Schuylkill County is getting more money from the PA 911 surcharge.

Finance Director Paul Buber said Wednesday the county is getting $162,059 extra. He said the surcharge is $1.65. The tariff revenue the county had estimated is $4,344,468 for this budget year. The surcharge is paid by consumers when they buy prepaid cellphone cards or minutes, according to the PA Department of Revenue.

“Recently, it came to our attention that the allocation will be increased,” he said.

Scott Krater, director of 911 communications, has requested to allocate those funds to offset program expenses. Krater said they are going to buy some items they need and services for the 911 center.

In other business, commissioners approved a budget resolution for $1,300 for scanners, a request made on behalf of the chair of the county records improvement fund. Register of Wills Theresa Santai-Gaffney said the two new scanners will be “higher end” ones. The work the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court has increased recently. The office has five scanners.

“Our adoptions have doubled in the last year,” she said.

Paperwork from her office shows 23 adoptions in 2020. In 2021, so far it is 66 records indicated. Estates the office processes also has spiked. Usually the office has about 900 a year. This year it’s 1,303 as of Wednesday. Santai-Gaffney said the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed as have other causes.

Among the budget adjustments approved was $10,000 for to pay fees for Eckert Seamons Cherin and Mellott LLC for an independent review of the Human Resources and to investigate and advise the county on various data protection statutes.

Earlier this month, the commissioners voted to table the firing of two women in the tax claim office. Commissioner George Halcovage voted to abstain on the advice of counsel and “due to a conflict of interest.” Before the motion to table commissioners voted to approve and retain the firm for the purpose of advising the county pertaining to various data protection statutes and improper use of third-party information search software conducted by county employees. Commissioner Gary Hess said the firm was also hired to “make a full, independent investigation into the actions of employees and what if any discipline is warranted under Pennsylvania employment law.”

Two female county employees were suspended without pay in September. Commissioners have declined to discuss the suspensions. However, a letter dated Sept. 17 from county administrator Gary Bender addressed to Jane 3 and Jane Doe 4, two of the four unidentified women who filed a federal lawsuit against Halcovage for his alleged sexual harassment of the women, says the two women are being suspended without pay, pending investigation as of Sept. 20. Other defendants are also named in the suit filed in Middle District Court. An amended complaint was filed Oct. 29

“This action is being taken as a result of possible violations of the county’s computer network and internet access policy and the executed agreement for the software system LexisNexis Risk Solutions when you allegedly utilized the software system for personal reasons,” the letter states.