RIDGWAY — With the start of the new year, government organizations throughout the area are going through the yearly reorganization process.
In Elk County, three reorganization meetings were held on Tuesday at the county level.
The county commissioners held their reorganization meeting prior to entering into a regular monthly meeting, however this reorganizational meeting was merely a formality.
The commissioners already established that Elk County Commissioner Janis Kemmer will serve as the chairwoman until April.
Elk County Commissioner Daniel Freeburg said the commissioners elected to rotate the title every 16 months.
Following the reorganizational meeting that featured no motions, the commissioners moved into a regular meeting in which two contracts for vision benefits were approved.
First, the commissioners approved a new two-year contract with Vision Benefits of America to continue the county’s vision benefits at the same rate.
Second, the county approved a new contract that allows employees to purchase additional coverage at $4.67 a month for a single employee and $18.59 a month for a family plan.
Following the commissioners meeting, the county began a reorganizational meeting for the salary board.
By virtue of being the chairwoman for the board of commissioners, Kemmer will also serve as the chairwoman of the salary board.
During the meeting, the salary board addressed a request by Elk County Sheriff Todd Caltagarone to increase the salary for the sheriff’s department solicitor. Caltagarone requested increasing the salary from $2,080 to $3,000.
Caltagarone said the department uses Beau Grove as a solicitor and is provided “tremendous legal service” by Grove.
Ultimately, the salary board approved the request.
Finally, the county moved into a reorganizational meeting for its retirement board. Again, Kemmer will serve as chairwoman of the board.
Additionally, the board did not make any motion to adjust the employee contribution rate for the retirement plan; county employees will continue to contribute seven percent of their pay towards a retirement plan.
