Commissioners return to meet in person
NORRISTOWN >> Members of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners returned to One Montgomery Plaza Thursday morning to hold their first in-person meeting of 2021.
“Welcome everyone back in person and also our online audience, which we hope will have a great online experience,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh.
In taking a hybrid approach, Thursday’s session included a virtual viewing option. It was broadcast on Zoom and streamed live on the county’s Facebook page.
The last time all three county commissioners held an in-person
meeting was on Nov. 19, 2020, according to county Solicitor Josh Stein.
Montgomery County’s elected officials have conducted the majority of their meetings virtually due to health and safety concerns associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Bimonthly meetings were held remotely during the nearly seven-month hiatus. Participants gave public comment by “raising their hand” before speaking on Zoom; presenters had to share their screens and each county official appeared on the screen only when speaking.
Roughly a dozen people showed up to the downtown Norristown office building Thursday. Only one person in the room wore a mask during the meeting.
State guidelines dictate that unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks. The order will stay in effect until June 28, or whenever 70 percent of Pennsylvania residents ages 18 and older receive their second COVID-19 vaccination dose.
In addition, a handful of others tuned in online. Arkoosh noted they would continue using both platforms for upcoming board meetings.
“We have a new system that we hope will work well so that people who wish to give public comment and attend remotely will be able to do so easily, and also feel as if they are actually part of the meeting,” Arkoosh said during her opening remarks. “We’re happy to take feedback as we roll out this system that hopefully will work well, and thanks to Kelly Cofrancisco, and all the others that helped put this together.”
Roughly $3.16 million was allocated to a series of contracts Thursday morning. Of the seven-figure total, a big ticket item covered in home services for older adults.
Two requests for proposals were initially advertised online, according to the contract. The first netted views from 48 providers and bids from 19 companies. The second was viewed by 50 companies and responses from 19 firms.
A $2,728,30 three-year agreement between the Montgomery County Office of Senior Services and 24 different companies from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts was approved Thursday. The 24 firms were: Automated Security Alert, Inc. DBA STAAR Alert, of Munhall, Pennsylvania; Addus HealthCare, Inc. DBA Addus HomeCare, of Philadelphia; Allegiant Home Healthcare LLC., of Norristown; Bayada Home Health Care, Inc., of Media; Better Home Care Agency LLC., of Feasterville; Carvell Health Services Inc., of Huntingdon Valley; Hands from the Heart Home Healthcare Services, of Bala Cynwyd; Lifeline Systems Company, of Framingham, Massachusetts; Montgomery Family Enterprises, Inc., of Collegeville; Open Systems Healthcare, Inc., of Bala Cynwyd; Penn Asian Senior Services, of Philadelphia; Reliant at Home Care, Inc., of Conshohocken; VNA- Community Services, Inc., of Abington; Advanced Living Home Services, Inc., of Lansdale; CareGivers America, LLC., of Clarks Summit; Caring Spirit Home Care Services, Inc. DBA ComForCare Home Care – Montgomery County Southeast, of Ambler; Community Home Health, Inc., of Trevose; Family Caregivers Network, of Pennsburg; Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life DBA Abramson Senior Care, of Jenkintown; MedScope America Corporation, of Paoli; NMR Blenheim, LLC., DBA ComForCare Home Care Montgomery County North PA, of Lansdale; Pampering Plus, Inc., of Abington; Senior Helpers, of Harleysville; VitaCare Home Health Inc., of Feasterville.
County officials outlined rates for a number of positions under the contract:
• Home health (RN, LPN) (HH) $75/hour
• Home health (aide) (HH) $24/hour
• Home health medication management (HH) $50/month
• Home support (HS) $24/hour
• Personal care (PC) $24/ hour
• Personal emergency response system (PERS) $30/ month
The contract stipulates an opportunity for two additional one-year renewal terms.