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Votes at a glance: Lackawanna County commissioners approve routine contracts, grants and appointments
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Summary
The board unanimously approved a series of resolutions on Jan. 21, 2026, including payables, provider contracts, grant acceptances, a $25 million bond consent for the University of Scranton authority, and multiple provider and planning agreements.
At their Jan. 21 meeting, the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine but consequential items:
- Resolution 26-0024 (payables): Approved general fund payables totaling $2,819,425.95 and electronic transfers totaling $6,172,367.20 (voice vote recorded as 'Aye').
- Resolution 26-0014 (Office of Youth and Family Services provider contracts): Approved contracts including Deborah's Safe Haven (residential service) and Bradley T. Murray, CPA LLC. Carrie Browning said Deborah's Safe Haven is a residential placement with a per diem of $472.38 reimbursed at about 60% by the state.
- Resolution 26-0015 (Edmund Thomas Adolescent Center service agreement): Approved purchase of detention beds at $695 per day, reimbursed at 50% by the state; staff explained some providers are located out of county because local capacity for specialized placements is limited.
- Bond consent for the Scranton Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority/University of Scranton project: Commissioners approved a resolution consenting to issuance of revenue bonds by the authority in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 to refinance university debt. Counsel for the authority said the action "does not obligate the county in any way."
- Resolution 26-0022 (homeless assistance program): Approved agreements with United Neighborhood Centers and Catholic Social Services for state-funded homeless assistance, including case management, rental assistance and shelter administration; Durkin said there is no county cost for the grant-funded program.
- Resolution 26-0018 (Human Services Development Fund): Approved state block-grant-funded contracts recommended for Jewish Family Services and Meals on Wheels; no county match required.
- Resolution 26-0019 (PEMA 9-1-1 interconnectivity grant): Accepted awards totaling $421,466.31 for CAD maintenance, telephone connectivity, GIS maintenance, shared recorder costs, CHE telephone maintenance and EZNET tower/fiber; reimbursement will be quarterly.
- Resolution 26-0020 (equipment maintenance agreement): Approved a one-year maintenance contract with 2 Way Mobile Communications; director said the contract is covered by grants and carries no county cost.
- Resolution 26-0021 (hazard mitigation agent authorization): Authorized the director of planning to execute PEMA forms for the 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan update (FEMA-mandated five-year update).
- Resolution 26-0022 (PennDOT master grant for UPWP): Authorized planning director to execute a reimbursable PennDOT master grant of roughly $388,000 for transportation planning through the Lackawanna-Luzerne MPO.
- Resolution 26-0023 (ATV study closeout): Accepted final report for an ATV feasibility study funded in part by a $125,000 DCNR grant.
- Resolution 26-0016 (workforce development board appointments): Appointed Patrick Fercone, Matthew Maloney and Jamie Ryan (CPA) among others for terms to end Dec. 31, 2029.
All votes described in the transcript were recorded by voice as 'Aye' without roll-call tallies shown; the minutes reflect approval on each motion recorded during the meeting.
