AGENDA  WEDNESDAY.DECEMBER20,2020,2023.11:00A.M. PIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING  1. Callt to Order. 2. Pledge of Allegiance.  PUBLIC COMMENISQUESTIONS CONCERNING TODAYSAGENDA Motion to recess the Commissioners' Meeting tol hold al Retirement Board Meeting.  RETIREMENTI BOARD. MEETING Motion to reconvene the Commissioners' Meeting. 1. Approve December 20, 2023. Agenda. 2. Approve December 6, 2023 Meeting Minutes. 3. Approve December 13, 2023 Conference Minutes. 4. Approve payment from GENERAL FUNDS (County Bills)  $350,364.46  PERSONNEL  1. Motion tol hire STEPHANY BORGES as a temporary Intern in the Office of Children & Youth Services, for  lesst than 1,0001 hours per year, retroactive tol December 18, 2023. Motion to1 recess the Commissioners'. Meeting to hold a Salary. Board Meeting.  SALARY BOARD  1. Motion to convene Salary Board.  2. Motion to approve the December 6 and 13,2023 Salary Board Minutes.  3. Motion tos set the hourly rate of STEPHANY BORGES at $10.35 per hour as a temporary Intern ini the Office ofChildren & Youth Services, for less than 1,000.00 hours] pers year, retroactive tol December 18, 2023.  Motion to reconvene the Commissioners', Meeting.  OLD BUSINESS 2024, on  1. Motion to award bids for Fresh Bread and Baked Goods for the period of January 1,2024, until December 31, behalf oft the Correctional Facility tol Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. in the total annual bid amount of $111,482.00. 2. Motion to authorize the Chairman to execute the Proposal for Special Inspection Materials Testing Services from Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants, for the Bennett Ave Building 1 Renovations Project.  NEW BUSINESS  1. Motion to approve the: revised 2024) Holiday Schedule. behalfo of Children and Youth Services.  2. Motion to execute the Contract. Addendum between Service Access & Management, Inc. and Pike County, on 3. Motion to authorize the Chairman to execute the A&B: Door Sales & Service, Inc. Quote in the amount of 4. Motion to approve the Human Services Payment Vouchers, on behalf oft the Office ofl Human Services: Emergency Rental Assistance 2.0i in the amount of$10,924.71; Human Services Development Fund in the amount of$4,480.00; State Food Purchase Program in the amount of $5,708.18; PHARE ini the amount of 5. Motion to approve thel Pike County Home Program Payment Voucher in the amount of $1,200.00, payable to 6. Motion to approve the Pike County Home Program Payment Voucher ini the amount of $1,200.00, payable to 7. Motion to approve the Pike County Home Program Payment Voucher in the amount of $46.80, payable to 8. Motion to approve the Affordable Housing Payment Voucher in the amount of $310.64, payable to GateHouse  $5,604.00.  $138,797.00; and Wholel Homel Repairi in the amount of$16,119.66. Frank DeEsch, on behalf of the Offices of] Human Services. ProSolutions LLC., on behalf oft the Office of] Human Services. GateHouse Media, on behalf oft the Office ofH Human Services. Media, on behalf of the Office of Human Services.    9. Motion to approve the Affordable Housing Payment Voucher int the amount of$58.75, payable tol Recorder of 10.1 Motion to approve the 2018 CDBG Program Payment Voucher in the amount of$15,808.75,; payable to 11.1 Motion to execute the fiscal year 2023 fourth quarter payments from the Pike County Emergency Medical Services grant funds tol Milford Borough int the amount of $10,000.00; Milford' Township ini the amount of  Deeds, on behalf oft the Office ofHuman Services.  ProSolutions LLC., on behalf oft the Office ofHuman Services. $13,794.20; and Westfall Township int the amount of 106,970.70. PennState Extension Calendar of] Events Kinder Morgan Community Investment Contribution Chamber oft thel Northern Poconosl Leadership Group Fentanyl Awareness Campaign Kick-Off  MISCELLANEOUS:  PRESS & PUBLICO COMMENTSQUESTIONSTONSADIOURAMENT PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FORJANUARY 20241 MEETINGS:  THE REORGANIZATION MEETIGN OF THE PIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL BEI HELD THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY JANUARY: 2, 2024 AT11:30 A.M.I INTHE PIKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DIRECTLY  ONT TUESDAY.JANUARY, 2,2024 ATI 11:00 A.M. FOLLOWING THE REORGANIZATION MEETING.    PIKE COUNIYRETIREMENT BOARDA AGENDA Wednesday, December 20. 2023 11:00 a.m. Pike County Administration Building  1. Callt to order. NEW BUSINESS  2. Approve thel December 20, 2023 Agenda. 3. Approve the November 15, 2023 Minutes.  1. Motion to approve refunds of contributions to employees nol Ionger with the County:  Bryce Harrigan . Gary Biscardi Damari Griffiths Christina Soto Eleftheria Buccello Magalie Diodonet Sarah Wilson Marilyn DeVries Korn Ferry Biondo Investment. Advisors Broadridge Matrix Trust Co  11/11/23 11/19/23 11/22/23 12/08/23 12/12/23 12/13/23 10/06/23 12/01/23 $5,410.00 $46,586.05 $12,471.84  PCCF PCCF PCCF C&Y Tax Claim PCCF C&Y  2. Motion to approve the following deferred retirement (to age 60):  3. Motion to approve the: following retirements:  Assessment- vested 03/29/85 4th Quarter Actuarial Services 4th Quarter Fee Billing 4th Quarter Asset/Transaction Fees  4. Motion to approve the following invoices for repayment:  ADJOURNMENT    PennStateE Extension  Penn State Extension Upcoming Events  December 20, 2023 Community Development:  FIRST THREEI INSTARS: APRIL THROUGHJ JULY  JULY FOURTHI THROUGH INSTAR: AUGUST  OVERWINTERING: PREVIOUS FALL TOA APRIL/JUNE  EGGLAYING: SEPTEMBER TONOVEMBER  ADULTE LATEJULY EMERGENCE:  Spotted lanternfyl lifed cycle. llustration OE Emilys. Damstra.  SpottedLanternfly  Pike County isi int the quarantine area. Ify you! have spotted this insect, please call our hotline at 1-888-422-3359 or visit our website toi immediately to report a sighting. Please contact your local Penn Newly hatched nymphs are small (-1/8i inch) and can bel hard to find, often! being mistaken for small ticks or spiders. With each moltt tot the nexti instar, the nymphs roughly double in size. The first three Tol learn more about the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and what action you cani take tos stop the spread oft this  State Extension office with questions on spotted lanternfly management.  instars are black with white spots.  invasive insect, visit our website, ntps/extensionpsueduispateclantemly. Remember, every adults stomped out can prevent 30-50 eggs being laid!  4-H/Youth:  Adults - We NEED you!! Pike County 4-Hi isi in desperate need of adult volunteers to lead youth groups! Share whaty you are passionate about with! kids who are interestedi inl learning a new skill or hobby. Asa Group Leader, you get the opportunity to determine how much time you spend and what activity you do, while 4-HV willl help with supplies and support. Consider volunteering your time to make a difference ina Contact Penn State Extension in Pike County for morei information ont the 4-H program by calling (570) 832-2800 or send ane email toi the 4-H coordinator, Angela Smith, at 8xs1397@psu.edu. Please like us on! Facebook at! Mtps/nmm.fasebaokcomPkeCoumyPa4H  child's life.  4-Hi is opent toy youth ages 5-18, unless otherwise noted.  1  Please visit! ntpsleaxensionpsuadt to searchf forn moret topics thatr may be ofi interest, orv visit  MoassamgNsaaam: tos sign upt tol haveu up-to-datei information ofy your choosing emailedo directly toy you.    PennStatel Extension  Budgeting:  Boosting Financial Wellness  Via Zoom = Thursday, January 18, 2024 (12:00 PM 1 1:00PMET)  Financial clutter (for example, having miscellaneous receipts everywhere, decades-old financial documents, unnecessary credit cards, or outdated insurance policies) is not always visible but can negatively impacty your financial health. Boosting Financial Wellness: Financial Clutter willt teach yout to recognizey your financial mess, simplify your record-keeping, andi reduce financial stress. Practicing good financial literacy skills can help yout to reduce your financial clutter and achieve ani ideal financial plan. Therei isr no registration fee for1 thee event, buty your must pre-register by, January 17,2024.F Forr more information ort tor register, visit mtpslletensonpsuadupotina.fmicibainelnes-financhaisuate.  Family:  Kinship Family Forum On Demand Webinars  Visit our website. extension.psu.edu: and search Kinship Family Forum.' You will find veryi informative pre- recorded classes on! Kinship care - at term usedt fori individuals that are not thel biological parents ofthe Penn State Extension collaborates with the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State to  children they are raising for whatever reason.  offer Thrive resources.  Therei isr no registration fee for each pre-recorded webinar.  Food Safety:  ServSafe  ServSafe Food Safety Program is fori individuals who are serving as managers or are in a supervisory role requiring certification. Upon successful completion, participants willr receive the ServSafe@ Food Protection Manager Certificate. Training meets the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements fori the Food Employee Certification. Act. There is a $165.00 feet to take the course andy you must pre-register. Forr more information ort to determine the closest class location and dates, visit  htpsllextension.ps.eduserysate  Gardening:  Master Gardeners and online andi in-person events.  Home Garden News! has the latest news and information on classes, workshops, publications, videos, Sign upi tor receive news, upcoming event details, gardening information, andt the monthly e-newsletter at httpsllextension.psedu/teslawneawnsanclandscaping.nome-gardening. By entering youre email, you consent tor receive communications from Penn State Extension - view the privacypolicy. Via Zoom - Saturday, January 13, 2024 (10:00 AM - 12:00 PMI ET)  Good Gardening Saturdays  Thel Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County invite yout to our monthly lecture series: Good Gardening Saturdays. This month, Good Gardening Saturdays: Thel Majestic Peony will give yout the opportunity to learn about peonies a garden's haute couture. Learn about peony types, flowert features, and care that willl boost your peony garden's beauty. There is a $10.00 registration feef fori the event, and  your must pre-register by. January" 12,2 2023. For morei information ort tor register, visit htpsllextension.psudu/goodgardeningsaturiaysihee-malestic-peony.  2  Pleasev visit htpsllextension.f psu.edut tos searchf forr moret topics thatr may bec ofi interest, orv visit  ntios/extension.nsue edu/aboutme tos sign upt tohave up-to-date information ofy your choosing emailedo directlyt to you.    PennState! Extension  Come Grow With Us!  Viaz Zoom - Saturday, January 13, 2024 (8:50 AM - 12:30 PMI ET)  In Come Grow With Us! Gardening with Perennials) youy willl learn about the world of perennials, how to care for them, design witht them, and the challenges they may pose. We willl be discussing the 2024 Trends for Gardening by Noelle Akin, Perennials 101 by Dr. Laura Deeter, and Climate Changes & PA Growers by Jane Ellen! Nickell. There is a $10.00 registration fee fori the event, buty your must pre-register. For more information ort toi register, visit! htps/extensionpsedu.comegrowewAthausgardening-witl-perennials:  Second Saturday Gardening Series  On-Demand Webinars  Visit our website, extension.psuedu: ands search Second. Saturday Gardening Series.' You will find very informative pre-recorded classes on composting, enjoying holiday plants, nature in autumn, winter  sowing, pollinators, house plant propagation, seed starting, pruning, etc. Therei is a $10.00 registration feef for eachy pre-recorded webinar.  ** Planting for Pollinators in Sun and Shade Green Industry Update Series On-Demand' Webinars  Available until 03/14/24  Visit our website, extension.psuedu: and search 'Green Industry Update.' Your will find very informative pre-recorded classes oni invasive species, pest management (including- but notl limitedi to spongy moths, mosquitos, ticks, etc.), noxious weeds, pesticide safety, pond management, etc. Thei following pre-recorded webinars require a $10.00 registration feet to access them:  ** Invasive' Weed Identification Trivia ** Understanding & Managing Noxious Weeds in PA ** Greenhouse & Interior Plantscape Pest Management ** Unusual Plant Pests in PA ** Spongy Mothi inPA ** Core Pesticide: Safety Topics **I Mosquito &1 Tick Management **L Leaf Feeding Beetles & Tree Disease Update ** Aquatic Plants and Pond Management  ** Powdery Mildew Review and Environmental Stressor on Landscape Plants Thef following pre-recorded webinars require a $15.00 registration feet to access them:  Allt the webinars in the Green Industry Update Series are available until 12/23/2023. Certification credits mayl be available, depending on the webinar!  Knowyour Natives Series On-Demand Webinars  Visit our website, extension.psuedu, and search 'Know) your Natives." Expand garden enthusiasts' knowledge and appreciation of these versatile and valuable plants. Thel Master Gardeners will cover native plants' many! benefits to our home gardens andl landscapes. Speakers willf focus on pollinator- friendly native plants int this falls series. However, the plants can be used in all native plantings in the garden and landscape. Enjoy classes on Native Seeds, Under Appreciated! Plants, Shrubs and more.  ** Container Gardens  Available until 04/28/24  Therei is a $10.00 feet to access this pre-recorded webinar.  Health:  The Volumetrics Weigh of Life  Via Zoom - Thursdays January1 11,2024 - February 15, 2024 (5:00 PM - 6:30PMET) Thel Volumetrics Weigh ofLife: Weight Management Plant teaches fundamental weight management principles one eating the" Volumetrics" way ande emphasizes sustainable eating patterns for lifelong weight management. Each of thes six classes provides calorie density lessons, food demonstrations, examples of Volumetrics food choices, andi interactive learning opportunities through group discussions. Therei is a $40.00r registration feet for the event, andy your must pre-register by January 10,2024. For more information ort tor register, visit! ntps/leatensionpauedmerceneticeweighollfe-weicht Pleasey visit! htps/extensionasuadut tos searchf forn moret topics thatr mayb be ofir interest, or visit https/extension.psu.edu/aboutme tos sign upt toh have up-to-datei information ofy your choosinge emailedo directiy toy you.  managementplanplot.  3    PennStatel Extension  Mental Health First Aid  Via Zoom - Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (12:45 AM = 4:00PMET)  and Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (8:45 AM - 12:00PMET)  Increase your comfort level in offering initial support to an adult experiencing a mental health challenge ors substance misuse problem and connect them with appropriate resources. As certified instructors, Penn State Extension educators teach the! National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Mental Health First Aid course. This course consists oft two hours of self-paced online learning and as six-hour virtual class. The course includes activities and opportunities to practice support strategies. A certificate willl be available online after completion oft the course. There is a $35.00 registration feei for the event, andy you  must pre-register by, January: 2, 2024. For morei information or to register, visit Via Zoom - Tuesday, January 23, 2023 (12:45 AM - 4:001 PMET)  ntips/extension.psudw/agutmental-health-frstaid.  and Wednesday, January 24, 2023 (8:45 AM - 12:00 PMI ET)  Mental Health First Aidt forA Adults Working with Youth is designed to teach adults who regularly interact withy young people how to provide initial support1 toy youth experiencing mental health or addiction challenges and assist them inf finding the help and caret they need.. As certified instructors, Penn State Extension educators teach the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course. This course consists of two hours ofs self-paced online learning and a six-hour live instructor-led virtual class. The course includes activities and opportunities to practice support strategies. A certificate willl be available online after completion of the course. Therei is a $35.00 registration feef fori the event, and your must pre-register by. January 12, 2023. For morei information ort to register, visit htips/extension.psuedumentatheatn.fistaidaduts.working-with-youth,  Suicide Preyention.Training  Via Zoom - Monday, January 22, 2023 (1:00 PM - 3:00PME ET)  Developed byt the QPRI Institute, this 2-hour training is designed for all people concerned about helping others with mental health ands substance use challenges, regardless of their background. QPRi is an emergency mental healthi intervention for persons considering suicide. Participants willl learn skills to identify andi interrupt ac crisis and direct someone top proper care. There is no registration feei for the event, buty your must pre-register by, January 21,2023. Forr more information or to register, visit  mtps/exensonpsuesueUELNGPSREEPEENNLE,  Land:  Woods in Your Backyard Series  Via Zoom - Wednesdays January 17, 2024 = March 13, 2024 (7:00 PM - 8:30 PME ET) Many landowners have small woodlots less than 10 acres ins size. Woods in Your Backyard Series is designed specifically, but note exclusively, for smaller landscapes. Join us tol learn how landowners can positively influence the environment by implementing simple stewardship practices. Each participant will receive a copy of Thel Woods in' Your Backyardi manual, a self-directed book that will explains the process of developing andi implementing projects to enhance their land's natural resources. There is a $50.00 registration feef for the course, and your must pre-register by. January 10, 2024. For morei information or  tor register, visit htps/extension.psueduwpodbinyourbacyardseries.  Arborist Short Course Series  Via Zoom - Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - Friday, February 9, 2024 (9:00 AM = 12:00 PMI ET) Today there is ani increased awareness byh homeowners andi municipalities for the need of trained and knowledgeablet tree care workers. The greeni industry has responded toi this demand for trained professionals by creating certification programs, such asi the Arborist Short Course. Designed toi increase working tree knowledge andy professional arborist skills, successful completion of the ten-day Arborist Short Course Series will prepare participants interested int taking the International Society of Arboriculture Certified. Arborists Examination. Pleasenotei this course doesn not include the There is a $250.00 registration fee for the course, andy your must pre-register by, January 5, 2024. For more information ort to register, visit! https/lextension.psedw/aroristshort-courseseries.  exam.  Certification credits mayl be available!  4  Please visit htpslextension. psu.edut tos searcht forr moret topics thatr may! bec ofir interest, orv visit  httpslextension.psuedu/aboutme tos sign upt tol haveu up-to-datei information ofy your choosinge emailed directly toy you.    PennStatel Extension  Tree Tenderse Training Series  Via Zoom - Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - February 28, 2024 (12:00 PM- - 1:00 PME ET) The Tree Tenderse Training Series program empowers concerned residents tor make dramatic strides towards restoring and caring for thet tree canopyi int their communities. Join thousands of other concerned citizens likey yourself. Become a Tree Tender and! help increase tree canopy coveri iny your community. Since 1993 PHS! has trained over 4,500 Tree Tenderse in 1501 Pennsylvania neighborhoods. Since 2004, the program has been supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In 2008 the program expanded to Pittsburgh and smaller metropolitan areas, and since 2013ith has been available statewide. Nearly 3,000 additional Tree Tenders@ have sincel been There is a $40.00 registration feei for the course, and your must pre-register by, January 10, 2024. For more information ort to register, visit https/lextension.psedw/atorstshort-courseseres.  trained.  Certification credits may be available!  Water:  Private Water Supply Education  Via Zoom - Monday, January 8, 2024 (2:00 PM - 3:00PME ET)  Doy you livei in one oft ther more than one million homes and farmsi in! Pennsylvania that get their drinking watert from ap private well or spring? Doy youl know whati isi iny your drinking water and howi to keep it safe for you andy your family? Wouldy youl liket tol have your water tested for free? The Private Water Supply Education and Water Testing event is designed forp people whor manage a private drinking water supply. We'll cover how to test and protect your well or spring and when water treatment might make sense. We willa also discuss well and spring system inspection andr maintenance, so you! know! how to protect your family, your property, andi the groundwater we share. This event is for residents of Pennsylvania who use a private water supply (well, spring, cistern) in their primary residence. There is no registration fee for the  course, andy your must pre-register. For more information or to register,visit htps/lextensionpsuedurvatewatersuppleducatonandwatertesting.  Water Testing (Drinking & Lake/Pond)  Penn State offers drinking water, as well as lake/pond water, testing kits through the Penn State University Lab. Call thel Extension office at 570-832-2800 to arrange to pick-up test kits and information. Test results take onet tot three weeks or more depending on the test. For morei information on Water Quality, visit tp/etemsonpsusaunattunresuresnatt. or call us at (570) 832-2800. Visit our website, extension.psuedu; and search Water Webinar Series. The Water Webinar Series is hosted byt the Penn State Extension Water Resources team. Learn abouta a variety of private water topics such as common! health and aesthetic impacts on drinking water supplies, preventing bacteria contamination, well construction, and septic systems. Eache event willi include ani interactive Q&A session with thep presenters! Therei isr no registration fee for1 this event, but your must pre-register.  Water Webinar Series  5  Please visit! htpslextensionnsuedt tos search forn moret topics thatr may bec ofi interest, or visit  paamsingsaaant tos signu upt toh have up-to-date information ofy your choosing emailed directlyt to you.    RETIREMENT BOARD Wednesday, November 15,2023  PRESENT: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron, Chief Clerk Gromalski, and Treasurer MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to convene the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the  Gilpin.  Retirement. Board Meeting. November 15,2023 Agenda. October 18, 2023 Minutes.  VOTE: Alli members voted "aye". Motion carried. VOTE: All: members voted "aye". Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted "aye". Motion carried. Under NEW BUSINESS, the following presentations were: made: contributions to employees no longer with the County:  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve refunds of  a. Kassidy Mercado b.] Lisa Wilson c. Juan Rodriguez d. Xavier Molina e. Eddie' Torres fFrances Hlavacek g. Beth Bayliss h. Steve Galante  09/25/23 10/11/23 10/13/23 10/15/23 10/16/23 10/17/23 10/20/23 11/03/23  PCCF Prothonotary PCCF PCCF PCCF AAA C&Y PCCF  VOTE: Alli members voted" "aye". Motion carried.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the  following retirements: a. Karen Beswick  10/11/23  Prothonotary  VOTE: All members voted "aye". Motion carried. increase for Korn) Ferry actuarial services for 2024. VOTE: All members voted" "aye". Motion carried. County Retirement Board Meeting. VOTE: All members voted "aye". Motion carried. Retirement Board Meeting adjourned.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve a 1% MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to adjourn the Pike    Wednesday, December 6, 2023  The firstr regular meeting ofl December, 2023 ofthel Pike County Commissioners was calledt to order by Commissioner Osterberg at1 11:00 a.m. att thel Pike County Administration Building, followed by the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag. PRESENT: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron; Chief Clerk Gromalski; and Solicitor Farley. Commissioner Osterberg welcomedi new County Commissioner, Christa Caceres. Before we go on any further, Commissioner Osterberg announced that we will amend the Agenda under Old Business'. We need to adda ar number 4,a motion to adopt Resolution No. 23-45, whichi ist the' Tax) Levy and Appropriation Resolution. MOTION: by Commissioner Schmalzle: and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to amend today's Agenda toi include VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  amotion under) New Business1 to adopt Resolution. No. 23-45. Public Commentis/Questions: concerning today's agenda:  Meeting attendee, Kristina Vego, asked about the. Agenda, itist mentioned that there was nothing known about mismanagement, I was wondering for public record's sake, ist the email provided on1 thel Pike County Commissioner's website correct? Commissioner Osterberg said! he was confused, what's on1 the Agenda? Whata are wet talking about? Kristina Vego answered we' re speaking about public knowledge ofy your emails and whether when peoples send you. information ifthatr means you willr receive that information via email through those emails that are provided onj public record? Chief Clerk Gromalski clarified, your email addresses, they are correct ont the website? Commissioner Osterberg answered yes, our email addresses are correct. Kristina Vego askeds so you allr receive the emails that are given to you? Kristina Vego continued, ont the Agenda, lasti meeting, ist that allowed tol bei mentioned? Chief Clerk Gromalski clarified, your minutes. Commissioner Osterberg saidi ini the minutes from the meeting oft the previous meeting? Kristina Vego answered yes, are they allowed to ber mentioned? Commissioner Osterberg answered yes. Kristina Vego saidi it was answered that wel know nothing about mismanagement, wel haven'ti received any emails; are you also saying that you haven'treceived: any emails through those emails provided by public knowledge on October 12th and October 17bh regarding cases ofr mismanagement within CYS? Commissioner Osterberg said the question I was asked had to do witha lettert that was: sent to the press, an anonymous letter. We never received that letter att that point.. At the same time, we don'trespondt to anonymous letters because there's s nothing to respond to. Kristina Vego then asked would your respond to emails thaty youl have send back emaila addresses, like egokraina/@gmail.on on October 12th and October 17h? Commissioner Osterberg replied ifp people send us emails that have to do with Children and Youth Services. We direct them to our Solicitor and to Children and Youth because al lot oft thati is confidential information that we don't feel is appropriate for ust tob bet talking int the public about. Ifyou! have a concern with what's going oni in Children and Youth,I suggestt that you ask tor meet with our Solicitor or whoever iti is however your case is being dealt with. Really sensitive issues that go on up there. Yes, we do get the emails, but we don'ta always respond because itis private information and we don'th havet thei information. We're not privy to all oft the stuff upstairs, we't rei not] privy tos see it. Kristina Vego said but you' re aboutt top pay fori it? Commissioner Osterberg answered absolutely, wel have top pay for it. Children and Youth Services are paid for by the State, but the confidential information upstairs isj just that, confidential. Not for us as County Commissioners to go upstairs and riflet through the files tos see what's going on. Kristina Vego said understood. Kristina Vego asked, aj personal question from myself then, who would Ireach out for the accountability of how the: funds are being spenti in CYS and also whether they are funding crimes or not? Commissioner Osterberg asked ift there's crimes? Kristina Vego answered yes. Commissioner Osterberg answered yous should go to the DA (District Attorney). Kristina Meeting attendee, Terry O'Brien, for the record it's about the CYS and the current funding that's about to be approved. As far as my experience and understanding of people int this County and my own personal experience, there'sag great deal of mismanagement. Therei isa a great deal of fraud. Therei isal big problem. There isa person, Keanu Reeves, quite famous, askedt tol help provide some type oft funding to create a system to deal with the black web pornography and child traffickingi issue and one oft the comments. hei made towards thet thirty minute mark on] his Congressional testimony was that 88% of girls that arei found inc child traffickingi int the State of California had timed out off foster care. He said we need to dol better. This system isi ripping apart families andt taking children with malice. It's for money and the money that you're approving is going tol hurt families, it's not! helping families. Itr rips apartg good families from what I'ves seen, some oft the best. Ifthere Christian, they believe in God,t they'lls say stuff like well spare the rod, spoil the child, they must be beatingt their kids. Wheni in doubt, gett them out. Theyl have a system thatt they teach social workers that aj point where they can't keep social workers ini that position or doing thatj jobb because after they'rei ini itf for ay year ort two they see the corruption and1 they turn around. Solicitor Farleyi interrupted att this point and asked Commissioner Osterbergi ifhe could Solicitor Farley said with all due respect, each State represents theiri individual Counties. Our State has something called Northeast Regional Office, theirj jobi ist tos supervise this County and other Counties. Pike County has been doing very, very wells since they brought in SAM (Service. Access Management). There's been no complaints and any issues have been addressed. No onei int this County ist trying tot take anyone's children,. just the opposite. The goal ofChildren and Youthi is tot try tol keep them int the family. Wel have many efforts to do so, you can't compare us to other States or other situations. Terry O'Brien saidIa am telling, youl I'vel have personal issues. Solicitor Farley interruptedI I understand that, but ini regardt to that, ify youl have a complaint you contact the person you're dealing with in our County, you can go makea a complaint with! NERO, buti ini fairness to everyone, itis nott tol be discussed. atap public meeting. We're very sensitive to  Commissioner Osterberg answered we are.  Vego said thank you very much.  respond tot this. Commissioner Osterberg said you'llh have tol let the Solicitor respond to this.  people's cases andt thats should not be discussed in an open forum.    Terry O'Brien, saidt therei isac cloak of confidentiality: toj protect the social workers. Solicitor Farley repeated, ifs you) have ani issue, youd deal with thej persony you're working with, you can go tot theirs supervisor, you can got tot thei individual that runs for SAM. Terry O'Brien, saidt they don't even answer your calls. Solicitor Farley saidi in my experience, I disagree with you, but okay. Again,I Ia am giving yout the remedies and, ifyou're stilli not happy with the County, I'mt telling you to contact NERO. You can make a complaint tot them and they'ret the ones that control the County. Terry O'Brien said you can makea a complaint inac circle, but your name is never on the docket.) It's your children's names on the docket, they't 're note even names, they're numbers. Solicitor) Farley said the way ity worksi ini the system in Pike County and every County in the State ist the case captioni isi initials because iti relates tot the children. You as the parent, ifthat's the situation, you're notified oft the hearings and] Pike County and this State now allows you tol have counsel, paid by us. Terry O'Brien, replied yes, by the same company that pays the SAM employees. Solicitor Farley said no not the same company - it's paid by the Court. Terry O'Brien said you pit children against the parents. Solicitor Farley saidi no, everybody gets thei rightt to be represented, the children] have a representative- - they have a guardian; this isr not regard tot thej public, it's ini regard to the Agenda. I understand you may not like the system, but by your comments, you seem that you have representation, the children have representation, the children even have a Guardian, ify you'r re notl happy with the results you can discuss it Meeting attendee, Terry O'Brien, askedt tor read a statement from thel late Senator Nancy Schaefer of Georgia. Solicitor Farley said you'r re not discussing our State, you'rer not in Georgia. It'sa different State andj procedures. Solicitor Farley continued ini response to another meeting attendee'si interruption- please do me a favor, you're not on1 the Agenda, you didn'traise your hand, stop tryingt to - not on1 that topic. Commissioner Osterberg calledi for a time-out. Commissioner Osterberg asked fort the address forl NERO. Chief Clerk Gromalski responded she would get that. Commissioner Osterberg announced, herei is what your need to do- - you need tof file a complaint withl Northeast Regional Office, whereas Tom (Solicitor Farley) is saying they' re the ones that oversee our CYS. All oft the topics that you' re bringing up, file a complaint witht them, they willl bringi ittou us, and we can doi it. We'rer not goingt to discuss cases of children that arel being helped. These are Court decisions by the way also, lawyers dot that. They determine how these children are placed and) I'm sure it's done through evidence. Youl have tot take itt tol NERO okay? They willl bringi itt to us. People complain tol NERO: at different times, and we gett the letters andt then they want answers tot those complaints. That's how the system works. For ust toj just answer these questions, Iknow youl have and opinion aboutt the way the system is working, maybe you't re right,I don'tknow. Meeting attendee, Terry O'Brien, saidt the only wayt to cut offthe feet ofthis beastt that's eating good families Meeting attendee, Kristina Vego, saidI I would like to addt thatI I always believed, as aj parent, just as yous said it'sal hard job fort these Children and Youth workers, it'sal hard jobf for parents. To always have some type of eye watching us and picking apart every move we make, even stalking and harassing. My thing is, shouldn'tthese meetings be proactive rather than waiting untils someonel higher comes? Youl have allt these meetings tol hear what we the people have tos say, wouldn't we want toi find a solution here rather than telling them and passing the buck andi telling them to go elsewhere to al higher thing sot they can bringi itb back tos you; alli int the same breathe whilet telling the reporters ini front oft the people that you are noti receiving your letters? Commissioner Osterberg answered, as far as complaints are concerned with certain cases we are not going tos sit! here and discuss those. Youl have a complaint abouta a system thati is handling this, don'tknow whether it's your case or whoever's case iti is,I don'treally want tol know whoi itis, but ifthat's the case, that's the personal stufft that we don'tr really geti into. Setting thep protocol up ofH how the system is run, that is set by the State. We're just here to operate the State system. Ifyoul have a complaint about the way a childi ist treated orl how a family ist treated in the system, there are procedures andi it's throughl NERO. I'ms sorry but that'st the way this works. You can bring me the complaint; we're going tos sendi itt tot them anyway. Kristina Vego said Icompletely understand that. Ijust wantedt tol let youl know thaty you guys are motioning and you're allowing and denying funds to go to wheret they are. The word oft the day should be considered laundering- 1 putting funds ins something that's notl being used for that, but in another thing, That's whyl I'ml here- for whistleblowing. I understand you guys cannot move or cannot control how agents run within their business, but asf far as you] putting thei money int their pockets to maket those moves, that's wherel I came to you guys. Iacknowledge your positions int the office and int the branch of our government: and that's why we come to you! because we'rel hoping thati maybe checking those funds ands saying listen,] I'm giving yout this for this and we want tor make sure you guys are spending these funds appropriately. I've seen some numbers here andI Iknow for me aj penalization, especially ifo our Constitution is being punished fors something that we're exercising which is allowed within our Constitution. IfI was looked at or deemed as oddf for reading scripture to my children during al lunch period, they then Court ordered me aj psychological evaluation whichi isa aj penalization of my freedom to exercise andt that costs you guys $6,500. The reason accepted helpf from CYS was because was asking for help as a single mother for repairs to my home. Solicitor Farleyi interrupted ands said we cannot geti into particular facts of your case. Kristina Vego continueda penalization ofthe American citizen's freedom, and that's wheret there isa chance you guys can come in. Commissioner Osterberg askeds so should wes stop all thei funding to CYS until your case is settled? Kristina Vego answered no. For myself, personally believe that wel look and clean our! hands of any blood and wrongfulness that is being done against MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve thel December 6, 2023, MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve thel November 15, 2023, MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve thel November 22 and 29,  later with Children and Youth. Thank you very: much.  ist to cutt their funding stop giving them the money tos steal people's children.  our Constitution as parents.  Agenda.  VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  Commissioners' Meeting Minutes.  2023, Commissioners' Conference Minutes.    MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve payment from GENERAL MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve payment from BRIDGE MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve payment from DEBT MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve exonerations as presented Commissioner Osterberg announced we are going toj jumpa a littlel bit sO we can get people moving, Iknow) Penn State have al luncheon top prepare. We're going to1 move to New Business' and a motion to adopt Resolution No. 23-44. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to adopt Resolution No. 23-44, 100  FUNDS (County Bills), int the amount of $218,782.97, subjectt toi further review. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye". Motion carried. REPAIR, int the amount of $30,854.29, subject tof further review. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. SERVICE, int the amount ofs $1,500.00, subject tof further review. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. by Gina Rios, Tax Claim Bureaul Director, forap property Controll Number: 04-0-013872. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted" 'aye'. Motion carried.  NEW) BUSINESS  Years of] Extension in Pike County.  VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  Commissioner Osterberg read Resolution No. 23-44 aloud.  Commissioner Osterberg saidI Iwillb bel honest andt tell youl If forgot toj put oni my Penn State tiet today. Beinga a Penn State alumnus, Iam very proud ofwhat Penn State Extension does. Just tor name ai few things, for the longest while It think the Extension has always been the best! kepts secreti in) Pike County andI Iknow the staffa and everyone involved has gotten tol be al lot better about getting out there into the public, the gardens ini front oft the Courthouse thati is allt the Master Gardeners; the beautiful memorial up att the Blooming Grove Trooper Barracks, that's all of thel Penn State Master Gardeners; and1 look at what 4-HI has done and1 theiri involvement inl Public Safety with recruitment and retention for people tob becomel EMT's. Water resources- Peter (Wulfhorst)i isa wealth ofknowledge on that. When wel look att the schools, wel look at Strengthening Families whichi isap program brought int through 4-H and Penn State Cooperative. They Stephen Alessi, Penn Statel Extension Client Relations Manager, thanked the Commissioners here and alsoj past, present and future as well. I'm going to steal a line from Wendell Kay, former Commissioner in' Wayne County, he said something tor me when we were celebrating our 100th Anniversary of] Extension: in' Wayne County about four years ago, in 2019. He said for any organization tol last al hundred yearst they! have to be doing somethingr right or doing something well. Ithink aboutt that andt talk about celebrating the 100th anniversary and even looking at who do wei invite to celebrate this and bringing up past employees, commissioners, volunteers and people who over those years! have lent their support and continuation of Penn State Extension: in) Pike County, it's amazing when you seet that list and the people whol have been impacted by the work Penn State Extension does -it's very important. Thank you tot the Commissioners here, they' 've been very supportive over theses years and in my six years out oft thel hundred with) Penn Statel Extension. It's been great to work with this group and, likel Matt said, the best kept secret. We don't want tob bet thel best kepts secret anymore. We want tol bet the worst] kepts secret. We want people tol know who we are and what we do within the County. It's at testament to some members int the rooml P'd liket to recognize them as well. Wel have our Master Gardeners here, thank you to Sue and her group. We also have current andj pasts staff as well- -1 thank you for your contributions to Penn State Extension. A thank you toc our advisor councilmembers and thank you to our past councilmembers' too - they advise us and give us the input andi ideas fromi residents of Pike County that allow ust tot think ofnew programs and ideas and outreach where we can eitheri reachr more members oft the community. Thank you to everybody involved, thank you: again Commissioners for this opportunity today, we appreciate ita and look forward tot the next 100 years witht thel Extension in Pike County as well. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, tol hire RACHELPAVLOYSKYS Clerk Ito Magisterial District Court 60-3-03, for a 40-hour work week, effective. January 2, 2024, pending drug test VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle: and Waldron voted 'aye". Motion carried. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to promote SUSANI DALE to' Tax Sale Associate int the Tax Claim Bureau, effective December 18, 2023. This isar replacement position. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to change the status OfMIRIAM RIVERA from part-time clerk toi full-time Clerki int the Tax Claim Bureau, effective. January 1,2024. Thisi isa VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, tor rescind the transfer of CHRISTINE IRWIN: from Children and Youth Services toi the position of. Justice Opioid Coordinator in the District  need to be commended: for what they do andi thank you very much . your makei mej proud.  PERSONNEL  results. This isar replacement position.  replacement position.  Attorney's Office, effective! December 11,2023.  VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.    Motion tor recess the Commissioners' Meeting to) hold a Salary Board Meeting. AA Salary Board. Meeting was held. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to authorize the Chairman to execute MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to open bids for Fresh] Bread and Baked Goods for thej period of January 1,2024, until December 31, 2024, on behalfo oft the Correctional Facility. Solicitor) Farley announced there is only one bid and opened it. Thet total bidi is from Bimbo Bakeries in the $111,482.00. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, tot table awarding of the bid for Fresh Bread andl Baked Goods fort the period of. January 1,2024, untill December 31,2024 on behalf of the Correctional Facility MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the 2024 Pike County MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to adopt) Resolution No. 23-45, Tax MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the following) Human Services Payment Vouchers on! behalf ofthe Office of Human Services: Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2.0 in the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the Affordable Housing Payment' Voucher payable to GateHouse: Mediai int the amount ofs $48.74, on behalf oft the Office of Human Services. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve the. Affordable Housing Payment Voucher payable tol Delaware Run Associates int the amount of $2,204.00, on! behalf oft the Office ofHuman MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approvet the. Affordable Housing Payment Voucher payable tol Delaware: Run Associates int the amount of$2,923.00, on behalf ofthe Office of Human MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to execute the County Children and Youth Social Service Programs Certification Statement: for Act 148, on behalfofChildren: and Youth Services. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to execute the Family First Transition MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to authorize the Chairman to execute MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to authorize the Chairman to execute the Shared) Housing and] Resource Exchange Program (SHARE) Intergovernmental Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through thel Department of Aging, and the County of Pike, on behalf oft the Area VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to authorize the Chairman to execute the 2023/2024 CAPP Grant-in-Aid: Program Subgrant Award Notification, on! behalfo oft the Adult Probation Department. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle. and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. MOTION:by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to execute. Amendment: No. 21 tot the Electronic Monitoring Service Agreement, on behalf oft the Adult Probation Department. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye". Motion carried.  Motion to adjourn the. Salary Boardl Meeting and reconvene the Commissioners' Meeting. the contract documents for the Bennett Avenue Building 11 Interior Renovations Project. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  OLDI BUSINESS  tol December: 20, 2023, for review by thel Pike County Correctional Facility. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle. and' Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye. Motion carried.  Budget.  Levy and. Appropriation Resolution. NEW) BUSINESS  amount of $3,600.00 and] PHARE int the amount of $2,800.00.  VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye". Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and' Waldron voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. thel Medicaid. Administrative Invoice/Claim, on! behalf of Children and Youth Services. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle: and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  Services. Services.  Act Invoice/Claim, on behalf of Children and Youth Services.  Agency on Aging.    MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to execute thel Fiscal Year (FY)2023 State Homeland Security Grant Program Grant Agreement, on behalf oft the Office of Emergency Management. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to authorize the Chairman to execute the Service Agreement between Forensic Pathology Associates and the County ofl Pike, on behalf of the Coroner's Office.  VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  MISCELLANEOUS:  PennState Extension Calendar of Events suffered during that horrible day.  Pearl Harbor) Remembrance Day Commissioner Osterberg announced that tomorrow at 11:00 AMi is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. We're all going to make a point ofr making ita across the streett tor remember those who Commissioner Osterberg said one othert thing I want tol bring up and) I've donei this at othert times, we formed the initiative that givest trainingt to anyone int this County that wants to become an! EMT and it'sas scholarship program. Anybody who applies to al local fire service ora ambulance service will get free training to become an EMT.This has proven tol be extremely beneficial tot the County.) Ibelieve 70 or 80 or maybe even more individuals who now either volunteer in our County or are working in our County or working in other regions, we also offer thats service but ata ai fee: for anybody outside the County. Ther reasonI I bring this upi is becausel last month wel hads somebody make a generous donation and wet think we shouldi recognize these people because it's not just us fundingi it, it's the public whoi is funding ita att this point. Int this case, there was a donation of$1K by Charles Petersheim and] Ithink it's important that we recognize these people in our community that maket this commitment sot that all ofu us stay safe. We sent him ai thanky you and recognized his generous donation and we open it up to other donations also. Ithinkt thei fund rightr now has about $60K, itk keeps revolving tot that number. We always want tol keepi its somewhere around $60K to $100K soi it's self-sustaining and it has been for about four years now. Presentation by Pennsylvania State) Police, Office of Community Engagement, Heritage Affairs Section- - Trooper Quinn and' Trooper Bennett - Trooper Tristan Bennett said hei is with the Pennsylvania State Policel Heritage Affairs Section, Office of Community Engagement. Our primary function inl Heritage Affairs Section in the PSP ist tor monitor and respond tol bias throughout the State." These are instances motivated by race, religion, national origin, gender. Any oft thoset types ofi issues thatr may bet triggered or happen in our communities ors schools, we'll come out and assist with thati investigation or situation, noti inal way to overtake the investigation itself, but to add as ar resource tot the victims, the community members, thej police departments, schools or whatever itis, to give insight! based on what we've done and the partnerships that we'vel built with the community leaders around the State.] Ifthere'say police sensitive issue, like an officer-involved shooting, the community might be enraged or something liket that, we tryt to go out tot those types ofi incidents just to continue to build our relationship with community members: andi makes sure there'st transparency. For example, as synagogue shooting in East Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, al 17-year-old blackr male was shoti int the back int the course ofa police traffic stop whichi resulted in community outrage. We go out there tot the community members and answer their questions all in an effortt to mitigate thet tension they might! have when you have thosei issues that might arise in our community. We have numerous partnerships with different groups, thel NAACP, National Executive of Applied Law Enforcement, we meet severalt times during the year in our agency taskf force and wel have these meetings every so often. Tackling issues thati might bel happening in our State, around the country, thati might be affecting us here also at home. We try toi figure out ways how we can resolve these issues by coming together - members ofthe Attorney General's Office, Anti-Defamation League, U.S. Attorney's Office, our local DA's Office and the FBI. All these different resources all come together tot try to combatt these issues and mitigate any type oft tension that's happening in our areas. It'sag great collaboration that wel have that we're constantly meeting with each other, getting different input Trooper Quinn askedi ifa anyone can recall last year, McAteer & Will Real Estate had at truck parked int the Key Foodp parking loti inl Milford. Somebody spraypainted the side ofit with swastikas. Obviously, that was our coverage area for the Statel Police, it was Blooming Grove. They responded, but notified our unit ofith because of the antisemitic language that was portrayed on thes side oft the vehicle. Our unit oversaw that while Blooming Grove was actually investigating it. We were assistants tol McAteer & Will, them being the victim and obviously any assistancei that we could give tot troopers at the barracks with any furtheri investigation. Something that] kind of Trooper Bennett said another function of our assignment is education. We educate the public starting with our cadets att the academy.. Al lot oft them come from rural parts oft the State and when they get there the first time, beforet they get out on the road, they might not have had any interaction with ai minority int their entire life. They'r re making their first contact with that motorist, goingt to a car. We educate on various topics of racial profile awareness and culture diversity awareness and we give thoset tot the cadets at our academy. Culture diversity in the beginning andr racial profiling awareness: att the end. We also educate on de-escalation strategies andt talk about history of policing andi minority engagement. Trooper Quinn added those are for either local departments, Federal or State departments as well, as well as community members and school facilities, their faculty, just tol bring them up tos speed with culture diversity and things of cultural competency. Trooper Bennett continued they go into communities, schools and talkt tol kids about awareness and using cellj phone responsibility, stuff liket that. We live ina an age where thej phone gets them alli into trouble, educate them on what couldl happen ifyou sendt thist type of text message or say this on-line, make them be aware and hold them accountable for what they're posting as well. Trooper Bennett said we also act as a tension response team. Tot those acts of civilt tension within our communities, ifthere'sap protest going through their towni iti might cause a stir in the community. We may come out and monitor it. Start a dialogue witht the groupt thati may be coming through. just to address any concerns that may bel happening within the community as well. Trooper Quinn said our main priority is the safety of the  and ideast that willl benefit us and our communities and all the agencies involved in that.  hitsl home al little bit,j justt to shows you thel kind of work that we're doing.    community, the community members, the property within the community and the people that are protesting because it's their right top protest, wej just want everythingt to be safe and sound while doing so. Trooper) Bennett continued that overall, it'sj just us bridging the gap between the community and police andt talking about diversity. Wel have al lot ofp people- -1 the demographic is always changing. We have al lot ofj people coming from out oft the country, peoplet that may notl havet that positive view of policing from their native country. We aret trying to change that narrative here and lett them know that wel have ai relationship with them, going to community events, helping us bet together more. Wel hope int thel long run, we need them tor make our community safer and we want them tot trust us whent they call us andi respond tot those calls. To continue to build our relationship with the community is our primary focus, addressing the community concerns and keep onj playing that active role. Commissioner Waldron said it seems that some oft thel hate speech that people become aware ofi ifthey bother to look is ont thei internet, Facebook and other virtual platforms, Iwas under the impression that, to some extent, the State Police canl kind ofr monitor that or possibly seei iftherei is a problem witht the whole thing thati might turn violent, ist that something that your group does ori isi involved in?' Trooper Quinn answered that is not our group, our unity per se. We dol have intel, unfortunately we can'tg give out that information, then everyone would] know allt thes secrets, but itis being monitored. We dol have intelt thati ist their sole purpose - to1 monitor what's being put outt there and they' 're constantly updating the departments in that area oft thei information that they're discovery. Commissioner Waldron askedt that's being decimated: tot the local police ort the barracks in Blooming Grove, for example? Trooper Quinn answered yes. Commissioner Osterberg saidI guess on thatt topic, it's important that if people feel threatened: by being verbally attacked, they shouldi report that. Trooper Quinn answered absolutely and there ish hate speech and! hate crime, sometimes there'sa gray area with that and obviously, ifyou're still offended, and you'r re unsure, reporti it." The worst thing that could happeni is your told thati it's not a crime, but at leasti it coulds still be documented and shown that some incident like that happened sot that ifr maybe something progresses and gets worse, it's shown that there'sat trend. Commissioner Osterberg said when people feel threatened and people are acting inappropriately toward you, yous should notify law enforcement whether it's the State Police or Trooper Bennett saids statistically, hate crimes are underreported because people are afraidt tot talk abouti it or say something abouti it or retaliation. Trooper Quinn said they can bet too embarrassed to talk abouti ito ort the retaliation ori recourse after reporting it. Commissioner Osterberg said we see today ont the news what's going oni in the world with everythingi int thel Middlel East and what'st transposedi into this country. Wer need to report this, wei need tot tell somebody. Trooper Quinn saidi ify you! knows somebody asa friendt they tell yout that somethingl happened, you can report things on behalfo ofs somebody else. You can reporti it andt the department can reach out to that person andi ifthep person after speaking to authorities says okayI I still don'tf feel comfortable, then that'si fine. You can start the legwork: for a friend orf family member ifyou've! heard that something has happened. Meeting attendee, John Hellman, Vice President of Advocacy for Triversity Pride Center, thanked both ofthe Troopers for coming andt thank yout to the Commissioner for making this happen. It's been six months journey of fun for all ofus. We're really excitedt that we get tol have this conversation. Ihave two initial questions. One, currently in Pennsylvania State law sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity are not protected underl hate crimel legislation. Does that pose any kind oft theory tot the role thaty your play when you are Trooper Quinn answeredi ito does create al barrier, but federally iti is covered, sexual orientation. What we can always doi is we can always reach out tot thel FBI andi refert them tot the incident that has transpired. Many times, likel hot potato, sometimes the Statel kicksi it overt to the FBI ort the FBII has something andi it's more appropriate wel handlei it, andt they kicki itto us. Italld depends, but just because it's not covered by the State, doesn'tr mean it can't be charged. There are ways we stillr manage to do so. Trooper Bennett added those crimes are never going to bei ignored just becauset they' 're not covered by our State's statutes. Trooper Quinn said on a good note, itis on the John Hellman, said! his second question is what are the signs that youl look for when you're looking at particular communities, ifthey're at greater risk for some kind ofi incident that targets specific groups of people? Iask that because over the lasty year, there have been a lot ofd different incidents that have been documented! by the press and by various community groups oft targeting not only the LGBT community, but targeting our Jewish: friends, people with disabilities, targeting a wholel host of groups. Ithink one ofthe pinnacle parts oft that was onl Mother's Day. There was al bannerl hung up ont the mountain facing the Delaware Valley School, that said 'Proud Boys We Arel Everywhere'. There isag growing, a very, very small faction, ofright wing organizers that are embracing things likel Moms For Liberty; Thel Proud Boys, The Oath] Keepers, that alll have very stated anti-LGBT, anti- immigrant, anti-Jew, anti-basically every sort ofr minority population, they're very active here and some of them arei int this room - what sign do youl look for that raises red flags for violence is aboutt tol happen or some kind of Trooper Bennett said het thinks its starts by officers just paying attention to communities wes serve. Watching out for signs of graffiti, hate messages ands stuff liket that being spray painted, those messages being put out there. Wheni ito comest tot the contacts that we make with community members, when stufft that they give usi is good information we can give to our intel. Write down thati information for our intelligence officers disseminating that Federally they can looki into that marginal situation. Continuing the effort to be ablet tol have that communication between the community members what's going on SO we can be aware ofi it, we can maybet track who might be involved. Overall, our intelligence plays al big rolei in as far as ust trying tol know what's going on and making local agencies know about what's going on as well. That's always constant, keep ont talking abouti it whatever itis. Somehow, we try toj pay attentiont tot that andl keept track ofi it. Trooper Quinn addedi ift there's any sort oft threat to any group, community, anything oft that nature, when our intel finds that out, we disperse thati information  thel local Police Department justs soi itg goes on record. Delaying that does not help.  investigating these kinds oft things?  table tol be passed: from the State that sexual orientation will be covered, it's a waiting game.  escalation canl happen and what do we do about that?    immediately. That's not something that wej just! hold ont tor make our own snowball out ofita and then do something abouti it. Wei immediately lett thel know appropriate community or people know of ani incident that wel believe is John Hellman, asked for the Troopers' contacti information. Personally, I'm also a drag queen andI I get calleda pedophile every single day even though thati is what straight relatives ofc child victims are responsible for, not drag Meeting attendee, Jean Seltzer, President oft the. Jewish Fellowship in Hemlock Farms, thanked the Troopers for being here today and thanked the Commissioners as well for bringing up this very important topic. P'ms sure all of you can understand why the. Jewish community is very, very concerned with antisemitism and, notj just antisemitism, but hate in general. How can we, as a County, be even more proactive int taking stepst to createa dialogue between those that wel know are espousing hateful language, antisemitic, antigay, anti-other nationalities, to come to an understanding tot try to understand each other's position better?) How can we work positively and live positively together andi not have tol live under threats? The Jewish Fellowship, especially when wel have larger services, wel have tol hire the services of our Public Safety in Hemlock Farms. I'm sure the Commissioners and the State Policel know, matters thati the State Policel havel been int touch with me andl I'm very grateful for that relationship, but still there'sai need for ust tol be ablet tot form ar more constructive dialogue and wel know that there are forcesi int this areai that espoused violence. We're spending money, we don'thave: al lot ofr money, but we are forcedt to spend increasing money for protection, for police protection, security guard protection, justt to be ablet to conduct a service, whichi is something thati isa a Constitutional right. Iwouldj justs say that, again, Ithank you: for bringing thist topic up, but) Ihope that out ofthis can come some concrete steps to work toward peaceful solutions. Meeting attendee, Kevin Houlihan, Dingman Township resident, said when you talk about hate, I'm probably the most hated person, or one oft the most hated persons inl Pike County, ifp people follow social media. P've had death threats, my homel has been burglarized, Ihave over a thousand screen shots ofp people sodomizing my wife, killing my dog over the past six or seven years. Over thej pasts six, seven, years, P'ves studied! hate pretty deeply. Ify yout talk aboutr microaggression, hate crimes and actual physical crime, hates speech and cyberbullying, more so asl human beings wer need tos study our own bodies and brains. Love/hate brain surging thats starts with the inferior frontal cortex when you have the emotion of anger, contempt, frustration and distrust starts boiling inside you anda a chemical called oxytocin, not OxyContin, the opioid, starts engaging andy you escalate tol hate. It'sr not a sin, it'sa human reaction. Asl humans as part ofs society, wer need to be able toi impulse control that escalation. Ibelieve in Pike County, as well as other rural settings acrosst the country, the social economic part of which the community engagement group within the PSPI looks ati isn't ani initial catalyst for some of our current] LGBTQ issues, some of our bias issues against certaini religions or certain races. You cant talk about Mount Haven/Har Haven, LGBTQ and the concern of we' 'ret turning Milford into the gay Riviera or currently with a certain Quasi conservative individual buying up al lot ofl land, we'ret turning this into the home oft thel Proud Boys andt the Oath Keepers. Ifwe look att the reality that social economics is part of our lives, especially in rural counties likel Pike, we're not the richest county by far, butt the average incomei is $64K-$65K. That's not considered overly rich int today's America. Wes see ourselves sometimes where people want to come ina and bei included within Pike County and theyl have different ideas due to a different sociale economic number that there at. Wel have to control that sO when ito comes to our two' Troopers that, Ibelieve, are very courageous and brave, because being in aj jobl like thati is not acareer grabber, it's very challenging. These twoi individuals need tol be applauded for taking on aj job liket this. Lastly, think of whys you' rej jumping from being angry at somebody or frustrated ats somebody or contemptuous at somebody or you) justr misunderstand, take ai time-out andj just learn about the other group and that includes also our current water versus warehouse ort to work with CYS andj just look deeper first beforej jumpingt to a judgment Meeting attendee, Matthew Contreras thanked Troopers Bennett and Quinn for coming andi for service. When was yours sections started, whaty year? Trooper Quinn answered its started twenty years ago. Matthew Contreras said his other question is specific tol Pike County, whati incidents OfLGBTQ hate have risen tot the level oft the McAteer Willi incident int this County lasty year, ar number do you have statistics? Trooper Quinn answeredI I do not, no. Matthew Contreras askedt tol be given al ballpark. Trooper Quinn said maybe since that incident we'vel had five. Matthew Contreras asked that specifically deal with LGBTQ? Trooper Quinn answered the McAteer Will was antisemitic. Matthew Contreras said Iknow. I'm sayingt thati rose tot that level OfLGBTQ incidents in] Pike County? Let mej posit something, you'res struggling to find the answer, sol I'm assuming it's nota al lot. Trooper Bennett answered) Iwouldn'tsayt that it's not al lot. Ijust don'th have the number. Matthew Contreras saids you don'thave: ar number, you don' 'thave a ballpark number? Troopers Bennett and Quinn both responded no, they do Matthew Contreras asked! how many incidents of violence that meet thel McAteer Will standard involved Christian conservative groups or Christian churches; do you) have al ballpark number? Trooper Quinn respondedI do not. Matthew Contreras askedi ift they could have those numbers for our Commissioners. ats some point? Trooper Quinn answered she could ask her department to disseminate that information. It would only be for the year prior because every: year stats are done; they'rer not done quarterly. I willl be ablet to get lasty year's stats, but nott this year's until. January. Matthew Contreras said that's fine, It think that'ss sufficient. Ithink the Commissioners and the public would bei interested tol know that andI I would ask that youl bring back tot the barracks thati maybei it wouldb bei int the Pennsylvania State Trooper'si interestt to also have ac community outreach organization that involves the citizens oft the Commonwealth who are feeling not only their police departments, but their  goingt tol happen and then we act oni it. Obviously, letting people knowi ifc our main priority.  queens. Thank, you.  Thank you.  and a wall ofhate. Thank you, Commissioners and Troopers.  not.  governments, has ledt them astray. Thank you for your time.    Meeting attendee, Pierre Tardy, said af few months ago President Biden came tol Philadelphia and calledi millions ofu us extremists, terrorists to democracy, and thisl language is going on from the top oft the government to all the agencies andr now many people don'ttrust the FBI, don'ttrust thel Department of. Justice. They see people are being puti inj jail, part oft them are committing suicide.. And theny youl have people we call western gulag and we see thel FBIi investigating the Catholic traditionalists ort thes school boardi meeting, SO1 now eveni in] Pike County if somebody. just have an opinion, liket there are two genders andi men and women are: for marriage, you are called extremists, whichi mean you! have completely off. You are called far right, totalitarian or you are some kind of Fascist orb bigot, which means you are racist and basically, 1 think the number one being now targeted are conservative Christians orl MAGA republicans. Because people don'tt take oni itt themselves, they don'treally complain, thisi is ai really majori issue. One, you have a government agency making hate speech and hate crimes, how can you dos your job?] Because whoi is your example? It's nott the State. Anyway, that was my point. Trooper Bennett stated Ican'ts speak on behalf oft the President, but thel Pennsylvania State Police serve everyone without consideration ofpoliticali ideations, class, color or whatever iti is. We're here to serve everyone, Ididn't sign up for this jobi tos serve any one specific group. There's not bias int the work that we do, we serve everyone Meeting attendee, Sophia Petsas, said I1 love this County. I'm from New York originally. grew upi in) New York City ina ai melting pot and I've been involved with politics sincel I was a child. Iwas mostly a democrat my entire life. Imarch with democrats and republicans and against apartheid andi for women's rights growing up. This was me growing up. My concern these days int this community and all over the country ist that a lot of! people are fostering opinions about each othert thatI Ihaver never seen before and maybe based on some truths, or some exaggerations and P'di liket top point to one oft them about religion. I'ves seen in our local newspapers people labelling each other ofac certain church. My experience ist that whens yout talk to twenty Christians, they'll come from twenty churches, andIs still seet thosel here. I'm concerned people are being mislabeled) here simply for caring fort their children and what's going oni int the schools. I'ms speaking as someone whol has a gay child.I I don'tmean to bring that up becausel Idon't tl liket tot talka aboutt these things publicly, but) It feelIh Thavet to. When yout talk to people that are on! both sides, we' re missing something! here. We're missing the fact that people are trying to protect children from early on sexualization, not particular sex, just sexuality and they're being labeled for gathering to try tor not allow certain things tol happen in elementary school discussions. That's wrong because parentst try to dot their best no matter wheret they come from, no matter what background they're from.1 I personally grew up as a grandchild: from genocide myself. Wel had1 to deal with labels for being Christian, millions were killedi in Turkey. My grandparents escaped that. My concern ist that thel labeling andi forced things on young children. People arej justt trying tor raise their children andp protect their children att the same time. Creating groups and gossip around groups is wrongt too. Every childs should be protected, nobody should be thinking abouts suicide but the labeling andt the gossip and the finger pointing has got to stop.) I'ml hopeful that canl happen ifp people talk to each other more. That'sI my biggest concern because if we don'ts start talking to each other more and we don't start respecting each other despite rumors, the rumors are only goingt tot take over and we're not going to get anything done. Growing upi ina ai multicultural: society, like most of us int thist room have, wel know that the labeling and finger pointing doesn'ty work, it doesn't bring people together, it doesn'th bring plans toi fruition. I'ml hopeful people will start realizing that we aret moret the same than different andt that wei focus oni that going forward.  equally. I can assure yout that's what we'rel heret to do.  Thank you.  PRESS & PUBLIC COMMENISOUESTONSIONSADIOURMMIENT  Meeting attendee, Matthew Contreras, said let'sg geta a few things clear from the outset. Thel First Amendment protects speech, and thej public has ai rightt to comment1 tot the Commissioners' meeting and speak their mindi regardless of what they say unless they are threatening violence to either yourselves or tot the community. When this woman is speaking about CYS, shel has ar right to say whatever she likes, and you don't! have a right to compel her speech ort tot telll her what she's allowed tos say or not allowed to say. Ifs she wantst tot talk about her case specifically in public, that isl her decision to make. You dor notl have to answer her questions, you don'th havet tos speak aboutt the case specifically, but you! have tol listen tov whats shel hast tos say. The time andt the placei ist the only thing that you're allowed to determine att this meeting for public comment. You are nota allowed to compel people's First Amendment speech. Period. End of Story. She's not here right now, but) I'm going to ask thes same question she asked because you didn't answer it. For the record, did your receivel her email on whatever dates she wanted tol know about, because that was the question. She wanted tol know when did you receivel her email. She didn't wanty yout tot talk about it or elaborate abouti it, she simply asked you a question did you receivel her email for the record becausel I want the public tol know, and I wanta a record ofit. That's what she asked. Ifyou don'th have the answer right now, publicly, could you please geti itt to either her ort the rest ofthep public so thej public will know thaty you' re receiving emails through those email addresses, whichi is exactly the point she was tryingt to1 make. Do  you! have thata answeri now ors you're goingt tos geti it to usi int the future? Commissioner Schmalzle answered we did receive ane email.  Matthew Contreras thanked Commissioner Schmalzle for answering the question, Ireally appreciate that, thank you very Matthew Contreras said the second thing ist thist meeting isi for the public it's not for you to grandstand ort toi introduce special pet projects that you want the publict tol know about. Commissioner Osterberg answered yes, iti is. Matthew Contreras arguedi no, it's not.. Actually, it's not, I'm glad youl let the public know that. Thank you for letting them know again that this isi fors yout to grandstand. This is public comment, okay? Could you explain public comment to himj please? Commissioner Osterberg saidI I can adjourn it.) Matthew Contreras said you can adjourn it, be my guest. Could you! please explain public comment? Solicitor) Farley answeredi the two ofs you have your: moments. You're wrong aboutt the lady's comments.. Inr regard to the beginning oft the meeting, her questions could only relate to what's on the agenda. She went beyond that. Now, ifs she wanted to ask that same question, and others ifthat's her choice, she could ask them what she  much.    wants. As Solicitor for the County, and also part of Children and Youth, ifs she goes too: far because of children's rights, etc. Iwould probably haves stopped her, buts she didn't.As far as your comments that thisi is for the public, no sir, it's for the public tol listen, it's for thej public tos seel how the Commissioners act and what they vote upon, but they can also raise issues and address things. For example, ambulance and other events and give out publici information. It's not just motion and vote andy your comments: are wrong. You can, inp public comment, makes your statements, but they too during the meeting can have ont the agenda issues they want to raise and, as you call it, grandstanding, they ora any elected official can do that ata a meeting. Matthew Contreras: said he never suggested otherwise. Solicitor Farley responded youj just did. Matthew Contreras said he saidi that's allt they want to discuss. You can disagree, it's your opinion. Doi me a favor, during my public comment, unlessI I ask a question ort they aska a question, do us ai favor, don'to comment or try to compel our Matthew Contreras, said sincet they didn't want tor read the taxi raise, I'll read itf for everybody. Matthew Contreras started tor read aloud... .a per capita tax on persons be and the samei isl hereby levied on ally persons subject tot taxation for County purposes for thei fiscal year 2024; that a1 tax be andt the same isl hereby levied on all personal property within the said County subject tot taxation for County purposes for thei fiscal year 2024; and that al hotel room rentalt tax be and the same: is hereby levied on all considerations received by every operator ofal hotel withint the said County from every transaction of rentinga a room or rooms toa accommodate transients for thei fiscaly year 2024 att the rate of3 3% ofe each consideration; that a tax be andt the same isl hereby levied on all occupations within the said County subject tot taxation for County purposes for the fiscal year 2024, as follows and they give the list. Matthew Contreras continued they want tot tell you aboutt the Penn State Extension andl how greati itisa and yes, thel Penn State Extension does wonderful work, but they don't want tot tell you that they' re raising, your taxes. Att the first meeting they brought it up the very first meeting after their election att the last Commissioners' meeting. They were all too willing tor mention everything else except the fact that they are raising your taxes. They don'tv wantt tot talk abouti it. They don't want met tot talk about ita att this meeting because it's embarrassing to them. Commissioner Osterberg saidi it's not embarrassing, Channel 13 did a report ont this didn't they? Reporter Preston Ehrler answered three weeks ago. Matthew Contreras said this is what I'm talking about, when I'ms speaking, I'mi not asking the question, I'mr not asking him to comment on what I'm saying. Ify you would like to comment after I'm done speaking, by all means. Solicitor Farley asked what's your next question? Matthew Contreras: answered I'm not asking questions, I'mi making aj public comment. Solicitor Farley said okayj just continue. Matthew Contreras said for my friends int thel LGBTQ community, and my democrat friendsi int these] Jewishl leagues, Iwould lookt tos your own party because tens ofthousands of democrats are marching against. Jewish causes int the streets of our country. Commissioner Osterberg said you're embarrassing yourself. Matthew Contreras replied that's fine, I'm perfectly happyt to talk about whateverIy want,I will discuss whateverl Iwanti int the public comment. Solicitor Farley urged Matthew Contreras to go to the next comment Matthew Contreras continued, thet three ofs you should know better. Yous should be embarrassed because youl know darn wellt that the public has ai right to speak about whatever they like to speak about. Yourj joba as Commissioner is to listen to thej public and address theiri issues andI I expect better from you certainly. 11 thinkI I6 expect better from Mr. Waldron as well. He's an elected official. Mr. Farley, we are allowed to make comments aboute elected officials. It's not a personal attack to say hei is not doing whatl he should be doing. Solicitor Farley said I'm going tol let him adjourn thei meeting. Matthew Contreras asked, you're going tol let him, really? Commissioner Osterberg saidI Idon'thave to ask him. Matthew Contreras saidI Iknow you don't,I PIII letl Ms. Caceres make the comment she has tor make - I'm sure she agrees with me Commissioner-Elect Christal L. Caceres, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, said she does agree with Matthew Contreras, to a certain extent, that there are) First Amendment Rights. However, would recommend ifp possible andi ifa allowed by law, a time limit on comments, three minutes, five minutes. To make sure that anyone ini this room that would like to comment has the opportunity to dos so and we're not here until 5 o'clock. With thats said, the maini thingl Ij just want to say in general isi it isank honor andl Idon'tnecessarily want to do this, but If feel likel Ineedt to. Itis an honor to be elected to serve ast the next Commissioner for Pike County andIy wantt to applaud Commissioner Waldron for all ofthei fine work that he's done from thet time he was appointed as Commissioner. Itisf fine work that you've done throughout your career working for the County andI Ijust wanted toj publicly say thatt to you, thatI I appreciate what you' ve done as well ast the other Commissioners. Iwills say something tot the adultsi int this room andI I want people tor really hear me. Wei must have civil discourse. Wec cannot come into these spaces and conduct ourselves like we're atl home at our own! kitchen table.I understand passion and, believe me, there are a lot ofthings that have been said today that have sent me to another floor. There'sj just a way to communicate, there'sa way tos say what you want to say and everybody canl have their say and we all go! home with our blood pressure ata a normal level. Having: yelling back andi forth and all ofthis kind ofs stuffi itr really is not helpful toy progress. This isag governmental: agency and governmental body, there are limits on whatt they can do, there arel limits on1 the wayst they can respond. I'mj justs simply sayingi is when I'ms sitting at thats seat, you're not going to yell at me.. I'mj just going tor maket that clear andy you're not going to disrespect me, and your really shouldn'tbe disrespectful: to anyonei int thiss space. Att the end oft the day, they have ac difficult jobz and I'mi not going to agree with every single thing they do either, but they are adults and we' re alla adults and we can have this type of disagreement and exchange and you mades your point and it's fine, wel have tol be bettert to one another. Wel have tor recognize the humanity in one another and find ways tot talk about difficult conversations. I'm all aboutl having task forcest to deal with the issues that were brought up! here, I'm all about! having conversations with you becausel Ithink that some points that you raised are important and Meeting attendee, Gaill Neldon, resident of Hemlock Farms, said Iheard there was ani interest oft the Commissioners fora task force against hate andIf feel very strongly thats someplace where people of different opinions can come together and somehow: might be ablet tou understand where somebody is going wrong or explain something toi make things easier sot that we can get beyond violence or stopt the violence and any threats before they happen. Is there ar motion to come forward to create at task force against hate ork human relations type oft task force int the County?) Its soundst to me that that would be a great preemptive and proactive thing to do and we would bei int thei forefront ofc counties ifv we did something liket that.  speech. You've answered it.  ands said please continue.  about public speech and thel First Amendment.  worthy. Wel havet to bel better aboutt the way wes speak to one another, that's all.    Commissioner Matt Osterberg said we appreciate that and whiles you were speaking, I was making a list oft the very same thought process. I was going to asks youf for your contact information. We can put groups together andt this isn't necessarily. justa a County initiative, thisi isa ac community initiative andj just making a list of organizations such asi int this community Iknowi inl Milford there's something called Unity int the Community and' Triversity here. There is a partto playi int this Ithink with law enforcement just ast they can make everyone understand what their limitations are, but also what should be done. Ini my words overt this wholet time that we'vel been discussion thisi ist that words matter. What happens is people make disparaging comments about each other and other people act on them. That's what's happeningi in this world and wer need tob be aware oft that, regardless of which church or wherever they come from. The other group is getting religious organizations together sot that people can understand. I don'tknow ifv we're going to get some ofthe real haters outt there andl Ic don'tevenl know who they are personally, but it's more important that we educate the community aboutt this, thatt thisi isr real int this County and regardless of whether it's reported or whatever, perception is reality. If somebody feels threatened walking down the street fors some smalli incident that occurred tot them, theni itr needs tol be at least made aware ofa andt that's what) Iwas sayingt tot the troopers aboutt that. Ifp people feelt threatened, whether it goes any further, whether itg goesi into a criminal action or whatever, but at least they know about it.I think itisi important that people get together and talk about what iti ist that they disagree on. The woman over here spoke about that. We will work ont that, but I'mi not going to say thatt thisi is going to be a County organization, meaning Pike County, I1 think it's going to bes something that we can help formulate together. We'rer not going to bet thej people that are steering the whole thing.I thinkt the synagogues, the churches, you, me andi the community, Triversity, all ofthese people get together in one space Commissioner Tony Waldron said he willl back that up with Matt. We talked aboutt this, itj just came up early this Summer. Wei felti it was important tot try andi interact with the State Police because we were aware oft their involvement and trying to deal with thesei issues andi they did ag greatj job of learning what they can do. They can't stop people from hating each other. They can try and education, we even became more aware oft things ourselves because ofs some stuff that came up here last year.) I'mr not goingt to bes serving as Commissioner, but] I'm certainly willing tol bei involved int that task force.) I don'tthink the Commissioners, including our new Commissioner, should decide exactly whos should be ont that. They could bei involved ini it andi that would be great. I'm certainly willing to! help coordinate that al little bit. At least the office Meeting attendee, Gaill Neldon, said Ithink iti isi important that youl lend your support and passing ai motion that you are in favor ofs such at task force andy you will facilitate such a task force. Commissioner Osterberg said Ithink that's whatI Iwas Meeting attendee, Jean Seltzer, said she just wanted to thank the lady down here, whos spoke about us having so much more inc common than wel have differences.. Ithink it's very important, as Gail said, we shoulds start talkingt to each other and coming tob better understanding and focusing on what wel have in common: and trying to find wayst to resolve differences tol be constructive about this as opposed tol being destructive. Commissioner Osterberg said the other Meeting attendee, Kevin) Houlihan, said! hel has PTSD fort the past six years, Ihada as strokei in 2020, all related tol hate and hate type issues. Iknow thel DOJ statistics for Pike County, I don't needt to share them here. Any intelligent person or any person that wants tol learn could go tol DOJ andl look up the County's stats, any county. Eveni ifit's only one incident, it's too many. I'mt thick-skinned, Icant take ak kick int the face ort the groin. My wife, Debbie, has generalized anxiety disorder because of whath happened tor me. Thet troopers are! helping, they' 'rej part of the equation, Ray Tonkin, our DA another part, but these three guys and Steve (Guccini) before Tony (Waldron) andl hopefully Christa (Caceres) after Tony, they put up with al lot ofs stufff from a lot of us. I've emailed allt three oft them or one atat time over past years. They've always been civil tor me and respectful. Pleaser nobody get thei ideat that anybody out there and then when Christa (Caceres) is up there isi ignoring, you- -1 they're not. They're caring family people. When you're attackingt them, you're also attacking their Reporter Preston Ehrler asked can you tell me does hate existi int this County, for the peoplet that don't believe that it does, what dos yous say tot them? Commissioner Osterberg answeredI Ithink there are people int this community that are feeling threatened.. I don'tt think there's any doubt that there' s hate int this community. Pike County would be unique int the entire globe ifthat wast the case, Ithink it's easy to sayi ite exists all overi in different formats and different amounts. THE NEXTI REGULARI MEETING OF THE PIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL BE HELDON WIDISDAKDICEIBER 20.2023 AT11:00. A.M.I INTHE PIKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.  and justt talk. Al lot oft times conversation cures al lot oft theset things.  canl help passi names around. tryingt to say, I'ms sorry.  community that needs tol bei involved int thisi ist the community oft the disabled.  children, their spouses, their legacies. That type of garbage needst tos stop- - it really does.    Commissioners' Conference Minutes Wednesday, December 13, 2023  PRESENT: Commissioners Osterberg and Waldron, Chief Clerk Gromalski and Treasurer Gilpin.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to call the conference to order at 11:00  A.M.  VOTE:. All members voted 'aye'". Motion carried.  Public Comments/Questions concerning today's agenda- NONE. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. GENERALFUND (County Bills) VOTE: All members voted" 'aye". Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted" 'aye". Motion carried. A. SALARYI BOARD. MEETING WAS HELD Motion tor reconvene the Commissioner's Conference.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to approve the. Agenda.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to approve payment from the following:  $600,629.40  PERSONNEL  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, toj promote CARISSA DUBE to Intake  Supervisor in Children and' Youth Services, fora a37.5-hour work week, effective January 2, 2024. Motion to1 recess the Commissioners' Conference to holda Salary Board Meeting.  OLDI BUSINESS EC).  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the General Construction (GC-1).Noticet to) Proceed: for the) Re-Bid] Bennett Ave Building 1 Interior Renovations Project (GC, MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the Electrical Construction (EC-1)Notice tol Proceed for the) Re-Bid) Bennett Avel Building 1 Interior Renovations Project(EC). MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the Plumbing Construction (PC-1) Notice to Proceed fort thel Re-Bid) Bennett. Avel Building 1 Interior) Renovations Project. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the Mechanical Construction (MC-1)Notice: tol Proceed for the Re-Bid Bennett Avel Building Interior Renovations Project. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the' Transfer Request of $17,093.63 from the Act 89 accountt tot the Act 44 account, on behalf oft the Commissioners' Office. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to adopt Resolution No. 23-46,A Resolution ofthel Board of Commissioners of Pike County to Submit al Request For Revision of Community Development Block Grant] Funding For Federal) Fiscal Year 2018t tot the Commonwealth ofl Pennsylvania Department of Community and MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to adopt) Resolution! No. 23-47,A Resolution oft thel Board of Commissioners ofl Pike County to Submit a Request for Modification of Community Development Block Grant Funding) For Fiscal Year 20201 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the CDBG) Revision Request #2 for Contract #C000071793 FFY2018, on behalf oft the Office of Human Services. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the CDBG Revision Request #2 for Contract #C000077648 FFY 2020E, on behalf oft the Office of Human Services. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to approve the following Human Services! Payment Vouchers, on behalf oft the Office ofH Human Services: Wholel Home Repair in the amount of$4,393.34; Homeless Assistancel Program int the amount of $363.00; and! Human Services Development: Fundi int the amount of  VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE:. All members voted" 'aye". Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  NEW) BUSINESS  Economic Development.  VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  and Economic Development.  VOTE: All members voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE:. All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: Alli members voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  $19,568.65.  VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried.    MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to approve the Affordable Housing Fund Payment Voucher payable tot thel Recorder ofl Deeds int the amount of$58.75, for WHR Lien, on behalf ofthe Office of MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to approve the. Affordable Housing Fund Payment Voucher payable tot the Recorder of] Deeds int the amount of$58.75, for Renter Rehab. Lien, on! behalf ofthe MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the 20241 Planned] Maintenance Agreement Pike County HVAC and DDC Controls System County-Wide Contract, between MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded! by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment No. 1t to Owner-Engineer Agreement oft the Annual Municipal Agreement between MHEI Engineering, D.P.C. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chairman to execute the MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded' by Commissioner Osterberg, to authorize the Chief Clerk to execute  Human Services.  VOTE:. All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'". Motion carried. L.J. Bogumil, Inc. andt the County ofPike. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried.  Office of Human Services.  andi the County ofE Pike.  VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted" 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted 'aye'. Motion carried. Commissioners' Conference was adjourned.  Stopl Loss Proposal for Pike County, on behalf of the Office of Human Resources. Smiths) Detection: 2024 On-Site Service Quotation, on behalf of Sheriff's Office. ESRII Inc. Renewal Quotation, on behalf oft the Planning/Mapping: Department. the Federal Emergency Management. Agency BRIC Grant Commitment Letter. PRESS & PUBLIC COMMENTSOUESTIONSTIONSADIOURMMENT NONE  THE] NEXT) PUBLIC: MEETING OF' THE PIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILLI BEI HELDON WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 20. 2023.AT11:00 AMI INTHE PIKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.    SALARY BOARD December 6, 2023  PRESENT: Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron; and Chief Clerk Gromalski.  MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to convene Salary Board. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to approve thel November 1, MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to set the hourly rate of RACHEL PAVLOVSKY at $15.00 per hour as ClerkIt tol Magisterial District Court 60-3-03, for a 40-hour MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to set the hourly rate of SUSAN DALE at $16.00 per hour as Tax Sale Associate for the Tax Claim Bureau, effective December 18, MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, toi increase thel hourly rate ofCorrectional Officer TIONNE. ATKINS to $27.58 per hour, effective December 5, 2023, duet to thet terms of the agreement between Pike County and AFSCME, District Council 87, for the completion of one (1), year of MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, toi increase the hourly rate ofthe following Correctional Officers to $30.77 per hour, effective December 27,2023, due to thet terms ofthe agreement between Pike County and AFSCME, District Council 87, for the completion oft two (2), years of service as Correctional Officer for the Correctional Facility: THOMAS GLOGOWSKI AND RICHARD MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Schmalzle, to adjourn the Salary Board.  VOTE: All members voted' 'aye!. Motion carried. 8, 22 and 29 Salary Board Minutes. VOTE: Allr members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried.  work week, effective. January 2, 2024, pending drug test results. VOTE: All: members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All: members voted' laye!. Motion carried.  2023.  service as Correctional Officer fort the Correctional Facility. VOTE: All members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried.  STOKESBERRY.  VOTE: All members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE: All members voted' l'aye'. Motion carried. Salary Board Meeting Adjourned.    SALARY BOARD December 13, 2023  PRESENT: Commissioners Osterberg and Waldron; Chief Clerk Gromalski; and' Treasurer Gilpin. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to convene Salary Board. MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to set the annual salary of CARISSA DUBE at $49,076.00, effective. January 2, 2024, due tol her promotion tol Intake Supervisor in MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to eliminate the temporary MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron ands seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to eliminate thej part-time temporary Clerk position int the Prothonotary's Office, for less than 1,0001 hours per year, effective December MOTION: by Commissioner Waldron and seconded by Commissioner Osterberg, to adjourn the Salary Board.  VOTE: All members voted' layel. Motion carried. VOTE:. All members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried. full-time Clerk position int the Prothonotary's Office. VOTE: Allr members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried.  Children and Youth Services.  31,2023.  VOTE: All members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried. VOTE:. All members voted' 'aye'. Motion carried. Salary Board) Meeting Adjourned.