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Berks County commissioners review agenda items, financial reports and staff updates
Summary
The board reviewed a slate of resolutions and grant authorizations on the agenda, heard treasurer and controller reports showing a roughly $237.6 million available balance, and acknowledged staff and community events; the minutes and agenda were approved by voice vote.
The Berks County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 25 ran through its published agenda and several routine reports. Chair Commissioner Linebaugh read Item 1 and its subitems, which included a $38,000 2024 budget transfer and a referenced negative appropriation figure of $17,607,069 in the agenda listing dated Oct. 17. Subitems under Item 1 included the reappointment of David Hunter to the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority through 12/31/2029, authorization for signatory authority on a 2023 state and local cybersecurity grant application, a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant modification to enhance the district attorney's ballistic capabilities, municipal household hazardous waste and municipal waste planning grant agreements, and renewal of an EHD risk control service agreement for 2025.
Item 2 listed four contracts (Area Agency on Aging, CareerLink, the commissioners, and Department of Veterans Affairs) for authorization as presented on the Oct. 21 contracts listing. Item 3 authorized execution of payments and electronic transfers for the week ending Oct. 25, 2024, and Item 4 covered the third quarter 2024 local earned income tax and local services tax listing dated Oct. 24, 2024.
The minutes of the Oct. 17 meeting were called for corrections and, hearing none, were approved as presented. A motion to approve the agenda was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. No roll call or named vote tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Treasurer Mitch Darkourt reported an opening balance of $242,604,882.41, a balance to clear of $5,012,777.26, leaving $237,592,102.15. Controller Joe Ruttero reported accounts payable of $16,771,880.11, payroll of $5,258,733 and total cash disbursements of $22,030,613.11 for the week ending Oct. 24, 2024.
COO Kevin Barnhart publicly thanked election services staff and volunteers, and commissioners used their reports to publicize local events including the Reading Regional Airport Aviation Career Fair, Tech Central recognition, a BCTV program on the new Veterans Affairs office, and the Liberty Tree dedication scheduled for Oct. 26 at the Berks County Heritage Center.
Votes at a glance - Approval of Oct. 17, 2024 meeting minutes: approved by voice vote (no roll call recorded). - Motion to approve agenda as presented: made, seconded and carried by voice vote (no roll call recorded). - Motion to adjourn: made, seconded and the meeting was adjourned.
Several agenda resolutions and contract authorizations were read into the record but no formal votes on those specific resolutions were recorded in the transcript excerpt.
