HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-26 Commissioner Minutes
THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, July 26, 2012, with the
following members present: Robert L. Thomas and Robert G. Ziobrowski. Vice
Chairman Thomas presided and after calling the meeting to order, a Moment of Silence,
and the Pledge of Allegiance proceeded with the business of the day.
Vice Chairman Thomas informed everyone that Chairman Keller will not be
present today due to attending a meeting in Harrisburg. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to adopt the
agenda.
Allen Piper provided public comment and has questions relating to the bridge on
Store Lane that will cost of $366,000 for design services. He would like to know why
that bridge is outdated and what are the flaws? He is still concerned about the immense
amount of costs of these design contracts and particularly with C.S. Davison. Mr. Piper
asked what can the County do to reduce the costs? He is also concerned about the
agreement with Syntrio Plus Learning Management System for 1,000 launches for a
training. He doesn’t understand the description and he has a problem with the figure of
$10,500. Who pays for this? He would like an explanation. Commissioner Thomas
responded that his questions can be answered during board actions.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved the minutes of July 17, 2012 and July 19, 2012 meetings.
Commissioner Thomas asked John Hart, Chief Clerk to explain further the
engineering costs for bridges. Mr. Hart explained that PennDot has a process to select
a bridge engineer and there is a number of qualifying elements a firm must satisfy to be
eligible. The County put a team together to solicit firms and no local firms answered the
solicitation. C.S. Davison was selected per PennDot’s process. As far as cost of bridge
the engineer develops the tasks to be accomplished, number of hours for these tasks
and hourly rate they charge then PennDot reviews and adjusts as necessary. Mr. Hart
responded to the question about reducing costs. Since we receive PennDot funds, they
set the perimeters and there is nothing the County can do to reduce the price. This is
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) money and this is different than Liquid Fuels
money. TIP has a different requirement that PennDot makes everyone go through. The
negotiations are between PennDot and the bridge engineer not the County.
Commissioner Ziobrowski responded that this makes sense that the procedure is
dictated by the State and what Mr. Jones and Mr. Piper is looking at is a quarter of a
million dollars so he asked Mr. Hart who worked on the bridge crew what is it about
bridge design that costs a quarter million dollars. Mr. Hart responded that in order to use
TIP money the state determines the task that must be completed. Commissioner
Thomas said there are 79 pages of what is required of them to do, so it’s out of the
County’s hands. We happen to have two bridges on the TIP so have to follow their
guidelines. Mr. Hart responded to Mr. Piper’s question about why this bridge needs
replaced, this bridge has a low rating and structurally deficient bridges that are weight
restricted and one lane add to the deficiency of the bridge.
Continued on page 2
Commissioner Thomas wanted to respond to Mr. Piper’s question about the
Syntrio Plus Learning Management agreement. He said the County is a major employer
and has responsibilities to ensure that we have a workplace that is free of discrimination
and that includes diversity training requirements. This mandatory training is to protect
the County from lawsuits and if the County does not do this and got sued for a million
dollars Mr. Piper would ask why we didn’t provide training. This is an online training and
it’s just as good as classroom training. John Hart responded that there is money in the
Human Resources budget for training and then the funds will be spread throughout the
County departments.
The Board reviewed Commissioners’ Office matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the Federal-Aid
Bridge Project Reimbursement Agreement between the County of Franklin and PA
Department of Transportation to provide federal reimbursement to the County in the
amount of $192,000.00 for the preliminary engineering services being provided by C.S.
Davison for Bridge #54, Store Lane Bridge.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners’ 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 agreement between the County of Franklin and
PA Department of Transportation for C.S. Davison to perform preliminary engineering
and final design of Bridge #54, Store Lane Bridge T-572 for a total Phase I and II
Engineering cost of $366,710.44.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners’ 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 change order 1 from Wm. Orr & Sons, Inc. to
remove one section of guide rail at northeast corner of Bridge 125 for a decrease of
$362.50; to add guide rail at southeast corner and to add typical and alternate concrete
bridge barrier to Bridge 112 for a cost of $7,185.00; for a total cost of $6,822.50.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners’ 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 change order #6 from W. Harley Miller
Contractors, Inc. for a credit in the amount of $5,979.00 for modifications converting
holding cells to office space in the Sheriff’s Office.
The Board reviewed Emergency Services matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the Haz-Mat
Emergency Response Preparedness Report for Calendar Year 2011, showing that Act
165 generated funds were expended according to prescribed standards within Act 165.
The Board reviewed Grants Management matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the agreement
between the County of Franklin and Department of Community and Economic
Development for Emergency Solutions Grant – Hearth (ESG-H) Second Allocation 2011,
which would enable Human Services to provide case management as well as financial
and rental assistance for homeless county residents or those at-risk of losing their
housing at a cost of $240,000.00, with $120,000.00 covered by the grant.
Continued on page 3
The Board reviewed Human Resources matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the agreement
between the County of Franklin and Syntrio Plus Learning Management System to
provide 1000 launches for Online Diversity Training to employees, a proactive tool to
help create a culture of inclusion and respect in the workplace at a cost of $10,500.00 for
the period of July 26, 2012 through July 25, 2013.
The Board reviewed Information and Services matters. On a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the Quote from
AccessIT Group, Inc. to establish a secondary firewall to protect the internet connection
at the nursing home and offering uninterrupted services at a cost of $12,885.00 for
purchase and installation. This company is on state contract.
The Board reviewed additional Information Services matters. On a motion by
Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the
agreement between the County of Franklin and CGI Communications, Inc. to provide a
County Video Showcase for viewing a link on the www.co.franklin.pa.us homepage for
viewer access at no cost and shall be in effect from July 26, 2012 through July 25, 2015.
In accordance with PA Acts 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Shoener Environmental
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of a General National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System NPDES Permit application being applied by Roxbury
Project for Discharge of Stormwater during the construction of a solar power generation
facility in Lurgan Township.
James Faust, Nursing Home Administrator; Carol Knisely, QUnique President
CEO; Mary Kimmel, Finance Manager; and Alma Cullers, Director of Nursing met with
the Board to review the Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Governing
Board Report which is attached and made a part of these minutes.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:34 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Board of Commissioners
Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Quarterly Meeting
July 26, 2012
A.Operations:
a.Census and Admissions
i.Average daily census
169
170
168
168
166
166
165
166
163
163
164
AVERAGE DAILY CENSUS
162
2012
160
158
JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJUL*
(7/22)
ii.Monthly Admissions
iii.As of Monday 7/23/12; 1 bed was available on the short term rehabed
on the 3 long term wings, and 9 beds on the dementia unit.
b.DOH and Life Safety Compliance
c.Affordable Care Act initiatives
i.Hospital Readmissions
ii.Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
d.Administrator transition
B.Nursing:
a.Pharmacy transition
b.RN retirement
C.Finance:
a.Financial report
b.State budget impact
c.MA Day One program
D.Other:
th
a.Franklin Meadows Courtyard open house, Friday, August 17.