Harding Acknowledges State Legislators for Efforts In Improving Financial Situation at Bucktail Medical Center
BY Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Board of Commissioners voted on various grants and agreements during Thursday morning’s meeting. All items on the agenda were approved by the commissioners.
On Monday of this week, Jonathan Plessinger, director of the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services, requested that the commissioners grant their approval for Dr. Andrew Catherine to obtain certification as the medical director for the county’s EMS department’s Quick Response Service (QRS). Plessinger explained that QRS certification is the lowest tier in the EMS services, and it allows emergency responders to render medical aid in situations that require immediate medical attention before an EMS unit arrives at the scene of an accident or other emergency, stating that it would “provide us more service whenever we get on the scene of an accident”.
Plessinger noted that both response vehicles in the department will be certified in QRS. During Thursday’s meeting, the request for Dr. Andrew Catherine’s certification as QRS medical director was approved.
Clinton County’s CYS Director, Autumn Bower, presented the commissioners with an agreement for the Child Accounting and Profile System (CAPS) data conversion for the Clinton County Children and Youth Agency earlier this week. Bower explained that converting the current software and data as well as implementing the CAPS system would require employee training, travel, and other costs totaling $98,200.00, with 65% of those expenses eligible for reimbursement. Approval for the agreement was granted by the commissioners on Thursday.
An amendment to the terms of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) diversion program grant for the Clinton County Probation Department was approved during Thursday’s meeting, with no change to the original grant amount totaling $257,726.00.
Jason Foltz, Deputy Probation Officer from the county probation department, was present at Thursday’s meeting, requesting approval for a proposal from New Holland Auto Group for a 2023 Dodge Durango costing $44,975.00 to replace the department’s current vehicle, a 2010 Ford Explorer. According to Foltz, the department’s current vehicle needs repairs that would cost more than its value. All commissioners voted in favor of the proposal.
Commissioners approved the promotion of Joshua Raymond from full-time Probation Officer Trainee to Juvenile Probation Officer, effective December 8, 2023, at an annual salary of $38,080.00 (Grade J), which is the starting salary for this position as per the January 3, 2023 Salary Board meeting. Raymond will complete his criminal justice degree at Commonwealth University of Lock Haven on December 8 and his promotion will help maintain a full staff within the County’s Probation Department.
County bills totaling $805,676.38 for the two-week period ending on November 30, 2023, and NET payroll totaling $320,267.35 for the two-week period ending on November 24, 2023, were approved at Thursday’s meeting.
To conclude the meeting, Commissioner Angela Harding acknowledged efforts made by state legislators to improve the financial situation that Bucktail Medical Center is currently facing. “I just wanted to make mention of a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes,” she said. “GT’s office and Cindy Kunes , Stephanie Borowicz, Chris Dush and his aides Brandy Reiter, Casey’s office, Fetterman’s office, and the commissioner’s office have all been working very diligently to improve the situation at Bucktail Medical Center, so I just want to publicly acknowledge our legislators and our elected officials who have been spending countless hours trying to find a solution and sustainability for Bucktail Medical Center and thank them,” she said.
Commissioners reported that Bucktail Medical Center was able to make payroll and supplement their budget this week. The legislators’ offices were successful in exerting pressure on other medical organizations that had failed to pay Bucktail, allowing the medical center to pay some of its costs and keep the doors open for the time being.
