MEMBERS PRESENT

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

STAFF PRESENT

Chad Saylor, Chief Clerk; Marie E. Rebuck, Controller; Robert F. Dick, Treasurer; William Tully, Esq., Solicitor; Randy Baratucci, Director of Purchasing; Tom Guenther, Director of IT; Steve Shaver, Director of Emergency Management; Sharon Chatman, Personnel; Elke Moyer, Human Services Director's Office; Kay Sinner, Personnel; Leila McAdoo, Solicitor's Office; George Connor, Economic Development; Diane McNaughton, Commissioners' Office; Robert Hawley, Court Administrator's Office; Dave Schreiber, Personnel; Dan Robinson, Director of Community & Economic Development; Mike Pries, Director of Security; Ken Rapp, Chief Public Defender; Greg Schneider, Budget & Finance; Guy P. Beneventano, Esq., Solicitor's Office; Gertrude Farling, Controller's Office; Debora Lisi, Controller's Office; Deborah Sabalusky, Commissioners' Office; Brandon Handwerk, Commissioners' Office; Lena Martinez-Fure, Commissioners' Office; Kacey Truax, Commissioners' Office; Jena Wolgemuth, Commissioners' Office; Brenda Hoffer, Commissioners' Office; Richie-Ann Martz, Commissioners' Office; Jennifer Storm, Victim Witness Director; Lori Radle, Victim Witness; Vikke Palmer, Victim Witness; Diane Faust, Victim Witness; Michelle Stackfield, Victim Witness; Tanya Bartlebaugh, Victim Witness; Lu Botterbusch, Victim Witness; Heather Siler, Victim Witness; Jessica Badillo, Victim Witness; Amber Sanders, Victim Witness; Jenna Wheale, Victim Witness; and Donna Miller, Victim Witness

GUESTS PRESENT

Brad Jones, Rev. Alvin Q. Taylor, and Garry Lenton

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Haste, Chairman of the Board, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

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 a set of Meeting Minutes that we'll take up at next week's meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. Haste: We are at the point in time for public participation. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to address the Board at this time?

Is this on County business?

Rev. Taylor: I just have questions.

Mr. Haste: Regarding County business?

Rev. Taylor: Yes, it is.

Several things I wanted to talk about. You can help me here. On your most recent projects financed through the Community Development Block Grant, what was the total amount allocated for this fiscal year?

Mr. Haste: I would have to get that. George, do you want to come forward.

Rev. Taylor: While he is doing that, my next question is last week Karen Balaban, her appointment, when and what date was it effective? The pro bono?

Mr. Tully: There was a vote by these Commissioners to ratify the decision of the Election Board. They had to do it because they have to sign off on the special counsel petitions. That was done right after the decision of Judge Evans. The Election Board decided to hire counsel.

Rev. Taylor: I guess what I'm saying is last week according to the Minutes her appointment was made, it says appointment to special counsel, Karen Balaban - pro bono. Was it effective during last week's session or was it prior to is all I'm asking?

Mr. Haste: It was a ratification of the Election Board request.

Rev. Taylor: Was that in the previous minutes?

Mr. Haste: This is not the Election Board.

Rev. Taylor: Would it be in their minutes?

Mr. Haste: It would be a responsibility of the Election Board. You would have to ask the Election Board.

Rev. Taylor: Are all county employees' general job positions/descriptions from the Human Resource Department, are they available to obtain or to be viewed by the public?

Mr. Haste: You want to know the job descriptions of positions, like a Clerk I or Clerk II?

Rev. Taylor: Yes, just the general, the Director of Registration & Elections. I put in a request last week and I haven't received it yet.

Mr. Haste: Who did you put the request in to?

Rev. Taylor: Mr. Chad Saylor's Office, a written request.

Mr. Saylor: He requested the job description for the voter registration director and we processed that. It was put in the mail to the best of my knowledge last week.

Rev. Taylor: Could I get another copy, because I haven't received it since I talked with you on Thursday.

Mr. Saylor: We will have to pull the sheet out and make another copy.

Rev. Taylor: An issue came up yesterday and I don't know, but it is just a coincidence. I think it needs to be addressed in the community. My son was stopped yesterday while he was leaving his job on his lunch break. I brought it up with the police chief and the captain yesterday. Basically he was stopped by five police officers on Cameron Street. They confronted him with some accusations - are you a drug dealer, because my son he is not conservative looking like I am. He has a pony tail. He was driving his mother's vehicle. I went to the police department just to find out what happened. Well, my son gave me his story and it was basically confirmed by Captain Rittner. When my son left from the stop.

Mr. Haste: Is this Harrisburg Police?

Rev. Taylor: Yes, it was right there at South Cameron, under the underpass, near the Trailway bus stop. Once he was stopped, they didn't give him a warning, citation or anything. He was going to his cousin's house in Hall Manor to have lunch there. He stopped at the store there on the corner by the projects. The police officers were in Hall Manor by coincidence. They didn't know he was coming there and he didn't know where they went when they left him. Anyway, they came and confronted him again and talked some more things to him. They asked him if they can search your pockets, things like this. In talking to him and talking with Captain Rittner, they both agreed on the same thing. My son asked if he could use his cell phone to call his parents, my wife or myself. They said no. He asked for a piece of paper and a pencil to write down their badge numbers and names. They said no. The one officer said this is my name and he said what is your first name as I teach my children that. He said you can call me "Officer" and things like that. I told my son to write all this information up. Last night at City Council I presented this same thing I'm telling you, because you are all involved in the community. They said to my son do you have a gun, knife, do you have a bazooka, do you have this. My son works two jobs, doesn't have a record, doesn't have anything and they said where did you get the SUV. He said it's my mother's. The guy said yeah right. All of these things, taunting my son, he is 18 years old. I raise this because as I was in the police station last night, Chief Kellar had to leave because of a shooting in Hall Manor, which is in the paper today, this morning. If you read that article some of the things that are said to the parents of the child that was shot are identical to what was said to my son. They said to me your son fits our profile we use and we have to ask the question. So I said to my son last night at dinner. You are guilty until proven innocent, because you're driving black. I said you got stopped driving your mother's old Mercedes, that was earlier, and I'm going to pull that file. He got pulled over driving her SUV yesterday and he tried to tell them that this was my mother's car. They didn't believe it until they ran the registration. I said to Captain Rittner, if that is the case my son drives a Mercedes - what are you telling me. He said he is going to be pulled over. I said get out of here. I'm concerned as a father that this profile is out there in the community. Our children are guilty until they prove themselves. When I leave here I got to meet with the ministers, then I got to meet tomorrow with the Captain of Police on what my son wrote. My son wrote it all out and my son made one mistake. He gave the guy the bird and that is not even like my son. When he explained to me what happened he said those officers when they asked me did I have a record he said no and they started taunting him. He said what is your badge number? They acted like my son was retarded - 1 - 1, 11. I told him you write it up. I will let those that are involved with this know. Is there a pattern that we in the black community need to be aware of that is told to the officers? When I said to the Captain, I said one of your officers grew up in our neighborhood. He and my son are the best of friends. I'm wondering is there something that we as parents need to tell our children so that they don't get shot. My son had his hand in his pocket. He said pull your hands out of your pocket. I want to search you. I said nobody searches you. Even the Captain agreed. He said I don't know why they asked. I wanted to give him time to get with his officers to look over the report, because he had it yesterday. I also want to give him my son's take of the event. It was a coincidence. After I told City Council last night, the Chief of Police went to Hall Manor for that shooting, it's in the paper, the same scenario my son described. All the officers were white, five of them. It was the same identical pattern. The parents state one thing. He said I have to stick with my officers. That is okay. It happened earlier and I was in the office. Now, you say this in the paper and it is here the next morning. That does not go well for our youth in the black community. As you said at your meeting, R U Tired. We are tired of the violence, drugs, but we are also tired of our young black males being stereotyped. I want him to meet my son. I want you to know this, because I don't want to bury my son over some foolishness. Thank you so much.

Mr. Hartwick: If I can, I normally don't comment because this is not something that is related to County business. First of all I have a complete intolerance for police officers who try to single or target out individuals based upon any stereotype. When I was the Mayor of Steelton we instituted a brand new policy on how to change the complaints and have them internally investigated through CID and the police departments. This is not a County related concern, but there is a forum in June, we have gotten together with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and Gloria Martin Roberts and I are going to be the co-chairs of a group called "Disproportion Minority Contact with Law Enforcement." That being a specific issue that has been raised with a number of constituents in the community and this is a way for us to examine what those numbers are, how many individuals have been in contact with law enforcement and what we are doing about making sure that we educate our kids about how they need to respond to law enforcement interaction to protect their safety and the safety of law enforcement officers. I would be glad to make sure that my Assistant gets to you the information about that PCCD program.

Mr. Haste: I would just share something I had with my kids. My children grew up in Susquehanna Township and my son had those same concerns. There were kids that he felt were inappropriately being pulled over by police. These were white young men, because that happened to be the community they lived in. I think police do develop profiles given the community and activity of those folks. There it happened to be kids who wore their pants a little lower than they needed to be, had their seat back a little bit further than it needed to be, blaring music a little louder than it needed to be - that was a profile of someone who has caused trouble in the neighborhood, because that happened to be what the kids looked like that were causing the trouble in the neighborhood. I suggested to my son that if he did not want to be questioned by the police like that he then needed to change his mannerisms and the way he looked, because if he was going to look and act like a thug they were going to think he was a thug.

Rev. Taylor: You are right. It is a bigger problem. When I asked the Captain yesterday, my son bought a nice 10 year old Mercedes. I said are you telling me if they see my son in his car, not his mother's car or SUV, he said he is going to get pulled over. I think there is something drastically wrong that if you look like that and I'm going to give an extreme example - you look like that and walk into a bank and someone shoots you and then they find out that you had a checking account there. That's what it really boils down to. I don't know how it is going to be handled, but it is an issue that's real in our community right now. I talked to a detective on Sunday over at the Awards Banquet for the Hall of Fame. He is a classmate of mine and that is an issue that we have talked about. It was one of his officers who saw my son in Susquehanna Township and his officer came to my home and I mentioned that Jim and I are friends. I said thank you. My son just happened to be there, just driving by and I said they picked up his driver's license, his tag ID and called our house and came over. When I explained to the officer what was going on over there his friend lives there he didn't see the car he just kept going. My son really was not even obvious to the fact that there were police officers doing something there. When they came by the house then we had to go and talk about it. Yes, you are right. I think sometimes we have to address the issue. How can we best identify the needs of the community and address them before somebody gets killed or loses their job.

Mr. Hartwick: Take a look at the statistics, get a game plan of action and that is going to be done through that PCCD committee.

Mr. Haste: Is there anyone else that would like to address the Board at this time? (There was none.)

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS/GUESTS

1. Brad Jones of Harristown Development Corporation
   1. Housing & Redevelopment Assistance Contract - infrastructure improvements along Dewberry Street in the City of Harrisburg and to develop student housing on behalf of Messiah College

Mr. Jones: Commissioners, I wanted to just clarify the discussion about the contract for pass through funds with the County. It is essentially two projects. It is coming through as one grant to Dauphin County and then being distributed to two separate projects. I will go through them one at a time very briefly.

As many of you know, we have been working in partnership with Messiah College to develop essentially the Harrisburg Institute, which will be at 28 Dewberry Street, which is right behind the International House. Once completed, that project will hopefully closely resemble this rehabilitation of an 1890's former Brewery Building. We are developing this for Messiah's long term use. It is a taxable property and will remain a taxable property owned by Dewberry LLC, which is an entity in which we are in partnership with R S Mallory. It is a 25 bed facility for the college in which they bring students who have an interest in working with the community in non-profits, urban affairs and public policy work. So the college will fill it with students every year. It will also have a resident director, classroom and some offices and conference facilities. The college is very excited about the synergy in the neighborhood with the International House, Harrisburg University and what's developing really as both an International and an Educational corridor thanks to a lot of the past support from this Board of Commissioners and from the City of Harrisburg, the Mayor and certainly the Department of Community and Economic Development. The funding that is related to this project is a $250,000 loan that comes to Dauphin County and then will be passed through to Dewberry LLC and that loan will be paid back to the County and the funds will be able to be used by the County for further economic development. I appreciate very much the continued support of the City of Harrisburg and its economic development future here by all three Commissioners.

The second project is related, but separate. That is essentially the Streetscape Funding for Dewberry Street. (A map was shown.) This map shows the original International House, which was built in 2000 at 318-320 Chestnut, International Place, which also included an additional expansion of International House. We have high school students at Sci Tech High at 215 Market Street, we have Capital Area School for Arts, which I believe it is about 25 students from 23 or 24 districts all across the region that come together in a variety of buildings in this neighborhood and of course Harrisburg University, which you guys are all familiar with, the tower at 4th & Market being constructed right now. Dewberry Street and these new Streetscape improvements that this additional funding will be used for will help enhance this corridor which is rapidly becoming an educational corridor downtown where students live at International House and Messiah College and go to school at Harrisburg University or perhaps they are students at the culinary school at HACC. We think the investment in public improvements at Dewberry will be a very nice return for the entire community.

Mr. Haste: Does Penn State have students staying there as well?

Mr. Jones: Absolutely, we have a number of Penn State students who stay with us from Penn State Harrisburg and also from Penn State Main Campus. Over the summer we have had Penn State Harrisburg semester students who come from all 22 campuses to live in Harrisburg, generally have internships here with various agencies. You may have even had a few of those interns here at the County. (Additional pictures were shown that show the improvements.)

Mr. Haste: Which street is which there?

(Mr. Jones pointed out the different streets. It was Dewberry Street, looking from Market down to Chestnut.)

Mr. Hartwick: Right now there is a dumpster in the alley.

Mr. Jones: It doesn't look anything like this. What we propose to do is to add, if you look at the Streetscape that we did on Chestnut Street, we did the International Place project there, it has granite curbs, brick and concrete sidewalks, new street lights and street trees. There is a nine foot sidewalk that will allow people to easily pass through this in a pleasant manner. The progress that we have made to make this a corridor for higher education in the downtown area, you should be commended for your support of a variety of projects, not the least of which Harrisburg University, which is bringing many of these new students to downtown.

Mr. Hartwick: I would like to add a couple things that relate to the project. For those who want to stretch out that this is County money being used for this project, it is not. It is a State funded pass through that is coming through Dauphin County, which actually has great benefits to the County. It is a structured grant/loan which is going to be paid back over a ten year term which with the loan portion of this is going to assist us in our small business loan program. It is going to be paid to the County, the County will obviously be able to put it into a small business loan revolving program and to expand that particular aspect of the program as a result of the State pass through. It is a win-win-win.

1. Commissioners
   1. Proclamation - Victims' Rights Week
      (Victim/Witness Staff)

Mr. Hartwick: It gives me great pride and pleasure to recognize the individuals in our audience today. With the recent tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech to honor those individuals who take care of the often forgotten people in our community who are victims of serious and violent crimes. I would like to add on to this group the Crisis Intervention Group is also a major part. We have a great staff who deal with individuals who went through horrific events and they are also there as a friend, counselor, neighbor sometimes a mother or father. You continue to answer the call over and over and you do it extremely well. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the victims in Dauphin County. Oftentimes it extends past the County's boundaries. For that compassion, concern and caring, I wanted to honor all of you with this Proclamation.

(Mr. Hartwick read the Proclamation.)

Office of County Commissioner
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Proclamation

We, the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, join with the law enforcement community, countless volunteers and the community at large in honoring Victims' Rights week in Dauphin County;

Whereas, behind each crime victim there is a story of trauma, a story of suffering, and a story of lost security and we must therefore recognize the overwhelming impact and devastating effects crimes have on individuals, families and the community;

Whereas, the community at large possesses a responsibility to help and comfort victims of crime, and protect them against society's promotion of violence through the internet, music and movies;

Whereas, for all policy makers, criminal and juvenile justice professionals, victim advocates, clergy and members of the general public must unite to do all that we can to address the challenges in ensuring that all crime victims and survivors are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and sensitivity;

Whereas, we would like to recognize the countywide and statewide grassroots organizations such as the Dauphin County Victim/Assistance Program who have helped more than 6,500 crime victims seek justice and work together to make our homes, neighborhoods and communities stronger, safer, and more secure;

Therefore, we join the 251,300 residents of Dauphin County in proclaiming the week of April 22-28 "Victims' Rights Week" in Dauphin County in tribute to the courageous victims of crime and their friends and families; and we pledge to work together to show support and provide assistance to victims of crime.

(Applause was given.)

The Commissioners recognized the staff of Victim/Witness: Jennifer Storm, Lori Radle, Vikke Palmer, Diane Faust, Michelle Stackfield, Tanya Bartlebaugh, Lu Botterbusch, Heather Siler, Jessica Badillo, Amber Sanders, Jenna Wheale, and Donna Miller.

(Pictures were taken and applause was given.)

Ms. Storm: First and foremost we just want to obviously thank you for this honor. This is probably one of the most beautiful Proclamations I have ever had the privilege of hearing. Some of our staff could not make it. We did have some crisis situations going on so some of them are out doing the call of duty that we do every day. On behalf of our agency, I know that we are just so proud and honored to serve Dauphin County in the way that we do. What I mean by that is oftentimes when we go to training in other counties or statewide and obviously nationally, we talk about what we do here in Dauphin County, because we feel we are light years ahead of what other counties are doing in terms of victim services. Every county in the State of Pennsylvania is required to provide at some length the legislative initiatives of the Crime Victims Act, but in Dauphin County we go far above and beyond. It is truly an honor to be able to present as someone from Dauphin County, because of the partnerships and the collaborations that we have. It is due obviously to the leadership that we have before us, the leadership that we have in the City, with our law enforcement partnerships, because we wouldn't be able to do the work that we do without the information sharing and the collaboration and the partnerships and even some of the contracts and grants that we have. We are very fortunate to have the offices that we have here in Dauphin County, which a lot of that is part of grants that we receive on behalf of the three of you and on behalf of Dauphin County. It is truly an honor to be a part of victim services in Dauphin County and to be able to boastfully and proudfully represent Dauphin County when we are out in other counties. People oftentimes when we explain what we do and the depth of what we do and the depth of our partnerships and collaborations they are often times at awe of the ability that we have, to effectively represent crime victims in Dauphin County. I think that we do an excellent job here and it is because of the government and the human services and the law enforcement component and partnerships that we have and that you afford us to have. We are very grateful. Thank you.

Commissioners: Thank you.

SALARY BOARD

(A Salary Board meeting was held. Please refer to the April 25, 2007 Salary Board Minutes which are on file in the Commissioners' Office.)

PERSONNEL

Ms. Sinner: In the Personnel Packet, I would just like to point out on New Hire #15, a correction to the rate of pay, the hourly rate. The hourly rate should actually be $20.75, Step 05.

Mr. Haste: Can you tell me why?

Mr. DiFrancesco: Can you tell me how that compares to the salary of the person that was leaving the position?

Ms. Sinner: No, but I can get back to you on that.

Mr. DiFrancesco: We're not going to vote on that today?

Ms. Sinner: No.

Ms. Thompson: Is that mine?

Ms. Sinner: Yes.

Ms. Thompson: It is lower. There is no negative budget impact on that.

Mr. DiFrancesco: It is not listed.

Ms. Thompson: Do you want an exact number?

Mr. DiFrancesco: Yes, if you would.

Mr. Haste: I remember that person came in at a higher than normal rate.

Ms. Thompson: I will get back to you with that figure.

Mr. DiFrancesco: While you are at it can you give me a comparison to all the others as well.

Ms. Thompson: Yes.

Ms. Sinner: Are there any questions on the remaining items in the Personnel Packet? There is also a request in there for someone to participate in the education incentive program. (There was none.)

PURCHASE ORDERS

Mr. Baratucci: You should have all received your Packet yesterday. There are a couple of budget items that need to be addressed. My understanding is that you want to act on Page 50.

Mr. Haste: Are there any questions of Randy? (There was none.)

It was moved by Mr. DiFrancesco and seconded by Mr. Haste that the Board approve the Radio Project Items listed on Page #50 of the Purchase Order Packet; motion carried.

Mr. Baratucci: I also wanted to mention that you should have received four Blackberry requests to consider for next week. Three of them are for the Victim Witness Office. They are all personal ones that are no cost to the County. One is for the District Attorney's Office, Steve Libhart, and that will be a $50 cost to the County. We will just act on those next week, but I wanted to make sure that you had the information so you would be prepared to act on them next week.

TRAINING PACKET

Mr. Haste: Chad, is there anything that we need to act on at this point?

Mr. Saylor: Commissioners, I do not see any.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Mr. Haste: We have the following items for discussion.

Authorization to exonerate the current and outstanding taxes on the following Brookside Mobile Home Park, Inc. properties:

Parcel #36-007-018-028-0051, (28 George Dr.), owner Wilbur Robinson.

Parcel #36-007-018-030-0037, (30 George Dr.), owner Russell Gritman.

Parcel #36-007-018-228-0178, (228 Brookside Dr.), owner Andrew and Kristen Burwegen. Total $1,898.20

Approval to see the following parcels from the Repository List:

Parcel #7-99-1, 923 N. 18th St., to Dwayne M. Crawford for $300.00.

Parcel #2-29-48, 1314 Berryhill St., to Daniel Vedder for $300.00.

Parcel #9-14-21, 66 N. 14th St., to Trina Hardison for $300.00.

Parcel #11-3-46, 2009 Logan St., to William Robinson for $500.00.

Parcel #15-6-5, 1923 Herr St., to William Robinson for $400.00.

Authorization to waive Tax Claim Bureau Fees totaling $404.00 regarding Property #34-026-005-078-0025, which is owned by Sharon Terrek and Kevin Garancosky. (***A VOTE IS REQUESTED 4/25/07***)

Proposal from Kimball and Associates for a Space Study. (***A VOTE IS REQUESTED 4/25/07***)

Mr. Haste: There is a request for a vote on Item D.

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco that the Board approve a Proposal from L. Robert Kimball and Associates for a Space Study; motion carried.

Mr. Haste: I'm sorry I missed Item C.

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco that the Board authorize the Tax Claim Bureau to waive the Bureau Fees totaling $404.00 regarding Property #34-026-005-078-0025, which is owned by Sharon Terrek and Kevin Garancosky; motion carried.

SOLICITOR'S REPORT - WILLIAM TULLY, ESQ.

Mr. Tully: Nothing to add.

CHIEF CLERK'S REPORT - CHAD SAYLOR

Mr. Saylor: I have one brief item. The Airport Authority met this morning. One item I want to put on the record is the Crawford Station remediation issue. As you probably know, at the extreme southern end of the Airport is the remains of an old power station, known as Crawford Station. It has been vacant for some time. It is a hazardous site. There also has been numerous problems that the Borough of Middletown has reported with kids going on the property and graffiti and that kind of thing. Since last year we made an effort to clean up the site and eventually it will be demolished. The total project cost is going to be about $4 million, which is mostly FAA Funds, but there is a good bit of resources that the Airport itself has committed. They have been doing a great deal of work down there to clean up asbestos, sludge, oil tanks and this is a site that is close to the Susquehanna River. This has been a major environmental issue for not only our County, but for the entire region. It is well in the process of finally being remediated. It should be demolished by the end of this year or beginning of next year. The eventual plan is then to develop the parcel to be used for cargo space for the Airport and also to use some of the land for the Guard that is down there. That is a major project that will benefit not only the Borough of Middletown and the Airport, but our entire region.

Other than that I have nothing else to add, unless there are any questions of me.

Mr. Haste: What is the timeframe of that?

Mr. Saylor: I have to get you the specific date, but I do know that they are supposed to be finished up by the end of next month with the cleaning up the asbestos and sludge. As soon as the FAA dollars are made available they will demolish it. I'll find out when the exact completion date is. As I'm looking at this it appears to be August. Once it is demolished I don't believe there are any immediate plans.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION & ACTIONS

Mr. Hartwick: Just to begin the discussion again. This year I actually started the morning series of meetings with the Legislature and Senators that represent Dauphin County related to Children and Youth's Need Based Budget, as a result of the higher detention costs, higher placement costs and the additional cuts that are being proposed, and transfer of additional medical assistance dollars we were unable to even draw down from this year. We are making all of the Central Pennsylvania delegation aware of our concerns. In my opinion it puts almost every prevention and intervention that has already been stripped out into the bare bones of Dauphin County's budget. It puts Dauphin County into a very difficult position. The Federal and State governments are mandating programs to County government and taxpayers, which is something that has to stop, whether it be a class action lawsuit by counties against the State or whether it be a class action lawsuit against the Federal government for not adequately providing funding to take care of the Federally mandated services. The Legislature needs to understand that this is just not their problem. This is going to have an impact on taxpayers in Dauphin County. It is going to have an impact on our ability to deliver services. There is a direct correlation to the significant reduction in the intervention and prevention to the increase that you see in our juvenile crime and our detention that is occurring within this County currently. That is going to be an issue that we are going to continue to pursue. You are going to be hearing a whole lot more from me about that topic.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Again, just to take off on what George said, we are going to continue to lead the charge. The bottom line is that we have seen this past year some of the highest juvenile crime rates in Dauphin County history. That is going to continue. The Schaffner Center has been exceeding capacity the entire year. It is time for the State to stop making arbitrary decisions and not communicating with the people that are providing the services. It is time for them to start to understand wahat impact of their budget decisions mean and I certainly hope that the Governor opens up his eyes and takes a look at what is going on around him, because simply to say there is no money, and say no, is not an option. Something has to be done. At this point he is not doing anything. Excuse me, he is doing harm. That was not my initial comment, but since Commissioner Hartwick started it, I had to get that out.

Mr. Hartwick: There is enough blame.

Mr. DiFrancesco: The Governor has got to be the one that leads with vision and he is not doing that or his vision is one that we don't want to buy into.

This morning we had the opportunity to have some simple refreshments in the Lobby to celebrate the many volunteers that support County government and I think it is important to get that on the record at today's meeting. Dauphin County could not do all of the things that it does without the large number of volunteers who give of their time and energy to develop policy in the County, to actually provide services in the County, to deliver meals on wheels and work with kids. Unfortunately, sometimes we start to lose sight of the greatness of America and when a shooting takes place, for instance in Virginia Tech, the media is quick to cover all the negatives of what went wrong and everybody is quick to criticize, but what's the real true story in events like that is the fact that there are so many Americans who stand up and say what can I do to help, what can I do to put my hands on something to make the situation better. That is what these volunteers are all about. They are people who have stopped complaining and have gotten involved. This Board has been very committed to making certain that the community as a whole gets more information so that when you are sitting there, you want to get involved. We are going to try to provide you the information you need to act on whatever your passion is, whether it is taking care of shut-ins, whether it is taking care of kids who may need mentors, whatever it might be. Today is the day that we were able to celebrate the volunteers that are involved with Dauphin County government. We constantly want to put the message out there that there is always a role for everybody in this County to get involved with somebody who is in need. Thank you to all the volunteers.

Mr. Haste: Just for those who missed it, Monday we started the clean-up of the 40 illegal dumps in Dauphin County. We took the first dump truck of illegal waste from behind the Farm Show. This will be the first one of 40. The next one will be in Allison Hill. We are going to try to put measures in place that will try to keep these sites from starting again. Garry Lenton, for Mr. Troutman's benefit, for the last two weeks it has been inmates that have been pulling the trash from off the banks and streams onto the access road so we could remove it. Just so he is aware. They did not have brooms or shovels, but they did have gloves.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

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

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, it was moved by Mr. DiFrancesco and seconded by Mr. Hartwick that the Board adjourn.