Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-27 Commissioner Minutes THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, May 27, 2010, with the following members present: David S. Keller, Robert L. Thomas and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Chairman Keller presided and after calling the meeting to order, and the Pledge of Allegiance proceeded with the business of the day. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved to adopt the agenda. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the minutes of May 20, 2010 meetings. The Board reviewed Aging matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the Food & Beverage License to the PA Department of Agriculture/Commonwealth of PA for the Tuscarora Senior Activity Center at a cost of $82.00 for the period of June 3, 2010 through June 30, 2011. The Board reviewed Coroner matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the 2010 Budget Adjustment in the amount of $10,000.00 for additional funding in his escrow accounts for office safe, laptop replacement and training. The Board Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Proposal from CenturyLink for interface Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD) software license with current system, remote implementation at a cost of $10,608.57. The Board reviewed additional Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Proposal from Priority Dispatch for software – Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD) which is an integrated computer technology linking dispatchers and callers through a set of systematic questions helping determine response modes. This is a proprietary vendor and currently using EMD with this vendor. Cost is $75,132.00 being paid for by the Wireless and Wireline funding grants. The Board reviewed additional Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Grant Agreement between the County of Franklin and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for the Radiation Emergency Response Fund Grant for a grant amount of $6,618.00 for Fiscal years 2010-2011. The Board reviewed Grants Management matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Project Modification Request to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the CJAB Central Booking Project to extend the grant period by three months to September 30, 2010. Continued no page 2 The Board reviewed Liquid Fuels matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Agreement between the County of Franklin and C.S. Davidson, Inc. for inspection/inventory of eighty-nine bridges in Franklin County at a total cost of $622,746.30 to be completed by June 1, 2016. The Board reviewed Mental Retardation matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Notice of Intent to Award and Notice of Award to 2B Accessibility, LLC for the MR Custom Ceiling Track Project for a bid amount of $12,687.79. The Board reviewed Visitors Bureau matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Notice of Intent to Award and Notice of Award to The Printed Image for the printing of 100,000 copies of the Franklin County Visitors Guide with varnished cover at a cost of $50,305.00. In accordance with PA Act 14 notification, Franklin County Conservation District notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit being applied by Dennis Koons for property located in the Borough of Mont Alto. In accordance with PA Act 14 notification, Southampton Township notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit to install a stream bank protection on property located in Southampton Township. The Board reviewed Solicitor matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Resolution #2010-06, which is attached and made a part of these minutes, for the purpose of appointing Commissioner David Keller as the authorized Commissioner to approve Franklin County Industrial Development Authority Financing projects on behalf of the Board. Administrator, Jim Faust, representing Dr. Barry Parks, Nursing Home QUnique, Mary Kimmel, Finance Manager and Alma Cullers, Director of Nursing met with the Board to review the Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Governing Board Report which is attached and made a part of these minutes. The Board recessed at 10:30 and will reconvene at 11:00 for the Judicial Facility presentation at the Administration Annex. The Board reconvened for the Judicial Facility Carter Goble Lee Presentation. Commissioner Keller opened the meeting and turned it over to John Hart to begin the presentation. Mr. Hart provided an overview of the process from beginning til now and then turned it over to Chloe Jacobs from Carter Goble Lee (CGL). Ms. Jacobs went over the purpose of this presentation and the public meeting comments from the March 25 meeting. John Hart reported that since this meeting the County has received two additional proposals to purchase property on Norland Avenue but will not consider these due to commitment to downtown, direction from board to co-locate judicial center adjacent to existing county facilities, plus purchase of this land alone would be 12 Million. Ms. Jacobs provided the recommendation to purchase Jennings Property and construct new Judicial Center using that property and Sheetz Property and went over the pros and cons of this site and why the Second Street Enterprises proposal is not being recommended. CGL also suggested considering buying Harmon’s, Lighten Up Chambersburg and AMS’s property (currently leased in part by the County) for further expansion for Human Services Departments and Administration. Continued no page 3 Ms. Jacobs opened up questions from the Board. Commissioner Keller asked for explanation of the importance of the setback. Ms. Jacobs explained that this is a recommended technique since 9/11 for better security. Commissioner Thomas asked about consolidation of Human Services parking and Ms. Jacobs responded that there is adequate parking on-site, on the square and within a two block radius. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked about the purchase of Harmon’s, Lighten Up Chambersburg, and AMS and if suggestion is to renovate all three buildings? Ms. Jacobs went over the square footage of each and how they can be used. Long range plan is to move in pieces and sequence it all together. Commissioner Keller asked about disruptions of Court operations and how that factors in? Ms. Jacobs said that the County may have to find transition space, which was also mentioned in the master plan. Mayor Lagiovane asked about the plan for continued use of the historic courtroom #1? John Hart responded that staffing the historic courtroom would be a major challenge even for administration. Mr. Hart said it’s a grand building and needs to stay but has challenges. Joel Desotelle has a child at Corpus Christi school and expressed concern about security and said the County needs to be careful about how this is set up and that the school be included in the plan. Mr. Desotelle added that the County is looking at spending a tremendous amount of money in a difficult time and should invest money in our community. Bernie Washabaugh asked how many courthouses CGL has been involved in and Ms. Jacobs responded that CGL has been involved in hundreds of courthouse projects which have built in all areas not just in downtowns. Mr. Washabaugh said that CGL is going home but we have to stay here and live here, feels process has not been handled very well and should take all recommendations, have a public meeting with all proposals and get help from the public. Said this proposal will kill the downtown and should consider comments made about nearby school and churches. Added that there has not been enough public input. Mr. Cullinane thinks that there is a disregard of the master plan and seems there has already been a decision made. If there was a master plan process then it has escaped him. Asked board to consider concerns in the community and to not rely on a committee that does not have these skills. Hopes the Board will look at this with concern for future of downtown. Mr. Cullinane asked where the Jenning’s site idea came from. Said he doesn’t know how Commissioners can make a decision on this recommendation. John Hart responded that the facilities workgroup focused on the needs of the county as it relates to the county’s duty to provide for the administration of criminal and civil justice when arriving at a recommendation of a site for the judicial center. Added that the Board tasked the workgroup with two sites. The workgroup decided a bigger footprint was needed and that’s how Jenning’s site came into the picture. Mr. Washabaugh wanted to know why the Jenning’s Board didn’t come to the public meeting and present? John Hart responded that the County needs to look at all options and what is the best option. Mr. Hart disagreed with the criticism of the process that resulted in the site selection recommendation. Mr. Washabaugh wants the courthouse where it’s been for years, not ½ mile from the square and next to a residential area or a school zone or church zone. Need to make sure it stays here and thinks when the public gets awake someone will pay. Continued on page 4 Bernie Washabaugh II said he gave the County the benefit of the doubt that there would be an open process and all options would be considered but he echoed what Paul Cullinance said. He suggested we need to start with a clean slate and move forward. CGL is the same company that recommended building at Sheetz and is curious to how this process worked. It was mentioned that his building was going to cost 40 Million dollars which is wrong. Some Human Service functions are proposed in the judicial center and not sure why. Was told that complete consolidation is what he was instructed to do. Mr. Washabaugh believes that there is adequate square footage on his site and claimed that he has been grooming this site for 9 years for the County and everything since that time was done for this purpose. Site on Spring Street has land development plan approved and work can start right now. Did a study and there are 732 visitors during peak times to courthouse and only 230 for Administration and Human Services. Timeline is ticking and within 36 months all this can be done. Mr. Washabaugh recently went to York County that just built a judicial center and made it happen downtown. They have no parking for employees and are told they are on their own when hired. They have no handicapped parking either but do have parking under building for elected officials. They have all 3 functions within 1 block of each other. Will guarantee personally to facilitate a lease of parking space for all employees to be assured there is parking. With right planning and right effort the right decision can be made. Mike Kalathas mentioned that all as a community have to move on and put this behind them but it’s a huge decision. Asked what would Jennings be worth if County was not going to buy it and said he can’t see anyone else would spend 2 Million on this property. Added that County should have been planning 20 years ago like King Street Church and asked if the County thought of asking the Church for their property? If County moves judicial center out then it should promise to move other people in. Chloe Jacobs went over the process from beginning again. Said CGL was tasked with maximizing county functions. Everything was thought out and even had a public meeting in July 2009 and all options were looked at. She reiterated that there will be even more staff moving back in when move courts move out. Commissioner Thomas asked Ms. Jacobs to explain the Sally Port. She explained that a Sally port is an enclosed area where a vehicle brings in the inmate and drives back out. Mark Miller said that downtown businesses are concerned about how the foot traffic by court visitors will affect how many people visit businesses. Mr. Washabaugh, II explained the amount of peak visitors again. Commissioner Ziobrowski responded that a lot more people will actually be able to do more on the internet from home and not visit the Courthouse. Mr. Desotelle asked why build a bigger facility then if more people will be doing more from home? Ms. Jacobs responded that it’s right sizing judicial functions. Mr. Washabaugh commented that his building can be built and that the County can consolidate less expensively and quicker. Mr. Andy Grochowski understands the tough decision and not everyone will be happy. Biggest thing is that 60 Million is a hell of a chunk of money and most of the burden will be on downtown property owners. Therefore, more weight should be given to their comments. He believes expansion should occur on County’s existing properties. The Mayor asked if the Board considered the cost to remove the properties the County was considering purchasing from the tax rolls. Commissioner Keller responded that the loss of property tax revenue would be considered in the commissioners’ decision making process. Continued no page 5 The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski. FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS