During the last meeting of the Monroe County commissioners there was a bit of a controversy over whether or not the commissioners were required by the rules governing the county's conservation district to appoint a replacement for director Paul Canevari, who had resigned.

Present at the meeting was former Conservation District Director Craig Todd and a number of residents who were urging the commissioners to appoint Todd to the position.The commissioners, according to Chairman John Moyer, could either appoint one of the eligible associate directors to the position or appoint one of the people nominated during the last nominating period to fill the position. Moyer also was under the impression that the commissioners could wait until the next nominating period, which is January 2018, and appoint someone then.Todd, who would be eligible since he was nominated during the last nomination period, disagreed with Moyer's assessment and said that the rules would not allow the commissioners to wait until January.The commissioners took the matter under consideration, and after review by the board's solicitor John Dunn, Moyer announced at Wednesday's meeting that the board does have all three options, but that the board would make its decision and appoint a new director at its next scheduled meeting.Other businessThe commissioners also approved a contract for the painting of the courthouse and the detective's center in the amount of $71,000 to Hudak Waterproofing Company.The county will advertise for Advanced SWAT training for the Northeastern PA Regional Counter Terrorism Task Force.A commercial lease agreement was approved with the Monroe County Industrial development Authority for office space at 701 Main St., Stroudsburg, for 10 years at $1 per year.The annual agreement between Children and Youth and Human Services for use of the Child Welfare Information System Agreement was approved. This will permit the agency to use the mandated statewide data sharing system.George Dilger was appointed to the Children and Youth Advisory Board. His term will expire on Aug. 31, 2020.A quote was accepted from E. F. Possinger and Sons to install three concrete pads at the Monroe County Correctional Facility to house gym equipment in the recreational yard. Cost is $9,530. The pads will be paid for out of the inmate welfare fund. Inmates contribute to the fund through purchases made in the facility.