County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Call to order the Board of Commissioners meeting for April 1st, 2026. We'll begin with a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chief Clerk's report, Mr. Haggerty. Good morning, Commissioners. An executive session was held on Tuesday, March 31st to obtain the advice of legal counsel regarding active or pending litigation, asset management, county finances, economic development programs, legal services, and personnel matters. In addition to the March 18 and March 11, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, the March 25, 2026 salary board meeting minutes, personnel packet and purchase order packet, we will be holding a meeting of the Board of Elections today. There are also 20 additional items on the agenda for board consideration today. One facilities maintenance agreement, one risk management agreement, one tax claim agreement, one solid waste management agreement, two prison agreements, one parks and recreation agreement, ratification of the extension of the Whitaker Center's RACP award from the state, one grant application for state PCCD funds, four human services agreements, our municipal waste management ordinance as required by the state, three parks and recreation presenter agreements, one repository bid, one request for tax forgiveness, and the training packet. Over the weekend, we distributed formal budget guidance to department heads and directors, and as of today, county agencies may begin uploading their 2027 budget requests. These budget requests are due by the end of the month. That concludes my report. I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Any questions for Mr. Haggerty?

Solicitor's report, Mr. Benaventana.

Commissioners, the matters referred to by Mr. Haggerty have all been reviewed by the solicitor's office. They are ready for official action today. Unless you have questions or comments, there's no further solicitor's office review.

Thank you, Mr. Beneventano, for standing up for Mr. Owens. And is there any questions for Mr. Beneventano? Hearing none, we'll move to public participations related to agenda items. Is there anyone for public participation on agenda items? It's a three-minute cap, and you'll need to state your name prior to speaking. Seeing none, we'll move to review and approval of the minutes. We have two minutes before us for March 18th and March 25th. Do I have a motion for both meeting minutes? Moved by Commissioner Hartwick. Do I have a second? I'll second that motion. Seconded by Commissioner Priest. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. We have no directors and guests before us today. We will move into election board. I will invite our courts up.

Good morning, Tina. Good morning, everyone. I'd like to call to order the April 1st, 2026 Board of Elections meeting. To begin, we are calling on public participation related to agenda items only. Is there anybody in the audience that wishes to participate and give public comment related to anything? The one item on the agenda today. Hearing none, I will entertain a motion for the review and approval of minutes.

I will second that.

Moved by Clerk Nixon, seconded by Commissioner Fries. Any discussion? All those in favor, indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. The ayes have it. Mr. Spaght.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Today we're requesting the Board of Elections move the polling place for Dairy 6. Currently they vote at the Hershey Church of the Nazarene. Per their request, they no longer wish to be a polling place. So our proposed location is the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department, which currently serves as the polling place for Dairy 3. It is well suited to serve both polling places and will look um ask the board to make the change any questions any questions from the board yeah just this is a standalone relocation after we approved the other ones in bass are there any other ones potentially forthcoming or is this the final one this is the final one um you know barring some polling place reaching out to me there's none that i'm aware of at this moment so uh do not look to plan on making any more potential point place changes prior to the primary

And you're comfortable with the parking that's there?

I am. There is plenty of space. There's a public parking space next to the fire company and as well as spaces around the fire company that I've been sure would be able to utilize for voting.

And proper notification will take place with the voters of the current 6th precinct. Last question. Since I vote at Dairy 3 at the firehouse, could you tell me what this will look like when you walk in? Because I know... I know where I vote now is the bay to the right, that room to the right, where will the 36th location be?

So I believe it's going to be within the same room itself. Doug Beattie, who is the judge of elections, he is also associated with the fire company, and he's had the phone place arranged. So we'll ensure that there's proper signage for both locations for the voters, so that way there's no confusion for them when they're coming in.

Okay.

Thank you. Thank you. Have there been any comments by any residents or affected individuals?

No.

Any other questions by the board? Hearing none, I'd entertain a motion to approve Mr. Spackman's recommendation for the polling place change of the 6th Precinct in Derry.

So moved.

I will second that motion. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. The ayes have it. Thank you very much. Is there any former business? Any new business? Any public participation? Good morning.

Good morning. I'm Tom Connolly, 345 North Harrisburg Street. A couple things related to elections. I have a huge issue with what took place with an objector challenge to Commissioner Shane Steele. And how it relates here is the objector, upon review at the elections office, had not registered. in Dolphin County until 3 18. That person was a signer as a resident on 3 5. Um, that person was a signer in a commonwealth court objector lawsuit on 3 15. Uh, it was at the hearing, uh, pre hearing ordered by the commonwealth court that commissioner steel found out that by viewing the shore operator, which was Mr. Spackman's files, that the person registered on the 18th, which disqualified them from filing that case. That case effectively, slowed down the campaign for Commissioner Steele from the day he entered the petitions. He was waiting. This was filed on the 17th. It was not resolved until the 26th and the 27th because he filed against Mr. Mattson. During the shore operator's handling of... administering his role of showing information. It also was very disappointing to see that on page one of Dave Madsen's sheet, line 16, it was signed by the chair of this board, George Hartwick III. Free to do whatever you want. You can sign for anybody you want. But you can sign one time. And on page 44, line number one, was also signed a second time by the chair of this board, George Hartwick. Both of those were then submitted, not crossed out, not checked, submitted as if they were official signatures on page 44. Chairman Hartwick also signed as the collector, well aware of the process. On the first page, a public service announcement, which is aired, which we still have, Commissioner Hartwick, again, for his friend and his person, Standing in Pakistan states that he is gathering signatures for Dave Madsen. We researched gathering is collecting, and four is in the place of another. And on page one, it is not signed by Chairman Hartwick. It's signed by Dave Madsen. So there's very few rules in the petition signing process. Number one, you sign one time. Number two, if you collect the signatures, you sign the signatures. And I think it should have been reported to the Commonwealth Court that the person who was the objector was not qualified to be the objector. I'll have more. Most of this will be released publicly later today, and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other public comments? Hearing none, I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Moved by clerk. It's for election board matters. Second. Understood. Motion and seconded. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Same sign. The ayes have it.

now in turn to salary board we have salary board meeting minutes for march 25th to approve do i have a motion so moved second moved by controller bateman seconded by commissioner priest any discussion hearing none all those in favor aye aye opposed motion carries next up we have human resources faye fisher good morning commissioners good morning good morning the personnel packet has been distributed We have four items up for vote. I'd like to pull item four for a separate vote. Do we have a motion for the first three items?

So moved. Second.

For items one, two, and three, we have a motion made by Commissioner Priest, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. For item number four, do I have a motion? So move moved by commissioner Hartwick seconded by commissioner priests. Any discussion I will state that item 4 represents the termination of the valuable employee with no disciplinary record terminated without consultation of me. providing or providing any explanation to me this individual works in a department of which i have oversight yet to reiterate my colleagues terminated without consulting or including the and without cause therefore i adamantly oppose item number four in the personnel packet any other comments hearing none all those in favor aye aye opposed nay thank you thank you budget and finance mr davis

Commissioners? Good morning. I have no changes to the purchase order packet that was sent out. Again, I ask you just ignore the budget remaining column as we continue to work through getting Oracle fixed.

we have a motion for the purchase order packet so move second moved by commissioner priest seconded by commissioner hartwick any discussion hearing none all those in favor aye opposed motion carries thank you thank you matters requiring board action we have 20 matters before us for board action does anything need to be pulled for a separate vote i'll make a motion that we adopt all items one through 20. we have a motion for the 20 items from commissioner hartwick and a second from commissioner priest any discussion Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Former business, no former business. Any new business? Hearing no new business, Commissioner Hartwig.

Remarks? Just want to note the sad passing of Linda Goldstein. Linda Goldstein. was a longtime friend stalwart member of this community and someone who worked closely with both in her role at capital region economic development corporation as well as in her financial roles with various banks including midpen bank attended her her viewing and and service over the weekend um and uh it was extraordinarily extraordinarily befitting of a woman who stood with such um a a strong both sense of business uh the ability to let nothing stop her from achieving uh those goals and and certainly demonstrated a a woman who lived a proud life from a proud family and who's dedicated to her family. Linda, from my perspective, I remember her working through Stilton, the ability to turn over a property in the lower end of Stilton that used to be owned by the steel mill. And they under Act II, while she was the head of Credic, uh completely environmentally remediated by placing in agreed standards and now it is in a successful operation as durable piping she has such an impact in many ways on projects in ways that cannot be measured but her most meaningful impact both was on her family and on me personally she struggled with Alzheimer's late in her life, which I know was extraordinarily difficult for her. And the folks that she had surrounding her gave an incredible tribute. So I just wanted to acknowledge both her passing and today actually is her well-known husband's birthday. I was with him at the Shiva last night, Corky Goldstein. So my condolences to the entire Goldstein family.

Commissioner priest remarks yes, thank you commissioner Hartwick as usual. You're spot on with your comments and I appreciate that. I think in addition. I'd like to just add her impact to Harrisburg regional chamber and critic. 10s of millions of dollars in economic impact and development. happened within her role over the years so she was a big part of our community and economic development secondly commissioner hartwick one of your oversights tax claim tax assessment just sent us an email this morning and if you don't mind since you didn't bring it up i'm going to but we got an update that in the month of march the bureau collected four million four hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars in delinquent property taxes here in dolphin county past years those numbers were closer to three million so that is a huge increase and those collections are based on approximately the same number of delinquent properties around nine thousand they're turned over to our bureau each year so great job by staff i mean that is a market increase and It just goes to show the great work that they are doing down there and appreciate the work that you're doing with them. Secondly, we got an update from Solid Waste and Recycling on some numbers from last year, recycling totals from 2025. And I think it's appropriate I bring it up now as we are in April Shredfest at Solid Waste and Recycling. It started today, April 1st. And it will go through the month, 8.30 to 4 p.m. Our partners are AKA Sorority, Harrisburg Chapter, and the NCNW, Harrisburg Chapter. The one Saturday that will be open at Solid Waste Recycling will be Saturday, April 11th, from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, we collected at the Shredfest 17.5 tons, which equals 35,000 pounds. Some of our other numbers from last year. Newspaper, 150 tons. Cardboard, 572 tons, which is 1,145,000 pounds. Mixed cans, 66 tons. Electronics, 497 tons collected last year, which equals 994,000 pounds. Refrigerators, ACs, dehumidifiers, 63 tons. Scrap metal, 66 tons. Office paper, 38 tons, equaling 76,000 pounds. Our folks at Solid Waste and Recycling are very busy year-round, and this is going to be one of their busiest months. So I want to thank Kelly McGonnell and her team out there for the great work that they're doing on behalf of us. Thank you. Thanks, Commissioner Priest. Sure.

I wanted to share some of the great events that I got to attend over the weekend and to even Monday. On Friday, I was at Habitat for Humanity's Art Builds Home Auction, an amazing event where they collaborate with artists across our region to donate art for auction. to go to building these Habitat for Humanity homes. And I just want to say how grateful I am to all the artists across our region who donated their work for the purpose of supporting Habitat for Humanity. I've emceed that now two years in a row, and it's always pretty amazing to see the artists there and to see their work being auctioned off and to see the aid that it gives to Habitat for Humanity and the great work that they're doing in our region. On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend Church World Service's annual celebration. CWS does amazing work for refugees and immigrant families in our communities here in Harrisburg, but also all the way out to Lancaster and in the central Pennsylvania region. Today, in fact, in Harrisburg, they're launching a new Office of Legal Services and a legal fund to aid immigrants and refugees in need. So very grateful for all the work that they're doing. And it was great to be a part of that on Saturday. On Sunday, my family and I took the newest refugee family who my executive assistant and I met when they came to Dauphin County at at International Services Center right around the corner from here. My family took them to Chocolate World, which was a really cool experience to be with a refugee family, two young girls, and to walk into Chocolate World and see their eyes light up at all the candy and to ride the ride at Chocolate World, which is a pretty amazing experience. And it's one of the things that that I love bringing visitors to. Obviously, it's free. But even more than that, it's cool to see those kids' eyes light up, especially as they've been through so much in traveling to a whole new country, coming to a whole new place, learning a whole new culture. And it gave them, I think, some real fun. And I think the family enjoyed it. It reminded me of the power that we each have in our community of hospitality for our neighbors and how when we welcome new members into our community, it can really impact their sense of belonging. So I just wanna encourage everyone as you come in contact with your neighbors, certainly those who are immigrants or refugees, that you get an opportunity to just be hospitable to them, especially given that we don't know what they're going through or what their experience was before they got here. And it's an opportunity for us to welcome them well and to really show that Dauphin County welcomes our neighbors. Monday I had the privilege of delivering a speech at an Eagle Scout ceremony in Hershey. I delivered certificates of recognition on behalf of the Board of Commissioners for Mason Cass, Connor Holton, Brody Renz, C.J. Snyer, and Vladimir Von Getze. We are so proud of the work, the dedication and service it took for them to rise to the rank of Eagle Scouts. Many of them did amazing projects. I think one of them had like 700 pounds of concrete that they poured to make new signs along the creek. One of them did a bunch of work for the Ronald McDonald House. And so it's amazing to see these young men and what they're ultimately going to contribute because I know Eagle Scout my mentor was an eagle scout and uh and i know it it often leads people into a life of service a life of dedication and a life of really uh serving their community and leadership that uh that reflects that service and so uh thankful for that we'll move now to correspondence which i see none we'll now move to general public participation i believe i have a list coming to me thank you vince uh just a reminder we have a three minute uh limit on public comment you'll need to state your name prior to antonio foster is the first on our list mr foster you're fine take your time

Antonio Foster, 594 Chamber Street. Came down here many times before. We all know the things that I talk about today. You know, I'm going to start playing in the way I talk. I was winging it a lot. And I was, you know, giving the blues down here. From here on out, I will show where my mind really, really stands at. But anyway, I want to start off with social security disability. I'm real quick on that. I was lied to about my files, my record saying that they weren't there. I went to the doctors and everything is there. So why would Social Security Disability lie to me about that? This is something that I cannot prove, but my reason believing is that they must be distributing disability already in my name. This is what I came up with, along with the rest of the scams that's already going on under my name, which I have proven and spoken about. Now, I want to speak very, very clear about comprehension. I believe you guys should have a great comprehension, just sitting in the seats that you guys sit in. I want to talk about the news, something that I read and it pertains to me. Actually, I want to talk about a lot of things in the news, but today I'm going to be specific. I'll come back next Wednesday. When it comes down to the schemes and the scams of the bank, the fraudulent activities that have taken place in the news that I have spoken about. The news said that these kids went in the bank and got this information from the people who are going to the bank. They said this is how they got this information. Sounds ridiculous. A bank is the most tentative place in America. Not to mention, I know that it's a false because the kids that were in the bank already had my information due to the people that I already had, due to the names that I already spoken about. The names that I have already spoken, I mean, it's not hard to give your child my information and send them in the bank. So this is how I come up with this conclusion. And I think that it's a very great one, if I would say so myself. Under the circumstances, no one will be able to throw rocks and hide their hands anymore. All I wanted was peace, but it seems that we have to go here and I'm okay with that because I am prepared for combat under all circumstances. And I say that with respect. I've come down here and I've respected all your seats at all times until I was disrespected. I've asked for it to be fixed, but it seems like we have to go here, and I will dig very, very, very deep. I promise. I swear I'll put that. That is my work, and I am a man of my word. This is just the beginning.

Thank you, Mr. Foster.

You have a nice day.

You too. I do want to remind all residents of Dauphin County that those dealing with identity theft or social security or disability fraud, that is not something that commissioners have oversight of. So I just want to make that very clear for the public. With that said, anyone else for public comment?

If I may add I I feel to mention this during my report but yesterday commissioner Hartwick and I attended on behalf of the board the retirement of. Magisterial district judge William winner. And we present a proclamation on behalf of the board of commissioners and today is his official retirement date from the county after 23 years as an mdj and prior to that he was the director of the criminal investigation division and. has an incredible work history in Dauphin County, and he will be sorely missed. Thank you.

Commissioner Preece, anyone else for public comment? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. Moved by Commissioner Preece, seconded by Commissioner Harwick. All in favor? Aye. We're adjourned.