HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-17 Commissioner Minutes THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, September 17, 2015, 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, a Moment
of Silence, 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.
There was no public comment.
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 the September 8, 2015 and September 10, 2015
meetings.
The Board reviewed Aging Office matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the contract listing of all
contracts for Fiscal Year 2014/15 and Fiscal Year 2015/16 for the Franklin County Area
Agency on Aging. Contract listings are maintained for proper accounting of all contracts
including vendor name, type(s) of service provided and rate(s) charged for services.
The Board reviewed Commissioners matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Intergovernmental
Agreement between the County of Franklin and Waynesboro Area Advanced Life
Support, Inc. permitting the use of Franklin County's Analog/Digital radio system for
radio communication, for the purpose of public safety and service.
The Board reviewed Human Resources matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Revised
Confidentiality Policy 601.01 to safeguard all personal and confidential information of all
current and former employee records, financial documents, program delivery, current
and former client records and community members affected by such. This policy applies
to all Franklin County and 39th Judicial District Court employees and operations.
The Board reviewed additional Human Resources matters. On a motion by
Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the
Chairman of the Board to execute the Proposal from The Growth Coach (Dr. Bob
Whitmore) for a leadership development program for Franklin County Division Leaders
focusing on professional leadership development, for a maximum of fifteen participants.
This program will include twelve four hour sessions held monthly, at a cost of$9,000.00
plus $50.00 per participant for strength finder assessment for the period of December
16, 2015 through November 02, 2016.
The Board reviewed Information Technology Services matters. On a motion by
Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the
Business Associate Agreement between the County of Franklin and Goo le allowing the
county to internally exchange HIPAA information between departments.
Continued on page 2
The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Housing Trust Fund
Grant Agreement between the County of Franklin and Valley Community Housing
Corporation for the County to provide $60,000.00 to be used for the Mt. Vernon Terrace
renovation project in Waynesboro to be completed by December 31, 2017. This project
will increase the availability of affordable housing, improve handicap features and
facilities and improve quality of life.
The Board reviewed Tax Claim matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Exoneration for a mobile
home that has been abandoned in Village Green in Greene Township.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Rosetree Consulting
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection NPDES
Permit application being applied by We Kings Farm for an existing concentrated animal
feeding operation, located in Antrim Township.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, uchart Horn, Inc.
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Water
Quality Permit application being applied by Guilford Township Authority for a sanitary
sewer interceptor, located in Antrim Township.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, New Enterprise Stone &
Line Co., Inc. notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection General Permit GR079 determination application for the Chambersburg
blacktop facility to process pre-consumer recycled asphalt shingles as an ingredient in
the production of hot mix asphalt, located in Guilford Township.
The Board reviewed appointments to the Franklin/Fulton County Drug and
Alcohol Advisory Board. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the appointments of Mannon Renzella, Kelly
Childress and David Lyche to the Franklin/Fulton County Drug &Alcohol Advisory
Board.
Teresa Beckner, Fiscal Director, met with the Board to review the 2015 expense
and revenue budget performance through July, 2015. She reported there are
frontloaded expenses which create a variance for several departments but this will level
out as the year progresses. Ms. Beckner said general fund expenses, including county
share, are at 58.3% of budgeted expenses compared to 56.8% in July of 2014. She said
General Fund is right on track. Ms. Beckner reported revenues are 84.1% collected of
general fund revenue budget compared to 84.7% in July, 2014. Ms. Beckner said that,
regarding property taxes for 2015, the county's billings were $36,800 more than
budgeted and $366,600 more than 2014. Through July, collections are $400,000 higher
than last year, so the extra billings have been collected at the beginning of the cycle.
The county's average collections through July for the five year period 2010-2014 are
91.9%. She said for 2015, one mill generates $1,410,958 of tax revenue, compared with
$1,395,301 for 2014, an increase of 1.1%. Ms. Beckner reported the 2016 budget
preparations are under way. The packets are out and due back to Fiscal in a few weeks.
She said Fiscal staff is meeting with departments to review the 2015 projections as well
as their 2016 requests. In addition, Technology and Human Resources departments are
meeting with directors to discuss and help them plan their technology and personnel
needs. She will have more information for review and discussion on the budget in the
next several weeks.
Continued on page 3
John Hart, County Administrator, provided an update on the State budget
impasse to the Board. He said the state budget has not passed and he understands
there are various efforts to do stop gap measures to fund school districts and human
service programs. The County is continuing to pay for human service programs which
require 1.5 M per month from the general fund to fund them. He explained during his
last presentation that these are the most vulnerable people in the community. Some of
the services are mandated services. Staff is recommending that the County continue to
pay for human services. He continued that at the end of September we anticipate we
will be getting close to the 60 day general fund reserves. Staff will provide another
update to the Board in October and at that time staff will come back with other
recommendations but at this time he is recommending to continue paying bills out of the
general fund. He explained that our auditors recommend a 60 day general fund reserve.
He said hopefully we will hear from Harrisburg about a stop gap measure but he is not
sure at what level it will be at. Chairman Keller asked if we are seeing any funding
coming through at all. Carrie Gray, Assistant County Administrator, responded that we
did receive a check last week for the Transportation MATP program. She said this is the
only revenue that came through since they last met. Commissioner Thomas said the 60
days is revenue we use at the beginning of the year so that we don't have to do a tax
anticipation note (TAN) so at worse we would have to do a TAN. Commissioner
Ziobrowski responded that the state is not going to go bankrupt but they may not pass
the budget until spring. He said if we spend down our balance to nothing and have to
get a TAN, so be it. He does not want to see us cut our services because of a created
crisis. This is not a crisis for Franklin County but it is for some counties. He doesn't
want us to create a crisis that isn't there. He also doesn't want us spinning our wheels to
scrimp and save and not pay bills as that will hurt the providers. He continued that
reality is other counties are a whole lot worse than we are so we have the wherewithal to
continue services. Commissioner Thomas said that to be clear there are some providers
that get paid directly from the state, not through counties, and they are hurting. He
explained CCAP had a conference call 2 days ago about the stop gap measure but it
has been looked down upon from the Governor's office. He agrees they are going to
have a budget but not sure how soon and they are still far apart as there are serious
issues in Harrisburg. Chairman Keller said they want to continue to monitor this closely
and keep all options open. The board has expressed interest to continue services as
much as we can. He thanked staff for a lot of hard work. He would like to have this
discussion in October and take a look at our position. We need to maintain some
reserves since we could have an unforeseen need come up that may require funding.
Mr. Hart said staff will come back the second or third week in October and lay it out
options for the Board so they can make an informed decision.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS