HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-03 Commissioner Minutes
WEDNESDAY, December 3, 2025
The Franklin County Commissioners met on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with the
following members present: Dean A. Horst, John T. Flannery, and Robert G. Ziobrowski.
Commissioner Horst then presided and after calling the meeting to order, a Moment of Silence,
and the Pledge of Allegiance, proceeded with the business of the day.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
The minutes of the November 26, 2025 meeting were reviewed. On a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved to adopt the
minutes.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board
unanimously approved the consent agenda items to include:
All bills presented and ordered paid in the amount of $1,541,966.59.
First revision of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Early Intervention Annual Report of Income
and Expenditures. A revision was needed due to a shifting of administrative expenses. Overall,
the bottom line remains the same with County Share, paid with General Funds, remaining
unchanged at $155,822.00.
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Dell Technologies to renew all of our
Adobe licensing for the next year. It includes Adobe Pro, Sign, and Creative Cloud licenses that
are used in various parts of the County at a cost of $45,260.05. This will be paid by an allocation
across all operations. About 68% is estimated to 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.
Assistant County Administrator John Thierwechter stated that the County is considering
a proposal to log high-value timber on Franklin Farm Lane. They are working with a locally
connected company, represented by Paul Scarlata, who has experience in the tri-state area.
Acknowledging their lack of expertise in timber management, the Commissioners plan to bring
in this company to identify valuable trees, calculate board footage, and facilitate a bidding
process among loggers. Commissioner Horst wanted to clarify that this will not be a clear cut.
Mr. Thierwechter stated that this is just for select trees. Agreement between the County of
Franklin and Shenandoah Forestry Services LLC as an agent to prepare and distribute a timber
sale prospectus for the purposes of harvesting trees located on Franklin Farm Lane,
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Franklin County will pay the agent ten percent (10%) of the
agreed sale price of the designated timber. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by
John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved the contract.
Ms. Gray introduced Drug and Alcohol Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC)
Specialist Joey Bailey to discuss the grant agreement between the County of Franklin (as the
funder) and Emergency Health Services Federation, Inc. for a 2026 program focused on the
expansion of warm handoff and recovery services, support for pregnant and postpartum
women, overdose death prevention and opioid abuse programs in the amount of $45,000.00.
This will be paid with opioid settlement funds. Mr. Bailey stated that the initiative, known as
Compassionate Overdose Response Education (CORE), launched in 2023, was designed to
strengthen the role of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addressing substance use
disorder (SUD). Through this partnership, Franklin County received support to reduce stigma
surrounding SUD among EMS providers, expand access to naloxone and recovery resources
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providers and enhance data collection to inform strategic planning and overdose response. This
program will give them the tools to identify overdose hotspots in real time and respond with
targeted outreach. It is a proactive approach that aligned with our opioid settlement strategy and
our broader community health goals.The initiative was funded through opioid settlement dollars
supported the ongoing efforts of Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol to reduce overdose deaths
and expand recovery access. As of early December 2025, Franklin County had recorded only
seven overdose deaths, down from 15 at the same time last year. While this progress was
encouraging, Mr. Bailey emphasized that even one death was too many. On a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved the contract.
The Board conducted a bid opening for Inmate Exercise Equipment Replacements for
the Franklin County Jail. The following bidders submitted bids per the attached document titled
Inmate Exercise Equipment Replacements for the Franklin County Jail
Products Inc. of McMurray, Pennsylvania for $26,010.00, Triactive USA Fitness Equipment of
Santa Fe Springs, California for $36,708.00 and Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems of Nova Scotia
for $29,850.00. Warden Franzoni stated this will be paid form the Inmate Welfare Account which
is funded through commissions from commissary purchases and inmate telephone calls. By
statute, these funds are restricted and must be used exclusively for inmate enrichment and well-
beingnot for payroll or general operating expenses. The existing equipment, which was over
20 years old, had become severely limited in functionality. The upgrade was made in
accordance with Title 37 requirements, which mandate access to large muscle group activity for
inmates. The new equipment is expected to support both the physical and mental health of
incarcerated individuals. Commissioner Flannery emphasized the importance of clarifying the
sources of funding in social media posts to address public misconceptions. He also highlighted
his commitment to reinvesting those funds into supporting the physical and mental health of
individuals in the county jail. Commissioner Horst asked when staff would have a
recommendation. Ms. Gray confirmed with Ms. Harmon that they can come back in one week
with a recommendation.
The meeting was recessed at 10:23 a.m. on a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by John T. Flannery.
The meeting was reconvened for Retirement Board at 1:04 p.m. on a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery.
Retirement Board was adjourned at 2:04p.m.on a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by John T. Flannery.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:14p.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
Bid List
Inmate Exercise Equipment Replacements for the Franklin County Jail
Bids accepted until: 04:00 PMBid Opening: 10:00 AM
Tuesday, 12/2/2025Wednesday, 12/3/2025
Total Cost
1.Webster's Fitness Products Inc.$26,010.00
McMurray, PA
2.Triactive USA Fitness Equipment$36,708.00
Santa Fe Springs, California
3.Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems$29,850.00
Nova Scotia
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