May 26, 2009

TUESDAY: A Regular Meeting of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners was held at 10:41 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.

PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and James C. Marker, Commissioners; Mike McDavid, Penn State Cooperative Extension/CCAP; Dottie Bromley, Penn State Cooperative Extension; Jeff Masterson, Tableland Services, Inc.; Judy Ellich, Daily American; Mike Faher, Tribune-Democrat; Steve Spochart, Redevelopment Authority; Jeff Silka, Somerset County Economic Development Council; Kerri Burtner, Comprehensive Plan Coordinator; Craig Weaver, The EADS Group; Vince Pavic, Human Resources Director; Carolyn Zambanini, Chief Clerk; and Sonya Augustine, Assistant Chief Clerk.

Approve Minutes

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 12, 2009.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Approve Payment of Bills

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the payment of bills in the amount of $953,532.04.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Travel Requests

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the following travel requests:

request for Charles Crimone and Sharon Hahn of Children and Youth Services to attend the PCYA Conference on June 23-26, 2009 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania;

request for Dawn Brudzinski of the Emergency Management Agency to attend the Exercise Design and Evaluation Course on June 8-12, 2009 in State College, Pennsylvania;

request for Jessica Pugh and Julie Schmuck of Foster Care (Children & Youth Services) to visit a client on June 2-3, 2009 in Wood Bridge, Virginia;

request for Mary Dinning, Clerk of Courts, to attend the Clerk of Courts & Prothonotaries Convention on June 22-26, 2009 in Reading, Pennsylvania;

request for Angie Svonavec, Prothonotary, to attend the Clerk of Courts & Prothonotaries Convention on June 21-26, 2009 in Reading, Pennsylvania; and

request for Arthur DiLoreto of the Area Agency on Aging to attend the Budget Advocacy Day – Senior Coalition on June 2, 2009 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Children & Youth Services

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the unpaid leave of absence for Employee #2116 of Children and Youth Services for April 12-15, 2009.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to ratify the advertisement for bids to purchase One (1) Four-Wheel-Drive or All-Wheel-Drive 5-Passenger Four-Door Sports Utility Vehicle and One (1) Front-Wheel-Drive Four-Door Mid-Size Sedan for use by Children and Youth Services; bids are due in the Commissioners’ Office on or before Monday, June 15, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Purchase of Service Agreements between Children and Youth Services and the following:

Organization Name	Service/Cost
Wesley Spectrum Services 248 Johnston Road Pittsburgh, PA 15241	No increase.
Mid-Atlantic Youth Services, Corp Operator and Manager of Western PA Child Care 12 Dakota Drive Emlenton, PA 16373	No increase.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Somerset County Economic Development Council

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to adopt Resolution No. 8 of 2009 to extend the term of the Southern Alleghenies Keystone Opportunity Zone/Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone (KOZ/KOEZ) exempting properties located in the Somerset Sub Zone including the Laurel Highlands Business Park, the North Star Sub Zone including the North Star Business Park, and Windber Sub Zone from real property tax for the period of ten years from the date of occupancy provided that the parcel(s) is/are occupied on or before December 31, 2015, which Resolution is set forth at length in the Resolution Book.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Information Technology

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Glen Wagner, Information Technology Director, to appoint TRAVIS ALBRIGHT of Cresson, Pennsylvania to a paid internship in the Information Technology Department, at an hourly rate of $7.80, beginning on June 1, 2009, not to exceed 32 hours per week.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Somerset County Jail

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Thomas Perrin, Warden to promote MARK NICHOLSON of Shanksville, Pennsylvania from Part-Time to Full-Time Correctional Officer at the Somerset County Jail at an hourly rate of $11.60, retroactive to May 16, 2009.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Adele Bauer, Deputy Warden to remove Employee #2164 from the Somerset County Jail payroll, effective May 22, 2009.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Elections Office

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to appoint the following employees to the Computation Board for the May 19, 2009 Primary Election to serve May 22-29, 2009:

Gerri Maus (Assessment Office) Barb Rayman (Assessment Office)

Boswell, PA 15531 Central City, PA 15926

Becky Lamar (Commissioners’ Office) Vickie Borosky (Domestic Relations)

Portage, PA 15946 Boswell, PA 15531

Carol Brown (Courts) Nancy Glotfelty (Treasurer’s Office) Boswell, PA 15531 Berlin, PA 15530

(Not 5/29/09) (Not 5/22/09)

Substitute: Nancy Thomas (Voter Registration)

Somerset, PA 15501

(5/22 & 5/26 only)

Supervisor: Tina Pritts (Voter Registration)

Meyersdale, PA 15552

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Daniel W. Rullo, Solicitor stated that after the computation board has completed the canvassing of votes, a candidate can petition the court to have an accumulation of votes for variations of names. If a tie still remains, candidates shall draw lots on the third Friday after the election (June 5, 2009) at 12:00 p.m. to determine the winner.

Emergency Management Agency

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the renewal of the Agreement between the County of Somerset and ALLEGHENY COUNTY for additional funding in the amount of $46,000 each for 2009 and 2010 for salaries and benefits for Dawn Brudzinski, Planner, and Beverly Cunningham, Assistant Planner/Trainer of the Emergency Management Agency in connection with the Region 13 Assistant Program.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Area Agency on Aging

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Purchase of Service Agreements between Area Agency on Aging and the following:

Organization Name	Service/Cost
Tableland Services, Inc. 535 East Main Street Somerset, PA 15501	Transportation Not to exceed $42,500.00
Dr. Peter Go 867 West Main Street Somerset, PA 15501	Medical Consultant $100.00 per hour
Ruth Romesburg 163 Hickory Drive Rockwood, PA 15557	RSVP Consultant Not to Exceed $12,960.00

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Redevelopment Authority

Motion by James C. Marker seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Steven Spochart, Executive Director for the Redevelopment Authority, to submit the County’s 2009 CDBG Entitlement Program Application totaling $943,303.00 to the PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT on or before June 12, 2009 as follows:

County of Somerset − $300,206.00

Confluence Borough − $6,255.00 for the purchase of waterline materials.

Hooversville Borough − $7,000.00 for the purchase of storm water catch basins.

Rockwood Borough − $56,000.00 toward a water project.

Benson Borough − $50,000.00 for initial sidewalk design/engineering and construction.

Paint Borough − $76,105.00 toward a sanitary sewer project along Paint and Main Streets.

Meyersdale Borough − $51,000.00 toward the streetscape project.

Administrative Fees – $53,846.00

Conemaugh Township − $136,793.00

$112,170.00 to assist eligible homeowners with sewer lateral reimbursement related to sanitary sewer system improvements in the Benscreek area.

Administrative Fees − $24,623.00

Jenner Township − $97,217.00

$79,718.00 for a water project in the Village of Gray.

Administrative Fees − $17,499.00

Somerset Borough − $128,757.00

$105,581.00 towards a sanitary sewer project along South Columbia Avenue.

Administrative Fees − $23,176.00

Somerset Township − $179,142.00

$146,896.00 towards a sanitary sewer project along Berlin Plank Road and Garrett Shortcut.

Administrative Fees − $32,246.00

Windber Borough − $101,188.00

$82,974.00 for road construction along 17^th and Railroad Streets.

Administrative Fees − $18,214.00

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Steven Spochart, Executive Director for the Redevelopment Authority. to submit the Community Development Block Grant Program funds provided by the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act of 2009 Application totaling $247,670.00 to the PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT on or before May 29, 2009 as follows:

County of Somerset − $80,320.00

$73,895.00 toward a sanitary sewer project along Paint and Main Streets in Paint Borough.

Administrative Fees – $6,425.00

Conemaugh Township − $33,470.00

$30,793.00 to provide funds for a minimum of two (2) housing rehabilitation jobs.

Administrative Fees − $2,677.00

Jenner Township − $33,470.00

$30,793.00 to install water service laterals for residences along Griffie Road.

Administrative Fees − $2,677.00

Somerset Borough − $33,470.00

$30,793.00 towards a sanitary sewer improvement project along South Columbia Avenue.

Administrative Fees − $2,677.00

Somerset Township − $33,470.00

$30,793.00 to supplement a sanitary sewer system improvement project along Plank Road and the Garrett Shortcut Road.

Administrative Fees − $2677.00

Windber Borough − $33,470.00

$30,793.00 for road construction along 17^th and Railroad Streets.

Administrative Fees − $2,677.00

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Tableland Services, Inc.

Jeff Masterson, Executive Director of Tableland Services, Inc., presented the Notice of Intent in connection with applying for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) funding. He explained that additional funding in the amount of $351,928.00 is now available on a formula basis to support and increase the existing Homeless Assistance Program. Funds are directed to families and individuals whose income is at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and will be used to provide emergency rental assistance, case management and related services to prevent homelessness and re-house the homeless.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Notice of Intent for applying for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) funding through the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE to be used by the Homeless Assistance Program.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

A discussion was held regarding the recent letter from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) in connection with the operation of the Koot Karts. Jeff Masterson stated that the PUC warned Tableland Services that the Commission received a complaint in connection with the Koot Karts taking donations and transporting in Cambria County. He explained that Tableland has a state contract to operate the Somerset County Transportation System, including shared ride services, senior citizen transportation, Koot Kart and Head Start. He was told that the vans in question were unmarked and all of the Somerset County Transportation System vehicles are clearly marked. He stated that he is confident that Tableland’s Transportation System is in compliance with the PUC and Koot Karts have never asked for donations. The Koot Karts are operating again on a limited basis, within County boundaries, and will only transport Somerset County residents until the issue is resolved.

Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes introduced Mike McDavid, the Northeast Regional Director of Penn State Cooperative Extension. She stated that the Penn State Cooperative Extension has worked with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) to provide outreach programs to discuss and identify all natural gas exploration issues with regard to Marcellus Shale as well as impacts in the communities and region. The Marcellus Shale Taskforce has been in the lead of the issue for the past two years. Commissioner Tokar-Ickes thanked the Penn State Cooperative Extension for the great resource they have been across the State and for their efforts to educate the public on this issue.

The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners adjourned upon motion by James C. Marker, and seconded by John P. Vatavuk at 11:04 a.m.

_____________________________________________

JAMES C. MARKER, Secretary