HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-08 Commissioner Minutes
TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2010
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 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, 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.
Pete Lagiovane, Mayor of Chambersburg provided public comment that the
Borough is prepared to initiate a study to look at further options for downtown and asks
the Board to pause to give the Borough opportunity to do this. If their study is same as
CGL then will support the Board’s decision.
Paul Cullinane provided public comment that the downtown wants to continue to
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provide helpful information and has asked Borough Council for opportunity on June 28
to give an update on how things are proceeding from their perspective and gather
additional information that he will provide to the Board and asked the Board to delay
decision. Mr. Cullinane contacted 43 of 66 counties in Pennsylvania and all 43 have
courthouses downtown on square or within couple blocks of square. This seems to be
the trend in the Commonwealth and will contact 22 others.
The minutes of June 1, 2010 and June 3, 2010 meetings were read. These will
be approved Thursday, June 10, 2010.
The Board reviewed Agreements and Contracts. These will be approved
Thursday, June 10, 2010.
The Board reviewed Commissioners matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute the Notice to Proceed to C.S. Davidson, Inc. for the Franklin
County 2010-2016 Bridge Inspection Program. This is a requirement of Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation.
The Board reviewed MH/MR matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved Revision #2 of the
Franklin/Fulton County MR FY 08-09, Income and Expenditure Report to Department of
Public Welfare – Bureau of Financial Operations.
The Board met with the County Solicitor to review related matters.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
to enter an executive session at 9:15 a.m. this date for the
unanimously approved
purpose to review current litigation matters. The Board reconvened into regular
session at 9:33 a.m.
The Board recessed until 10:00 a.m.
To Board reconvened at 10:00 a.m. for the court facilities recommendation
deliberation and opened the floor for further public comments.
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Bernie Washabaugh provided public comment and asked for the date when
consultants were hired. Commissioner Keller responded that it was spring of 2008. Mr.
Washabaugh asked for the exact date. John Hart responded that he will get exact date.
Mr. Washabaugh wants to know what they were charged to do and wants to know today.
Solicitor Mary Beth Shank explained what public comment is and that the Board will
have to get back to Mr. Washabaugh. Commissioner Keller responded that can’t always
provide an answer on the spot and offered a summary of what CGL was hired to do. Mr.
Washabaugh said that Board directed John Hart to have CGL talk to Bernie
Washabaugh, II and wanted to know who was present for meeting. Wants to know
Chloe Jacob’s role and thinks she should meet with all developers. John Hart added
that Steve Ohm was present at that meeting.
Bernie Washabaugh II provided public comment that he is making an effort to work
with Borough of Chambersburg on a public forum that is scheduled on June 28th to have
discussion with the Borough and asks board to refrain from making a decision until then.
Allen Piper provided public comment and said that all data should be presented and
the board should have an open mind and not rush to judgment. This is a good time for
everyone to air feelings because of this important item. Applauds the Mayor and Mr.
Cullinane for their input and agrees with them that should not rush to judgment and
supports them to delay and get more data. Asking school board to not rush to judgment
also. Mr. Piper asks board to take his requests under consideration and slow down and
take time to smell the roses.
John Hart went through time line of the judicial center decision making process
and noted that the County has been considering expansion and improvements for many
years, has moved offices around, relocated the law library, and most recently expanded
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the Sheriff’s office. Spring 2008 was advised a 5 judge was approved for Franklin
County. CJAB had discussions about future facility needs and additional space. As
result the Board entered into agreements with Carter Goble Lee (CGL) and National
Center for State Courts (NCSC). April of 09 NCSC and CGL presented findings to
CJAB and both came to conclusion that current facility is undersized, and has
technology and security concerns. CJAB endorsed support and proceeded with a facility
plan and during that time formed a Facility Work Group. As result, in July 09 CGL
presented site options but charged the board to consider two sites only on Main and
Lincoln Way and at the Sheetz property on N. Second St. After review Facility Work
Group took a look at both sites and both were undersized and would not meet further
expansion. Then Facility Work Group looked at five sites within a three block area of
the existing courthouse. Based on evaluations the Facility Work Group made a
recommendation to CJAB that Board should consider Jennings site. CJAB endorsed
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this and asked Board to move forward. Then held the April 25 meeting for public
comment. At the next board meeting the Board deliberated and directed staff to develop
site options and gave direction to focus on safety & security, future expansion,
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commitment to downtown/borough, and other proposals. At the May 27 meeting the
board received public comment and made recommendation that should consider
Jennings site and collocate other offices in the block at Lincoln Way East and N. Main
St. The consultants reported that the Jennings site with LWE/Main St. consolidation
met all elements the board wanted to achieve. The consultants also reported that
expansion of existing courthouse annex for continued court use plus development of
Spring Street property for administration and human services purposes did not afford
expandability, was deficient with respect to safety and security, lease option is
problematic, and had serious challenges with respect to disrupting court operations and
insufficient parking. There have been 25 discussions in public in board meetings and
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CJAB meetings, 20 news articles, received public comment on several occasions. All
reports posted on county website and reports were placed in public libraries. Process
has moved and developed. Board has received numerous correspondences from
businesses and public.
Commissioner Keller spoke and said it’s difficult to characterize that the board has
rushed into a decision. Said he is confident that County has been well served by CGL.
This has been an open process with a lot of public comment, and the recommendation
of the consultants has developed over time in response to input from the board and the
public. Facilities Work Group approached the site selection process with an open mind.
Thinks process has been good process, responsive to concerns raised by county, public,
downtown and county-wide. Emphasized importance of minimizing court disruptions.
Commissioner Robert Thomas said when the board went through this with the jail
it was publicly chastised for taking too long for making a decision. This process goes
back a long time and it started when several offices were moved out of courthouse to
make additional space for courts. Board has a responsibility to provide adequate
security for jurors, victims, witnesses, family members, judges and staff, and the general
public attending court functions. Process has been one that has been fluid as
Commissioner Keller has said. Board needs to make a decision. Commissioner
Thomas agrees with NCSC report that County needs to plan 20 years out.
Commissioner Keller said that court operations are going to grow in 20 years.
Some have said that State may make some changes to laws to mitigate growth, but
caseloads and population growth are going to continue to increase so the board must
look at expansion. Would be great to do it right here on this block but when looking at
expansion needs of judicial system don’t see how could ignore operational efficiencies or
expansion opportunity at Jennings. Operational efficiencies and expandability are main
concerns.
Commissioner Robert Ziobrowski commented that if he had to do over again the
county would not have limited scope of original project but since report came out in June
of last year he is satisfied that the County has done everything possible to consider
viable site locations. Said he served on Facilities Workgroup committee and it wasn’t
always a pleasant experience and there were some disagreements. Believes County
has thoroughly investigated the sites and done due diligence.
John Hart said that safety & security is key, operational efficiencies, future
expansion, commitment to Borough, disruptions to court operations were main theme of
CGL when charged with looking at additional sites. He asked if there were any concerns
that the report needs to address or expand upon? Commissioner Keller responded that
the Board needs to address consolidation of Human Services to downtown and present
benefits to the county. Human Services Building has been on Franklin Farms Lane for
20 years and is well maintained. Asked if County moves forward with recommendation,
when will Human Services Building be vacated? Added that departments are busting at
the seams at that building but that building doesn’t even house all Human Services
departments. They are spread out throughout the County. Need serious consideration
of CGL’s recommendation to bring them all downtown. Can make operations more
efficient at best price imaginable and would give chance to augment cooperation and
integration of Human Services and Courts. Result will be good cooperation between
Courts and Administration and better efficiency. The recommended downtown
consolidation will create more effective services and a more efficient operation all
around.
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John Hart responded that, in looking at other county offices in leased space,
there is enough room on this block to house Human Services and Administration and
would be able to negate leases county has for other Human Services offices and put
them in county-owned buildings. Will need transition space for operations while
buildings are remodeled and will be an immediate need to acquire other properties.
Some Human Services offices have four people in a two person office, which in
inconsistent HIPPA guidelines. When look at these two sites down the road,
operationally it does make sense having operations like Aging, Protective Services, and
Mental Health services within walking distance of the Courts because personnel from
these departments are spending more time in court.
Commissioner Thomas said there is an opportunity to pull agencies from Franklin Farms
Lane to here which has benefits, traffic issues, etc. Heard Jay Lightfoot say over and
over what do you have at end of day when you are leasing things? All you have is a
receipt. Having a permanent solution solves that need and eliminates the cost of money
that goes down the drain.
Commissioner Keller asked how much would County save if it terminates leases? John
Hart responded that County spends $200,000 – 300,000 a year in leases right now so
would save if collocate into two sites. Commissioner Ziobrowski responded that 5 years
from now if move functions to another site will still say that courthouse is on the square
or two blocks away. Visited Chester County and has facility few blocks away but it’s still
downtown. CGL recommends much more intense use of buildings and according to
CGL study locating additional personnel downtown would be 50% increase of county
staff. CGL proposal enhances people downtown. At end of day county’s contribution to
viability of downtown will be enhanced. He acknowledged that peak days of court of 700
people a day would reduce foot traffic in the central core of downtown, but added that
call of the list is only 6 days a year. Said CGL recommendation represents a
compromise that he could live with because in the end more people will be working
downtown. Human Services will still have visitors to these offices. Aging and Senior
Activity Center will present more foot traffic downtown and is an improvement.
Commissioner Ziobrowski mentioned the Corpus Christie folks who have expressed
concerns about security for kids attending school there. John Hart responded that
courthouses have been built in different neighborhoods and with proper design, those
concerns can be addressed. Added that arguably the safest block in Chambersburg is
at the courthouse because of presence of police officers, staff, district attorney/public
defenders, undercover people, security cameras. Said he does not recall any incidents
happening on this block. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked how long term efficiencies
could be gained with respect to security and personnel. John Hart responded that a
security solution involves proper building layout, observation points, and cameras and
other part is personnel to perform certain functions. With properly designed facility with
up to date infrastructure, the security operation will be a less personnel intensive
process. Right now process requires a lot of manpower. If we limit access and design
building using current best practices, controlling flow of inmates, staff, victims, jurors,
witnesses, family members, and the public will take less personnel. Every single
entrance needs manned and there are certain deficiencies currently.
Commissioner Thomas said that inmates have run on occasion and would be a
concern. Sally Port is a very secure setting such that no one is outside when being
brought in. Jail is a model for folks around the nation. Courthouses are built that way
too. Existing Courthouse Annex was not designed for that, it was built when concerns
were not there; it’s designed more like an office building. New facility will be most
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secure area in County.
Commissioner Keller asked if any other information needed before making
decision? Commissioner Thomas said that he has been running into people all the time
who have been sharing their thoughts on this decision, and said it would be appropriate
to allow additional opportunity to receive further thoughts and wisdom from taxpayers.
Commissioner Keller said that the board will schedule a time next week for formal action
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on the recommendation. This meeting will be held on Thursday, June 17 at 9:30 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS