Greene commissioners to seek funding to help defender’s office
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County commissioners Thursday approved a grant application that could lead to assistance to the county’s busy public defender’s office. Public defender Harry Cancelmi said that if approved, the grant would be used for an assistant public defender to work with indigent juvenile defense cases.
Currently, only Cancelmi and a secretary work full time in the office, and two additional attorneys are contracted out to handle an overflow of cases. Cancelmi said he handles half of the cases and the other two attorneys handle the rest.
Cancelmi said it will become necessary to hire an assistant public defender, because he can’t be in two courtrooms and three magisterial offices simultaneously.
With the new county residents at the State Correctional Institution at Greene that need representation, “juveniles aren’t being served,” he said, adding that he spends 20 to 25 percent of his time on SCI-Greene inmates.
The $37,173 grant is being sought through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency from the federal Drug Control and System Improvement Program. The three-year grant has a matching fund requirement of 25 percent for the first year, 50 percent for the second and 75 percent for the third. Cancelmi said 10 or 12 of the competitive grants will be awarded throughout the state, and he wanted to let the community know that there are services for juveniles.
In another matter, the commissioners voted to approve and sign a 99-year lease agreement with the Greene County Historical Society and Museum Inc. to use the renovated log courthouse on Greene Street, Waynesburg. A separate sublease agreement was approved with the Cornerstone Genealogical Society to coincide with the historical society lease.
The genealogical society will occupy the building, moving from its confines at the Eva K. Bowlby Library in Waynesburg.
Paul Matyk, president of the historical society, said the log courthouse is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania on its original foundation. Matyk thanked the commissioners and the county for recognizing what a “treasure it was.”
Commissioner Farley Toothman, a former president of the historical society, said the building will be a “beautiful asset.”
Margaret Kerr, president of Cornerstone Genealogical Society, said the group has been looking for a home for some time. She said the genealogical society brings in a lot of tourism.
“I think it will be a benefit to be centrally located,” she said.
Chief Clerk Gene Lee said he anticipates an open house for the courthouse in September.
In other agenda items, the commissioners awarded $3,000 grants to the following municipalities Center Township, for bleachers at the Rogersville ballfield; Greene Township, for a community building; Jackson Township, for community building; Cumberland Township, for King Coal Softball; Morris Township, for a community building; and Crucible Volunteer Fire Department, for a backstop at the softball field. Also, the Waynesburg Lions Club received a $2,000 grant for the Fourth of July celebration at the fairgrounds.
The commissioners approved and signed agreements for the care and maintenance of veterans’ graves for 2002 at three cemeteries and awarded a $53,112 contract to A.C. Moyer Co. for street paving in Carmichaels.
The commissioners also authorized J. Kenneth Willison to negotiate agreements to acquire real estate in Cumberland Township for the Greene River Trail and to sign a lease agreement with John E. Smith to sell corn near Bortz Chevrolet.
County recreation director J. Allen Blaker announced that registration for the county’s day camp program will be held June 14 from noon to 3 p.m. at the seven sites: Carmichaels, Mather, Bobtown, Mon View Park, Waynesburg Lions Club Park, Perry Elementary and Ryerson Station State Park.
He added that the pools are open and swimming registration will be held today.