HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-29 Commissioner Minutes
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, March 29, 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.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
Mary Burkholder provided public comment and questioned the Children & Youth
adoption assistance agreements and how the County determines how many children are
placed per household or is there a limit to how many children someone can adopt. She
said she heard of one woman who has 17 children and they all have special needs, how
can anyone take care of that many children with special needs by themselves?
Chairman Keller said the Board will provide an answer on her question at a later time.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved all bills presented and ordered paid.
On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
unanimously approved the minutes of March 20, 2012 and March 22, 2012 meetings.
Chairman Keller asked John Hart, County Administrator to explain the adoption
assistance process to answer Ms. Burkholder’s question. Mr. Hart said Children and
Youth coordinate placement of children with the Courts and families. When families have
a large number of children they are not always Franklin County residents. The home
that Ms. Burkholder mentioned has 17 children a large number of the children are out of
county children. Chairman Keller said that it would come to our attention if questions are
raised whether the children are properly cared for. Mr. Hart said Children and Youth
inspect the homes but we have no control over the number of children placed. Ms.
Burkholder said her concern is with disease control and public health issues and asked if
the Public Health Department is involved? Commissioner Thomas said it’s a State issue
not a County issue. Chairman Keller said staff will do more research and have Mr. Hart
report back to the Board.
Commissioner Thomas said the adoption agreements on the consent agenda
have nothing to do with the question asked today. Chairman Keller said there was a
question on Tuesday as to why some of the adoption agreements are per month instead
of the normal per day and said staff said they are accurately described and the Board is
satisfied with them.
The Board reviewed Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $23.35/month for the period of
December 8, 2011 through December 18, 2015, in addition a one-time payment not to
exceed $ -0- to cover non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child
determine the cost per month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial
Participation program.
Continued on page 2
The Board reviewed additional Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert
L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $31.09/day for the period of April 19,
2012 through April 18, 2017, in addition a one-time payment not to exceed $537.50 to
cover non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child determine the
cost per month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial Participation
program.
The Board reviewed additional Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert
L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $23.35/month for the period of
December 8, 2011 through December 18, 2015, in addition a one-time payment not to
exceed $-0- to cover non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child
determine the cost per month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial
Participation program.
The Board reviewed Children & Youth matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Subsidized
Adoption Assistance Agreement on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth
Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents to be used for adoptive children
with special needs for payment in the amount of $23.35/month for the period of
December 8, 2011 through February 8, 2013, in addition a one-time payment not to
exceed $ -0- to cover non-recurring adoption expenses. The different needs of the child
determine the cost per month. The County is reimbursed through the Federal financial
Participation program.
The Board reviewed Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute Change Order #1 from Edwin L. Heim for the Franklin County
Judicial Center Renovations to provide labor and material to reroute sewer main in
basement of the fire house for an additional cost of $2,847.22.
The Board reviewed Commissioners Office matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Placement and
Recruiting Agreement between the County of Franklin and Global Data Consultants, LLC
to provide Information Technology Professional recruitment services for Chief
Information Services position. Services include obtaining a candidate that possess the
education, training experience, skills and/or qualifications identified in writing by the
County at a cost of 20% of the Information Technology Professional’s initial annual
salary upon hiring.
The Board reviewed Grants Management/CJAB matters. On a motion by Robert
L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman
of the Board to execute the First Amendment to the Contract for Homelessness
Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program to include an additional grant amount of
$50,000.00 for a total grant amount of $530,386.00. All terms and conditions of the
contract not changed or modified by this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect.
Continued on page 3
The Board reviewed additional Grants 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 Quarterly Report to the Housing and Urban
Development through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development for
the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) for the period of
January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012. The American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act (ARRA) requires quarterly reporting per the forms (Time Sheets and Expenditures)
that the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) created for
the HPRP program.
The Board reviewed Grants Management and Planning matters. On a motion by
Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the
Chairman of the Board to execute Resolution #2012-05 to apply for The Municipal
Assistance Program Grant which provides funding to help local governments efficiently
and effectively plan and to implement a variety of services and improvements including
shared service and community planning, requesting an amount of $25,000.00 with the
County matching that amount.
The Board reviewed Human Resources matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the revised policy
#605.01 titled Employment of Relatives for the purpose of providing guidelines for the
hiring, assigning, transferring, or promoting of immediate family members of County
employees.
The Board reviewed MH/ID/EI matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Final Annual Progress
Report for Continuum of Care Closeout Certification between the County of Franklin and
US Department of Housing and Urban Development Supported Housing Program Grant
#2 to provide permanent housing to the chronically homeless mentally ill individuals
residing in Franklin or Fulton Counties. The total amount covered by the grant is
$94,588.00 with $63,365.00 disbursed and a balance of $31,223.00 remaining for the
period of January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
The Board reviewed Tax Assessment matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Exemption list
for 2011 and reviewed singlewide mobile home list for tax year 2012 which are attached
and made a part of these minutes.
The Board reviewed additional Tax Assessment matters. On a motion by Robert
L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the contract
between the County of Franklin and Thomas R. Donahue, Jr. to provide 2012 tax claim
posting service at a cost of $17.00 for initial posting, $22.00 for posting notice of sale,
$1.00 for photographs, and $9.00 for first and second attempt for personal service.
These rates have not increased from last year, and the costs are added to delinquent
taxes to be collected.
The Board reviewed Transportation matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the adjusted allocation of funds for Fiscal Year 2010 and 2011 to
$1,017,882.00 between the County of Franklin and Medical Assistance Transportation
Program, resulting in a final payment of $16,686.00.
Continued on page 4
David Sciamanna, President of Greater Chambersburg Chamber and Amy Hicks,
Executive Director of United Way met with the Board to ask for their support of the
Franklin County Indicators Project. Mr. Sciamanna said the purpose of the project is to
assemble and analyze data that provides leaders with information about how Franklin
County stacks up with neighboring and competing counties. The Indicators Project will
gather data in the following areas: Well-being of people, education, economic and
health and safety. The data will be secured from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Center for Disease Control, PA Departments of Education and Health,
Franklin County Agencies and the PA State Police. He said the Polk-Lepson Research
Group will be contracted to gather the data and help to interpret the information. He said
the project would be useful in assisting community leaders to better understand the
strengths and weaknesses within the county and to encourage collaboration to address
the areas of concern. The team members include: Franklin County United Way,
Franklin County Area Development Corporation, Greater Chambersburg Chamber of
Commerce and the Franklin County Commissioners are asked to become a partner as
well. Mr. Sciamanna said the cost of the project is $5,000 and is asking for the County’s
support in the amount of $2,500 toward the project. Chairman Keller said that ¾ of the
County’s general fund covers courts, crimes, and corrections. He said realities of life are
that kids end up using tobacco, alcohol and drugs are related to this issue.
Commissioner Thomas said the average education of inmates in jail is 10.5 years which
shows that less education will cause the likelihood of people ending up in jail, so if this
report puts some of these things on the radar screen then it’s a good thing. Ms. Hicks
said she likes it when a group of entities recognizes these issues are community wide
and that when all comes together, they can bring creative solutions to make necessary
changes.
Chairman Keller is looking to staff for a recommendation on the process and
suggests including Rick Wynn, Human Services Administrator; Phil Tarquino, Planning
Director and John Hart, County Administrator or anyone else who should have input
from Human Services or the Courts and make sure there is a willingness to support the
project. He said staff would also need to check with the County solicitor to make sure
under County Code the County is authorized to support a project like this, and if there is
a recommendation to proceed, where would we pull the funds for it.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS