Commissioners approve several contracts

Commissioners are seeking volunteers to serve on an advisory board.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Contracts with several providers for Children and Youth Services were approved by Mercer County commissioners last week.
They were:
*Family Care, Lewisburg, to provide homemaker services up to $200,000 from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006. The service includes general education on budgeting, nutrition, meal preparation, hygiene and other topics for parents in homes where children are abused or neglected;
*Northwestern Human Services of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, for foster care, therapeutic family care and respite care, as needed. Daily rates range from $84 to $124;
*Bradley Center, Pittsburgh, to provide therapeutic foster care and other services at daily rates ranging from $77 to $310. All the agreements run from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006.
Commissioners also agreed to advertise for purchase of a handicapped-accessible 12-passenger bus that can accommodate two wheelchair passengers. Funding will be through a grant from the Bureau of Public Transportation.
Veral Adair Jr. of Farrell was appointed to an additional three-year term on the mental health/retardation advisory board. Leanna Graney of New Wilmington was appointed to a new three-year term. The resignation of Pastor Joe Marzano of West Middlesex from the board was also accepted.
Volunteers wanted
Commissioners appealed to any county resident who would like to sit on the board to contact the commissioners' office at the courthouse at (724) 662-3800. Members are volunteers who oversee mental health and retardation issues. The board has five vacancies and has had trouble reaching a quorum.
Six people were appointed to the Mercer County Affordable Housing Fund Board. They were Fran Billen, Community Counseling Center of Mercer County, Hermitage; L. DeWitt Boosel, Mercer County Housing Authority, Sharon; Dr. Joyce Cuff, assistant dean of Thiel College, Greenville; Shirley Logan, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Hermitage; Randy Riddle, Grove City; and Victoria Hosick, president, Greater Mercer County Board of Realtors, Hermitage. Terms run from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007.
Commissioners hired Bob Miller of Hermitage and Cinthia Kolat of Sharon as part-time telecommunicators for the E-911 Center at $5.15 per hour and Jamie Kerr of Grove City as a clerical assistant in the recorder's office at $10.68 hourly.