July 21, 2009

 

 

 

TUESDAY:  A Regular Meeting of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners was held at 10:34 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.

 

 

PRESENT:  Pamela A. Tokar-Ickes, John P. Vatavuk, and James C. Marker, Commissioners; Randy Welker, Fiscal Analyst; Vince Pavic, Human Resources Director; Mike Faher, Tribune-Democrat; Jeff Masterson, Tableland Services, Inc.; Judy Ellich, Daily American; Steven Spochart, Redevelopment Authority; Kerri Burtner, Comprehensive Plan Coordinator; Craig Weaver, The EADS Group; Amos Snyder, Robert Darr, and David Fox, Stoystown Borough; Nancy Aultz, Somerset Township Municipal Authority;  Carolyn Zambanini, Chief Clerk; and Sonya Augustine, Assistant Chief Clerk.

 

 

 

Commissioner Tokar-Ickes announced that the County will provide the gap funding necessary to develop a six-inch water line along 1.3 miles from the Reading Mines Water System to Stoystown Borough including the construction of a new pump station at the Reading Mines reservoir.  She explained that the Stoystown Borough Water Authority’s aging water system had reached capacity and they were unable to provide any additional taps; with the development of this extension from the Reading Mines Water System to Stoystown Borough it is now possible to provide sufficient clean water for the 400 residents of the Borough. 

 

In 2004, the County awarded $220,000 in CDBG funding towards improvements to the Reading Mines Water System and the following year the Somerset Township Municipal Authority took possession of the water system.  The Somerset Township Municipal Authority reached an agreement with the Stoystown Borough Water Authority to provide water for Stoystown Borough. 

 

Commissioner Tokar-Ickes stated that the project is possible due to funding from federal, state, municipal, and county government. The County will provide nearly $500,000 for the completion of this project.  Congressman John Murtha was able to secure $664,000 federal funds, Senator Richard Kasunic obtained $100,000 in the form of a Safe Water Grant, the County allocated $100,000 of Growing Greener II funds and an additional $393,000 from the Quemahoning Pipeline bond funds which were offset by an H20 Grant, and Stoystown Borough and Somerset Township Municipal Authority each contributed $35,000 in funding for the project. 

 

Commissioner Tokar-Ickes commended all the parties involved for their collaborative effort in making this project viable.  The project will expand the infrastructure of both Stoystown and Reading Mines and provide vital water infrastructure for growth.   It will also provide a possible link to the Quemahoning Pipeline.  A check in the amount of $500,000 was presented to the Somerset Township Municipal Authority on behalf of the Stoystown Water Project.

 

 


Approve Minutes

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 7, 2009.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Approve Payment of Bills

 

Motion by John P. Vatavuk, seconded by James C. Marker to approve the payment of bills in the amount of $1,064,106.20.

 

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 Richard Lohr, David Fox, and Darlene Singer of the Emergency Management Agency to attend the Annual Emergency Management Conference on September 28-30, 2009 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;

 

request for Annette Isgan, County Auditor, to attend the Annual Convention on September 27, 2009 through October 1, 2009 in Champion, Pennsylvania; and

 

request for Glen Wagner of the Information Technologies Department to attend the SQL Training on July 20-21, 2009 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Area Agency on Aging

 

Motion by James C. Marker seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Arthur DiLoreto, Administrator of the Area Agency on Aging, to promote JOYCE L. PRITTS of Somerset, Pennsylvania from Aging Care Manager 2 to Aging Care Manager 3, increasing her salary by one-step to $40,303, effective July 21, 2009.

 

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 #2143 of Children & Youth Services for July 16-31, 2009.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the unpaid leave of absence for Employee #2165 of Children & Youth Services for July 22-24, 2009.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Redevelopment Authority

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to appoint MATT KOCIOLA of 808 Lansberry Court, Somerset, Pennsylvania  15501, to the Somerset County Redevelopment Authority Board to fill the unexpired term of Charlie Francis, which will expire in February 2010.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Tax Claim Bureau

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to adopt Resolution No. 12 of 2009 appointing employees of the Assessment Office to make all personal service for the Real Estate Tax Sale to be held September 15, 2009, as follows:

 

Whereas, the Real Estate Tax Sale will be held by the Tax Claim Bureau on September 15, 2009; and

 

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Unconsolidated Statutes provide for notice of such sale by Tax Claim Bureau at least ten (10) days prior to the sale by personal service by persons appointed by the County Commissioners in accordance with 72 P.S. Section 5860.601 (a) (3); and

 

Whereas, it is the County Commissioners’ desire to appoint employees of the Somerset County Assessment Office to provide such notice beginning August 5, 2009; and

 

NOW, Therefore, it is hereby resolved that the Somerset County Commissioners appoint the following employees to make all personal services required by 72 P.S. Section 5860.601 (a) (3) for the Real Estate Tax Sale to be held September 15, 2009:

 

                                                Frank Ryan

                                                Charlene Wright

                                                Gerri Maus

                                                Elizabeth Wright

                                                Barbara Rayman (alternate)

 

ADOPTED this 21st day of July, 2009.

 

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.

 

 

 

Housing Authority of Somerset County

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to reappoint WILLIAM ROUSH of 202 South Main Street, Davidsville, Pennsylvania  15928, to the Housing Authority Board of Directors for a five-year term expiring on August 7, 2014.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Treasurer’s Office

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Donna Schmitt, Treasurer, to hire JILL BUDZINA of Boswell, Pennsylvania, as a Part-Time Clerk to issue antlerless deer licenses at an hourly rate of $7.80, effective July 21, 2009.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Tableland Services, Inc.

 

Jeff Masterson, Executive Director of Tableland Services, Inc., requested permission to submit the application for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) funding which is due by July 31, 2009.  Funding will be used to prevent homelessness and re-house the homeless.

 

 

Motion by James C. Marker, seconded by John P. Vatavuk to approve the request of Jeff Masterson of Tableland Services, Inc., to submit an application for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) funding through the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE in the amount of $351,928.00 to be used by the Homeless Assistance Program.

 

The vote was unanimous.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners adjourned upon motion by James C. Marker, and seconded by John P. Vatavuk at 10:45 a.m.

 

 

 

                                                                               

_____________________________________________

                                                                JAMES C. MARKER, Secretary