The Schuylkill County board of commissioners gave the go-ahead on a variety of contracts during a regular board meeting held Wednesday at the Rush Township Municipal Building, Hometown.

The meeting drew an attendance of 40, a turn-out the commissioners said was noteworthy."It's the biggest or one of the biggest crowds," said Commissioner Francis McAndrew.The board approved a contract amendment for Service Access & Management, Inc.'s purchase service agreement increasing the contract to $7,155,953, also to close out the last year's contract with a final payment of $277,710.The board approved a contract addendum for Children and Youth Services (CYS) with Atty. Robert Lipkin to increase a contract by $22,500 (250 hours of service) for a revised contract of $58,050.The board agreed to enter into a CYS purchase service agreement with with Safeguards Specialized Foster Care Program, Reading; Chor Youth and Family Services, Reading; Open Door, Orlando, Fl; National Mentor Healthcare, Conshohocken; and YES Academy, Mercer.The following will be hired to provide site supervision for the juvenile probation office at a per unit cost of $9.50 for the term May 1 through December 31, 2011: Michael Brennan, Elizabeth Lurwick, Clint Badger, Matthew Mellon and Zachary Bitting, all of Pottsville; Christopher Grube and Alyssa Porter, Orwigsburg; Megan Wood, Ringtown; Emily Verbosky, Frackville, Lindsay Killian, Auburn; Leo Kates, Shenandoah and Jared Schafer, Schuylkill Haven.The board approved the Emergency Management Agency's radiation emergency response program fund for fiscal year 2011-12 in the amount of $12,578.Also approved was a contract on behalf of the East Central Task Force with Delta Development Inc., Mechanicsburg, in the amount of $35,000 for the continuation of licensing and support for the total visibility resource management system and special needs database project.On behalf of liquid fuels administration, the board entered into an agreement with Alfred Benesch and Co., Pottsville, to investigate rehabilitation options for county bridge 200, Maple Avenue over the Schuylkill River, Norwegian Township, the cost for professional services being $16,300.The board approved the proposed taxable meal reimbursement policy on behalf of human resources. However, Controller Melinda Kantner pointed out that the expenses are taxable and would need to be processed through the payroll system."We do not input and process payroll for the individual offices," Kantner advised.It was agreed that the policy will need revision.In other matters, Gallagher announced that the courthouse will be closed on Tuesday, May 17, for election day. The commissioners' next work session meeting will be held on Thursday, May 19 at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners' Hoffman Room. Also, the monthly prison board meeting will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 11 a.m. in the Commissioners' board room.