HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-12 Commissioner MinutesTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019
The Franklin County Commissioners met Thursday, December 12, 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.
Chairman Keller asked to amend the agenda to include time for Penn State
Agriculture Extension after public comment time. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved to adopt the amended
agenda.
There was no public comment.
Donna Scherer, Client Relationship Manager, and other Penn State Agriculture
Extension staff and members of the Penn State 4H Program were present to show
appreciation for the dedication and support they have received from Commissioner
Thomas. She continued that they are lucky to have support from all three
commissioners but today they wanted to recognize Mr. Thomas as he leaves office. She
read a letter of commendation from Dr. Brent Hales, Associate Dean, College of
Agricultural Sciences Director at Penn State Extension, and presented him with a Nittany
Lion statue that he can keep with all his prized possessions. He is being recognized for
his generous commitment of time and support to the Penn State Ag. Extension mission
and 4-H programs. Commissioner Thomas responded that there is no program and
source of funding that the County has that is more valuable than what we have at Ag.
Extension. He believes they make a difference in the communities and particularly the
4-H program. He mentioned when he was meeting with Judge Kaye when he first came
into office years ago, Judge Kaye made it clear that he had never seen a child in his
courtroom that had been through 4H, Girl or Boy Scouts or other worthwhile programs
and Commissioner Thomas feels it is driving taxes in our county today. If we were better
and smarter about these types of programs, he can assure everyone that our taxes
would be a whole lot lower. Commissioner Thomas said that he won't be here but he
will continue to be a community advocate and will continue to advocate for programs like
what Ag. Extension provides. He won't have a vote but he is hoping to have an impact.
He thanked everyone for the award.
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 David S. Keller; unanimously
approved the minutes of the December 3, 2019 and December 5, 2019 meeting.
Commissioner Ziobrowski abstained from voting due to being absent last week.
The Board reviewed Commissioners/Coroner matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved Invoice #2 for
architectural and engineering services for the Franklin County Coroner office space
planning in the amount of $6,007.50.
The Board reviewed Grants matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the Grant Application to Pennsylvania Veterans' Trust Fund requesting
$20,000.00 to be used to cover costs associated with dog training for the Save -A -Vet,
Save -A -Pet program. This program benefits the veteran, the dog, and the community.
Service dogs assist veterans with all types of disabilities. The grant period is June 1,
2020 through May 31, 2021.
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The Board reviewed ITS matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas, seconded
by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the Board to
execute the proposal from Morefield Communications for three year maintenance and
support renewal for the county -wide phone system delivered by Mitel at a cost of
$46,182.00 for the period of January 12, 2020 through January 11, 2023. This support
covers the County's Mitel and ShoreTel phone equipment which provides telephone
services throughout the county's offices.
The Board reviewed Planning matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Grant Application and
Resolution 2019-20 to receive funds in the amount of $540,000.00 from the Home
Investment Partnership (HOME) Program Grant on behalf of Luminest Community
Development. The proposed project includes demolition of two vacant blighted
dwellings in the Borough of Waynesboro and redevelop into two single family homes for
sale to first time homebuyers which do not exceed 80% of AMI.
The Board reviewed Reentry Service Center matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved the Agreement
between the County of Franklin and Peerstar, LLC to provide peer mentor services
provided to the Case Assisted Re -Entry (CARE) Program participants and to individuals
incarcerated at the Franklin County Jail. Agreement is for the amount of $14,000.00 for
the period of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
The Board reviewed Risk 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 quote from AIICom Global Services, Inc. to provide Lenel
OnGuard electronic access software as the recommendation for the County's electronic
building access at a cost of $90,354.53 and for installation of the Lenel OnGuard
electronic access security solution software at a cost of $5,859.20. The Lenel solution
can support the 277 card readers proposed for the new construction and Jail, access for
existing buildings; and offers future growth. The solution improves building security,
streamlines security systems management and service, and improves communication
with County Automated logic building management, Video Insight surveillance, and
Everbridge mass notification systems.
The Board reviewed Tax Services matters. On a motion by Robert L. Thomas,
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of the
Board to execute the proposal from Printaway for printing and postage for tax collector
envelopes at a cost of $41,650.00. The envelopes will be used to mail the County,
municipal bills. The amount that will be reimbursed to the County by the municipalities is
$15,522.57. Quotes were requested but this was the only bidder that responded.
The Board reviewed additional Tax Services matters. On a motion by Robert L.
Thomas, seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski; unanimously approved for the Chairman of
the Board to execute the proposal from SSS Printing for printing of the County municipal
bills for tax year 2020 at a cost of $6,355.00. Quotes were requested but this was the
only bidder that responded.
In accordance with PA Act notifications, Gwin Dobson & Foreman Engineers
notified the County of a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection General
NPDES Permit being applied by Bear Valley Franklin County PA Joint Authority for the
Fort Loudon Water Treatment Facility located in Peters, St. Thomas and Hamilton
Township and Chambersburg Borough.
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Denice Bigham, Senior Director, and Alice Elia, Director of Advancement &
Publicity, both with the Franklin County Library System, provided an update on library
services and their current fiscal position. Ms. Bigham provided 2018 statistics that
shows they are a very busy library system. She also provided statistics of how the Coyle
Free Library has grown since their renovations from 2017 to 2018. The extra space that
Coyle Free Library provides for meetings and programs has been beneficial. Ms.
Bigham provided information on how the library tax is used with approximately $20
library tax per year, per household, when compared to going to the movies, buying a
hardback book, and the cost of internet at home, among other things. Alice Elia
explained how they have a hard time attracting and retaining library staff due to their pay
structure starting at $7.50 per hour. The Library System would like to raise their
minimum pay to $10 per hour which would cost an additional $125,000 a year in payroll.
She continued that they would like to invest in updated technology at all their branches
like they did at Coyle which would cost $200,000 initially and then annually $50,000. All
facilities have been improved the past fifteen years but they are constantly looking for
ways to make all facilities more accessible, ADA compliant and to increase space, which
would cost $500,000 annually. Chairman Keller asked for more information on the
$500,000 to update facilities. Amy Martin from the Library System explained that
building maintenance costs have increased due to new buildings, but the bigger piece
would be to save funds each year to start construction or rent another building and
putting a facility on the west side of the County. Ms. Bigham explained that they are
drafting the budget for 2020 which includes a deficit of $140,000 and that does not
include the increase in wages they proposed. She said that state standards dictate a lot
of their operating and spending money including hours for all libraries and how they have
to spend all their state funds in the year they receive it. She mentioned again how they
want to get good qualified staff so they need to make sure they are paying a better
wage. She said that a lot of their staff have college degrees and mentioned some of the
skills they need for the positions they have. They receive $616,000 from the state now
but there were given an 8% increase for 2020. Commissioner Ziobrowski explained how
the state had dropped funding to libraries by 20% since 2002 and if the state would have
kept up with cost of living the amount given to libraries would have been $1,196,000.
This would've helped to make them whole so this drives him nuts when state legislators
stand up there and brag about how much money they save but the state has
underfunded the library system over the last 16 years. Commissioner Thomas said he
agrees with Commissioner Ziobrowski and noted low funding by the state in other areas
like Adult Probation. He asked how much lobbying they do with legislators and Ms.
Bigham explained there is a library lobbying firm that pushes every year. Commissioner
Thomas said that they are here lobbying to the commissioners today so they may be the
best to lobby to the legislators. He continued that libraries are a key factor to quality of
life in communities. When you look at the middle east, part of the problem is citizens are
not educated so they are easily influenced. Ms. Elia said they are fortunate to have
three commissioners that support them in their positions and personally and how
libraries are important for early education for children and workforce development. She
said there are things happening that impact the community at a bigger level. She
continued that they are asking the Commissioners for a'/2 mill increase that would allow
them to continue the status quo and pay staff a fair wage. She said they are grateful for
everything the commissioners do for the library system and they are here today to ask
for help to move forward. Chairman Keller thanked them for their comments and the
Board has always appreciated libraries and the community has embraced libraries and
most libraries have been growing. It seems obvious to him that libraries are more
relevant than ever before and we are a growing county so it seems to him that the
funding needs to be adjusted periodically. His preference is to get them there in smaller
steps. He would support an increase of a quarter of a mill. This would increase the
average homeowner by $5 a year. He continued that tax increases are something that
people don't want to consider but we have not adjusted the library tax since 2012 and
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that's a long time to go without an increase which speaks to the efficient management of
the library system. Commissioners Thomas and Ziobrowski support this also. Carrie
Gray, County Administrator, said the board would need to approve this increase with a
resolution during the budget adoption on Tuesday, December 17th. Chairman Keller said
without objection he asked that Ms. Gray and staff prepare the resolutions for the library
tax adoption for next week's adoption. He commends the library for finding other ways
of revenue and the need to increase support by their annual appeal and other fund
raising activities. It's been seven years since there was an increase and the library
system has been prudent and frugal. He thanked them for being here today and that it
was an excellent presentation.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 a.m. with a motion by Robert L. Thomas;
seconded by Robert G. Ziobrowski.
Carrie E. Gray
County Administrator/Chief Clerk
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
David S. Keller, Chairman
Robert L. Thomas
Robert G. Ziobrowski