Addressing staff changes made in the Lycoming County Planning and Community Development Department, Edward Feigles, the new deputy director, told the county commissioners that he and Director Jenny Picciano have a “slightly different vision” for the department.

One way that changed vision is reflected is in the renaming and expanding of the scope of the position which Feigles has held in the department as a GIS analyst. That position will now be GIS Analyst/Environmental Planner.

“When I was hired…almost 27 years ago, we had a need for someone to do a lot of field work, a lot of survey work. We worked with municipalities, a lot of things,” Feigles said.

“This skill set has not translated so well into the modern age, and we thought it was best if we take my old position instead of filling it as it traditionally was, but to fill it with the way that addresses a shortcoming in the department,” he explained.

“So the new person…would be part GIS analyst and part environmental planner, which will allow us to address certain things that we don’t have the staff currently to do, sort of doing more with less attitude,” Feigles added.

Personnel actions taken by the commissioners this week included approving the following: Natalie Steppe, as full-time director of Veterans Affairs in the Military Affairs Department, at $52,732.7658 per year; Jeffery Hamilton, as full-time assistant director of Veterans Affairs in the Military Affairs Department at $23.13 per hour; Feigles as full-time deputy director of Planning & Community Development at $81,014.659 per year; Zachary Stephens, as a full-time correctional officer at the prison at $20 per hour; and Aron Harmon as a full-time equipment operator at Resource Management, at $19.44 per hour.

The commissioners also approved the following agenda items: a maintenance agreement with Hunter & Lomison, for the Public Safety Department; an extension to the agreement with Equipment Depot of PA for Resource Management Services (RMS); an amendment to an agreement with Xtreme Trucking LLC with RMS, extending the terms until September 30; an agreement with Cintas for the emergency eyewash station maintenance and service for RMS at $195 per month; the appointment of William Brooks to the Lycoming County Planning Commission through December 31, 2028; and an extension of the timeframe to September 27 for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Project.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.