Commissioners meet early and briefly/By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—An invoice, real estate tax exemptions and appointments were among matters on the McKean County Commissioners’ agenda for a brief, regular meeting Monday morning.

Payment of $9,924 to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Inc. (ADAS) was approved. That was a portion of their budget allotment, covering the period through March 31.

Four real estate tax exemptions were granted, at the recommendation of Director of Assessments Angie Tennies.

A 1.04-acre parcel on Kennedy Street, Bradford was reclassified for public recreational (trail) use.

About one-fifth acre at 71 Derrick Road, Bradford, owned by Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, was declared exempt because it will be used for a dwelling for the director of Christian education.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has become owner of 500 acres of land on Cady Hollow Road in Liberty Township, and thus will not be taxed.

Penn State University will not pay taxes on 39.35 acres of land on Route 46 in Norwich Township. The land is used for 4H and Ag Extension activities.

Eight resource family contracts, eight mental health delegate agreements and an early intervention service provider pact with CARE for Children were approved by the commissioners, contingent on favorable review by solicitor Dan Hartle.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott and fellow commissioners Al Pingie and Cliff Lane appointed Stephanie Cowburn to complete the balance of Don Carley’s term, to end June 30, 2015.

Erin Vassallo will fill out Melanie Clabaugh’s term on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. The term will expire on December 31, 2014.

The commissioners explained that they were meeting on Monday instead of Tuesday because Tuesday they will attend a meeting of the county’s new blight combating organization. The Tuesday meeting date was chosen to accommodate the schedule of the consultant.

It was announced that the Veterans Services office in the court house will be closed June 17 through 21, while Veterans’ Services Director Matthew Windsor attends a state conference.