Commissioners table victim-witness coordinator funding while staff confirm grant coverage
February 08, 2025 | Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Lycoming County Board of Commissioners voted to table a salary-board item on Feb. 12 that would delete a part-time adult victim-witness coordinator position and add a full-time adult victim-witness coordinator paid partly from a grant award.
Why it matters: county staff said the recent grant award does not cover the full cost of converting the position to full time — in particular, the grant covers salary but not fringe benefits and legacy costs — and the commissioners asked for confirmation from the district attorney and grant administrators before approving the personnel change.
What happened at the meeting
County staff presented the salary-board action and the related grant award. A staff member said the award "does not cover the entire cost" and that the grant "covers 72%" of the new adult victim-witness coordinator position while other percentages apply to existing positions. The staff presentation made clear the award is a collective package intended to fund multiple victim-witness positions and that fringe benefits and related legacy costs were not included in the grant amount.
Commissioners expressed concern about the uncovered portion of personnel costs and whether the county could break out and accept the grant in part. One commissioner said, "We should probably table it until next week until we can confirm that and also confirm with the DA what's happening with that salary piece." The board then voted to table agenda item 5.11 for one week to allow staff to clarify funding details with the district attorney's office and VA (as referenced in the meeting).
Next steps
Staff said they would bring the matter back to the salary board the following Monday after confirming whether the grant can be accepted in part and how fringe and ongoing salary obligations would be covered. The meeting record indicates there is no immediate deadline pressing the county to act the same day; staff characterized the award as retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, but said delaying one week would mostly affect reimbursement timing rather than eligibility.
Ending
The commissioners left the item tabled pending confirmation from the district attorney and grants staff; they asked county staff to return with clarification at the next salary-board meeting.
Why it matters: county staff said the recent grant award does not cover the full cost of converting the position to full time — in particular, the grant covers salary but not fringe benefits and legacy costs — and the commissioners asked for confirmation from the district attorney and grant administrators before approving the personnel change.
What happened at the meeting
County staff presented the salary-board action and the related grant award. A staff member said the award "does not cover the entire cost" and that the grant "covers 72%" of the new adult victim-witness coordinator position while other percentages apply to existing positions. The staff presentation made clear the award is a collective package intended to fund multiple victim-witness positions and that fringe benefits and related legacy costs were not included in the grant amount.
Commissioners expressed concern about the uncovered portion of personnel costs and whether the county could break out and accept the grant in part. One commissioner said, "We should probably table it until next week until we can confirm that and also confirm with the DA what's happening with that salary piece." The board then voted to table agenda item 5.11 for one week to allow staff to clarify funding details with the district attorney's office and VA (as referenced in the meeting).
Next steps
Staff said they would bring the matter back to the salary board the following Monday after confirming whether the grant can be accepted in part and how fringe and ongoing salary obligations would be covered. The meeting record indicates there is no immediate deadline pressing the county to act the same day; staff characterized the award as retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, but said delaying one week would mostly affect reimbursement timing rather than eligibility.
Ending
The commissioners left the item tabled pending confirmation from the district attorney and grants staff; they asked county staff to return with clarification at the next salary-board meeting.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting