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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-04 Commissioner Minutes THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017 The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, May 4, 2017, 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, a Moment of Silence, 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. There was no public comment. John Hart, Chief Clerk, provided a list of warrants to be held and not paid on today's voucher listing. He explained that more research or documentation is needed before they are approved. He said the Court Interpreter voucher should be on hold until the additional documentation is provided. He recommends approval of this voucher when documentation is provided for this voucher. All other vouchers will be held and approved at a later time when documentation is provided. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the vouchers reviewed with the exceptions as per the attached document and to include the Court Interpreter voucher subject to approval of supported documentation. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the minutes of the April 25, 2017 and April 27, 2017 meetings. The Board reviewed Adult Probation matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Grant-In-Aid agreement between the County of Franklin and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Board of Probation and Parole, for the State Offender Supervision Funds through June 30, 2022. The Board reviewed Children and Youth matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the List of Subsidized Adoption Assistance agreements on behalf of the Franklin County Children and Youth Department to provide a subsidy to adoptive parents, to be used for adoptive children, for the period of January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017. Contract listing is maintained for proper accounting of all contracts. The Board reviewed Clerk of Courts matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Supplemental Appropriation in the amount of$151,750.00 to appropriate budget for payment of MetaSource LLC. for the Clerk of Courts scanning project. Funds will be reimbursed from the County Record Improvements Fund. The Board reviewed Domestic Relations matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Supplemental Appropriation in the amount of$14,774.00 to cover the cost of the Call Copy system used by Domestic Relations. The state will reimburse $9,751.00 (66%) of the Call Copy upgrade expense. Continued on page 2 The Board reviewed Grants/CJAB matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the agreement between the County of Franklin and Keystone Rural Health Center for oversight, training and supervision of the individual hired as the Co-responder for the Mental Health Co- responder program in the amount of$137,800.00, for the period of April 17, 2017 through December 31, 2018. Costs will be covered the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Mental Health and Justice Pretrial Initiative Grant. The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Pass Through Agreement between the County of Franklin and Letterkenny Township Municipal Authority for 2014 Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds in the amount of$225,000, for the period of May 4, 2017 through August 1, 2020. Funds will be used to construct the Skyline Drive Sewer Mainline Extension. In accordance with PA Acts 14, 67, 68 and 127 notifications, St. Thomas Development Inc. notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection renewal General Permit application being applied to beneficially use bag- house fines for agricultural field maintenance in St. Thomas. In accordance with PA Acts 14, 67, 68 and 127 notifications, R. Lee Royer and Associates notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Joint Permit application being applied by Accent Developers, LLC for the creation of a road crossing for phase 3 of a proposed residential development, located in Washington Township. In accordance with PA Acts 14, 67, 68 and 127 notifications, Dennis E. Black Engineering Inc. notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection NPDES Permit being applied by White Rock Inc. for proposed single family residential homesites with public sewer, water and gas utilities and storm drainage and stormwater management facilities, located in Guilford Township The Board met with the Human Resources Director, the Deputy Controller and the Director of Emergency Services for Salary Board matters. The Board reviewed Personnel matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the job description for the Planning Coordinator position. The Board reviewed information regarding National Bike Month and National Bike to Work Day. Joel Savilonis, representing the Franklin County Cyclists Group, spoke on behalf of the group that they do advocacy work. He mentioned Sam Thrush, Planner, has pushed for activities including police with children in the local schools to make biking safer in Franklin County. Commissioner Ziobrowski is a member of the Cyclists Group and he tries to ride regularly and finds it beneficial and enjoys the great camaraderie. He said the group raises awareness of cycling which is good also. He complimented the cyclists group for the Service and Gear (SAG) drivers that follow cyclists every week so if they break down or have a problem they are there to help. Commissioner Ziobrowski said you don't have to be a member to ride with the group every Tuesday night. Sarah Hamel, Wellness Coordinator, said she was contacted by Sam Thrush to promote bike month. She is trying to get our employees into more various activities in the community. They have a health theme and community events all around Franklin County for County employees. She said with Sam's help she is trying to Continued on page 3 get employees to do more. May 18th will be "bike to work day with the Commissioners. Commissioner Thomas said that the one thing that Sarah has done well is getting the organization moving that many individuals never thought of doing before. He gives her a lot of credit. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski, seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to sign Franklin County Proclamation #2017-11 proclaiming the month of May as National Bike Month and May 19th as National Bike to Work Day and that the attached proclamation be made a part of these minutes. The Board reviewed information on an ordinance to authorize an increase of the Hotel Tax to 5%. Mary Beth Shank, County Solicitor, said that several months ago Janet Pollard, Director of the Visitors Bureau, was here with a presentation about the many accomplishments and activities going on throughout the County. Part of the presentation was asking the Board to consider increasing the Hotel Tax from 3% to 5%. The original ordinance was approved in 2001. She explained the 5% is allowed by state law so now is the proper time for consideration and approval of the ordinance. Ms. Shank reviewed the ordinance with the Board. One change she explained was the reporting period for the Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA) budget was changed to December 1St and the audited statements were changed to July 15th of each year. Commissioner Ziobrowski asked how they will track and collect from the Air B&B's that are in the county. Ms. Shank responded that this question was on her List Serve and the response was that counties looked into entering into a different agreement for Air B&B's so they do not get a free pass. Commissioner Thomas asked about the 1.5% for late payments that's in the ordinance. Janet Pollard responded that lodging facilities are very good in paying in a timely fashion but from time to time there are some who are late in paying. She said the new legislation will help get full and timely payments since the 1.5% late fee was not in the original ordinance. Ms. Shank responded that the County can file a lien with this new ordinance also. Ms. Pollard said that she does have a staff person in her office that keeps track of Air B&B's and they reach out to the Treasurer's Office to have them inform the Air B&B's that they have to pay this room tax. Commissioner Ziobrowski said that he has traveled all over and has paid this tax but it's not as little as this amount. He asked if there is any feedback from the hoteliers. Ms. Pollard responded that she has not received any feedback from them. She said it does not impact the hoteliers because they pass this tax onto the consumer who are aware of this tax when they pay for the rooms. She has not had any negative comment from anyone. Chris Ardinger, Director of the Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce, said he has talked to a hotelier who was asking about the tax but when he explained all that the TPA does with the funds, he was surprised. Ms. Pollard explained that funds for grants through PA DCED dried up a couple years ago. She said the state is not incentivizing grants promotion as much so each TPA is promoting their own area. Chairman Keller wanted to acknowledge that they are not just raising the tax because they can. He said the Visitors Bureau put together a great plan on how the dollars will be spent. He has confidence in what the Visitors Bureau has done in the past and confidence in what they will do in the future. He said hoteliers have confidence in us so it's important to do this to stay competitive and do bigger and better things. Chairman Keller said that there has been no negative feedback and everyone is satisfied that we are doing the right thing, and he wholeheartedly supports this. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved Ordinance #2017-01 to authorize an increase in the Hotel Tax to 5%, effective June 1, 2017. The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas; seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski. FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION#2017-11 NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY WHEREAS, the bicycle is a viable and environmentally sound means of transportation and excellent form of exercise and recreation;and WHEREAS, millions of Americans will experience the joys of bicycling during the month of May through educational programs,races, community events,bike commuting,or just getting out and going for a ride;and WHEREAS,with increased interest in healthy,sustainable and economic transportation options, it's not surprising that,from 2000 to 2013,the number of bicycle commuters in the US grew by more than 62 percent;and WHEREAS,creating bicycle-friendly communities has been shown to improve citizens'health, well-being and quality of life, to boost community spirit, to improve traffic safety, attract tourism dollars, grow the economy, and to reduce pollution,congestion,and wear and tear on our streets and roads;and WHEREAS, the education of bicyclists and motorists as to the proper and safe operation of bicycles is important to ensure the safety and comfort of all users;and WHEREAS,May has been declared National Bike Month for each of the last 61 years across the US,and is so again in 2017; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim May 2017 as'National Bike Month'in Franklin County and'National Bike to Work Day'will be held on Friday,May 19,2017. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Franklin County Board of Commissioners urges all who support bicycling to participate in the events planned and urges all road users to share the road safely with bicyclists, IN WITNESS WHEREOF,We have hereunto set our hands and caused the seal of Franklin County to be affixed this 4TH day of May,2017. FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS David S.'Keller,Chairman Robert L.Thomas -,) Robert G. rowski