Planning director named
Dietrich to head Potter County Planning Agency
By Midge Ingalls Endeavor News

Members of the Potter County Board of Commissioners filled the county planning director vacancy from within.

At last week's business meeting, Commissioners Ken Wingo, Cathy Bowers and John Torok appointed Charlotte Dietrich to the post, at an annual salary of $34,280.

A former administrative employee of the Planning Department, Dietrich, a resident of Germania, was named interim planning director when Amy Baldoni- McLean took a leave of absence.

Baldoni-McLean eventually accepted a job out of the area and resigned.

Commissioners noted they had received letters of support from Dietrich from the Potter County Association of Township Officials and others.

"It is an honor to have that type of recommendation," Commissioner Bowers said. She added that Dietrich is familiar with the responsibilities of the job and ongoing projects, such as the county's comprehensive plan and stormwater management plan.

In other business, the board continued plans for development of a county office building at the former Coudersport Elementary School on North Main Street. The building was recently donated to the county by Time Warner and has been named the F. W Gunzburger Annex.

The commissioners agreed to buy natural gas for the annex from PPL Gas Utilities, through the same purchasing agreement in place for the courthouse, jail and Human Services building in Roulette. Pricing information will be available next month.

Commissioners accepted a recommendation by Human Services Administrator Jim Kockler that two positions in that agency be combined.

The part-time APPRISE coordinator position will be merged with a care manager slot vacated when Dave Lush resigned to take another job.

APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help Pennsylvanians age 60 or over. Kockler said a $5,000 grant Potter County receives for APPRISE services can be put toward the care manager position.

No bids were received for alterations to the former Potter County MH/MR building, which is to be occupied by the Potter County 9-1-1 program. Commissioner Wingo said the specifications will be reviewed and a new bid notice posted in a wider distribution area.

In other businesses, the commissioners:

- changed the Pike Township voting precinct from the Earl F. Dean building to Larry's Sports Center, along Rt. 6, west of Galeton.

- appointed David Amidon, who is active at the Oswayo Valley Senior Center and volunteers for Meals on Wheels, to the Aging Advisory Council. Anne Nelson was reappointed to council.

- accepted the resignation of John Buffington, who has worked for the county as a corrections officer for eight years.