The Schuylkill County commissioners hired another attorney on Wednesday for unspecified personnel matter and did not give any other details of the hiring.

Attorney Thomas J. Pellish, Pottsville, entered into a contract with the board. The only explanation offered by the commissioners is that it is for personnel matters. He will be paid $150 per hour and the contract is not to exceed $750. He joins a special investigator they hired several weeks ago, also with no explanation offered.The commissioners held their public meeting at the Pioneer Tunnel, a tourist attraction in Ashland. The meeting took place in a pavilion above ground near the mine entrance. After the meeting they joined tourists from Florida and West Virginia on a tour into the bowels of the earth to see how their grandfrathers and great grandfathers earned their living under dangerous conditions.Other businessOther business conducted by the board included Attorney Martin J. Cerullo, Pottsville, being appointed as bond counsel to the county for the potential utilization of the recovery zone bonds. His fee service to be determined on the level of financing to be accessed under the recovery zone bond program in the range of $7,500 to $9,000.The engagement depends on the county moving forward with the program, The recovery zone covers the entire county.The commissioners are reviewing a new contract between AFSCME for courthouse employees not under supervision of the court and the Senior Services Agency. According to Mark Scarbinsky, fiscal administrator, the final contract documents are being processed and will be presented to the board at a future meeting for ratification. Purchase of service contracts on behalf of Children and Youth Services Agency was entered with Hope For Kids, State College, for specialized foster care at rates of $76 to $123 per diem; ReDCo Group, Pottsvillle, for group sessions at $20 per unit and for evaluation and assessment at $64.72 per unit; Signature Family Services, Blandon, for corollary services at $31 per unit, casework counseling at $49 per unit and crisis intervention at $58 per unit; Suzanne Ail, Mount Gretna, for bonding assessment at $90 per unit; and Schuylkill Intermediate Unit, Norwegian Township, for day treatment services at $150 per unit.Contracts entered on behalf of Rest Haven Home and Hospital were with, Hobbie Professional, DBA, Healthskil, Allentown, and Dedicated Nursing Association, Murrysville, for temporary nursing staffing at various rates.The board approved using $110,000 from the county's liquid fuels fund to pay for maintenance and repairs to the county bridge which carries Broad Street over Little Schuylkill River in Port Clinton. Also, they renewed a lease for the office space for Senior Service activites at 138 W. Center St., Mahanoy City, at $1,594.66 per month.Approved was the sale of county's surplus vehicles to persons who submitted bids. Ronald Maurer, Ashland, a1995 sedan, $675.80; Michael Hrenyo, Schuylkill Haven, 1983 model truck, $661; Doug Naftzinger and Auto Wrecking and Used Care Sales, Auburn, 2002 sedan, $339; 1989 truck, $1,075; 1994 car, $308; 1991 car, $550; 1996 Jeep, $303; 1999 car, $357; 1996 jeep, $302 and 1999 sedan, $325.Awarded was a contract to Arthur "Pat" Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, to install handicap acces and boat mooring at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park in Pine Grove Township for $22,366.Personnel matterApproved was five hirings at Rest Haven Home and Hospital and county salary board approved their salaries, Lisa Pascuzzo, Schuylkill Haven, business office manager, $39,727 per year; Marie Matlock, Pottsville, full time registered nurse, $20.69 per hour; Claudia Moyer, Saint Clair, part time registered nurse, $20.69 per hour; Sarah Dunkel, Pottsville; Amber Krise, Ashland; and Donata Martin, Pottsville, part time nurse's aides, $11.72 per hour. Rest Haven announced Lynn Ann King, Schuylkill Haven, resigned as part time activities assistant.The commissioners were informed by the Domestic Relations Office of the promotion of Jennifer Jacoby, Port Carbon, from secretary 1 to secretary 11 at $15.75 per hour and Lynn Degrassi, Pottsville, from clerk 1 to secretary 1 at $14.32 per hour. Also approved was the transfer of Carol Shellhammer, Palo Alto, from clerk 1 in records management to clerk 1 in domestic relations, $17.1966 per hour.Adult Probation Department reported appointment of Ann Price, East Brunswick Township, secretary 11 at $12.27 per hour; Records Management Department, appointment of Jennifer Romberger, Schuylkill Haven, clerk 1 at $11.17 per hour.