In order to maintain order during meetings, the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board approved a Rules of Decorum resolution at their meeting this week. The rules apply to Joinder Board meetings, Executive Committee meetings and LCYS (Lycoming County Children and Youth Services) standing committee meetings.

The agenda for Joinder meetings designates two public comment times. One is before actions are taken on agenda items and one at the end of the meeting. The resolution sets guidelines for decorum during those comment times.

Specifically one of the rules states that “Public comment presented by an individual must be related to legitimate Joinder business, which is either before the Joinder or may come before the Joinder.”

This rule is followed by another which states that “Speakers should present their remarks in a courteous manner and may not make personal comments about others, such as their physical appearance, their character, or other derogatory statements intended to be personal attacks and not advance Joinder business.

“This board believes that we do not want to stifle anyone making public comments,” said Lock Haven County Commissioner Jeffrey Snyder, who chairs the board.

“But, we do believe that there is a point that public comment directed at staff gets to the point of harassment,” Snyder added.

Snyder’s remarks were prompted by comments from a member of the community who had called out staff members by name consistently over many meetings.

We have listened to your concerns, as you indicated earlier at this meeting, on a monthly basis, directed to the same individuals. This board has not taken any action because we don’t believe that anything that has happened reaches the level for this board to be concerned with, and would be a violation of the staff’s rights,” Snyder said.

“We welcome any public comment that you might have, but moving forward with this resolution, we are not going to tolerate what we feel is harassment to our staff. It’s a two way street. This board would not tolerate staff making statements repeatedly about you or anyone else. It’s a two way street, so we’re asking you to not continue to make derogatory statements about our staff,” he said.

Under the resolution, “The Chairperson or acting Chairperson shall have the authority to maintain order during the public meeting, including, if necessary, the removal of any person who prevents, disturbs, or interrupts the public meeting.”The Chairperson or acting Chairperson shall have the authority to maintain order during the public meeting, including, if necessary, the removal of any person who prevents, disturbs, or interrupts the public meeting.

It further states that “If, after a final warning, the speaker refuses to step down, the Joinder Chair will request the presence of a law enforcement officer, including the county sheriff. The attending law enforcement officer may remove the individual, with any criminal charges reserved to the discretion of law enforcement.”

The full list of rules will be posted either on the Joinder Board’s website or posted in the Joinder Board, Executive Committee and LCYS standing committee meeting rooms.

In other business, the board approved the following school-based service agreements: East Lycoming School District renewal agreement for School-Based Outreach and Student Assistance Services provided by two Joinder staff, one at $15,000 and one at $55,000; Williamsport Area School District, renewal agreement for School-Based Outreach and Student Assistance Services provided by three Joinder staff. $49,500, which reflects a $4,500 income increase for Children and Youth Services.

“This funds case managers working in the school districts, addressing both children, youth and mental health concerns within the school district,” said Keith Wagner, the board’s executive director.

Other agreements approved included: a new agreement with the Binkley Kanavy Group, LLC. for consulting and fiscal training services for 2025, not to exceed $10,000; a new agreement for school-based Intensive Behavioral Health Service (IBHS) Services for $16,666; and an agreement with Therapeutic Behavioral Health Services, Inc. for school-based IBHS Services for $16,667.

The next meeting of the Joinder Board will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 15 at the 4th floor meeting room, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.