Schuylkill applies for funds to deter crime

Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday took steps to make life safer for women.

They approved an application to the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency for $250,000 in federal Services Training Officers Prosecutors funding.

The money would be used to support collaborative efforts among the Pottsville police department, the county district attorney’s office, Schuylkill Women In Crisis, and the Sexual Abuse Resource Counseling Center aimed at addressing and deterring violence against women in the county.

In other matters, commissioners joined an agreement with Direct Energy Business Marketing for the purchase of gas for 36 months for the human services building at 410 N. Centre St., Pottsville, and the children and youth building at 324 N. Centre St., Pottsville.

The fixed price is $3.036/dth. The agreement runs from Nov. 1, 2018, through Oct. 31, 2021.

On behalf of Adult Probation Office, commissioners approved the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania-ORAS addendum to the Criminal Justice Unified Case Management program agreement memorandum of understanding.

Under the agreement, CCAP will provide the ORAS software integration at the cost of $10,700.

The software will enable the county to “better supervise offenders,” said C.J. Bergansky, deputy chief of the Adult Probation/Parole Department.

The prison is on board, and we can view the prison’s (documents) and the prison can view ours,” he said.

Commissioners also awarded a $40,210 contract to Miller Brothers Construction for the Americans with Disabilities Act project at the Barry Township municipal building.

In other matters, commissioners approved, at the request of county coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III, a contract with Dr. Mohamed Abdullah, Bethlehem, for autopsy services.

All services will be conducted within the mobile morgue at the Simon Kramer Institute in New Philadelphia.

The services will be paid according to a fee schedule.

The contract runs retroactively from April 16 through Dec. 31, and is renewable for one-year increments unless terminated within its provisions.

Moylan said his current pathologist, Richard P. Bindie, a certified forensic pathologist, is doing an excellent job, but is approaching his 80th birthday, Moylan said.

Abdullah is certified in clinical pathology, but is not a forensic pathologist, he said.

“He’s going to be Dr. Bindie’s backup,” Moylan said. Abdullah’s rate of pay is lower than Bindie’s, reflecting the difference in training.

Commissioners also appointed people to two-year terms on the Northeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Planning Organization.

County representative, Susan Smith, Schuylkill County Planning Office; county representative alternate, Lisa Mahall, Schuylkill County Planning Office; at-large representative, John Malinchok, Schuylkill County Planning Commission; and at-large representative alternate, Tom Yashinsky, Arro Group.

The courthouse will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

There will be no commissioners’ meeting next week. The next meeting will be a work session at 10 a.m. June 6.