Two Commissioners Approve Motion to Pay DCAAer’s Bonus
At the County Commission meeting on September 18, Commissioner Sandora was consistent when he did not second Commissioner Evans’ motion to pay the DCAA members a bonus of $1,200 each. (Recall that Williams and Evans signed the transfer of $21,000 for this bonus at the last meeting without an approved motion to make the payments.) Commissioner Williams seconded the motion, and it carried. However, it is not clear if their approved motion, which is the legal basis for the payments, will be carried out appropriately. Barbara Knight, member of the DCAA Board of Directors, announced that she would be working with “Beth” to establish a pro rata amount for those DCAAers who have worked less than one year, e.g., $100 for each month worked. Neither Commission Williams nor Commissioner Evans made a motion to amend their motion to include Knights’ deviation.
Agenda item “Approving Avenue Expenditure- A Review of the Submitted Evidence” was not about a company named “Avenue” that had made or would make an expenditure that needed approval. The action voted on was to authorize the Commission’s attorney, Mr. Tennant, to hire an expert stated to be from PA to review the documents in the case of the contested permit to construct a drilling pad (64,000 cubic yards of fill) in the flood plain on the Huff farm. There was no information about how long it would take to decide on an expert , how long it would take to review and comment on the documents, or what the expected cost to the county would be. (Note. The County’s insurance company, Travelers, informed the Commission that the County’s policy will not cover expenses involved with an “injunction”, which was the EQT petition to the court. Instead, it appears that all associated costs will be borne by county tax payers.)
Judge Sweeney asked to be informed of the outcome of hearings, results of negotiations, etc. by Monday, September 24, on the EQT/Huffe issues, less than one week from this Commission meeting. It was said that Mr. Tennant may request an extension of Judge Sweeney’s deadline. Further, EQT has scheduled a hearing before Judge Sweeney on September 28, this Friday.
After an executive session with the Prosecuting Attorney, the Commissioners approved transfer of funds ($4,000) to enable hiring an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.
The Commissioners, Prosecuting Attorney, and County Clerk went to the upper levels of the court house where many county documents are stored. The current storage area is inadequate for the current documents on file there due to crowding and bat and bird droppings. The Commission agreed to ask the Day Report Center if they would assist in removing documents that could be stored elsewhere or destroyed.
The Commission will postpone until next year filling vacant positions on the Public Service District Board of Directors to more nearly coincide with the no-cost, public service training which will be held in August 2013.
County Assessor David Sponagle presented information on a request for an exoneration of taxes for Hays and Company based on a data entry error on the part of the State. The Commission approved the exoneration.
A letter was read from the Town of West Union citing 45 days to correct the current water runoff system from the Historical Society Building.
Central Communications (911 Center) presented more proposed road name changes.
