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County is rewarded for 27 years of fiscal reporting excellence

After earning the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting for the 27th consecutive year, the fiscal services staff of Lycoming County were honored at Thursday’s commissioners meeting.

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting recognizes the county’s 2017 comprehensive annual financial report for its transparency, formatting and overall ease of understanding, said Chris Morrill via video, executive director of the Government Finance Officers Association, which grants the award.

“This represents the 27th consecutive year Lycoming County has won the certificate, demonstrating a commitment to preparing an annual financial report that’s organized, readable and transparent,” he said. “Meeting the high standards required to win the award is a mark of

distinction of which you should be very proud,” he said. “With this achievement, Lycoming County joins only a small percentage of U.S. local governments that have won this prestigious award.”

The award came just in time to help the county celebrate fiscal Director Beth Johnston’s 20 years of service.

“It’s kind of fitting that, at the same time when we’re recognizing Beth for her 20 years of service to the county at this point, we’re also going to combine it with the (association’s) award for the (annual financial report),” said Matt McDermott, director of administration. “It’s indicative of her outstanding performance as the director and is a highly coveted award from this institution in fiscal management excellence.”

Johnston insisted she was not the only one worthy of applause from the commissioners and their audience.

“Fiscal is a team,” she said, through tears. “This award goes to them, too.”

In another matter, the commissioners eliminated an administrative position from the collections department, effective immediately.

While that position had been vacant since last August, ensuring there no longer is a position to fill could save the county between $35,000 and $50,000 per year in salary alone, said Thomas D. Heap, tax claim director.

Instead, a clerk position in that department has been reclassified to an administrative specialist with a pay increase of about 5 percent.

Additionally, the

commissioners accepted a $258,893 grant from the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which will fully cover the salaries and benefits for two positions – the adult and juvenile victim/witness coordinators – in the district attorney’s office. Funds remaining may go toward operational costs for victim/witness services, such as supplies and travel reimbursement, said Mya Toon, chief procurement officer.

Other actions approved include:

• Awarding agreements to Fairway Laboratories Inc., Mountain Research LLC, Environmental Service Laboratories Inc. and ALS Environmental for analytical services for Resource Management Services on an as-needed basis.

• Extending an agreement with Fry’s Fire Protection for one year.

• Selling an inoperable 2001 Chevrolet Silverado for $1,550 and three lots of miscellaneous computer parts for $5,550.

• Amending an agreement with Transitional Living Center to allow the center to rearrange funds within its budget for the Master Leasing Program, which in turn will allow the center to accept more applicants into the program.

• Hiring Belinda Parsons as a full-time replacement cook in the Pre-Release Center at $17.86 per hour, effective April 7; James M. Mitchley as a full-time replacement resident supervisor in the Pre-Release Center at $16.59 per hour, effective April 1; Yasmin Pigford as a full-time replacement correctional officer relief in the prison at $16.01 per hour, effective Monday; and promoting Diana R. Richardson to the full-time administrative specialist cost and fines in collections at $19.30 per hour, effective Sunday.

The commissioners will not meet on Tuesday or Thursday due to a state County Commissioners Association conference in Harrisburg. The next meeting will be at 10 a.m., April 2 in Executive Plaza.

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