Lycoming County Commissioner Rick Mirabito suggested Tuesday that the county’s Office of Human Resources offer a quarterly report that could show the county’s status in its efforts to reduce staff by 20 positions.

Reduction of staff through attrition, or by eliminating positions as people retire or leave for other opportunities, was a goal the commissioners set while planning the 2018 budget in order to gain more control over future budgets.

“If we’re doing well, great. If we’re not doing well, it’d be better for us to know now than in December,” he said.

Commissioner Tony Mussare recommended not getting “stuck” on the number 20.

He said some departments have expressed concern over losing more staff members due to being “stressed out” and overloaded with responsibilities.

“I don’t want the public to get stuck on a 20-person reduction,” Mussare said. “We are working feverishly trying to reduce. But, if there’s one thing that would upset me as a taxpayer, it’s if I called a public office on a day they’re supposed to be open and no one answered that phone.”

Mussare referenced a specific position that has gone unfilled in the commissioners’ office, saying the lack of staff has caused phones to go unanswered along with other issues.

“We have to systematically reduce our personnel, but do it in a manner that still provides good services to our constituents,” he said.

“I would agree with you,” said Commissioner Jack McKernan. “Whether we get to the 20 or not will just assist us in trying to control the budget spending. If we don’t get there and we’re able to do other things within the budget (to get there), I’ll be happy with that as well.”

However, just as county departments have been asked to review their available positions and make cuts despite potentially putting more strain on their staffs, the commissioners should be required to do the same, Mirabito rebutted.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved contributing $250,000 to the Lawshee Run Project for Jersey Shore Borough and appointed Joshua Schnitzlein, county hazard mitigation planner, as project manager in order to seek additional funding. The county’s contribution will come from impact fee funds.

• Approved a grant agreement with the state Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $2,047,290 for buyouts of 12 homes and an empty lot that have been severely affected by flooding, particularly the October 2016 flood. The respective municipalities will take ownership of those properties.

• Approved payment in the amount of $29,108 to Motor Company for work on a Mack roll-off truck.

• Approved the following personnel actions: full-time replacement assistant county detective with the Narcotics Enforcement Unit at $20.92 per hour effective Sunday; Elizabeth N. Deuel as a full-time replacement resident supervisor in the Pre-Release Center at $15.22 per hour effective Sunday; and Jennifer Black-Jarrett as a full-time replacement resident supervisor in the Pre-Release Center at $16.59 per hour effective Monday.

The commissioners will not meet Thursday.

Instead, their next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Executive Plaza.