HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-13 Commissioner Minutes
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, February 13, 2020, with the
following members present: David S. Keller, John T. Flannery 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 John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
There was no public comment.
On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid.
On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved the minutes of the February 4, 2020 and February 6, 2020
meeting.
The Board reviewed Aging Office matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the updated contract listing
for all contracts and addendums for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 for the Aging department.
Contract listing is maintained for proper accounting of all contracts to include vendor
name and address, type(s) of service provided and rate(s) charged for services.
The Board reviewed additional Aging matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and Greene Township
Parks & Recreation Department for the Area Agency on Aging Center Without Walls to
rent Pavilion 1 on October 17, 2020 for a 5K run/walk, at a cost of $120.00. The cost is
paid from the PA Department of Aging Block Grant.
The Board reviewed additional Aging matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the
County of Franklin and Karen Susan James to provide coordination services for the
checks and arrangement of training for the period of January 15, 2020 through June 30,
2020, for a maximum encumbrance of $6,000. Cost will be covered by the Human
Services Block Grant.
The Board reviewed Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by John T.
Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute Change Order #8 from Lobar, Inc. for slab moisture mitigation,
added guardrail, over excavation for November and December 2019 and delete cage on
roof ladder for the Judicial Center project, for a change order amount of $19,338.26.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by
John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the
Chairman of the Board to execute the Change Order #1 from Mann Plumbing and
Heating. LLC to supply and install RD-1 per the drawing schedule in lieu of specifications
for the Franklin County Administration Building, for a change order amount of $1,200.00.
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The Board reviewed additional Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by
John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the
Chairman of the Board to execute the Certificate of Substantial Completion for
Monacacy Valley Electric for the Franklin County Judicial Center Archives Building
Phase I.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by
John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the
agreement between the County of Franklin and West Penn Power Company for the
relocation of utilities, located outside of the existing right of way, for the replacement of
Bridge 121. The estimated cost of $13,729.26 will be reimbursed by 80% Federal funds
and 15% State funds.
The Board reviewed Election matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the Certification of County Maintenance of Effort for the HAVA II
Financial Assistance to the Department of State for the reporting period of January 1,
2019 through December 31, 2019. To qualify for HAVA grant funds the county must
certify each year that they are maintaining an expenditure level not less than the level of
expenditures maintained by the County for the 2000 fiscal year. For FY 2019, the
County has expended $545,866.48 while only spending $218,984.00 for the entire 2000
fiscal year.
The Board reviewed Human Resources matters. On a motion by John T.
Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the amendment to
the original agreement between the County of Franklin and Health America/Coventry
(effective January 1, 2015), for the provision of medical and prescription coverage to
the provider to Aetna Life Insurance Company; effective January 1, 2020. All other
terms and conditions of the original agreement will remain in full force and effect.
The Board reviewed Jail matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by
Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of
Franklin and the County of Centre to house adult inmates, over the age of 18, at a cost
of $65.00 per day per inmate, for the period of January 1, 2020 through December 31,
2020. This facility is PREA certified and abides by all PA Title 37 regulations. Centre
County reserves the right to accept offenders at their discretion. All medical expenses
accrued will be the responsibility of the County of Franklin. (This agreement replaces
the agreement approved on December 20, 2019).
The Board reviewed MH/IDD/EI matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the contract listing for all
contracts and addendums for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 for the Franklin/Fulton MH/IDD/EI
departments. Contract listing is maintained for proper accounting of all contracts to
include vendor name and address, type(s) of service provided and rate(s) charged for
services.
The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved motion to approve the Grant
Agreement between the County of Franklin and the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection for the Mosquito-borne Disease Control Grant in the amount of
$72,614.95, for the period of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
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The Board reviewed Reentry Service Center matters. On a motion by John T.
Flannery, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the
Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, acting through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(PennDOT), for the Franklin County Jail to be one of several jails in the Commonwealth
to pilot an Identification (ID) Program. Jail staff will identify eligible inmates and submit
paperwork and payment for new or replacement IDs. PennDOT processes these
requests and will send the IDs to the jail, to be given to the inmate upon release. This
process is meant to aid the returning individuals in finding employment as well as other
areas of life that require a valid ID for services. The rates charged for services will be
applied.
In accordance with PA Act notifications, C.S. Davidson, Inc. notified the County
of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection General Permit GP-11
Permit being applied by Washington Township for Baer Road and Waterloo Road Bridge
Rehabilitation, located in Washington Township.
The Board reviewed Personnel matters. On a motion by John T. Flannery,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the revised job description
for the following positions: Assistant Director, Emergency Services; Director,
Emergency Services/Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) and Assistant
Solicitor for Children and Youth. Ms. Gray explained that the Assistant Solicitor position
is vacant so the Director wanted to update the position description. John Thierwechter,
Director of Emergency Services explained the reason for revising the Emergency
Services positions is due to the Assistant Director may be interested in the Director
position and he currently has his certifications as Emergency Management Coordinator.
just have to get the certifications.
Kip Feldman, Letterkenny Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) Executive
Director, presented a request for the adoption of a resolution to extend the Keystone
Opportunity Zone program at LIDA. Mr. Feldman provided the history of the KOZ. LIDA
originally asked for land to be put into the KOZ in 1999 and had 280 acres in the
application including one building that has since been purchased by VOLVO and the
Commissioners approved this request. In 2003, LIDA asked for an additional 40 acres
to be included into the KOZ and in 2008 they asked for a variable extension period to
settle confusion, at the request of the State, and changed the expiration date to 2025.
Mr. Feldman explained that this is the best incentive in the state and they try to get
companies to locate to Pennsylvania. He said with the Department of Community and
Economic Development (DCED)drastic drop in funding plus the economy doing so well,
there are not a lot of incentive programs besides the KOZ. He continued that this is the
#1 real estate incentive for the state. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked why the KOZ is
important to the development of the land returned by the military base. Mr. Feldman
said that one requirement of KOZ is they have to be blighted. The supersite that is
active due to ground contamination qualifies as blighted. Plus they are not close to
interstate 81 when compared to other industrial sites. Mr. Feldman provided information
on the six properties that applied ten years ago and have expired and are now taxable.
He also provided information on current KOZ industrial properties that will expire in
2025. He continued that there are 15 current sites of 238 acres that LIDA would like to
continue in the KOZ through December 31, 2030 to attract more businesses. Chairman
Keller stated that when LIDA was established it was thought in 10 years all properties
would be disposed of and everything would revert back to the community. With
environmental challenges and the slow rate at which the federal government has been
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signing off and transferring the acreage to LIDA, it has extended the time. He believes
opportunity zone because it produces jobs and additional tax revenue. He said we
would not have seen the redevelopment that has occurred which in his mind is the key in
terms of his support for this. It is a redevelopment of military base assets that are no
longer being used. It is allowing re-purposing of this property for really important
commercial and industrial uses. He continued that there is a lot of international
presence that exists in Franklin County. They are good paying jobs and he thinks the
intent of the KOZ was to produce good, family-sustaining jobs and to repurpose the land
for commercial industrial uses for the best interest of the county. He is in favor of
extending the zone for another five years. Commissioner Flannery thanked Mr.
ith great incentives and
he fully supports it. Commissioner Ziobrowski agrees and fully supports it. He asked
about a road that was showing on the map and Mr. Feldman explained that they
discovered wetlands where the road was to go so they had to eliminate the road and get
the building approved. The land will still be a KOZ.. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked
Feldman responded that the state has certain criteria that have to be met by the
company interested in the KOZ. He said LIDA does not get too involved in other
companies financial records so they just put them in touch with the Department of
Revenue where they will be scrutinized. Greene and Letterkenny Township have
approved a resolution and after the commissioners approve he will move on to the
school district for their approval. On a motion by John T. Flannery, seconded by Robert
G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved Resolution #2020-04, which is attached and made
a part of these minutes.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m. with a motion by John T. Flannery;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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David S. Keller, Chairman
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John T. Flannery
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Robert G. Ziobrowski