Commissioners adopt 2016 budget
WAYNESBURG – In one of his last acts as a Greene County commissioner, Chuck Morris, along with his two colleagues, Blair Zimmerman and Archie Trader, gave county residents an early Christmas present Thursday by adopting a 2016 budget that holds taxes steady for the coming year.
Morris, a practicing attorney in Waynesburg, was appointed to the board in August 2010 when then-commissioner Dave Coder left to take a position with U.S.Rep. Mark Critz. Morris won a full term the following year, but in 2015, in an ironic twist, lost in the Democratic primary to Coder.
Morris spent a few minutes at the conclusion of Thursday’s meeting thanking Zimmerman and Trader, Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall, many department heads and row officers.
“I think it has been a good ride,” Morris said.
Meanwhile, the $19.756 million general fund budget will operate under a property tax rate of 7.535 mills, with 6.77 mills going to the general fund, 0.695 mills to pay for debt service and 0.07 mills going to the library system.
The $29.99 million unified budget, approximately $1 million more than 2015’s $29.1 million budget, includes, in addition to the $19.756 million general fund expenditures, $1.67 million for core human services and transportation programs; $2.60 million for children and youth services; $2.40 million for mental health/IDD; $1.12 million in state liquid fuels fund; $442,000 for domestic relations; $558,539 for drug and alcohol services, $650,000 for the 911 fund; $510,969 in Community Development Block Grants; and $284,368 for the tourism fund.
Marshall described the budget as “workable and livable,” even though some departments experienced revenue decreases because of state and federal funding cuts.
“I am sure some department heads were disappointed, but they realize, as do the commissioners, that not granting all requests on so-called wish lists was necessary to keep taxes in line,” he said.
The 2016 budget represents a 3.6 percent increase from last year’s spending plan, attributable primarily to salary and benefit increases for management and union, an increase of 10 percent in medical insurance and an increase in general liability and property insurance.
The commissioners voted to accept the proposal from Community Bank for a $4 million tax anticipation for next year. Community Bank’s interest rate of .98 percent was lower than offers from First National Bank and PNC.
The money will go directly to the county’s human services department, which will reimburse the county $3 million in Act 13 money loaned to the department that has struggled with a shortfall of money during the state’s budgetary impasse.
Marshall said the other $1 million will stay with the bank and be used if other needs arise.
“We are doing it this way so the human services department, not the county, is indebted to the bank. Human services will be able to pay off the loan once it begins to receive state reimbursements,” Marshall said.
In other business, commissioners presented a special Exemplary Volunteer Service Award to Marianne and Clarence Brewer of Crucible. The Brewers recently received the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers Volunteers of the Year award for their work with the Carmichaels Activity Center.
Together, the Brewers deliver hot meals to the elderly home-bound four days a week on a 90-minute route, often filling in for other drivers when needed. The two log more than 8,000 miles a year delivering meals in a rural area of the county.
The Brewers are both active on the Carmichaels Activity Center Site Council, with Marianne representing the center on the Greene County Senior Citizens Council. A retired electrician, Clarence volunteers his time providing electrical services at the center.
The couple is also involved with the Crucible Volunteer Fire Department. Clarence recently became re-certified as a volunteer fireman, participating in hours of fire training, and Marianne helps plan weekly fish fries and department upgrades.
The Brewers were nominated by the Carmichaels Activity Center and Community Action Southwest. They received their award from Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne during the annual PASC conference Oct. 9 in State College, Pa.
“Clarence and Marianne Brewer have been instrumental in helping to deliver meals in the Crucible area,” said Bridget Dennison, CAS center services manager. “They never say no, and they work tirelessly for us.”
In other business, the commissioners made several appointments to various boards and commissions.
Barry Moore was reappointed to the Greene County Fair Board of Directors; Blair Zimmerman was appointed to the tourism board of directors; Don Chappel and Samuel Crowe were appointed to the tourism board of directors; Jason Neighbors was reappointed to the industrial development authority board of directors; John Mariner, Donna Furnier and Reed Kiger were reappointed to the tax abatement board of directors; Larry Pettit, Deanna Renner and Pam Blaker were reappointed to the assessment appeals board of directors; and Ralph Burchanti was reappointed to the redevelopment authority aboard of directors.
Also, Virginia Wainwright, Michele Robinson, Rich Pekar and Danielle Uplinger were appointed to the Children and Youth Advisory Board for three-year terms.
In other business, the commissioners:
n Approved a change order from Morgan Excavating in the amount of $20,525 for the rehabilitation of Murtha Drive.
n Approved grant agreements between the county and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $890,000, that includes $450,000 for Independence Place 2; $150,000 for the Nazer Street Project; $165,000 for the Rogersville Project; and $125,000 for the Greene County Veterans Housing Assistance Program.
Following the commissioners’ meeting, the county salary board approved a contract with Cheryl Cowen as county solicitor and as the CYS agency attorney at a rate of $105,000, beginning Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016.
The board also hired Jeffry Grimes as a CYS agency attorney at a rate of $33,000 for the same term. In other matters, the salary board hired Daniel Dolney as a full-time court reporter at $15.52 an hour and accepted the resignation of Jeffrey Thomas as a law clerk.