HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-15 Commissioner Minutes
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, June 15, 2017, 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 L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
There was no public comment.
Chairman Keller said staff has asked the Board to hold off on a few items from
the list of warrants on today’s voucher listing. He explained that more documentation is
needed before they are approved. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by
Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved bills presented and ordered paid with the
exception of the following voucher numbers: 570673, 570926, 570726, and 571414.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved the minutes of the June 6, 2017 and June 8, 2017 meetings.
The Board reviewed MH/ID/EI matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the joinder agreement
between the County of Franklin and the County of Fulton to maintain joint Mental Health,
Intellectual Disabilities, Early Intervention and Drug and Alcohol programs for the period
of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
The Board reviewed Risk 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 service agreement between the County of Franklin AutoClear
LLC for preventive maintenance on the County’s five x-ray scanners for a one-time cost
of $2,100.00, paid for by the Worker’s Compensation Trust. There is no cost for the two
units currently under warranty.
The Board reviewed Veterans Affairs matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement
between the County of Franklin and Nolan-Carlson, LLC DBA Good Dog Boarding and
Training for dog training services for Operation Save-A-Vet, Save-A-Pet service dog
program in the amount of $26,000.00, for the period of June 1, 2017 through May 31,
2018. Funded by the Veterans Trust Fund Grant and Veterans Affairs Outreach Fund.
In accordance with PA Acts 14, 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Letterkenny Army
Depot notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Title V General Permit renewal application being applied for their existing operations.
The Board reviewed information on proclaiming June 15, 2017 as Elder Abuse
Awareness Day. Chairman Keller said he is pleased to have law enforcement and the
Coroner present for today’s proclamation. He asked Traci Kline, Area Agency on Aging
Director, to set the stage for today. Ms. Kline explained that today is World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day and this is something that allows us and others around the world to give
more attention to elder abuse. She explained that part of what they do is to educate the
public about what to do when someone encounters a problem or situation. This year
they wanted to make a bigger show of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day so
representatives from the Elder Abuse Task Force are in attendance including: Franklin
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County District Attorney’s Office, PA State Police, PA Department of Aging, Protective
Services at Temple University, Coroner, and a representative from F&M Trust Bank.
Ms. Kline said that in 2016, there were 315 reports of need for people ages 18 and older
and 60 & older adults were 275 of those reports which were all investigated. She has
three protective services staff who investigate all these reports of need. District Attorney
Matt Fogal said he is appreciative of the Board for recognizing today and said this is a
total collaborative and team effort. He thanked Laura Kerstetter for leading the charge in
his office. He is glad to support Area Agency on Aging as they lead this effort and
thanked them on the record today. Ms. Kerstetter said that most of the elder abuse is
financial abuse and the Task Force reviews cases at any time that any police
department has a case that they don’t know what to do with. She said it is a group effort
and a lot of good has come out of the Task Force.
Commissioner Thomas asked Ms. Kline to explain the age 18 and above cases.
Ms. Kline said they receive reports for anyone 18 and older but the Aging Office only
investigates 60 and above and an agency called Liberty investigates the ages 18 – 59
cases. Commissioner Thomas asked with the drug abuse crisis in our area, is there a
commonality with drug abuse and elder abuse. Ms. Kerstetter said it seems to be selfish
offsprings who think they are entitled to their parent’s money, not necessarily drug use.
Jeff Conner, Coroner, explained further that Power of Attorneys are written too freely
and they are gifting money to themselves. He said they need to be written in favor of the
elderly person and not themselves. They are mostly buying material things like boats,
cars, houses and trips.
Chairman Keller said that the Board of Commissioners receives monthly Human
Services reports and as part of that report, they saw there were 23 cases of elder abuse
in the month of May and 11 were for sexual abuse, 10 were neglect and 6 were financial.
Ms. Kline explained that there could be several allegations in the same case. She said
this month alone there were 17 so far and there is a spike in the summer months.
Chairman Keller asked if cases are on the rise because more cases are being reported
because of awareness. Ms. Kline said that more people are reporting and District
Attorney Fogal said that it’s due to awareness as he sees that a lot in child abuse cases
and with the heroin crisis, when there is a laser focus on an issue, they see more of the
problem.
Ms. Kline said she wanted to mention that she has talked to other Area Agency
on Aging’s who have a Task Force and she found out that we have a very active task
force. We have a coroner on our task force as well which is unusual in other counties.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved to sign Franklin County Proclamation #2017-15 proclaiming June
15, 2017 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day and that the attached proclamation be made a
part of these minutes.
Mary Beth Shank, County Solicitor, asked the Board to consider adopting a
resolution authorizing an agility agreement between PennDOT and the County. Ms.
Shank explained that the County has previously entered into these agility agreements in
the past but the last one has expired. This agreement provides for a large range of
services and that this agreement will allow PennDOT to provide assistance for
excavation of the barn on Franklin Farm Lane in exchange for the County performing
roadside cleanup for PennDOT. PennDOT asked the PA Department of Corrections to
agree to this arrangement, and PA DOC has done so.
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Chairman Keller said that he would like to give credit where credit is due. He
said that he and Commissioner Thomas were discussing the problem of garbage along
the interstate and other state roads so Commissioner Thomas contacted PennDOT
about the issue. Commissioner Thomas said he contacted PennDOT and Dave Rock
from the local PennDOT office. He said that he discussed this with Steve Rock
yesterday that PennDOT is going to do the work up front this time and they are going to
do the landscaping and excavating on Franklin Farm Lane for the barn. He said there
are still some details as far as security because we can’t just put people out on the
highway. He said this is a great project. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by
Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Agility Agreement with PennDOT and
Resolution #2017-03 for a period of five years with an option to renew for an additional
three years.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS