transfer $50,000 from Act 13 administration to the general fund — approved.
- Motion to authorize payment to EOR Whitney Construction Corporation for $66,564.68 (Bennett Avenue paving) — approved.
- Motion to authorize Change Order No. 1 for EOB Construction Corporation (Bennett Avenue) — approved.
- Motion to adopt Resolution No. 25‑26 (Operation Green Light for Veterans) — approved.
- Motion to open bids for the 2026 tax anticipation note — bids opened; motion to table award until Nov. 19 — approved.
- Motion to re‑advertise sheriff/commission surplus items after no bids were received — approved.
- Multiple grant and payment vouchers for housing and human services programs — approved (amounts and payees recorded on the meeting agenda and voucher list).
What the record shows
The meeting transcript records unanimous "Aye" responses for many votes and identifies at least one explicit abstention on a salary board minutes approval. The transcript does not include a roll‑call listing of each commissioner's vote for most motions, so precise individual vote tallies are not specified in the public record of this meeting.
Why it matters
The hiring of an assistant public defender and the salary board decision finalize a personnel change that takes effect Nov. 10. The TAN decision will affect short‑term county cash flow and borrowing costs; tabling that award gives staff additional time to compare rates and legal fees before committing the county to a short‑term loan. The Bennett Avenue payment and change order are examples of ongoing capital projects that draw from county construction budgets.
Next steps
- The board will reconvene on Nov. 19 to consider the TAN award.
- The county will re‑advertise the sheriff's surplus sales and accept new bids.
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