HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-09 Commissoiners Meeting
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2025
The Franklin County Commissioners met Wednesday, April 9, 2025, with the following
members present: Dean A. Horst, John T. Flannery, and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Commissioner
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.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
The minutes of the April 2, 2025 meeting were reviewed. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved the minutes.
There was public comment from Valerie Jordan. Last night she went before the school
board to speak about tariffs. She stated that the microphone she was speaking at just went up
84%. If you are a small business owner your costs just went up. Speaking to Commissioner
to have to pay more unless
Washington changes its mind. Everything is coming back to the states and that means that the
costs are going to be more for the states, and the Governor,
but he has been forced to increase our taxes. She learned that the Superintendent and several
increase or decrease. For this coming fiscal year she
wants the Board to tell all their department heads to increase their budgets because she
want her health and safety compromised. The budgets have to be maintained. We are seeing
more revenue coming into the state. Near New Franklin elementary school there is 694 acres
for sale. He husband told her it was a farm sit
there. She thinks it looks residential in the area so no mall is going to go in there. Her husband
Moving forward, when discussing the budget, she wants to make sure the department heads
maintain their budget because deficits are not good. Mr. Norcross
last night not two or one percent which is a first for him. She was shocked. He also wants to
increase everyone's earned income tax to two percent which is the max. She is diabolically
opposed to that once she caught on. Everything in this room increased unless Washington does
something.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board
unanimously approved all consent agenda items to include:
All bills presented and ordered paid in the amount of $1,685,578.42.
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Office of Children, Youth, and Families
(OCYF) to approve FY 25-26 Kindship rates. Kinship care involves children living with relatives
or extended family when the parents are unable to provide care. The State must approve
County negotiated kinship rates to ensure compliance with funding regulations, budget limits,
and policy standards. Reimbursement is provided from State funds with a 20% required county
match.
Change Order #001 from David H. Martin Excavating for the Franklin County
Administrative Annex project for insurance cost deduction of $27,250.00, to add new electric
line for $7,230.05, and add additional full depth paving for $13,894.00 for a total deduction of
$6,125.95.
Lease agreement between the County of Franklin and Rodney C. Mose & Cindee L.
Mose for the HUD Permanent that covers total rent plus any landlord-covered utilities at a cost
of $9,300.00 for the period of April 1, 2025 through April 1, 2026. 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. This will be paid from the HUD grant.
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County
to pass through a $225,395.00 State Local Share Account grant for the purpose of purchasing
25 acres of real estate located in Hamilton Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Chambersburg Project, Inc. For Housing
Trust Fund Grant reimburse the grantee for up to $10,000.00 in home repair costs during
Chambersburg Project's July 2025 work camp.
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Government Software Services, Inc.
(GSS) for Notice of Return & Claim Letters mailed by USPS certified mail as required by
Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax sale Law Act 542 of 1947. This notification is made to all
delinquent 2024 taxes turned over to the Tax Claim office in January 2025 and remain unpaid.
All costs associated with this letter are added to the delinquent tax account for reimbursement
when taxes are paid. Increase in cost over 2024 is associated with processing cost increase of
$0.80 per letter. Request for quotes were sent to five vendors with one response from
Government Software Services, Inc. at a cost of $20,088.75. This will be paid by the General
Fund.
The Board reviewed regular agenda items. County Administrator Carrie Gray provided a
high-level overview of each of the actions.
Ms. Gray introduced Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol Director James Eagler and
Deputy Warden Michelle Weller from the Jail. Mr. Eagler stated he was there to discuss and
answer any questions about the opioid dollars that are going to be provided to Franklin County
Jail. The $300,000.00 is going
program. He stated that there are a lot of individuals who are in the program, which was started
around 2016. The program has been grant funded for the past eight or nine years andthose
funding programs are no longer available to the Franklin County Jail. When looking at the data
at the state level, locally, and nationally, individuals leaving incarceration are at their highest risk
of overdose and he believes that was one of the reasons that the MAT program was started at
the Franklin County Jail. It has been successful and has reduced recidivism and saved lives for
individualswith an opioid use disorder who have been incarcerated and have returned to the
community . With the loss of grant funding, for this program to continue, Warden Franzoni
reached out and asked if he could provide any assistance and he took the request to the opioid
steering committee and explained that the money was needed to continue the program and
shared the data. The steering committee did support the use of opioid settlement dollars for the
continuation of the program. He then took it to the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board at their
February meeting and again it was supported to move forward. The funding is one time funding
but they are going to continue to have conversations with the Jail and County Administration
about the funding to sustain the program, whether it is opioid settlement funds or the amending
of Act 80. Act 80 is a funding opportunity through Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency (PCCD) that provides money for naltrexone, which is FDA approved medication for
opioid and alcohol use disorders. Warden Franzoni, Deputy Warden Weller and he testified at
the human services committee in Harrisburg in March on the local county perspective of
amending Act 80 and allowing additional access of funding for buprenorphine and methadone
for opioid use disorder. He hopes that House Bill 561 gets amended by the House Human
Services Committee and has a vote and then goes to the Senate and then is signed by the
governor and could assist with some of the funding concerns that they have. If Act 80 is
amended PCCD would provide the funding to the counties and then allow funding to be used for
buprenorphine and methadone because currently the MAT program, the money that they would
be providing most likely will be going to buprenorphine and a little for methadone, but a lot of
individuals with opioid use disorder are on buprenorphine within the Jail setting. Commissioner
Ziobrowski stated that we often talk about warm hand off of the inmates into the private world.
He asked Mr. Eagler to provide an overview of the warm handoff colloquialism. Mr. Eagler
stated that every Tuesday that Correctional Treatment Specialists from the Jail, Deputy Warden
Weller, PrimeCare, the medical team at Franklin County Jail, the Supervisor of Case
Management Services, and a program specialist talk about the individuals who are currently in
that MAT program. They have case managers for Drug and Alcohol conduct a level of care
assessment to see if they meet the criteria for treatment in the community, which may be
residential and outpatient care. The case managers work with the PrimeCare staff for the
handoff so there could be a potential targeted release date. PrimeCare sends a referral over to
the program specialists who then gives it to the case management specialist and a case
manager ultimately works with that individual to make sure when they leave the jail setting that
their aftercare of the continuation of that medication and referral to treatment for substance use
disorderor any other health related needs that they may have within the community. They also
have a recovery support specialist who is a certified recovery specialist, an individual with lived
experience, that will be starting a recovery program within the Franklin County Jail so that those
individuals are part of the MAT program will work with the recovery specialists. There is
individual recovery support provided to the individuals in the MAT program and then the
individual would be handed off to a certified recovery specialist (CRS) in the community. They
have done this with their case managers and working with the Jail has been a good working
relationship and collaboration for he past seven or eight years. The other piece to this is,when
they leave the jail setting insurance, Drug and Alcohol provides a voucher to
Chambersburg Apothecary for a two-week paid supplyof buprenorphine or naltrexone and that
way the medication could be picked up and the program specialists and case managers work
with individuals to ensure that they pick up their medication and go to aftercare appointments.
That way the medication is going to be
concerns their Medicaid Pennie
healthcare coverage but they do have the ability to continue to pay for the medication.
Ultimately, they work with a case manager if they meet the criteria for treatment to participate in
treatment in some fashion and then other resources and support to assist them with goals that
they may have within the community. Commissioner Flannery asked how long or how far the
$300,000.00 would last for the MAT program will. Is that the annual cost? Mr. Eagler stated that
it should last at least 12 months, but it depends on how many individuals are in the program as
that does impact the cost of the medication. The agreement the County has with PrimeCareto
provide this additional service to individuals with a substance use disorder he thinks it may be a
peridium rate, so the goal is for at least 12 months, but it potentially could be out to 15 months.
The County has an opportunity over the next six or eight months, the Sackler family, which is
the Purdue Pharma owners, he thinks there is a national settlement litigation that is being
finalized which additional money can be provided to the state and ultimately come to the county.
I
that additional funding source to look at long-term sustainability as well. Commissioner Horst
asked by using this $300,000.00 out of the opioid settlement fund, what are we not doing or
what were we going to spending this on? Mr. Eagler stated they had an opioid remediation grant
opportunity that was made open to the public in July or August of 2024. There was roughly
$500,000 made available to the community but only had $260,000 worth of requests and
applications asked for. The unspent money is available to use. They also have looked at, in the
last year and a half, piloting a transportation program for individuals of opioid use disorder. The
program turned out to be a little bit larger and took a lot longer time than they anticipated. Part
of the opioid settlement is they have a time frame where they have to commit and spend the
money within 18-month going to be up and
running at that point. They did have some savings there. In total the unspent funds from the
opioid remediation grant and the transportation, they utilized those funds which had to be
th
committed and spent by June 15 and it created an opportunity to spend the money and
ultimately is an evidence-based way to align with Exhibit E, which is the national settlement
document that binds sort of what the county spends. Most goes towards and must be spent on
those core strategies and improved uses. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by
John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved to commit $300,000.00 in opioid settlement
funding to support the Franklin County Jail Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program. This
funding will sustain and expand access to evidence-based treatment for individuals with Opioid
Use Disorder (OUD) while incarcerated, including the use of FDA-approved medications such
as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, alongside counseling and case management.
The investment will enhance care coordination, improve reentry planning, and help reduce
recidivism and overdose risk upon release. This allocation is consistent with national best
practices and Exhibit E: guidance, targeting high-need, justice-involved populations impacted by
the opioid crisis.
The Board reviewed Proclamation #2025-07 for the purpose of proclaiming the week of
April 6-12 Library Week. Ms. Gray introduced Executive Director of the library system Andrew
Vickers. Mr. Vickers thanked the commissioners for having them always excited to
come to the meeting. As some know, two-thirds of their funding comes from the county so they
thanked the county commissioners and taxpayers who have a dedicated library tax which is
about $23.00 on average per year for the use of the library services. This includes five libraries
and an outreach department. He also thanked Patriot Federal Credit Union for sponsoring the
annual appeal every year and the 2025 annual appeal will kick off this week. He went on to talk
about the impact of libraries in the county in 2024. They checked out over 232,000 print books,
and audio books, they had
over 184,000 people visit the library, issued over 4,000 new library cards, the directors of the
library branches put on over 1,790 programs for all ages including story times, story walks,
crafts, arts, painting, book clubs, writer groups, STEM programs for all ages, cooking and
cookbook classes, chess and Lego clubs, quilting and anything having to do with a needle,
various do-it-yourself classes, language classes for Spanish, German, and French, Music clubs,
games and movie nights trivia, escape rooms, and computer classes. They also have a
passport office at the Besore library in Greencastle as well as some great community
partnerships with WellSpan with the mammogram mobile that comes to Coyle for two days
every quarter to give out 32 free mammograms to women in need across the community,
Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol to provide drug testing strips, xylazine wound kits and Narcan,
Penn State Mont Alto and Wilson to check out books fromthose universities as well. They also
have a library of things which includes so many different things from sewing kits to tents to
puzzles, blood pressure cuffs, and tools. He continued that there really is something for
everyone in the library system. With the support of the community, they just won the 2024 large
nonprofit of the year award for Franklin County. He concluded stating that he would be remiss if
nnual fundraiser coming up, 2025 Kentucky Derby party
rd
called Talk Derby to me at Menno Live Center on May 3 from 5-8 PM and invited everyone to
come. Commissioner Horst asked what the total amount of library cards issued was. Mr. Vickers
stated they issued 4,001 last year. Commissioner Horst then asked about the total amount in
the library system. Once upon a time it was 17,000 Mr.
Vickers thought there is about 32,000 total in the system.Commissioner Horst then read the
proclamation that has been made a part of these minutes. Mr. John Kilduff, Corporate Affairs
Officer for Patriot Federal Credit Union thanked the Commissioners for supporting the library
system. They have for the past 10 years that he has worked there, and this month is 10 years
that he has worked for Patriot and is retiring in two days
supporting. The
beginning
to know the
and the community. Every year they
and the team to reach out to Patriot
and it will be bumping up because he knows the cost of everything goes up, so reach out early
to get the support for their campaign every year. He and his wife are looking forward to
st
retirement and start on the 21 of April by going to Korea for six weeks. He concluded with a
retirement, always remember the
community. Commissioner Horst stated, speaking for all the commissioners, that given the
community involvement that Patriot has done is heartwarmingand a pleasure to see and they
really appreciate Patriot stepping up in this fashion.
The Board reviewed Proclamation #2025-08 for the purpose of proclaiming the month of
April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Ms. Gray introduced Director of Children and Youth
Minnie Goshorn. Ms. Goshorn first thanked the Commissioners for their support. They have
planted pinwheels at their office
Center to represent hope and awareness for child abuse. They plant the number of pin wheels
for the number of abuse reports they get each year. She also brought blue ribbons for the
community and the Commissioners to take. This campaign started in 1989 when a mother in
Virginia lost her three-year-old son to child abuse and she placed the ribbon on her car as a
symbol of his tribute and it took off from there. Commissioner Horst stated that he appreciates
all that she and her staff do for the children and some days it is probably stressful but at the end
of the day what they do is needed and greatly appreciated. Commissioner Horst then read the
proclamation that has been made a part of these minutes.
Ms. Gray reintroduced Director of Children and Youth Minnie Goshorn to present the
Children and Youth program to keep everyone well acquainted with the different programs with
their emerging trends, topics of interest and any concerns they may have. Her presentation was
made a part of these minutes. Commissioner Flannery asked what the situation was they dealt
with Ms. Goshorn explained that
was considered kinship because kinship does not have be to just family. It can be a close
connection to the family or had some people from schools and coaches and
different things step up to be foster parents for children as well. Commissioner Horst asked
about the average cost of a placement. Ms. Goshorn explained that it depends on the type of
placement. Foster care can be $80 a day, a residential facility or group home could be
anywhere from $200 to $800 a day depending on what services they provide. One of the
highest placements they have is $1,100 a day for a child who needs one-on-one care. Since it is
hard to place those children with intensive needs, those facilities can charge that much and
unfortunately when they have nowhere else to put
room, fortunately those providers are willing to take those kids and care for them, so they need
to weigh the costs. Commissioner Horst stated great presentation and appreciated what Minnie
and her colleagues do. To help kids is a calling and he appreciates that. Commissioner
Ziobrowski stated that he would describe what they do as the first responders for bad parenting
and improve dramatically under their care probably end up in juvenile
unfortunate
to understand that the county acts as a subcontractor to the state for many human services
programs and in most cases the state pays, its various different funding but 90-95% in the case
over $3 million a
year which, other than the court system, he believes is the highest local funding that they do.
The local
that. He wishes that the state would
mandated programs which of course increased dramatically after the Jerry Sanduskyscandal
butThe Commissioners support Children and Youth and hopefully what they do is a stitch in
time saves nine.Commissioner Flannerystated that he sits on the Children and Youth board,
andhe sees the numbers and just shakes his head and hears the stories and even gets calls on
occasion that he has been involvedwith over the years and sad. He continued that it takes a
special kind of person to do what they do and he really appreciatesit becausewhen he gets
that call Ms. Goshorn knows he is going to be calling her because
and she is able to work with those individuals graciously and get the job done. He told her to
keep up the good work and don'tgo anywhere, at least as long as he is here.
Commissioner Horst asked Mr. Vickers to introduce the board members that came to the
meeting. Mr.Vickers introduced Sue McLaughlin, Denice Bigham, Alice Elia, Joan Peiffer,
Georgina Cranston, and Jill Yaich. Commissioner Horst thanked them for taking time out of their
dayit was very much appreciated.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:09a.m. on a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski,
seconded by John T. Flannery.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
____________________________________
Dean A. Horst, Chairman
____________________________________
John T. Flannery
___________________________________
Robert G. Ziobrowski