Appointments made to various boards in Schuylkill Co.

Appointments for vacancies on various boards and awarding service contracts were acted by the Schuylkill County Commissioners at their public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

Jesse Achenbach and Atty. Edward Brennan, Pottsville, and James Hepler, Pitman, Eldred Township, were appointed as members of the board of directors of the Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority for five years with their terms ending Dec. 31, 2014. The board accepted the resignation of Dennis Keefer, Pottsvile, as a member of the board effective Jan. 11 and appointed Robert PIacine, Pottsville, to fill his unexpired term which ends Dec. 31, 2013.

Dottie Sterner, Orwigsburg, was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Orlowsky, Pottsville, as public director of the Schuylkill Conservation District which ends Dec. 31, 2013.

Contracts awarded

Three contracts were awarded for demolition projects as follows:

Grinnell Recycling Company, Sparta, N.J., demolition of the vacant building at 27 E. Main St., Girardville, for $35,000; Empire Services, Reading, for demoltion of the property at 41-43 W. Main St., Girardville, for $44,830; and Maurer Excavating Company, Hegins, for demolishing the structures at 111, 113 and 115 E. Biddle St., Gordon, for $41,000.

An agreement was approved with Harleysville Insurance Company for life, accidental death and long term disability coverage for county employees for one year ending Dec. 31. Also, the board approved the renewal of a policy with Midwest Employer's Casualty Company for excess workers compensation costs and approved an agreement with Capital Blue Cross for medical coverage for county prisoners.

A geothermal test boring at the site of the proposed prerelease prison in Ryan Township, which would be located next to the current state correctional institution, was approved and testing will be done by Reith Brothers Inc., of Emmaus, at a cost not to exceed $9,530. The commissioners were informed by Y. Kim Architects that the test boring is necessary to determine thermal conductivity at to site to design a geothermal heating and cooling system for the facility. The information is needed before bids are asked for construction of the building.

Contracts were approved with 21 providers of service for the Children and Youth Service Agency. They were as follows:

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services Inc., Lancaster; Chor Youth and Family Services, Reading; Kidspeace National Centers Inc., Schnecksville; Childfirst Services Inc., Bethlehem; The Impact Project Inc., Emmaus; Perseus House Inc., Erie; Catholic Charities, Allentown; George Junior Republic in Pennsylvania, Grove City; Valley Youth House, Allentown; Open Door, Orlando, Fla.; Northwestern Human Services, Harrisburg; NHS Youth Services, Harrisburg; Alternative Rehabilitation Communities Inc., Harrisburg; Friendship House, Scranton; Catholic Social Services, Hazleton; Caronell Abraxas Group Inc., Pittsburgh; National Mentor Healthcare/Pennsylvania Mentor, Conshohocken; Glenn Mills Schools, Concordville; Therapeutic Center at Fox Chase, also known as the Bridge House, Philadelphia; The Summit Academy, Pittsburgh; and Common Sense Adoption Services, Mechanicssburg.

Salary board

No new hirings were reported but the board was informed of two retirements.

Thomas Gallagher, Frackville, who headed the county's Community Development Block Grant Program, and Marlene Fisher, Orwigsburg, clerk typist with the Children and Youth Services Agency, retired.

Ashley Sinko, Minersville, and Daren Erb, Pine Grove, were transferred from part time to full time nurse's aides at Rest Haven Home and their hourly rate increased to $12.07.16 per hour.

The board tabled the elimination of two positions which was a heated discussion at last week's work session, a position in maintenance department and the map technician position in the tax assessment office. No explaination was given for the action.