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The Lycoming County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to start reporting approved contracts that cost $9,999.99 or less on a regular basis for the sake of transparency.
Unlike with other contracts and purchases, the commissioners are not obligated by law to approve contracts under $10,000 at a public meeting and, for efficiency, the director of administration is authorized to sign off on such contracts on the commissioners' behalf, the commissioners said.
However, those documents still are public records.
So, to be more transparent, Commissioner Rick Mirabito made a motion during commissioners comment period to start reporting the approved contracts regularly, possibly monthly, at public meetings.
"It's probably not a bad idea, at least for the purpose of transparency, to let people know," he said, adding the commissioners have discussed reporting those contracts in the past. "I'm making a motion so that we do it."
Four contracts for various attorneys at rates not to exceed a total of $9,999.99 for as-needed work throughout 2019 were on the table at the time, and served as inspiration for Mirabito's suggestion.
Commissioner Tony Mussare was the sole "no" vote – not because he doesn't want to report the contracts, but because he felt a motion was inappropriate.
"I don't have any problem with that," he said. "I don't think a motion should be made without the prior knowledge of the chairman."