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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-10 Commissioner Minutes WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024 The Franklin County Commissioners met Wednesday, January 10, 2024, with the following members present: Dean A. Horst, John T. Flannery and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Chairman Horst presided and after calling the meeting to order, a Moment of Silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, proceeded with the business of the day. The meeting was live streamed. Chairman Horst wanted to thank the staff of Franklin County and his fellow commissioners for all their help. Being a newly elected commissioner there is a lot to learn and they have been very kind and very professional in guiding him in his direction so he wanted to thank them. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved to adopt the agenda. John Jordan provided public comment and wanted to congratulate Dean in his new position. He recently met with a couple that owns a farm that they are trying to get preserved e asked the Board if the county offers any help so that he can pass that on to the couple. He also wanted to let anyone Thierwechter, Assistant County Administrator, responded that recently he referred the individual to our Planning Office and they are working with them on getting their land preserved. Valerie Jordan provided public comment that she was with her husband when he met with the couple and they are going to volunteer there. She continued that it is a family farm and Tristate Alert about the Borough asking the County to do a countywide reassessment and she has a newer home and she has never complained about her county taxes. She feels this will Allen and Bill are doing at the Borough but they need to get their house in order and not create deficits. She asked the Commissioners to not entertain a county reassessment. Ms. Jordan says there is a power struggle right now in Franklin County between the old guard republicans and new guard republicans. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid including jail vouchers. The minutes of the January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2024 meetings were reviewed. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the minutes. The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Carrie Gray, County Administrator has one clarification in respect to board action #4 the wording in A and B with Beverly Court LLC and Springview Management the lease amount is an annual cost, paid monthly, not a monthly cost. Commissioner Flannery said he knows that administration has updated the board action listing to add how the funds are generated to support the board actions so he wanted to say thank you and he appreciates that. Chairman Horst has one $24.26 a square foot for an annual lease which is one of the highest that we have. He would be wise and prudent to look at volunteer fire departments or township offices to see if Continued on page 2 they have any space that we could use there to keep costs down. Commissioner Ziobrowski said with some of our leases we amortize the improvements that are made and that is included in the initial lease, but once its amortized do we revert to a lower amount because the cost of those improvements have been paid for by us over a five or seven year basis. He asked how years. The solici Ziobrowski said we can take that item off the agenda for further information and look at it again next week. Commissioner Flannery explained that many of the leases that we sign over a 15 or 20 year lease where we have to make $200,000 or $300,000 in improvements in a facility therefore we make an agreement with the landlord to incorporate that into our lease payment over a set period of time. So that could be part of the agreement with this. Commissioner Ziobrowski responded that was what he was getting at that perhaps that amortization period is over but inflation might be such it might have reached that amount but if we are still paying for amortized lease on improvements and we anticipated doing it over a certain number of years know that the MDJ offices are rather complex and we pay top dollar for them because they are complex. The Board reviewed Aging Office matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the updated contract listing for additional contracts and addendums for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 for the Aging Office. Contract listing is maintained for proper accounting of all contracts to include vendor name and address, type(s) of service provided and rate(s) charged for services. The Board reviewed additional Aging Office matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the amendment to the contract dated May 1, 2020 between the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This amendment reflects that Paragraph 3 of the original contract dated May 1, 2020 has been struck in its entirety and replaced with new verbiage regarding Local Agency Responsibilities. All other terms and conditions of the original agreement will remain in full force and effect. The Board reviewed Community Connections matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the following lease agreements for the HUD Permanent Supportive Housing Lease that covers the total rent plus any landlord covered utilities for participants for the period of January 1, 2024 through January 1, 2025. The County holds the Lease with the landlord and the participant subleases from the County. Program participants are responsible for any utilities not included in the lease rent, up to 30% of their adjusted gross income. Participants are linked with Supportive Services and case management to assist them with maintaining permanent stable housing. a. Beverly Court, LLC for a yearly lease amount of $9,000.00 b. Springview Management for a yearly lease amount of $10,400.00 The Board reviewed Court Administration matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement for translator services between the County of Franklin and Josephina A. Souders to provide English-Spanish interpreter services certified through the Administrative Offices of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC). The compensation rate, per hour, is $60.00. This rate is based on a Monday-Friday 16 hour work week. If the work week extends to 17+ hours, the compensation rate is $63.00 per hour. This agreement is for the period of January 2, 2024 through December 31, 2027. Continued on page 3 The Board reviewed Domestic Relations matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of Franklin and Contact Wireless to provide text messaging services at a monthly cost of $204.53. The costs are 66% reimbursable from the State. This is a program that allows Domestic Relations to send text messages to clientele from computers about upcoming appointments, reminders to make payment, and any other short message that is appropriate. Clients are more likely to respond to text messages than reminder phone calls or email messages. The Board reviewed Jail matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and Eastern Elevator Service & Sales Company for renewal of the preventative maintenance service for the hydraulic elevator for a total cost of $11,266.00 for the period of March 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028. This agreement provides inspection services and covers a monthly preventative maintenance examination including cleaning, lubricating and performing adjustments. This agreement also includes a regular systematic examination and cleaning of the car top, elevator machine room, shaft way components, hoist machines & gears, hoist motor, coils, fastenings and cables. The Board reviewed Property Management matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and Water Treatment by Design, LLC to provide for hydronic DX water loop systems treatment for the following locations: 272 North 2nd Street, 2 North Main Street, and 14 North Main Street, Chambersburg PA at a cost of $3,250.00 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. The Board reviewed additional Property Management matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of Franklin and Accruent LLC for the annual technical support of the County-wide Maintenance Connection Program at a cost of $17,787.04 for the period of January 7, 2024 through January 6, 2025. The Board reviewed Risk Management matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the quote from Allcom to add a reader, door contact and strike to the basement kitchen area for Juvenile Probation and Adult Probation classroom in the Courthouse Annex at a cost of $4,931.72. The Board reviewed additional Risk Management matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the quote from Allcom to add a reader, door contact and a strike to the Courthouse Annex project for a secured storage closet on the 4th floor at a cost of $4,931.72. In accordance with PA Act notifications, the following Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection NPDES permit being applied for a concentrated animal feeding operations: two for Franklin Family Farms both located in Lurgan Township; S&J Farms, LLC The Board reviewed Personnel matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the position description for Senior Center Director in the Area Agency on Aging Office. Continued on page 4 The Board met with Mike Ross, President of Franklin County Area Development Corporation and Vern McKissick, McKissick Associates. They were present to request a letter of support for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant to fund the Rose Rent Lofts Development. Mike Ross thanked the Commissioners for considering support for the RACP application. He is here for the Franklin County Redevelopment Authority which is the applicant for RACP funding. He continued that this is to support improvements to Central, Live and Work which is a project that Vern has embarked on for a long time. He has made ork component on line as well. They are looking to apply for $1.7M. There is a $5M line item in the capital budget for Franklin County Economic Development Projects of which $3.3M have been committed so there is $1.7M available which will go a long way t gave a quick background of the old high school that was committed under three phases and it was all privately funded to this point. The initial phase was the stabilization, demolition, and environmental cleanup. The second phase was the oldest building on site from 1826 which is then the world has changed and more people are looking to work from home or work at remote locations especially for people coming out of the DC market. There is a lot of interest in the building so far and they have spent about $2M on stabilization. They did the interior demo and are ready to start the fit out now. The code drawings are approved and they have a nice funding stack in place with two banks for the projects along with some personal money. They were here last fall to talk about CPACE and they are proceeding on that. This will help push them over the top where we need to bring it online. Mr. McKissick continued that ultimately this will bring 53,000 square feet of space, have all parking secured that they need, and no more building demolitions. It will be a mixture of 18 residential units, some will be short term be some small offices and also some small offices associated with living quarters. This will give them an advantage for people coming out of other areas. They are looking at 14 months to completion which will be late spring of 2025. Vern provided and explained the video tour of the proposed new project. Chairman Horst said he toured the Rose Loft and it was impressive. Commissioner Ziobrowski recited the Central School song. He went to Central and he played in the band and basketball team. His second comment is that he retired as a real estate appraiser, commercial and residential, and candidly he was skeptical of this project. He and Commissioner Keller visited Mr. McKissick before this even started and saw it right from fruition but appraisers are conservative and skeptical because they look in the rearview mirror, looking window and what can be, not what already is and this is different from anything else. He admits to a lot of skepticism and his skepticism has reduced dramatically by having gone through it and His skepticism has been relieved. He asked if assisting or signing on the RACP grant, does this affect our General Fund or ability to support any other RACP grants? Mr. Ross responded that the short answer is no the county is not obligated; this has been a great project. They shared g other projects downtown. This has been a benefit to downtown Chambersburg in a big way. Commissioner Ziobrowski stated that you have to have a residential component downtown to have a thriving downtown. Mr. Ross stated that this investment has worked and has encouraged others to invest. Ms. Gray wanted to mention that the allocation of the RACP funds that this $1.7M would be applied toward was an allocation that was already established. It totaled $5M in Franklin County but the $1.7M is unallocated. Other entities could be applying currently but no one else has come to the county to ask for a letter of support. Commissioner Flannery said he appreciates what they are doing to revitalize downtown Chambersburg. They had the honor to go through Rose Re done and the quality of work Vern does and makes downtown Chambersburg more attractive. He appreciates what he does and he has no hesitance in signing a letter of support for this project. Ms. Gray explained that staff could work with Mike and Vern to draft a letter of support. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved to direct staff to draft the letter as Ms. Gray presented. Continued on page 5 On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:54 a.m. for the purpose of reviewing pending litigation matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved to reconvene into regular session at 11:29 a.m. No action was required after the executive session. The meeting was adjourned at 11:29 p.m. with a motion by John T. Flannery; seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski. Carrie E. Gray County Administrator/Chief Clerk FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ____________________________________ Dean A. Horst, Chairman ____________________________________ John T. Flannery ___________________________________ Robert G. Ziobrowski