Trending
A request for just under $10,000 for legal fees by Register and Recorder David A. Huffman, which had been tabled at the end of last month by the Lycoming County Commissioners when they questioned where the money was coming from, was approved at their meeting this week.
Huffman, who is in ongoing litigation with the commissioners and the county over the county's plan to move his office from the courthouse, had asked for the increased funds for his attorney Gregg Stapp's fees.
The commissioners had originally voted to table the item when it was revealed that there was no money in the 2026 budget allotted for it. At that time it had been revealed that an additional $12,000 over the budgeted amount of $5,000 for legal purposes had already been approved with monies moved from scanning fees. With the addition of the money approved this week, that brings the total for Huffman's request for legal fees for the case to almost $27,000 which is about $22,000 over the $5,000 actually budgeted.
The most recent funds will also be taken from scanning fees.
Commissioner Marc Sortman, who attended the meeting by phone, commented.
"I discussed this with the financial management team. The funds were moved from scanning funds, which is fine, but we also realize that the scanning funds are actually an income source. It's just something we can watch a little closer for future budgets that the income is equal to the expenditure as opposed to having an overinflated budget there," Sortman said.
"The money is available in those funds to move over to the legal side without affecting the county budget," he added.
In other action items, the commissioners approved:agreements with Diversified Treatment Alternative Centers, Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries and Crossroads Counseling, to be paid out of Juvenile Probation operating expenses; a service Order Agreement with Comcast for Third Street Plaza alarm lines to be paid out of operating expenses; and a service order agreement with Comcast for Courthouse and Domestic Relations alarm lines to be paid out of operating expenses.
Forest Rothchild, director of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) presented two items for approval. The first, a radiation emergency response grant for $10,236 for fiscal year 2026-27 and is a 100 percent state funded grant with no county match required.
It will be used to "maintain and improve the county's radiological and hazardous materials response capabilities," Rothchild said.
"The Radiological Emergency Response Fund supports the state and local preparedness for radiological emergencies under Pennsylvania's Radiological Emergency Response Program, funded through the fees assessed to the nuclear power plants," he said. .
Rothchild explained that Lycoming County's approved period for performance runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The grant agreement itself remains in effect through June 30th, 2028, unless terminated sooner with the approved performance and expenditure period through June of 2027.
"The use of the funds, the largest amount, which is approximately $3,500, is for the calibration of our radiological meters. The remaining funds are part of the radio communication equipment, emergency response vehicles, hazmat radiological training, travel, movement of equipment, decontamination support, volunteer recruitment, EMA drone response support, and uniform and item and training and exercise outreach equipment. This award covers approved equipment, supplies, training, and related response support only. It does not include personnel funding," he explained.
The board also approved the agreement with Moetivations, Inc.in the amount of $185,000 to be paid through 911 grant funds. The contract with the company provides for a two person temporary staffing team to support the 911 call center.
Rothchild took the opportunity to give the commissioners an update on the staffing progress at DPS.
"Across all three of our divisions, the Emergency. Management Services, Emergency Management, and the 911 Communication, Public Safety has been growing stronger. We're bringing in new talent across the board, and we're trying to build that steady service to our first responders, our training partners, and showing real progress in restaffing the 911 center," Rothchild said.
He commented on the hiring of Travis Johnson who was approved as part-time SARA support and hazmat specialist, at the meeting.
"I also want to take a moment to thank the human resources team, especially for this recent collaboration, as we're updating the EMA structure for the county, refining job descriptions and expectations for how we plan to grow the team to better support our community, guided through FEMA, PEMA and updated EMA standards. Our goal is simple: build a team that understands how to support the community by helping the community help itself," he said.
Rothchild noted that the commissioners approved hiring two people as full-time telecommunicator trainees in the 911 call center. They are Katherine Turner and Payden Mathieson. Both were hired at a rate of $20 per hour.
"Combined with our new partnership with Moetivations, we're making great strides in restaffing the 911 center. As also noted, we have an employee who is taking on another opportunity, but has chosen to stay with us part-time, so we are not losing her because she actively has requested to maintain part of that. At the same time, we also brought back a former staff member who used to be at the 911 center, and just this past week has started taking up her shifts as well," Rothchild said.
He also addressed some misinformation that has been circulating on social media suggesting that the 911 Call Center continues to lose people.
"It's simply not accurate. I want to set the record straight. One of our team members recently accepted a position with another organization, but rather than lose that talent, the individual is staying on board with us part time...as I also noted, a former dispatcher has rejoined our team, also in a part-time capacity," he said.
"So while the post claimed that we are continuing to lose people, the fact shows the exact opposite. We're working hard and successfully to keep and bring back experienced talent. That said, our recruiting efforts aren't stopping here. With the new school season approaching, we're also looking to partner with Penn College for potential part-time candidates with their students, and we're also looking forward to reaching out to high school seniors throughout the region to showcase career opportunities in public service, emergency management, and 911," he said. . "In all, the department has continued to build. We're building to support our community, and every one of these steps forward reflect the people doing the work here every single day," he added.
Other agenda items approved by the commissioners were: an agreement with Green Valley Recording for video recording for the Troy Bailey death penalty case to be paid out of the Public Defender's Office operating expenses; an amendment to the agreement with William Miele, Esq. to increase the cap on expenses for the Troy Bailey death penalty case to be paid out of the Public Defender's Office operating expenses; an agreement with Louise Luck, M.A., a litigation specialist for the Drummond death penalty case to be paid out of the Public Defender's Office operating expenses;an agreement with Mark Wahl, for expert sentencing services in the Troy Bailey case to be paid out of the Public Defender's Office operating expenses; and updates to county policies for retiree hires and seniority.
Under personnel, the commissioners approved moving Jessica Ivankina, from a full-time Telecommunicator II to part-time at $23.40 per hour.
They also approved the following new hires: Brandon Barrett and Debra Lestoric as full-time correctional officers at the Prison, union positions, at $21.50 per hour; Halie Marriott, full-time PRC Counselor at the Prison, $24.18 per hour; Travis Johnson, part-time SARA Support Specialist at DPS, $16.85 per hour and Gary Evans, full-time recycling floater driver in Resource Management at $20.16 per hour.
The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 27 at the Commissioners' Board Room, Third Street Plaza, 33 W. Third St.