Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Oh my gosh. Sorry, Amanda. Look, did I even give you anything? Oh, okay. Oh, you didn't get anything either. Okay, everyone okay now? Uh first order of business on the salary board for March 10th is the approval of the meetings of the February 10th meeting. So moved. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I. Next we have request from the commissioner to set salary of the new victim witness coordinator at 48,500 per year effective 22826. Do I have a motion? I'll second.

Properly moved and second. All in favor? I.

And next, and we do have District Attorney Sarah here with us. Request from District Attorney Sares to create a paid legal intern for up to 12 weeks during the summers at the following rates. 3,000 for part-time legal intern, 5,000 for full-time legal intern, and 6,500 for a certified legal intern. And District Attorney Sars is going to explain that differentiation here. Thank you, Commissioner Wers. Yes, so we've had the uh privilege over the last six years of having collegiate interns and law school interns come into the office during the fall semester, spring semester, or during the summer. During the fall or spring, they have the ability to get credit for their time in the DA's office. However, during the summer, that's not necessarily the case. and we are looking to have an intern paid for the summer because most of these are law students that are coming from State College. So, in order to get them into the office to come to the office, uh we're asking for a little bit of a stipen for them. Additionally, it is a pipeline for more interns later as well as it helps the administrative staff and the attorneys because they have that uh legal education or starting to have their legal education. The difference between the three is uh the 3,000 for a part-time legal intern. We've had a few that have another job during the summer, so they're only there for part of weeks uh two or three days a week instead of all five. So that would be the 3,000 for parttime legal intern. 5,000 would be an intern that is there all five days for the summer. And then a law student that is halfway through their legal career and gets certified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court can actually practice in front of the judges

and as long as one of the attorneys in the office are with them. And we've had uh different attorney or interns handle motions. court or sentencing, juvenile probation court. Uh, one intern we actually had to do a DUI trial. Um, so that'd be the certified legal intern because obviously they're putting themselves in front of the court at that point. So, we would ask for those three uh layers or levels. Uh, but just one legal intern for the 12 weeks during the summer.

I guess I I have a couple questions. Um, is there an assumption that if you were to find a certified legal intern that that would be a full-time position? Because what I'm concerned about is paying the 6,500 for two days a week. Yeah. The certified would be full-time. Okay. Yes,

Ryan. We listen, I don't have a problem with with uh we created an interm position for the courts last year. So, I don't have a problem with creating an um an intern position. The thing was though, for the summer it was $3,000 and I believe it was a law student. I I guess what I'm saying is I'm a little hesitant to what practical matter almost double the cost. Do you have I know the district attorney has by law some some revenue streams and some accounts that are under your control through fines and costs and things like that. Do you have some money you could you could apply to this? So we don't the only one that would be free and available right now for this would be the expungement fee.

Um which is I say Rob about $1,000 a year that we get. Okay. So you you don't have a whole lot outside of that. we wouldn't be able to use like the the drug forfeite or the opioid settlement for this kind of I mean I mean listen I and the difference between the the intern for the judge which you know I don't know if that position was full-time or not with the court last year um but it would be 3,000 for part-time 5,000 for full-time but that certified legal intern's intern is research and writing they're not going to be practicing in front of the judge because they're interning for the judge.

Yeah. So, that's a higher level that we would ask for that additional amount. Uh I did speak with the chief public defender. Um we came up with these numbers together. Um and looking at um honestly, we believe that the president judge last year u lowballed the request based on the number of hours that they're in uh working with us. Uh that's where this number came from. I spoke with attorney Schwab and and we came up with those three numbers based on what we thought was fair for the amount of work and the hourly what would end up being an hourly rate.

Yeah. I and listen I understand the the legal intern with a certification because back in back when we used to dodge dinosaurs on the way of our cars in the parking lot 19 summer of 1978 I did that uh but I did it for free because the then commissioners would not pay wouldn't fund the position. But the the value to me was just that the what you could do over and above as you mentioned the the legal reading and writing um and the experience you gained from that was just invaluable because most of my friends in law school went and clerked for a they either went and worked for their parents or something or they clerked for a law firm and did exactly what you're saying legal reading and writing which which is not which is good experience but not not to the extent uh that this is but uh that's why I went and did it. I went ahead and did it even though they were willing not to pay me because because the experience.

But to be fair, in the dinosaur age, law school was much less expensive. It was. But at the same token, I mean, like I said, like I said, I wasn't paid anything. That's what I'm saying. A big difference for these students too is they're traversing parking and paying stuff here in county. If they're interning in the center, it's not a big deal. So, there has to be some incentive for these law students who we've had from uh Michigan, different parts of Pennsylvania, South Carolina, uh for them to come here instead of another county or another office for the summer have to have some kind of carrot in order to bring them to Clearfield County.

I appreciate that. I mean, that's why I'm not saying they should do it. I'm not saying they should do it for free or anything like that. Um, one other one minor. Do Do you have someone in mind or you're just now floating this? you're putting this together to float it out to see what response you get.

We have a first year student at Penn State that has interviewed interviewed well uh very bright and uh we would like to offer her the position. What she what we've offered her the position. What she said is the difference between her interning full-time and part-time is if there's some kind of compensation. Uh because she said that she with her bills and everything else can't do it for fulltime for free and she is exploring through Penn State to see if there's any grants that they have, but she doesn't know of any at this point.

I I understand where you're going and and I and I this is a kind of a rhetorical question, but just to make sure, you're talking about three different rates. You're only going to hire one, correct? Yeah, the email is one legal. Okay. I just want to be very clear on that that we don't end up with a part-time and a full-time. No, it's one position and only during the summer. As I said, the students get credit during the fall and spring semesters. Okay. Well, district attorney, thank you for the clarification on this. We were Do we have a motion? Well, this proposal,

I I see the need and I definitely am for paying them. I guess I would be more comfortable with just a part-time and a full-time rate and let the chips fall there where they may on the I mean, but I I'm I don't feel strongly enough about that to I'll I'll defer to the majority. What What do you think?

She is the first year, so not certified. So, she would uh likely be full-time position. Um, I can I can see both sides on this, but if we're not looking, we're probably not looking at the certified this this time. No, we're not. I

But I would like to remove the language. Just I I'm worried about the president if nothing else. If we're not hiring If you're not coming to us to want to hire one, then why are we worried about it? I I could I could go for something more than 3,000, but I don't think I'd go for 5,000. I think that's a little high again based on what we paid last year last year with the for the court's intern. Well, I think Marian has something she wants to say. Um, could we do that as a daily rate? whatever rate you decide to put that in because it's not really an exempt position. So, I prefer if it either was an hourly rate or a daily rate.

Are you okay with that? Do you care? I mean, it would come out to the same. Are you talking about 12 weeks? 37 32 32 83 33 a day I think per day five days a week for 12 weeks she's okay 8333 that's the full time do you see value in it that way yeah we just round it up to 85 85 a day so I'll make a motion that we hire the intern at $85 a today no more than 12 weeks.

I I'm f I will second that with the amended language properly moved and second. Do we have all in favor? I I reflect that John was a nay everyone else $85 a day. some minor apologize took a few minutes folks on that redo that wording and you're comfortable with that attorney s okay thank you for coming over taking the time to explain I appreciate it anything further no okay um anything else to come before the salary board motion to adjourn second properly moved and second all in favor I

and now we will call to order the clear county board of commissioners meeting we will dispense with the pledge of allegiance as everyone was here for the pledge for the salary board. Our first item of business is to approve the minutes of the previous meeting that was February 24, 2026. So moved. I'll second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I. And now the part that we so much enjoy. Controller Edwards will present us with the stack of bills.

The bills for this week. The general fund $196,64168 hazmat $53340 911 $5,2906 domestic relations $149,45526 and children and youth $5824528 for a total of 934,76568. It's not usually up like that.

A motion to approve the bills as presented. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I.

We don't have a choice. Okay. Thank you, Controller Edwards. Next, we'll move on to personnel issues. I have a list of personnel changes for the commissioner's approval. Under new hires, be a part-time secretary, Magistrate Neing's office, effective 392026. Deputy in the sheriff's department, effective 31626. Transfers, we have part-times corrections officer to full-time corrections officer, effective 262026. Part-time corrections officer to temporary full-time corrections officer, effective 22026. Part-time corrections officer to full-time corrections officer, effective 2226. part-time corrections officer to temporary full-time corrections officer effective 392026 243 20226 that is a defined position and victim witness advocate to victim victim witness coordinator effective 228 2026 under separations and retirements we have a 911 telecommunicator effective 228 20226 and a CYS case worker effective 313 20226. Under FMLA leave of absence request, we have a FMLA leave effective 22026 for a period of up to 6 weeks and an FMLA leave effective 317206 for a period of up to 12 weeks. Do I have a motion to accept the personnel

changes as presented? So move. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I I. Thank you, gentlemen. Next, we will move on to public comment. Do we have any public comment today? Seeing none, any old business, gentlemen? Nope. Also none. And we'll move on to new business. We have a number of representatives here. I'm going to proclaim March 15 to 21st as Pennsylvania 4 week. I have this listed as Rob Dickinson, but I don't believe Rob is with us today.

So, who is our official 4? You are our new student advisor, I believe. No, I'm the educator as of last year. Okay. If you would like to introduce yourself and the floor is yours if you want to talk about 4 week, introduce some of your members, then we will go into the proclamation.

All right. Thank you. Um, hi everyone. I'm Elena Leer. I'm a 4 educator for Clar County. Um, next week is 4 week across Pennsylvania. So, we're here to show the impact of the 4 program. Um, and I'm excited and thankful that you guys are a part of that today. Um, so with us we have Dolan Ward, Bryce Bowser, and Sophia Leen. All three of them are members of various clubs in our county and are on our team council. Um Sophia was also named as the 2026 president to the Pennsylvania State Council team. So that's the highest honor within our state. Um so they're going to take a few minutes today, talk about the program and share what um for has done for them in their lives.

Good morning everyone. Like Elena said, my name is Sophia Leiden. I'm from Colport. This year, I have the privilege of serving on the Pennsylvania for State Council as president. And then in addition, I'm president of our beef club and team council here in Qua County. 4 truly has done so much for me. I've learned so much from this program. To talk about everything we could be here for hours, but some of the highlights have been my ability to network, public speaking, and career preparedness. So, to start with public speaking, I probably wouldn't have been able to do this 5 years ago. Standing in front of people is something has done a lot. It's taught us look people in the eye, shake a hand, and how to present yourself really. Then networking from 4. I've met so many industry professionals that have helped me so far in my path, have helped me with college stuff, have helped me to figure out what classes I should take in high school to prepare myself for college. And then we'll go right into career preparedness. uh 4 has showed me that I want a future in animal science whether that be as a veterinarian which is what I've most recently explored or as an aggra science lawyer or even getting my PhD in animal science and

working at a university teaching students myself. So, as president of state council, I've gotten the opportunity to do many things so far. Most recently, I was just at the farmer's breakfast uh here in Quakerville County where I gave a presentation just like this. And as you'll see with them, it's affects all of us differently and truly only good things come out of this program. Thank you guys. I can see the public speaking part. You do very well. You do very well. Thank you. Better than some people I've seen in Harrisburg. I'm sorry. Well, thank And you had you had a little bigger crowd at the the Farm Bureau breakfast. So, but no, just a tad. Yeah. Once again, an an excellent display of the public speaking skills.

And congratulations on the presidency. Yeah. That's a big honor. Must be very very busy. I was going to say it must take time. This week I'll have four events. So, but I get to travel across Pennsylvania. I get to meet members from everywhere, which I just love. I love talking to people. So, excellent. Have you chosen a college? Yes, I'm committed to Penn State for animal science and I've talked about adding an aggra business like double major and some different minors, but I'll definitely be at Penn State University Park next year. Cool. Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you.

Good morning. Uh my name is Dolan Ward. I'm 15 years old and I attend Clear County or the Clear Area School District and I've done uh 4 years I believe. Um and early in my early years I showed poultry and swine. Uh last year I began to start showing beef uh for the Clifford County Fair and I found that that's my new favorite project. And uh right now I am the treasurer for the Clifford County Beef Club and the Clifford County uh teen council. And for has benefited me in many ways ways that it has is um I've learned how to uh do public speaking a lot better. Um it shows it shows you a different perspective how to uh respect people and I've met a lot of new people uh throughout the years. Uh it being a member it shows you appreciation for hard work and even throughout the years I've used my past failures as a uh way to build off of it for years to come and it's given me a way to encourage younger 4 members. I plan to do 4 until I'm 18 and try to go past with the with agriculture. I've been looking at some jobs. My main job I've been looking at is a large animal vet. I would like to try to pursue that and I would like to go to Penn State for agricult for an agriculture degree.

uh for is a great way to continue enhancing uh agriculture in the area and I would like to thank you guys uh for uh recognizing forage. Oh, thank you. We look we'll look forward Will you have an animal at the sale this year? I will. I We'll look forward to seeing you there. Uh swine and steer. Nice. Yeah, we look forward to seeing you at the 4 sale at the Clarefield County Fair. What year are you in school? I'm a ninth grader. Ninth grade. Okay. Very good.

Yeah. I want to compliment you, the young lady, and I'm sure anybody else's face when I was your age. I would have had a death grip on the I was so nervous and my knees would have been locked because they would have been shaken also. So, you young you young people are very poised and I think that's uh speaks very well of you all. Plus plus you're in a tough spot having to follow her. I I was I don't think I can that. You did very well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. No pressure.

Um hello. I'm Bowser. I'm from Pennsylvania. I'm 13 years old. I've been in 4 years. I'm a member of the beef club. I'm the recreational leader and I'm also a member of the team council. In the past, I've completed poultry and swine projects and I am currently doing a steering and lamb project. Um, one of the biggest things I've gained for is mentors. For example, there's an older member who has taught me how to cook pigs and I continue to get advice from him. Something else 4 has taught me is recordeping. For every project you do, you have to keep it a book. From doing this, I've learned how to keep track of my progress, spending, and income. Some of my favorite memories are from the Clearfield County Fair and hanging out with my friends between shows.

Very good. Very good. Well, thank you very much for coming here today. If I could give you your you two young men a bit of advice, you guys go first next time. She she is a very tough act to follow. So, hey, thank you. You go first, buddy. Thank you for coming. Do you guys want to do a photo or you want to do We're gonna do the proclamation.

It is my pleasure to read in the Pennsylvania 4 week proclamation and we will then vote to accept this proclamation on behalf of Clearfield County. Whereas 4 is America's largest youth development organization supporting nearly six million youth AC across the country. And whereas 4 has helped 205 youth in Clearfield County to become confident, independent, resilient, and compassionate leaders as they learn by doing. And whereas 4 in Pennsylvania is delivered by Penn State Extension in rural areas, small towns, and cities in all 67 counties of the Commonwealth to more than 77,000 youth ages 5 to 18. Whereas 4H youth in Pennsylvania are served by a network of staff members and more than 6,000 adult volunteers who engage and mentor youth in learning activities and hands-on projects in topics such as animal science, civics engagement, STEM, and health and wellness. Whereas Pennsylvania 4 week showcases the incredible ways that 4 inspires kids to achieve them and highlights the remarkable 4 youth in Clarefield County who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them. And whereas 4 Network provides youth with opportunities for leadership, development, career exploration, problem solving, friendships, community involvement, passion, and purpose. Now therefore, we do proclaim March 15 to March 21st, 2026 as Pennsylvania 4 week throughout Clearfield County and encourage our citizens to acknowledge and celebrate 4 for its valuable service, continued efforts to empower youth with a foundation of success for a lifetime. Gentlemen, do I have a motion?

So moved. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I.

And we are proud to do this proclamation. And we do have to thank the Penn State Extension for their guidance in keeping this program going. And we look forward to seeing I'm sure we will run across new members yet again this year at other events. If you would like to get a picture, come on up. Come on up. We can all

we got it before anybody knows. B R I C E. B O B O Y C E B R Y C E and then B O W S E R. Yes. Okay. Your name? Hannah Alexander. H A N M N A H. And Brenda Refola. Brenda's the master gardener, coordinator for Clifffield and Jefferson counties.

Perfect. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Thanks. See you guys. Yeah, it's right here. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I got it right here. Okay, we'll give her one. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. And our next item under new business, item number two is open bid for the renovations at 318 East Locust Street. Would you like me to open? Do you want me to open or do you want to you? Let's have solicitor oppos.

We did receive two bids. Um, both of the bids are from contractors who did attend our mandatory pre-bid meeting. Do you need an opener seat? I feel bad I butcher it. We're okay. Right. The first is going to be for Midstate Construction. They are based out of Aluna and they are at $24,062. I'm just going to do the bid amounts and then we can check them. The second is from H&H Allaround Services.

Where are they from? No, their address is not I got no tears. I want to pay extra if there's a paper cut here.

And they are out of bell font. Looks like we have to put some paperwork and their grand total is at 115,000. Um so with their and check. So that would be their bid and that name on that H&H all around. Yeah, they have the check in here for this one. So, um,

it would appear pending review of their proposals that the bid would low bid would be H&H all-around services at 115,000. We will subject to your review to make sure all the specification insurance and such is correct on that. We need to accept pending. We had discussed doing accepting pending approval so they could get started since we do have the project at a tight. So moved. I'll second properly moved and second to accept the bid from H&H All-around Services pending legal review. All in favor? I.

Now we will move on to item number three. Consider intergovernmental agreement with the court of common please domestic relations. Uh we've done these agreements before. They're typically five-year um agreements. Our previous one um had expired September 30th of 2025. The state um did get us our revised copy. Uh this agreement um utilizes right now it's attorney Lamadoo who's serves in the position, but it is to make sure that appropriate representation is there for um certain cases mostly involving support obligations through domestic relations. Um no significant changes to our prior agreement with them. Okay. Um, do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I.

Next, we'll move on to a purchase of service agreement with Taylor Diversion Programs, Inc. and Menta Physiological. I'm assuming these are CYS. Psychological, right? Psychological. Psycholog Yes, there is slight difference. Did I spell it wrong? No, he said it wrong. No, I said it wrong.

How would I think that it would be me that would be wrong? uh tailor diversion. It is a 20 bed youth residential program. Um we have last contracted with them in fiscal year 22 to 23. Um this is one that we typically don't do on an annual basis only as needed. So um we did have to utilize their services. So this is for our current fiscal year. Um but it is our standard agreement. Okay. Given these

for Mena psychological this is a new one. Um Dr. Mena is based out of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Um she does a variety of services between juvenile probation as well as CYS, mostly psychological evaluations, capacities, bonding assessments, um competency for standing trial um and some different type of testing that may need um needed in there. So um her fees are on there um again just kind of based on what she would do and the service she would provide. Um but she is a new provider um for the county. It is our standard agreement that she would be a new provider this year. Okay. Do I have a motion on these two purchase of service agreements? So moved. Second. Properly moved and second. All in favor? I. I.

Next we will consider a proposal from Civics Plus for amendments to the county website. You're up. Um we are required to have our website accessible for disabled individuals. Um is going to provide a way for us to do that without um us spending hours and hours and days doing it ourselves. Um it will make our PDFs accessible and use screen on the website without having somebody and if we looked into this and it is eligible under the

our PC Corb grant. Yeah. and we have to use that those grant funds by May anyway. Okay. So So this um sounds like a plan and and and I I didn't talk to you about this, but I did talk to Ethan a little bit. I mean, obviously I I for one see the need to do all this catch-up work on what's out there already, but I'm hopeful that in years to come, we'll be able to not spend this kind of money. We'll be able to to catch it as we put them up. Yeah, I agree. Just the deadines. Understood. Have a lot of time. Understood. So I I think this is a necessity. Okay. Do I have a motion to accept the proposal from Civics Plus for amendments to the county website? Also move. I'll second.

Properly move and second. All in favor? I I. And now item six, consider proposed national opioid litigation settlement with six remnant defendants. I'm going to turn this over to Commissioner Soil who has a little more background on this. This is part of the opioid settlement litigation.

Yeah, thank you, Tim. Um, yeah, and I want to begin by saying consider I should have used the word discuss. Consider was a poor choice of u words um that I picked and was not Lisa's fault in getting it on the uh agenda. We don't have an actual monetary amount yet that is proposed for Clearfield County as far as uh the settlement, but last week we were notified by the U. Claims administer for the ongoing litigation involving the uh opioid uh matters that have been going on for a number of years. Um there has been a proposed settlement uh concerning what are characterized by the administrator as the six remnant defendants. Uh now I did talk to our attorneys uh Demo and Demo and ask the question are there only six remaining defendants? What exactly does that mean? And Mr. Demo honestly did not know. This apparently arises from conversations that have been going on between the various states attorney generals and the um defendants uh in those same lawsuits. Uh there are six I can provide I wasn't familiar with the names of them but they're regional distributors dispensers of opioids. Uh and I can provide a list of names to the to the press. Um uh I can email them to the press if the press is interested. Basically what it is is there is a proposed combined settlement involving all the defendants of 97,625,000 uh to abate the opioid epidemic. Uh they will each defendant will make a one-time payment. Uh there there is a formula that has been developed that will arrive at the proposed amounts. Uh we don't

have that yet. I even looked at the suggested um uh website that they said to take a look at and I couldn't find them. So, I don't think they've been developed as of yet, but we do have to make a decision by May 4th of this year. Uh Mr. Demo of course is recommending that we when the proposal comes forward we give it serious consideration just due to the fact that if if any are rejected they tend to get frittered away in additional litigation and it is money that Clearfield whatever the amount is it is money that Clearfield County can use well. So once once I uh have more information I'll provide it to the board. Heather if I have not forward any of this to you I will forward this to you later at this point. You got it. Okay. Okay. I will forward that to you later this morning. Um and uh that's what I have. Of course, it is to be used as uh for purposes as has already been provided to us for some time now.

So we do we do not need to take a further action at this time. No, not just curious is that 97 million figure is that statewide or nationally? Nationally. So So it's going to be a very small. It's not going to be very much. It's going to be a very small number. Yeah, you're right. So we're going to get like $13. Well, we'll get we'll get somewhere between that maybe We're not going to get married. This is not going to be enough money to do. That's why I was curious whether they use the term remnant. I was curious if these are the last or or they use that for some other reason and unfortunately I couldn't find out. We'll deal with what comes down. Well, thank you. Thank you for the update on that and we will take the appropriate action at that time.

Do we have anything from the solicitor today? We do not have anything. Anything else, gentlemen, to come before the board? Can I just say one thing? You the floor is yours as McFadden. So we have an opening on the or there is an opening on the community action board. Um Zayn Hensel uh resigned. So we have an opening. Okay. Or they have an opening. You guys appoint to it. Okay. I guess so. We're announcing an opening. How much time do we want to give usually? If they put it in by next Friday, then we can take action on the 24th.

If you're interested in serving on the community action board of directors, get a letter or email to Clearfield County Commissioner's Office. I believe our other boards and authorities are filled at this point. No, we have an opening on planning, which we didn't get anything on that. Yes, we did. We did. We got somebody interested. Okay. Yeah, I sent the letter in. Okay. I don't remember seeing that. Maybe I did and I didn't. Anything else to come before the board? Motion to adjurnn.

Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. And thank you all for coming, particularly the 4 members, parents, adviserss. Thank you. We we greatly enjoy enjoy hearing from you and we're proud to do that proclamation.