The Monroe County commissioners approved or ratified the following items during their meeting on Wednesday. These include:

• Pocono Cinema and Cultural Center has hired Brianna Booker as the first Monroe County Poet Laureate Program;

• April 2024 declared Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Monroe County;

• Certificate to James Stewart Fahl, Eagle Scout;

• Certificate to Tom Stone, director of operations, in honor of his retirement;

• Sheriff’s Office overtime report: deputies, 83.75 hours; security, 60.25 hours; and clerks, 9.50 hours;

• Vouchers payable: $1,029,567.28 for week ending March 22; $1,669,551.61 for week ending March 29;

• Gross payroll: $1,406,794.40 for week ending March 24;

• Healthcare benefits payments: Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield: $45,588.62 on March 21, and $102,554.87 on March 28; Geisinger: $20,756.13 and $2,864.90, both on March 21, and $109,531.00 on March 25; dental claims: $7,220.04 on March 22;

• Area Agency on Aging: Accept a proposal from V Max Security to install a camera and maglock access to the rear door at the Loder building for $5,000 with payment to be made from the Pcorp Safety Grant;

• Ratify budget adjustment dated March 25 for $353,505;

• Approve budget adjustment dated March 28 for $460,474;

• Approve use of Courthouse Square by Safe Monroe on April 11 for the Take Back The Night rally;

• Approve use of area in front of new Courthouse by East Pocono Alumna Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on Dec. 1 to hold a vigil to highlight/support World Aids Day;

• Approve use of Courthouse Square, sidewalks and judge/sheriff parking lot by the Pocono Pride Coalition on June 2 for annual Pocono Pride Festival;

• Execute professional services agreement with RKR Hess division of UTRS Inc. for $3,500 for engineering work regarding outlet investigation and recommended repairs at Goose Pond Dam D45-247. Diver cost will be a separate fee;

• Approve letter of engagement with Thomas, Thomas & Hafer LLP for representation for workers’ compensation and heart and lung matters;

• Approve proposal from the Drapery and Blind Co. for $4,500 for the cleaning and reinstallation of drapery in courthouse;

• Add the following vendor to the county list of approved vendors: Commissioners: Thomas, Thomas & Hafer LLP; Fiscal: Friends of Terra Greens Golf Course; and Sheriff: Talley Manufacturing Inc;

• Emergency Services: Execute a grant agreement with AKC Reunite for AKC Pet Disaster Relief Unit trailer equipment and supplies;

• Grants: Ratify submittal of the court Interpreter Services Grant: Language Access Reimbursable Costs for 2023 totaling $109,999.16; Ratify authorization for the grant manager to electronically submit the2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program application in the amount of $165,212 for the period July 1 to June 30, 2025;

• Ratify authorization for the grant manager to electronically submit the FY 25 Congressional Direct Spending Appropriations applications for the period Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 as follows: $4,912,229 and $2,000,000 for Two-Way Infrastructure Replacement; $2,050,000 and $2,050,000 for Wastewater Treatment Plant in Snydersville; $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 for Goose Pond Dam rehabilitation/reconstruction;

• Hospital Authority: Acknowledge resignation of Gail Dunkleberger from the board;

• Industrial Development Authority: Approve Cooperation and Funding Procedures Agreement for the Monroe County Historical Building Addition and Alteration Capital Project in an amount of $1,500,000;

• Municipal Waste Authority: Approve submittal of an application for reimbursement for county recycling coordinator to the Department of Environmental Protection for the period Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023;

• Redevelopment Authority: Appoint Sonia Wolbert to the board to fill the unexpired term ending on Oct. 21, 2028; appoint Netoya Nevarez to the board to fill the unexpired term ending on Dec. 31, 2028; acknowledge the resignation of Jeffrey Weekes from the board;

• Approve the Capital Purchases report dated March 28 totaling $43,998.99;

• Ratify the Computer Capital Purchases report dated March 21 totaling $33,036.61, and;

• Approve the Computer Capital Purchase report dated March 28 totaling $11,055.41.