HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-12 Commissioner Minutes
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, April 12, 2012, 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, and the
Pledge of Allegiance proceeded with the business of the day.
The Board attended a Franklin County Prison Board meeting.
Chairman Keller asked to amend the agenda to include Chairman’s time to
answer a question from the last meeting. In addition, Mr. Hart has a resolution to
consider regarding the Nursing Home and an addition to the board action list as well.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously
approved to adopt the amended agenda.
Chairman Keller wanted to address the question from last week from Barb Moran
who requested to videotape the Board meetings. Chairman Keller responded yes;
according to the PA Sunshine Law pursuant to Section 711 allows a person attending an
agency meeting to use recording devices to record the meeting as long as the person
recording does not create a disturbance or blocks the view of the meeting.
James Wyrick provided public comment and read a statement that he would
rather have a root canal done as opposed to seeing the President of the United States at
John Hopkins because he feels the government is too intrusive in our lives and takes
resources from the middle class. Considering the national and world debt, he feels the
powers in control are using all the resources they can until after the election. Mr. Wyrick
said the future does not look bright, and he hopes the Board gives serious consideration
on all expenditures.
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 April 3, 2012 and April 5, 2012 meetings.
Chairman Keller asked John Hart, Chief Clerk/County Administrator to explain
the additions to the agenda today. Mr. Hart said the first item is Resolution 2012-06 for
repair of the generator at the Nursing Home. The unit requires a rebuild of the motor at
an approximate cost of $23,000.00. Mr. Hart explained that a new generator would cost
$150,000 – 250,000 for the total project. With this option we will get additional years of
life out of current generator. He said the Board is permitted to pass an emergency
resolution in accordance with Section 1802 of County Code if there are concerns of
health and safety of residents of the Nursing Home. Mr. Hart explained the second item
is a report to PA Department of Community and Economic Development to adjust the
categories of a Visitors Bureau Grant. The changes include $9,300.00 to improve the
website to make it more interactive and $28,865.00 for advertising of Ben Franklin
brand. There is no change to the grant amount of $38,170.00.
The Board reviewed Adult Probation matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the
County of Franklin and Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole for a grant to
provide reimbursement of salaries for the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017.
Continued on page 2
The Board reviewed Aging Office matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the Food & Beverage License to the PA Department of Agriculture/
Commonwealth of PA for the Mont Alto Senior Activity Center at a cost of $82.00 for the
period of April 5, 2012 through April 4, 2013. Since the Mont Alto Senior Activity Center
serves meals to seniors it is a law to have a food and beverage license that needs
renewed annually.
The Board reviewed Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $35.00/month for the period of April 10,
2012 through April 23, 2016, in addition a one-time payment not to exceed $ -0- to cover
non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child determine the cost per
month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial Participation program.
The Board reviewed additional Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert
L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $26.75/month for the period of April 10,
2012 through April 9, 2017, in addition a one-time payment not to exceed $ -0- to cover
non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child determine the cost per
month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial Participation program.
The Board reviewed Elections matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the Agreement between the County of Franklin and Living Faith
Chapel to provide facilities for use as a polling place on April 24, 2012 in the
Southampton-East precinct at a cost of $200.00.
The Board reviewed Grants Management matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Grant
Application to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) requesting
$229,673.00 in grant funds from the Drug and Alcohol RIP Grant for fiscal year
2012/2013. This grant will be used to support drug and alcohol assessment, evaluation,
treatment, case management and supervision services for eligible Intermediate
Punishment offenders and will help Drug & Alcohol and Adult Probation serve offenders
and get them the treatment that is needed.
The Board reviewed Grants Management matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute the Sugrant Award Notice from Pennsylvania Commission on
Crime and Delinquency for a grant in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Juvenile
Accountability Block Grant to fund the Juvenile Probation’s Summer Work Program and
add a Girls Circle Group Program for 2012. This grant will allow Juvenile Probation to
continue to mentor to juveniles and reform their behavior with positive reinforcement and
turn their behavior into a positive and reduce or eliminate them returning to the county
system. The Board approved this application on December 22, 2011.
Continued on page 3
The Board reviewed Visitors Bureau matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the amendment to the
Contract (#C000046514) between the County of Franklin and PA Department of
Community and Economic Development to make programmatic changes and
modifications detailed in Appendix A & B of the amendment. The original grant amount
of $38,170.00 is not changing.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Martin and Martin, Inc.
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection NDPES
Permit renewal application being applied by Whitetail Mountain Resort on property
located in Montgomery Township.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Curfman and Zullinger
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection NDPES
Permit application being applied by Bryan H. Klye for a land development site located on
property in Lurgan Township.
The Board reviewed Proclamation 2012-03 to declare National Public Safety
Telecommunications Week in Franklin County. David Donohue, DES Director, Bryan
Stevenson, EOC Communications Coordinator, Megan O'Brien, Ben Rice, Mike MCatee
and Juliana Schrecenogost, were present to receive the Proclamation. On a motion by
Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved to sign Franklin
County Proclamation # 2012-03 proclaiming the week of April 8 – April 14, 2012 as
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and that the attached proclamation be
made a part of these minutes.
Chairman Keller said the Board gave guidance to staff to work with Mental
Health/Intellectual Disabilities Advisory Board to further develop transitioning the
program to nonprofit and asked John Hart to provide a follow up on the process. John
Hart wanted to recognize Dick Shoap from the Advisory Board and that he invited other
members of the Advisory Board but they were not able to attend today. He said staff is
continuing to investigate the formation of a nonprofit, and the first item is issuing a
Request For Information (RFI), for outsourcing case worker services. This was part of
the process requested during the public presentation. Mr. Hart said this is not to be
interpreted in any way that the County is moving in this manner, but this is just to
investigate and see what the services will cost through a cost benefit analysis. Fulton
County has been involved in these discussions and is aware of today’s meeting. Mr. Hart
will give Jean Snyder, Fulton County Human Services Administrator, an update after this
meeting which will be provided to Fulton County Commissioners.
Mr. Hart said during public sessions one comment consistently made was that
the county did not provide enough information for the public and consumers to form an
opinion if forming a non-profit was a good or bad idea. As a result of this comment the
various workgroups including the Advisory Board and Fulton County staff are developing
additional information for the Commissioners consideration. Mr. Hart provided
information on the following workgroups: By-law workgroup will develop corporate
paperwork for the nonprofit; employee workgroup will define costs in wages and benefits
with moving employees to a nonprofit entity; cost benefit analysis workgroup will provide
the benefits and costs to move to nonprofit; community and health survey committee will
look at maintaining same level of services. These workgroups were asked to develop
preliminary documents for the investigation. After this meeting there will be public
meetings for participants to comment on the investigation. Mr. Hart wants this process
to be as transparent as possible but also need to provide enough information that the
public and consumers can comment. This information will be presented to the Fulton
and Franklin County Commissioners in a public setting tentatively scheduled for May 3.
Continued on page 4
If the Commissioners reach a consensus to move forward this information will be
presented to the MH/ID/EI Advisory Board for their review and input. The County will
conduct additional public meetings for the public, consumers and providers to review
information and provide input. Chairman Keller said that when we gave guidance it was
st
made clear that July 1 was not a hard and fast deadline due to wanting to do this in the
best and accurate way. John Hart responded that we still have our eye on this date but
it’s not set in stone. Commissioner Thomas said the United Way reported recently that
there is concern about moving away from government but there are a number of
agencies that are nonprofits and they operate successfully. He said maybe some
background of local nonprofits in existence would be helpful. Chairman Keller
responded they have asked for information from other counties that have formed a
nonprofit of their human services. Chairman Keller thanked Mr. Hart for the update.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS