Lackawanna County commissioners approve payables, a $6,000 workforce analytics partnership and aging contracts; OK mural and façade easements

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on July 1 ratified routine payables, authorized a county contribution to a workforce-analytics partnership, approved multiyear aging-service contracts funded by state and grant dollars, and adopted façade and mural preservation easements.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Corporal Sam Cuchara, who was recognized by commissioners for his military service and his volunteer work converting a park refreshment stand into a community room used by veterans and recovery groups. Commissioners Tom Welby, Bill Gohan and Chris Chermack read a proclamation recognizing the Valley View Cougars as 2026 PIAA Class 4A state softball champions and proclaimed the week of July 1, 2026, as Valley View Cougars softball day in Lackawanna County.

On fiscal matters the board approved Resolution 26-0190 to ratify county payables. The resolution covered general fund warrants (numbers 402695–42893) totaling $659,645.48 and electronic fund transfers including payroll totaling $4,691,393.51; the chair called for a motion and the resolution was approved by voice vote.

In economic development business commissioners voted to enter a memorandum of agreement with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce (the Scranton Plan) to jointly subscribe to the LCAST labor-market analytics platform. "The county share of the annual cost is $6,000," Tom Carluchi, director of economic development, told the board, saying the chamber will contribute the other 50 percent. Carluchi said the platform will provide real-time labor-market data to support business attraction, workforce planning and grant applications. The motion was approved.

The board also adopted Resolution 26-0187, approving Area Agency on Aging service contracts for fiscal years 2026–2029 for providers including registered dietitian services, personal-care and in-home providers, adult day care and insurance counseling. Sarah McDonald, director of the Area Agency on Aging, said the contracts were issued via RFQ (ID12-26-1100-3) and are funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging block grant and the VOCA grant via PCCD; "this will require no contribution from the county," she said. Commissioners approved the multiyear agreements by motion.

Arts and culture staff presented two preservation agreements to protect public art. Marie McGwigan, director of arts and culture, described a 40-year façade easement to protect a vaudeville mural and a mural preservation easement with EFH Homes LLC to protect a 2020 Martin Luther King mural at 350 Adams Avenue. McGwigan said neither agreement requires county funding; commissioners approved the easements.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 26-0190 — Ratify payables: general fund warrants $659,645.48; EFTs (including payroll) $4,691,393.51 — approved by voice vote. - Resolution 26-0186 — Cooperation agreement with Scranton Plan for LCAST analytics (county share $6,000) — approved by voice vote. - Resolution 26-0187 — Area Agency on Aging service agreements (FY2026–2029), funded by state block grant and VOCA — approved by motion. - Resolution 26-0188 — Façade easement to protect a vaudeville mural (40 years, no county cost) — approved by voice vote. - Resolution 26-0191 — Mural preservation easement with EFH Homes LLC to protect the Martin Luther King mural (no county cost) — approved by voice vote.

What’s next: commissioners thanked staff for event preparations around Scrantastic Spectacular and a FIFA fan zone and closed the meeting. The resolutions take effect as recorded in county minutes; no additional county funding was identified for the aging contracts or the mural/façade easements.

Sources: meeting testimony and motions recorded at the Lackawanna County commissioners’ meeting on July 1, 2026.