On Tuesday, November 16, the Board of Directors of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution opposing the pending OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that would require employers with 100 or more employees to require vaccinations or weekly testing of workers. The ETS has been blocked temporarily by a Federal Circuit Court. The Chamber is also urging OSHA to delay any implementation of the ETS pending a final ruling.
As it’s currently published, employers need to have a vaccination plan in place and require unvaccinated employees to wear masks as of December 5th. The vaccination/testing requirement would take effect January 4. This requires businesses already struggling with employee shortages to devote resources to this process and implement policies that could make it even more difficult to attract and retain employees. While employers do not have to pay for vaccinations or testing, the availability and costs of weekly testing are of concern for employers and employees. Whether or not employees who fail to comply would be eligible for unemployment benefits is unclear.
The ETS is a result of an Executive Order by President Biden to compel individuals to get vaccinated. The Chamber Board feels that this “creates an excessive and inappropriate burden on employers” being put in the position of enforcing the order.
Copies of the resolution are being sent to Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey and Representative Dan Meuser.
Focusing on employee wellness not only benefits your employees but can boost your company’s bottom line as well. Estimates that one in five Americans experience some form of mental illness, most without getting treatment, means that many will continue to struggle with their issues, impacting both family life and work life, if employed. And although mental health struggles have long pre-dated COVID-19, the pandemic only served to exacerbate the health challenges for many individuals.
For the employer, the benefits of supporting employee mental health can be substantial. By showing an interest in the health and well-being of their staff they can help employees navigate through issues like anxiety, depression, burnout and traumas. In addition to showing they truly care about their employees, providing mental health support can also increase productivity and improve the overall morale of the office.
The first step concerned employers can take is to look critically at their benefit portfolio to assure that the resources they are providing adequately meets the needs of their working populace. Start by reviewing the mental health benefits provided by any base health insurance benefits, Employee assistance programs (EAPs) and Telehealth services, then make sure all these programs are being effectively communicated to employees so they will be able to take advantage of the resources being provided to them.
Finally, employers can create opportunities for management and human resource personnel to open up supportive conversations with employees regarding mental health issues, helping to reduce the stigma wherever possible by sharing any of their own personal experiences and challenges.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Glynis Roberts at (800) 377-3539.
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The Columbia County Commissioners are holding another round of public meetings for all residents, businesses, and municipal officials to learn more about the Fishing Creek Watershed and West End flood mitigation studies. The meetings will be held at separate locations:
- Tuesday, November 30th starting at 6:30PM – Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Study
- Held in the Large Meeting Room, 702 Sawmill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Entrance for the meeting room is at the rear of the building.
- Wednesday, December 1st starting at 6:30PM – West End Flood Mitigation Study
- Held at the Bloomsburg Fire Department, 911 Market Street, Bloomsburg, PA.
Reservations can be accepted online HERE or by calling, Flood Resiliency Program Analyst Geralee Zeigler, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) at 570-522-7218. Individuals who are interested in attending should register for the session independently or for both sessions. SEDA-COG is assisting Columbia County in the grant administration of the studies. Both projects have been financed by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Matt Vanaskie, Senior Project Manager at Herbert, Rowland and Grubic, Inc. said, “HRG is excited to review progress of the Fishing Creek Watershed flood mitigation study with Columbia County municipalities and residents. To date our work has focused on understanding flooding and wet weather issues in the County based on available information and stakeholder feedback. At this meeting we are seeking to engage the community again to review noted problem areas and preview development/assessment of strategies and solutions that may mitigate flooding and wet weather issues.”
Borton-Lawson’s project Technical Lead, Tom Lawson said, “In this second public meeting we will be presenting an overview of our evaluation of existing flood impacts, results of the public survey, preliminary floodwall concepts, as well as non-floodwall flood mitigation alternatives. Before the formal meeting, we will have maps of the study area on display and team members will be available to answer any questions.”
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.
From Representative David Millard
The House on Tuesday passed legislation to stop PennDOT’s plan to toll nine interstate bridges in Pennsylvania and reassert the Legislature’s oversight of, and community involvement in, any future tolling plans.
The Public Private Partnership (P3) law adopted in 2012 authorized the establishment of such partnerships to assist in funding road and bridge repairs across the Commonwealth. However, the initial approval last fall by the P3 Board of the Pathways Major Bridge P3 Initiative failed to offer any specific information about the proposal, including which bridges would be affected.
Senate Bill 382 would void this proposal and prescribe a more open and transparent process for future P3 projects. Specifically, a detailed analysis would have to be developed prior to any consideration by the P3 board, and a 30-day public comment period would be held following publication of the project in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Additionally, any P3 project that includes a user fee would require legislative approval. The measure now returns to the Senate for further consideration.
Last week, the state House passed H.R. 150, that urges Congress to oppose the U.S. Treasury’s proposed changes to IRS reporting requirements. The resolution passed 181-19, with Representatives Kurt Masser and David Millard supporting the resolution.
The proposal would require financial institutions to report aggregate deposit and withdrawals information from customers’ business and personal accounts to the IRS without their consent. The reporting requirements would apply to personal or business savings, transactional, loan and investment accounts. The proposal would require financial institutions to report inflows and outflows of more than $600.
The PA Chamber supports the resolution because it presents extreme privacy rights issues and data security concerns for millions of Pennsylvania citizens and businesses. In recent weeks, The Chamber sent memos to the House and Senate urging opposition to the Treasury Department’s proposed sweeping overreach.
Aggregated from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, PA Chamber of Business & Industry, & U.S. Senator Bob Casey
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in early November, makes a record investment in our nation’s infrastructure, but despite its popularity, many still have questions about what exactly is in the final legislation. Some highlights of the bill are as follows:
The IIJA makes the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak and the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill is 100% real infrastructure. It funds $1.2 trillion in physical infrastructure, including $550 billion in new funds for much needed investment. Here’s how it breaks down:
- $387 billion (46.3%) for highways and bridges ($12.9 billion for Pennsylvania)
- $96 billion (11.5%) for transit ($2.8 billion for Pennsylvania)
- $66 billion (7.9%) for rail
- $65 billion (7.7%) for broadband ($100 million for Pennsylvania)
- $54.21 billion (6.4%) for energy grid infrastructure and technology
- $48.4 billion (5.8%) for water and wastewater infrastructure (Replacement of 160,000 lead service lines in Pennsylvania)
- $31.1 billion (3.7%) for western water and power, wildfire management, and dam safety
- $26.7 billion (3.1%) for ports, maritime, and inland waterways infrastructure
- $25 billion (3%) for aviation
- $18.5 billion (2.2%) for economic development, public buildings, and agency operations
- $17.9 billion (2.1%) for mine/well cleanup and environmental remediation ($3+ billion for Pennsylvania)
The infrastructure bill’s energy provisions direct funding for traditional fossil fuels and the technologies needed to capture and remove carbon emissions, as well as advanced nuclear, renewables, and batter technology. It also expands access to domestically sourced critical minerals and finances the retrofitting and “hardening” of power grids so that our communities can better withstand the impact of natural disasters. The strict 100% renewable energy mandates of the Green New Deal are NOT a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The bipartisan infrastructure bill repurposes existing reserves of more than $225 billion from unused unemployment insurance and unused COVID aid to finance projects in the bill.
Eric Pangelinan and Kim Groshek join the Community Giving Foundation Team
The Community Giving Foundation announced the hire of two new staff members, expanding the Foundation team to better serve donors and community partners in timely and efficient ways through a continued commitment to personalized philanthropy and community giving stories.
Eric Pangelinan joins the Foundation in the new position of Operations Assistant. In his role, Eric works closely with the Foundation’s Chief Advancement Officer and Chief Financial Officer to utilize the Foundation’s database software to its fullest capabilities. He also provides support to the development and finance departments by processing incoming donations, offering technical support to donors and fundholders, and organizing department meetings with boards, staff, and other stakeholders. Prior to joining the Foundation team, Eric served as a Conference Officer for the Columbia-Montour Domestic Relations Office. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bloomsburg University in both Political Science and Philosophy. Eric is a native of the Berwick/Nescopeck area and is dedicated to helping the community he calls home grow and improve every day.
Kim Groshek serves as the Foundation’s new Administrative Assistant, welcoming visitors at the Berwick office front desk and providing a wide range of office support for the President/CEO and staff to facilitate effective and efficient operations. Prior to joining the team, Kim worked as a para-professional for many years before becoming a receptionist for the Berwick Area School District. She has lived in the Berwick community most of her life.
“We are very excited with the additions of Eric and Kim to the Foundation this year. Both bring new excitement and a set of skills that will only enhance what already exists with our office staff as we remain committed to building relationships with our current and new stakeholders through personalized services and giving options. Our office is now a strong team of eight, and I look forward to all we can do together to continue serving the communities across our region,” writes Holly Morrison, Foundation President/CEO.
The new members join the following Foundation staff: Holly Morrison, D.Ed., President and CEO; Al Meale, Chief Financial Officer; Kara G. Seesholtz, Chief Advancement Officer; Christine Orlando, Senior Program Officer; Karri Harter, Program Associate; and Katie Simpson, Communications & Events Associate.
The Community Giving Foundation manages over 300 charitable funds and makes grant investments throughout the region to improve the quality of life in the Central Susquehanna area. In partnership with affiliates in Berwick, Bloomsburg, Danville, Selinsgrove, and Sunbury, the Foundation continues to tell stories of community giving.
The Interstate 80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges, which cross Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County, are aging and do not meet current design standards, according to PennDOT. A project to replace and widen the bridges to provide wider shoulders that meet current standards and accommodate and facilitate future maintenance activities on the bridge is proposed starting in 2023. This project is a candidate for bridge tolling through the PennDOT Pathways Program’s Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership Initiative.
PennDOT is hosting an on-demand virtual public meeting for the project beginning at noon on Nov. 15 through Dec. 15, 2021. Members of the community can access this by visiting www.penndot.gov/i80Nescopeck and clicking the virtual public meeting link beginning at noon on Nov. 15. There will also be an in-person open house public meeting on Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nescopeck Social Hall, 510 Zenith Rd., Nescopeck, PA 18635/
Based on traffic evaluation, analysis and feedback received during a prior workshop, diversion route improvements have been proposed to mitigate the impacts of potential toll implementation. A virtual Diversion Route Workshop Follow Up on the I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges Project on Monday, Nov. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Workshop can be found HERE.
By Tracie Witter, PPL Electric Utilities, Regional Affairs Director
If you’ve been to the store lately, you’ve probably noticed that prices are going up.
From beef to gas, and just about everything in between. But, just like you’d shop around for the best price on everyday goods, it’s important to know that you can also do the same with your electricity supply.
PPL Electric Utilities delivers your electricity, but we don’t own the power plants where that electricity is generated. And, for more than two decades in Pennsylvania, consumers have had the ability to shop around and choose the electricity supplier that is right for them, such as the lowest cost provider or a renewable energy generator.
With costs – including the prices of energy supply – on the rise, now is the perfect time to shop around to make sure your supplier is offering you the best rate possible.
When you do venture into the electricity marketplace, remember to shop smart. Be aware of variable rates, which start small and then increase depending on the price of power. Watch out for deceptive marketing tactics, beware hidden early termination fees, and always be sure to read the fine print on any contract you sign with a supplier.
If you do not choose a supplier, you receive default supply through PPL Electric Utilities per state law. We hold competitive energy auctions twice a year, in which we secure a supply at the lowest rate offered, and then pass that supply on to customers without any markup.
We don’t profit from supply generation, so we have no vested interest in who you choose to supply your electricity. We just want to help you keep your bills as low as possible.
To help customers in the shopping process, we recently redesigned our bills to make it easier to identify your current supplier information and we also offer numerous web resources at the new pplelectric.com/shopsmart.
Don’t leave money on the table.
Shop smart today for the electricity supplier that’s right for you and save.
Added from the Chamber with permission: The Chamber’s energy partner, World Kinect Energy Services, can take much of the work out of choosing an energy supplier for your business. Simply provide them with some basic information, and they can provide options for electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels. World Kinect is not a supplier, so their goal is to find the solutions to best fit your needs and comfort level. Contact them for a free, no-obligation consultation at 412-424-2599. You can easily sign up for the residential or small business fixed rate program through our website, columbiamontourchamber.com/benefits.
On Friday, November 5, the U.S. House passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act legislation by a 228-206 vote, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature. The President has stated that he will hold a signing ceremony when legislators return the week of November 15.
Congressman Dan Meuser voted against the bill. In August, Senator Pat Toomey also voted against the bill while Senator Bob Casey supported it.
The bill would put $550 billion in new money into transportation projects, the utility grid and broadband. The package also includes $110 billion for roads, bridges and other major projects, along with $66 billion for passenger and freight rail and $39 billion for public transit.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 173,000 total miles of America’s highways and major roads and 45,000 bridges are in poor condition. It also estimates that the current repair backlog is more than 24,000 buses, 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations and thousands of miles of track and power systems.
As part of the bill, $65 billion is directed to broadband, a priority for many lawmakers after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted inequities in internet access for households and students across the country.
The legislation would also invest $55 billion into water systems, including $15 billion to replace lead pipes and $10 billion to address water contamination.
Both the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded the bipartisan passage as the investments are paid for in part by repurposing unused federal funds from other programs.
An article from the Associated Press (VIEW ARTICLE HERE) provides more details about the package.