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Forest County commissioners approve routine purchases, contracts and personnel changes
Summary
At their Nov. 5 meeting, the Forest County Commissioners unanimously approved department purchases and bills, a $19,550 election services contract, distribution of 2021 tax sale overages, Operating Reserve payments for storm damage, and several personnel actions in the Salary Board session, including creation of an Assistant Chief Clerk position.
Commissioner Mark S. Kingston called the Forest County Commissioners to order at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2025. The board unanimously approved routine department purchases and several motions to pay payroll and vendor bills across county funds.
Commissioner Patrick F. Kline moved to approve the minutes of the Oct. 15, 2025 meeting; Commissioner Robert J. Snyder, Jr. seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The board also approved department supply purchases and multiple fund payments, including General Fund payrolls ($58,257.16 and $59,601.71) and General Fund bills totaling $92,235.51.
In financial actions, the commissioners approved distribution of 2021 tax sale overage funds from the Tax Claim Bureau as follows: Forest County $27,654.00; Forest Area School District $71,650.82; Municipalities $5,508.90. That motion was made by Commissioner Snyder and seconded by Commissioner Kline and carried unanimously.
The board approved the Forest County Sheriff’s request to purchase a 2026 Dodge Durango for $43,742.00 from Jim Shorkey Auto Group, with upfitting by Ibis Emergency Vehicles for $12,998.00 and graphics by Grafix Shoppe for $655.00. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor.
On account disbursements, the board authorized checks from several restricted funds: 911 account payments including $1,247.56 to Rural Edge, LLC for GIS services and reimbursements for Q3 2025 911 wages; Visitor Center reimbursements for internet, copier maintenance, utilities and postage; Opioid-account payments of $2,161.58 to Divido’s Handyman Service for washer/dryer hook-ups and $2,142.51 for supplies to open a treatment center; and Title III account charges including Forest County Extension allocation of $3,833.46 and a $5,000 disbursement for a Firewise Education Coordinator. All motions passed unanimously.
The commissioners approved a contract with Election Systems & Software, LLC. for election support and training for $19,550.00 to cover the 2026 primary and general elections. The board also approved Operating Reserve payments to Kafferlin Strategies ($18,327.50, invoice 1093) and Mobilcom ($12,475.54) for storm damage repairs on Loleta Road.
The board adopted Resolution #10 of 2025 to join the Pennsylvania County Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative (PCHIPC) and approved evergreen service contracts for solicitor services (Swanson, Bevevino and Sharp, P.C., $100/hour), IT services (Computer Guru, $50/hour) and multiple winter maintenance contractors. Commissioners also approved various individual agreements (coroner data entry and CYS consultation services), a $251.57 payment to Second Harvest Food Bank from Emergency Food & Shelter funds, and a $6,945.00 quote from Luton’s Plumbing for pump installation; all motions carried unanimously.
After adjourning the commissioners’ meeting, Chief Clerk Diana Szuch called the Salary Board to order at 10:12 a.m. The Salary Board accepted resignations from Danielle Oswald (CYS Fiscal Tech, effective Oct. 30, 2025), Dakota Gerst (Election Director/Payroll Clerk, effective Oct. 22, 2025) and Denise Saxton (Tax Claim Director, effective Dec. 31, 2025). The board created an Assistant Chief Clerk position (35 hours/week) at $15.25/hour; Commissioner Kline moved the creation and Stacey Barnes seconded the motion.
The board hired Jarrette Kahle as a part-time transportation driver at $10.70/hour (effective Nov. 3, 2025) and hired Jennifer Miller as CYS Fiscal Technician at $18.00/hour (effective Nov. 10, 2025). The Salary Board also created a salaried Election Director position ($5,000/year) and appointed Diana Szuch as Director of Election effective Dec. 5, 2025. The board approved hiring Megan Kineston as Assistant Chief Clerk at $15.25/hour (35 hours/week), effective Nov. 3, 2025. All Salary Board motions were recorded as carried unanimously.
The minutes record unanimous votes for all motions; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the minutes. The commissioners adjourned at 10:11 a.m.; the Salary Board adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
