County to improve area polling places

Commissioners will rent voting equipment needed for Tuesday's election.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Money once earmarked to make courthouse restrooms handicapped-accessible will be used, instead, to make several county polling places conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mercer County commissioners agreed Thursday to use leftover 2002 Community Development Block Grant funds to do ADA projects at the following municipal buildings: Greene Township ($19,410); Fredonia Borough ($875); Otter Creek Township ($5,700); Jackson Center ($3,110); and Jefferson Township ($9,980).
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said at the time the courthouse was renovated, the architect misunderstood the requirements for the CDBG funds and did not get competitive bids, rendering the project ineligible for those funds.
But the county is allowed to use the funds to make needed improvements at the polling places, which are required by the federal government to be handicapped-accessible by January, commissioners said.
Other matters
The commissioners also handled these matters:
UUnanimously suspended enforcement of the county's nepotism policy until it can be reworked. Solicitor Mark Longietti said the current policy could be understood to mean persons related by blood and marriage could not even work in different departments in the same building.
UDecreased reimbursement for county employees using their vehicles on county business from 38 cents to 35 cents per mile because the price of gasoline has dropped below $2.50 per gallon.
UAwarded a $17,995 contract for uniforms for county jail corrections officers to Red Diamond Uniform & amp; Police Supply Inc., Youngstown, the only bidder.
UApproved outstanding work orders totaling $67,010 on the Oakland Avenue Viaduct in Sharon. The money was approved for work done before the contractor stopped construction on the bridge in 2001 because of misalignment problems. Now that work has resumed, the outstanding bills are being paid to the surety company which has assumed responsibility for completion of the bridge. The payment will be reimbursed to the county by the state.
UApproved a $79,735 contract to rent voting equipment needed for the paper ballots and optical scan system being used for Tuesday's general election. The rental fees will be reimbursed by the state because the state decertified the county's computerized touch-screen voting system. The county expects to buy a new system by the May 2006 primary election.
UHired Jason Hamilton of Sagertown as an assistant administrator for Children and Youth Services at $43,061 annually, and Lauri Galentine of Stoneboro as machine custodian at $12 per hour to work as needed.