CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County Jail inmates who are experiencing mental health issues due to COVID-19 will have continued access to services.
On Tuesday, the Clearfield County Commissioners approved extending its agreement with CenClear to provide consultive mental health services at the jail.
The cost will be at a rate of $250 per hour, but services are not to exceed 10 hours for the inmates so that the total costs will not exceed $2,500. Services will be conducted via tele-health.
In February, the county contracted with CenClear to provide mental health services to county inmates. “Our warden has spoken very highly of those services,” said Commissioner Chairman John Sobel.
“It’s worked well to assist the inmates and jail [staff] with dealing with those issues.” He said the county is in process of drafting a proposal to solicit long-term counseling services.
However, he said Warden David Kessling has reported there’s only one hour left on the county’s existing agreement with CenClear.
Because the mental health services have been so successful and there’s still a need, Sobel said the commissioners were asked to temporarily extend that agreement.
In other business, the commissioners:
- approved an agreement with Appalachia Technologies of Mechanicsburg for IT consulting services. The company will conduct a holistic internal and external review of the county’s cybersecurity to help prevent another cyberattack like the one that occurred in January against the county.
- appointed the following individuals to the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee: Tom Nowalk, city representative, deputy treasurer, DuBois City; Charlie Saggese, township representative, Cooper Township supervisor; Terri Bracken, borough representative, Curwensville Borough secretary; Phil Carr, citizen organization, Clearfield School Board; Chad Smith, industry representative, Goodwill Industries; Donald Hendrichs, private solid waste industry representative, Greentree Landfill manager; Mike Boal, private recycling representative, Novey Recycling; Jodi Brennan, county recycling coordinator; and Jerry Dotts, one person deemed appropriate by the county, Glen Hope Borough Councilman with 20 years in the landfill industry.
- approved a waiver to permit Attorney Marie Jones to represent Jefferson County in the federal lawsuit filed in March against the Clearfield and Jefferson County Jails. Jones had previously represented Clearfield County, but both Jones and the county believe there’s no current conflict of interest.
- approved tentative settlement agreements in the DuBois Mall tax assessment appeal pending final approval by county Solicitor Heather Bozovich as well as Sandy Township and DuBois Area School District. Sobel was authorized to execute agreements in the matter once they’ve been prepared and approved.
- ratified the ballot printing bid to William Penn Printing.
- proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
- approved the bills as presented by the Controller’s office.
