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Berks County Commissioners Approve Consent Agenda; Officials Cite Potential Savings, Remind Voters of Deadlines
Summary
The board approved its Oct. 17 consent agenda, which included $1,208,833 in budget transfers and multiple contract and personnel items; officials highlighted possible prescription‑drug program savings and reminded voters about mail‑in ballot deadlines and that third‑party collection of ballots is illegal in Pennsylvania.
The Berks County Board of Commissioners approved its Oct. 17 agenda and consent items by voice vote, agreeing to a set of budget, contract and personnel actions presented by the chair.
Chair Christian Linebach reviewed the agenda items, which included a resolution authorizing 2024 budget transfers totaling $1,208,833 and 2024 appropriations listed at $5,150 (per the agenda listing dated Oct. 11, 2024). The agenda also included a request to change the county prescription drug formulary from CVS Caremark standard opt‑out to CVS Caremark standard control and to implement a PrudentRx program to leverage manufacturer assistance for higher‑cost drugs. "With these changes, the county could recognize anywhere from $700,000 to in excess of $1,000,000 in savings," the chair said when describing the expected fiscal impact.
The consent/contract agenda covered 12 contracts across multiple departments, including joint agreements with adult probation and the district attorney, agreements with children and youth services, emergency services, human resources, the county jail, judicial magistrate districts and parks and recreation. The board also listed an authorization for change orders up to $25,000 in aggregate to Dolan Construction for maintenance at the Berks County Fire Training Center and a renewal application for excess workers' compensation insurance with Arch Insurance for the 2025 policy period.
The motion to approve the agenda was made, seconded and passed by voice vote with no discussion. The chair then moved on to reports.
The county treasurer reported an opening balance of $250,266,936.91, a balance to clear of $7,808,456.87 and a resulting balance of $242,458,480.04. County controller Joe Rutterow reported total cash disbursements of $6,395,016.11 for the week ending Oct. 17, 2024. Chief Operations Officer Kevin Barnhart announced the fifth edition of the county's Berks First magazine (distributed to more than 80,000 households), which is paid primarily by advertising while the county covers postage.
Commissioner Michael Rivera used his report to highlight October observances (Bullying Prevention Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month), update the public on elections logistics and urge timely ballot requests. Rivera said 39,336 mail‑in ballots had been mailed and "a little over 16,000" had been returned, and he warned that someone collecting ballots outside the elections office would be engaging in illegal ballot harvesting in Pennsylvania. "If anyone does come up to you and say, I'll take your ballot for you... that's a big no," Rivera said, urging people to report such activity to election officials.
Commissioner Santoni reported on community events and a visit from a Netherlands delegation and shared economic figures conveyed by the delegation. Chair Linebach promoted the Reading Regional Airport's Aviation Career Expo (free admission, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.) and the Liberty Tree planting on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Berks County Heritage Center.
After hearing no public comment, the commissioners moved to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned; the board planned to reconvene shortly for an election board meeting.
