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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-11 Commissioner Minutes Wednesday, March 11, 2026 The Franklin County Commissioners met on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 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. County Administrator Carrie Gray asked that the Proclamation for IDD Awareness Month be moved to the first item in the regular agenda. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; Seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved to adopt the amended agenda. The minutes of the March 4, 2026 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 who expressed appreciation for everyone working with individuals around the world who needed care. She urged the commissioners to consider installing solar panels on county jail property as a costsaving measure. She also commended students who had walked out of school in response to ICE- related concerns and stated she intended to question ICE officers if she encountered them in the county. She said she would provide further comments on the ICE issue at a later time. Ms. Jordan then discussed her experience participating in another meeting via Zoom, where she had been able to submit comments digitally. She encouraged the commissioners to allow county residents to provide digital comments. Commissioner Flannery asked staff if they did accept public comment and questions. Communications Coordinator Sheena Baker confirmed that there is a public comment form available on-line but there is not an o stated that the county has a public comments form on the website but do not have the capability for comments during the meeting. She also summarized public comments regarding the amended Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; Seconded by John T. Flannery Ziobrowski; the Board unanimously approvedto adopt the consent agenda to include: Vouchers in the amount of $1,641,553.50. Agreement between the County of Franklin and Brandy Eddleman DBA Allied Nurse Consulting LLC, for the review of medically needy cases and consultation with Agency Child Protective Services team on medically needy cases. The total encumbrance of this contract is $6,000.00 of which local funds will be $1,200.00. Agreement between the County of Franklin and Beidel Printing House, Inc for printing, binding, and delivery to the County of ballots to be used at the May General Primary and the November General Election at a cost of $59,276.00. This was bid and Beidel was approved as the lowest qualified bidder at the February 18, 2026 commissioners' meeting. The cost will be paid from the Election Integrity Grant. additional one-year period. The project aligns with Opioid Settlement Exhibit E approved strategies, specifically supporting treatment and recovery services for individuals impacted by opioid use disorder. Grant Agreement between the County of Franklin and House of Hope of Franklin County, Inc. to renew the Opioid Remediation Grant agreement with House of Hope of Franklin County, Inc. in the amount of $47,500 for an additional one-year period. Continued funding will allow House of Hope to sustain and expand these reentry and stabilization services, which support long-term recovery and reintegration. The project aligns with Opioid Settlement Exhibit E approved strategies by supporting treatment, recovery, and reentry services for individuals impacted by opioid use disorder. Grant Agreement between the County of Franklin and Shippensburg University Connection AOD Program to renew the Opioid Remediation Grant agreement in the amount of $17,026 for an additional one-year period. Continued funding will allow the program to maintain these harm reduction efforts, expand access to naloxone, and install additional ONEBoxes designation as an authorized DDAP Overdoes Prevention Partner. The project aligns with Opioid Settlement Exhibit E approved strategies focused on preventing overdose deaths and expanding access to naloxone and other overdose-reversing medications. Grant agreement between the County of Franklin and Insight Ed. LLC to enter into a three-year agreement with Insight ED LLC in the amount of $90,000 to provide program evaluation services for Opioid Settlement and Opioid Remediation funded initiatives from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2029. Continued engagement with Insight ED LLC will support comprehensive evaluation of settlement-funded programs, including data collection and reporting, program outcome analysis, and identification of trends and service gaps to inform future funding decisions and program improvements. These evaluation services will ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with the Core Strategies and Approved Uses outlined in Exhibit E of the Opioid Settlement Agreement. Approval of the listing of contracts executed by the County of Franklin on behalf of the Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol Program for the provision of prevention, intervention, treatment, and related services during a six-month period of State Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for 8/29/25-2/23/26. Grant Agreement between Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and the Franklin County Jail to allocate an additional $225,000 in Opioid Settlement funding to continue supporting the Franklin County Jail Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program. Previous settlement funds designated for this initiative have been fully expended. At this time, no alternative funding sources have been identified to sustain these services. This is at no cost to the county. COSSUP Grant project modification #6 between the County of Franklin and Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). SCCAP will receive no more than $60,500.00 for a period between 1/01/2026 and 09/30/2026: $50,000.00 that is eligible for Contingency Funds and $10,500.00 for the Moving Forward program. This is at no cost to the county. Grant agreement between the County of Franklin and Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to provide funds in the amount of $228,918.00. This is to -Responder Program by embedding Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) to provide peer engagement, recovery linkage, and post-crisis support. There is no cost to the county. Updates to the Notice of 504 Officer and Grievance procedures in order to redesignate the County's 504 Officer. This is at no cost to the county. Updates to various plans and policies required for compliance under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Agreement between the County of Franklin and Constellation NewEnergy, Inc to provide electricity at a fixed rate of $0.08541 per kWh for applicable County buildings. This agreement is a renewal which will also now include the following: Franklin County Jail located at 1804 Opportunity Drive, Chambersburg PA, Franklin Logistic And Training Building located at 1683 Opportunity Drive, Chambersburg PA Department of Emergency Services located at 390 New York Avenue, Chambersburg PA. The current contract expires in July, this renewal is for 21 months. The cost of this contract will be split across buildings, with approximately 47% being paid by the General Fund. armor as approved at the March 4, 2026, Commissioner Meeting. The approved agreement was between the County of Franklin and Uniform Outfitters for the purchase of body armor to ensure staff safety and compliance with protective equipment standards. This includes replacing expired vests and new vests for incoming personnel. These will be purchased throughout the year at a cost of $20,865.48 and paid for with a federal stipend. Approval of annual 2026 revised Liability Report including tax amounts. The Board reviewed regular agenda items. Ms. Gray provided a high-level overview of each of the actions. The Board reviewed Proclamation #2026-04 for the purpose of proclaiming March 2026 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Ms. Gray introduced Rebecca Weaver, IDD Program Specialist, to present the proclamation. Ms. Weaver expressed deep appreciation for the time and attention given to highlighting intellectual and developmental disabilities and the work being done in Franklin County. She shared pride in supporting and serving this population, noting that the goodness and light their clients brought to the world was the most rewarding part of the work. In partnership with Occupational Services Incorporated, a local provider, the bring people together while celebrating diverse abilities. Ms. Weaver explained that they were one part of the Human Services program, led by Stacy Brookens and Erin Nye, and supported by program specialists including Jane Klein, Marion Rowe, Heidi Lucas, and herself. She waiver management, provider support, incident management, and risk mitigation. She noted that the program supported individuals through county funding and state waiver programs, serving 661 clients in Franklin County, with 424 receiving financial support through waivers. 71 As the proclamation was presented, Ms. Weaver acknowledgedthe presence of representatives from local agencies, families, and individuals who wished to share their experiences. Ms. Chastity Miller explained that she was the mother of a young boy born with Down syndrome who was later diagnosed with autism. Like many parents in similar situations, she and her family had not received a handbook or roadmap, only deep love for their child and confusion about where to find help. They quickly learned that loving their child was not the same as understanding how to navigate the complex world of services, therapies, and support systems he needed. For a long time, she searched for resources, asked questions, and researched on her own, often feeling as though she were missing something essential. Everything changed when they connected with Service Access Management (SAM). SAM did more than provide a list of services, they opened the door to a world of support, guidance, and people who understood the needs of both their son and their family. Through SAM, they were connected to inhome behavioral therapy that helped them manage daily challenges and gave her son tools to communicate and thrive. She was guided to occupational and physical therapy at Kids Therapy Zone, where he gained skills they once feared he might never develop. They were also introduced to autism support groups, including the Autism MothertoMother luncheon at Grand Point Church, which made her feel, for the first time, that she was not alone. She emphasized that these services supported not only her son but also her as a parent. Offering direction when she felt lost, hope when she felt overwhelmed, and community when she felt isolated. She stressed that intellectual and developmental disability services were not extras but lifelines that transformed fear into confidence, isolation into connection, and uncertainty into progress. Without SAM, her family would still have been trying to navigate everything alone, gaining independence, skills, and opportunities that would shape his future, and she and her family were gaining the knowledge and support needed to advocate for him. She concluded that SAM had not just connected them to services, they had connected them to hope. Monica Miller, Regional Director, and Macy Domer, Director of IDD Services from Community And Residential Empowerment Services (CARES) of Central PA expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to speak about their program. Ms. Domer explained that Cares of Central PA was a provider of services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ages 18 and older, operating throughout Central Pennsylvania and newly established in Franklin and Fulton Counties. She noted that they had opened in late 2025 and were excited to join the community. CARES is an adult training facility, a day program operating Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The program provided transportation at the start and end of the day, removing a major barrier for families who struggled to transport their loved ones. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., individuals in the program participated in communitybased activities such as volunteering up to a 1,000 hours a month, touring historical sites, bowling, crafting, baking cookies for local workers, and working on personalized outcomes designed to build skills and independence. Ms. Miller emphasized the importance of offering a communityintegrated day program that supported everyday life experiences for people with disabilities. She highlighted their inclusive approach, their ability to remove transportation barriers, and their low staff turnover supported in part by providing company vehicles, which helped ensure consistent, familiar staff for participants.Ms. Milleralso noted that all activities, outings, and materials were fully funded by the day program, ensuring that no participant was ever excluded due to cost. They expressed appreciation for the Administrative Entity and SAM, who had guided them throughout the process and kept them informed about community events and opportunities for their participants. She concluded by saying how much they enjoyed being part of the community and encouraged continued involvement and advocacy. Ms. Domer explained that their presence in the county existed because people spoke up about what was needed, and they looked forward to growing alongside Franklin and Fulton Counties. Commissioner Horst thanked the speakers for their introduction to the CARES program and expressed appreciation for their presence and support in Franklin and Fulton Counties. He also extended hisgratitude to the staff, families, and all providers who contributed to the work being done. Commissioner Horst acknowledged that not every day was easy butreminded everyone that there were brighter days that outshined the difficult ones. He encouraged everyone to stay focused on the positive and assured them that they were there to help. Commissioner Flannery reflected on the positive impact that all the providers, families, and staff were having on the community, calling their work inspirational. He important need. He raised one concern, noting that a mother who spoke earlier had described feeling lost until she connected with SAM. He asked how resources and information could be shared with families sooner and how the process could be made easier for individuals seeking guidance. Acknowledging that the connection process sometimes took time and emphasized the importance of improving access to support. Ms. Weaver responded that more awareness was essential for helping families find the resources they needed. She noted that the more proclamations and public recognition there had been, the more likely families were to hear about available services and ask the right questions. She shared that a pamphlet of resources had been created to compile information for families but emphasized that continued awareness efforts were key. Commissioner Flannery thanked everyone again and shared that, while listening to the earlier testimony, he tried to imagine himself in the same situation, wondering what he would do, where he would go, and who he would talk to for help. He expressed how encouraging it was to hear that the family eventually found the resources they needed. Ms. Domer explained that although she did not have personal experience with her own children, she had nieces and nephews with autism, and she recognized how much families often relied on pediatricians for early information. She situation, if families did not speak up or ask questions, many resources remained unknown during childhood. She described another major barrier: the transition from childhood to adulthood. In school, especially in public school systems, students were entitled to services and had access to transition counselors and builtin supports. However, once individuals entered adulthood, those entitlements ended. Families had to apply for services, maintain eligibility, and navigate requirements year after year. Many parents did not realize there were steps they needed to take, creating a significant knowledge gap. Ms. Domer shared that she and Ms. Miller often visited high schools to work with transition counselors and present information about available services, not just from their own organization, but from all providers and resources in the area. She emphasized that the gap in knowledge was widespread. Commissioner Ziobrowski said that the key theme he heard throughout the discussion was inclusion. He emphasized that everyone was part of the same team and that every member was valued. Commissioner Horst then read the proclamation that has been made a part of these minutes. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved the proclamation. Warden Heather Franzoni provided an update on staffing at the Franklin County Jail, reporting that as of that day the facility had 50 fulltime employees, with the 51st beginning tomorrow and another new hire scheduled to start in early April. Human Resources had informed her that four additional employees were in the onboarding process, and the jail currently had four parttime staff members. She noted that training academies were catching up, with another scheduled for April, and that nearly all fulltime staff, except seven, had completed the academy. She expected this progress to address earlier concerns. She then updated the commissioners on the status of union matters. A few weeks earlier, county administration and AFSCME representatives had worked closely together after receiving a proposed settlement agreement from union leadership. Their shared goal had been to bring a proposal forward for a membership vote, something they had been working toward for at least 18 months. While she appreciated the collaboration and had hoped the agreement would offer relief moving forward, the union membership ultimately voted against it. As a result, the county will proceed with arbitration on several grievances and one unfair labor practice claim, while another grievance is anticipated to settle. Warden Franzoni expressed appreciation for the continued engagement from the union and reaffirmed that staff representatives remained committed to finding solutions that supported both correctional officers and jail operations. She emphasized that their focus remained on maintaining a safe, professional, and supportive environment for staff while ensuring the care, custody, and control of the incarcerated population. Moving forward, they will continue strengthening recruitment and staffing efforts in partnership with Human Resources while upholding operational standards. She concluded by reaffirming her commitment as Warden to the Board of Commissioners, jail staff, the community, the individuals in custody, and the taxpayers of Franklin County. She expressed confidence that a solution could be reached through the ongoing process and hoped to continue working with union leadership to develop solutions that supported staff, incarcerated individuals, and overall jail operations. Commissioner Horst proposal, stating that, from his recollection, it had been a fair offer and that the vote against it was surprising. He asked whether any information could be shared about the key elements of the proposal that had been presented to the union. Warden Franzoni explained that some of the key elements of the proposal stemmed from earlier meetings between staff representatives and union members, during which scheduling options were discussed. One proposed schedule was a 12hour shift consisting of four days on and three days off, with fixed relief days. AFSCME had indicated that at least 18 correctional officers supported this schedule, and both the union and administration believed it could safely and effectively staff the jail. This schedule was included in the final proposal. The proposal also included compensation increases. Staff would have received baserate increases with back pay to January for 2026, along with an additional two percent added to the previously agreedupon amount for 2027. To help with recruitment, the proposal included a one percent increase to the base rate for both 2026 and 2027. A retention incentive was also built in, offering compensation at six months and twelve months for employees who remained with the county for a full year. Additionally, administration committed to holding training academies quarterly to address concerns about delayed training. These components formed the proposal that was brought forward for a vote, which the union membership ultimately rejected.Ms. Gray stated that one of the confusing things that they are still trying to interpret is the fact that almost 40% of the eligiblemem Commissioner Flannery clarified that the correctional officers were under a union contract at the time. Confirming that negotiations were taking place about a year and a half before the contract expired. Warden Franzoni explained that the discussions were not only part of regular negotiations but were also tied to settling previous grievances filed by the officers. Commissioner Flannery stated as part of the proposed settlement, the county had offered pay increases, improved scheduling, and several other benefits. Despite this, they were not receiving positive feedback, even though a large percentage of officers had supported the proposed schedule. Heemphasized that scheduling was one of the major negotiation points and a significant factor contributing to ongoing issues.Commissioner Flannery asked whether it was fair to say that some senior correctional officers, those currently benefiting from the best schedules, were the ones resisting any schedule changes.Ms. Gray stated that it seemed like it could be a possibility. Warden Franzoni concluded that she appreciated all the support that she and the staff have receivedfrom the PrisonBoard, Board ofCommissioners, and County Administration. The Board reviewed Personnel matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by John T. Flannery; the Board unanimously approved the job description for DUI Instructor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.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 *May beassistedby Copilot