Mercer Co. realigns 2 agencies

The county controller didn’t favor the move.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — The Mercer County Salary Board approved a reorganization of two agencies within county government.

County Controller Thomas Amundsen cast the lone dissenting vote in the salary board decision to create the position of human services director and pay a stipend of $7,500 per year for the new job.

Amundsen and the three county commissioners make up the salary board.

Commissioners named Mary Ann Daniels, the director of the county’s Children and Youth Services, to the post. She will remain CYS director and now also will oversee County Mental Health/Retardation.

Commissioners explained the change is an effort to coordinate the two agencies for efficiency.

Amundsen, however, complained that the move simply adds another layer on top of the current organizational structure.

Instead of Cathy Main, the MH/MR director, reporting directly to commissioners, she now reports to Daniels, who reports to commissioners.

Amundsen said the Behavioral Health Commission, which is a service provider for MH/MR, should also have been in on the reorganization decision.

The setup commissioners hope to eventually achieve is a full-time human services director overseeing a full-time assistant CYS director and a full-time assistant MH/MR director.

Eventually, another fiscal position could also be added.

For now, commissioners said they have “redlined” Main’s position. This means she will be a director as long as she holds the job.

On her retirement or resignation, her replacement will be an assistant director and be paid less.

Main makes $61,354 per year. Daniels makes $55,649 before the $7,500 stipend. Commissioner Kenneth Seamans commented that the arrangement will be effective only if commissioners “keep their fingers on it.”

Commissioner Olivia Lazor said she believes the state will pick up the cost of much of the $7,500 stipend for Daniels.

Commissioners also took these actions Thursday:

URecognized Terra Nova House’s selection as one of the top ten Bed and Breakfasts in America. The Grove City establishment is owned by Barry and Sandy Miller and located at 322 W. Poplar St.

USigned contracts with three medical providers for the county jail. They are Physician’s Mobile X-Ray Inc., New Castle, to provide mobile radiology services to inmates for $35 per X-ray including interpretation and $40 transportation fee per trip. There will be a $25 surcharge for after-hours and weekend calls; Quest Diagnostics Inc., Horsham, Pa., for medical diagnostic and laboratory testing at varying rates; and Tower Anesthesia and Pain Inc., Sharon, for anesthesia services at $30 per unit and the Medicare fee schedule for office visits.