Transit shifts to Trehab
Published: November 4, 2009
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share thisThe Susquehanna County Commissioners have opted to change the agency in charge of the county’s public transportation system in April 2010.
At the Oct. 28 commissioners meeting, Trehab was designated to coordinate and provide Shared Ride transit services that will be accessible to the general public as well as older adults, persons with disabilities and medical assistance transportation beginning April 1, 2010.
Barnes-Kasson is currently contracted to provide the public transportation service in the county.
Trehab will be able to take over the county vehicles, now maintained by Barnes-Kasson.
Although some loose ends remain regarding the transition, Commissioner Chair MaryAnn Warren said she thought the busses would be run from property already leased by Trehab in South Montrose.
She also said that the change is still many months out and the county will make the public aware of new contact numbers and information associated with the pending change.
The commissioners also signed a Community Development Block Grant contract with the state to receive $80,320 for eligible housing rehabilitation projects.
The commissioners had previously authorized, by resolution, the Susquehanna County Redevelopment Authority to apply for the grant.
The county also authorized the sale of a 1999 Ford sedan, no longer in use by the county, to Mehoopany Twp. for $250.
The commissioners signed a 2010 maintenance agreement for software used in the district attorney’s office and at the county jail. The original invoice amount was $611.89 but, due to a credit owed to the county, the discounted invoice totaled $393.36.
An annual maintenance agreement, of $4150, was also signed for voice recorder equipment in the 911 center. The agreement runs from Nov. 1, 2009-Oct. 31, 2010.
Two county employees were also terminated at the meeting.
John McCarty, of Children and Youth, and Joan Golis, of the District Magistrate Jeffrey Hollister’s office, were both terminated effective Oct. 23.
The commissioners also adopted two proclamations. November 15 was proclaimed “America Recycles Day” and the month of November was proclaimed “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in the county.
A salary board also convened on Oct. 28. The county salary board includes the commissioners and county treasurer, Cathy Benedict.
The board approved a three percent salary increase for all non-union employees in the county for 2010.
The board also adopted any and all negotiated and arbitrated changes in pay rates and benefits for union employees per the contracts.
The salary of county solicitor Michael Gathany was also increased to $25,675, effective Jan. 2, 2010. Gathany currently receives $23,175, according to the commissioners.
The retirement board also met with representatives from the Seneca Group who presented the county’s 2009 third quarter report.
The county pension fund remains fully funded at about $10.6 million.
The fund is currently underweighted in equities due to a cautious stance taken by the county to protect the fund on the downside of the market.
The board opted to harvest some of the equity gains realized in the past quarter and put the profit back into more conservative areas to protect the fund’s position.
