County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order Dauphin County Board of Commissioners meeting for June 3rd, 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 under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

chief clerk's report mr hagerty good morning commissioners an executive session was held on tuesday june 2nd to obtain the advice of legal counsel regarding infrastructure funding utility contracts board appointments donations to local non-profits and personnel matters In addition to a meeting of the election board, salary board packet, personnel packet, purchase order packet, and the presentation of the 2026-2027 fiscal year human services budget, there are 46 additional items for board consideration today. We have two adoption assistance agreements, two parks and recreation agreements, one veterans affairs agreement, three facilities maintenance agreements, one MDJ offices agreement, one district attorney's office agreement, one housing authority request for release of federal funds, two amendments to existing human services grant agreements, 27 human service agreements, one parks and recreation presenter agreement, one satisfaction piece, two requests for tax forgiveness, and the training packet. That concludes my report, unless there are any questions.

Any questions for Mr. Haggerty? None for me. Hearing none, solicitor's report, Mr. Owens.

Good morning, commissioners. All matters requiring review by my office for board action today have been reviewed and approved.

Any questions for Mr. Owens? Nope. Public participation related to agenda items. We'll ask that you note which agenda item you're addressing, and you'll have a three-minute cap. You'll need to state your name. This is just for public participation on agenda items only. We will have a time for public participation at the end of the meeting.

nope all right we have no minutes for approval we have no directors or guests today we'll move to election board thank you Commissioner Douglas uh let me call to the dais clerk of course Nixon welcome this morning I'd like to call into order the election board meeting of June 3rd 2026 is Mr speckman here please come forward The first order of business is public participation related to any election board agenda items. Any public participation from any election board agenda items. Hearing none, Mr. Spackman, what is before us today?

Good morning.

Good morning.

Following last week's first certification, other results are the May 19th, 2026 general primary. There have been no challenges or recounts. Following final certification today, we will be issuing election certificates to committee winners. Riding winners will have until 4.30 p.m. Friday, June 12th, to accept their position, they so choose. For state offices, there appears to be a write-in winner for the Republican side for the 103rd State House District. Cindy Ward received 18 write-in votes in Dauphin, and it appears 448 write-in votes in Cumberland County. These numbers will be reported to the Department of State. There were no other write-ins for any other state level races. This Friday at 11.30 a.m. in the lobby of the Dauphin County Courthouse, we will be conducting a tiebreaker drawing of the county committee offices that were tied. If there are no questions, I respectfully request that the Board of Elections provide final certification on the results from the Dauphin County General Primary held on May 19, 2026.

Before we do that or ask any questions, I'd like to administratively clean up the review and approval of minutes. If I can entertain a motion for the review and the approval of today's minutes of the April 1st, 2026 election board meeting minutes in the May 27th, 2026 election board meeting. Do I have a motion? Move by clerk of court Nixon. I'll second that motion. Second by commissioner freeze. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. At this point, are there any questions for Mr. Spackman before we move on with the matter at hand?

No, I just want to take a moment and congratulate Director Spackman and his team, and I want to thank... My fellow election board members for the great work that was done leading up to the election election evening. And now, as we do the 2nd certification. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes. I want to thank you again, the 1200 volunteers at 158 precincts awards. 13 hours of polls are open on election day, but there's time before that. And after that, we know those folks are in there 16 hours. great work that was done, but a lot of departments team up to information technology, public safety, facility maintenance, the sheriff, the courts really, really spend months putting this together. And I know I did make a request that you do meet with information technology and see if there's a way we can streamline getting the numbers in. I know initially the first Tranche comes in at 8 o'clock and it's put out there at 8.30. So we have these huge numbers that come in initially. That's mainly for the mail-ins. But then as the polls close, there does seem to be a delay, which was the same amount that seemed like the last couple of elections. But the presidential seemed to come in quicker. So if there's a way we could work on that. So it's getting a lot of phone calls. Yep. But again, just a tremendous job by you and your team. A lot of work goes in behind it. And It's a privilege to serve as oversight of that department. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

And I echo that as well. Thank you for all the hard work you do behind the scenes and your team and everyone that is involved to make the election accessible for everyone. And the information that you send out prior is very helpful so people know where to go and when to vote. So thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you, I like to echo my colleagues on the election boards comments related to staff participation and all of the. Various individuals who serve the public in order to ensure that we have the election integrity that we do here in dolphin county. So, thank you to every staff member and individual who contributes to that confidence and the outcome. To answer Commissioner Preece's concerns related, I know we had some discussions about some of the computer-related concerns and concerns related to staffing at the end of the election night. I think a plan to work with the solicitors to ensure that we remedy that is appropriate. Absolutely. And lastly, before I guess we can, this may be your last election board meeting, Clerk of Courts Nixon, I want to thank you for both your service in the Clerk of Courts office, the integrity and the administrative duties and responsibilities that you have brought with great diligence to the office and also your willingness to step up as called upon by the President Judge to serve this role. So we want to thank you very much for your professionalism and your participation. thank you you're welcome um i it's an honor to be able to serve the community in this way so thank you all right at this point um to entertain a motion for the second certification to the votes cast at the may 19th 2026 primary election so i have a motion move by clerk of course nixon do i have a second second second by commissioner prees is there any discussion hearing on all those in favor indicate by saying aye aye any opposed same sign the eyes have it Is there any former business? Any new business? At this point, I call for general audience participation and public participation. Is there anybody from the public that wishes to comment on any election board matter? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Moved by Clerk of Courts, Nixon. Do I have a second? I'll second Commissioner Preece. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.

Am I sitting here?

Yes.

Okay. Sorry, I'm coming.

We'll move to salary board we have a packet before us for approval Do I have a motion? so move second move by controller Bateman seconded by Commissioner Hartwick any discussion I All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Human Resources, Faye Fisher.

Good morning, Commissioners. Are there any questions regarding the personnel packet?

None for me. None for me. I'll make a motion that we accept the personnel packet as presented. Second.

Motion made by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by Commissioner Priest. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Budget and Finance, Mr. Davis.

Good morning.

Morning. I have no changes to the investment report that was sent out. I will note that the CD purchase with Univest that was approved by the board was funded, so we are earning that 3.95 rate, and you'll see that on future reports once we finalize the paperwork. There's no changes to the purchase order packet. That's ready for your approval.

Do I have a motion for the purchase order packet? So moved by Commissioner Priest. Do I have a second? Seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Any questions for Mr. Davis? Or do you have anything else?

I'll give you a quick update on the proposed fiscal year budget here.

We're getting some feedback up here.

For those watching at home, the fiscal year human services budget is made up primarily of our human service agencies, and this budget runs July 1st through June 30th, because that matches up with the state. Their fiscal year cycle, so it matches the state funding that's the primary driver for their funding sources. There's been No changes to what was presented at the public hearings. Just as a quick recap, the overall 26 budget was $130,742,134. The proposed 27 budget is $134,548,645. That's an increase of approximately 3.8 million or 2.91%. From a county funds perspective, The ask is an increase of 784,403 dollars or 4.76%. This will be put on the website for public inspection. This white binder here will be placed out in the lobby on the 4th floor for the public to view. This will kick off the 20 day inspection period and the final vote slated for June 24th.

And just for the public's knowledge, this budget is different than our general fund budget.

Correct. Yeah. The general fund budget follows the calendar year cycle, which runs obviously January 1st through December 31st. And that was public hearings and vote will be later in the year.

I want to thank you for working with the directors of the human service agencies as well as public safety in providing the budget that we went over. And Eric Haggerty, thank you to you and your staff as well for the work that you did.

If I could, I was going to save my comments. I won't make any comments at the end, but I just want to thank Randy Yeager and the department directors. Of human services commissioner priest for your oversight and ultimately we're in a time period where. Uncertainty really is ruling the moment both uncertainty from a cost shift perspective uncertainty related to a continuity of funding uncertainty related to a state budget and what Medicaid impacts are going to be felt locally uncertainty related to the future of. a already stripped and broken mental health system that has already exceeded what the safety net was supposed to be and is now absolutely broken, resulting in the majority of folks and the number one service provider being our Dauphin County Jail. That is not where we should be as a society. It's not where we should be in partnership related to services for individuals who need behavioral health help. We need real partners on the federal and state level to be able to step up where the county provides administration. And I've said this on multiple occasions. One of the reasons I'm so proud to be a county commissioner and work with professionals is for our ability to triage and to take care of the most critical matters in a way that does not result in significant tragedy. And let me tell you, there is tragedy that occurs. I mean, there's not a day I look at my phone where we're not talking about a concern related to a suicide. A concern related to a major violent response, related to mental health disorders, issues related to substance abuse, the list goes on, children, youth. But the resources that we are provided continue to dwindle and get less and less. i don't know what it's going to take for us to be able to realize a mass tragedy before we are going to get the attention of our partners to be able to adequately help and fund human services now this budget represents a 700 000 increase in county general fund contributions during a time where it's really tight locally so the county is making more of a contribution for towards a mandated level of services that we are required to provide. We often examined these things in the past and said, OK, if you're not going to fund it, how about you take it back and you perform those services? Because ultimately, as a third class county, there are certain rules that certain areas of human services that if we would choose not to fund them, the state would be required to. The problem is they probably do it at twice the expense a whole lot less efficient and they'd send us a bill at the end saying this is what you owe for the level of services. So that's not a viable option either. So the statement today is we're in a society where we need partners and leadership. where we need folks who are willing to recognize the problem not just say hey the counties will deal with this you know as long as there's no tragedy let's continue to push this stuff downhill but to actually figure out a way to provide partnership we've not seen any kind of increase significantly in mental health based funds for years we have had you know a transition from the state hospital that has seen cut after cut after cut after cut after we were promised a community-based system that was supposed to be able to provide a better level of adequate response for people who are in need and get them out of the institutions. The promises have been made. The financial promises have not been kept by our partners. And our taxpayers, our residents, and those who we serve are not better off as a result. So while there's enough finger pointing to go around, today I'm trying to take a strength-based approach as the state budget is approaching and on us. I know it's a political year. as often happens but let's see some leadership from a state level to be able to assist us and assist and recognize the challenges that counties have in being able to administer the needs of folks who are struggling who are even dealing under even more difficult circumstances with the current economic environment let alone the social and other challenges that exist within our communities we need help we need partnerships we need solutions and leadership not more finger pointing and ways to be able to pass the buck i think today dolphin county stepped up and made a significant contributions towards human services just to fill some of the many holes that exist within those levels of services we need our partners that mandate and require these services to do the same and step up to be able to match the level of commitment that we have to our residents thank you

If I may follow up, Commissioner Hartwick, thank you for those comments. When they closed the Harrisburg State Hospital back on January 27, 2006, they should have just renamed it Dauphin County Prison because the prison has seen such a huge increase in mental health incarcerated individuals since that time. I think now we're at close to 70, 75 percent of the inmates have mental health issues and

we can directly tie that right back into the closure of the harrisburg state hospital so hopefully the folks at the state start putting more funding into that area because it is greatly needed but i thank you for your comments there we go is it working now okay i think as a board we all recognize the realities and the challenges that exist right now around mental health specifically but human service funding in general so yeah we're we're going to continue to advocate for that as a board and uh thanks for your comments commissioner priest uh anything else for mr davis thank you thank you we'll move to matters requiring board action i'm going to request we pull 11 for a separate vote are there any other separate votes needed Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion for items 1 through 10 and 12 through 46. So moved. Moved by Commissioner Hartwick. Second. Seconded by Commissioner Preece. Any discussion?

Yes. Just a confirmation, if we could get it from the Chief of Staff on item 12. The only reason I'm asking about this is because it's such a huge number and it's 100% federal sources, but it's over $10 million. Can we get an explanation on that today, please?

item number 12 hud request for release of funds and certification yes i fully support it i just like to explain it this is leah's in the crowd our director of uh dauphin county housing authorities here as well so leah if i screw this up please uh feel free to correct me um this uh little over 10 million dollars is money that the housing authority will receive from the federal government in conjunction with their five-year plan which they recently submitted

and there's a lot of him I see a lot of impact there for Gratz Park Terrace High Spire Apartments rattling Creek Apartments Genesis Court Essex House cold Crest Griffith House Hilton Family Housing Lang Banner Hoy Towers this line house LaTosha Towers Munich Terrace Grub Terrace Laurel Hill I have no issue with it I just wanted a further explanation on it because such a huge number in the budget all capital improvement and not in the budget but on the agenda

Sure, good morning commissioners.

This tell us who you are.

Sure. Leah, I'm the director of Dauphin County housing authority. So we are a separate entitlement agency than the county as it comes from federal funds. We have a direct allocation. The capital fund is an annual grant program allocated by HUD through a. Mathematical algorithm that no 1 quite understands. So, every year we get a allocation. The 5 year plan is required. We do a 5 year plan every 5 years. So the base year this year, obviously, 2026 is based on our actual allocation this year. Next year we will do the same thing with our base allocation being what we receive in 2027. it is based on the t-hud build uh bill and allocations um at the federal level so it is a annual grant that we receive to do all of our capital fund work so this year we're just over the two million mark which is the first time we've been that in a really long time um but to be honest our actual capital needs probably are close to 15 to 17 million dollars if we're really doing the math So this helps us certainly, projects going on right now, we're doing new elevators, windows, doors, roofs, a lot of the not so sexy projects that have to get done, but are really critical for safety and security of our properties. But you sign them as the entity that is required as the responsible entity to confirm that the environmental review was completed in allocation with the HUD rules. So you have to sign it and that's why we are here to ask you to sign that.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Sure. Prior to voting on items, I believe it was items 1 through 10 and 12 through 46. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item 11, do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Moved by Commissioner Priest, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. I'll provide discussion. Today I'll be voting no on this Memorandum of Understanding with GEO Reentry Services. I want to be clear that my objection is not directed to any of the local staff who may be carrying out this work. My concern is with the corporation itself and the values it represents. GEO Reentry Services is part of the GEO Group, one of the largest for-profit prison and immigration detention corporations in the United States. The company's business model extends beyond reentry services to include prisons, immigration detention facilities, transportation services, electronic monitoring and community supervision programs. Over the years, geo operated facilities have been subject of lawsuits, investigations and allegations involving inadequate medical care, unsafe conditions, labor exploitation and human rights concerns. While reasonable people may disagree on the significance of those issues, they raise serious questions about whether this is the type of corporation with which we should be partnering. My concerns are not only about the company's records. They are also about the role GEO plays in the political system. GEO is a corporation whose profits are directly tied to public policies surrounding detention, incarceration, supervision, and immigration enforcement. At the same time, the company, its political action committees, and the executives have spent significant sums to influence the very policymakers who determine those policies. The company has publicly described expanding immigration detention and enforcement efforts as business opportunities that drive revenue growth. The reason for that is simple. GEO is a publicly traded corporation. Its obligation is to the public. Its obligation is to its shareholders. When a company is rewarded financially as more people are detained, incarcerated, transported, monitored, and supervised, we should be asking whether profit motives are influencing decisions that should be guided solely by public policy. in public safety, rehabilitation, and human dignity. Whether legal or not, I believe this creates a profound ethical problem. When a corporation profits from incarceration and detention while simultaneously spending money to influence the political system that governs incarceration and detention, the public has every right to question whose interests that they are serving. I believe our criminal justice system should be guided by public safety, rehabilitation, accountability, and human dignity. I do not believe it should be shaped by financial interests of corporations whose success depends on expanding the footprint of detention, incarceration, and supervision. This is ultimately a moral vote for me. I recognize that others may view this memorandum of understanding differently, but I cannot in good conscience support a partnership with a corporation whose broader business model and political activities stand in conflict with the values that I believe government should uphold. I have consistently opposed for-profit incarceration and detention because I do not believe human liberty should ever be for a profit center or profit motive. The vote is consistent with that principle. For those reasons, I'll be voting no.

May I ask you a question publicly on that as a result of your statement? I think you voted no on this before.

Yes.

With a similar statement. Did you reach out to the district attorney's office in the past year to discuss this at all? I did not, no. Are you going to this year? I mean, I think you're coming up with all these statements. I mean, clearly, there could be some discussions that maybe the district attorney's office would agree with, and maybe they go in a different direction. But we've now gone a whole year, and we have the same statement.

I'll have that conversation.

Thank you.

Any further comments? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? No. Former business, no former business, any new business?

And just, I'm sorry, I'll wait until Commissioner's comments.

You're okay. New business?

It's not in the business. Commissioner's remarks. Commissioner Hope. The only thing I would just point out related to this contract that we had just discussed was the, this again, this is an alternative program that keeps individuals out of incarceration and attempts to move them into a position where hopefully they'll be gaining the kind of treatment they need into a level of reentry outside of the criminal justice system. So I understand that you have concerns related to the overall structure. of the organization and some of its other responsibilities. But for this specific use, I think it's really an assist. It assists us in being able to divert and be able to provide a level of services outside of criminal justice system of individuals who have been sort of repeat offenders in those kind of cases. So I, for one, think we need more partners to be able to assist us to ensure folks outside of the prison have secure ways to check in. You know, I've I've been the big push lately with work release thinking that this may not be the time to continue to keep work release because we only have in times less than 100 individuals in there and we need to find alternative ways besides spending millions of dollars on a on a work release location and I'd like to have more community partners that are willing to provide alternative ways to check in and not be a part of an institution if they're not if folks who are there are not a threat to the community or flight risk I don't know why that hell we're holding So that's another concern, but just wanted to add those comments in context. Thanks. Commissioner Preece?

Nothing to add. Thank you.

Thursday I had the opportunity to be at Harrisburg High School for a speaker series that they're doing on time and stress management. It was actually really great to speak with a collection of 9th through 12th graders. to just talk about time management, but then on top of it, kind of what their goals are in the future and how they orient their schedules in a way that hopefully aid them in the goals that they have to accomplish. And we had some really good ideas sharing, some really bright kids in that group, and I'm excited to see what they accomplish with their lives. Sunday was the Nepali Day event on City Island. Alison carried a proclamation and read it alongside Senator Patty Kim and other dignitaries celebrating the culture and heritage of the Nepali people living here in our region. We welcome their families here and all that they contribute to our communities. And as the commissioners, we are excited to provide that proclamation. monday we had a pride press conference here at the county just reminding everybody that this is pride month we have the pride mixer coming up on june 12th 6 p.m to 8 p.m at fort hunter all are welcome we also have just a couple other things happening third annual rainbow makers fair at the east shore area library on june 20th 11 to 3 p.m And we also have the 34th Pride Festival of Central PA coming July 25th. And that will be at 10 a.m. for the parade. And then at 11 a.m. will be the festival. Our LGBTQIA plus advisory committee does have a booth there. And if you want to be part of that, maybe you want to staff it or you want to help volunteer in that way, or you want to walk in the parade, because I believe we're going to walk in the parade this year, you can reach out to Rachel. That's rpennypacker at dolphincounty.gov or reach out to me and I'll get you in contact. So I just wanted to make sure of that. And Commissioner Hart was at the press conference as well. So I just want to thank all staff that are involved. Appreciate it. No correspondence, general public participation. I'm not sure if we have a sheet. There's no one signed up in advance. So anyone for general public participation, it'll be a three minute time limit and you'll need to state your name prior to speaking. Anyone for public participation?

Good morning.

morning commissioners pamela parson city of harrisburg uh commissioner douglas thank you for your vote against geo group commissioner priest and commissioner commissioner hartwick i am disappointed and i hear you loud and clear when you say commissioner hartwick that we need more partners these jewish geo group is not the kind of partner that we need GEO Group was founded in 1984, and they have decades of records of abuse. They are one of the largest providers of incarceration communities around the world they're not only in the united states they are in the uk they are in south africa they are in australia and their track record is similar in all of those countries i say this because i believe that human dignity that everyone is important whether you are inside or outside of bars there are certain things that i don't think that should be governed by a profit motive that is health care primarily hospitals especially hospitals and long-term care education especially of children and prisons These are things which should not be covered by profit motives. Over the decades, GEO Group has had complaints and other allegations, many of which have been founded, about lack of medical care, about lack of food, poor food, food that is covered in mold, and has insects in it, lack of access to families on the outside, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse. This predates any concern about ICE. This goes back long before we were in the Trump administration and talking about how we look at immigration now. this is a human this is about human rights this company violates human rights not only in the united states but around the world this is not something that we should be continuing to fund re-entry is very important and i am a strong supporter of re-entry this group does not belong in reentry. They don't belong in Dauphin County at all. Thank you.

Thank you, Pam. Anyone else for public comment? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Moved by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by Commissioner Priest. All in favor? Aye. Adjourned.