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Centre Commissioners share thoughts on PSU situation
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
By Terry Whetstone Staff Writer
BELLEFONTE - The Centre County Commissioners were asked about their thoughts about the Penn State situation during the press conference portion of yesterday's Commissioners meeting in Bellefonte.
"We're very concerned with the economic impact this is going to have," Commissioner Chairman Steve Dershem said. "Lots of folks are going to be impacted with this, mostly the students."
He said the university will need the support of the citizens, but he also noted the county isn't involved with the matter.
"I'm appalled that the actions of a couple of people have brought this community to its knees," Commissioner Chris Exarchos said. "This is a great community and we can't let a handful of people ruin the community and this university."
Commissioner Michael Pipe said, "One of the challenges is, we're all alumni."
He said there were so many times where poor decisions were made.
"Taking the wins away from Joe Paterno; you can never take that away," Pipe said. "I was there for many of those, they were great wins and times."
He said some sanctions are going to hurt people who had no part of those poor decisions. "We'll get through this, and it's time to move forward," he said.
Dershem echoed Pipe's comments.
"Every time we start to heal, the scab gets ripped open," Dershem said. "(It's) time to move forward. We can rise above this. We can make the community and the university a better place."
Prior to the press conference the commissioners conducted routine business including the opening of bids for the pharmacy services at Centre Crest Nursing home. Five bids were received and they were tabled after being opened to allow them to be reviewed. Exarchos said there are too many medications included to review them all at the meeting.
Rich Bruno, administrator of the facility, said medications usually costs about $1.5 million a year and Medicare does pay for a portion of it. He also noted over a million medications are given throughout the year.
The commissioners also approved a grant request to purchase new kiosks for the nursing home. The $35,000 grant is through the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
Bruno said the existing kiosks are used 24-hours a day, seven days a week and they are showing their wear and tear. He said he would like to stay with the current company to avoid any software replacements.
The commissioners renewed a maintenance agreement with Kronos Incorporated for Global Support Services. The contract is $96,827.60 for the period of Oct. 24, 2012 through Oct. 23, 2013.
Zack Robinson with the MIS department said he uses the program to do payroll, and keep contact with the employees at Centre Crest, the prison and at the courthouse.
He said if he didn't have the computer system he would need at least two or three more employees.
In other business, the commissioners:
• approved a contract with Links2Care to provide skilled nursing services for consumers served by the Aging's OPTIONS Program. The contract amount is $8,500 and it runs through June 2013.
• approved a contract with The Nutrition Group/PCN for hot meals prepared for senior centers and home delivered meal services at a rate of $3.44 per meal. There are approximately 80,900 meals purchased each year and the contract total is $279,844.
• will contract with Tower Services Unlimited Inc. for the inspection of the 11 existing 911 towers as part of the continuing 911 upgrade. The cost is $1,175 per tower with a total cost of $12,925.
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