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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-06 Commissioner Minutes WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2026 The Franklin County Commissioners met on Wednesday, May 6, 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 agreement 3.03 with PhivTechbe pulled from the agenda at this time to put some more logistics in place to have them qualify as a vendor. On a motion by John T. Flannery; Seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; the Board unanimously approved to adopt the amended agenda. There was public comment from Valerie Jordan who stated that she had just come from Texas Lunch, where she spoke with several groups of people regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Chambersburg. Ms. Jordan said she reviewed the county budget and calculated a negative $534,503.00 across five general government operations line items. She questioned how the county could transfer $792,546.00 into supplemental funds while not providing correctional officers with what she considered a fair raise. She explained that this concern motivated her to attend the meeting. She noted that she recently received a cortisone teachers. She questioned why the C quarter and stated that while tax increases can be difficult, they are sometimes necessary. She expressed concern about beginning the 2026 fiscal year with a negative $534,503.00 figure. Ms. correctional officers. She stated there should be no discussion of privatizing the jail. Ms. Jordan concluded by noting that her husband had been proactive in going to Guilford Township, where they learned the township had approved its AI Data Center ordinance before the county. She expressed hope that other municipalities would act similarly for the benefit of their neighbors. Commissioner Horst asked Ms. Gray to respond . Ms. Gray stated that she had spoken with Chief Financial Officer Teresa Beckner and fiscal staff, who provided responses to the concerns raised in Ms. Ms. Gray stated that Ms. Jordan was correct that numbers themselves are not political and clarified several points regarding the budget figures referenced. She explained that the reported $75,700.00 amount was not an actual negative balance, but a required accounting notation used to show spending relative to the budget. She emphasized that it did not indicate a withdrawal from any account. She further clarified that the $792,546.00 referenced by Ms. Jordan had been misinterpreted. Ms. Gray stated that this figure represented the total of approved supplemental funding requests outside the General Fund. She noted that county activities must legally be kept in separate accounting funds, and the transfer Ms. Jordan referenced simply moved already approved amounts into the proper fund. Of that total, $569,682.00 was the portion associated with the code Ms. Jordan cited, with the remainder moved to other funds. Ms. Gray also addressed Ms. iscal Year 2024 budget signed by former Commissioner Chair David Keller, explaining that the report Ms. Jordan cited reflected General Fund expenses only, which typically do not carry minus symbols because they are all expenditures. She added that the minus symbol in this context indicated that the county had spent less than anticipated, which is generally advantageous. Regarding targeted budgeting, Ms. Gray stated that the negative amount Ms. Jordan questioned reflected approach prevents overbudgeting and does not indicate overspending. Ms. Gray concluded by noting that the Commissioners had presented a wage increase proposal to the Jail union during ongoing contract negotiations, and that the union members had voted the proposal down. Kim Wertz commented that she had followed the county budget process for the past 10 years and had regularly spoken with Fiscal Director Teresa Beckner for clarification. She said she routinely asked how the county was doing financially and whether it was on budget, and she expressed confidence in Ms. problems. Ms. Wertz explained that, as Ms. Beckner had often described, county revenue and expenditures fluctuate because revenue includes fees and taxes that have not yet been received. She stated that the fiscal department could not determine exact numbers until actual revenue arrived, and she believed this explained much of the budget variation. Regarding She noted that many government and staterun vehicles, including unmarked black SUVs, look similar, and without visible lights or markings, it was difficult to determine whether a vehicle belonged to law enforcement, another federal agency, or was simply a private rental. She added that many state and federal agencies rent vehicles because it is cheaper than purchasing them. On a motion by John T. Flannery; Seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; the Board unanimously approved to adopt the consent agenda to include: Minutes from April 29, 2026. Vouchers in the amount of $1,201,448.37. Supplemental Appropriation of $225,000.00 to provide budget to continue the Medication-assisted treatment program at the Jail utilizing awarded Opioid Settlement funds. The net impact to the General Fund is zero since there is increase revenue offsetting the increase in expense. Grant application to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for APO who is seeking $195,734.00 Justice Reinvestment Initiative-2 funding to improve their supervision practices and program effectiveness. They hope to improve outcomes for individuals under supervision. There is no County match. The Board reviewed regular agenda items. Ms. Gray provided a high-level overview of each of the actions. Human Resources Director Tiffany Bloyer presented the Employee of the Month for April. The Franklin County Commissioners, on behalf of the STAR (Special Thanks And Recognition) Committee proudly presents the Employee of the Month award to Ms. Erin Witmer. Ms. Witmer has been employed with Franklin County since March of 2008. She currently serves as an Assistant Fiscal Director in Fiscal. The selection for the April 2026 Employee of the Month was determined by the STAR Committee. There were 17 nominations, four of which were for Ms. Witmer. Ms. Witmer stated that she typically worked behind the scenes and did not usually speak publicly, but she appreciated the recognition she received. She thanked everyone for her nomination and for those who took the time to write supporting comments, saying it was a true honor. She said she could not accomplish her work without the rest of her team and described it as a blessing to work with them. She noted that in her 18 years with the county she had worked emphasized that each team member was deserving of recognition and consistently raised the bar for success and achievement, both for the department and the county. Ms. Witmer concluded by expressing how honored she was to have been nominated and thanked everyone. Commissioner Horst stated that in his interactions with Ms. Witmer in the fiscal department, it had always been a pleasure to see her because she served as a steady and reliable presence. He described her as the rock and the glue of the office, noting that the positive comments made about the strength of her team demonstrated the type of team-oriented person she was. He concluded by saying the recognition was well deserved and congratulated her. Commissioner Flannery thanked Ms. Witmer for her work and stated that someone had commented she possessed qualities they themselves lacked. He added that he personally lacked many of those qualities as well. He said he could not imagine what the fiscal staff had experienced over the past year, noting that midway through the previous year the Commissioners had introduced a major change to the budget process by implementing target-based budgeting. He described this change as the best improvement he had seen in his seven years with the county, emphasizing that it had increased transparency for both the Commissioners and department heads. He praised the fiscal team for successfully carrying out the new process, calling them superstars and concluded by congratulating Ms. Witmer and thanking her. Commissioner Ziobrowskistated that during today's public comment he saw people's eyes glaze over when discussions turned to the budget and financial details. He said he was grateful that Ms. Witmer was in the fiscal office, ,to figure things out for the county. The Commissioners presented a check to Leigh Elliott, SCCAP Coordinator, from the Franklin Together Reentry Coalition for the employee dress down fundraiser that was held in April. Keri Kenney, HR Coordinator, said we raised $670.00 from a total of 135 employees from 22 different departments. Ms. Elliott expressed her appreciation for the continued support and assistance provided by the county. She noted that Franklin County Together Reentry Coalition did important work in the community and conveyed her gratitude to everyone who helped make that work possible. Commissioner Horst thanked Ms. Elliott for her work in the community, particularly in supporting individuals reentering society after incarceration. He emphasized that reentry was an important process and that those leaving the jail needed every opportunity to make a fresh start. He noted that these individuals had served their time and now deserved support. Commissioner Horst also praised county employees stating that they consistently gave of themselves and were remarkable to watch. He expended gratitude to both county staff and Franklin Together Reentry Coalition. Commissioner Flannery acknowledged the repetitive nature of these expressions of appreciation every month but wanted to thank Ms. Kenney for her work with the dress down program and agreed that employees deserved recognition. He explained that seven years ago he had known little about reentry and had not considered its importance. However, serving as a commissioner and witnessing conditions in the jail and the needs within the community had given him a new understanding of how critical reentry efforts were in helping individuals return as productive community members. He thanked Ms. Elliott for her contributions and expressed optimism for continued success in the future. Commissioner Ziobrowski noted that during prison board meetings, the county regularly reviewed statistics on recidivism and consistently fell below both state and federal averages. He stated that this lower rate was, in part, due to the work of the Franklin Togetherprogram.Commissioner Flannery affirmed that the county was falling below in a positive way and Commissioner Ziobrowski agreed, emphasizing that reduction in recidivism was a positive outcome. The Board reviewed Proclamation #2026-14 for the purpose of proclaiming the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, to be National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. Ms. Gray introduced Warden Hearther Franzoni. Warden Franzoni recognized National Correctional Officers and Employees Week and thanked the Commissioners, County Administration, and community partners for their support. She highlighted the dedication of Franklin County Jail staff, noting that their work extended beyond security to include counseling, crisis intervention, and assisting individuals with complex mental health and medical needs. She referenced recent incidents where staff spent hours ensuring individuals in crisis received safe and appropriate care. Warden Franzoni emphasized that Franklin County was a leader in trauma informed practices and praised staff for their professionalism, resilience, and commitment to helping incarcerated individuals work toward successful reentry. She expressed pride in her team, gratitude for the support she received as warden, and appreciation for the recognition of Corrections Week. Commissioner Horst stated that Warden Franzoni and staff were doing an excellent job. He acknowledged the challenges that come with leadership and noted that she continued to rise above them. He thanked her and the staff and expressed appreciation for all that they do. Commissioner Flannery noted that many counties in Pennsylvania struggled with relationships between Commissioners, administrations, and jail leadership, but stated that Franklin County had a strong and effective partnership. He said both his phone and the re always on, reflecting their commitment to communication and acknowledging the windy weather but noting it was still a pleasant day. He praised the jail and recognized that correctional officers faced constant challenges, including situations that continued into the night. He expressed that he did not envy the difficulty of their work and fully appreciated the responsibilities they carried. Commissioner Flannery concluded by thanking Warden Franzoni and the staff for their service. Commissioner Ziobrowski stated that many people did not realize that individuals convicted of serious crimes were sent to state correctional institutions, while those housed in the county jail typically committed non-violent offenses and often struggled with drug and/or alcohol issues. He emphasized that these individuals would eventually return to the community making the work of the jail staff, correctional officers, and Franklin Together critically important. He stated that their efforts played a key role in helping individuals and families rebuild and reintegrate successfully. Commissioner Horst then read the proclamation which is made a part of these minutes. On a motion by John T. Flannery; Seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; the Board unanimously approved the proclamation. The Board reviewed Proclamation #2026-14 for the purpose of proclaiming May Mental Health Month. Ms. Gray introduced Ms. Cori Seilhamer and Mr. Scott Grahm, CEO from the Mental Health Association. Ms. Seilhamer stated that May had traditionally been a time to discuss mental health. She explained that this year the Behavioral Health Committee chose to pair with mental health awareness with Physical Activity Awareness Month. She introduced the campaignsizing that physical activity was an effective way for individuals to check in with themselves and manage stress. She acknowledged that both work and life could be stressful and encouraged simple activities such as standing between tasks, taking short walks, or parking a little farther away to incorporate movement into daily tasks. Ms. Seilhamer reportedthat campaignmaterials, including employer toolkits, had been providedto help workplaces promote participation. She highlighted that the toolkits included free activities aimed at supporting mental health awareness and overall well-being. Mr. Grahm expressed appreciation to the Commissioners for proclaiming May as Mental Health Month. He Friday at 10 a.m. starting at the Chambersburg recreation center. The walk goes from the recreation center to the Chambersburg square and back for a free lunch and community fellowship.Commissioner Horstremarked that maintainingphysical fitness was an effective way to support mental health. He statedthat in his own experience, his mental well-being became or go for a run and that regular exercise helped him maintain focus. He expressed appreciation for the initiative presented and commended everyone involved for their efforts. Commissioner Flannery -being. He noted that about 80% of the county jail inmateswerediagnosed with some form of mental illness and asked whether the jail offered any organized activatesto support their mental health. Warden Franzoni stated that they had new exerciseequipment and exercise time was required by law. Inmates do lots of walkingand she hopedthatwith the new equipment to get the inmates out and exercisingmore.Commissioner Ziobrowskistated that he looked forward to walking with everyone on the 15th as he always enjoyed that. Commissioner Horst then read the proclamation which is made a part of these minutes. On a motion by John T. Flannery; Seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;the Board unanimously approvedthe proclamation. The meeting was adjourned at 10:53a.m. ona motion by John T. Flannery; Seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski. Carrie E. Gray County Administrator/Chief Clerk FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ____________________________________ Dean A. Horst, Chairman ____________________________________ John T. Flannery ___________________________________ Robert G. Ziobrowski *May be assisted by Copilot FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dean A. Horst, Chairman STAR COMMITTEE John T. Flannery Robert G. Ziobrowski Special Thanks And Recognition Committee Tiffany Bloyer, HR Director 272 North Second Street ~ Chambersburg, PA 17201 Telephone (717) 261-3150 Fax (717) 261-3156 May 6, 2026 The Franklin County Commissioners, on behalf of the STAR Committee (Special Thanks And Recognition) proudly presents the Employee of the Month award to Erin Witmer. Ms. Witmer has been employed with Franklin County since March of 2008. She currently serves as an Assistant Fiscal DirectorinFiscal. The selection for the April2026Employee of the Month was determined by the STAR Committee. There were seventeen nominations, four of which were for Erin. The STAR nomination form asks what recent event or occurrence made you select Erin and the answer stated: To start, I have heard people describe Erin as a “rock”. This is a very fitting description- we all feel that Erin can be counted on to deliver perfection on the most complex and high-stakes projects, whether it be crafting the personnel projections for the budget or navigating the County’s financials during the audit. For example, Erin is always tremendously patient when answering my budget and fiscal questions. My department is not one that submits a lot of contracts or makes frequent purchases, so it often takes a little while to become reacquainted with the required processes. Erin is always there to help whenever and however I need her. I am also not a numbers person -- apparently I was born without that characteristic -- but Erin never makes me as if I'm asking dumb questions, no matter how many times I ask them or seek clarification. Beyond that, Erin is always super friendly and kind. I'm sure she has difficult days on the job just like the rest of us, but it never shows. I am genuinely grateful that Erin is my fiscal rep, and I'm thankful she's part of the Franklin County team. Additionally, Erin often prefers to work behind the scenes, but the impact of her contributions is unmistakable. She has been a driving force for innovation and process improvement across the fiscal department, consistently looking ahead to identify opportunities for meaningful, lasting change. Erin doesn’t simply implement improvements—she thoughtfully evaluates every angle to ensure that the path forward is the most effective and sustainable solution. Her ability to balance practicality with innovation has resulted in countless contributions that have strengthened County operations. From spearheading paperless initiatives to leading the design and implementation of new fiscal forms, Erin has repeatedly streamlined and enhanced our processes. She has also improved numerous fiscal documents over the years, ensuring that the County’s financial position is communicated clearly, accurately, and appropriately for each audience. Furthermore, Erin’s ongoing support reflects her strong work ethic, her commitment to teamwork, and her desire to ensure others feel confident and equipped in their positions. She embodies the qualities that strengthen our department and create a positive, collaborative work environment. Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (717) 264-8474 Telephone: (717) 261-3150 Fax: (717) 261-3156 Website: www.franklincountypa.gov FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dean A. Horst, Chairman STAR COMMITTEE John T. Flannery Robert G. Ziobrowski Special Thanks And Recognition Committee Tiffany Bloyer, HR Director 272 North Second Street ~ Chambersburg, PA 17201 Telephone (717) 261-3150 Fax (717) 261-3156 Ms. Witmer’s outstanding characteristics are attributes that have not gone unnoticed by her peers. Those who work alongside Erin used numerous positive words to describe her. This included kind, patience, collected, team-oriented, dedicated, strong work ethic, innovative, sustainable, articulate, thoughtful, extremely dependable, and solution-oriented. We are so grateful to Ms. Witmer as she exudes a high standard of knowledge, leadership and excellence to the employees and residents of Franklin County. Sincerely, The STAR Committee TLB/EN cc: Personnel File; Admin Officer Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (717) 264-8474 Telephone: (717) 261-3150 Fax: (717) 261-3156 Website: www.franklincountypa.gov