DAUPHIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORKSHOP MEETING
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:00 A.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Dominic D. DiFrancesco, II, Vice Chairman
George P. Hartwick, III, Secretary
Jeff Haste, Chairman (Absent - Attending NACo Conference)

STAFF PRESENT

Chad Saylor, Chief Clerk; Marie E. Rebuck, Controller; Robert F. Dick, Treasurer; Gary Serhan, Deputy Controller; Julia E. Nace, Assistant Chief Clerk; Randy Baratucci, Director of Purchasing; Carolyn Thompson, Court Administrator; Tom Guenther, Director of IT; Guy P. Beneventano, Esq., Solicitor's Office; C. Doran Vance, Esq., Solicitor's Office; Leila McAdoo, Solicitor's Office; Faye Fisher, Director of Personnel; Kay Sinner, Personnel; Dan Robinson, Director of Community & Economic Development; Diane McNaughton, Commissioners' Office; Elke Moyer, Human Services; Jena Wolgemuth, Commissioners' Office; Lena Martinez-Fure, Commissioners' Office and Richie-Ann Martz, Commissioners' Office

GUESTS PRESENT

Garry Lenton, The Patriot-News and Pete Washington

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. DiFrancesco, Vice 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. DiFrancesco: There are two sets of minutes to approve at the next meeting, both from January 10, 2007 Legislative and a Salary Board Meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr. DiFrancesco: We have reached the time in the meeting for public comment. Is there anybody in the audience who would like to make comment to the Board? (There was none.)

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS/GUESTS

1. Dan Robinson, Director of Community & Economic Development
   1. Adopt Resolution #2-2007 authorizing the allocation of $25,000 of the FY 2004 Unprogrammed Fund Community Development Block Grant Program Fund for the Lykens Chamber of Commerce Lykens Hotel restoration project (***A VOTE IS REQUESTED 1/17/07)

Mr. Robinson: We are asking that you authorize the allocation of up to $25,000 of unprogrammed FY 2004 Block Grant money to the Lykens Chamber of Commerce. This will go towards the Lykens Hotel Restoration Project. They need a new roof. I believe you are aware of the project, which has been ongoing the last 16 months.

Mr. DiFrancesco: For the record, can you give a little background? This $25,000 is actually going to help stop further demise of the building, correct?

Mr. Robinson: Yes. Under the Block Grant Program, as you know, we can use the money for low/mod, as well as slum and blight. This qualifies for both and there is an urgent need to get a roof put on there. Bids will go out, hopefully, when this Resolution is passed.

Mr. DiFrancesco: This building stands like a historic anchor to what the Redevelopment Committee is trying to do up there and the Board has been very supportive of those efforts.

Mr. Hartwick: Was the last estimate around $16,000, is that correct?

Mr. Robinson: I think that was the initial bid, which is not a valid bid in the sense that they are going to have to go back out and rebid this project. You are correct though.

Mr. Hartwick: Do you have in front of you the actual amount that is in the unprogrammed fund?

Mr. Robinson: I don't have the actual number, but I know it is over $30,000. In addition to that, this is 2004 money that if it is not spent it will have to go back after three years.

Mr. Hartwick: Can you get me that information? We would all like to see where we stand.

Mr. DiFrancesco: So you are requesting a vote on this today?

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco that the Board adopt Resolution #2-2007, captioned as follows:

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF DAUPHIN, PENNSYLVANIA

AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF $25,000 OF THE FY 2004 UNPROGRAMMED FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM ACCOUNT FOR THE LYKENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LYKENS HOTEL RESTORATION PROJECT

(The entire Resolution #2-2007 is on file in the Commissioners' Office.)

Mr. DiFrancesco: Before we proceed with the Agenda, I would like to take a few seconds to read a Proclamation. Some of you may be wondering why I'm sitting here dressed in a NFL jersey rather than the normal suit and tie. Actually it has been a number of events that have brought me to this point and the desire for the Board to do a Proclamation today. I had the joy of actually spending my 25th Anniversary with my wife on a cruise last week. We actually left out of the Port of New Orleans and came back to the Port. As I'm coming back through the Port, I'm standing in line at the airline ticket counter and in walks this gentleman from Harrisburg that had been down in New Orleans for two years. It is one of those crazy things when you are out of town not expecting to see anybody you know and you run into somebody who has been living down there for the past two years while you are waiting in the ticket line to check-in. The gentleman was Mark Lewis, an Engineer for HRG. I had done some work with him in the past and two years ago he went down to coordinate relief efforts in New Orleans. He has been down there for the past two years working with an organization that assists church groups from around the country, but specifically Central Pennsylvania to come down with groups and do relief work. I thought it was pretty fascinating that I would meet this gentleman down there, completely unplanned, by accident and heard a lot of things that he was doing. Throughout the time spent and even on the cruise there were a lot of people from Louisiana on the cruise. Just listening to the attitudes of the people down there, the struggles that they are still going through, what it means to them to have the Saints still in the play-offs and I know this is going to hurt Commissioner Hartwick a little bit that they had to go through the Eagles to get to where they are today, but there is a sense in that community that all of this is tied together. The recovery efforts are unfortunately moving, in a lot of cases, very slowly. There are still a lot of people out of their homes, out of the area. There is still a lot of devastation even a year and a half later. There is such a sense of inspiration within the community. This is more than just a super bowl run. This is a community recovering. To see and to hear the comments of the relief that they have accepted from all across the country, it was inspirational. It was really truly neat to be down there and to add to the fact that we have one of our own Dauphin County boys on the team that is going to the Super Bowl and his story is remarkable as well. The funny part about it is I sit here in this jersey, it took me four stops yesterday to find the jersey, first of all, because you can't find them any where, but at every stop as I was looking for it I had people talking to me about this family and not just Marques, but his family in general and the story behind him is amazing. What a terrific family and what an inspirational story for other families and other children in Central Pennsylvania. I sit before you today also as a supporter of Pennsylvania teams, but given the fact that Pennsylvania teams are no longer actively in play for the Super Bowl, I am an adopted Saints fan for reasons much beyond football.

(Mr. DiFrancesco read the following Proclamation.)

Office of County Commissioner
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Proclamation

We, the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, join the 253,300 citizens of this great capital county in observing "The Saints Who Helped New Orleans Heal Day," as the New Orleans Saints advance in the NFC playoffs and raise the morale of a city leveled by Mother Nature's destructive toll;
Whereas, we embrace in our minds and hearts the thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families, along with the citizens who responded to this searing tragedy;

Whereas, in August 2005, when this Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Louisiana and led to the breach of the levees, rising floodwaters left people stranded in cars, screaming from rooftops, and crowded into the Superdome;

Whereas, in the aftermath of this unprecedented disaster, people of good will and big hearts throughout central PA joined all Americans in helping the victims, sending food, money and muscle to help rebuild a city buried under mud, water and despair;

Whereas, our hearts are filled with sorrow at the loss of so many innocents, but are swollen with pride at the outpouring of sweat equity, generosity and patriotism;

Whereas, we continue to pray for the victims and for the fate of the New Orleans Saints, featuring Dauphin County's own beloved "rookie of the year", Marques Colston, a Susquehanna Township graduate, who is leading the city of New Orleans out of anguish to a possible, inspirational Super Bowl victory;

Therefore, in tribute to the New Orleans Saints and the many saint-like volunteers who helped a city to rise from the ashes, we proclaim January 21, 2007 as "The Saints Who Helped New Orleans Heal Day;" we remember the victims of Katrina, as well as the volunteers who continue to rebuild homes, lives and hope; and we ask all citizens to remember these heroes on Game Day and every day, when obstacles seem insurmountable.

Mr. DiFrancesco: It is really humbling and I feel honored to stand here knowing that so many from our community have taken the time and made the trip again who flew down on a very small plane, but I would say easily 75% of the people on the plane were people from churches going down to help with the relief work and 75% of the people who flew home with us were people coming back from spending a week down there in the relief efforts. There are a lot of people still leaving our area to go down there and assist in the relief efforts. It is very humbling and an honor to serve a community that will pick up and give of their time and their money to go and help others that are still very much in need. I can fully support the Saints in their effort now and I hope in fact they do win the Super Bowl.

Mr. Hartwick: I would like to commend Commissioner DiFrancesco for his ability to come in and give recognition to what I think is something that all too often happens across society when a natural disaster ends and the tragedy still exists, there are often times when we have a short memory. We don't think about the people that still exist in New Orleans, we don't think about people rebuilding their homes, we don't think about the drama that still exists in a major way of the people who have been disrupted and who continue to try to figure out ways to regain their roots back at the home. In a lot of ways I think of New Orleans similar to Steelton. It is a tight-knit community of folks who believe strongly in community, who believe their sense of even athletics is an opportunity to bring many countries together and celebrate one great thing, which happens to be the New Orleans Saints. I was speaking to Michael from Comcast Sports Net the other night proclaiming that I am one of the biggest Eagle's fan in Central Pennsylvania and then they are challenging me to put on a Saints jersey. However, I do know the Colston family. I do know that Marques Colston is a first class act and a fine gentleman and athlete. I am a Marques Colston fan today, however, I am not a New Orleans Saints fan nor will I ever become one. I do, however, thank Commissioner DiFrancesco for bringing this to the forefront, reminding that there is still work that needs to be done and to commend all of the efforts of the citizens that have gone to New Orleans to reach out to the people that are trying to get back to their homes in New Orleans.

PERSONNEL

Ms. Sinner: There is only one Salary Board item. Are there any questions on that? (There was none.)

Are there any questions on the Personnel Packet?

Mr. Hartwick: Have the New Hires been reviewed by the Hiring Freeze Committee?

Mr. Saylor: The majority of the New Hires are part-timers or interns.

Mr. Hartwick: Then what really comes into question is the Public Defender's hire?

Ms. Sinner: That is a part-time spot.

Mr. Hartwick: So, we are not scrutinizing part-time positions in the same way as we are full-time?

Mr. Saylor: No.

Mr. Hartwick: Is that a part of the Resolution?

Mr. Saylor: Mr. Yohe has indicated when we first undertook this that part-timers do not really play a factor in the vacancy adjustment, however, we can certainly do that if it is the direction of the Board.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Most of the time the part-timers are helping to offset overtime and so forth, which is a good thing. But, I still think we should still take a look at it, because I'm not going to suggest it in every case, but it is that type of a financial benefit. So, we probably should take a look at it. The next hiring window would be when?

Mr. Hartwick: February 21, 2007. I have no other questions.

Ms. Sinner: I would ask that a vote be taken on New Hires #8 and #9.

It was moved by Mr. Hartwick and seconded by Mr. DiFrancesco that the Board approve the hire of New Hires #8 and #9; motion carried.

Mr. DiFrancesco: When will we see on the Salary Board list, the elimination of the jobs from Spring Creek?

Ms. Sinner: That spreadsheet was the elimination. Chad, was that discussed with you whether it needed to go on the agenda?

Mr. Saylor: I would assume so.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I didn't know if I missed it last week.

Mr. Hartwick: The spreadsheet was presented, but there was no formal action taken to eliminate those positions.

Mr. Saylor: Why don't we include that for next week?

Ms. Sinner: Okay. Do you want it to show on the Agenda as so many CNA's, or how do you want that to appear?

Mr. DiFrancesco: I didn't see the spreadsheet yet so I don't know if there is an attachment. Whatever is practical? We know it is going to be big numbers.

Ms. Sinner: I'll have the spreadsheet and will put something on the agenda.

Mr. Hartwick: You and I can go over it before next week's meeting.

Mr. Saylor: It probably can go in the same format as the Personnel Packet.

Mr. DiFrancesco: It shouldn't be complicated. All we are doing is basically cleaning up the paperwork officially.

Ms. Sinner: I don't plan on doing something for each position.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Whatever we need to do to make certain that the positions come off and it is done properly.

PURCHASE ORDERS

Mr. Baratucci: You should have all received your packet yesterday. There are a couple budget items that will need to be resolved. As I mentioned last week this is still a continuation of a lot of the January Purchase Orders that cover the entire year. Even though it is a large dollar amount it is not all spent immediately. We will resolve any of the over budgets and have a clean report for you next week unless you have any questions.

Mr. Hartwick: With all of the metro dollars that are being spent and contracted for within this Purchase Order Packet, was there an increase from the City in our contracts related to our ability to access the Metro Data Base for our Criminal Investigation Division, District Attorney's Office and for EMA?

Mr. Baratucci: You are asking about the cost?

Mr. Hartwick: What we actually had was over. I just wanted to know if there was an increase from the City for that access?

Mr. Baratucci: I can check and see what last year's costs were. I don't have them handy, but I can get that for you. If there were increases you probably would have to check with either IT or the departments to see if they requested more services or it could be just that the amounts went up. I believe they do probably go up a little bit each year, but I can check that. Tom might have some info on this, because it comes out of his office.

Mr. Guenther: The City did do a rate increase for the Metro services.

Mr. Hartwick: What was the rate increase?

Mr. Guenther: I don't have that, but I can compare that to last year's.

Mr. Hartwick: How far along are we on a uniformed system of information sharing for the remainder of the County so we don't incur these future costs?

Mr. Guenther: The Police Chiefs' Association has a committee that has been formed and is actively going through the process of evaluating what kind of police records management software they would need and trying to come up with a solution that would work for everybody. That committee is formed. It is actively meeting. Our Emergency Management people and I have been involved with that. We are hoping to have some recommendations this year.

Mr. DiFrancesco: Is that a newly inspired effort or is that the effort that has been ongoing?

Mr. Guenther: It has been in place for many years, but the group is new. Chief Martin is heading that group up. We also have gotten some assistance from Officer Fry of Lower Swatara. There has been a real coalition that has been built this time and the City has actively been participating and not taking to the position of trying to protect just Metro any more. They are looking at new options. That is something new to this whole discussion.

Mr. Hartwick: We met with the Mayor, as well as the District Attorney and I think he wants to work with us in order to try to have a uniform system for police. That is why I was wondering how far along we are in the discussion.

Mr. Guenther: It has been positive so far.

Mr. DiFrancesco: That is another reason why it would be nice to hear they hope to have something in the first quarter or by mid-year, if not some time this year. I don't really want us to go to December if possible to get some direction, because the risk obviously is that more departments will choose to go their own separate way before the group makes a decision.

Mr. Guenther: I will communicate back to the group that we have had this discussion and that you do have interest in this, just as a sense of encouragement to the group.

Mr. Hartwick: I have seen emails coming back and forth from Steve Howe related to Manatron's attempt to try to convince us. I know we are not ready to engage in that from this point forward. I think we made it very clear that we want to end that engagement with Manatron as soon as possible and begin the search for new software and a company who is going to be committed to providing the solutions. They have failed us from the computer side. I see here we still have yearly contracts with Manatron. Is this the last year we can expect to see these purchase orders from Manatron on our Purchase Order Packets? If we do go with a new company we need to be able to sever the contract in six months or so, because in my experience so far in dealing with Manatron we have never had the leverage to go after them for liquidated or delayed damages? I just want to make sure that the Solicitor's Office gives us that opportunity when reviewing these contracts.

Mr. Guenther: We have a meeting scheduled with Manatron to discuss. Carl Wass will be there also. It starts at 10:00. I will get that information to you. I would anticipate that this will be our last year with Manatron. That is our goal. These are yearly contracts that are based on our tax administration software, the creation of the current year taxes and the collection of those taxes that would run through 2007. The intent being that 2008 tax bills would be produced with new software.

Mr. Hartwick: With the new company's proposals, it seems like their software may be ready to get up and run. I don't know how quickly you want to engage, but are we going to do two engagements, one with Manatron and one with this new company? What is the plan?

Mr. Guenther: I expect that we would start billing with the Manatron software for 2007. We are in the process of doing that now. We will continue to use the Manatron stuff. We can do collections throughout 2007. This year, 2007 working with the new company to prepare ourselves to meet all data and be prepared to do tax bills in 2008 with the new software and then everything would run off the new software for 2008. Even if they are ready in six months we would have all the data ready, but we would not have a tax creation process.

Mr. Hartwick: I want to make it very clear that I know, I don't want to speak for my colleagues, but I think they share my sentiments, we will not give any recommendation or allow Manatron to come on and try to make any other sales to Pennsylvania companies based upon their track record and their inability to deliver the tax administration software as promised. Now all of a sudden they want to be responsible, but for the past three years we have not been able to work through any of these. Quite frankly they have failed the County. I personally will not be supporting them in any way.

Mr. Baratucci: I'll get you those numbers on the Metro information.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

(There was none.)

TRAINING PACKET

Mr. DiFrancesco: You have the Training Packet in front of you. I don't think there is anything on the Training Packet that needs voted on today.

Mr. Saylor: No.

Mr. DiFrancesco: I do have a notice that came to me late in the game and I will share it with you. There is training going on next week involving EMA staff. There is no cost involved, however, I can tell you that I'm not going to be critical right now until I get the details of exactly how this came up and when this came up. I have nothing in front of me and they are wanting to go next week.

Mr. Hartwick: I think that is a first, EMA training at no cost.

SOLICITOR'S REPORT - C. DORAN VANCE, ESQ.

Mr. Vance: Nothing unless there are items that you would care to discuss.

Mr. Hartwick: I would just like to see and have an explanation of Item 2 on the Solicitor's Report. The acceptance of a Preliminary Non-Binding Proposal for development of Dauphin County owned vacant site at 28th and Paxton Street.

Mr. Saylor: Leila can get you a copy of that.

REPORT FROM CHIEF CLERK/CHIEF OF STAFF - CHAD SAYLOR

Mr. Saylor: I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you one of our Interns who is with us today, Brandon Handwerk. He is a Lebanon Valley College senior. He lives in Middletown with his fiancee and he wanted to get a closer look at County government. He will be with us through May. Other than that I have nothing unless you have any questions. (There was none.)

COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS

Mr. Hartwick: I do have a couple just for the record and for the Board's information.

The first one is we are in the process of planning a number of community meetings that I am going to be discussing with the other Commissioners and the City of Harrisburg. The community meetings are going to be titled "Are You Tired". The idea behind the meetings are a new way to reach out to the community. I hear so many people talking about I'm tired of seeing this, I'm tired of what is going on, I'm tired of kids who have nothing to do during the evening, etc. This campaign is going to be centered around its time to wake up. It is going to be an educational and informational meeting. We are going to try to get information out in very creative ways. We are going to be hosting these community meetings in area churches, Haarambee Church, St. Francis Church, as well as Rev. Mim Harvey's Church. We are going to be going door-to-door in getting the information out. There is going to be an opportunity for people to be involved in a way that is going to be different. It gives the community an opportunity to vent and also to be an active participant in some of the great and innovative initiatives such as Systems of Care, as well as Family Group Conferencing. We are going to be working with a number of community leaders, police officers and groups related to the resurrection of the Police Athletic League in Harrisburg. I just wanted to update the Board that we are moving in that direction. I want to thank them and appreciate them for their support of the concept of the Police Athletic League. I had some good discussions with the Governor last night about it and we need to provide alternatives out there. These young men need an opportunity to vent and bringing that opportunity back to those locations is going to be on the forefront. We are moving forward.

Mr. DiFrancesco: The bottom line is this Board is in a transition right now. We spent a tremendous amount of time and effort trying to reorganize this County, trying to bring the financial house into order. I think what you are going to see more and more is us talking about community efforts, trying to resolve the issue of the juvenile crime, trying to resolve the issue of the violent crime in this community. We are in a place now where we pretty much stabilized the financial house. Now it is time to start to reorganize the programs that we are offering, promoting the programs that are good, inventing new programs if programs are not working. We have a lot of challenges in this community and you are going to see this Board focusing a lot more attention and reaching out to those communities to make sure that the programs that we are putting out meet the needs. We have to get these crime statistics under control. We've got to save our children. That is kind of where we are headed right now. You will be hearing a lot more about that.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

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

ADJOURNMENT

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