Centre County commissioners approve personnel moves, IT contracts and back Downtown Bellefonte grant

The Centre County Board of Commissioners met June 11, 2026 at the Willowbank Office Building in Bellefonte and unanimously approved personnel changes across multiple departments, several information-technology contracts and a letter of support for a Downtown Bellefonte economic-development grant.

Chad Joyce, representing Information Technology Services, presented five IT contracts the county approved. The Board authorized a one-year firewall renewal with CDW-G, LLC for $49,832 (July 17, 2026–July 16, 2027), a five-year RingCentral contract for $429,594 (Aug. 1, 2026–July 31, 2031), a short-term RingCentral agreement for $39,811 (July 1–Dec. 31, 2026), and two Morefield Communications support contracts for $13,290 and $21,000. "RingCentral is a cloud-based phone system which more entities will need to transition to in the next few years or so," Joyce said, adding that the move should save the county "about a $1,000 per month in fees" and that the phone upgrade project came in roughly $120,000 under budget.

The Board also approved a wide range of personnel actions across departments. Warden Glenn Irwin asked the Board to promote Ross Peters from Corrections Officer to full-time Lieutenant, effective June 14, 2026, with a stated 2026 budget impact of $3,278 and an annualized 2027 impact of $7,126. The Board approved the appointment of Braeden R. McAbee as a full‑time Corrections Officer effective June 15, 2026. In Emergency Communications, Rayme Weidel requested promotion of Chelsea Folk to Emergency Communications Shift Supervisor 1 effective July 5, 2026 and authorization to hire a full‑time 911 Dispatcher/Public Safety Telecommunicator Trainee effective June 11, 2026.

Human Services items included a voluntary demotion for Hillary Emanuelson, multiple Caseworker appointments (including Bethany M. Montalbano and Madison N. Kansala-Nelson), a Caseworker 2 requisition and a Casework Supervisor requisition; the Board also retroactively approved a medical leave for a Caseworker. In MH/ID/EI‑D&A the Board approved a Caseworker 2 requisition and the appointment of Hayden E. Wallace as a D&A Case Management Specialist Trainee, effective June 15, 2026. The Board approved a retroactive medical leave for a Transportation vehicle operator and several Tax Assessment promotions and requisitions, including the promotion of Nathaniel Schoch to Chief Assessor effective June 8, 2026.

During the meeting Lorraine Mulfinger, speaking on behalf of several Bellefonte nonprofits, asked the Board to approve a letter of support for Downtown Bellefonte, Inc.’s grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission titled "Historic Bellefonte Alliance for Community & Economic Development." Mulfinger said the grant request is for up to $74,000 to support planning and sustainable infrastructure projects; she listed proposed uses including the Talleyrand Stage, Safe Routes to Parks, facade lighting for downtown buildings, a bike/walkway to Titan Energy Park, wayfinding signage and Elm Street renovations. The Board voted unanimously to approve the letter of support.

All motions recorded in the minutes were made by Commissioner Amber Concepcion, seconded by Commissioner Steven Dershem, and passed unanimously. Deputy Administrator Natalie Corman reported the Board held a brief executive session earlier the same morning regarding personnel matters. The meeting was adjourned at 10:38 a.m.

Votes at a glance - Approval of May 28, 2026 minutes — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Corrections promotions and appointment (Ross Peters promotion; Braeden R. McAbee appointment) — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Emergency Communications promotion and trainee requisition — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - EMA job description and requisition — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - C&YS personnel items 1–6 — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - MH/ID/EI‑D&A staffing items — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Transportation medical leave retroactive approval — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Tax Assessment promotions/requisitions — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Coroner on-call requisitions — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Leave of Absence policy revision — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - IT Services contracts (CDW-G, RingCentral, Morefield) — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0). - Letter of support for Downtown Bellefonte ARC grant — motion: Concepcion; second: Dershem; outcome: approved (3–0).

What to watch next: the RingCentral implementation schedule and any follow-up reporting on actual monthly savings; Downtown Bellefonte’s ARC application outcome and any subsequent capital or planning work if the grant is awarded.