HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-03 Commissioner Minutes
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, July 3, 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, a Moment
of Silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance proceeded with the business of the day.
Chairman Keller asked to include General Discussion on the agenda. On a
motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved
to adopt the amended agenda.
Kim Wertz provided public comment and asked if the Board can give her
preliminary figures on the State budget cuts that will have an effect on Human Service
programs. Chairman Keller responded that this will be discussed during general
discussion.
The minutes of June 19, 2012, June 26 and June 28, 2012 meetings were
reviewed. These will be approved Thursday, July 5, 2012.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Commissioner
Thomas asked to approve the Nursing Home agreement with Summit Health due to the
current agreement expired. The following item was approved today and the remainder
items will be approved Thursday, July 5, 2012.
The Board reviewed Nursing Home matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and Summit Health
to provide comprehensive medical treatment, including inpatient acute care and
outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic care and to pay for services rendered at a cost
according to the fee schedule based on service provided for the period of July 1, 2012
through June 30, 2013. Summit is the only hospital locally available to provide these
services to the FSNRC residents.
Chairman Keller asked John Hart, Chief Clerk/County Administrator to update the
Board on Human Services program funding. Mr. Hart responded the budget has been
passed and the block grant process changed every day until passage. The percentages
of cuts will be Mental Health at 7.6%, Intellectual Disabilities at 9.2%, Human Services
Development Fund at 10%, Homeless Assistance at 10%, Drug & Alcohol at 10% and
there is a 10% cut for child welfare special grants encompassed in Fund 48. It is difficult
to calculate what that cut will be at this time. Whether a block grant county or not,
counties will begin utilizing a newly developed streamlined financial reporting process
and a comprehensive planning process combining the impacted line items. Carryover of
funds will be returned to the State and utilizing a formula these funds will be reallocated
back to counties that are overspent. Payment structure will change so the County will
receive advance payments from the State every quarter. With the possibility of
reallocating funds, this could be a benefit to Franklin County. 20 Counties are eligible for
block grant funding and Department of Public Welfare (DPW) will develop a competitive
process in the next 2 weeks. If Franklin County chooses to go block grant, the first year
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will be 20% of funds will be block grant, 2 year 25%, 3 year 50%, 4 year 75% and 5
year 100%. Pilot counties can request to increase their block grant allocation by asking
for a waiver from the state. Mr. Hart said if Franklin County is selected as a pilot county
and decide later we do not want to continue, we can drop out of plan. Mary Beth Shank,
County Solicitor needs to review the intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County to
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determine the process and requirements in proceeding to block grant funding. DPW has
developed a short check list to designate a team and an executive level person to
receive all information related to block grant funding. Mr. Hart is recommending the
Board instruct staff to put a work group together. There is a DPW requirement that
certain fiscal information must be submitted as part of the block grant application
process. Staff will determine and discuss data collection needs to illustrate categorical
spending. DPW may require the county to identify initiatives as part of the application
process. The county is required to designate individuals as outlined by DPW for points
of contacts. Chairman Keller responded that sounds like the Board needs to put a
workgroup together who will report back to Board as soon as possible. Mr. Hart advised
he had preliminary discussions with staff pertaining to gathering information and a to do
list with timelines in order to be in a posture to be ready to go. Commissioner Thomas
reported a couple of line items that he was pleased how they turned out: Medical
Assistance funding at Nursing Home was supposed to be 2% but now it’s flat funding;
Conservation funding only received a 1% reduction; Penn State Extension program
stayed flat; and County Fairs funding increased a little. Chairman Keller responded that
he is pleased that funding was restored to last year’s level for libraries. He said CCAP’s
position is they would like to see funding for most of these areas restored as revenues
become available. Chairman Keller thanked Mr. Hart for the update and Commissioner
Thomas’s report of better news. Commissioner Thomas reported that there was a
conference call that pointed out how much time has been spent by CCAP and DPW on
negotiations and he applauded the governor’s office in communicating with
Commissioners. Chairman Keller is not happy about the funding situation but a positive
working relationship has been established with the Governor’s office, DPW, and CCAP.
Franklin County does not get a fair share of funding for these programs due to out of
date funding formulas. Commissioner Thomas responded that legislation requires they
look at equitable funding across the state.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 9:51 a.m. this date for the
purpose to review real estate transaction matters. The Board reconvened into regular
session at 10:22 a.m. No action will be required after executive session.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:34 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS