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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-24 Commissioner Minutes TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 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 G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to adopt the agenda. There was no public comment. The minutes of the April 17, 2018 and April 19, 2018 meetings were reviewed. These will be decided upon on Thursday, April 26, 2018. The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. William Bechtold, Warden, was present to explain board action item # 7, agreement with Varangian Services. Warden Bechtold explained that this agreement is to provide a week long lethal weapon training to the CERT team. He explained they need this training to receive their certification. Steve Malesker, C.S. Davidson was present to explain board action item #3, agreement with C.S. Davidson. Mr. Malesker explained this contract is to provide engineering services and Bridge Maintenance Program for 2018 which is updated every two years. He explained there will be guiderail repairs at eight bridges and structural repairs at Bridge #128. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, explained the $44,000.00 cost will come from Liquid Fuels and/or Act 89 funds. Kara Shindle, GIS Coordinator was present to explain board action item #5, quote from ESRI. Ms. Shindle explained this is the maintenance contract that we do every year for our GIS software which is used by several county departments. She explained further the service provides training, technical support, and software updates so the software continues running. Michelle Moser, Planning & Development Director with TMCA, was present to explain board action item #8, agreement with Alan Collaut Associates. Ms. Moser explained that the agreement is to provide technical assistance and support for the Human Services Data Warehouse Project. Alan Collaut will be assisting with loading and transferring data into the County’s repository from the eight different department State systems. Carrie Gray mentioned the funds to pay for this contract is a 60/40 split with the County paying 60% and TMCA paying 40%. She also explained the $60,000 will be covered by the Human Services Block Grant. Steve Nevada, Assistant County Administrator, provided more information on the data warehouse and how the information being collected will be used by the County. The items will be approved Thursday, April 26, 2018. Tiffany Bloyer, Human Resources Director, and members of the Special Thanks and Recognition Committee (STAR) were present to honor the Employee of the Month for April. Elizabeth Johnston has worked with the County’s Children and Youth Services since 2011. The selection for the April 2018 Employee of the Month was determined by the STAR Committee based on the numerous nominations Elizabeth received. There were a total of 13 nominations. T In May of 2017, Ms. Johnston was promoted to Caseworker III, and was tasked with creating new Adoption Assistance contracts, as well as updating the contacts. Since accepting this position less than one year ago, Ms. Johnston has assisted in achieving permanency for 18 children through Adoption Assistance contracts. Ms. Johnston is also an integral member of the Casey Family Foundation’s Permanency Roundtable Committee in Franklin County. As a member, Ms. Johnston has helped numerous children have a more favorable permanency outcome, with her “outside the box” ideas. She has achieved permanency for 12 children through adoption, not to mention the numerous children who were able to remain in their homes or were successfully reunified with their families due to her diligent casework practices. Continued on page 2 Ms. Johnston has a polite disposition and she is committed to helping the Franklin County families with whom she works. Ms. Johnston is always looking for additional resources and supports for families in order for them to meet their goals. Ms. Johnston’s character and integrity are incredible and she leads by example, utilizing her outstanding social work skills. Her passion is to help children and families become successful. Ms. Johnston is willing to assist other caseworkers, when they need her help, and other caseworkers seek her guidance. She is an exceptional employee that requires minimal guidance and supervision. Her immediate co-workers see her as being compassionate; able to easily work with all of her clients, and Ms. Johnston is her clients’ biggest advocate. Ms. Johnston’s outstanding characteristics are attributes that have not gone unnoticed by her peers. The nomination form described her as an exceptional employee with shining listening skills, positive teamwork abilities, cooperative and compassionate. We are grateful to Ms. Elizabeth Johnston as she exudes a high standard of customer service, excellence and respect to the employees and residents of Franklin County. Elizabeth Grant, Planner, introduced Corey Alleman who lives in the Borough of Chambersburg, works as a psychotherapist and has assisted homeowners in planting trees. He has helped plant 918 trees throughout Franklin County. Corey Alleman explained why he is personally passionate about planting trees. He said there are dozens of benefits for planting trees. A few reasons he mentioned are: noise and air pollution reduction; increased property values; mental health benefits; and reductions in crime. He also explained that trees help with stormwater runoff. A mature tree can intercept 30% of rain from a storm before it hits the ground. Trees also help with heating and cooling since surfaces are cooler under trees. He said the expense to plant a tree is minimal and there is little maintenance. Mr. Alleman also mentioned that trees reduce speeding by 5-15 MPH when there is a well-defined street edge. Chairman Keller said he knew a lot of good reasons for planting a tree but not all of the benefits that Mr. Alleman mentioned. He explained that the County has a tree initiative titled “Plant a Tree, Preserve Our Future” to promote the importance of trees. Mr. Alleman explained that since it’s difficult to establish an organization such as a 501C3 the quickest way for him to get involved is to help as a neighbor or friend and present himself during projects and provide information. Commissioner Thomas mentioned the benefits of planting trees along the stream on Franklin Farm Lane at the Eco Park. He appreciates what Mr. Alleman is doing. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked what started Mr. Alleman’s excitement to plant all these trees. Mr. Alleman explained the general concern for the ecosystem’s health, clean water, and clean air. He enjoys digging a hole and planting a tree. The Commissioners presented Mr. Alleman with a certificate of appreciation for all his hard work. The Board reviewed information regarding Earth Celebration Day. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to sign Franklin County Proclamation #2018-08 proclaiming April 28, 2018 as Earth Celebration Day in Franklin County and that the attached proclamation be made a part of these minutes. Chairman Keller mentioned the earth day celebration activities will be held on th Saturday, April 28, at the Renfrew Park in Waynesboro. The Board met with Tiffany Bloyer, Human Resources Director, the Controller Harold Wissinger and Teresa Beckner, Fiscal Director, for Salary Board matters. Mary Beth Shank, County Solicitor, was present to ask approval for advertisement of an Ordinance to enter into an intergovernmental agreement for the development and operation of a regional telecommunication system (South Central Inter-County Communications Network) among Franklin, Dauphin and Adams counties. Ms. Shank explained that the Franklin County Department of Emergency Services is working with Dauphin and Adams counties to enhance delivery of voice and data to support public safety and nonpublic safety operations among the three counties. She said the Board received a presentation in December and passed a resolution to join with Continued on page 3 the other two counties on this joint radio system. She explained that Dauphin County had received a favorable contract with Motorola and locked in a good interest rate so this system will save all three counties money. She is here today to get authorization to advertise the ordinance in a local newspaper. The full text of the ordinance will be available on the County’s website, on the Commissioners’ Office counter and at the th newspaper office. She will be back on May 10 along with the Emergency Services Director to seek approval of the ordinance. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to authorize Ms. Shank to advertise the ordinance. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:42 a.m. this date for the purpose to review real estate matters. No action will be required after the executive session. The Board reconvened into regular session at 11:33 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 11:34 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas. FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS