Commissioners make appointments, hear BBBS / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—The McKean County Commissioners met briefly Tuesday morning, making some appointments and proclaiming January and February as National Mentoring Awareness Months in the county.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott read the proclamation noting the value of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which operates under the auspices of The Guidance Center. Then he and commissioner Al Pingie adopted the measure.

The proclamation calls upon “all citizens, businesses, public and private agencies, religious and educational institutions to join the mentoring movement,”

On hand from the mentoring agency were Annie Wolfe and AnnaLisa Ryding. They said that they are recruiting additional “Bigs,” as adult mentors in the program are called, because there is a backlog of youths for whom no mentors are available. Some have been on a waiting list a year or longer.

The commissioners appointed Barbara Cummings of Kane to the Bradford Regional Airport Authority for a five-year term.

Two more appointments placed Erin Vassallo of the Kane Industrial Development Corporation and Don Martyna of the Mt. Jewett Borough Council on the McKean County Planning Commission, for four-year terms.

Jeff Rhinehart, an Eldred Township supervisor, was appointed to the county planning commission too, to fill out the unexpired term of Duane Wolfe, which ends on May 16, 2015.

DeMott voiced his thanks for the service of those who serve on various boards, commissions and agencies in such roles, providing valuable input.

Commissioners approved payment of $15,244 to the Area Transportation Authority, representing the portion of their budget allotment covering the January-through-March period.

Stacy Wallace, a Bradford attorney, was approved as a service provider to the Department of Human Services. DeMott said she will do legal work for the department.

The commissioners announced that they are eliminating the office manager position at the Penn State Cooperative Extension office, after the February 15 retirement of Shirley Birch, longtime manager.

That change does not eliminate any service or alter operations at the extension office, DeMott explained. Rather, Penn State prefers to employ the manager directly. Previously the county had paid the salaries of some staff at that office through the county payroll system.

Also approved was a new maintenance agreement with Karpinski’s Office Systems, Coudersport, covering a copier in sheriff’s office. Charges will be based on 0.72 cents per copy, covering all service, parts and supplies except paper.