Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blair County commissioners approve consent items, contracts and a solicitor fee proposal; several votes recorded
Summary
At its Nov. 6 meeting, Blair County commissioners approved minutes, a consent agenda with payroll ratification, vendor payments, an AHTF repair agreement, a natural gas price-hedging authorization, and a 2026–2028 solicitor fee proposal; several abstentions and one recorded nay were noted.
The Blair County Board of Commissioners completed routine and contractual business at its Nov. 6 meeting, approving a set of consent items and several motions brought forward by staff.
The board approved minutes from the Oct. 30 meeting and ratified payroll for the 10/31/2025 paycheck in the amount of $974,751.22. On the consent agenda the board recorded a reappointment of Commissioner Amy Webster to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board for the 2026 term and appointed Angie Best to the Blair County Children, Youth, and Families Advisory Board for 2026–2028.
Procurement and payments approved included a $26,136.46 final-design invoice from Keller Engineers for the Old Mill Run (Bridge #33) replacement, with staff noting these expenses are 95% reimbursable from the Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund; payment of $8,465.50 to the Borough of Hollidaysburg for permitting fees related to the Blair County parking garage (the borough fee was described as a pass-through); and approval of an invoice correction for Election Systems & Software LLC totaling $39,635 to cover replacement batteries in DS200 precinct scanners and express vote ballot-marking devices.
On finance matters, the board authorized Will Ross of TNF Exploration to hedge natural gas purchases up to a maximum of $4.35 per dekatherm with staged coverage: Nov–Dec 2026 at 100%, Jan–Dec 2027 at 50%, and Jan–Oct 2028 at 25%, a move staff said is intended to realize savings and price certainty.
Social Services staff presented and the board approved a property owner/contractor agreement under the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Code Compliance Repair Assistance Program with Bobby Joe Almeda and Tornador Painting and Wallcovering for exterior work at 510 11th Street, Altoona, not to exceed $5,000; staff emphasized those funds come from recorder-of-deeds-collected AHTF money, not the county general fund.
Staff also asked the board to approve a 2026–2028 solicitor fee proposal from Gabriel Farah, PC; that motion passed with one commissioner recorded as voting 'nay.'
Where votes included individual exceptions, the meeting record shows one commissioner abstaining on their own appointment to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board and at least one recorded 'no' and some abstentions on specific consent items. The meeting adjourned; the next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 10 a.m.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in meeting): - Approval of minutes (mover: Unidentified Speaker, second: Unidentified Commissioner): approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda (mover: Unidentified Speaker): approved with recorded abstentions and a no on item d; specifics listed in consent item descriptions. - ES&S invoice and resolution amendment ($39,635): approved by voice vote. - Borough of Hollidaysburg permit invoice ($8,465.50): approved by voice vote; one commissioner noted abstention/concern about direct benefit. - Natural gas rate-hedging authorization (Will Ross/TNF Exploration; max $4.35/dekatherm): approved by voice vote. - AHTF property owner/contractor agreement (not to exceed $5,000): approved by voice vote. - Solicitor fee proposal (2026–2028, Gabriel Farah, PC): approved; one commissioner recorded as 'nay.'
The meeting record does not provide roll-call vote sheets with individual yes/no votes for every item; where members spoke their positions are noted in the transcript.
