LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS The Clinton County Commissioners and Stephen Shope, from Pa. Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s office, are pictured with members and employees from Clinton County Community Connections after March was proclaimed as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the county.

LOCK HAVEN — It was a packed house at the start of the Clinton County Board of Commissioners meeting as it proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in conjunction with Pa. Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s office.

The board was joined by Steve Shope, a representative of Garrity’s office, along with multiple participants and employees from the Clinton County Community Connections Office.

“We’re very proud and honored to recognize this proclamation,” Commissioner Angela Harding said before turning things over to Shope.

Shope requested members of the 4Cs to join the board at the front of the meeting room as he read from a proclamation initially drafted by Garrity’s office.

“Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month highlights how all people can work together to build stronger communities by raising awareness about inclusion of people with disabilities in all parts of the community,” Shope read.

The proclamation noted congress in 2014 passed the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act which allowed states to create and administer savings programs.

“Pennsylvania’s ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE) launched in 2017 to provide an opportunity for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families to save and build financial assets without impacting important benefits they rely on,” Shope said.

According to Shope, the Pa. Treasury administers the savings program.

“With PA ABLE, Pennsylvanians living with disabilities are empowered to save tax-free for a secure future and live more independently,” he continued. “PA ABLE provides the opportunity to save and pay for day-to-day living costs and larger expenses like assistive technology, home and vehicle adaptations and more.”

The proclamation noted more than 10,000 PA ABLE account owners have saved over $150 million for disability-related expenses.

“More Pennsylvanians living with disabilities benefit from PA ABLE because of dedicated community leaders and organizations who partner with the Treasury to proactively educate the public about this life-changing program,” Shope concluded.

Shope, on behalf of Garrity, thanked the commissioners for their “dedication and commitment to enhancing the lives of their residents” by approving the proclamation.

In other business the board:

— Approved a proclamation for National Senior Independence Month.

— Approved an agreement between the county and Goodwill Industries of NCPA for non-adaptive driver evaluations to prepare youth for driver license testing for Children and Youth Services effective Feb. 20 to June 30, not to exceed a yearly cost of $12,900.

— Approved a contract between the county and Stiffler McGraw to perform a structural analysis of three bridges along Bald Eagle Valley Trail phase 3 for $9,500.

— Approved a contract between the county and Lakeview Fencing Company to install split rail along Bald Eagle Valley Trail’s phase 2 for $3,900.

— Approved an amendment to an agreement between the county and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acting through Pennsylvania State Police, for an interoperability and site sharing agreement to add three site towers.

— Approved the appointment of Donald Miller to the Chestnut Grove Recreation Authority Board. Miller will complete the remaining term for William Powell that expires on June 30, 2025.

— Approved the appointment of Jack Bailey to the Chestnut Grove Recreation Authority Board. Bailey will complete the remaining term for Marci Orndorf that expires on June 30, 2026.

— Approved the appointment of Matthew Frank to the Chestnut Grove Recreation Authority Board. Frank will complete the remaining term for Brooke Stover that expires on June 30, 2028.

— Approved the appointment of Anthony Knarr to the Ross Library Board for a three-year term expiring on Jan. 1, 2028.

— Promoted Delmar Blackwell and Audra Helms from full-time 9-1-1 dispatchers to shift supervisors in the department of emergency services effective March 2 at an annual salary of $41,463.

— Hired Amanda Snow Dauber as Clerk 1 at Magisterial District Court 25-3-02, effective Jan. 27 at an annual salary of $28,233.

— Heard from Cindy Kunes, representative from Congressman Glenn GT Thompson’s office regarding an upcoming Resource Summit. The summit will be held on March 20 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center on Commonwealth University-Lock Haven’s campus. Those interested in receiving an invite to the event may contact Kunes at cindykunes@mail.house.gov or by calling 814-353-0215. Kunes noted Thompson intends to have office hours in the county in April, with a date to be determined.

— Were introduced to Senator Dave McCormick’s representative, Juliet Harshbarger. Harshbarger told the board she was excited to begin working with them in the future.