County Commissioners to Vote on Fiscal Consulting Firm Contract to Aid CYS Amid Key Staffing Gap
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— Clinton County Children and Youth Services (CYS) is moving quickly to fill a critical staffing shortage following the sudden passing of long-time fiscal officer Ann Marie Hunsinger. At Monday morning’s meeting of the Clinton County Commissioners, CYS Director Autumn Bower requested that the board consider contracting with a fiscal consulting firm to help manage the vital responsibilities of the agency’s fiscal operations officer. Approval of the contract would provide support to ensure the agency’s financial operations continue smoothly as current staff members grieve the tragic loss of a cherished employee.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I stand up here today. As many of you know, our main fiscal officer, Ann Marie Hunsinger passed away suddenly. She was such a tremendous asset to our agency. During this difficult time, our entire agency is grieving. Anyone coming in has big shoes to fill,” Bower said on Monday. “In the interim, I’m asking the commissioners for consideration to contract with a fiscal consulting company. CAI is the name of the company— Computer Aid Incorporated. They will provide fiscal consulting services to include support and training. The maximum total amount will be $128,800 over 14 months. The reimbursement rate is 80%.”
CAI provides comprehensive fiscal consulting services designed to help agencies like CYS efficiently manage their finances, budgets, and reporting. If the proposed contract is approved at Thursday’s meeting, CAI would serve as an interim solution until a qualified fiscal officer is hired.
With a contract in place, CAI can quickly assign an experienced professional to fulfill the fiscal officer’s duties on a temporary basis. Their specialists can ensure that the agency’s fiscal operations are managed properly during the transition, while also handling essential tasks such as payroll, accounting, and other fiscal operations to keep things running smoothly and in compliance with all state and federal financial regulations.
During the meeting, Commissioner Jeff Snyder asked Director Bower when CAI would be able to start. Bower stated that if the contract is approved on Thursday, CAI can begin services immediately upon execution of the contract, allowing for minimal disruption to the agency’s critical financial operations.
Commissioner Angela Harding began by expressing condolences to the family of Ann Marie Huntinger before emphasizing the complexity of the fiscal officer role at the county’s CYS agency, stating, “I think it’s important for the community and the public to know that this isn’t just a numbers job. This is a lot of reporting and reimbursements, and it’s very integral to CYS programming.” Harding further emphasized that the position isn’t one that can be easily filled by just anyone. “This is something that is very detailed and is going to take a considerable amount of training for the person that does eventually get the position,” she added.
Harding thanked CYS Director Autumn Bower and Assistant Director Tristan Rock for their efforts in diligently seeking out a consulting company to support the agency during the transition period, which helps ensure that the county and CYS department remain in compliance with state reporting requirements.
The commissioners are expected to vote on the contract at their upcoming voting session, with early indications suggesting strong support for the proposal.
The commissioners will hold their bi-weekly voting session on Thursday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are held at the Piper Building, located at 2 Piper Way in Lock Haven, in the 2nd-floor conference room. The meeting will also be available via livestream on the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page.
