Centre County commissioners approve personnel changes, EMPG grant and training contracts

Centre County Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Higgins convened the May 28 public meeting at 10:11 a.m., and the board quickly moved through a series of personnel, grant and contract approvals.

The Board unanimously approved minutes from its May 14 meeting after a motion by Commissioner Amber Concepcion and a second from Commissioner Steven Dershem. The session then covered multiple personnel actions across departments: the Conservation District announced two new Resource Conservation Coordinator hires; Emergency Communications confirmed three promotions; Children & Youth Services and MH/ID/EI approved promotions and new funded positions; Information Technology Services and Court Administration received funding to fill specialist and network administrator roles; and the Public Defender’s Office added an Assistant Public Defender. Each item was presented by the relevant department representative and approved by unanimous vote.

The Board approved a $65,434 Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to reimburse county Emergency Management Agency salary and benefits for Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025. Jody Lair, representing Emergency Management Agency, presented the grant and noted it is federally funded and administered through PEMA.

Sheriff Bryan Sampsel asked the Board to approve a $1,000 sign-on/retention bonus for deputy sheriff positions and to fund and requisition a full-time Deputy Sheriff/Security position; both items were approved unanimously.

Risk Management presented two vendor contracts funded by grants: Jet Fitness Exercise and Therapy will provide group fitness education for county employees under a contract not to exceed $1,200 (June 1–Dec. 31, 2026), and American Top Team Happy Valley Pennsylvania will deliver defensive-tactics training under a contract not to exceed $19,000 (May 13–Dec. 31, 2026). Humane Officer Mark Rusnak recommended the defensive-tactics vendor based on his own experience, and Warden Glenn Irwin said the trainer would teach techniques aimed at preventing injuries to staff and individuals in custody.

The meeting closed with unanimous votes on the remaining personnel requisitions and a motion to adjourn at 10:40 a.m. Administrator John Franek Jr. attested to the minutes.

Votes at a glance (motions moved by Commissioner Amber Concepcion, seconded by Commissioner Steven Dershem unless noted): - Approve minutes from May 14, 2026 — approved unanimously. - Conservation District appointments (Madison J. Beucler; Jordyn A. Hinkle) — approved unanimously. - Emergency Communications promotions (Austin Owens; Keara Tice; Lee Williamson) — approved unanimously. - C&YS promotions and new Assistant Administrator funding — approved unanimously. - MH/ID/EI promotions and appointment — approved unanimously. - Transportation appointment (William Blaine Thomas) — approved unanimously. - ITS Senior Network/System Administrator requisition (p.c. #14207) — approved unanimously. - Public Defender appointment (Marc A. Nadeau) — approved unanimously. - Judicial legal specialist requisition (p.c. #27130) — approved unanimously. - Prothonotary First Deputy requisition (p.c. #22315) — approved unanimously. - Sheriff items: $1,000 deputy sign-on bonus and deputy requisition (p.c. #21140) — approved unanimously. - FFY 2025 EMPG grant agreement with PEMA ($65,434) — approved unanimously. - Housing satisfaction piece for 104 Apple Butter Road, Aaronsburg — approved unanimously. - Risk Management contracts: Jet Fitness ($1,200 cap) and American Top Team Happy Valley ($19,000 cap) — approved unanimously.

The meeting record does not show any public comment, contested votes, or substantive press questioning during the public minutes. Next procedural steps are the standard onboarding and requisition processing for the approved hires and execution of the listed contracts and grant documents.