Cabot bids for county gas lease

BY PAT FARNELLI

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, of Houston, Texas, was the lone bidder on a 12.24 acre parcel of county land offered up for bid.

The sealed bid was opened for review by commissioners at the Sept. 25 meeting. Bid specs called for an oil and gas lease, with no surface activity, on the Bridgewater Twp. property.

The county jail and recycling center are located on the parcel which was put out to bid.

The bids were due in the Chief Clerk’s office by Sept. 24 at 4 p.m.
Cabot offered $3,500 per acre, which Commissioner Michael Giangrieco said was the standard payment for non-surface leases.

In other business, the commissioners approved a motion to acknowledge the termination of Christine M. Jones by District Judge Jeffrey Hollister effective Sept. 26, per his recommendation.

Commissioners accepted with regret the resignation of Jodi Anderson, recycling, submitted by Jennifer Hibbard, recycling coordinator, effective end of business day of Sept. 26.

Commissioners accepted with regret the resignation of Richard VanGorder, maintenance, effective end of business day, Sept. 27. It was noted that VanGorder has accepted a position at the new hospital site of Endless Mountains Health Center, and the commissioners wished him well.

Lewis Towner of New Milford was hired for the open full-time position of Maintenance/Electrician, Range 11, 40 hours per week, at a rate of $10.35 per hour, with a six month probation period and benefits per the residual bargaining unit contract, per the recommendation of Dennis Landis, head of the maintenance department, with an effective date to be determined.

Peter Janicelli of Susquehanna, was appointed to serve on the county Planning Commission, with a term ending Dec. 31, 2017. Janicelli is a former district magistrate.

A quote was approved from One Point, Scranton, for furniture and installation of two work stations in the Voter Registration office, for $9,768.03.

The following seminar requests and/or payments were approved: Sue Blaisure, Domestic Relations, Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 21-25: New hire training, cost $1,089, cost to the county $0.

Denise Sellers, Domestic Relations, Wilkes-Barre, Jan. 14: PACSETI class on basic analysis of tax returns 201, cost $45, cost to the county $0.

A correction was made to the minutes of the previous meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The minutes recorded the hiring of Thomas Matthew, Harrisburg, to the open position of Director of Veteran’s Affairs. His name is Matthew Thomas.