One thing Montgomery County officials are attempting is doing business effectively — the right way.  

With the cloud of the prior county administration having issues, as a grand jury report that caused the arrest of former chairman, this administration wants to send the message they are handling county government the correct way.

During the past commissioners’ meeting, the board had to decided on a quick solution to mold being discovered in the courthouse.  

The board passed an emergency solution. The county will go with Eagle Industrial Hygiene Associates Inc., which had the lowest bid of $18,255.

The company will remove and dispose the mold. They will also reinstall new dry wall in the infected areas. 

“There was some mole discovered at the courthouse and we had to have some judicial judges’ chambers move throughout the courthouse because of some of the issues related to the mold that was found,” said Ray McGarry, the county solicitor. 

The judges clammed that they complained to the prior administration about the problem, but nothing was done. Now, the current administration jumped on the issue when they were told about it again.

“It is an example of how this administration and this government is working,” said chairman Josh Shapiro. “In this instance the courts came to us and said there is to be a problem. It turns out the problem they perceived wasn’t the actually problem that existed. We found that there was a problem, took steps to address it, removed the judges' quarters so that they were comfortable, and now we’re taking steps to fix the problem. This is how government should work. It was collaborative.” 

The county is also showing that when deals are made four county issues, it should be handled properly. There was a question recently in a contract that was presented to the county.
Last month, the county wanted to give a contract to a company to evaluate the county’s 911 radio system. County officials then realize that a person that works for Mission Critical had ties with the county.

With the mess that happened last year in regards of commissioners doing favors when it came to using tax dollars, the county decided to part ways with the company.  

“After the meeting there was a perceived potential conflict of interest which was brought to the attention of the commissioners and senior staff,” McGarry said. “There was someone that was technically still a currently employee of the county that was still working for Mission Critical Partners.”

Commissioner Bruce Castor was on the board of commissioners last year and witnessed the mishandling of county dollars. He was highly for the company because a member of the company was highly familiar with the radio network already. 

“I don’t think it is technically a conflict of interest, but I don’t think it creates the impression that we would like to create in our administration,” Castor said.

But Castor realizes the county is trying to change its image.  

“I agree with the assessment that is a situation that presents a public appearance that we do not want to present, doing favors with people that have connection with Montgomery Country government,” he said.