County enters service agreement for outdated 911 phone system

BY STACI WILSON

A one-year agreement between the county and Airbus Communications will provide maintenance coverage as needed or requested for the 911 Center’s telephone system.

Cost of the maintenance agreement is about $2,000, plus service call fees.

County Commissioner Alan Hall said the phone system in the 911 Center is outdated and few companies actually service the system.

“(The system) was at end of life a year ago,” Hall said. He said an engineering study was conducted relating to an upgrade of the system but that would be a $7 to $8 million project.

An ATM machine will be installed in the courthouse. The commissioners approved a contract with RJ Vending and Amusement Corporation.

The commissioners also signed an agreement with Vigilnet to provide alcohol and home confinement monitoring. Costs to the county will be reimbursed with court fess paid by defendants utilizing the ankle bracelets.

There were several personnel moves in the county:

LuAnn Myers transferred from the 2nd Deputy Clerk of Courts position to the position of 2nd Deputy Register/Recorder, effective May 9.

John Burman moves from Tax Assessment to the temporary 2nd Deputy Clerk of Courts position created by the Salary Board, effective April 28 through May 8. According to the agenda, on May 9, the position will transition to a full-time 2nd Deputy Clerk of Courts position.

At the April 13 meeting, the Salary Board eliminated a 2nd Deputy Clerk of Courts position, effective April 14.

The commissioners accepted, with regret, the retirement of Donna Evans, effective close of business June 1, from the Sheriff’s department.

Jessica Zewisky was hired as a Deputy Sheriff, effective April 18, per the recommendation of Sheriff Lance Benedict.

The commissioners also accepted, with regret, the resignations of Bill Zick and Daniel Farnham from the Susquehanna County Conservations District Board of Directors.

May was proclaimed Lyme Disease Awareness Month; and Mental Health Awareness Month.

The Salary Board also created a full-time, Assistant Director of Information Technology, with a starting salary of $35,000-$40,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.

Hall explained that the county’s IT subcontractors would be done at the end of the year, and the county was moving forward with the transition to bring IT in-house.

Upon questioning on the status of state budget and funding from Harrisburg, Hall said the final quarter of disbursements for Children & Youth are on hold by the state.

The commissioners were also questioned regarding a proposed incinerator project in the New Milford area.

Hall said it would be an incinerator for industrial waste, but not bio-hazard or garbage. He said it could possible used for pharmaceutical waste. But, he also added, that at this point, there has been no firm commitment from the company to locate the project in the county.

Hall also spoke about another potential economic development project in the New Milford area. He said a company is looking to load compressed natural gas in a location off I-81 to transport the fuel to New England.

He said before that moved forward, he expected the company would host a public forum about the project. Hall said that project, if realized in the county, could bring up to 85 jobs to the area. “Those will be good paying jobs,” he said.

The Susquehanna County Commissioners meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, at 9 a.m., in the commissioners’ meeting room in the county courthouse, Maple St., Montrose. Salary Board, Retirement Board and Election Board meetings are held on an as-needed basis following commissioners’ meetings.