HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-28 Commissioner Minutes
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 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.
Chairman Keller asked to amend the agenda to include Chairman’s time to
respond to a couple questions asked during public comment last week. On a motion by
Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to adopt
the amended agenda.
Chairman Keller responded to a question asked last week about accommodating
anyone in the room that cannot hear that if they feel the need to move they can do so.
Chairman Keller also responded to the question about the vendor of the microphones
which is Pro Acoustics. And he said questions were raised whether the County is in
compliance with the Omstead Act with regards to the MH/ID Nonprofit Project and he
responded the County is in compliance but would like to refer the matter to the County
solicitor to be sure the County has been in compliance as far as procedures have gone
through. Chairman Keller asked John Hart, County Administrator to discuss with the
Solicitor.
Sherri Morgan provided public comment and thanked the Board for addressing
the Omstead Act and she is anxious to see what the solicitor finds out. She said after
reading Commissioner Keller’s comments in the paper last week, that people with
disabilities have been involved in the process she can’t find anyone who has attended or
been invited to any type of format where they have been involved in decision making.
Ms. Morgan said public commentary and decision making are two different things and
she hasn’t seen anything in papers asking for anyone to come to a forum with decision
making. She would like to know where this actually happened and who was the
advocacy groups involved with decision making.
The minutes of February 21, 2012 and February 23, 2012 meetings were read.
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Chairman Keller suggested a few changes to the February 23 minutes. After
corrections these will be approved Thursday, March 1, 2012.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. The following items
were approved today and the remainder items will be approved Thursday, March 1,
2012.
The Board reviewed Commissioners’ Office matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved Notice to Proceed
for Thyssenkrupp Elevator to perform work on the renovations to the Franklin County
Judicial Center.
The Board reviewed District Attorney matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute the amended agreement between the County of Franklin and the
U.S. Department of Justice for the County to participate in the Federal Equitable Sharing
program to allow the District Attorney’s office to receive a share of federally forfeited
funds from criminal cases that are prosecuted federally during the year 2010. The
monies received are restricted by federal statute to be spent for law enforcement
purposes only.
Continued on page 2
The Board reviewed additional District Attorney matters. On a motion by Robert
G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman
of the Board to execute the agreement between the County of Franklin and the U.S.
Department of Justice for the County to participate in the Federal Equitable Sharing
program to allow the District Attorney’s office to receive a share of federally forfeited
funds from criminal cases that are prosecuted federally during the year 2011. The
monies received are restricted by federal statute to be spent for law enforcement
purposes only.
The Board reviewed FSNRC matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to
execute the Agreement between the County of Franklin and QUnique Corporation to
provide Management Services at the Nursing Home at a cost of $30,375.50 per month
and shall increase by 2.00% annually, each subsequent year. This agreement is for the
term of March 3, 2012 through March 2, 2016. This agreement may be terminated
without cause by either party, after 90 days written notice is provided in writing to the
other party.
The Board reviewed Election matters and conducted a bid opening for Printing,
Furnishing and Delivery of Ballots for the Primary Election. The following bidder
submitted a bid: Beidel Printing House, Inc. from Shippensburg, PA for a total bid of
$17,414.00 On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to award to Beidel Printing House, Inc. for a total bid of
$17,414.00. This was the only bid received.
The Board reviewed appointments to the Franklin County Library Board. On a
motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved
to appoint Frances Herrity to fill an unexpired term through December 31, 2012 and
Donald Squires for a term to expire on December 31, 2013.
John Hart, Chief Clerk/County Administrator informed the Board a Chief
Information Officer (CIO) position that is being presented for consideration during Salary
Board on Thursday. He advised the county is in need of a global approach and a
broader strategic view of the IS department. He stated the current IS staff are doing an
excellent job maintaining the day to day initiatives and tasks and they provide very good
service, however, the County needs to look at more performance based initiatives. Mr.
Hart said there are approximately twenty departments using LaserFishe and it is very
successful in each operation but the global strategic approach has not been taken to
access the benefit across the county. In addition the Nursing Home is looking at a
paperless initiative where all medical records will be digital and this initiative should be
evaluated in the overall scheme for county operations. Staff has met with a local vendor
that provides a wide array of services and in discussions they found the vendor provided
a number of services. A proposal presented was to provide the county with a virtual
CIO. This proposal was evaluated and due to the wide array of operations and services
performed by the county it was determined a fulltime position is required. The county
operations are unique and IS operations need a global perspective. Mr. Hart also
contacted various counties that have CIO’s and all look at a strategic approach and
planning. Mr. Hart said after review the best approach is to establish a CIO position that
has the skills to network with the various operations, have a management background,
and information technology knowledge to work with various entities and develop a
strategic plan and approach to IS services. This position would have the capabilities to
review the county’s current Geographic Information System (GIS) implementation,
determine information that will be provided to public and the current capabilities of the
county. This individual will review other ongoing IT initiatives in various departments
related to data sharing and review state systems to determine if the county can access
these systems and obtain useful information.
Continued on page 3
Mr. Hart is discussing with managers the possibility of instituting a performance
based budgeting processes, the impact the process would have on operations and the
CIO position would be of critical assistance in implementing this initiative.
This position will supervise the IS department, communication network including
telephone ,archives department, tax services, and assist with the technical side of
Emergency Services Department. Several key elements of the position will be to look at
IT cost savings and train and grow the current IT staff.
Mr. Hart wanted to bring this position to the Board’s attention for discussion and
determine if additional information is required by the Board. Chairman Keller asked for
more information on the counties Mr. Hart talked to. Mr. Hart responded two were larger
counties and one our size. All contacted spoke about the big picture, the management
requirements and having a technology background. Networking with managers and
employees is critical and having the ability view IT operations from a global perspective
is essential to the position. This position will not concentrate on the day to day fixing and
break operations. Commissioner Ziobrowski said sounds like looking for IT knowledge
that has time and minimally constraint to stay current on everything, to keep staff
current, visionary, tactician to coordinate various departments along with outside entities,
manager, and a business person who would deal with vendors. He said sounds like we
need someone that can walk on water. He fully supports the idea but thinks it’s a heck
of task and it will be a challenge to find this person. Mr. Hart spoke of a CIO
competencies diagram that staff developed which is: Strategic planning; performance
and results-based management; process improvement; capital planning and investment;
leadership management, technology assessment, security; architectures; acquisition;
and policy. Commissioner Thomas said we have done a good job to get where we are
but to get to the next level need to get a conductor that has those walk on water skills
that Commissioner Ziobrowski talked about. He said as much as he doesn’t want to see
growth in the county if don’t do this there will be costs in other ways and this person
would keep costs down in those areas so to get to the next level the County needs this
individual and he hopes we can find him. Chairman Keller said he is thinking of all the
software applications the county uses in various offices including the CJAB technology
committee that has 4 or 5 initiatives on their plate for efiling and erecording so folks don’t
have to drive the whole way to Chambersburg to file a document. He said all these
applications need to be integrated and there is better ways to work with people doing
business with the County. Chairman Keller said this was recommended in the ATI study
also and he would like all salary board members to consider the idea. He requested
moving salary board to next Thursday. Chairman Keller said the CIO needs sales skills,
to communicate and talk with people and listen, business experience, technical
experience and education, knowledge of county government which could be a challenge.
Board approved moving salary board to next week.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to amend the agenda to include the Retirement Board meeting
scheduled at 1:30 p.m. today.
The Board recessed and will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. for a Retirement Board
meeting.
The Board held a Franklin County Retirement Board meeting.
Continued on page 4
The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by David S. Keller.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS