HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-24 Commissioner Minutes
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, July 24, 2012, with the
following members present: David S. Keller and Robert L. Thomas. 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.
Chairman Keller announced that Commissioner Ziobrowski will not be in
attendance today and he would like to include Chairman’s time to answer a question
from last week. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by David S. Keller;
unanimously approved to adopt the amended agenda.
Chairman Keller wanted to respond to Mr. Piper’s question about bridge 116 on
Fannettsburg Road where a contract for preliminary engineering was approved last
week and what it will cost the local tax payers. This bridge is on the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) so there will be no local funding requirement. This will be
paid for by State and Federal funds and no property taxes will be involved with this
project.
Ken Jones, provided public comment and said last week he was asked by
Chairman Keller to provide a copy of his traffic study. He does not have it today but he
will have it Thursday.
The minutes of July 17, 2012 and July 19, 2012 meetings were reviewed. These
will be approved Thursday, July 26, 2012.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Commissioner
Thomas asked John Hart, Chief Clerk if the two bridges in Fannettsburg on Store Lane
are simple bridges and if size makes a difference in the costs. Mr. Hart responded they
are deficient bridges and in order to be on the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP),
the score has to be less than 40 and requirements are the same regardless of size
based on PennDot’s requirements. Chairman Keller wanted to point out that the
Emergency Solutions Grant is replacing the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid
Rehousing Assistance (HPRP) grant which will run out at end of this year. This
agreement is to extend the same services provided under HPRP for two more years.
The items will be approved Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Chris Kent from Vision Government Solutions was present to provide a
demonstration on the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) Project. Vision
Government Solutions has been recommended by the evaluation team and this was
presented at a board meeting last week by Stu Veinotte, Project Archivist/Telephone
Administrator. Mr. Kent went through a demonstration of how the product will be used
by assessors, tax collectors and the public. CAMA will also be useful to fire departments
and local municipalities but it will be the County’s decision how much information can be
provided to them. Commissioner Thomas stated he finds this program impressive and it
is very clear that efficiencies will be brought about because of this program.
Tom Theobald, President of Government Software Services, provided a
demonstration on the tax billing package. Government Software Services has partnered
with Vision GSS to integrate the systems together. Once data is pulled from the CAMA
system the millage rate can be set and the tax bills can be printed at Government
Software Services office for a fee or can be printed in the Tax Services Office. The bill
will be designed to be acceptable by the County. Mr. Theobald also demonstrated the
Tax Claim package for collecting delinquent taxes. This program will also notify all
owners of a property that have past due taxes owed.
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Gary Martin, Chief Assessor, and Phil Tarquino, Planning Director were present
and Chairman Keller and asked them since they reviewed the products and were a part
of the committee is there anything they heard today that is different than what they’ve
heard in the past and if the CAMA program will give the County the ability to do more
that it can’t do now? Mr. Tarquino stated this will move land records process forward
with GIS, CAMA and tax billing and this program will be able to integrate with Landex
and LaserFishe. Mr. Martin said this will be helpful and he did visit Tioga County and
they were very happy with this product. Commissioner Thomas said the presenters
today exceeded what Mr. Veinotte presented last week and this will definitely make
Franklin County up to date and he thinks it’s appropriate to proceed. He is very satisfied
with the recommendation the committee came up with and is impressed with the
presentation today.
Sean Creager, Chief Information Officer and Stu Veinotte, Project
Archivist/Telephone Administrator were also present for the presentation and gave their
support. Mr. Creager said this matches everything he is trying to improve today and he
has no problems recommending these vendors from a technology standpoint. Mr.
Veinotte said the committee looked at efficiencies that will be created and benefits in
customer services and operational practices. Plus he said the County did get the best
price. This was the most user friendly system out there and Vision GSS and
Government Solutions did a good job demonstrating that.
Chairman Keller said he is comfortable with moving forward but would like
Commissioner Ziobrowski to look at the demonstration. He would like this put on the
agenda for Thursday, August 2, 2012 to consider this one last time and have the Board
deliberate at that time. He is very comfortable with what he heard today. The public will
have access to an appropriate level of information, if look at very narrow view, and the
benefits are there if look at more broadly a benefit to the entire county and outside
agencies. This will improve services and save money in the process.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:14 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by David S. Keller.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS