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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-10 Commissioner Minutes TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, September 10, 2019, with the following members present: David S. Keller and Robert L. Thomas. The Board attended the Prison Board meeting. 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 David S. Keller; unanimously approved to adopt the agenda. Chairman Keller announced that Commissioner Ziobrowski will not be in attendance today. John Patterson from Reform Alliance provided public comment. Mr. Patterson explained that Reform Alliance is working to reduce incarceration in Pennsylvania. They are starting with probation reform and working with both parties in Harrisburg to come up with changes in the probation system. The reason he is here today is he knows the Commissioners have concerns about jail population. He wants to extend an invitation to an event that will be held in Chambersburg but he is still working on the details. He will Kim Wertz provided public comment and would like more information on item #2, Project Modification to PCCD for the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program. Mark Piper provided public comment to inform the Board that Hood Street is in bad shape and the asphalt was moving when he was traveling on it. Chairman Keller responded that he will provide him with contact information for the Borough since that is a Borough road. The minutes of the September 3, 2019 and September 5, 2019 meetings were reviewed. These will be decided upon on Thursday, September 12, 2019. The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Glenda Helman, Grants Manager, explained board action item #2, Project Modification (PMR) to PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) that Ms. Wertz asked for more way the budget portion of the grant broke things out made it more difficult for invoicing by the provider. She met with the provider and came up with an invoicing process to combine line items in the grant which will make it more efficient for the provider, our fiscal department and consumers. The following item was approved today while the remaining items will be approved Thursday, September 12, 2019. The Board reviewed Grants/CJAB matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved the Project Modification Request (PMR) to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to update the budget detail for the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP) Recovery Liaison for increased efficiency for Fiscal tracking/efficiency for the provider and county. The Board reviewed information on Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Carrie Gray, County Administrator, explained that everyone was provided information that was developed by the Mental Health Association and turned the discussion over to Stacey Brookens, Mental Health/Intellectual Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention (MH/IDD/EI) Director. Ms. Brookens explained that suicide is on the rise and everyone should be concerned and that we should come together as a community to provide support needed. It impacts multiple generations, from school age to nursing home age. Chairman Keller opened the floor for comments. Carrie Clippinger from Mental Health Association of Franklin and Fulton Counties (MHAFF) briefly reviewed the Continued on page 2 data that was collected by Dr. Sheri Morgan, PhD, an Epidemiologist at the Mental to destigmatize suicide and talk about it and intervene with anyone who may be contemplating suicide. The information provided is real time feedback on suicide data from 2018 in Franklin County and there are all age ranges. She mentioned QPR training which stands for question, persuade, and refer to help someone to not commit suicide. Steve Nevada, Assistant County Administrator, said sometimes the thought is if suicide is discussed that puts ng suicide helps individuals address the concern of suicide. I Mr. Piper said that more training needs to help gma in the community. He continued that some people are afraid to come forward because of their jobs. Chairman call, there are places to call and that help can be obtained by dialing a phone number. He mentioned suicides in the agriculture community and how a farmer committed suicide and now his wife is an advocate and visits farm communities to raise awareness of r help because of the struggles that are left behind, especially with the children. Ms. Gray mentioned the Task Force of Healthy Franklin County that is raising awareness of the issues and helping to destigmatized suicide. There are efforts every day of the year that will leave Franklin County in a great place. Sheldon Swartz said the goal is to have zero suicides and getting people to talk about it. They are working with the healthcare industry and having providers spend extra time to ask how their patients are doing. But there has been Cori Seilhamer, MH/IDD/EI Program Specialist, said the take away message is that not everyone is comfortable talking about suicide. In that case then we need to find someone that can ask questions. Chairman Keller asked where the helpline calls go? Ms. Clippinger responded that the calls go to the Mental Health Association. Chairman Keller asked where 211 calls go. Ms. Gray responded that from 8a.m.-4p.m. the calls go to our Information and Referral Office and after-hours calls go to Contact 211 with whom the County has a contract. Ms. Clippinger said the crisis line is run by Keystone Health. have local resources available. Mr. Piper wanted to point out that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and according to the information provided, May had the highest rate of suicide in 2018. rate of suicide. John Patterson said that the figures are challenging to collect: if someone from Franklin takes calls to those counties to get the data. Commissioner Thomas said this issue have no issues but he committed suicide on top of Tuscarora Mountain and it was a challenge for him and all his friends to understand. Shelly Schwartz said that Keller mentioned that his minister on Sunday preached about community and it ties into likely to be more depressed and have thoughts of suicide. If thinking of a friend that they ful reminder. Mr. Schwartz receive any visits. Chairman Keller continued that the point of the sermon was the good Lord wants us all to come together. Commissioner Thomas pointed out that social media can be very harmful in this day and age. Mr. Piper said that when one person commits suicide it affects 25 people so we have to look at the survivors as well. Commissioner Thomas said at the Greencastle Fire Hall banquet it was mentioned about the increase of suicides among first responders since they see a lot of trauma. He used to be an EMT and was out on calls all the time and one call was a friend of theirs at Continued on page 3 the fire department that committed suicide and he was still alive when they got there but ended up dying at the hospital. First responders include police, fire, and EMTs. He says Brookens would like to recognize Cori Seilhamer on her efforts since she does a lot of training and reaching out to the community and individuals and makes a point to talk to them. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved Proclamation 2019-23 proclaiming the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness month and that the attached proclamation be made a part of these minutes. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller; unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:20 a.m. this date for the purpose to review real estate matters. The Board reconvened into regular session at 10:27 a.m. No action was required after the executive session. The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller. Carrie E. Gray County Administrator/Chief Clerk FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ____________________________________ David S. Keller, Chairman ____________________________________ Robert L. Thomas