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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-10 Commissioner MinutesTUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018 The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, April 10, 2018, with the following members present: David S. Keller, Robert L. Thomas and Robert G. Ziobrowski. The Board attended the Prison Board meeting. 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 G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to adopt the agenda. There was no public comment. The minutes of the April 3, 2018 and April 5, 2018 meetings were reviewed. These will be decided upon on Thursday, April 12, 2018. The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. The items will be approved Thursday, April 12, 2018. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, asked the Board to approve a special voucher to provide a check to the Borough of Chambersburg in the amount of $100.00 for review of a land development plan for a property in the Borough of Chambersburg. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the special voucher. The Board reviewed information regarding National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. John Thierwechter, Director of Emergency Services, along with a few telecommunicators and supervisors were present to receive the proclamation. Mr. Thierwechter explained that every year they have this week to recognize telecommunicators who are unsung heroes and often go unrecognized. Sometimes they don’t always know the outcome of the events they are helping with. He thanked the Board for recognizing them today. Chairman Keller said that telecommunicators help find missing individuals or talk people through delivery of babies, or instruct someone on providing CPR which are all critical life-saving skills. He continued that they do these things with professionalism and the Board is grateful for them. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to sign Franklin County Proclamation #2018-05 for the purpose of proclaiming the week of April 8-14, 2018 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and that the attached proclamation be made a part of these minutes. The Board reviewed information regarding Reentry Initiatives Month. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, explained that National Reentry Month is set for April and there are members of the Franklin Together Coalition present to talk about some of the events for Reentry Month. Dr. Kim Eaton, Chair of the Franklin Together Coalition, provided a few of the events for Reentry Month that include: a roundtable tomorrow at Summit Health to discuss returning citizen, employability and entering the workforce; on th April 18 there will be a reentry simulation at the Human Services Training Days; on th April 26 there will be a community film night for showing “ Life on Parole” which is a movie about citizens returning to the community after a stay of incarceration; on April th 27 Comfort Kitchen will host their monthly meal; throughout the month they will be handing out litanies to local churches; and at the end of the month Central Presbyterian Church will host a vigil . Dr. Eaton also mentioned the next Reentry Coalition meeting rd will be held on May 3 and she welcomes everyone to join them if they think this topic is important to them. Commissioner Thomas recommends the media participate in the Continued on page 2 reentry simulation to see how challenging it is to find a job while addressing multiple barriers like a criminal background and transportation. He said everyone needs to participate and the first time he participated it was an eye opening experience and it helped him change his thinking. Chairman Keller mentioned also the importance of the reentry simulation and how educational it is and it’s also fun. He is encouraged to hear about everything going on for the month and glad that they are including the church community on what is going on with the coalition. Commissioner Thomas said he is impressed with how far the Reentry Coalition has come in three years. He continued that this is the same trend that is happening across the country, eyes are becoming open to the importance of reentry and if we don’t set people up to succeed after incarceration, they will become re-incarcerated. Chairman Keller said that SCCAP has been a tremendous partner and how great it is to have Alaina Ingels from SCCAP present. Chairman Keller opened the floor for comments. Bernadette Bowman, from Esther House thanked the Board for having them here today. She is moving on to her next big adventure and leaving Esther House and opening a House of Hope with Maranatha Ministries. She brought a resident of Ester House with whom she is working. Danielle is successfully going through the program and will be going with her to help at House of Hope. She explained that 17 participants from Esther House have successfully completed the program. Ms. Bowman thanked the Reentry Coalition for everything they have done. Chairman Keller thanked everyone for being here and said th he is looking forward to the fourth 4 year of the coalition. He continued that they are making a lot of progress because of the efforts from the folks in the room and they are to let the Board know how they can continue to support them. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to sign Franklin County Proclamation #2018-06 for the purpose of proclaiming the month of April, 2018 as Reentry Initiatives Month and that the attached proclamation be made a part of these minutes. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, explained that John Hogan from GEO Reentry Services was present to provide information on reentry services at the Day Reporting Center (DRC). She explained there will be a contract extension that will need approved by the Board and within a month a renewal contract with GEO will be brought to the Board for consideration. She thought it would be timely to provide information on GEO services that are provided to DRC participants and there will be a special guest speaker. John Hogan thanked the Board for their partnership going back to 2006 and noted how inspiring it is that there are so many people here for the photo and proclamation that are involved in the Reentry Coalition. He works throughout Pennsylvania and commented that this attendance is exceptional in his experience. He explained that the Day Reporting Center (DRC) is an alternative/diversion program that Franklin County has always adopted which is a swift solution to alleviate jail overcrowding. The program focuses on high to moderate offenders which has the largest change impact probability. It also targets criminogenic risks/needs, uses cognitive- behavioral treatments, and tracks outcomes as well as results, not just in Pennsylvania but nationally. Mr. Hogan explained that GEO has a large footprint in the Commonwealth, including providing programs in correctional institutes throughout the state. He explained that they target the population of moderate to high risk offenders, probation and parole violators, and court-ordered reentry eligible offenders. They also assist in the following ways: accountability programming; self-sufficiency programming; and, behavior change programming. He said if a person stays in the program for a length of time, they see the value in it and there are inspiring stories. Mr. Hogan provided the Board with information from The Washington State Institute of Public Policy that found there was a 30% reduction in crime, 92% probability of a positive net effect and $6.38 benefit to cost ratio for taxpayers. He also provided information from a Shippensburg University study that showed a 62% reduction in recidivism for Franklin County participants at the Day Reporting Center. Mr. Hogan summarized by emphasizing why the Board should continue contracting with GEO. He responded that Continued on page 3 they have a proven track record, strong implementation and operational infrastructure. They provide training, provide quality assurance, participate external evaluations and are faithful to evidence-based models. They also have positive references. After a short question and answer session with the Board, Mr. Hogan introduced Dr. Kim Eaton to provide more information on the Day Reporting Center successful completion rates. Commissioner Thomas left the board meeting at 10:25 AM. Dr. Kim Eaton, Director of the Day Reporting Center, provided information on the completion rates from 2014 and 2015. She explained there were 127 graduates in 2014 and 94 in 2015 and her data shows a program completion rate of 63% for 2014 and 62% for 2015. Dr. Eaton provided additional information on participants in the Drug & Alcohol treatment services which were at 79% in 2014 and 83% in 2015. She explained that recidivism rates were 20% in 2014 and 23% in 2015 and that jail return rates were at 12% in 2014 and 14% in 2015. Felony rates were at 1% for each 2014 & 2015. Dr. Eaton explained that the program works and it works for a long period of time, three or more years. What’s important is that they work with people every day and they treat every person that comes into the DRC as a person and shows them respect and gives them the programs they need. Dr. Eaton introduced the guest speaker who is a DRC client, Mr. Randy Ott. Mr. Ott spoke and explained that he is just a guy in holey jeans and fishing shoes that has an addiction. He explained further his charges from a year ago, his first time in jail and how he chose the DRC even after hearing negative things about the DRC but he feels those people just wanted to get out of jail and didn’t really want to put their minds to getting better. Once he was in the DRC he found out that he can do anything he puts his mind to and he decided after he got a second chance to put more effort into this and go above and beyond. He said they really changed his thinking to call himself out and recognize his negative thinking. Mr. Ott continued that the biggest thing he got from the DRC was to change his thinking and they have so much to offer participants. All the DRC wants to do is help him. He said he was always a follower but now he has a chance to be a leader and he wants to help people and give back to his community. He said some addicts fail because they don’t feel they can relate to people that are there to help. They don’t grasp the concept that these “guys” are really there to help. If the DRC had more people like him to speak for them, their success rate would be 100%. He would love to see a 100% success rate. He thanked the DRC program and Franklin County for giving him the opportunity to find himself again and be a great father to his kids who never saw him sober but now they do. He said the DRC/GEO staff have saved his life. Commissioner Ziobrowski said the only thing he was ever addicted to was nicotine so he asked Mr. Ott what trigger does he have to allow him not to go back? Mr. Ott responded that he will never beat it but you have to change mentality to stay ahead and never get complacent. The DRC helped him realize this. Now that he is aware he will never win the war but he has to win the battles and never feel complacent. Chairman Keller thanked everyone for attending the meeting today. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:44 a.m. this date for the purpose to review pending litigation matters. Action will be required after the executive session. The Board reconvened into regular session at 11:02 a.m. After the executive session Mary Beth Shank, County Solicitor, asked for approval of a settlement agreement and mutual release that was discussed during the executive session. There is a confidentiality clause so she is asking for approval based on the discussion and having Chairman Keller sign the agreement on behalf of the county. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to execute the settlement agreement. Continued on page 4 The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by David S. Keller. FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS