HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-17 Commissioner Minutes TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, October 17, 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 G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to adopt the agenda.
There was no public comment.
The minutes of the October 10, 2017 and October 12, 2017 meetings were
reviewed. These will be decided upon on Thursday, October 19, 2017.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. The following item
was approved today while the remaining items will be approved Thursday, October 19,
2017.
The Board reviewed Day Reporting Center matters. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the amendment to
the original agreement between the County of Franklin and B.I. Incorporated (under
GEO) to expand the client base to include Good Wolf Treatment Court participants with
a maximum encumbrance of$4,733.00, for the period of July 1, 2017 through
September 30, 2017. All other terms and conditions of the original agreement will
remain in full force and effect.
Teresa Beckner, Fiscal Director, presented the 2018 preliminary budget to the
Board. Ms. Beckner informed the Board this budget is an all request budget and
includes all requests submitted. She said it is still preliminary and in the early stages of
the process but this is the opportunity for the Board to see where we are right now. She
reviewed and explained the revenues and expense line items. Ms. Beckner said the all
services and operations total for revenue is $106.6 million and $110.9 million in
expenses. There were a total of 14 full time positions and 6 part time positions
requested in this budget. She said general fund makes up 5 full-time and 4 part-time of
the positions requested. Costs of these positions would total $810,000. Ms. Beckner
explained the general fund 2017 year-end projected expenses and revenue compared to
2018 requests. She explained the 2018 requested budget includes health insurance,
which is in the process of being finalized, and assumes a 3% increase to the county's
cost. The preliminary number from our actuary has estimated the County's required
pension contribution is $2,250.00 for 2018. The most significant areas of increase were
in Human Services with an increase of$440,000 or 15.1% and 911 center increase
relates to their capital requests. Capital requests amount to $2.1 million and include
computers, scanners, vehicles, carpet and furnishings, software, building repairs and
improvements, funding for new projects and security equipment and technology. Ms.
Beckner explained that we started 2017 with just over $14 million in unrestricted
reserves and that the recommended reserve balance based on 2017 projected actual
spending is 60-90 days of general fund cash requirements which would range from $5.9
million to $11.8 million. Ms. Beckner explained each line item of the total revenue for the
General Fund spreadsheet. Grants that have not been awarded yet do not get put in our
budget until they get approved. She explained the fees and charges for services and
said part of that is jail bed leasing and with the jail occupancy where it's been at they
have not been able to lease beds. Our balance of reserves would go to $5.2 million or
36 days of general fund expenses or reserves.
Continued on page 2
John Hart, Chief Clerk, said that Teresa Beckner provided a good overview of the
all request budget. We will continue to put money in contingency that will allow us to
review before final approvals. He said we will continue to look at general operations but
will also continue to look at efficiency and customer service initiatives. We will continue
to look next year at moving forward with paper initiatives. He explained one example is
the Children & Youth paper initiative and case workers using IPads in the field. We will
look at the Planning Office and making scanned items available to the public. He
explained that many plans are printed now and returned in printed form but we will look
at that process going paperless. He will ask the Board to consider improvements in the
Archives building due to the need to get records in a proper environment. ITS is asking
for an Application Developer and will review a few times before moving forward with this
position. Mr. Hart said we need the proper processes in place to move papers around
and make them available for employees and customers to improve internal and external
operations. He said Children & Youth is asking for more caseworkers due to a
substantial increase in referrals. On-call coverage for Children & Youth is another
concern since we need to be sure we are providing 24 hour coverage. Mr. Hart said
there are some challenges with the uncertainty of the State budget, since they have a
budget but it's not funded. We will monitor this as it becomes available. Another
challenge is the increased funding for our in-kind, where we have to contribute general
fund dollars to general operations, right now it's at$800,000. This number has
increased each year and is for proper funding from the federal government and the state
for mandated services. We will be very conscious of the taxpayers moving forward. He
said he will be going through the budget and reviewing every line item, because we need
to be sure we are spending money wisely.
Carrie Gray, County Administrator, said she will discuss some Human Services
requests and some plans for 2018. She explained that Children & Youth will continue to
address the increase in referrals and intakes. She said they are starting to see
efficiencies on the paper on demand project and using IPads in the field which will be
safer from a HIPAA standpoint. In Aging, the department continues to identify services
to meet the needs of seniors outside as well as inside the home. She said there is
collaboration with the District Attorney with an Elder Abuse Task Force. Ms. Gray said
that Human Services wants to continue with implementation of the data warehouse to be
able to analyze patterns of utilization and better use of programs we have in place.
There is also community engagement with Mental Health and Drug &Alcohol with
innovative ways in reaching into the community using a community liaison funded with a
grant we received to assist law enforcement during first response and providing services
at a critical time. She said early indicators are this is meeting the need and is working.
We have a Drug and Alcohol Caseworker to help at the Chambersburg Hospital with
outreach to overdose survivors as well as mothers of babies born drug-addicted. We
are meeting needs of our residents with respect to affordable housing before a person
becomes homeless. She said with the economic uncertainty, we need to look at
initiatives more locally in order to meet those needs.
Commissioner Thomas asked how we budgeted for the Jail in 2018. Mr. Hart
explained that their budget came in as an all request budget at$17 million. The Jail's
current original budget was $13.6 million. We will take a look at it again where the
population is at now. He said there are 98 correctional officers that maintain a safe
environment for inmates and staff. We did budget$980,000 for out of county housing.
There are some things we can do to reduce the jail population and we will continue to
look at it.
Continued on page 3
Chairman Keller said they will take this information under advisement and come
back and provide some guidance. Will look at various initiatives that are on-going like
better customer service and technology paper initiatives. He is not sure if any other
county has tried these type of initiatives but has heard at CCAP how many hours a
caseworker consumes in Children & Youth on paperwork. We can help offset some of
that with improvements to make it easier for them to complete the dozens of forms to
spend more time with the children and families that they are trying to help. He is excited
about this and it's a great project. The other initiative Mr. Hart talked about by trying to
reduce paper and make items available to the Board, all county offices and the general
public will be seen as positive. We want to make it as easy as possible for folks to do
business with the public. This would have an impact on our facilities with reduced foot
traffic. Chairman Keller mentioned the projected 3% increase for health care benefits
while most organizations our size would love to see that type of an increase. We also
have had a wellness initiative for employees and it appears we are getting positive
responses. The Board will deliberate on the 2018 budget at the October 24, 2017 board
meeting.
The Planning Office held a public hearing for the Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Program to present the budget and provide recommendations.
Chairman Keller explained that Sam Thrush, Planner, was here two other times and
there was some questions that he was to provide at this meeting. Mr. Thrush explained
further the meetings held on October 3, and October 5, 2017 and then provided the
following recommendations which was presented on October 5th and has not changed:
Provide $139,625 for the Borough of Greencastle for S. Jefferson Street reconstruction
project. Mr. Thrush explained more information on the census track that was used for
the Borough of Greencastle project to show the area is a low to moderate income area.
Eden Ratliff, Borough Manager, was present to explain that this is an area in major
disrepair and the Borough is willing to contribute $35,000 which is 20% of the project.
He also explained that there is a secondary benefit from those driving through the area;
provide $12,000 to SCCAP for the Gleaning project. Cherry Arvin from SCCAP was
present and said this program is a win-win for the people in the program and it's a way
for them to give back to the community; $25,800.00 for PathStone Homeownership
Program closing costs and assist with education on how to pay for a home.
Commissioner Ziobrowski asked if this program helps to reduce delinquencies but Sam
said he can reach out to them to see if their program has evidence that their program is
effective. Carrie Gray said it is best practice to use education from a human service
standpoint that its time well spent with consumers, since financial literacy is a correlation
with housing stability; $62,594.00 to Quincy Township for the water line extension. Mr.
Thrush explained that 7 out of the 9 homes are moderate to low income according to
Quincy's application but he is reaching out to homeowners for proof. He is still waiting
for some responses back from the homeowners but he did report one homeowner
refuses to talk to him and another said he does not want public water. Mr. Thrush
explained the Indian Lake Camp request for$34,000 is to cover legal, engineering and
interim improvements for their water treatment plant. He explained the issues with the
Lake Camp application and that the State will frown upon giving CDBG funds for legal
costs.
Continued on page 4
Mr. Thrush said the total allocation is $292,706.00 with Administration costs of
$52,687.08. Commissioner Thomas asked if the Greencastle project would go south if
they don't get the full amount and could give more to Quincy Township for their project.
Mr. Ratliff explained that in the past if they can take a couple thousand and move they
did. He would be more pleased if the County just shaved $5,000 off but not more than
that. Chairman Keller asked if the Quincy project could be eligible for future competitive
allocation funds. Sam said the state could see differently then what was submitted.
Chairman Keller feels good about the recommendations that have been made and he
welcomes a motion to approve the CDBG budget. On a motion by Robert G.
Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the CDBG budget.
The board will meet again November 2nd for final approval.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:59 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS