HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners said Thursday that they will review the management setup put in place six months ago when Director of Public Safety Mark Taylor retired as supervisor of the county’s Emergency Management Agency and 911 Center.

Based on Taylor’s recommendation, commissioners allowed the EMA portion of Taylor’s job to transfer to Cris Frederickson and the portion of Taylor’s job involving 911 Center supervision to fall to Emily States.

Taylor, at the time he retired, had supervised both offices for about 11 years. It was a role he accepted in 2015, when he agreed to take on EMA-

related management tasks in addition to managing the 911 Center. As EMA director, his responsibilities included working with local first responders and municipal leaders involved in emergencies, plans for emergencies and efforts to minimize disasters.

At Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, Local Emergency Planning Committee chair Karen Hamel told commissioners that the new set up is falling short of meeting the needs of first responders who are looking for more coordination and competence.

Commissioners, who invited Hamel to their office after Thursday’s meeting for further discussion, said they will evaluate her concerns.

“Mark Taylor was the one who came to us and said he felt that his position was no longer needed and that those in charge of the 911 Center and EMA could handle the work,” Commissioner Dave Kessing said after Thursday’s meeting concluded. “We agreed to try it for six months.”

Commissioners Amy Webster and Laura Burke also indicated an interest in learning more in light of Hamel’s concerns presented as public comment during the commissioners’ meeting.

“And we’d want to talk to others who may or may not feel the same,” Webster said.

“I think we do need to look at this a little further,” Kessling said.

Prior to Taylor’s management of both EMA and 911 offices, the supervision of those offices had been divided for about 10 years, with Taylor handling the 911 Center and Dan Boyles managing the EMA office. That set-up was created in mid-2005 after Rodney Bohner resigned the dual-role post. Mirror records show Bohner, an Altoona police lieutenant, was initially hired as the county’s EMA director in 1999, then assumed 911 Center supervision duties in early 2004.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.