County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners meeting for July 1st, 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. We'll begin with the chief clerk's report, Mr. Haggerty.

Good morning, commissioners. An executive session was held on Tuesday, June 30th, to obtain the advice of legal counsel regarding economic development funding, transportation funding, and personnel matters. In addition to the salary board packet, personnel packet, and purchase order packet, there are 41 items for board consideration today. One adoption assistance agreement, two board appointments, one registration and elections agreement, two facilities maintenance agreements, two public safety agreements, two information technology agreements, one engineering services agreement, one prison agreement, two federal transportation allocation agreements with PennDOT, two affordable housing trust fund grant award agreements, one application for state grant funding for the district attorney's office, 19 human service agreements, one legal services agreement, two satisfaction pieces, one request for tax forgiveness, and the training packet. There are a couple other items I'd like to provide an update on today. First, I wanted to disclose to the public that Leonard Baker, an individual housed at Dauphin County Prison, died last week of an apparent suicide. We extend our condolences to the individual's family. And as a standard practice, the matter has been referred to and is being reviewed by the appropriate investigative authorities. Second, I want to provide background about the engineering contract on today's agenda for board consideration. Prior to me joining Dauphin County last year, the Board initiated a competitive process relating to the county's engineering services and originally issued a brief request for proposals on January 22, 2025. Because of the overly brief nature of the original RFP, we then reissued a more detailed RFP on September 19, 2025. This new RFP was highly open-ended and allowed for both firms or individual professional engineers to submit proposals. We were open to a variety of creative scenarios, including the possibility of hiring an individual to serve as the county engineer as an actual employee if we received any such interest. A consistent theme expressed by the board was an interest in introducing competition into the process, ensuring appropriate checks and balances, and giving multiple entities the opportunity to secure county business. The board specifically expressed interest in splitting up the work between transportation engineering and non-transportation engineering services. We ultimately received four submissions from HRG, RATU, Buecher Horn, and Dawood. Because the transportation portions of each submission were the easiest apples to apples comparisons, a review committee evaluated each of the four firms along those lines. Three of the four applicants were ranked very closely, with HRG ultimately being ranked number one by the Review Committee for Transportation Engineering Services. The next step in this process was to then determine which of the other three firms would provide non-transportation services. With input from the Review Committee, the Board then indicated that Rattu was the preferred non-transportation engineering services provider. We are therefore putting this proposed contract with R2 on today's agenda and a contract exclusively encompassing transportation engineering services with HRG will come before the board for consideration at a future date. The reason this contract, which again is the first of two engineering contracts, is appearing first is because HRG is already under contract with Dauphin County and will continue to conduct work on projects already underway. By prioritizing this new contract with Ritu, we will be able to more expeditiously finally begin many of the capital projects included in the bond the Board issued in 2024, including many important projects to upgrade and remediate facilities challenges at Dauphin County Prison, which the Board has emphasized as a priority. The contract before you today is a non-exclusive contract and runs through December 31st, 2028. This board or the next one may at any time cancel the contract without cause with seven days notice. That concludes my report. Happy to answer any questions you may have.

Any questions? Hearing none, we'll move to the solicitor's report. Mr. Owens.

Good morning. All matters requiring board action today on the agenda have been reviewed and approved by my office.

Great. Any questions for Mr. Owens? Hearing none, we'll move to public participation related to agenda items. Just a reminder, you'll have a three-minute time limit to speak, and you'll need to state which agenda item you're referencing. And please start by stating your name. And just a reminder, we are also being live-streamed. Good morning, gentlemen. Good morning, gentlemen.

Good morning. So Jeff Enders, Director of Public Safety for Dauphin County. Here just to support these two and the volunteers throughout the county. Before you today is item number 10 regarding... EAP proposal for all those volunteers in the fire and EMS side of the public safety for them to have mental health and counseling available to them with the county covering those contract fees so I wanted to thank you these two gentlemen asked to be here to do the same I will let them do theirs

Thank you, uh, commissioners. My name is Mike. I'm the fire chiefs and township. I'm also the president of the dolphin county fire chiefs association. So I just want to take a few minutes and thank you, uh, each and every 1 of you for, uh, considering. The proposal that is on the agenda, uh, dating back. I remember starting the conversation with commissioner artwork. And a group of individuals and spoke to each of you about. Uh, this program and how important it is, um. I just want to stress that this covers every. A firefighter in dolphin county, and also their families, they have access to this as well. So this is something that will impact every resident. And 1 way, shape or form and in dolphin county. So, I'm greatly appreciate that and I also want to stress that this does not replace our dolphin county system team. This is a program that will. Work with that, I've already spoken to Mac McClure who who runs that program and does an excellent job. Uh, he's excited as well and we are going to roll this out. Together with the system team, um, county wide, so thank you.

Can I ask a question? This isn't just for firefighters who are employed. This is for volunteers and probably mainly will be used for volunteer firefighters would be my guess, right?

Correct. It will cover everybody, but we have a lot of volunteers in Dauphin County, and I think Chief will speak on the EMS portion of it as well.

Thank you, Chief. sure chief campbell south central ems i'm chief and ceo of south central i'm also the chair of the dolphin county ems council this program allows for ems providers volunteer and paid to seek assistance if in fact they need assistance for mental health as well as their families it's for volunteer and also for our paid staff so on behalf of the ems council we thank you for your leadership and giving us this opportunity that some people or some staff members do not have.

Thank you again for your consideration. Thank you.

I want to take a moment and thank each of you for the great work you have been doing and are doing on behalf of all 293,000 residents of the county and our visitors that come here. 24 7365 when there's an issue that alarm goes off you were responding within a moment's notice and Commissioner Hartwick thank you for taking the lead on this several years ago I'm glad that it's finally come to fruition a lot of times when our first responders go home at night they're taking something with them and their family members also are impacted so I think this is a great way for us to thank those individuals who are providing this valuable very very valuable

assistance to our account just reiterate those comments quickly both both you gentlemen all three of you great leaders timing is always difficult but we're here and for those firefighters and folks who are first responders so many times they are so giving they never think of themselves and they've seen some horrific situations where thinking of cells may result in significant trauma or challenges to their family and the ability to provide opportunities for outlets and behavioral health services is a small token during, in a way for our volunteer men and women who serve our county in such a great capacity to be able to have that level of services. I know, you know, responding to serious death and suicides within the firehouses happened in the things that you see every day. We're concerned about your mental health and we sincerely appreciate you staying on top of this to make sure we got here to this day.

yep thank you all thank you anyone else for public participation related to agenda items seeing none we'll move we have no minutes to approve we have no directors or guests we'll move to salary board uh we have a salary board packet before us believe six items do I have a motion for this salary board packet so move move by controller Bateman seconded by commissioner priest any discussion Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. We'll move to Human Resources, Faye Fisher. Good morning, Faye. Good morning, Faye.

Good morning. The personnel packet has been distributed. Are there any questions?

Everything reflects budgeted?

Yes.

Okay. I'll make a motion we adopt the personnel packet as presented. I'll second that motion.

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

Good morning, Commissioners.

Good morning.

I have no changes to the investment report that was distributed. There's also no changes to the purchase order packet. It's ready for your approval. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Do I have a motion for the purchase order packet? There's no questions. So moved. move back commissioner hartwick second second back commissioner priest any discussion hearing none all those in favor aye opposed motion carries thank you matters requiring board action we have 41 items before us is there anything that needs to be pulled for a separate vote Hearing none, I'll enter.

Go ahead, sir. Yes, I would like item number 11 to be pulled for a separate vote, please.

Item number 11. I'll pull item number 11 for a separate vote. I'll entertain a motion for items 1 through 10 and 12 through 41. So moved.

Second.

Moved by Commissioner Priest, items 1 through 10, 12 through 41, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

We'll move to item number 11. I'll make a motion that we approve item number 11.

I will second. So we have a motion and a second. Motion made by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by myself. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? No. Motion carries.

move to former business we have no former business any new business hearing no new business we'll move to commissioner remarks commissioner hartwig pretty quickly um it's been a busy week and i know that just a couple things to report the first is i want to thank all involved in the grand opening of the camp curt ymca i know that over the past Many years, um, you know, the, the, uh, cam curtain has been a, uh, a location in a community that. Quite frankly has been under invested in, um, and yet highly utilized and needed, uh, in, in, in a region. that was known for the toughest place to play basketball. I asked if having air conditioning now in the gym is going to make people tougher or a little softer. As basketball players, we know sometimes it's the heat and the difficult situations that sometimes build a little bit of character and resiliency. But not you, Eric, not you. Yeah. Um, but, um, the idea of the, uh, making the strategic decision to have their 1st, major investment happen at the camp. I think. Talks to the level of commitment and necessity and the pivotal role that that why plays in our region. It is equipped now with air conditioning in the gym, has a food bank, a kitchen, a podcast location for kids to be able to both create their own business plan and dream and have an idea about where beyond the community and their neighborhood they may be able to see themselves for the future. It's a beacon of hope and one that is worthy of recognition. Coach Campbell, the court was named after, and they had a an event for a basketball tournament where the kids actually received free laptops as a result of their championship. It was a great day and one worthy of recognition. And I want to thank the Y board for making that investment and all of the community partners and leadership over the years that ensured that Camp Curtin Y remains a stable part of the uptown Harrisburg neighborhood. Also had the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of a birthday of Lillian Beatrice Waters Stewart. I obviously was there with Representative Nate Davidson, but the Waters family reunion was celebrated. It's been since 1957. The Waters family has come together. I heard all of the history. I've been to the family reunion in the past, but it's a remarkable legacy of faith, family, and community that Mrs. Stewart has led. And I just wanted to commemorate and wish her today a happy birthday. I know it was her day. I believe it was Sunday, this past Sunday was her 100th birthday. I also want to thank the Area Agency on Aging volunteer recognition dinner yesterday. I see Director Ben Knox that's with us. The only thing we want to change is next year it will be in the fall, hopefully a little bit more cooler time. But the literally hundreds of volunteers that participate on Meals on Wheels in senior transportation, if we just paid them minimum wage, it's an additional $2 million from those folks who step up to provide that level of service. They are truly a backbone in what's right within our community. I know I wanted to thank personally the volunteers that showed up yesterday and that show up as a main connection and resource for seniors in this county. Oftentimes, the only people that check in on them, they're able to be their eyes and ears and be able to make sure they're safe, fed, and protected. And to that line, thanking all those folks. We also want to remind folks that we have extreme heat that's on top of us today and is right around the corner. Obviously, we have taken the initiative to call all of the individuals that we provide service to in the Area Agency on Aging. But we'd ask that if you're watching and you're involved, please check on your neighbors, individuals with disabilities, and folks who may be vulnerable. I think it's important that we know folks are safe. They've got a plan. We have a series of cooling centers that are open. And Dauphin County has activated its emergency response plan in coordination with our partners to ensure residents have access to our cooling centers and other resources. A press release went out this week noting where those cooling centers are. uh if you know or know someone who needs assistance please don't wait reach out and utilize the available resources a simple phone call and your engagement could save a life so thank you and those eyes and ears are irreplaceable within the community that's all i have thank you commissioner hartwood commissioner priest thank you i want to start off by asking our chief of staff to give an update on the tourism grants we had those public hearings a couple weeks ago and i i keep getting asked by some of the organizations and applicants as to when that timeline

might be.

yes we have a meeting scheduled with the board later this afternoon to continue our discussion following those hearings and then you know once the board lands on a consensus about how to allocate the funding as a reminder we received around 10 million dollars in applications but only have around 2 million dollars to awards i know the board has very hard decisions coming before it and once there's a consensus on that we will announce that publicly

Thank you for that update. The three commissioners joined this morning in putting in a bid hoping to host the 2031 CCAP convention in Hershey, Chocolatown, USA. I want to thank my colleagues for putting that video together with me this morning and we will put that bid out there and hope to have that event here in Dauphin County. We do host the fall and spring CCAP events each year but hosting the actual summer event brings folks in from all around the state and is an economic boost for our county. And I also want to join Commissioner Hartwick and Commissioner Douglas was there yesterday too in thanking Ben Knox and his team for a great job putting on the annual senior volunteer reception yesterday over the lunchtime hour at Cyber Park. And the great event was warm, but there was a nice breeze coming through. And as commissioner Hartwick will continue to remind you next year, we want to do it in the fall when it is cooler. But thanks again to you and your team for a wonderful job yesterday.

Thank you. Commissioner priest. I'd like to take a moment to recognize an impressive Dauphin County employer that I had the opportunity to visit last week. I toured coin wrap in Middletown, a company that. Many people may not know by name, but one that plays a critical role in our nation's economy. CoinWrap is the largest privately owned cash handler specializing in coin management in the United States. They are in Denver, Dallas, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, but their headquarters are right here in Dauphin County. They help support the US Mint, the Federal Reserve, banks, credit unions, and ultimately millions of businesses across the country that rely on coin currency every single day. It was fascinating to see the scale of their operation. Their Middletown facility alone processes tens of millions of dollars in coins every year, and their network helps ensure retailers, restaurants, and businesses nationwide have the coin they need to serve their customers. We often talk about economic development in terms of attracting new businesses, but it's equally important to recognize world-class companies that are already here and companies providing quality jobs, investing in our community and quietly supporting critical infrastructure for everyday life. As a small token of appreciation from the Coin Wrap CEO, I have a commemorative America 250 coin for my colleagues. These are half-dollar coins. They were wrapped by Coin Wrap, and they have the Statue of Liberty on it. It's a really cool commemorative coin that's wrapped right here in Dauphin County. So I want to thank the entire Coin Wrap team for their hospitality and for the important work they do each day. Dauphin County is proud to have them and looks forward to their continued growth. Also, as stated by my colleagues yesterday, we had the opportunity to be at the Area Agency on Aging volunteer picnic. Just want to emphasize, these are volunteers that do things like Meals on Wheels that deliver meals to people that if they weren't out doing that work, someone might go hungry. There are people who navigate the complex healthcare system that we have here in our country to try to make sure that people have the benefits that they're entitled to. because many times they need someone advocating for them to get those benefits. They're individuals who drive people to their appointments. These are, I think, some of the best of us here in Dauphin County, and it was an honor to be with them yesterday and to celebrate them yesterday, and just incredibly proud of their efforts and the support that they provide to the Dauphin County community. Also want to note that last week I was at the grand opening of Madame Rochelle's Apothecary right here on Second Street. It's a new spot here in downtown Harrisburg. Had a charcuterie board and they have specialty drinks there, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I just want to thank Justin Browning for his continued investment in downtown Harrisburg. He owns multiple locations in downtown and continues to, I think, have a vision for downtown Harrisburg of what's possible. He sees the potential here in downtown, and he's investing his time, energy, effort, and finances in trying to really rebuild downtown, and we need more people making that investment because we know the potential that downtown Harrisburg has. Finally, just on the cooling stations as Commissioner Hartwig referenced, we definitely want to make sure everyone's staying hydrated and doing their best to stay cool. I am going to read off some of the cooling center locations for today and tomorrow. So McCormick Riverfront Library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. That's 101 Walnut Street. Madeline Olin Memorial Library is in Harrisburg as well. And that's from 10 to 7 as well. That's 2410 North 3rd Street. Benet Berth Senior Center is 130 South 3rd Street. And that's 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow. And then Heinz Medeker Senior Center is 830 to 1 p.m. today and tomorrow. So just if you need a spot to get cool, those are some locations that you can go. There are designated cooling stations. And as there's more information, as Commissioner Hartwick had referenced in a press release, please Google that or reach out to the county, and we'll make sure you get that information. Thank you.

I actually have one thing to add. This Saturday is not only July 4th, but it happens to be the 300th year anniversary. of the Peter Allen house in Dolphin County and it's a huge deal I want to thank the Frank Pinto family for putting on an event and hosting this and there's going to be hundreds of people in attendance events going on throughout the day and I also want to thank Treasurer DeFrancesco for advising us of this I know we have put together a proclamation to present at that but uh congratulations to frank pinto and his family for owning the property and maintaining it very well this is a huge deal 300 years until before so thank you treasurer d francisco

Great. With that, we'll move to general public participation. Just a reminder, you'll have a three-minute limit. You'll need to state your name prior to speaking, and we are being live-streamed. I'll go off my list here, and then after that, we will open it to the floor.

First up is Douglas Lynn.

Good morning, gentlemen. Good morning, Douglas. Douglas Lynn, Susquehanna Township. June 6, 1944, on that gray morning, my grandfather landed on the beach in Normandy. By the end of the day, my other grandfather and his medical unit were also there. They spent the better part of the next year chasing the Germans back to Berlin and revealing their nefarious intent in the Holocaust. They came home with the words never again on their lips. We are faced with the same situation today in this country. In middle school, when we studied World War II and the Holocaust, we read the diary of Anne Frank. I never thought that my country would be a place where I would have to hide Anne Frank in my attic. So be it. Game on. Understandably, she is deliberate and slow. But we are thankful as a community that the conversation has begun on the Welcome County resolution. And we look forward to Dauphin County standing up on the right side of history. to help protect some of the most vulnerable members of our community with a resolution stating our intent. Thank you. Thank you. Gentlemen.

Thank you, Douglas. Next up is Robert Williams. Then I'll open it to the floor. Good morning.

Good morning. Good morning. I'm Robert Williams, Harrisburg resident, here to speak on the corruption inside of Dauphin County. The head corrupt row officer is here today, Francis Chardo. And Francis Chardo met with Michelle Avery, Michael Farabella, and Sergeant Lloyd to maliciously prosecute me, which I have evidence of. He claims he doesn't know me, but he knew me quite well to let Sergeant Lloyd know my mens rea for why I was in the office. He told him I was there because of an email. He also told two of his workers, Michelle Avery and Farabella, about our emails, but now he claims he doesn't know me, even though we've spoken many times since my first email, that he knew me from my first email, but he doesn't know me after speaking to me many times. Also, Sergeant Lloyd reported that the video camera that is facing the Dauphin County District Attorney's lobby, you can't see anything, which you all three, and the solicitor, and the attorney, District Attorney, know that's a lie. They know the camera is set up perfectly to see in the lobby. He knows that for sure. You know it. As part of the security committee, which Judge Evans chairs, he presided over my case, and he's conflicted, the same as District Francis Charter was conflicted. But he still choked to maliciously prosecute me, and those charges were dropped. He played witness, victim, lead prosecutor, and lead investigator as the head of CID who held a sham investigation. Joshua Rieger looked at the video two days after the incident and chose to extract two still photos, which is a crime. A felony when his intent is to injure me, which was to maliciously prosecute me. He committed a felony. Corey Dickerson lied about it in writing to him, to Justin Douglas, and the department director, Jeff Enders, lied to the court as well. He claimed that this video was erased due to 30-day retention policy. Then I'll write the no request retention policy. Then you claim there is no retention policy. Then you ad hoc make a policy up December 3rd of 2025. He lied to the district justice and said that the video was erased. I have messages from Jean Danghart, the IT services, which is under Justin Douglas, claiming that this video was not erased. It was still available when I requested it. I've talked to Justin. He said he was gonna launch an investigation last May. What happened to that investigation?

That's three minutes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Anyone else for public comment?

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners. Pamela Parsons, City of Harrisburg. Thank you, Commissioner Hartwick, for mentioning how hot it's going to be this week. The heat dome is just building, and we know that in the next few days we're going to have heat well over 100 degrees. So I'd like to just reflect on item number 15, which was the creation of three affordable housing units. I know that there's no details available there that that's through our affordable housing authority the county has but just a couple of things I'd like to draw your attention to when we look at affordable housing in Harrisburg typically developers come in and what they're looking at is the per capita and median income of for the SMSA, the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, which skews much higher than the City of Harrisburg. If you're looking at the SMSA, we're talking about a per capita income of $48,000 and a median household income of $80,000. And most affordable housing is geared right towards that. But when we look at the city of Harrisburg specifically, within the Harrisburg city limits, the per capita income is $27,000. And the average household income is $47,000. Now let me break that down. If that $27,000 is your yearly income, that means you're making about $12 an hour, which means for you, an affordable rent is 625 to about $700. There are almost no apartments available Harrisburg City for that price range most apartments even the affordable ones come in at $1,200 some closer to a thousand but most are around $1,200 and forty eight thousand dollar income you're making about twenty three dollars an hour you can afford roughly twelve to thirteen hundred dollars a month for rent and all of that is predicated on spending no more than your than thirty percent of your income on rent so I would just like to remind you that when we're looking at developers who are coming into Harrisburg and are saying they are developing affordable housing here, those figures are what needs to be concerned, to be looked at. And no one is developing rents at that level. Thank you.

Thank you, Pam. Anyone else for public comment? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Moved by Commissioner Priest, seconded by Commissioner Hartwood. Just a statement. Have a happy 4th of July, happy and safe 4th of July, and I hope you have a great time celebrating America's 250th. All in favor? Aye. We're adjourned.