OOC MINUTES May 4, 2026

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MINUTES

May 4th, 2026
11:00 am

Central Park Complex Bldg.
110 Franklin Street, 1st Floor, Johnstown, PA  15901
Conference on the Park

Attendees: Commissioner Scott Hunt, Commissioner Keith Rager, Tracy Selak, Elyse Kirchner, Rebecca Valle, Tracy Shultz, Kate Porter, Missy Raho, Fred Oliveros

  • Approval of Minutes: March 9, 2026, meeting minutes: Approved motion Commissioner Rager / seconded by Commissioner Hunt
  • Review of requested financials: (See attachment): Status quo.  No updates to report
  • Reinvestment Committee Meeting: Ad hoc:
    • No meetings have taken place.  
    • No new plans due to no reinvestment to spend at this time.
  • Cambria County HealthChoices (CCHC):
    • Damages/impact 
      • Currently at a standstill. Tracy Selak provided the Commissioners with contact information for an architect, Upstreet Architects, that she discussed previously with Commissioner Rager.
      • Decking issues were detected on the 1st floor.  An engineer is being brought in to assess the damage.  The insurance company claims the decking issue is not covered, and the county is facing resistance from them. Commissioner Hunt stated that the restoration cost should be covered under emergency insurance.  Servpro to continue work where needed.  Given the Emergency Status of the work, Commissioners intend to continue with ServPro to complete the construction work as well.
      • Reba provided an update on the trainings and locations for 2026. Trainings have been transitioned to a virtual format, with a few trainings taking place at The Willow, Anthony’s Restaurant, or Victim Services, Inc. Reba emailed an updated 2026 training list to Melissa Kestermont on May 4th. 
    • Flag Banner Complete
      • The commissioners are pleased with the flag mural on the outside of the building, above the conference room windows. The installation was completed by RPM Signs.
      • Commissioner Rager extended compliments to the CCHC staff on their window decorating efforts 
    • Audits
      • Maher Duessel and Wessel have completed their audits.  Maher Duessel conducts audits on behalf of HealthChoices, while Wessel conducts audits on behalf of BHoCC.  Everything went well with both audits.  Wessel made a payroll recommendation to add a specification line to the paystub for anyone receiving the insurance “buy-out.” 
  • Magellan Behavioral Health (MBH) Updates: Tracy Shultz
    • Star Summit; Masonic Temple, May 20th at 10:00am.  Awards at 1:00.  Commissioners invited to present the awards
    • My Ascension Screening; Emma Benoit; September 23rd, 1st Summit Arena (Suicide survivor motivational speaker)
      • Cambria County Schools (11th and 12th graders) were invited.  
      • If seating is still available after Cambria County schools respond, the invite will be extended to a few neighboring Somerset County schools. (such as Windber, Conemaugh Twp, and Johnstown Christian)
      • Cambria County HealthChoices to help cover some costs.
      • War Memorial available for this event at no cost.
      • The Community Foundation received a grant to buy the rights to this screening and will share it with any school or agency wishing to view.
      • Commissioner Hunt suggested that Kate Porter and Tracy Shultz extend an invite P.J. Shell
    • CAMS Care – A suicide assessment and screening training for counselors and therapists to take place in the near future. 
    • Recovery in the Valley; September 27th, Sergent Stadium
    • Community Partnership on Lethal Means Safety discussions to take place.  A suicide prevention discussion to educate gun owners on gun locks/safety measures. Leah Hmel with the Altoona VA to assist in this discussion.  She is the Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator with the Altoona VA.
      • June 8th, 7a-8a, Hiram G. Andrews
      • June 9th, 11a-1p, St. Francis
        • Clarification by Commissioner Hunt: Not to limit gun rights, but to make people more mindful of safety, such as using gun locks, locking guns up, etc.  
        • Commissioner Rager to check in with Leah Hmel about this discussion and to express his concerns and to answer any questions he may have.  Reba to provide Commissioner Rager with Leah’s contact info.
        • 28 suicides occurred in Cambria County in 2026, with 1 being a veteran.
      • Blair County has accepted Magellan Health as its MCO beginning January 1, 2027.  Commissioner Hunt extended an offer to help in any way he can with the transition.
  • 2026 CCHC Trainings: All trainings will be held off-site or via Zoom until the Cambria County Academic Center is restored.  More information can be found on our FB page and/or website www.cchealthchoices.org 
    • Who Do You Think You Are (Self-Compassion); April 28th, 9-4, Karen Vadino
    • Strength-Based/Solution-Oriented Counseling and Casework; May 6th, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Treating Depression & Addiction; May 19th, 9-4:30, Victoria Lahey
    • Adolescent Mental Health June 10th, 9-4 B. Orr 
    • Cambria County Perinatal MH Disorders; June 22nd, 9-4, Kristen Ledlow
    • Mental Health Advance Directives; July 16th, 9-11, Camette Standley & Tracy Shultz
    • Clinicians & Social Media Use; July 28, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Trauma-Informed Care; August 5, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Setting Boundaries & Limits w/ Clients; August 19, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Ethics in the Helping Profession, September 16th, 9-12:30, Ken Montrose
    • Understanding, Recognizing, and Responding to Human Trafficking, September 24th, 9-4, Tessa Boyles
    • CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means); October 21st, 9-12, Leah Hmel
    • Motivational Interviewing Train the Trainer; November 3, 4, 5, 9-4, B. Orr
    • Helping Professionals and Awareness of Threat Groups; November 13, 9-4, Bruce Schaeffer 
  • Executive Session: n/a


Adjourn: Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Rager / seconded by Commissioner Hunt. No discussion.

Next meeting: July 20, 2026

2026 Meeting Dates:
January 5
March 9
May 4
July 20
September 21
November 16

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