Brooke County Commission accepts $43,334 EMS furniture bid, approves transfers and hires, and tables $100,960 Motorola quote

The Brooke County Commission met in adjourned session May 28, 2024, at the Brooke County Courthouse and approved a series of routine administrative and financial items. President Andrew J. Thomas, Commissioner Stacey Wise and Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio conducted the business; Kimberly M. Barbetta served as clerk.

The Commission approved the minutes of the May 21 meeting after a motion from Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio and a second from President Andrew J. Thomas. Commissioners then accepted the lone EMS administrative office furniture bid from Borden's Office Equipment for $43,334.29; Commissioner Diserio moved the acceptance and President Thomas seconded. The clerk was directed to send an acceptance letter to the vendor.

Commissioner Stacey Wise moved to approve a memorandum of understanding with Empire Diversified related to a CRISI grant; President Thomas seconded. Commissioner Diserio left the room and was recorded as abstaining from that vote; the MOU was approved by the remaining commissioners. The Commission also approved the annual depository agreement with WesBanco Bank, noting accompanying resolution and pledge agreement forms.

Financial housekeeping included approval of multiple in-house budget transfers (Tax Office $12,962.16; Law Enforcement $20,884.00; Home Confinement $11,916.00; EMS/Ambulance $18,317.00; County Commission $4,000.00). The Commission approved these transfers and also approved payment requests including a $438.34 direct payment from the Fire Protection Fund to Lauttamus Communications & Security for the Follansbee Volunteer Fire Department; Commissioner Diserio was recorded as abstaining from the Follansbee VFD payment after leaving the room for that discussion.

A motion to table Motorola Solutions' radio quotes totaling $100,960.72 passed; commissioners requested clarification on whether the vendor met State bid requirements or whether the county must re-bid the project. The Commission approved a request from Assessor Tom Oughton to hire Olivia Cipoletti for part-time summer help at Tier I pay from July 1–Aug. 30, contingent on drug and background screening.

The Commission approved all canvass certifications for the 2024 primary election, received minutes from local PSDs for filing, approved invoices and wrote checks across several funds (payroll withholdings and fund-specific check ranges were listed in the minutes), and extended condolences to the family of William "Bill" Schwertfeger of Follansbee. The meeting adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Stacey Wise.

Votes and key outcomes at a glance: all routine approvals passed; the CRISI MOU and the Follansbee VFD payment were recorded with Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio abstaining (he left the room during those items); the Motorola Solutions radio quote (totaling $100,960.72) was tabled pending bid clarifications. No additional public testimony or contested hearings were recorded.