HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-05 Commissioner MinutesTUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019
The Franklin County Commissioners met Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 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 January 29, 2019 and January 31, 2019 meetings were
reviewed. These will be decided upon on Thursday, February 7, 2019.
The Board reviewed Agreements, Contracts and Reports. Commissioner
Thomas asked for more explanation of board action #6, agreement with CenturyLink for
VESTA upgrades. John Thierwechter, Director of Emergency Services, explained that
the DES currently has a contract with VESTA but it expires soon. The agreement with
CenturyLink is for software and hardware upgrades that handles incoming 911 calls and
will make this piece more 911 compliant. He added that this equipment will be NEXT
GEN compliant and they will see text messages and videos more clearly. Commissioner
Ziobrowski asked about the agreement with Centre County for housing of our inmates.
He asked what our jail population is and wanted to point out that Centre County has a
total of 147 inmates and they are a bigger county then us. We have so many more
inmates. The question has to be asked of the Judiciary and the District Attorney. He
continued that Centre County is not an anomaly; it's that ours is out of the norm. He
noted that this not only has extraordinary impact on the people incarcerated that don't
need to be incarcerated but on finances and the County as a whole. This needs to be
looked at more carefully and it's up to our Judiciary to answer this. The following item
was approved today while the remaining items will be approved Thursday, February 7,
2019.
The Board reviewed Coroner matters. On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved the following increases as set by
Senate Bill 1005 PN 2026 Codification of the County Code: Autopsy report from $100 to
$500; toxicology report from $50 to $100; coroner's view from $50 to $100. These
increases would be effective January 1, 2019.
The Board reviewed authority/board/commission appointments. On a motion by
Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas; unanimously approved to appoint
Rod Hocker to the Franklin County Industrial Development Authority for a term of
February 5, 2019 through April 4, 2021 to fill an unexpired term. The Board will also
consider appointing Hugh Graham, Charles Sioberg, Carrie Gray and David Mackley to
the Franklin County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for a term of January 1,
2019 through December 31, 2021. RT said that David Mackley is coming to the board
due to John Van Horn resigning.
Allen White, Disaster Program Specialist for American Red Cross, South Central
PA Chapter and a resident of Franklin County and Beverly Stambaugh, Executive
Director of the American Red Cross, were present to provide an update on American
Red Cross activities in Franklin County. Mr. White said instead of waiting for an event
they wanted to engage everyone and explain exactly what has been taking place in
Franklin County. In the year 2018 it was an average year and activity has not increased
from previous years. Mr. White provided the following numbers for 2018: there were 21
events in the county with 15 that were single family homes fires; two flooding events
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involving multi -family homes; one vehicle event into a home; one evacuation due to
carbon monoxide; and assistance for one multi -family home and single family home due
to a building collapse. They provided services to 75 individuals, including 50 adults and
25 minors. Mr. White continued that Red Cross engages with national disasters
including the California wildfires where two Franklin County volunteers were dispatched.
They separated themselves from their families to help other folks. He continued that in
October we had the unfortunate event in Pittsburgh so three individuals including himself
were dispatched to Pittsburgh to provide emotional and mental health support for
families, the community and the ed cCross team. Volunteer staff put in a lot of long
hours and days. The Pittsburgh event was only a week long but it felt like they were
there for three weeks. Currently this past week, they had the Byers Avenue apartment
fire where all residents were displaced. Volunteers and staff assisted the individuals and
families that day. Mr. White said they have a good relationship with Mr. Thierwechter
and Emergency Management and they are all on the same page. He explained they
have a Sounding Alarm Event where they provide free smoke detectors to at -risk
neighborhoods. They are trying to reduce fire fatalities by 25%. They did this on the
South end of the Borough of Chambersburg and worked with the Chambersburg Fire
Department where Red Cross provides the smoke detectors and the fire department
installs them in residents homes where needed. They are also looking at providing this
program in other boroughs in Franklin County. Commissioner Thomas said that when
people think of the Red Cross they think about blood donations, but they talked about
mental health assistance. Mr. White explained that they have mental health
professionals that provide mental health services. With the explosions recently at
Letterkenny they had conversations with Letterkenny Army Depot on what assistance
they could provide. They also provide services to law enforcement. Chairman Keller
asked if the Board could recognize the volunteers who went to Pittsburgh if Mr. White
wouldn't mind sharing their information. Ms. Stambaugh informed the Board that Allen
underestimated his involvement in the Pittsburgh incident. They have trained individuals
who manage these incidents and have case workers who sit down with individuals and
work with them. It's a very delicate and sensitive thing they do under Allen's leadership.
She continued that Allen sells himself short in that capacity and how he left his home for
a week to help with this event. Ms. Stambaugh explained that Franklin County is a
phenomenal supporter of blood drives. They are currently running blood drives in
Chambersburg and Waynesboro areas. These are very strong blood drives where 50-
70 units are collected per drive. They are currently in two schools in Franklin County
which are the Career Tech and Waynesboro High School so they need more help in this
area. They have a program titled Pint Size Heroes to educate the younger population so
they go home and encourage their parents and family members to donate blood. She is
asking for their help for connections with schools to see if they can get in and develop
these programs and provide education in other school districts. She explained the need
for blood is constant since they are in a shortage. It's hard to ask people to donate
blood. Commissioner Thomas mentioned the multiple ways that blood is used and the
common area is during surgeries, not just blood diseases like he had. It's something
that people need to understand. When someone donates, the body reproduces the
blood fast. Ms. Stambaugh said they are looking for more volunteers in every area here
in Franklin County. Anyone can go to the Red Cross website to sign up to volunteer.
They wanted to share things they have been doing, where their needs are, and any area
they think Red Cross can be involved. They are here to help. Commissioner Ziobrowski
said at one time there was a Franklin County chapter but they have consolidated. Ms.
Stambaugh explained they had been looking at the bottom line and where the money
was going. They used to have chapters in every town in every county. Now with
technology they have been able to do more virtually and have more volunteers to help.
They looked at real estate plans that some buildings did not have much traffic and
realized they could take that money and help more out in the field. They are in the field
doing services where needed and putting the dollars where needed. Commissioner
Ziobrowski said as a kid he was in Junior Red Cross. Ms. Stambaugh responded that
they are trying to establish clubs in schools but they don't have the Junior Red Cross
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anymore. There are no clubs right now in Franklin County. Last functioning club was in
2008 at Faust Middle School. They do have a building in York that they still use but
they have become much more efficient. Allen said there is donated space for supplies
when a disaster happens. Allen said they need more volunteer leaders also.
Commissioner Ziobrowski said that blood and disaster are their primary functions but
how does Red Cross assist with the Opioid crisis. Mr. White said they get engaged
where there is a displaced person in a shelter. Their nurses or trained volunteers have
the option to carry narcan. Here in Franklin County they are just beginning to have
discussions on how they are going to engage. Nurses will be able to carry narcan if they
run across an individual who is having an overdose incident. They are 90% volunteers
and went from a staff of 30 or more down to a staff of five. They rely very heavily on
volunteers now. They thanked the Commissioners for their time.
On a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski; seconded by Robert L. Thomas;
unanimously approved to enter an executive session at 10:24 a.m. this date for the
purpose to review pending litigation matters. Action may be required after the executive
session. The Board reconvened into regular session at 10:58 a.m.
The County Solicitor met with the Board of Commissioners to recommend
settlement of the BJC Associates v. Franklin County Board of Assessment commercial
tax assessment appeal, No. 2015-3889. The property is located at 1095 Wayne
Avenue, Chambersburg and is currently occupied by Motel 6. The original assessment is
$332,680 with an implied market value of $2,539,542. The Board approved an
assessment of $229,250 with an implied market value of $1,750,000. The settlement
was previously approved by all parties and intervenors, including the taxpayer,
Chambersburg School District and the Franklin County Board of Assessment.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:58 a.m. with a motion by Robert G. Ziobrowski;
seconded by Robert L. Thomas.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
David S. Keller, Chairman
Robert L. Thomas
Robert G. Ziobrowski