Darlene Fenton

Key discussions and actions taken included tabling the certification of LOGISYS software destruction pending confirmation from Emergency Services. Several agreements were unanimously approved: one with the Sheriff's Department and Domestic Relations Section effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030; another with the solicitor and Domestic Relations covering the same term; an agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for the FFY 2025-26 Hazardous Materials Response Fund Grant; and a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for drug and alcohol services. The Commissioners approved the Certification of County Funds for the 2026 Farmland Preservation Program and accepted a quote for ballot review post programming for the May primary election. A grant agreement from Williams Companies Foundation was tabled until the next meeting. An agreement with Bradford and Sullivan County Joinder for the Mental Health Program was approved, as well as a 12-month lease for office space at the Sullivan County Medical Center. The closing out of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP2) County Expenditure Certification was approved. Members were appointed to the Sullivan County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and approval was given for the hiring of a part-time Certified Assistant II for Human Services. Adopting the revised Information Technology and Cybersecurity Policy was tabled indefinitely. A travel request for the District Attorney was approved. Reports from the Prothonotary and Treasurer for December 2025 were reviewed. Information was shared that Emergency Services personnel completed Telecommunicator Training, and current invoices totaling $169,333.01 were approved and paid.

The meeting agenda included consideration of several key items. Old Business involved approving a $1,000.00 grant agreement from the Williams Companies Foundation for Sullivan County Emergency Management operating support. New Business items included approving Resolution 2026-1 prohibiting the application of biosolids on agricultural lands in Sullivan County, and approving Resolution 2026-2 and an associated agreement for the Sullivan County Treasurer to handle billing and collection of taxes for Hillsgrove Township from 2026 through 2029. The agenda also covered approving projects and allocations for the FFY 2025 CDBG-C application, submitting the related Resolution 2026-3, and approving Resolutions 2026-4 (Fair Housing) and 2026-5 (Section 504 Compliance Officer/Grievance Procedures). Lease agreements were considered for Phoenix Peer Services and the Area Agency on Aging in the Mattern Building. Further discussions included approving a 60-month agreement for online law library access via West Proflex and a 60-month service contract for a Sharp copier for the Courtroom. A 12-month master services agreement with GovAI Software Solutions for probation/parole software was also reviewed. Appointments included Wes Hottenstein to the Farmland Preservation Board. Personnel matters involved approving the hiring of two Deputy Sheriff I positions and changing the status of the Second Deputy Prothonotary from part-time to full-time, both effective February 2, 2026, and approving the satisfactory completion of probation for the Library Director.

The meeting focused primarily on organizational matters and appointments for 2026. Key actions included the election of the 2026 Chair (Commissioner Scott Myers) and Vice Chair (Commissioner Brian Hoffman). Several professional appointments were unanimously approved, including Kenneth R. Levitzky as Solicitor, Hope Verelst as Chief Clerk, Susan McCarty as Chief Assessor/Tax Claim Director, and Patrick Johnson as Public Defender. The commissioners set the 2026 mileage reimbursement rate at 65 cents per mile. A quote from Stahl Sheaffer Engineering for updating the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance was approved. The cancellation of the LOGISYS software license was acknowledged, and a grant agreement for streambank stabilization projects, funded in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the USDA NRCS, was approved. Finally, the satisfactory completion of the 911 Coordinator's probationary period was approved.

The agenda for the Salary Board meeting included several key items under New Business. The Board was set to consider approving the hiring and wage setting for two new full-time Deputy Sheriff I positions, Braden Templin and Roger Hart, both effective February 2, 2026. Additionally, the Board planned to consider changing the status of Second Deputy Prothonotary, Ashley B. Bender, from part-time to full-time with benefits, effective February 2, 2026. Other considerations involved approving the satisfactory completion of the 60-day probationary period and a subsequent one-step wage increase for Library Director Sarah Abernethy, effective January 19, 2026.

The meeting addressed several key financial and programmatic approvals. The Commissioners unanimously approved the 2026 Sullivan County Budget of $7,028,187.20 and maintained the 2026 county tax millage at 4.8 mills. The 2025 Room Tax Distribution of $43,769.00 was approved. Several grant agreements were accepted, including an extension for the 2024 -- 911 Statewide Interconnectivity Funding grant until December 31, 2026, and a 2025 911 Statewide Interconnectivity grant agreement totaling $30,832.33. An agreement for $719,025.00 was approved with the USDA NRCS for streambank stabilization on five sites affected by July 2025 flooding. Additionally, the Children & Youth FY 2025-2026 1st quarter expenditure reports were approved. A public hearing was held regarding the CDBG FFY 2024 Budget Revision, which involved reallocating funds between the Demolition Phase I and Curb Cuts Phase II projects, followed by the approval of the FFY 2025 Community Development Block Grant.