A fee for service contract was entered by the Schuylkill County Commissioners with Access DBA Independent Living Services, formerly UDSS-ILS, Lancaster, with an office in Tamaqua, on behalf of the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services, to provide 21,302 hours of personal care services at $17.72 per hour for its members. The contract is for $377,476. The action was taken at the weekly meeting held at the courthouse in Pottsville.

A proclamation was adopted designating the month of May as "Elder Abuse Awareness Month" to call attention to elder abuse which is grossly under-reported because the elderly who are abused find it difficult to tell anyone and are usually embarrased and sometimes afraid.The proclamation urges that the seniors should be treated with respect and dignity to enable them to continue to serve as leaders, mentors, and volunteers. Commissioners Frank Staudenmeir and George Halcovage lauded the work of the Schuylkill County Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance Inc. which aides victims.Other businessApproval was given Election Director Frannie Brennan to increase the mileage rate for transportation of voting machines and supplies to the Schuylkill Transportation System (STS) warehouse building located in the Saint Clair Industrial Park where the unofficial count of the votes which will be cast in the Municipal Primary Election on Tuesday, May 21, will be made. After the polls close at 8 p.m. the judge of election and minority inspector from each of the voting precincts in the county transport the machines to the counting center. The rate is being increased from $.555 to $.565 per mile.White Pine Coal Company Inc., had its lease renewed for one year to continue to mine on county held coal land in Reilly Township. County Engineer Lisa Mahall reported the company has paid the county $8,928 for coal mined over the past year and to date on its current lease has paid $90,684.16 in royalties. The county receives $3 for each ton mined.The commissioners approved five contract changes with service providers to the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Agency.The contract cap was increased for Eagleville Hospital from $5,000 to $6,223; for Firetreee Inc. from $75,000 to $104,570; and Clem Mar House from $5,000 to $9,1207; decreased the contract from Bowling Green Brandywine from $30,000 to $20,000; and the inpatient contract with Gaudenzia Inc. decreased from $72,165 to $47,165.Hire bankerChristopher E. Kerns, of Saint Clair, was recently hired as a fiscal officer and will be part of a plan being undertaken by the county commissioners to reorganize its financial department.The commissioners eliminated the position of assistant county administrator when Paul Strata resigned. Kerns will become a part of a team comprised of Mark Scarbinsky, county administrator, Paul Buber, financial officer, and Gary Bender, who currently is the grant writer and heads the Community Development Block Grant bureau.Kerns is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and received a bachelor of science degree in accounting, made the dean's list and is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, limited to the top 15 percent of all students. He served as vice president and finance and accounting manager with Sovereign Bank and Customers Bank, both on Wyomissing, Berks County.He said these roles involved participating in budgeting process and analyzing cost trends. He chose to take the county job because "Schuylkill County is my home and I intent for it to always be my home. This is a great area to raise a family and enjoy the values of growing up in a small town community that is rich in history"Actions taken on personnel matters were as follows:Children and Youth Services Agency - Rosemary Veach, North Manheim Township, and Matthew Stine, Orwigsburg, were both promoted to caseworker 2 at $18.0415 per hour.County Prison Richard Emerick, Orwigsburg, a correctional officer, is retiring after 13 years working as a shift lieutenant at the prison.Prothonotary Office - Jessica Rhein, Cass Township, hired as a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Coordinator at $12.85 per hour.Court - Michael Sanders, Pottsville, was hired as a court attendant at $9.3827 per hour.Sheriff's Office - Matthew Kufrovich, Barnesville, hired as an unpaid intern.District Attorney's Office - Eric Petrozino, Saint Clair, hired as an unpaid intern.County Prison - Stanley Moyer, Shamokin, hired as a part time correctional officer at $17 per hour.