Commissioners applaud 65 interns at meeting
NORRISTOWN >> The most recent Montgomery County commissioners’ meeting started off with a crowded room as the commissioners recognized more than 50 county interns who worked over the summer months.
Interns came from multiple area high schools and colleges and represented several county departments.
“These folks did some really substantive work. They worked with the family protection unit, major crimes unit, appeals and forfeiture, juvenile court, trials division, the probation office, victims witness unit, health department, youth center, homicide unit and here in the commissioners office,” said commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh. “I hope that this work has inspired you to consider a career in public service. This work is incredibly meaningful and so important to every single one of our constituents.”
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele added to Arkoosh’s comments, praising
the interns who assisted him and his staff over the summer.
“As everybody knows, we’re an incredibly busy office and these folks from high school, college and law school have made such a difference for so many people. Two of them spent the summer in juvenile court and tried cases, worked through things. It’s just been incredible work that they’ve done,” said Steele.
After being recognized by name, interns were led to receive their certificates.
Traffic safety
The announcement was followed by a presentation on a community traffic safety program.
The grant is aimed at reducing the number of accidents and deaths on county
roads. It is a two-year grant worth about $150,000 administered by PennDOT and will last through September of next year.
The grant allows for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide educational presentations on topics including child safety seat installation and bicycle safety.
Resolutions
Commissioners approved a resolution to close out the Sunrise Trail and Swamp Creek Feasibility Study. The Sunrise Trail is part of the proposed county-wide trail system that, when complete, will be over eight miles long. The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility and recommended alignment of the Sunrise Trail, and to identify recreational access opportunities along Swamp Creek. The study was funded using a $30,000 grant from DCNR.
Additionally, commissioners authorized the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes funds. The purpose of the grant is to maximize the number of children under the age of 6 to be protected from lead poisoning by assisting counties or other units of government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control leadbased paint hazards in eligible privately owned target housing in Pottstown and Lansdale.
“This is a proposal that is a collaboration between the office of Public Health and the Office of Housing and Community Development. In our county, over 250 children are identified each year as lead poisoned. That’s enough to fill 15 kindergarten classrooms every year. Also in our county, only 30 percent of children are getting tested for lead poisoning. This funding will allow us to clean up 50 properties because event though we are working diligently to increase the number of kids that are getting tested, our goal as a county and as a collaborative stakeholders, our ultimate goal is to make sure no kids are poisoned in the first place,” said Janet Planning.
Additionally, Planning added that the funding would allow them to create a registry of lead controlled properties and will add to outreach to ensure every child is tested twice before age two.
A TEFRA agreement to issue bonds on behalf of the Haverford School was also approved. The proceeds of the bonds would be used to refund previously issued bonds and the construction costs of the new middle school building.
Commissioners also approved two appointments to the Prison Board and the Planning Commission Board.
Awards of contract
Eleven awards of contract were announced at Thursday’s meeting:
• A contract award for Health & Human Services for Influenza vaccines to Sanofi Pasteur Inc. in the amount of $74,271.
• A contract award for Health & Human Services for youth marijuana use prevention to multiple providers in the amount of $60,000.
• A contract award for Planning for engineering costs to Traffic Planning & Design Inc. in the amount of $948,603.97
• A contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for services to SJ Thomas Co. Inc. in the amount of $45,381.57
• A contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for engineering to Stahl Sheaffer Engineering LLC in the amount of $172,705.92
• A contract award for Assets & Infrastructure for engineering to Gannet Fleming Inc in the amount of $626,143
• A contract amendment for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to Traffic Planning & Design Inc in the amount of $80,322
• A contract amendment for Assets & Infrastructure for inspection services to Pennoni Associates Inc in the amount of $21,130.90
• A contract renewal for Sheriff & Security for uniforms to McDonald Uniform Inc. in the amount of $75,000
• A contract renewal for Recorder of Deeds for software to Kofile Preservation Inc. in the amount of $79,000.
• 12 contract amendments and 19 renewals for Health and Human Ser