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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-02_Commissioners' Minutes No. 1227_APPROVED2759 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA lAdfiLFLI F1A094q1KV Minute No. 1227 April 2, 2026 The Washington County Commissioners met in regular session in Public Meeting Room G-16, at the Crossroads Center at 95 West Beau Street, Washington, PA, with the following members in attendance: Commissioners Nick Sherman, Electra Janis and Larry Maggi. Also present were: Solicitor Michael Cruny; County Administrator Daryl Price; Chief Clerk Cindy Griffin; Public Affairs Director Nicole Ford; Administrative Assistants Debbie Corson, Heather Wilhelm, Casey Graelish and Randi Marodi; Veterans Affairs Coordinator Leigh Mawhinney; US Army Veteran Sgt. Thomas Monroe; Pastor Rich Muckle from Central Assembly of God, Houston, PA; Human Services Administrator Dr. John Tamiggi and Deputy Administrator Tiffany Milovac; County Project Manager Joe Bendik; Sheriff Anthony Andronas and Deputy Sheriff Anthony Mosco; Human Resources Director Andrea Johnston; BHDS Administrator Jennifer Scott and Deputy Administrator Lisa Milan and Autism Director Shiela Fullerton; CYS Administrator Jessica Sphar and Deputy Administrator Hilary Burchett; PA One Call System Damage Prevention Liaison Brandon Dujmic, Sr.; WJPA Journalist Joe Jasek; and residents Sarah Hilderbrand and Laura Dieterle. Mr. Sherman called the meeting to order at approximately 10:07 a.m. and announced the meeting was being video and audio live -streamed via the Commissioners' YouTube channel. Mr. Sherman introduced Pastor Rich Muckle from Central Assembly of God, Houston, PA, who led the meeting in prayer. Mr. Maggi introduced US Army Veteran Sgt. Thomas Monroe of California, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Sherman entertained a motion to approve Minutes No. 1226, dated March 19, 2026. Moved by Ms. Janis: seconded by Mr. Maggi, approving Minutes No. 1226, as written. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Ms. Janis read a proclamation declaring .April 2026 as Month of the Young Child in Washington County. The proclamation highlighted the importance of high -quality early learning, early intervention services for children birth to age three, and the role of families as a child's first teacher. A motion to accept the proclamation was made by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. The proclamation was accepted by BHDS Administrator Jennifer Scott and Deputy Administrator Lisa Milan. Ms. Scott thanked the commissioners and acknowledged the work of early intervention staff serving approximately 141 infants and toddlers, noting recent transitions in service coordination units and emphasizing the county's commitment to supporting young children and families. 2760 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IMAL1MI-lb(I8491KV Mr. Maggi read a proclamation declaring April2026 as Autism Acceptance Month in Washington County. The proclamation recognized the prevalence of autism, affirmed the rights of autistic individuals toward inclusion and independence, and emphasized the county's commitment to awareness and reducing stigmas. A motion to accept the proclamation was made by Mr. Maggi; seconded by Ms. Janis. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. The proclamation was accepted by BHDS Administrator Jennifer Scott and Deputy Administrator Lisa Milan. Ms. Scott expressed gratitude to community partners supporting neurodiverse residents and announced an upcoming Intellectual Disabilities & Autism Awareness event at the Chartiers Community Center. Ms. Janis read a proclamation recognizing April2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation emphasized the importance of safe, stable families and community partnerships in preventing abuse. A motion to accept the proclamation was made by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. The proclamation was accepted by CYS Administrator Jessica Sphar, who thanked the commissioners for their support and described the agency's shift toward prevention services. She reported that 3,148 children were served in 2025, with over 90% safely maintained in their homes despite staffing shortages. She noted that no child deaths due to abuse or neglect occurred in 2025. The Board commended CYS leadership and staff for their dedication. Mr. Maggi read a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Pennsylvania 811 Safe Digging Month. The proclamation recognized PA 811's role ui coordinating excavation notifications and protecting underground utilities. A motion to accept the proclamation was made by Mr. Maggi; seconded by Ms. Janis. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. The proclamation was accepted by PA One Call System Damage Prevention Liaison Brandon Dujmic who thanked the commissioners and encouraged residents to contact 811 before any digging project. Mr. Sherman noted his past involvement in federal legislation establishing the national 811 system following a Pennsylvania home explosion incident. AGENDA COMMENTS None. COMMISSIONERS' RESPONSE None. 2761 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IIk1ALlMlIEI?..EiSQd491KY — -- _ _- OLD BUSINESS Solicitor Cruny, on behalf of Purchasing and Project Management, recommended the Board approve the revised scope of work with StoneMile Group, Inc., at a total cost of $87,517.05 for the 911 Annex ramp and door project. This amount will be refunded to the county as an $88,000 project credit from the Adamo Group. The revised scope includes: • Construction of a new exterior deck • Installation of new railing • Installation of two new exterior doors • Roof hatch installation • Temporary wall • Construction of a new concrete access ramp Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Solicitor Cruny, on behalf of Purchasing and pursuant to Section 1805 of the County Code governing the sale or disposition of personal property of the County, recommended the Board authorize a resolution for the donation of a 2014 Dodge Durango from the District Attorney's Office to be utilized by Monongahela City Police Department, who has formally requested the donation, has completed the "Application for Donation," and has met all required criteria. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. 2762 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - IMR LMTEQ_E]8o8A91KV WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA NEW BUSINESS Chief Clerk presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, the appointment of Jeffrey Alvarez to the Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board (SWCWDB). Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, a Letter of Authorization, from Public Safety, for Jeff Parthemore (Tower Services Unlimited, Inc.) and Scott Hartman (Mission 1 Communications) to act on the county's behalf to coordinate and complete utility service setup and related administrative tasks for the radio communication sites and radio system. This authorization is effective March 17, 2026 through March 17, 2027, unless revoked in writing by the county. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Human Resources, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, an Al (Artificial Intelligence) policy. This policy is intended to protect employees, residents, and the county while enabling appropriate and beneficial uses of Al to support county services, efficiency, and decision -making. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Human Resources, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, a Web Accessibility Policy. This policy outlines the county's mission to support website access for all persons. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Human Resources, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, an updated Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy. This policy will be updated to reflect personnel changes since the policy's inception date. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE 2763 e• BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IMELLIMITFO F1808491KV WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA Chief Clerk, on behalf of Human Resources, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, the contract with the NCEU (National Correctional Employees Union) Local 132. The three-year contract is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, and calls for a 3% annual raise for years 2026, 2027 and 2028. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Purchasing and Parks & Recreation, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, authorizing the advertising of bids for the Cross Creek County Park Shoreline Preservation Project. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Purchasing and Corrections, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, an agreement with Allegheny County for the provision of housing adult offenders on an as -needed basis, as per the contract conditions including $177.81 /inmate/day, plus medical expenses, to be paid from Corrections' operating budget. This agreement will be effective April 1, 2026 to May 30, 2027, unless terminated with a 30-day written notice. Note: Contingent upon Prison Board approval. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Purchasing and Public Safety, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, Washington County's participation in WestCORE (Western Counties Regional Emergency), a regional cooperative group, which was formed to support the acquisition and implementation of 911 technologies, including emergency phone equipment. Costs will be fully funded by PEMA. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk, on behalf of Purchasing and Information Technology, presented to the Board for their consideration and approval, a payment to ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) in the amount of $60,733 for software maintenance. This supports the GIS software utilized by Public Safety, Tax Assessment and Planning. This service will be purchased in accordance with COSTARS, and therefore, does not require bidding. Costs will be shared between the three departments. Moved by Ms. Janis; seconded by Mr. Maggi. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Maggi — Yes; Ms. Janis — Yes; Mr. Sherman — Yes. Motion carried unanimously. 2764 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS uT:0 73f-14IMTwril i►� WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA PUBLIC COMMENTS Resident and Director of Clinical and Case Management Services at the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC), Laura Dieterle addressed the Board regarding the Pennsylvania Opioid Abatement Trust's recent determination that an additional $550,000 in the county's opioid settlement funding was non -compliant, bringing the total amount identified as non -compliant to nearly $900,000. She stated that this reflects a pattern of mismanagement by the Board and the Human Services Department, alleging that funds intended for opioid treatment, prevention and recovery were used for unrelated purposes and that required information was withheld from the Trust. Ms. Dieterle expressed concern that repayment requirements could impact taxpayers or reduce future settlement allocations. She also criticized the structure and transparency of the county's funding review board, noting potential conflicts of interest. Ms. Dieterle urged the Board to ensure accountability and to protect funding intended to support individuals affected by addiction. Resident Sarah Hilderbrand spoke about her personal experience with the opioid crisis, sharing that her father died from an accidental overdose and her brother is in long-term recovery with support from the WDAC. She stated that opioid settlement funds exist to repair harm caused by the opioids and asserted that the county misused these funds on projects unrelated to treatment or recovery. Ms. Hilderbrand referenced the Opioid Abatement Trust's funding of nearly $900,000 in non -compliant spending and criticized the county for funding projects she believes undermine the WDAC's role. She questioned the county's oversight of the settlement funds and expressed concern about who would be responsible for repayment. COMMISSIONERS' RESPONSE Mr. Sherman responded that non -compliant programs cannot be funded again, and the money does not need to be repaid. Ms. Hilderbrand and Mr. Sherman also discussed prior attempts at follow-up communication, with Mr. Sherman requesting she provide her phone number again. SOLICITOR'S REPORT None. ANNOUNCEMENTS An executive session was held at the end of the Agenda meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to discuss personnel. The Salary Board will follow this meeting, and the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Commissioners will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in this room, followed by the Salary Board. All county offices will be closed tomorrow (April3, 2026) in observance of Good Friday. There being no further business, Mr. Sherman declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:42 a.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES WERE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: ,J ATTEST: CHIEF CLERK 2026