Intern hired to work on Fayette Web site
A 2-1 majority of Fayette County commissioners Thursday opted to hire an intern to input data to finally get the county’s Web site up and running by the end of the year. The action was initiated by Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink and supported by Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III, following a lengthy discussion about the intern’s qualifications. Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites voted against the move, saying he believes a professional firm should be handling the site startup.
The resolution approved a contract with Laurel Business Institute/Laurel Staffing for a student intern to assist in Web site development at $12.50 per hour, not to exceed 10 hours per week through Dec. 31, using grant funds obtained by state Rep. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg).
At the beginning of the discussion before the issue was voted on, Hardy initially said he believed the county should hire somebody “competent, other than an intern.”
Zimmerlink explained that the intern would merely be assisting department heads with inputting data. She said the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is helping to start up the site. Zimmerlink said only four departments – the District Attorney’s office, the Public Defender’s office, the Coroner’s office and Bridge Department – need help inputting data.
Hardy, normally silent during the meeting with the exception of making motions, then asked Vicites what he thought, prompting Vicites to reply that he believed NuRelm should have been hired to develop the county Web site instead of CCAP.
“I still want it done right,” Vicites said. When Vicites continued explaining that he just wants the county to have a nice Web site, Zimmerlink said replied that there probably isn’t anybody in the county who doesn’t want a nice Web site.
Zimmerlink said the action to hire CCAP was done in April 2004 and every county department has been involved in preparing their data for the site. She said even if NuRelm or a company from Florida that submitted a $300,000 proposal had been hired, “it would not have been done any sooner.”
Zimmerlink said the start-up delay has been due to a lack of manpower to input the data. When Vicites again said he felt NuRelm should have been hired, Zimmerlink said, “We can sit here for three more hours and discuss this or we can do something and get it done by the end of the year.”
When Hardy again said that he believed Vicites was concerned about the intern’s qualifications, Zimmerlink said the individual is coming highly recommended. She said $20,000 is available from the state grant, of which only $4,000 has been allocated.
Zimmerlink then made the motion, Hardy seconded it and the pair approved it, with Vicites voting no.
“If this Web site was so important, it should have been done before January 2004 (when the new board of commissioners took over),” Zimmerlink said, referring to a period when Vicites was chairman of the board.
Vicites said the grant was not in place before then.
In other action, the commissioners approved a contract for roof replacement and parapet repair at the Fayette County Courthouse to G&W Roofing of Eighty Four in the amount of $187,000 for the roof and $158,000 for the parapet, for a total cost of $345,000.
A total of five bids were received, but one bidder withdrew due to a math error and a second bidder was rejected after not attending a pre-bid meeting. The other two bids were from Stringer Roofing, $242,579 for the roof and $165,000 for a parapet, totaling $407,579; and Miller Roofing, $290,000 for the roof and $160,000 for the parapet, totaling $450,000.
County manager Warren Hughes said the firm must start within 30 days under the contract, but added that the company is ready to begin as soon as possible.
During public comment, Robert Chuey, American Legion Post 51 commander, reported about the progress toward installation of a permanent World War II memorial near the courthouse. Chuey said the market will replace a wood monument constructed in May 1944 that had the names of Uniontown residents who served in the war. He said that today, there are 2,748 veteran names from the city alone.
Chuey said he is still getting requests from people with names of those who should be on the list, but added those individuals must have lived in Uniontown and served during World War II.
In a related matter, the commissioners voted to approve the county as an applicant for grant funding for the installation of the Veteran’s Memorial Honor Roll. Chuey estimated the cost of the monument will be $95,000, and enough has been secured to have a Veteran’s Day ground breaking.