County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners for May 6, 2026. We'll begin with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible,

Chief Clerk's report, Mr. Haggerty. Good morning, Commissioners. I'd like to note that Commissioner Hartwick is joining us virtually this morning from the NACO conference out west. Welcome, Commissioner. There was no executive session held since last week's board meeting. This morning, we are joined by Dauphin County Prison Warden Briggs and other staff at DCP for Institutional Parole and Corrections Employees Week. In addition to the salary board packet, personnel packet, and purchase order packet, there are 28 additional agenda items for board consideration today. We have one adoption assistance agreement, two work release center agreements, two parks and recreation agreements, one registration and elections agreement, one tri-county regional planning commission agreement, 1 grant agreement effectuating a gaming grant award from last year. For human services agreements, 1 legal services agreement. 11 parks and recreation presenter agreements. 2 satisfaction pieces 1 tax forgiveness request and the training packet. Later today, we are having our kickoff meeting to initiate work with Creole Consulting to address the first 90 or so deficiencies in our Oracle accounting, budgeting, and human resources systems. This is going to be a huge administrative undertaking, and I wanted to take a moment to thank the dozens of people who are soon going to be dedicating many hours every week to remediating the system alongside the vendor selected by the board. That concludes my report. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Any questions for Mr. Haggard? Hearing none, Mr. Owens, solicitor's report.

Thank you, Commissioner. All matters requiring board action that require review by my office have been reviewed and approved for action today.

Any questions for Mr. Owens? Hearing none, we'll move to public participation relating to agenda items only. Just to be clear, this is public participation time for items specific to the agenda. You'll need to state your name prior to participating and there's a three minute cap and we are being live streamed. Anyone for public participation on agenda items only. seeing none we have no minutes before us for approval so we'll move to directors and guests i'd like to welcome warden briggs and chief deputy warden pierre as we celebrate corrections employee week good morning can you speak a little bit about what we're doing this week to honor our correction officers

dedicated to them. We have food trucks all week, different vendors there to help celebrate. We have t-shirts and some giveaways also for the staff. Would love to do more always, but just want to thank them for all their hard work. You know, the theme in corrections right now is doing more with less, and the people behind me and beside me are definitely doing that day in and day out, showing up. When people think of corrections, they think security specifically, but we've got security. We have a records office. We have maintenance, we have treatment, we have reentry, we have the business office, HR office, medical, error mark, et cetera. So there's a lot of different teams involved that we try to keep on the same team. And today's definitely not about me, but I get that question a lot. Why do you stay in corrections in the teamwork, the camaraderie when things are bad and things are good, both when stuff hits the fan, the teamwork involved in all that. This group is awesome. We didn't plan, unfortunately, contract negotiations this week. So definitely on different sides of the table as it relates to that. So just want to relay to the staff there that I think they know we all have a job to do, but we are on the same team. And our goal is for everybody to go home safe. home to their families go home to their loved ones after an eight hour shift and unfortunately a lot of 16 hour shifts so that family time is is is valuable so a couple people behind me unfortunately didn't have that luxury to go home safe every night so those are the true heroes in my opinion a lot of surgeries a lot of scars especially with one individual back there so those There's the people that, uh, keep showing up every day after going through stuff like that, dealing with mental health population, et cetera that. Uh, my tip my hat to them, especially so, um, say before.

No, I'd just like to echo the warden statements and, uh. Personally, thank the staff and vendors that.

Yeah, well, 1st of all, thanks for being here today and it's great to see the staff here. We can't thank you enough for. The work that you do 24, 7, 365 that's every day. Every week of each year, keeping that facility safe and secure for the. staff visitors and incarcerated individuals your commitment and professionalism is second to none and we can't thank you enough for the great work that you do i'm glad you touched on the mental health issue when they closed down the state hospital years ago they should have just renamed it dolphin county prison because quite frankly uh the amount and the percentage incarcerated individuals at DCP has skyrocketed since then I think what is it now 75% if not more of the individual and there have some sort of mental health issues so the work that you're doing and we know you take it home sometimes too so I also want to say thank you to your spouses, your kids, your other family members who are there to talk with you after your shifts. That's a very difficult job that all of you do, whether you're in the administration, corrections officer, facility maintenance, you're there, you're committed, and we can't thank you enough for the great work that you do under some very trying conditions. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

Commissioner Hartwick, I know you're joining remotely. Would you like to offer any words?

Yes, good to see you, Warden Briggs and Warden Pierre. Good to see you both. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our correctional officers. I know that it's an extraordinarily challenging job. I also know that Commissioner Preece mentioned the mental health issue and the significant concerns that exist. I just want to make sure that we are, as employers, making sure that our correction officers are aware of the mental health services and the support that are offered to them as well. We know that they have received and have experienced a significant amount of trauma. We also know that they take it home frequently, and it's not an easy job. challenging population and one that we want to make sure doesn't impact everybody that's around them as well. The idea of taking care of themselves is not something that they should feel ashamed of. It's something that we all want to make sure that we provide access to. I also want to talk about the Correctional officers, they go through CIT training. Their ability to understand and how to respond better to those who are struggling with mental illness is significantly an important part of that kind of education. Not only have we seen the use of force be reduced at the prison, but the idea of trying to figure out a way to safely restrain and engage individuals who are struggling through mental illness, through issues of autism, issues that are significantly challenging. I'm going to lose. Hold on. Give me one second. If I don't move in this room, the light's going to go off. It's late at night in here. Sorry about that. I'm in a conference room, and it's early in the morning here where we're going to be meeting later on, so my apologies. But we want to thank the correctional officers for also taking on the awareness and the education related to CIT training, and I think we've seen that successfully bear out in their actions at the workplace. We also know that As Warden Briggs knows, he mentioned that we are going through some level of arbitration. We want to make sure that it's not a we versus them mentality. We value those people who do the job every day, and we want to thank them today and acknowledge them today. for all their hard work and efforts. We've seen some market improvement over the years related to the functionality and the correction officer skill sets. Today is our day to say thank you and to acknowledge all the staff that exists at Dauphin County Prison. And on behalf of the residents of the county, we want to say thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Hartwick. I want to give Comptroller Bateman as a member of prison board an opportunity to speak if she would prefer.

So I'll just echo the comments of my colleagues. I know it is a hard job. We all spend time at the prison and we see that it's not an easy job and it's not a job that everybody can do. So we appreciate everything that you give and everything that you do and we know that We all want to make sure that everyone returns safe, including our incarcerated individuals who we want to be, you know, return to be a part of the community. And, you know, everybody deserves that second chance or third or, you know, whatever. We all make mistakes in our lives. And, you know, we're all there to try and help them. And we just truly appreciate everything that you do. So thank you.

Yeah, I just want to say I'm incredibly grateful for our correction officers, our treatment staff and all the staff behind the scenes that make Dauphin County go. It is a it is a very challenging place to work. And when we see the life expectancy for correction officers nationwide, we know the sacrifice. And certainly I'm committed and I think the commissioners join in. The prison board joins me in. doing everything we can to address the challenges and the things that need addressed. I want to thank Warden Briggs for his leadership. I've seen your care and concern for correction officers. all year round. You're very accessible. You've led with compassion in a lot of the conflicts we've had, and I really appreciate that. Same to you, Chief Deputy Warden. I've seen your care and compassion, also firmness for following our policies, but never done, I think, without a desire to make Dauphin County the best it can be. And so I appreciate both of your leadership and I appreciate every single correction officer uh that helps the dolphin county prison to to secure and also treat our inmate population with dignity and so thank you i have a proclamation to read so i'll read it into the record We, the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, welcome this opportunity to honor and thank the correctional employees who devote their days, nights and lives to supporting public safety, executing justice and upholding a safe, secure and humane environment in correctional facilities in Dauphin County and across the Commonwealth. Whereas Pennsylvania's correctional system is the oldest in the nation, and over time has pioneered many new innovations to advance rehabilitation and maximize safety, whereas more than 31,000 highly skilled and dedicated corrections professionals across the state work around the clock to provide safe, secure, and efficiently run facilities. Whereas in Dauphin County, 210 correctional staff, 20 treatment staff, and 43 support staff keep the county prison running every hour of each and every day. Whereas we recognize the many caring, compassionate counselors, clergy, treatment specialists, administrators, volunteers, and officers at Dauphin County Prison for their presence and professionalism. Therefore, we join the 293,000 residents of Dauphin County in acknowledging all the employees and volunteers for their tireless efforts to promote public safety and security in our correctional facilities. We applaud them for the demanding and often heroic work they do. And in grateful tribute to their dedicated service, we do hereby join the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in proudly proclaiming May 3rd through May 9th, 2026 to be National Correctional Employees Week in Dauphin County. Don't be shy.

You get two rows here. Two rows, yes. Sure.

Good?

Oh wait, now you're gonna have to go behind me. Or I just step forward, I'm sorry. So I can get over his face. One, two, three.

All right, moving on in our agenda, we have our salary board. This is commissioners and controller for the salary board packet. 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. Opposed? Motion carries. Human Resources, Faye Fisher.

Good morning, commissioners. Good morning. Are there any questions on the personnel packet?

for me as usual just confirming that everything listed herein is within the 2026 approved budget yes that is correct do we have a motion for the personnel back so moved second moved by commissioner hartwick seconded by commissioner priest any discussion hearing none all those in favor aye aye opposed motion carries thank you thank you so much budget and finance mr davis

I have no changes to the investment report that was distributed this morning. There's also no changes to the PO packet that's ready for your approval. Again, please disregard the budget remaining column as we work through that with CREA.

Understood. Do I have a motion for the purchase order packet? So moved. Moved by Commissioner Priest. Seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Thank you.

Thank you. Moving to our matters requiring board action, we have 28 matters before us. Do we need to pull anything out for separate vote? If not, I'll entertain a motion for all 28 items. So moved.

I'll second that motion.

Moved by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by Commissioner Preece. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. We have no former business before us. Any new business? Hearing no new business, we'll move to Commissioner's remarks. Commissioner Hartwig.

Look forward to joining you next week when we return and we'll have a full report here from NACO. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Hartwick. Commissioner Preece? Yes, thank you. I have a couple comments this morning. One, I was pleased to attend the Wilhelm Pakstang Little League opening day ceremonies last Saturday. Number two, there are 13 days before the primary election. Our voter registration elections office is working closely with information technology and public safety. We want to make sure we have the county website updated. ready and fully operational to go on election day. We have 324 of our election machines that have been tested and certified, and we're ready to take to the 158 precincts and wards throughout the county. And Director Spackman is currently conducting training classes for our 1,200 poll workers and volunteers for election day. Also, the Wiccanisco Creek Disc Golf Course was just ranked 8th best disc golf course in the state of Pennsylvania by UDisc. And it's interesting because it just opened two and a half years ago and it's already getting state and national recognition. I also want to say that Dauphin County Parks is hosting a free disc golf 101 at the course on Tuesday, May 12th from 6 to 7 p.m. And the Valley Flying Discs is hosting their 2026 Rally in the Valley Disc Golf Tournament, May 30th. For more information, you can contact our Parks and Recreation Department, and they'll be able to provide you additional information. And lastly, but not least, We often talk about our Veterans Affairs Department and the great work that they do. It's just a staff of two. When I first became a commissioner, they were bringing in $200,000 a year in veterans benefits, which is part of compensation, veterans pension, survivors pension, and death indemnity compensation. So $200,000 a year back in 2010. This past year, And I'm going to read it slowly because this number is quite remarkable. They are now up to $16,814,899 fiscal year 2024-2025. And from July 25 to March 26, we're already at $14.2 million. So a two-person department has taken the veterans benefits from 200K to over $16 million a year. And we have to applaud Tom and John and the great work that they're doing on our behalf. They get thousands of people calling in, hundreds of office visits. They're out and about representing the county. And we have one of the largest veterans populations in the state of Pennsylvania. So it's great that finally our veterans are taking advantage of the services and the dollars that are there for them and we can't thank them enough for their service on behalf of this great grateful nation thank you

yeah we know how challenging it can be to access resources sometimes and to have them helping families navigate that important thank you for your work to veterans department on wednesday last week i had the opportunity to attend right of passage how to tie a tie for the center for employment opportunities that That's ultimately a reentry effort to help reentrants learn skills that they may never have learned, like how to tie a tie. And it was a great event. They do a lot to support reentrants. Also attended the VIBE annual gathering put together by CREDIC, our Capital Region Economic Development, which was out in Hershey, very large gathering, went really well. On Friday, I attended the basic training graduation for our most recent Dauphin County corrections officers graduation. really excited to welcome that a new group of correction officers into our jail certainly if you're watching this right now looking for a job in corrections i want to encourage you to go to our website and apply to be a correction officer and go through the course and and it's it's a good paying job with a great pension great benefits and we need as many correction officers as we can get right now so please share with your friends On Monday, attended Dauphin County Prison Town Hall here in this hearing room. Our next meeting will be in August, so stay tuned for that. Yesterday, got the opportunity to meet Hollywood producer Glenn Gaynor. He was in town. Central PA Film Commission put a strategic meeting together as a way of continuing their efforts to attract production to central Pennsylvania. So I'd like to thank John Trey and his leadership for coordinating state municipal leaders to bring them to the table. Glenn Gaynor is a pretty popular Hollywood producer and produced even helped produce one of the, one of the movies that's one of my favorite, which is EZA. We talked a little bit about that. So it was really cool to, to, to hear stories about how they've taken different, um, small market areas. And even in that movie that I referenced specifically was in a small market area and brought a lot of tourism to that region and how film can be used to spotlight and highlight regions. And we know there's plenty to spotlight here in central Pennsylvania and Dauphin County in particular. Later today, I'll be joining County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania at the Capitol as we advocate for mental health funding at the state. Finally, I wanted to share some sad news, which is that a resident of Dauphin County's Work Release Center was found deceased on Monday, May 4th, near a portion of the Capital Area Greenbelt. They were pre approved to walk along when traveling to and from the grocery store. The individual was not in balfour county's custody when the incident happened. And there is limited information available to us at this time, but I wanted to make sure our heartfelt condolences went out to the friends and family of this individual. With that, we'll move to.

correspondence i see none i just i just want to add uh you did bring up the vibe event i also attended with controller bateman um but uh you failed to mention that howie roseman the general manager of the philadelphia eagles was there i know you're a packers fan but he certainly drew several hundred people there that evening definitely it's a great event definitely definitely sorry sorry i failed to reference that um we'll move to general public participation i have a sheet in front of me um

Uh, just a reminder, we are being live streamed and it is a 3 minute time limit on public comment and you'll need to state your name prior to speaking. We'll begin on my list. I have. Michelle chef good morning.

Thank you for allowing me to speak and thank you for everybody for their service. Um, it has been 10 days since an incident happened with my son. Could you please state your name for the record? And I'm dolphin county. I've been a resident my whole life. My son is 24. He has profound autism, traumatic brain injury, and a slow secondary diagnosis. It's been 10 days since there was an incident at the park where him and the caregiver were sitting just enjoying some snacks and enjoying the park as a whole and a nice day. On that day, there was a report called in on a wellness check on a child. And while I understand these need to happen, the show force that came based on that call was in my opinion excessive when my caregiver called me i went immediately down and there was eight cop cars there two canine units they were angry they were aggressive and they weren't listening and we begged them to call the mental health co-responder. I do believe what has happened with my son correlates so significantly to what was just brought to attention today here in this room of the mental health crisis in the prison system. The co-responders are there for a reason to help prevent those things. and we have people that are actively asking for co-responders and being ignored when co-responders are actually supposed to be part of the protocol where they would be called before ever attempting to initiate any contact in the situation. These acts have now violated his American Disabilities Law and the Olmstead Act. We've had, since then, I've had a meeting with a lady named Cheryl Steele. She is head of MOPEC, which is the approved course for all police in Pennsylvania. She has since written a letter to every chief of police of the four districts. She has had zero response offering them training. I have met with her and she has been on my emergency call meeting, which was on 5-5. i've also spoken with devon um i'm gonna not say her last name right chinoise she is jordan roco the um mental health co-responders uh she is her supervisor these people all attended my five five meeting on this meeting the ae chose to use this event where nothing happened and nothing was done to catalyst an effort to place my son it's been brought up twice now in the meeting they said that he should be placed I don't think this event should be a catalyst to putting his rights being violated. I think it should be a catalyst to what can we improve. As I said, Cheryl is trying to reach out. Jordan has wrote a letter to every chief of police and every co-responder in all of Dauphin County, making them aware of my son so that we do not have something like this happen again. The last thing I want is my worst case scenario being that my son is shot. I have one more moment. I want you to understand I had three AEs on my meeting and out of their mouth, Daniel Reese's mouth, she specifically said, I feel that he belongs in placement. This should have been a catalyst to restore ours, not a catalyst to place him. Since then, my staff have endured an independent certified investigator and an APS investigation for neglect. We're being investigated for neglect now. I highly recommend that that spotlight be turned the police officers who responded who had excessive force and decided to charge my van with three pistols those are the people that should be under investigation not my caregivers and not myself and this directly correlates to the topic that was brought up today of 75 of incarcerations have mental health issues We need to get the training into our police officers so they understand what the co-responders are there for and what their role is. I thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing an update. I have not heard from your staff in meeting with me. I would like to know and I would hear from them. I would also like to know when you feel the police departments will get back to Cheryl on some training. I would also like an update on when you feel you can talk to the administrative entity about restoring my hours that were illegally removed, which has put us in this situation. I thank you for your time. I look forward to your update next week.

Thank you. On my list next, I have Antonio Foster. I don't see Antonio Foster. Anyone else for public comment? seeing no one else for public comment i'll entertain a motion for adjournment so moved i'll second second all in favor aye we're adjourned