DAUPHIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONERS' WORKSHOP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005 10:00 A.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Jeff Haste, Chairman
Dominic D. DiFrancesco, II, Vice Chairman
George P. Hartwick, III, Secretary

STAFF PRESENT

Chad Saylor, Chief Clerk/Chief of Staff; Bill Tully, Esq., Solicitor; Marie Rebuck, Controller; Robert Dick, Treasurer; Guy Beneventano, Esq., Assistant Solicitor; Noel Falk, Project Assistant; Mark Rothermel, EMA; Robb Wentzel, EMA Director; Randy Baratucci, Purchasing Director; Edgar Cohen, Facility Maintenance Director; Tom Guenther, Information Technology Director; Jack Harlacker, EMA; Stephen Libhart, District Attorney's Office; Diane McNaughton, Press Secretary; Jena Wolgemuth, Commissioners' Office; Richie Martz, Commissioners' Office; Lena Martinez, Commissioners' Office; Garry Esworthy, Risk Manager; Kay Sinner, Personnel; and Bob Hawley, Deputy Court Administrator

GUESTS PRESENT

Jim Szymborski, Planning Commission; and Tim Reardon, Planning Commission

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Haste, Chairman of the Board, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Tully and I will need to leave early because we need to go to the Hill to testify. (The Meeting will not follow the agenda completely.)

MOMENT OF SILENCE

Everyone observed a moment of silence.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Haste: We have three sets of Minutes for approval at next week's meeting. They are the September 21, 2005 Legislative Meeting Minutes; the September 21, 2005 Salary Board Meeting Minutes; and the September 28, 2005 Workshop Meeting Minutes.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. Haste: We are at the point in time of the Meeting for public participation. Is there anyone from the audience that would like to address the Board? (There was none.)

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS/GUESTS

1. Commissioners
   1. Presentation of Professional Certification Award to Mark Rothermel from EMA.

Mr. DiFrancesco: We are honored as a Board today to take a moment of the Meeting to praise one of our employees. Mark Rothermel has received his highest level of certification within his profession. There are three steps to the top certification. This is an opportunity for us today to once again highlight to the community exactly what type of people we have working for us here at Dauphin County. In particular, I want to stress this morning in Emergency Management because I said it before and I'll say it again, when you accept a position with Emergency Management, you are accepting a 24 hour, 7 days a week task, where you can be called out at hours where none of us want to be called out and lose a lot of sleep. The demands of the office are great. The demands of the training are great so not only do you have to worry about your professional responsibilities on the job, you have to worry about going through all these certificate programs and keeping your education up to speed. I'm also proud to say that you also take the time as so many of us do to give back to the community. Some of the things that I would like to highlight today fall outside of all the work that you do for the department, you are also involved with the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, take time to be the father of three children, and a husband which probably takes up "48 hours" of your 24 hour day, and also to be involved in your church and find time for some hobbies as well, which I don't know how you do that.

This morning, on behalf of the Board, I want to take a moment just to thank you for your commitment to Dauphin County. We have the Certificate that we will present to you. You've done all the hard work, obviously, but we wanted to take the time to acknowledge the fact that we appreciate it, that we appreciate the type of person that you are and how you basically represent Dauphin County throughout this community.

From the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Professional Certification, "the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency hereby certifies that Mark Rothermel has successfully completed the professional certification requirements as Emergency Management Staff Member of the Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency given this day the 15th day of June, 2005." (Applause and a picture was taken after the presentation)

Mr. Haste: We'll now move forward to Items for Discussion and Personnel.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Mr. Haste: We have the following items for discussion. Items A & B need a vote today. A is for the real estate settlement tax with MetED and B is the appointment of a tax collector for Mifflin Township. Is there a motion to approve Items A & B?

It was moved by Mr. DiFrancesco and seconded by Mr. Hartwick to approve the following. Motion carries.

1. Authorize a real estate tax settlement with Metropolitan Edison Company regarding Unit II at Three Mile Island, Middletown, parcel #34-027-103 with a single one-time payment in full in the amount of $239,413.23, saving the County $23,912.62. (***A VOTE IS REQUESTED 10/12/05)
2. Appoint Nancy M. Reitz to collect County real estate taxes for the Township of Mifflin replacing J. Franklin Crum who resigned on August 22, 2005. (Term will expire January, 2006.) (***A VOTE IS REQUESTED 10/12/05)

PERSONNEL

Ms. Sinner: In the personnel packet is the request to post and fill vacancies. One is for Spring Creek in Housekeeping; one for Children & Youth, a Caseworker I or 2 Social Worker I positions, a part-time custodian for Facility Maintenance; and a full-time Warehouse Equipment Operator for Purchasing. D. J. Smith's Office is requesting a Legal Clerk II position to be filled and D. J. Judy is requesting an Office Manager position to be filled that will be coming vacant soon.

We have new hires for Spring Creek; a part-time custodian for Facility Maintenance; and a full-time Assistant Public Defender in the Public Defender's Office.

We have some personnel changes. Item #12 of the new hires, I'm requesting approval today. I also have an addendum that just came through yesterday for the Prison where the person has voluntarily accepted a demotion and is already working in the capacity of a Correctional Officer as of Monday. If possible, I would like a vote on that as well.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Which one was that?

Ms. Sinner: That is in the addendum.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Okay.

Ms. Sinner: So that would be #1 of the addendum and #12 of the personnel transaction listing. The rest of the personnel packet is overtime reports and an overtime request from the Prison.

Mr. Haste: I don't have the addendum. But is that the only thing in the addendum, the Prison?

Mr. Hartwick: That is it.

Mr. Haste: Is there a motion to approve Item #12 and the addendum?

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco to approve Item #12 of the personnel transaction listing and Item #1 of the addendum for the Prison; motion carries.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I know you guys are already working on this but just to make certain that you are reaching out to the Villa Teresa employees. I know that is already happening but I can't stress it enough that if there are employees over there that would fit the needs of Spring Creek, we certainly want to make sure that we are out there for them.

Ms. Sinner: Yes.

Mr. DiFrancesco: We are at the point where we are going to bring the presentations up. I would ask that due to a viewing that is taking place today, the folks that are presenting understand that we are basically going to have until 11:00 for this Meeting today. I just ask that folks come up and present as best and briefly as they can because I know I have to leave and I'm not sure if George has to get out as well. We'll start with Noel.

Noel Falk, Project Assistant

Update on Wildwood, Ft. Halifax and Rails to Trails.

Mr. Falk: Good Morning, Commissioners.

I want to thank Mr. Saylor for inviting me to share with you some of the good things that are happening within the County that I'm involved with. My position as County Project Assistant has me working with a number of community and County organizations. Most of my efforts have to do with helping to increase tourism in various areas of the County. Let me share a few things that have developed over the past few months.

1. Henninger Farm Bridge
   1. I would like to start with the Henninger Farm Covered Bridge. This is the last Dauphin County covered bridge and is located between Elizabethville and Lykens in northern Dauphin County. It was rebuilt after the fire had destroyed the original bridge. In May, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission gave the "2005 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award" to the County for rebuilding the bridge. To help improve the appearance of the picnic area of the bridge, Mid-Penn Bank was asked to cover the cost of having two new picnic tables built. Then the Superintendent of the Upper Dauphin Area High School was asked if students could build the tables and this request was approved. There are now two new very beautiful tables there for picnic use. Eastern Industries agreed to supply gravel for the area which had been washed away by the flood last year. It should be delivered shortly. This is a very nice place for families to enjoy summer or fall outings. Signage is still needed to help visitors find the site.
2. Fort Halifax
   1. Halifax Township is working to raise money to buy the former Yeager Farm in Halifax, a site on which Fort Halifax was built in 1756 and dismantled about six years later where it once stood. The property was sold to the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy with the agreement that Halifax Township would raise money to purchase it for passive recreation. The total cost of the project is about $1.4 million. My efforts with the township are to help raise the money. Last Fall we had a very successful arts festival fundraiser. The festival for last Saturday had to be cancelled due to the weather. Grants totally about $900,000 have been promised and some received. This is primarily due to the efforts of Linda Ruff and her grant writing ability. Dane Harman is Chairman of the fundraising effort and I serve as Vice-Chair. We held a beautiful introductory event at the Harman Stove Company. Solicitation is now beginning for local support. JPL Productions produced at no charge a wonderful seven minute video that is being used to support our fundraising efforts. The video helps people discover the need for this project and the future value of this park to the township and the County. It is hoped that in a couple of years the fort can be rebuilt as we have found the building plans for the fort. It originally took thirty men only two weeks to build the fort. I want to thank the Commissioners for their financial and enthusiastic support for this project.
3. The Lykens Valley Rail Trail
   1. In the late 1800's the Lykens Valley Railroad Company built a railroad to transport coal through the Lykens Valley to the Susquehanna River where it could be taken down the river and distributed. The rail bed is still there and individuals from the valley are active in converting the bed into a recreational trail. In June a group met and we began forming a registered non-profit organization. With the help of our Assistant Solicitor Guy Beneventano, it has happened. On October 4th, the association was formally established with the adoption of by-laws and the election of officers. We want to thank the Commissioners for the grant that was needed to start this process. Currently, we are working with the Game Commission and the Ned Smith Center to secure an agreement to use their rail bed that goes through their properties. With these approvals, we will have use of about six miles of trails. There is a potential of about twenty miles of trails that will run from Williamstown to Millersburg. The trail will be a great recreational value to members of the valley and of course residents of the entire County.
4. Wildwood Sanctuary and the Ben Olewine Nature Center
   1. In January, I was asked to take over the leadership of the Sanctuary. Since then some wonderful things have happened. First I would like to thank the staff at Wildwood for their work. The County is fortunate to have such a talented group and dedicated staff doing the work there. Without their efforts, much of this work would not have occurred. Let me list a few things that I believe are important for you to know. Security of our visitors and guests is of utmost importance. The telephones along the trail have been upgraded and we were fortunate in getting the ramp from Industrial Road to Route 322 posted as no parking. This eliminates possibilities of past events that have occurred there. I am very happy with the relationship that we have with the Friends of Wildwood. We are most pleased with the financial support they have given this year. The Friends of Wildwood have contributed $4,800 for nature resources, the building and educational items thus far this year. The Friends have hired a Nature Store Manager. This means that the staff is no longer involved with the running of this store which is a Friends' business. Much thanks for this goes to Lucreita Crum, President of the Friends Board. As of June 30th, we have received 2,715 hours of volunteer help. Using the United Way's figures for calculating volunteer value, this equals a monetary value of $48,000 or about two and one-half full-time employees for six months. The overall appearance of Wildwood has improved much as a result of the volunteers and staff. The signage that was put up is much improved and more visitor friendly. Plans are beginning for the 2007 centennial celebration for Wildwood. Of course, this marks the 100th year anniversary of the park. Thanks to the effort of Sandy Lockerman and others, we are receiving a Pennsylvania Historic Sign honoring Wildwood Park. The dedication of this sign will be held November 19th. I again want to thank the great staff for all they do, the Friends of Wildwood and the Commissioners for their support of Wildwood. This park provides much benefit to local schools and of course the home school community. Others use it for its scenic recreational value and some for the ornithological observations that are wonderfully provided.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Realizing that we are a little premature on this, but the budget is coming up and I at least want to get you thinking about it. Last year we had the discussion over the three instructors that were out there and at that time, I said if we can't afford to pay for them, then we need to eliminate some of those positions. At that time, it was said, don't do that now, let's take some time and figure out ways to generate more revenue in order to help pay for the cost or offset the cost of those instructors. How have we been making headway on that?

Mr. Falk: Two things, #1, some of the educational materials that are needed, the Friends of Wildwood have picked up the cost of that. #2, we have increased the fee for schools using the facility. Although, this Fall we have fewer schools using it, we should come in slightly ahead on revenue. As next Spring is approaching, we are already receiving in excess of what we had last Spring. So since we've raised the fee from $2 to $5, this should help.

Mr. DiFrancesco: When you guys come in for the budget presentation, make sure you focus on that aspect of it as well. Just by example, in today's purchase order we have an educational program at Wildwood Nature Center for October 14, Stroud Water Research Center, something like an $800 purchase. Something like that, am I to assume that is coming from general fund or somehow would that be offset by..

Mr. Falk: The other thing is, in order to get the best value, we run it through the County and reimburse with a check from the Friends of Wildwood.

Mr. DiFrancesco: That's important for us to understand exactly at the end of the day who is actually paying for these programs.

Mr. Hartwick: I'm very up-to-date on all of the projects you talked about. Do they plan on rescheduling the Fall Arts Festival?

Mr. Falk: The Fall Arts Festival cannot be rescheduled for this year, unfortunately. As a matter of fact there are a number of festivals from northern Dauphin County that have been cancelled for this year due to weather. Thanks for your support on that day at Harman Wood Stoves for the Halifax event.

Mr. Hartwick: Thank you for your hard work.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Thank you sir. Mr. Libhart is next.

1. Stephen Libhart, District Attorney's Office
   1. Grant to fund the implementation of a Drug & Alcohol Restrictive Intermediate Punishment Program.

Mr. Libhart: You should have before you a request that's a collaborative effort between the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office and the Dauphin County Commission on Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco to implement a Drug and Alcohol Restrictive Intermediate Punishment Program. It is one of the catch phrases right now by PCCD. That is why there is a lot of funding available for it. Our request is basically going to cover the next eight months. It is for approximately $520,000 all of which is funded by PCCD requiring no match from the County. The project is in place and ready to go as soon as the funding is approved. So at this time, I would like to request a vote by the Commissioners.

Mr. Hartwick: Is this money coming out of the general allocation that the Executive Commission on Drugs & Alcohol receives or is this money in addition to the yearly allocation?

Mr. Libhart: This is new money. It will actually pass through from the District Attorney's Office to DCDA.

Mr. Hartwick: As with PCCD grants, is there going to be a requirement? What actually are we going to be doing with this money?

Mr. Libhart: The money will fund the entire component of restrictive intermediate punishment for drug and alcohol related offenses. There is an elaborate program to determine who will be eligible to participate in that program. Basically, it is for level III and level IV offenders of certain offenses usually ones that aren't aggravated by extensive circumstances like guns, etc. It is treatment based. Usually, the underlying goal of this program is to exchange intermediate punishment days with incarceration days and at the same time get treatment in hopes of reducing recidivism on part of the offenders. So we are going to pass through the money to fund the professionals that are required to do that, that are certified.

Mr. Hartwick: Basically, the grant is not authorizing any additional employees? This is not going to go toward money for administrative expenses of the program but largely to pay for treatment and intermediate punishment situations?

Mr. Libhart: I think about 7% of the grant goes to funding a new position with the Commission on Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco. It is to serve only as a case manager for this program that would oversee the program. I would report directly to Smittie Brown.

Mr. Hartwick: The concern that I have is, is the Executive Commission on Drugs & Alcohol with the PCCD Grant, now picking up another employee if they are going to have to find funding in the future as all PCCD Grants go?

Mr. Libhart: You could look at it that way but we've been reasonably assured that this program is going to continue for the next four to five years at a minimum. There is money there constantly and it's 100% funded each time they offer it.

Mr. Hartwick: I'm supportive of this. My concern is the lack of information that we are getting from the Executive Commission on Drugs and Alcohol and how they are actually allocating and spending the resources. It would be nice to hear from them on how they plan to partner with the District Attorney's Office because this is the first time we've heard about this project and it is coming from you. They should also be here with you talking about their responsibilities financially and how they plan to fulfill this piece in their budget and what this means to their ability to deliver direct services with their current budget. Do you need this done today?

Mr. Libhart: We've technically submitted the application because it was a rush with PCCD. This has been facilitated in about sixteen other counties already. Obviously, Dauphin County has a hole that this program meets. We currently don't have any similar program in place.

Mr. Hartwick: I think the program is great. I'm 100% in support of it and have no problem with the piece from the District Attorney's Office. You shouldn't be taking the heat for the questions for the Executive Commission on Drugs & Alcohol. They should be here with you as a co-presenter talking about what this means to their budget, as well in order for me to feel comfortable with approving it, unless it is timely.

Mr. Libhart: It can obviously wait two to three weeks.

Mr. Hartwick: Is there any way next week that you could arrange for Smittie Brown to come here and talk about what this means to their piece of the budget as well?

Mr. Libhart: I can handle contacting Smittie and I'll come along with him. I'm sure we can provide you with whatever answers you need.

Mr. Hartwick: Again, this is no problem with the program, I just need to hear from the Executive Commission on how they plan to pay for the additional employee and what their long range strategy is in this area. It would be a good opportunity to have them in front of us.

Mr. Libhart: You may find in the interim though that some of those questions might be addressed by the narrative of the project that describes that.

Mr. Hartwick: I want to see how closely Smittie matches up.

Mr. Libhart: Understood.

1. Jim Szymborski, Executive Director, Planning Commission
   1. Funding for Comprehensive Plan and model ordinance matching grants.

Mr. Szymborski: I have our Associate Director, Tim Reardon, with me today. We're here today to request authorization to submit a Land Use Planning Technical Assistance Grant Application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The purpose of this grant is to fulfill a legislative mandate and three outcomes that were requested at the Dauphin County Economic Summit that was held this past May.

The first is to complete the Dauphin County Comprehensive Plan which we are required to do under the Municipalities Planning Code. The Plan is probably about 90% complete. We've managed to prepare, and at this point in time, complete this entire project in-house without the use of any consultants and we plan to continue that. We do however have a number of items that need to be completed. The first is to revise the Plan draft which has been completed and distributed to all the municipalities and is also on our website based on public input. The second is adoption by the Board of Commissioners. The third is to print and distribute the copies as final copies and conduct a required implementation and public application outreach initiative; prepare the toolbox of various means to implement the Plan which we will be carrying out to all of the municipalities; and place the Plan in the toolbox on the website. It is our estimate to complete this project it will cost $8,600 with a 50% grant that we are requesting a match from the County that would be $4,300. So that is the legislative mandate.

There were three outcomes of the Dauphin County Economic Summit that was held last May. There was a very clear expression and a need to provide for model ordinances. So we have prepared an application to the State CED to prepare a model zoning ordinance and a model subdivision land development ordinance. This we would like to conduct as a regional project. Cumberland and Perry have confirmed that they will provide their match. By doing this regional project, we will be reducing what would otherwise be Dauphin County's match by about 56%. The third outcome was an expressed need to provide detailed information of a wide range of characteristics in Dauphin County. As in the Philly data center, we have this data available in-house. We have produced as part of the County Comp Plan a Basic Study Element that virtually contains all of the characteristics of Dauphin County Community Facilities housing related; transportation related; economic base; labor force statistics; population and social economic data that will also be delivered to all forty municipalities but will also be included on our website. The estimated local match for those items is $11,014. So the total match that we are requesting from Dauphin County to complete the County Comp Plan; the outreach and the model zoning ordinance; the model subdivision land development ordinance is $15,314. This is part of the 2006 preliminary budget that we have submitted. It is virtually the only increase that we are requesting this year from Dauphin County. I say virtually because in order to get additional funds for the transportation planning program, we're asking for I think $480 increase. Aside from these projects, the only increase we will be asking would be about $500 over last year's budget. These are important items. I think it is something that you can report to the public that are initiatives are taking place. We hope to have the data and the Comp Plan on the street to the municipalities early next year by the first quarter. We're hoping to have the model ordinances completed either by the end of next or the very beginning of the following year depending on how quickly we can get a task force together and get staff moving on preparing those model ordinances.

Mr. Hartwick: I would like to get a copy.

Mr. Szymborski: I believe we have delivered copies to the Board. But we'll certainly get another one to you.

Mr. Hartwick: What are you doing to try to redirect growth in a relatively booming economy right now in Central Pennsylvania to industrialized areas and preserve green space?

Mr. Szymborski: The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Growth Management Plan focuses development around those areas and extending from those areas that already have existing infrastructure investments. Primarily that's the boroughs. The boroughs have that investment. They have the infrastructure and infrastructure needs. What we are proposing in the County Comp Plan, in compliance with the Regional Growth Management Plan, is to have that development initially occur around the boroughs so that you are not extending or leap frog development out into the areas that have not been developed as has occurred over the last fifty years. It will be a shared investment by the townships and the boroughs to have that infrastructure extended out into the townships to provide public sewer and public water service, as well as take the burden off roads that were never constructed to handle the high traffic volumes that they are currently being required to handle as development occurs. There we have identified conservation areas and open space areas in both plans that are intended to be preserved. The text of the zoning as well as the subdivision ordinance is going to include a number of these unique type options transfer development rights, open space and conservation subdivision land development concepts, the provision of public sewer and water in accordance with the plan, a consistency with infrastructure plans that have been adopted by the municipalities. I guess that is what we intend to do through the zoning ordinances, have the regulatory foundation laid so that development will occur where the major infrastructures have been established as opposed to in the outlining areas.

Mr. Hartwick: What are you going to do by making it more burdensome for folks to develop in the areas that don't have the infrastructure? What areas are you putting in place and how are you planning to make it less attractive to somebody who uses just green space versus go back into a former industrialized area of aging infrastructure to clear out a study and reinvest? What tools do we have?

Mr. Szymborski: The tools are going to be the future land use comp plans that identify the desirable land use characteristics and patterns to be established including the preservation of open space and agricultural activities. Agriculture is part of our economic base. We've prepared the comp plan to incorporate that as part of our economic base to be protected. Then through zoning where you establish districts that permit the types of uses and the intensity of use that those districts be created by the municipalities that are in compliance with the comp plan so that you would not be permitted to develop in those areas and the investment would have to be made and shared by the developer in the municipalities.

Mr. Hartwick: Do we make recommendations to the municipalities to follow a certain zoning?

Mr. Szymborski: Absolutely.

Mr. Hartwick: Have they been working with this or do they adopt the County's recommendation particularly in areas where they refuse to have any zoning?

Mr. Szymborski: We are in the process now of receiving the feedback from the municipalities on what we are proposing so that we have something to deliver to you and what the status of the comp plan is before we ask you to adopt it. That process is incomplete. We've got forty municipalities that we're waiting for responses from and that is going to take several months. The purpose of the model zoning ordinance and our outreach program is to carry those model ordinances out to each of those forty municipalities and encourage them to adopt those ordinances. The subdivision regulars are also going to include the best management practices that the County Conservation District has established. They'll be incorporated into the subdivision land development ordinance that will also be an ordinance that we'll be personally carrying out to each of the forty municipalities promoting adoption. We can only go so far to educate the public, and show based on past experience, that they want to manage their destiny and they want to do that in a way that they are going to preserve the way of life that they want to preserve. It is going to have to be through planning and through zoning.

Mr. Hartwick: Message is being received.

Mr. Szymborski: That is what we are asking right now as a result of these ordinances when we carry those ordinances out and this plan, we will be promoting all that.

Mr. Hartwick: Will we be provided feedback from the municipalities that have difficultly with Dauphin County standards and seeing if we can assist you in working along with those municipalities?

Mr. Szymborski: We realize that we have to work with the Board as well as the County Planning Commission. The Commission has representatives in various geographic areas of the County. We are using those people to network. We realize that we have to rely on whatever support the Board will give us also.

Mr. Hartwick: How about you and I talk outside of this meeting in respect to moving along. Perhaps we should set up a meeting and discuss it.

Mr. Szymborski: What I'm asking is at least the authorization to submit the application for the two model ordinances updates of the County's Comp Plan.

Mr. DiFrancesco: So this budget request, $4,000..

Mr. Szymborski: It would be $4,300 for the County Comp Plan Update.

Mr. DiFrancesco: So this would be something that you want us to vote on?

Mr. Szymborski: And $11,014.

Mr. DiFrancesco: At the next meeting correct? This is not something that you are preparing us for the budget?

Mr. Szymborski: It is included in the budget but because this is a state competition grant and the administration has reduced that grant by about $1.3 million over last year and other counties are already getting their applications in, it is imperative that we get ours in as soon as possible.

Mr. Hartwick: So you want authorization to submit the application?

Mr. Szymborski: To submit it with a reasonable expectation that the budget would be approved knowing that this is the only increase.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I don't have a problem with that at all, so there are two. I have two questions and a comment. It is good to see that you are actively moving on some of the issues that came about as a result of the Summit. We definitely want to show reaction to what the individuals raised. I appreciate that. I know it is very difficult to read a comprehensive plan so putting it together must be an extreme challenge. We appreciate all your efforts on our behalf.

The question that I have for you is, in regards to your outreach to communities sitting as advisors on the different zoning boards, etc. has there been much discussion at that level in communities that would be affected by the Corridor One Project? Has there been much discussion about what it means to development around those corridor lines?
Let me extend that, I'm assuming you're doing the same thing in Cumberland in terms of reaching out to those communities. You assume that same role across the river as well?

Mr. Szymborski: That is correct.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Has there been much discussion about this project on the local level?

Mr. Szymborski: I would have to call my staff because we've got twenty-eight municipalities in Dauphin that are part of that. The municipalities that I go to it's been fairly limited recently. With the publicity and media articles, I would imagine that discussion is going to probably increase.

Mr. DiFrancesco: In terms of your role, what is Tri-County's official stance on the project?

Mr. Szymborski: Tri-County as the lead agency in the transportation planning program is a pass through agency for the funds that the federal and state government are providing modern transit partnership to complete the preliminary engineering phase. Tri-County's position is that they'll continue to support the funding for the continued investigation of the viability of applying Corridor One and designating as the transit application. But until the preliminary engineering is done and we've had an opportunity to thoroughly review the management plan, the environmental impact, the right-of-way acquisition plan, the operations and maintenance plan and the finance plan, they are withholding complete support of this as the particular application for Central Pennsylvania.

Mr. DiFrancesco: The one thing that has me concerned right now and somehow I would like to get verification on it is that, I'm not so certain that on the local level unless you've had great exposure to how rail projects develop in other areas that you fully understand what this could possibly mean to an economy in the local area, to the prices of housing in the local area, etc. The positive affects outside of just mitigating the congestion on the highways and I guess what concerns me is when I start to read articles where municipalities now on the West Shore are stepping up and voicing their support for opposition to this project. I want to make sure they are doing so with full knowledge and not filtered biased knowledge. In the same respect, my greater concern now is the paper reported the other day that two council government organizations were also supporting that position. Now a lot of municipalities on the East Shore have joined the West Shore Council of Government. I want to make sure that those municipalities are aware that if in fact that was one of the council of governments that was involved in this, now that organization is speaking for the East Shore communities as well. I want to make sure from a planning prospective those communities truly understand the implications of this project and what it can mean to them.

Mr. Szymborski: Those municipalities are part of our local planning assistance program and we can do that. Our County Comp Plan, as well as the Regional Comp Plan designate that corridor from Harrisburg down to Middletown as the major urban investment area for the region not just the County. That is the initial leg of Corridor One. So we are proposing those investments in terms of infrastructure and land use and mix uses where you can contain origins and destinations within that corridor be located primarily there. That is our major investment corridor, Harrisburg to Middletown along Corridor One as it passes through Dauphin County.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I just want to make sure that these communities have a fair opportunity to evaluate this project and get all the information.

Mr. Szymborski: We'll do that.

PURCHASE ORDERS

Mr. DiFrancesco: We have the purchasing packet before us.

Mr. Baratucci: You should have gotten the packet yesterday. There is nothing unusual in it other than a couple over budgets that we'll need to fix between now and next week. If you have any questions on any specific items, I'll answer them.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I have two. The Fire Investigation Unit, the digital camera that they are purchasing, who is the Fire Investigation Unit?

Mr. Baratucci: That is C.I.D. that is special funding in this area for them.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I'm fine with that. I already asked the question on the Nature Center purchase. Can you give any more input on that purchase? Is that an educational item?

Mr. Baratucci: The program that they are going to do and I would agree that it probably will be offset with either income from the people that are going to be attending the program. They charge all of their programs to their client oriented services the same way with the regular Parks & Recreation Budget. People who use it usually pay. So I'm assuming it the same type of program.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Okay, those are my questions.

Mr. Hartwick: Where are we with the plans to redo the sound systems in the courtroom? I see another purchase here in the packet.

Mr. Baratucci: My understanding with Carolyn is that this one was going to go into the 2006 budget. She had identified money that she could spend yet out of this year's budget so this is something that she feels they have enough money to do it now and obviously that reduces their requirements for next year. They are trying to do these courtrooms as they have money available. That is the way she explained it to me. The way to make sure, if we have the money available then we would do one or two at a shot. I think this might be the second one that they are doing this year. I think they only planned for one but as money becomes available they're trying to get them all done as soon as they possibly can.

Mr. Hartwick: They keep finding money for stuff. I would like to see a plan from Carolyn just to see exactly what they plan on redoing, what the timeframe is, etc.

Mr. Baratucci: I know that the past policy has been to give the courts an overall budget and then allow them to pretty much work within that as long as they don't go over budget. At least that was the plan, in previous years. With that idea, I think that is the way they look at it. You give them a pot of money at budget time and they're sort of free to do with that what they want as long as they stay within that amount.

Mr. Hartwick: The amount is over according to this line.

Mr. Baratucci: That is just a matter of transferring money from one line item to another.

Mr. Hartwick: Where is it coming from?

Mr. Baratucci: Unfortunately the expendable tools line item which is capital equipment, a lot of times in previous years that gets zeroed out for everybody. Then again money is available from where ever they budgeted for other things, they move it into there. Now you can read into that what you want but again I think the whole scheme of how you do the courts budget, is that way. Here is their pot and they can move it around within the pot as much as they want to as long as they don't go over. That is the understanding that I'm pretty sure they have.

Mr. Hartwick: At least we still have the ability to ask questions of where they are pulling money from to replace here. I would like to know what their long term plan is in replacing sound systems and if they are going to slide one in this year, does that mean that they're going to do two for next year. It would be nice to know what the plan is.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I would make a request to the Chief Clerk to reach out to Carolyn so that when they come in for their budget hearings they are prepared with exactly that, a plan of action. A lot of what we have been doing over the past two years has been responding to crisis within the court budget in terms of district justice offices, the courtroom operations, etc. I think it is very important that we work with President Judge Lewis to identify ways where we can set capital priorities within the court system so that we do know what we are funding, when we are funding them, etc.? So it is not like, oh here is a price and we need to do this one now. Now we need to do this one. We need to know how many budgeted dollars are going towards what projects in a particular year. We can no longer continue to operate on the premise that here is a pot of money go spend it any way you want to. We need to have some sort of reasonable understanding in terms of our capital, in terms of our buildings, what we are purchasing, why we are purchasing it, when we are purchasing it, etc. I would ask that you do that so they are prepared for their budget hearings.

Mr. Hartwick: Page 9, what are the Exacutrack units, what are they?

Mr. Baratucci: In Adult Probation, they have a number of electronic monitoring units and this is a new upgraded product and they are looking to...I think it is a rental of 50 units. It is an upgraded product from what they are using now.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Is it GPS?

Mr. Baratucci: I believe it is, it does something like that. It is called Exacutrack and tracks the offender in a better way. There is a contract for these in the Solicitor's Office. I assume it is going through. They did say they sent it with an explanation. But this is the new version of the electronic monitoring units that they had for years out there.

Mr. Hartwick: Where are they coming up with the money for this one?

Mr. Baratucci: We'll be finding that out in the next couple of days. They were called and told they need to move money.

Mr. Hartwick: Let's find out and keep a track on that one as well. Do they really need them? Do they outdo the ones that they currently have? I know Juvenile Probation just went through an upgrade for a lot of things that they are doing and I don't think they went with the GPS. Maybe this is Adult Probation trying to outdo Juvenile Probation and do we really need that expense? There was one other question. Nick, I think you might have hit it. That's it.

Mr. Baratucci: I will ask both Carolyn and Terry to respond to those two questions between now and next week.

TRAINING PACKET

Mr. DiFrancesco: Chad, is there anything on the training packet that needs to be done or any questions?

Mr. Saylor: We need to approve Items #1, #2, & #3. It is my understanding that Jeff is aware and approves Item #1 for the Prison.

Mr. Hartwick: Related to Items #2 & #3, I contacted Sandy today. She contacted me late last week. The CBT which is the Competency Base Training Program that is run and paid for through the State has gotten their contract cut in half and are going through a major transition and have not been doing their appropriate notification. We were going to deny these requests because they came in late but not understanding where the future of these required trainings are for Children & Youth, which all require trainings, we made the decision to go ahead because we don't know if these trainings will actually be offered again this year. The notification came very late.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Do I have a motion to approve Items #1, #2, & #3?

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco to approve Items #1, #2, & #3 of the training packet; motion carries.

Mr. DiFrancesco: One question and I have asked this question and didn't get an answer. What is NLADA?

Mr. Hartwick: That is the National Organization of Public Defenders. What happened there, I did not approve the request for two people to go through the Public Defender's Department because we've been having some questions and inquiries regarding travel. I made George define and I talked to Scott Evans why this was critically important that we were attending this conference. It is important that we have somebody there particularly in the area of death penalty cases to find out from the federal level what new changes in the federal side that are affecting the Public Defender's Department and how that applies to Dauphin County. But, I denied the request to send two individuals there and only actually approved for George to go not Mr. Duda. It is the national organization for the Public Defenders.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I didn't see PD in there so I didn't see Public Defender in the initials.

Mr. Hartwick: I'll give you the exact name for the acronym. I'll email it to you.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Are there any other questions? (There were none.)

SOLICITOR'S REPORT

Mr. Tully: A final report was just prepared and there are no changes to that. There is a possibility that we may have some add ons from EMA for a Verizon contract that we just received today. We'll decide whether we need to deal with that next week or if you want to cycle it into the regular course. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

REPORT FROM CHIEF CLERK/CHIEF OF STAFF - CHAD SAYLOR

Mr. Saylor: We have our breakfast in Harrisburg on Thursday. After which we are going to tour the SciTech High. So, big doings tomorrow. That's all I have unless you have any questions of me.

COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS

Mr. DiFrancesco: Are there any Commissioners' comments? (There were none.)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. DiFrancesco: Is there any public participation? (There was none.)

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco to adjourn the meeting; motion carries.