Lawrence County commissioners approve employee education spot, Pathways contract amendment, food‑bank renewal and $5,000 appraisal transfer
Loading...
Summary
At its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners authorized a Children and Youth Services employee to enter the Child Welfare Education and Leadership program for 2026–27, amended a contract with Pathways Adolescent Center to add a transitional living program, renewed an annual agreement with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and approved a $5,000 transfer to fund an appraisal for a pending tax assessment court case.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved four routine but consequential items, authorizing a county employee’s participation in a child-welfare degree program, amending a youth-services contract, renewing the county’s annual food-bank agreement and shifting $5,000 to pay for an appraiser in a tax-assessment case.
Chair opened the meeting and presented Resolution 4 to permit a Children and Youth Services employee, Jevon Clark, to enroll in the Child Welfare Education and Leadership (CWEL) program for the 2026–27 academic year. Donald Andrews of Children and Youth Services said, “Jevon Clark has turned everything into our director to go to the CWEL program.” Andrews told the board Clark has been with the agency since November 2020 and meets the program’s stated eligibility requirement that the employee be continuously employed for two years prior to the first class; he added that CYS has developed internal, performance-based criteria for selecting participants. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the resolution by roll call.
The board next moved to amend an existing contract with Pathways Adolescent Center in Penango County to add the center’s new transitional living program. Andrews described the change as “just an amendment to include a new program” after Pathways opened that service. The motion to amend the contract was made, seconded and approved by roll call.
Commissioners also approved continuation of the county’s annual agreement with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Staff said the food bank operates a regional distribution model that supports local food pantries, while some faith-based pantries operate separately through diocesan structures. Commissioners asked for clarification about which local pantries are served by the Food Bank; after brief discussion they voted to renew the county’s participation.
Finally, the board approved a $5,000 transfer from contingency to the assessment office’s professional-appraisal line to pay for an appraiser needed for ongoing litigation. Chair said the transfer was necessary because the property owner (Lightner Green facility in Shannock Township) appealed an assessment board denial and the case has moved to the Court of Common Pleas.
Other business included routine acceptance of warrant registers and minutes, commissioner reports on recent ribbon cuttings and community events and scheduling notices: the board will meet again Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., and the Board of Elections will meet at 11 a.m. to consider a county solicitor petition asking the court to combine South Newcastle borough’s precinct with Shenango Township Precinct 3; a public hearing on that petition had been held the prior week.
The commissioners adjourned and planned to reconvene in about 40 minutes as the Board of Elections.
