HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-07 Commissioner Minutes
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 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.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
Kim Wertz from Chambersburg provided public comment and wanted to thank
Commissioner Keller for interceding on her behalf on her housing issue. There will be a
meeting between herself, the housing coordinator and the landlord tomorrow.
Allen Piper provided public comment and had questions concerning the IT
presentation by Mr. Crager last Thursday. He was taken aback when Mr. Crager related
to the new system and hiring of three individuals in the IT department. He did mentioned
one thing that the new technology could also track gun permits in the County. Mr. Piper
said he called Dane Anthony and had a discussion with him. Sheriff Anthony says it is
public information and Mr. Piper disagrees with him. He said after more discussion that
Dane said that will not happen and no one will be identified as having a gun permit in
Franklin County. Mr. Piper said this is not classified as public information and he would
make an issue of it. Also, in reference to the new positions Mr. Piper would like to know
exactly what the new positions salaries are and the salaries of the three reclassification
position salaries as well.
Jim Wyrick provided public comment and thanked Commissioner Keller for the
information he asked for. Mr. Wyrick wanted to back up what Allen said, that when Sean
mentioned the gun permits, it turned some heads. He left Maryland because of the gun
issue and came to Pennsylvania. He says there is not enough protection of the public
by the police. That was a red flag when Sean mentioned that. County staff should be
aware of certain topical issues since they work for the Board. Mr. Wyrick said people
are listening.
Ken Jones provided public comment and wanted to back up what Mr. Wyrick and
Mr. Piper said about the gun permits and notifications publicly. It does create a lot of
problems because it lets the criminal element know where the guns are. He does not
believe it needs to be public information.
The minutes of April 30, 2013 and May 2, 2013 meetings were reviewed and a
few corrections were requested. These will be approved Thursday, May 9, 2013.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Commissioner
Thomas asked that Mr. Crager be present at Thursday’s meeting to explain further item
#6, proposal from Candoris Technologies. John Hart, County Administrator explained
that this proposal will reduce file servers down to two locations and upgrade the servers
since they are to be replaced every 4-5 years and they are 5 years old now. He said this
will help increase speed because the system is very slow right now because of all the
servers. He will have Mr. Crager present at Thursday’s meeting to explain further. The
following items were approved today and the remainder items will be approved
Thursday, May 9, 2013.
Continued on page 2
The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved Resolution 2013-06 to provide
staff support for the Franklin County Metropolitan Planning Organization with the receipt
of a grant from the PA Department of Transportation.
The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to
execute the amendment to the contract with Martin and Martin, Inc. for preparation of the
Municipal Solid Waste Plan for Franklin County to include additional funds of $5,500.00
(covered by Act101, Section 902 being prepared) to address public comments and final
SWAC meeting as well as completing the final draft for DEP.
The Board reviewed additional Planning matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the board to execute the Amendment to the contract with Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc. to
extend the contract from May 18, 2013 to August 31, 2013 and include additional funds
of $3,500.00, with 80% funded by Federal Highway supplemental funds, to complete
contracted long range transportation plan required by PennDOT and FHWA.
Doug Amsley, Children, Youth and Family Services Director provided a
presentation on the Annual Report for 2012 for Juvenile Probation and Children & Youth.
Mr. Amsley reported that referral numbers for Juvenile Probation were 472 and the top
seven charges were: Drug or alcohol related; Magisterial District Judge referrals; theft by
unlawful taking or disposition; simple assault; disorderly conduct; and aggravated
burglary. He said that last year 606 juvenile court hearings were heard with 462 of
those dealt with by the Juvenile Court Master which has helped the judges because
these cases were previously heard by the judges. Mr. Amsley said there were 35 kids in
placement in 2012. There were 1,463 referrals to Children & Youth. In 2011 referrals
were 1,353 so it has risen and Mr. Amsley explained that Governor Corbett had
convened a children’s task force last year and there were all sorts of laws changed
because of what happened in Centre County. They are changing the definitions of
abuse and who can report child abuse. Mr. Amsley reported that Child Protective
Services investigates physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, imminent risk and
physical neglect. He reported that a lot of time and money is spent on truancy to keep
kids in school. He said that some school districts have staff that deal with truancy so not
all schools report truancy numbers to Children & Youth. Mr. Amsley reported that 119
kids received adoption assistance in 2012 and these are children that have a lot of
medical issues. He said the law has changed that the subsidy can continue until 21
instead of 18 if the child is still in school or is working. Commissioner Thomas
mentioned that Children & Youth and Juvenile Probation are put together because they
are related. This is the twelfth year with a single director and it’s worked out well.
Chairman Keller asked Mr. Amsley what they do well and what do they need to improve
on. Mr. Amsley said they are a very busy office and up until recently retained staff and
his staff are very motivated. One of the needs is foster parents due to having to go out
to providers to locate foster parents. He said they do a good job engaging families and
keeping kids out of the system but would be great to have more community involvement
with involvement of boards and community ownership. They have a good relationship
with the school districts and they are good at pulling down federal funds.
Ken Jones asked if an adoptive care home that existed in Franklin County and
used it as a business where they adopted 6-10 children who are mentally and physically
incapacitated. He asked how this is monitored because there were thousands of dollars
of supplies that were outdated at this home. What are checks and balances in place that
these people are not using these children as a business? Chairman Keller asked Mr.
Jones to provide exact information and place that he is talking about. Mr. Amsley
responded that there is no amount of children that anyone can adopt.
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Kim Wertz asked what happens if a child doesn’t want to see their parents, do
they have a right not to see them? Mr. Amsley responded that if child doesn’t want to
see a parent they don’t have to but they try to figure out why they don’t want to see their
parent. He said every child is appointed an attorney and if a parent is demanding to see
a child but child does not to see them, they try to figure out why they don’t want to see
them and sometimes have to go to the attorney at litum.
Allen Piper asked how does President Obama sequester fit into Mr. Amsley’s
department and Mr. Amsley said it has had no effects.
James Wyrick said it was an excellent presentation and he cited the
Commissioners for some good follow-up questions. He will put his questions on paper
and give to Commissioner Keller.
Commissioner Thomas said when there is an out of County/State placement they
become the responsibility of the County and schools.
The Commissioners thanked Mr. Amsley for the information and it was a good
presentation.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:59 a.m. this date for the
purpose to review a personnel matter. The Board reconvened into regular session at
11:45 a.m. No action was required after executive session.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS