County of Cumberland

The proceedings included a public hearing concerning the 2025-2026 Human Services Block Grant Plan. Discussions covered the plan's outline of human services needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Specific departmental presentations addressed Mental Health priorities, focusing on maintaining current services, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities plans emphasized supports for independent living and employment, while noting ongoing challenges with affordable housing and complex behavioral cases. The Drug & Alcohol section detailed the use of block grant funds for treatment services as a funder of last resort, acknowledging the loss of COBRA funding due to Medicaid cuts, and planning to address issues such as vaping and opioid use. Additionally, discussions covered funding for Aging services (transportation, meals, health line) and the Homeless Assistance Program, which supports agencies like Safe Harbour and provides rental assistance. Following public testimonials expressing concerns over service cuts, the Commissioners unanimously approved the 2025-2026 Human Services Block Grant Plan. A subsequent Finance Meeting addressed the approval of a cooperation agreement among Cumberland County, CAEDC, and Penn Harris Hospitality RE LP regarding ineligible expenditures of grant funds for the Penn Harris Hotel Redevelopment Project.

The Salary Board agenda included calling to order, roll call, public comment, approval of previous minutes from January 28, 2026, approval of Salary Board Actions, and adjournment. The Board of Commissioners' meeting agenda covered similar preliminary items. The Consent Agenda involved approving personnel transactions, a reappointment recommendation for William Piper as Chairman of the Agricultural Land Preservation Board (term effective retroactively to January 1, 2026), approvals for Budget Adjustments Resolutions 2026-04 and 2026-05, continuation/acceptance of various grants and contracts (including PCCD RASA/VOJO, Juvenile Probation Services Grant), approval of a Collective Bargaining Agreement, approval of revised Human Resources Policies (Fleet Vehicle and Overtime/Comp Time), approval to advertise the sale of surplus property, and approval of General Disbursements Transfer Authorizations. The Regular Agenda included discussions and potential approvals for Refuse Removal Services bids, contracts for Children and Youth Services, the DCED Municipal Assistance Program Grant, various GIS contracts, MH/IDD contracts, HRG contract, Robert & Kathryn Boyce Contract Addendum, Scantek, Inc. contract for the Prothonotary's Office, Public Safety contracts and grants (including Mobile Communications Unit Grant and Radiological Emergency Response Fund Grant Application), the County Recycling Coordinator Program Grant Application, and the Body-Worn Camera Program Grant Application. Capital project requests for the Prison (Transport Vehicle) and Court Administration (WestLaw Contract) were also scheduled for discussion and approval. The meeting concluded with liaison reports and a report of an Executive Session held on February 4, 2026.

The meeting included the approval of salary board actions. Discussions covered several items on the Board of Commissioners' agenda, including addressing concerns raised about office relocation plans, right-to-know officer appointments, and the ERP charter review. The consent agenda involved approving personnel transactions, reappointment recommendations for the Agricultural Land Preservation Board, budget adjustment resolutions, acceptance of several grants and contracts without additional cost (including those for the District Attorney's Office and Juvenile Probation), the execution of a Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the revision of Human Resources Policies. The regular agenda featured approval to advertise bids for refuse removal services, approval of contracts for Children and Youth Services, the DCED Municipal Assistance Program grant for strategic planning, GIS contracts, contracts for Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities services, the HRG contract for Liquid Fuels/Finance regarding bridge inspections, the Robert & Kathryn Boyce contract addendum for planning, the Scantek contract for Prothonotary scanning, contracts and grants for Public Safety, and the recycling coordinator grant application. Additionally, approval was sought for a grant application for body-worn cameras for the Prison and Sheriff's Office, and capital project requests for a new Prison transport vehicle and the WestLaw contract for Court Administration were discussed. Liaison reports covered topics such as farmland preservation funding, new grant opportunities, strategic planning, commission activities, library system matters, conservation efforts, and updates on recycling/shredding events. Information was also provided regarding the relocation closure dates for the Office of Aging.

The meeting commenced with a roll call and opened for public comment, though no public comments were offered. Key discussions focused on the approval of poll and pole workers for an upcoming special election, which is not party restricted and involves voters in 11 specific precincts. The director provided an update on the special election preparations, noting that 1,131 ballots had been mailed out as of Tuesday to Democratic, Republican, and other registered voters. The special election is scheduled for March 17th, with normal poll hours. Communication efforts, including social media posts and press releases regarding registration deadlines and election day, were reviewed. The board also planned for executive session regarding security matters. Finally, a newly promoted manager in training was introduced to the board.

The meeting began with a salary board session, where actions were approved with one exception related to the treasurer's office, which was subsequently approved in a separate motion. Following the salary board, the Commissioners proceeded with their main meeting after the pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included personnel recognition for 30 years of service by Charles Cruther's IV (Chuck) and 20 years of service by Corporal Lawrence Hogue (Larry). A special "Stork Award" was presented to telecommunicator Eric Horn for his critical assistance in guiding the delivery of a baby during a snowstorm, who subsequently needed CPR and medical intervention. Regular agenda items involved the acceptance of an Emergency Solutions Grant of $232,500 for homelessness assistance, approval of a contract with Blue Mountain Escape for bridge housing supporting addiction recovery, an addendum to the Adelfi Village contract to remove a paid bed hold, approval of a 5-year contract with West Law for legal research services, and acceptance of an in-kind grant for a SIM mapping workshop focused on behavioral health and criminal justice systems.