The Lycoming County Commissioners approved updating two policies, one on family and medical leave and the other on parental leave, which prompted Commissioner Marc Sortman to address the importance of doing that to bring them more in line with the current and future workforce.

“As as we bring younger employees within the county, and they’re looking to have families, it’s it’s policies like this that needed updated, (and) that follow the federal government, as well as being a good employer to the employee that does make a decision have children or have elderly parents that they need leave for or just themselves with, as our staff is also growing in age, this helps them as well,” Sortman said.

“I appreciate the efforts that were put into it, and it’s nice to have a comment about a positive thing that we are doing at the county. We talk money all the time, and obviously that’s very important to us and the taxpayers, but there’s so many other aspects of the county that go on a daily basis, and we are blessed to have a team that works very hard at all these other topics, as well, that we come across,” he added.

During the meeting, the commissioners also voted to approve several agenda items, including three pertaining to work being done to the intercom system at the prison. The supplies purchased for the project were from: GrayBar for $41,531; Cooper Electric for $902; and from ePlus for $11,003.

Other items approved by the commissioners were: agreements with JusticeWorks YouthCare, Inc. and Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Services, Inc.for the Juvenile Probation Office; from Kroff Chemical in the amount of $20,794 for odor control system at the landfill; Invoices for ALS Group USA, Corp in the amount of $1,140 for testing groundwater samples at the landfill; the application to the City of Williamsport for special event approval to close a portion of Pine Street for election night operations; an agreement with Anthony Visco, Jr., architect, as needed for work at voting sites; an agreement with Cybergenetics for consultations at the District Attorney’s office; a contract with Patricia Shipman, Esq. for work at Domestic Relations; an amendment to the agreement with Cornerstone Discovery for digital forensics at the DA’s office; an agreement with Geisinger Clinic for expert consultation for the DA’s office as needed; renewal agreements with Keystone Communications, LLC in the amount of $38,783 and $46,848. a Agreement with Keystone Communications, LLC in the amount of $46,848.00; the software renewal with Internet Software Solutions in the amount of $249 for two years; the software renewal with Quincy Technology Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $6,621; the hardware maintenance renewal with Dell in the amount of $293,605; the hardware maintenance renewal with Postage Pros Plus in the amount of $5,391; the purchase from B & H Photo in the amount of $4,545; a change with Keystruct Construction, LLC. In the amount of $5,535; and an Agreement with Choice Carpet Cleaners, Inc in the amount of $21,294 for cleaning services.

Under personnel, the commissioners approved the following: Allison Allen, full-time customer service specialist at Domestic Relations, $15.76 per hour; Suzanne Hutchins, full-time intake specialist, at Domestic Relations, $17.59 per hour; Pre-Release Center – Bryant Solomon, full-time resident supervisor at the Pre-Release Center, union, $19.20 per hour; Samuel Hostrander, full-time correctional officer at the Prison, union, Full-Time, $20 per hour, and Brock Mayer, part-time correctional officer at the Prison, union $20 per hour.

The commissioners also approved Donald Gordner as the Public Safety/EMS full-time regional field coordinator, at $40,884. per year, pending approval by the Salary Board.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 11 in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.