July 8, 2008

TUESDAY: A Regular Meeting of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners was held at 10:45 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.

PRESENT: Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and James C. Marker, Commissioners; Kirk Swauger, Tribune-Democrat; Judy Ellich, Daily American; Kerri Burtner, Comprehensive Plan Coordinator; Gary Chalk, Redevelopment Authority; Bill Lehman, Planning Commission; Randy Welker, Fiscal Analyst; 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 meeting of June 24, 2008.

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 $533,253.45.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Bids – Coal

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to rescind the motion made at the June 10, 2008 Commissioners’ Meeting rejecting the bid of RFI Energy, LP for the purchase of coal in the amount of $207.86 per ton.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to award the bid for coal to supply the Court House, the Old Somerset County Jail, the Somerset County Jail and Somerset County Office Building for the period of June 1, 2008 through June 1, 2009 to the sole bidder, RFI ENERGY, LP, of 555 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701, in the amount of $207.86 per ton.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Great Allegheny Passage

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the License and Maintenance Agreement between the County of Somerset and the ROCKWOOD PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE in connection with the installation of a Sculpture at the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Rockwood.

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

Ruth Romesburg

163 Hickory Drive

Rockwood, PA 15557

RSVP Recruitment

Not to exceed $12,000.00

Sue Holliday

643 Saint Paul Road

Meyersdale, PA 15552

RSVP Recruitment and APPRISE Support

Not to exceed $12,000.00

Jillian Durrant RSVP Recruitment

450 Lake Shore Rd Not to exceed $12,000.00

Friedens, PA 15541

Interim Health Care

322 Warren Street, Suite 220

Johnstown, PA 15905

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

In-Home Service Provider

Not to exceed $69,300.00

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to accept the resignation of PAMELA S. WALKER of Somerset, Pennsylvania from her position as Aging Care Management Supervisor, effective August 8, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Somerset 911

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the recommendation of Richard Lohr, EMA Coordinator, to promote RUSSELL JAMES MILLER of Jerome, Pennsylvania from Part-Time to Full-Time 911 Telecommunicator for Somerset County 911 at an annual salary of $21,193.00, effective July 12, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to apply the IRS Standard Mileage Rate to the County increasing the mileage rate for business travel to 58.5 cents per mile, retroactive July 1, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Probation Department

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of the Vicki Saylor, Chief Probation Officer, to hire AIMEE STEELE of Somerset, Pennsylvania, as a Community Crew Leader for the Probation Department at an annual salary of $16,952.00, effective July 9, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to adopt Proclamation No. 16 of 2008 proclaiming the week of July 13-19, 2008, as Probation Officers Week as follows:

PROBATION OFFICERS WEEK

July 13-19, 2008

WHEREAS, probation officers are an essential part of the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, probation officers uphold the law with dignity while recognizing the right of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity; and

WHEREAS, probation officers are responsible for supervising adult and juvenile offenders in the community; and

WHEREAS, probation officers are trained professionals who provide services and referrals for offenders; and

WHEREAS, probation officers work in partnership with community agencies and groups; and

WHEREAS, probation officers promote prevention, intervention, and advocacy in the interest of public safety; and

WHEREAS, probation officers provide services, support, and protection for victims; and

WHEREAS, probation officers advocate community and restorative justice.

THEREFORE, WE, THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, do hereby proclaim the week of July 13-19, 2008, as PROBATION OFFICERS WEEK in Somerset County and encourage all citizens to honor these probation officers and to recognize their achievements.

Adopted this 8th day of July, 2008.

SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
/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 Charles Crimone, Administrator of Children and Youth Services, to appoint MARGE MCCUNE of P.O. Box 1265, Somerset, Pennsylvania 15501 and LAURA NESTOR of 107 Chauncey’s Woods, Somerset, Pennsylvania 15501, to the Citizens Advisory Committee to Somerset County Children, Youth and Families and Probation for three-year terms expiring April 2011.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Charles Crimone, Administrator of Children and Youth Services, to appoint MARGARET CHARNEY of 2255 Markleton School Road, Rockwood, Pennsylvania 15557, to the Citizens Advisory Committee to Somerset County Children, Youth and Families and Probation for a three-year term expiring May 2011.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Planning Commission

Bill Lehman of the Planning Commission stated that the Commissioners must submit a letter of intent to participate in the 2009 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program by July 15, 2008. Last year, spraying was done generally east of the Allegheny Front with some spraying in the southern State forest lands in Somerset County. The wet spring appears to have had an influence on the viability of the natural funguses that infect the larvae of the gypsy moth. He stated that the County has not had a residential spray program since the early 1990’s and explained the changes to the program since that time. The cost has jumped from $7.00 per acre to $21.00 per acre (could be more depending on federal funding) with administrative costs of $3.00 to $5.00 an acre. All spray blocks now must contain 23 wooded acres (1000’ x 1000’), making the minimum cost for a single resident between $500.00 - $600.00. The spray material is Bt, a biological spray that is found not to be effective on large caterpillar populations. He stated that the Planning Commission has not had phone calls requesting spraying this year.

Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes stated due to the lack of information on the State and Federal funding she did not feel that County should participate. James C. Marker stated the Commissioners have not had any calls regarding problem areas this year. The cost for private sprayers would most likely be less than the State program and would not require spray blocks of 23 acres.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to decline participation in the DCNR Spray Program for 2009, due to the lack of State and Federal funds to support this program.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Meyersdale Magisterial District Judge’s Office

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to authorize the County Solicitor to prepare specifications for proposals for the lease/purchase of a building to house the Meyersdale Magisterial District Judge’s Office as the current lease expires on December 31, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Courts

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Professional Services Agreement between the County of Somerset and CAPITAL RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC., of 750 Cross Pointe Road, Suite S, Columbus, OH 43230, to collect delinquent monies from defendants payable to the Court at no cost to the County; a fee of 25% of the collection amount will be assessed to each claim collected as payment for the collection service.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Somerset County General Authority

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Paying Agent Agreement between the County of Somerset and the SOMERSET COUNTY GENERAL AUTHORITY in connection with the Laurel Highlands Business Park.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes to appoint BRAD COBER of 242 Barron Road, Somerset, Pennsylvania to the Somerset County General Authority Board, to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Frederick Smith, which will expire on January 1, 2012.

Voting: James C. Marker – Aye, Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes – Aye, and John P. Vatavuk – No. Motion carried.

Tax Collectors

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to accept the resignation of ALLISON SMITH of 158 Fairhope Road, Fairhope, PA 15538, as Tax Collector for Fairhope Township, effective July 2, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Maintenance Department

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk approve the request of Dan Gindlesperger, Maintenance Supervisor, to promote RICHARD STUTZMAN of Friedens, Pennsylvania from Temporary Maintenance Worker to Full-Time Maintenance Worker at the same annual salary of $21,678.00, effective July 8, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Redevelopment Authority

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the submission of a Competitive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT on behalf of Quemahoning Township in the amount of $500,000.00 for upgrades to the water system in the Village of Blough.

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 of Somerset County Jail, for permission to advertise for the replacement of cell ceilings at the Somerset County Jail.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners adjourned upon motion by John P. Vatavuk, and seconded by James C. Marker at 11:10 a.m.

_____________________________________________

JAMES C. MARKER, Secretary

July 8, 2008

TUESDAY: A Somerset County Employees’ Retirement Board Meeting was held at 11:10 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Request for Vesting submitted by REBECCA WITT of Somerset, Pennsylvania, whose last day of work as a Juvenile Probation Officer was June 27, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the Request for Vesting submitted by SEAN YODER of Somerset, Pennsylvania, whose last day of work as a 911 Telecommunicator was July 3, 2008.

The vote was unanimous. Motion carried.

The Somerset County Employees’ Retirement Board meeting recessed at 11:11 a.m.

_______________________________________

CAROLYN M. ZAMBANINI, Secretary