WARREN - SCOPE of Trumbull County will continue providing adult day care services, temporarily at least, if county commissioners today agree to extend the senior service provider's contract.
Being asked of commissioners is to continue SCOPE's contract through July, and maybe August, by which time new contracts for day care should be awarded.
SCOPE was the only agency to bid on doing the services for the next spending cycle, but because it didn't include in the bid packages notice of sanctions it faced from the Ohio Department of Aging, it was removed from bidding on the day care and other services.
That caused commissioners to re-bid for day care and led to the question today to extend SCOPE's contract.
Diane Drawl, senior levy administrator, said there is no concern with allowing SCOPE to continue the service. Personnel at the day care center, she said, ''have the qualifications to do the work.''
The agency would be paid one-twelfth of its 2011-12 contract for the services, a maximum of $4,116 for the adult day care and $2,216 for transportation for the program beginning July 1.
The extension is being recommended by the Senior Services Advisory Council, the group who suggests where Senior Levy money is spent.
Bids for the new contracts are due by June 29. So far, four organizations have expressed an interest in bidding, Drawl said. About $60,000 will be spent from the levy on day care.
SCOPE can bid for the money, and will, said Ralph Smith, interim director. The agency provides service to about 15 people daily at their location on Atlantic Street N.E.
''We provide both transportation to the senior center and the day care throughout the day and take them home, if that's what they need, if they need the transportation,'' Smith said.
An appeal hearing for SCOPE on the ODA findings is June 26. The state claims SCOPE failed to comply with regulations regarding criminal background checks and employee credentials.