County Commissioners Discuss Emergency Management Grant Applications and Payroll Changes

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners held their voting session on Thursday morning and discussed various operations and services, grant application approvals, and payroll changes.

First up for approval was the Clinton County Emergency Operation Plan, which is reviewed to ensure compliance with state and county laws and regulations relating to natural or human-caused events or disasters. Commissioner Russo was not present at the meeting to vote, however, Commissioners Harding and Snyder voted in favor of approval.

Jonathan Plessinger, Director of Emergency Services in Clinton County, attended the meeting to provide further information and clarification. Plessinger explained that the county’s Emergency Operation Plan was recently updated and in need of approval. He explained that the plan is normally updated every five years, but that his department intends to do it more frequently. “We’re going to do it annually just to make sure that we’re updating everything correctly,” he said. “That way, when it comes up in five years, it’s not a big hurdle to jump through,” he said.

Next, Commissioner Snyder and Harding approved an application for the 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) which is issued through the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). Plessinger provided further information, stating that the application for the EMPG can be submitted annually and that it helps pay approximately 50% of the salaries of the emergency management coordinator and the administrative system within the county emergency department.

The Commissioners approved an application for the 2024-2025 Hazardous Material Response Fund Grant, also issued through PEMA. “This grant is annually as well, and it’s for HAZMAT supplies for HAZMAT incidents,” Plessinger said. “This also helps with supplies for gas meters for the fire departments and also pays for fuel for our vehicles”.

Before moving on to the next item on the meeting agenda, Plessinger announced an upcoming 911 Dispatcher hiring event, which is set to take place on Monday, April 22 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services (CCDES), 311 Frederick Street in Lock Haven. Plessinger said that interested candidates can participate in an on-site interview during the event, and get a facility tour if they’re interested in getting a glimpse at how the EMS department operates. Background checks can be completed at the event as well. “We’re currently down three full-time staff members, so we’re looking for anyone interested to please stop by during that time and check us out,” he said.

Commissioner Angela Harding acknowledged the recent implementation of Prepared Live software at CCDES and a recent WPSU news segment that spotlighted it. CCDES recently launched software that allows 911 callers in Clinton County to share real-time video footage and even exchange text messages with dispatchers when they call. “It’s going to be a good tool for us and I’m excited for that,” Plessinger said. He emphasized that since the software is so new, the emergency department is trying to spread the word that callers are now able to use the live-stream video and other features Prepared Live offers when they call during an emergency.

An amendment to the agreement with Aramark for food service at the Clinton County Correctional Facility (CCCF) was approved by commissioners during the meeting, and it is set to take effect on April 20, 2024. The amendment increases the price per meal for inmates by 4.5% as a result of changes in the consumer price index. Commissioner Harding added that the prison board and their solicitor reviewed the amendment, and all were in agreement before the document was provided to the commissioners. Also pertaining to the correctional facility was the approval of an addendum that extends the terms of the agreement for the Smart Communications Master service for the inmate communications system. The terms of the agreement will be extended to September 2030.

The commissioner’s meeting was adjourned to convene a Salary Board meeting, which included the approval of a part-time position as a Training Coordinator for Domestic Relations, effective March 21, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The position was approved at an hourly wage of $15.50, not to exceed 1,000 hours.

The Salary Board also approved the establishment of another part-time position; Central Court Clerk/Magisterial District Court Floater for the Court of Common Pleas. This position is also effective as of March 21 at a rate of $15.50 per hour, not to exceed 1,000 hours annually.

Before moving on to changes to pay grades for employees within the sheriff’s department, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Worden read a prepared statement that was provided by Sheriff Kerry Stover, who could not be present for the meeting.

“I very much regret that I could not be here today to vote on my office salary change. I must take a family member for surgery today or I would be here. I want everyone to understand that I know this is a slippery slope, but I think it needs to happen to help the county retain good deputies. I’ve had vacancies in my office late last year and early this year due to former Deputies seeking higher-paying jobs elsewhere. As a result of this, I currently have three deputies now that attended the mandated Pennsylvania State Sheriff’s Deputy Sheriff Training Academy. The cost to send these three deputies is substantially higher than this pay increase. In fact, the cost of this increase is only slightly higher than the cost to send one deputy to the Academy. Experience is very important in our work, so retention should be held in high regard. This was not done in haste, or quickly. The Commissioners have met multiple times to come up with a good resolution. Due to a part-time position decrease I’m able to find the salary increase this year, although I know it’s ultimately the taxpayers money. I’ve been awarded quite a few grants in my eight plus years as sheriff, probably around $80,000.00 so far. I continue to seek grants for my office at this time to help reduce or even eliminate the cost for important items such as body cameras and tasers. I ask for everyone’s support in this increase at this time. I, Sheriff Stover, vote yes.”

Commissioner Snyder read the changes to grades and salaries to be considered before motioning to approve them. Commissioner Harding seconded the motion and Treasurer Kunes also voted in favor.

The grade for a new hire in the full-time Deputy Sheriff position will be changed from Grade F to Grade G: Starting salary of $35,866.00. The grade for a full-time Deputy who has completed their required training and passed all certifications will move to Grade I: Starting salary of $37,897.00. Additionally, a salary increase of $1,500.00 was approved for Chief Deputy Sheriff James Worden along with Deputy Sheriffs Ryan Bratton, Brian Walizer, Tyler Butler, Steven Yandell, Scott Sorgan, and administrative assistant Melissa Wegener. A salary increase of $2,000.00 was also approved for other Deputy Sheriffs in the department to reflect the updated starting salary. Those individuals are Deputy Sheriffs Curtis Dershem, Jeremiah Manning, and Trey Foster.

To conclude the Salary Board meeting, a temporary salary increase for Tammy Russell, Executive Assistant Fiscal Operations Supervisor, was approved to $64,017.75 (Grade P), based on additional duties and job responsibilities due to vacancy at the correctional facility.

Commissioner Harding spoke to address pay grade changes and salary increases after they were approved. “I would just like to add that we understand that we have to come up with a way to retain and recruit people to work in County Government,” she said. “The sheriff’s deputies go on a lot of dangerous calls and serve papers to questionable locations throughout our community and we recognize the work that they do. We want to be able to pay everyone in county government more, but we also have to walk a fine line in maintaining our budget. So at the end of the day, we need to increase our tax base and we continue to try to find ways to do that so that we can continue to pay people what they are worth here in the county.”

The Salary Board meeting adjourned and the commissioners meeting reconvened to discuss personnel resignations and new-hires. The commissioners approved the resignation of Wade Jodun, District Manager for the Clinton County Conservation District, effective April 3, 2024. Commissioner Harding addressed Jodun’s resignation, stating, “I would just like to thank Wade Jodun. He’s been at the Conservation District for several years and he’s been able to bring in a considerable amount of grant funding for conservation projects and agricultural initiatives in our community as well as some of our natural resources. I’m wishing Wade all the best as he moves on in his career,” Harding said.