MERCER CO. COMMISSIONERS Board OKs joining in Justice Network
The county is about to embark on the second phase of courthouse restoration.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- County commissioners authorized the county's participation in a Justice Network Criminal History Access Agreement with the state Justice Network.
Don Fedorchak, director of the County Intermediate Punishment Program, said the program will provide access to information from 10 state agencies.
Confidentiality protection will be built into the program and access will be granted only to those approved by a J-Net policy board, Commissioner Brian Shipley said.
Fedorchak said the participation will "save a lot of downtime and legwork." He said the program will eventually be nationwide.
Other business: In other business, commissioners retained the 4M Co. of Youngstown for the next phase of the courthouse restoration. What will be included in the second phase has not yet been determined. The company has already completed the restoration of courthouse porticoes and repair of a fallen courtroom ceiling.
Commissioners amended a contract with George Junior Republic, Grove City, agreeing to pay $149 per day for emergency shelter services for juvenile offenders.
They also agreed to enter an emergency 911 service agreement with Adelphia Business Solution of Pa., Canonsburg, to establish rules for providing 911 service to new telephone companies that might serve county residents in the future.
The board honored Benjamin Tishman of Hermitage for being selected as one of Pennsylvania's top student volunteers in the sixth annual "Prudential Spirit of Community Awards," a national program that recognizes young people for outstanding community service. Tishman raised funds and organized the building of a four-foot granite monument for the Shenango Valley Holocaust Memorial.
They also approved a proclamation for former county Commissioner Peter Joseph Joyce, who was recently named "Irishman of the Year 2001" by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mercer County Division 1.