Commissioners take steps toward new Jersey Shore district judge office
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Approval by the Lycoming County commissioners of an agreement of sale for the purchase of vacant land in Jersey Shore is the first step in finding a new home for Magisterial District Judge Denise Dieter's office.
The site, located at 110 Hill Alley, is 1.25 acres of vacant commercial land.The cost is $225,000.
Initially, the county had thought to house Dieter's office in a public safety building, but that has been delayed.
"Due to the delay, we felt it was necessary to move out from that and take the district justice out of that building, and pursue looking for land elsewhere," said Commissioner Scott Metzger.
"We believe we can have this project done in 12 to 18 months and have a new home, which is sorely needed," he added.
The agreement is contingent on subdivision approval.
Under personnel, the commissioners continue to streamline the number of employee positions on the county payroll in an effort to save money. The following positions were removed: clerk III in Domestic Relations; part-time administrative specialist in Purchasing; temporary sheriff's special project in the sheriff's office; temporary chief county detective and clerk I in the District Attorney's office; and clerk III in Information Services.
All of the positions that were removed were open positions.
Metzger noted that benefits offered by the county are determined by the number of positions, whether they are filled or not, so removing these positions will save money beyond salary costs.
A request to add a full-time temporary clerk III position in the Register and Recorder's Office was denied by a 3-2 vote by the salary board.
Other personnel actions included hiring full-time replacements for the following positions at the rates of pay listed: Jacob Wentz, emergency management specialist in the Department of Public Safety, $40,394 per year; Shanean Edmonds, financial support specialist in the Financial Management Department, $20.97 per hour, and Roxanna Morfesis, administrative coordinator in the commissioners' office.
Other actions taken by the commissioners included approving an intergovernmental agreement with River Valley Transit Authority in the amount of $100,000; a revision to the 2022-24 Williamsport Area Transportation Study (WATS) Unified Planning Work Program budget in the amount of $103; an agreement for phone and internet service for Dieter's office; the purchase and installation of new stars and spacers from Green Machine in the amount of $109,502 for Resource Management Services; the purchase and installation of a new rolling steel door from Overhead Door Company in the amount of $19,404; an agreement with Tiadaghton Valley Municipal Authority for $150,000 towards emergency sewer repairs, and the re-appointment of Brian Booking to the Lycoming County Housing Authority.
Change orders for the Third Street Plaza third floor renovation project included: J&M Construction Specialty, $4,120, and Dixon AC&R Corporation, $1,950.
The commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Williamsport by a 2-1 vote to give $20,000 in Act 13 funds towards the restoration of the Brandon Park Bandshell.
The lone no vote came from Commissioner Marc Sortman, who explained that he felt the county should be more diligent in dispersing Act 13 funds, which are derived from gas drilling, because they will not always be available.
In addition to Metzger, Commissioner Mark Mussina voted in favor of giving money to the city.
The next commissioners' meeting will be at 10 a.m. March 14 in the Commissioners' Board Room, first floor Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.