Carbon County will see a 40 percent savings over five years on service to its fiscal data financial software.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, Commissioner William O'Gurek announced that a maintenance agreement the county approved was the result of good negotiations by the county controller, Robert Crampsie. The agreement was between the county and New World Systems Standard for support services for five years to the financial management and human resources software.New World Systems sent a proposal with 9 percent increases for each year, beginning in 2014.Crampsie then explained to the company that the county had raised taxes and its employees had taken a freeze in pay raises for the year and asked if something could be done. New World came back with a second offer of 3 percent increases every year during the term of the agreement."He negotiated a 3 percent increase, saving the county $37,800 over five years," O'Gurek said, adding that the new contract represents a 40 percent savings.He thanked Crampsie for his hard work."That's exactly what we need to see here," O'Gurek said. "That's the type of performance that will make us be able to work within the means of our budget on an annual basis."Crampsie explained that he thought there was no harm in asking after he realized the size of the increase.He commended New World Systems, which has contracted with the county since 1991, for being receptive to the request and willing to negotiate.Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman, said that in addition to fiscal data, the county uses New World Systems at the communications center and in the tax claim office. He said he hoped that went maintenance agreements for those departments come up, that they will be able to again negotiate to save money.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard thanked Crampsie for his efforts."This is what good government is all about," he said. "These are the things we do on a daily basis, working together."The new agreement will cost the county $39,170 in 2014; $40,350 in 2015; $41,560 in 2016; $42,810 in 2017; and $44,090 in 2018. It will provide 24-hour service support of the system, including software updates, new releases, telephone support, documentation updates and more.In other matters, Gerhard announced that the Carbon County Animal Shelter will host an open house for all municipal officials; as well as local and state police officers.The event will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the shelter, located on top of the Broad Mountain, off of Route 93, in Nesquehoning.Tom Connors, the dog warden at the shelter, explained that the open house will allow officials to learn what services the shelter provides; how it handles the animals and prepares them for adoption; as well as answer any questions they may have.The county also acted on the following items:• Award the bids for sale of seven buses to the highest bidder, Easton Coach Company, at its bid of $2,500 per vehicle.• Appoint Bernard Mendez, Lower Towamensing Township Supervisor, to the Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services Board of Directors.• Appoint Genie Marie Boyd of Nesquehoning to fill the unexpired two-year term of consumer representative on the AAA Advisory Board. The term ends June 30, 2015.• Approve a change of status of Heather L. Heffelfinger of Lansford, from part-time corrections officer/Teamsters to part-time corrections officer at the prison, effective Oct. 11.• Received correspondence from the Department of Public Welfare regarding the result of its periodic Title IV-E Quality Assurance Compliance Review of the Children and Youth Services. The county has achieved 100 percent compliance for all cases reviewed.