Participating in the Jan. 23 meeting of the Wyoming County Commissioners were (from left) solicitor Paul Litwin III, commissioners Judy Mead, Tom Henry, and Ron Williams, and chief clerk Bill Gaylord.
Photo and Story by Rick Hiduk
(As published in the Jan. 25 edition of the Rocket-Courier)
The Wyoming County Commissioners reported at their regular Jan. 23 meeting that Brian Dudick of Shavertown will be hired to fill the IT position vacated in 2017 by Tom Katchur, who moved from the area.
“He’s got quite an extensive background in communications and IT,” Commissioner Tom Henry said of Dudick.
Katchur recommended Dudick and will help to train him when he arrives on Feb. 2 to start his new job.
Henry noted that nearly 50 people were interviewed for the position, including a number from Wyoming County who looked promising but could not match Dudick’s qualifications. The commissioners also feel confident that Dudick’s proximity to the county will prove to be adequate.
Commissioners Issue Support for Treatment Center
The commissioners unanimously approved a letter of support for funding of a Trehab drug treatment and recovery center in Wyoming County. They feel it is a logical followup to their recent endeavors to build an opioid task force and join a class action law suit against manufacturers of prescription opioids.
“We have a good chance of getting this money over other counties,” Commissioner Judy Mead stated, noting that Luzerne County is also in the running.
C&Y Contracts Tabled
In the process of signing and approving a number of annual contracts for Children & Youth Services, the commissioners pulled two aside that they didn’t expect to see in the mix. The agreements were forged several years ago with Grandpa Junior Republic of Grove City, which was providing supplimentary services such as foster and residential care coordination for juvenile clients.
Since then, C&Y has hired two caseworkers to provide the same services, and the commissioners were told that the new employees would negate the need for further arrangements with Grandpa Junior.
“We want to make sure that we are not double-spending the county’s money,” Henry remarked, adding that Mike Donahue, who was hired as Humans Services Director in 2017, should be able to determine whether or not the contracts should be renewed.
In related news, C&Y caseworker Jennifer Gabriel was commended for achieving a bachelors degree on her own, which made her eligible for an annual pay increase of $2,213, which the commissioners approved unanimously.