May 13, 2008
TUESDAY: A Regular Meeting of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners was held at 10:35 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and
Approve
Minutes
Motion
by
The
vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Approve Payment of Bills
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Redevelopment Authority
Motion by James C.
Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to designate STEVE SPOCHART, Executive
Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County, as Fair Housing
Officer for the
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Emergency Management Agency
Motion by James C.
Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Grant Agreement between
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Area Agency on Aging
Motion by John P.
Vatavuk, seconded by James C. Marker to approve the request of Arthur DiLoreto,
Administrator of Area Agency on Aging, to appoint CINDA YINKEY of
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Human Services Development Funds
Jeff Masterson, Executive Director of Tableland Services presented the 2008-2009 Human Services Development Fund (HSDF) allocation for approval. He stated that the fund will remain the same as last year and is in the amount of $190,987.00. Commissioner Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes stated that the HSDF funds are the only flexible funds the County receives.
Motion by
Area Agency on Aging Adult
Day Care $ 7,000
Home
Delivered Meals $ 27,541
Homemaker $ 5,000
Adult Placement $ 1,000
Service Planning/Case Mgt. $ 4,469
Transportation $ 890
MH/MR Program Vocational
Rehabilitations $ 40,000
Social Rehab Services $ 13,886
Drug and Alcohol D&A
Assistance Program $ 5,000
Tableland Services, Inc. Adult
Life Skills $ 30,000
Adult
Transportation $ 30,000
Administration $ 11,201
Total Plan $190,987
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Tableland Services, Inc.
Jeff Masterson, Executive Director of Tableland Services, Inc., presented the Service Stabilization Agreement in connection with the change to grant payments for the Shared-Ride and Rural Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Program. He stated that beginning in FY 2008-09, the Transportation Department will receive monthly payments rather than quarterly payments. Therefore, the first payment will be delayed. The supplemental grant in the amount of $18,870 from Act 44 is being provided to alleviate the impact of this delay.
Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Jeff Masterson of Tableland Services, Inc., to approve the Supplemental Service Stabilization Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on behalf of the Somerset County Transportation System for the Shared Ride Program for Persons with Disabilities in the amount of $18,870.00.
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Assessment Office
Motion
by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Jane
Rizzo, Chief Assessor, to hire GERALDINE
L. MAUS of
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Daniel W. Rullo,
Solicitor presented the Somerset County General Authority’s recommendation to
appoint Chris Meyer, a native of Rockwood, as the Water Manager for the
Somerset County Water Project – Quemahoning Pipeline. Chris Meyer holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Environmental Engineering and will complete a second Bachelor’s
degree in Leadership and Professional Advancement from
Commissioner Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes stated that the Quemahoning Pipeline Project is the largest public works project ever undertaken by the County. The filling of the Water Manager position is significant in that it is the first job created by the Quemahoning Pipeline Project for which an estimated 2,700 family-sustaining jobs are expected to be created following its completion.
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
This General Authority will reimburse the County for the salary and benefits for the Water Manager position.
Daniel W. Rullo,
Solicitor presented the Custody Agreement between the Somerset County General
Authority and
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Somerset Conservation
District
Motion by John P. Vatavuk, seconded James C. Marker to approve the request of Len Lichvar, District Manager of the Somerset Conservation District, to remove LESTER MCNUTT of Hooversville, Pennsylvania, from the Somerset Conservation District Board of Directors, effective April 24, 2008, due to his unavailability to attend meetings and to appoint DAVE SEWAK of Windber, Pennsylvania to fill his unexpired term, which will expire on January 1, 2010.
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Sheriff’s Department
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
2007 Single
Motion
by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to accept the proposal
submitted by Beer, Ream, and Company,
P.C. of P.O. Box 629, Somerset, Pennsylvania 15501, for the 2007 Single
County Audit at a cost not to exceed $36,750.00.
The
vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Permission to Advertise – Bids for Coal
Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to ratify the advertisement for bids to furnish coal for the Somerset County Courthouse, Jail, and Office Building for the period of June 1, 2008 through June 1, 2009 based on a net ton of 2,000 pounds; bids are due in the Commissioners’ Office on or before Friday, June 6, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Resolution – Food Allergy Project
Ms. Elizabeth Yorio of the Allergy Moms group spoke about children with food allergies and thanked the Commissioners for adopting the Resolution.
Motion by
WHEREAS, more than 12 million Americans currently
suffer from food allergies; from 1997 to 2002, the number of children with food
allergies doubled; and
WHEREAS, food allergies kill as many as 200 Americans
and send 30,000 people to emergency rooms each year; and
WHEREAS, for some children, even a small drop of milk
left on a shopping cart from another child’s snack can trigger life-threatening
anaphylaxis; and
WHEREAS, the average school has 10 children suffering
from severe food allergies; the most common allergens include peanuts, eggs,
milk, fish, and wheat, which are nearly impossible to avoid completely at
schools; and
WHEREAS, scientists believe that a cure can be found
for most allergies by using existing science that has been developed to treat
asthma, airborne allergens, and venom from bee stings, and they believe that a
cure could be found within a decade; and
WHEREAS, severe food allergies disqualify individuals
from military service eligibility; the growing incidence of food allergies
could significantly decrease the pool of qualified candidates to serve in your
armed forces; and
WHEREAS, congress spends less than $10 million
annually for allergy research while research for attention deficit disorder
receives $107 million a year and research for diabetes receives $1.2 billion a
year;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of
Commissioners of Somerset County as follows:
1) That the United States Congress should increase
funding for research to discover a cure for life threatening food allergies to
benefit individuals and society as a whole; and be it further
2) Resolved, that our Pennsylvania Congressional
Delegation push for additional funding to help cure life threatening food
allergies; and be it further
3) Resolved, that suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to Congressman John P. Murtha, Jr. D-12, the Dean of the Pennsylvania
Congressional Delegation.
Adopted this 13th day of
May, 2008.
Somerset
/s/ PAMELA
A. TOKAR-ICKES, Chair
/s/ JOHN
P. VATAVUK, Vice Chair
/s/ JAMES
C. MARKER, Secretary
/s/
Carolyn M. Zambanini, Chief Clerk
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
District Attorney’s Office
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Proclamation – Protect our Children From
Tobacco Smoke Pollution Month
Motion by John P. Vatavuk, seconded by James C. Marker to adopt Proclamation No. 15 of 2008 proclaiming May 2008 as Protect Our Children From Tobacco Smoke Pollution Month as follows:
Whereas, more than 23,000 Pennsylvanians die annually from
tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer, head and neck cancer, heart
disease, stroke and emphysema, causing an enormous drain on the Commonwealth’s
medical and health resources as well as taking a tremendous toll on individuals
and families; and
Whereas, the smoke from cigarettes, pipes and cigars contain
harmful chemicals that pose health risks to
Whereas, there are definite prenatal risks associated with
maternal smoking that include: premature birth, pregnancy complications, low
birth weight infants, stillbirth, and a higher rate of infant mortality; and
Whereas, there are also childhood risks when infants and
children are exposed to tobacco smoke pollution that include: a higher
incidence of respiratory problems, increased severity of asthma, ear infections
and allergies, and reduced lung function as well as negative effects on their
long-term growth, intellectual development and behavior; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through programs
of the Department of Health in cooperation with voluntary health agencies,
business, community and local coalitions, is working to educate and protect pregnant
women, mothers, children, and young people from the dangers of tobacco smoke
pollution.
Therefore, in our efforts to protect our children, the Somerset
County Commissioners do hereby proclaim May 2008 as PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM
TOBACCO SMOKE POLLUTION MONTH in
Somerset
/s/ PAMELA
A. TOKAR-ICKES, Chair
/s/ JOHN
P. VATAVUK, Vice Chair
/s/ JAMES
C. MARKER, Secretary
/s/
Carolyn M. Zambanini, Chief Clerk
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Children & Youth Services
Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Employee #2116 of Children and Youth Services for an unpaid leave of absence for April 30, 2008 and May 1, 2008.
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Planning Commission
Daniel W. Rullo, Solicitor explained that Landsmann, Inc. and Patrick J. Lowery have defaulted on the Welsh Hill Estates Project and the property has been exposed to Sheriff Sale. It appears that they will not be able to complete asphalt work on nine new single-family homes in the subdivision. Solicitor Rullo has sent a letter to Lexon Insurance Company requesting payment of the Performance Bond No. 1004480 in the amount of $96,208.00. He requested authority to start legal proceedings for recovery of the bond payment.
Motion by James C.
Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to authorize Daniel W. Rullo, Solicitor to
begin legal proceedings against LEXON INSURANCE COMPANY OF
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
The
Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners adjourned upon motion by
_____________________________________________
JAMES C. MARKER, Secretary
May 13, 2008
TUESDAY: A Somerset County Election Board Meeting was held at 11:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and
There were two members of the Election Board present.
Motion by John P. Vatavuk, seconded by Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes to certify the results of the Primary Election held on April 22, 2008.
The
vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
Daniel
W. Rullo, Solicitor explained that there was a provisional ballot in question
for a voter from the Somerset Borough Precinct.
The voter thought he was incorrectly registered as an Independent and
should have been registered as a Democrat.
After review of his voting history, it was determined that the voter did
vote as an Independent in two General Elections: November 7, 2006 and November 2, 2004. Therefore, the recommendation was disregard the
provisional ballot as the voter was not eligible to vote.
Motion
by Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to disregard the
provisional ballot of the Somerset Borough voter as he is registered Independent
and not eligible to vote in the Primary Election.
The
vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
The Election Board meeting recessed upon motion by Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, seconded by John P. Vatavuk at 11:04 a.m.
___________________________________________
JOHN
P. VATAVUK, Vice Chair
May 13, 2008
TUESDAY: A Regular Meeting of the Somerset County Salary Board was held at 11:09 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
The Regular Meeting of the Salary Board recessed at 11:10 a.m.
_______________________________________
JAMES
C. MARKER, Secretary
May 13, 2008
TUESDAY: A Somerset County Employees’ Retirement Board Meeting was held at 11:10 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and
Gene Natali, Jr. of C.S. Mckee, presented the report on the Somerset County Employees’ Retirement Fund for the First Quarter of 2008, a copy of which is attached hereto.
Motion by
The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.
The Somerset County Employees’ Retirement Board meeting recessed at 11:32 a.m.
_______________________________________
CAROLYN
M. ZAMBANINI, Secretary