Courthouse needs more emergency repairs

BY STACI WILSON

Less than two months after pieces of the county courthouse crumbled onto the sidewalk below, more emergency repairs to the building need to be made – this time to the fire escape.

Nearly two weeks ago a person was on the fire escape when it broke, the county commissioners confirmed at the July 27 meeting.

It was noted no one was injured and it was not being used for emergency purposes at the time it gave way.

The commissioners voted to immediately move ahead with the necessary repairs.

Marilyn Morgan, director of the Susquehanna County Literacy Program, told the commissioners that the program had been denied state funding for this fiscal year.

She requested funding for the literacy program through the county.

Morgan said she has also submitted a proposal to the district attorney for the literacy program at the county jail.

As part of sentencing some inmates are required to obtain their General Equivalency Diploma (GED) while incarcerated, Morgan pointed out.

“We’ve provided that service free of charge and we can no longer do so,” Morgan said.

Bruce Paskoff, ofForestLake, questioned the minutes from the previous commissioners’ meeting.

Paskoff maintained that since the commissioners do not read the motions, the minutes should therefore not reflect what is included on the agenda for those motions.

“My opinion is that whatever appears in the minutes should be reflective of what happened at the meeting,” Paskoff said.

He also said that the commissioners did not discuss the agenda items during the meeting.

Commissioner MaryAnn Warren said, “If we understand them, I don’t know what the discussion would be.”

Warrensaid the commissioners received information regarding the agenda items is available to the commissioners prior to the meetings. Questions about the items – if any – are then directed to the chief clerk.

Paskoff said, “The pubic does not know the information until they walk in. Do the commissioners discuss costs, concerns and impacts? Shouldn’t that be done in front of the public?”

Commissioners Michael Giangrieco said he only knows what is on the agenda when he gets to the meeting.

He also told Paskoff there have been meetings in the past where he has disagreed with the motions listed based on what he has read prior to the meeting.

Giangrieco also said the minutes are parroted from the agenda motions.

Cheryl Matulevich, of Hop Bottom, said she thought it would be nice if the commissioners read the motions because she has been at meetings where commissioners have lost their spot on the agenda.

The tax claim bureau was exonerated from collecting $83.29 in delinquent taxes on a trailer in the name of Anthony Lombardo in theBrooksideTrailer Park. The assessment office exonerated the trailer from the rolls as gone on June 16.

The commissioners signed agreements between the Lackawanna-Susquehanna Counties Behavorial Health-Intellectual Disabilities and Early Interventions programs and about 50 providers.

The were allocated a total of $13,495,000 in federal, state and local funding with early intervention receiving $1,697,200; behavorial health, $7,604,600; and intellectual disabilities, $4,193,200.

The local match for the programs is marked at $112,300.

The commissioners signed a 63-month agreement with Neopost for a postage scale and digital mailing system at the state contract price total of $19,141.95.

Handicap accessible equipment will be purchased for various polling stations at a cost of $3,203.75. The equipment has been approved by the Department of State which will reimburse the county $3,199.44 in Help American Vote Act (HAVA) grant funds.

The commissioners accepted the $5,997 low bid from United Heating & Air Conditioning, of Pittston, for water pump repairs needed inside the jail.

Recycling Sustainability Fee Agreements were signed with the Clinton County Solid Waste Authority and Taylor Garbage Service Inc.

Both facilities have agreed to collect $4 per ton of municipal waste fromSusquehannaCounty. Funds collected will be remitted to the county on a quarterly basis and used to assist the county recycling program.

Jennifer Henry, Hallstead, was hired as the Head Real Estate Clerk, per the recommendation to Chief Assessor Tom Button.

 

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