HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-25 Commissioner Minutes
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
The Franklin County Commissioners met Wednesday, January 25, 2023, with the
following members present: David S. Keller, John T. Flannery 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.
The meeting was live streamed.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously
approved to adopt the agenda.
There was no public comment.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously
approved all bills presented and ordered paid.
The minutes of the January 18, 2023 meeting were reviewed. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the minutes.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. The items will be decided
upon in the afternoon session.
The Board conducted a bid opening for Courthouse Annex Renovations. The following
bidders submitted bids. For the elevator contract: Oracle Elevator from Hagerstown, MD bid a
total amount of $647,277.00. For the plumbing contract: Mann Plumbing & Heating, LLC from
Fayetteville, PA bid a total amount of $1,189,000.01; Midstate Mechanical & Electric from
Dillsburg, PA bid a total amount of $797,857.00; Jay R. Reynolds, Inc. from Willow Street, PA
bid a total amount of $842,900.00; Stouffer Mechanical from Chambersburg, PA bid a total
amount of $703,999.00. For the electrical contract: Lobar, Inc. from Dillsburg, PA bid a total
amount of $2,199,000.00; MidState Mechanical & Electric from Dillsburg, PA bid a total amount
of $2,057,433.00. For the mechanical contract: Stouffer Mechanical from Chambersburg, PA
bid a total amount of $2,519,000.00. For the general construction contract: Lobar, Inc. from
Dillsburg, PA bid a total amount of $5,547,000.00 along with alternate 1 (call center floor) for an
additional cost of $4,000.00 and alternate 2 (replace exterior storefront windows) for an
additional cost of $331,400.00; ECI Construction from Dillsburg, PA bid a total amount of
$5,952,000.00 along with alternate 1 (call center floor) for an additional cost of $6,000.00 and
alternate 2 (replace exterior storefront windows) for an additional cost of $355,700.00.
Chairman Keller wanted to thank the contractors for submitting proposals and that the County
has worked with a few of them in the past. He wanted to mention that this project is part of the
Court Facilities Improvement Project which has already been budgeted so no additional tax
increases will be needed. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery;
unanimously approved to forward the bids received to the Project Management team, the
County Solicitor and the Director of Procurement for their review. The Board will award or reject
the bids on February 8, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
The Board reviewed appointments to the Franklin County Visitors Bureau Board of
Directors. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously
approved to appoint the following individuals to the Franklin County Visitors Bureau Board of
Directors for terms to expire on January 31, 2024: Katrina Gayman, Patti Nitterhouse, Jackie
Mowen, John Flannery, Scott Brown, Debby Cunningham, Chris Ardinger and Steve Christian.
Continued on page 2
Teresa Beckner, Fiscal Director, provided a fiscal update to the Board which is attached
She
explained that today she will be reviewing the 2022 budget performance through November
which is 11 months into 2022 and represents 92% of the budget year. Ms. Beckner reviewed
the General Fund revenues with the Board and stated that overall our revenues year to date are
$48.9M compared to (projected?)$53.1M or 92.1% collected which is $2.2M more than last
year. Ms. Beckner reviewed the expense side of the budget where we spent $49.2M year to
date of the $57.5M budget or 85.6%, which is an increase of $3.5M or 7.6%. She continued that
the General Fund Budget revenue is at 92.1% which is driven by property tax revenues. They
are recorded in March when the County issues the bills. Ms. Beckner reviewed with the Board
additional data regarding General Fund expenditures and revenues. Ms. Beckner provided
information on real estate tax collections, referring to both General Fund and Debt Services
which are budgeted at $44.2M and collected $43.9M through November. This is net of a 3%
be collected in the current year. We have a 2.1% increase. The
increase in the value of the mill is $33,761 for 2022 for a total of $982,450. That brings the value
billed.
Ms. Beckner provided further information on budget performance by expenditure type,
significant expenditure budgets and transfers that include Human Services programs, 911,
Domestic Relations and others. She continued that on the All Services Budget revenues is at
$151.0M and through November we have revenues of $121.2M or 80.2% that compares to
$106.7M last year so the revenues are up $14.5M. On the expense side the county spent
nd expenditures in prior
year were $118.5M which is a decrease of $4.1M. Ms. Beckner provided more information to
the Board on the All Services Budget.
The Board recessed and will reconvene at 2:00 p.m. for final approval of the items that
were reviewed.
The Board reconvened at 2:00 p.m.
There was no public comment.
Chairman Keller wanted to put on the record that when the bids were opened this
morning, he overlooked the alternate #3 portion for the electrical bids to include an emergency
generator. Midstate Mechanical included a bid on alternate #3 of $127,697.00 and Lobar
included a bid on alternate #3 of $125,000.00.
The Board reviewed Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the Franklin County Elected
Officials Solicitor Agreements as listed below for the period of January 1, 2023 through
December 31, 2023.
a. Coroner - Jerrold Sulcove for an amount of $138.77 per hour for no more than
100 hours within the contract period without consent and approval by the
Coroner and Board of Commissioners.
b. Controller David C. Cleaver for an amount of $14,906.50 for the contract
period.
c. Prothonotary Elizabeth A. Clark for an amount of $3,839.33 for the contract
period.
The Board reviewed additional Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the amendment to the
agreement dated January 28, 2020 between the County of Franklin and Black and Davison,
P.C. to provide legal services to the County. This amendment is to extend the contract through
December 31, 2023 and adjust the monthly compensation to $9,785.00 per month. All other
terms and conditions of the original agreement will remain in full force and effect.
Continued on page 3
The Board reviewed Community Connections matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the amendment to the Lease
between the County of Franklin and Hamilton Park Apartments for the HUD Permanent
Supportive Housing Lease Program (SHP I/II) that covers the total rent plus any landlord
covered utilities for their program participants. This amendment is due to a recertification of
income for the subtenant which resulted in an increase in the rent by $25.00 a month. All other
terms and conditions of the original lease agreement will remain in full force and effect.
The Board reviewed Grants matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded
by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the grant application to PA Department of
Community and Economic Development for the Whole Home Repairs Program requesting a
grant amount of $1,249,159.00 to provide funding to County-wide agencies to address
habitability and safety concerns, provide measures to improve energy or water efficiency and
make units accessible for individuals with disabilities. Up to $50,000 per unit can be used for
repairs for homeowners and small landlords to support upkeep and weatherization.
The Board reviewed Property Management matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski, seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the agreement between the
County of Franklin and Carter Goble Lee (CGL) to provide Franklin County with professional
facility development and mana
as well as operations at the Franklin County Jail at a cost of $1,677,415.20 for the term of
February 1, 2023 through January 1, 2025. Requests for proposals were requested with two
responses. CGL was the lowest qualified quote received.
The Board reviewed Tax Services matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski,
seconded by John T. Flannery; unanimously approved the certification of annual 2023 Liability
Report and acceptance and authorizations of additions and exonerations to the 2022 County,
1st Interim, 2nd Interim, 2021 3rd Interim & 4th Interim duplicates.
In accordance with PA Act notifications, Scotch Hill Solutions notified the County of a
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection amendment to an NPDES CAFO permit
being applied by Hissong Farmstead, Inc. for their existing dairy operation as per their approved
Nutrient Management Plan on property located in Montgomery Township.
The Franklin County Commissioners and Tiffany Bloyer, Human Resources Director on
behalf of the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition Committee) were present to award Ms.
Sarah Benshoff as the Employee of the Month for January 2023. Ms. Benshoff has worked at
Franklin County since August 2006. She currently serves as GIS Lead Analyst in the GIS
Department. The selection for the January 2023 Employee of the Month was determined by the
STAR Committee. There were a total of fourteen nominations, seven of which were for her.
Ms. Bloyer read the nomination form which is attached and made a part of these minutes. Ms.
Benshoff thanked her coworkers for the recognition and that this is another step in the long line
than some of the other ones, it's one of the things we have to do to keep the county safe.
Chairman Keller asked how she eliminates the 450,000 errors. Ms. Benshoff responded that it
butes of data conformed to
stated that like Commissioner Keller he wrote down the 450,000 errors and regarding her
dedication and patience. He congratulated her and said the job was well done. Commissioner
Ziobrowski said he wrote the number of errors down also. He spent 30 years as a real estate
appraiser, and he used to say the only ones who knew the county better were the State Police,
the pizza delivery guy and now Amazon but he tips his hat to her as they all depend on her
along with 911. He congratulated her. Chairman Keller thanked everyone at DES for being
here today and supporting her and the STAR committee for making those tough decisions.
Continued on page 4
The meeting was adjourned at 2:14 p.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by John T. Flannery.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
____________________________________
David S. Keller, Chairman
____________________________________
John T. Flannery
___________________________________
Robert G. Ziobrowski
FRANKLIN COUNTY
STAR COMMITTEE
Special Thanks And Recognition Committee
272 North Second Street ~ Chambersburg, PA 17201
Telephone (717) 261-3150 Fax (717) 261-3156
January 25, 2023
The Franklin County Commissioners on behalf of the STAR Committee (Special Thanks And
Recognition) proudly present the Employee of the Month award to Ms. Sarah Benshoff.
Ms. Benshoff has been employed with Franklin County since August 2006. She currently
serves as a GIS Lead Analyst in the GIS Department. The selection for the January 2023
Employee of the Month was determined by the STAR Committee. There were a total of
fourteen nominations, seven of which were for Sarah.
The STAR nomination form asks what recent event or occurrence made you select Sarah
and the some of the answers stated:
“Sarah is always working behind the scenes to make sure that Franklin County’s transition
to NextGen 911 is a smooth one while still maintaining everything in our current system.
At the beginning of the process, she had the seemingly insurmountable task of correcting
nearly 450,000 errors pertaining to addresses, points, roads, and boundaries, but she
completed that task and got the number of errors down to zero. This was no small task, to
say the least. Her efforts are essential in helping us provide accurate and quick 911
response well into the future.”
Another colleague writes, “Sarah has spent nearly a year working to get the County GIS
data into the Next Gen 911 format, as this will be the standard for dispatching 911 calls
from their GIS location. She has worked with address points, roads, boundaries, and
emergency service zones to make sure all those layers are compliant. She has also
coordinated and vetted her data with the surrounding counties. Sarah started with over
400,000 critical errors and just last week reached ZERO critical errors! This is an essential
step as the county transitions to NextGen 911, and it was Sarah’s dedication and hard work
that made this possible!”
Sarah’s nominations continue to praise her, saying, “Sarah has been working on converting
GIS data to meet the requirements of the State of Pennsylvania for the last year. This is a
very long and complicated process. Sarah has been dedicated and persistent in reaching the
goal of being error free before our County is migrated over to the NG911 system later this
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (717) 264-8474
Telephone: (717) 261-3150 Fax: (717) 261-3156
Website: www.franklincountypa.gov
FRANKLIN COUNTY
STAR COMMITTEE
Special Thanks And Recognition Committee
272 North Second Street ~ Chambersburg, PA 17201
Telephone (717) 261-3150 Fax (717) 261-3156
year. Sarah has spent many hours going over data and making changes to ensure that our
data meets the criteria set by the State. As of last week we are error free and our data is
ready for the migration to NG911. This is an amazing accomplishment as Sarah does not
have the resources that other Counties have to expend on this type of large task. Sarah also
has a huge work load on her plate and works on many projects for different departments
while trying to get our NG911 data converted. We are so thankful to have Sarah's
knowledge and dedication on our team!”
The nominations continue, “Sarah has been an essential partner in the Department of
Emergency Service’s preparation for the transition to the state-directed next generation
911 initiative. As part of this project, Sarah is responsible for transforming our
geographical information system addressing structure and formatting our data to meet the
new standards established by the state for this project. All data and metadata have strict
requirements that necessitate countless hours of investigation and modification to
eliminate critical errors in the GIS addressing database that supports 911 services.”
In conclusion, “Sarah’s actions and perseverance bring great credit upon herself, the
Information Technology Services (ITS) department, and the Franklin County workforce.
Sarah is well deserving of this nomination as the January 2023 Franklin County Employee
of the month.”
Ms. Benshoff’s outstanding characteristics are attributes that have not gone unnoticed by
her peers. The nomination forms describe her as dedicated, thorough, team-oriented,
committed, persistent, and supportive, amongst many other commendable characteristics.
We are grateful to Ms. Sarah Benshoff as she exudes a high standard of customer service,
excellence, and respect to the employees and residents of Franklin County.
Sincerely,
The STAR Committee
TLB/ssc cc: Personnel File; Supervisor
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (717) 264-8474
Telephone: (717) 261-3150 Fax: (717) 261-3156
Website: www.franklincountypa.gov