Restructuring of two strategic components within the county operations were discussed at the work session of the Schuylkill County Commissioners held Wednesday morning at the courthouse in Pottsville.

Action will be taken at the pubic meeting next Wednesday in oder to give time to the county controller to review the reconstruction as he was out of town and could not attend the work session.Mark Scarbinsky, county administrator, presented the plan for the commissioners review. The changes he proposed were as follows:The plan calls for formalization of the county's finance office and the creation of the finance director position. Paul Buber will be assigned as the director. Scarbinsky said, "He has been handling the majority of these office functions for the past several years and his responsibility will include supervising and training a support staff and overseeing all the financial functions of the county and will directly report to the administrator"The second component is to establish a community development office within the Department of Community Development and the creation of the director's position and an assistant coordinator's position. Gary Bender, Tower City, will be assigned as director and Ms. Michelle O'Connell, Girardville, as assistant coordinator and appliance officer. The CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Program, Blight and Demolition Department and the grant writer's position which handles the administration of state and federal grants all will be consolidated into the new office.Scarbinsky explained, "This recommendation is precipitated by additional program requirements being passed through to the county by DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development) which now will be more efficiently handled through this new office."Take ActionThe commissioners took action on several matters needing immediate attention.A resolution was adopted to submit an application with DCED for the 2013 community development block grant program in the total amount of $442,260 of which $276,838 will be used by the county for those municipalities who do not qualify to receive their own grants and for West Penn Township entitled to $83,000 and Pine Grove Township, $81,000, who receive their own grants but have the county administer the use of the funds.Entered into an agreement with Simplex Grinnell Company, Allentown, for updating the courthouse fire alarm system and replacing parts and providing technical assistance needed. The total cost of the project is $43,412.14.Approved an agreement with Integrated Incorporation, White Haven to do the chemical analysis and treatment for the steam boiler at the Rest Haven Home in Schuylkill Haven. The agreement is for three years at a cost of $6,300.A contract was awarded to HRS, of Andreas, as the vendor for waste tire collection and Reverse Logistics Group America, Inc., of Iselin, New Jersey, as the vendor for electronics collection for the 2012 annual fall clinic which is being held in Schuylkill County.this week and next week.A change order was approved for the milling and paving for the county bridge which carries Main Street over Middle Creek in Tremont Borough. The job is being performed by E. J. Paving and Materials, West Lawn, Berks County. The additional costs is $2,223.Approved hiring of 14 rovers at the rate of $10 per hour plus $0.556 per mile for travel on election day to assigned polling places in case of problems developing in the operation of the electronic voting machines and to prepare the machines for the November 5 General Election. The commissioners also appointed a resolution board which will oversee the unofficial count of votes cast in the election on election night at the election center in the Saint Clair Industrial Park. Named were George D. Moyer, Norwegian Township; Mary Beth Dougherty, Girardville, Edward Barket, Pottsville and Mark Scarbinsky Saint Clair. All but Scarbinsky will be paid $100 for their service that night. Scarbinsky is a county employee.Election Director Frannie Brennan reminded that the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the November General Election is Monday, October 7 and the last day to obtain absentee ballots is Tuesday, October 29.The commissioners approved the solicitation of bids for an employee uniform purchase for the county prison staff. Sealed bids must be received by the controller's office at the courthouse by September 30, 2013.Bid OpeningSeven bids were received for replacing the roof on the public safety building, North Centre Street, Pottsville, which houses the 9-1-1 Emergency Station. They were:Hahner Brothers R. and SM, Inc., Pottsville, base bid, $93,222; Whelan Properties, Chadds Ford, $141,000; Sensenig Company, Ephrata, $134.990; Budget R. and R. Inc., Shamokin, $116,537; TGW Corporation, Pine Grove, $126,400; General Construction, Huntingdon Valley, $128,500 and Spotts Brothers, Inc., Schuylkill Haven, $148,780. The bids were referred to a committee for study and recommendation.Salary BoardThe County Salary Board held its work session following the commissioners meeting and discussed the request received from the commissioners of creating two new positions, director of finance and assistant coordinator and compliance officer in the newly created Community Development Department. The salary for the finance director was proposed at $67,638, for the director of the Community Development Department at $47,057 and the assistant coordinator and compliance officer at $28,931.