Proclamations, Projects, and Pay Raises: Takeaways from the Clinton County Commissioner’s Latest Meeting

PublisherJuly 26, 2024Last Updated: July 25, 2024

5 minutes read

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN—During their meeting Thursday morning, the Clinton County Commissioners recognized the 50th anniversary of the Infant Development Program and acknowledged the services it provides. The board also approved county budget and financial matters, including various contracts, loans, and salary increases for nine county employees. Upcoming events hosted by Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson were announced during the meeting, and a subrecipient agreement with the Clinton County Housing Coalition and Housing Authority for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was approved.

The Infant Development Program located in Lock Haven was acknowledged for 50 years of service and support for families and children in Clinton County. Family Service Director Naomi Defibaugh (left) and Executive Director of the Infant Development Program Lisa Bangson (right) attended the meeting on Thursday.

The Infant Development Program in Lock Haven has been supporting families and children in Clinton County since 1974, and on its 50th anniversary, the commissioners read a proclamation to acknowledge and celebrate the milestone.

Commissioner Angela Harding read the proclamation, which, in summary, states that the Infant Development Program provides high-quality early intervention services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special instruction, and family support. The program has created an inclusive, integrated, and nurturing environment that empowers children with developmental delays and disabilities to reach their full potential while also equipping families with essential resources and knowledge. The staff and volunteers have shown unwavering commitment and compassion, which has positively impacted countless families and strengthened the network of support. The program’s innovative and adaptable approach has contributed to the well-being and growth of the community, ensuring its continued success in early childhood development.

Lisa Bangson, Executive Director of the Infant Development Program, addressed the commissioners alongside Naomi Defibaugh, Family Service Director.

Executive director of the Infant Development Program, Lisa Bangson, and family service director, Naomi Defibaugh, were present to accept the sealed proclamation. Bangson shared that on an annual basis, the Infant Development Program provides services to over 300 families in Clinton County. She expressed gratitude for the dedicated staff members at the Infant Development Program and also for the support provided by foundations, organizations, individuals, the government, and the court system over the last 50 years. “We couldn’t be here for as long as we have and touch as many lives as we have without that support, so thank you very much,” Bangson concluded.

Next, the commissioners voted and authorized the submission of an application to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) for a $130,000 Multimodal Transportation Grant. The grant funds will be used for engineering, permitting, and right-of-way acquisition for the State Route 150 bicycle and pedestrian safety improvement project, which the county has been working on for the past two years.

During Monday morning’s work session, the commissioners heard from representatives of RBC Capital Markets LLC, who provided information about financing certain capital projects in Clinton County. At Thursday’s voting session, the commissioners authorized and approved the issuance of a general obligation note in the amount of $6,400,000 to finance county capital projects and pay the costs related to issuing the note. The commissioners also accepted Jersey Shore State Bank’s proposal to serve as the purchaser of the note.

The loan has a five-year fixed rate of 4.95% interest and will close on August 28, 2024, after it is processed through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The first payment will not be due until April 2025, so there will be no impact on Clinton County’s 2024 budget.

The board also approved a sub-recipient agreement with the Clinton County Housing Coalition and Clinton County Housing Authority for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The grant funding comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services in the amount of $99,488.60, and the agreement is effective July 25, 2024.

Elizabeth Whitty, county grants project coordinator, presented the board with the agreement and provided details about ERAP during Monday’s meeting. ERAP helps Clinton County residents who meet certain income criteria pay their rent and utilities to avoid eviction. Other counties in PA did not use all of the grant funding that had been issued to them, so it was returned to the state and subsequently redistributed. Clinton County currently has a waitlist of 200 people requesting assistance with rent and utilities, and low to moderate-income individuals will be prioritized.

Under personnel, the board approved the retirement of Tax Claim Director Kathy Smith, effective August 3, 2024. Commissioner Harding shared that Kathy will be receiving a certificate to acknowledge her 24 years of service in the Treasurer’s office. “She’s retiring with distinction, and the treasurer’s office here in Clinton County will miss her very much,” Commissioner Harding said. Adding to Harding’s statements, Commissioner Russo expressed his gratitude, “I would like to say Mrs. Smith has been a good friend of mine since high school. We will miss her, and we wish her the best of luck.”

During the salary board portion of the meeting, there were nine salary increases for county employees, and three job positions were eliminated. The computer operator position in the Assessment Office was eliminated, and at the Conservation District, one resource conservationist position and one agricultural resource conservationist position were eliminated. The nine salary increases were approved for employees at the county’s Assessment Office and the Conservation District based on additional duties and job responsibilities that employees have taken on. Commissioner Harding circled back to this agenda item at the end of the meeting to provide clarification to the community about these changes.

“In an effort to save tax dollars and decrease the size of government when we have positions that have gone unfilled, we give the opportunity for staff to take on additional duties, and then we are able to increase their pay a little bit and still have cost savings to the county,” she explained. “By doing so, it creates a few things. One is retention for our staff and our employees, and secondly, our bottom line looks a little bit better at the end of the day.”

Cindy Kunes, Field Representative for Congressman Glenn Thompson’s office, attended the meeting to extend an invitation to upcoming agricultural events in Centre County.

During the “Reports from Legislators’ Offices” portion of the meeting, Cindy Kunes, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s field representative, was present to extend an invitation to upcoming events that the congressman will be holding.

The first event is GT Thompson’s Annual Agricultural Summit on August 12, 2024, which will be held in Centre County at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Kunes noted that PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding will be present at the event in addition to the PA Farm Bureau President, PA Grange President, and PA Farmers Union President. “Anyone who has an interest in coming to hear about the Farm Bill [or] Ag issues at both the federal and state level, we welcome you to that event,” Kunes said. To RSVP to the 2024 Agriculture Summit, visit
https://thompson.house.gov/AGSUMMIT.

Kunes also mentioned that a listening session will take place during Penn State’s Agricultural Progress Days on August 14, 2024. To learn more about this event and others, visit www.apd.psu.edu.

Madra Clay, Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED), spoke during the meeting to provide information about the resources she can assist with through DCED.

Last, Kunes introduced Madra Clay, Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Clay serves a 17-county area, including Clinton County, and in her role, she provides training, technical assistance, and financial resources to help revitalize communities and support industries in the region. “I serve as an advocate for any projects that you may have going on within the county and as an advisor for any DCED resources that you may not know about or that you want more information about,” she said. Clay emphasized that anytime the county is working on a project or seeking resources DCED may potentially have, she is the first point of contact. “I look forward to learning more about your projects, the things that you have going on within the business industry, within the communities, and in government.”

The next meeting of the Clinton County Commissioners will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. All meetings are live-streamed on the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page and can also be attended in person in the 2nd-floor conference room of the Piper Building, 2 Piper Way, Suite 300.