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BELLEFONTE -- With Election Day right around the corner, the Centre County commissioners heard a presentation about the county's new elections website.
The presentation came after the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) granted authorization for Centre County to utilize a .gov domain name for the Elections Office. All web traffic from centrecountyvotes.com now redirects to centrecountyvotes.gov.
Chad Joyce, Centre County's Chief Information and Records Officer, talked about the change to a .gov web address.
"Dot gov is the top level domain for U.S. based government organizations. It is managed by CISA, which is Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a component of the Department of Homeland Security," Joyce said. "There is an application, a review and approval process every entity must take part of in order to have the dot gov domain. This is only to ensure that only those verified government organizations possess the domain. Having that really adds a level of trust and credibility for the citizens."
According to Joyce, Centre County was approved "about three or four weeks ago."
The website will have a "new look and feel," according to Beth Lechman, Centre County's Director of Elections and Voter Registration.
Lechman said that the FAQ -- or frequently asked questions -- will answer just about any question that a voter may have.
"If they go to the frequently asked questions tab, they'll find a lot of information," Lechman said.
Overall, Lechman said, the website is more user-friendly.
"It's a new look and feel for the website," she said.
Commissioner Steve Dershem asked if the website would provide a "tally count" on election night.
"You'll be able to find the election results coming in on election night," Lechman said.
Commissioner Mark Higgins asked if the new site was "mobile friendly."
"It is," Joyce said, who added that the site will appear differently on a mobile device.
Centre County commissioner Michael Pipe said the website is a valuable resource for voters.
"(It's) another trusted resource that just elevates and enhances the ability for voters and residents to know they're getting secure and trusted information," Pipe said.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners:
-- Issued proclamation No. 34 of 2021, recognizing the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.
-- Approved a work statement with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to establish a connection between the coroner's office case management software to the DOH's Electronic Death Reporting System (EDRS). This agreement allows for up to $10,000 in approved expenditure reimbursement to the County for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The item was moved to next week's consent agenda.
-- Approved a contract renewal with Onsolve, LLC to provide CodeRed services, for delivery of pre-recorded emergency and non-emergency messages to recipients within pre-selected households and businesses. The contract total is $10,473.75 for the period of Dec. 31, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022. The contract renewal was added to next week's consent agenda.
-- Approved a letter of agreement with CARES of Central PA, Inc. to provide intellectual disability services. The agreement total is $96,000, which is funded as follows: State ($91,574) and county match ($4,426_, for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The letter of agreement was moved to next week's consent agenda.
-- Approved a contract renewal with Community Services Group to provide mental health services to include psychiatric rehabilitation, community residential, and outpatient services. The contract total is $479,759, which is funded as follows: State ($457,642) and county match ($22,117), for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The contract renewal was moved to next week's consent agenda.
-- Approved a contract renewal with Skills, Inc. to provide mental health services to include vocational rehabilitation/training, psychiatric rehabilitation (site based and mobile), supported employment, community employment, ClubHouse (psychiatric rehabilitation), group peer support, and individual peer support, and intellectual disability services to include supported employment, prevocational services and respite. The contract total is $242,606, which is funded as follows: State ($231,422) and county match ($11,184), for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
The Centre County commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte. The meeting is open to the public and masks are required. The meeting will also be televised live via C-NET.