Lori Black

Key discussions during the meeting included an overview from Farmland Preservation regarding member reorganization and the timeline for submitting farm applications. Expenditures, including multiple payroll and general fund disbursements, were approved. New business featured the reappointment of Attorney Dean Crabtree as county solicitor, the appointment of Commissioners to various agency boards such as the Area Agency on Aging and South Central Solid Waste Agency, and approval of changes to the Change of Assessment Notice Control Report for December 2025. Further approvals included Purchase of Service Agreements between Children & Youth Services and Juvenile Probation Office for specific programs and personnel, the appointment of Lloyd Roach to the Bedford Fulton Joint Recreation Board, the award for Professional Engineering Services for the CDBG BEAMA Waterline Replacement Project to Keller Engineers, and the approval of the 2026 Certification of Funds for the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program. Personnel actions including new hires, transfers, and separations for December 2025/January 2026 were also approved.

The meeting commenced with a pledge and prayer. Key discussions focused on approving the minutes from the January 13, 2026 meeting, followed by a review of the top 10 expenditures for the period of January 16th through February 6th. Significant discussion arose regarding high costs associated with children and youth services and delinquent youth programs. New business included actions on the change of assessment notes control report for January 2026, approval of a master agreement with National Printing Company for the 2026 election, an agreement for engineering services at the Fairground sanitary sewer and drinking water system replacement project, and approval of a subrecipient agreement for the CDBG FFY2024 Housing Rehab program. Appointments were approved for the Bedford County Housing Authority Board and the Bedford County Airport Authority. The most substantial item was the motion to approve the creation of a full-time Treatment Court Coordinator position, detailing its necessity for the continued viability and effective operation of the Treatment Court, as the previous part-time coordinator resigned. The meeting concluded with the approval of wages per union contracts for January/February personnel and adjournment.

The key business items involved acting on the approval of wages or salaries for fifteen personnel actions, including Corrections Officers, a Telecommunicator Trainee, a Deputy Warden, a Sheriff's Deputy, an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Elections, a Tipstaff, a Veteran Service Officer, and a Director of Finance, based on department head recommendations and union contracts. Additionally, a motion was to be considered for the creation of a new full-time Treatment Court Coordinator position with specified compensation and benefits, based on the recommendation from the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County.

The meeting included the approval of the minutes from the November 18, 2025 session. The primary New Business item involved the approval of wages for several personnel based on departmental head recommendations and union contracts. Specific positions included FT Corrections Officers, a PT Corrections Officer, a FT Telecommunicator Trainee, a PT Telecommunicator, and a FT Lieutenant, detailing their respective hourly rates.

The meeting commenced with the Reorganization segment, where officers were re-elected for the subsequent year. Key planning activities included updates on the Regional Six County Comprehensive Plan, specifically regarding Broadband and Cellular Service, Recreation Amenities (ATV/UTV Feasibility Study), Public Health and Safety (Opioid Committee appeal process and scholarship funding), and Collaboration and Coordination (Fair Association proposal revision, East Providence Rising ARC application status, and DCED STMP Phase 3 review). Further discussions covered the County Hazard Mitigation Plan update funding responses, South Central Counties Solid Waste Regional Planning, the Countywide Action Plan (CAP) update, and the Bedford County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Purchase Program, including advertising efforts. Transportation Planning involved considering three TASA projects for submission to PennDOT. Under staff reviews, updates were provided on seven consistency reviews and four subdivision reviews, along with details on a Land Development Review for Miash LLC and fee collection summaries for 2025 and early 2026. Discussions also addressed the status of a county-wide solar ordinance. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program items included updates on various projects such as the Bedford Township Housing Rehab extension, Hopewell Wastewater Treatment Facility closeout, BEAMA Water Meters Replacement, a budget revision reallocating funds, and the recommendation to award an engineering contract for the BEAMA Waterline Replacement. The 2025 CDBG Entitlement award was reported, and a forthcoming CDBG Webinar was announced.