County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

like to call to order the board of commissioners meeting for april 15th 2026 we'll begin with a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance pledge 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. Haggerty. Good morning, Commissioners. An executive session was held on Tuesday, April 14th, to obtain the advice of legal counsel regarding county finances and economic development grants. This week, we're joined by Jeff Enders and Bob Stout from our Department of Public Safety in recognition of Telecommunicator Week. In addition to the personnel packet and purchase order packet, there are 30 additional items for board consideration today. Three adoption assistance agreements, two board appointments, two prison agreements, one coroner's office agreement, one work release center agreement, one adult probation agreement, two risk management agreements, two parks and recreation agreements, one public safety agreement, an agreement to work with Creole Consulting, which I will explain in greater detail shortly, one amendment to an existing opioid remediation grant, two human services agreements, four legal services agreements, two amendments to existing ordinances, which I will also explain briefly in a minute, one presenter agreement, three satisfaction pieces, and the training packet. Item number 16 on today's agenda has been months and months in the making, and I wanted to spend some time discussing it. When I first began working here at the county, I heard repeatedly from the board and department staff that one of the biggest barriers to efficient operation of government was our broken accounting, budgeting, and human resource management systems in Oracle. We engaged Creole Consulting to work with folks from the Controller's Office, Treasurer's Office, Departments of Information Technology and Human Resources, Our office of budget and finance, uh, and the chief clerk's office to conduct a thorough assessment of our system. Creole and department staff identified 138 efficiencies. At least 85 of which are software configuration failures. And developed a 4 phase plan to remediate every single deficiency in priority order between now and the end of 2027. This contract for your consideration today covers phases one and two with the option to extend to cover the final two phases of the project pending an evaluation of performance during the first two phases. contract would be paid for out of existing bond proceeds with no additional impact to the general fund or county taxpayers i wanted to thank all the staff from each department who have been engaged in this project so far in their efforts to get us to this point items number 24 and 25 today are technical amendments to our recently approved debt restructuring ordinances these technical amendments add information relating to the remaining useful lives of the facilities originally financed by the refunded funds which the State Department of Community and Economic Development is now requiring from all local governments to include in these ordinances, not just Dauphin County. There's no material change to the amount of debt or the repayment schedule. Additionally, 159 restricted gaming grant awards recommended by the Gaming Advisory Board, which were not acted on last week, remain in former business. Lastly, I want to congratulate George Connor, our Director of Economic Development, who is retiring today following nearly 24 years of service here in Dauphin County. George, thank you for your decades of public service and we'll be wishing you all the best in retirement. Vince Pease, our deputy chief clerk, will temporarily be filling in for George in addition to his regular duties until a permanent successor is identified. That concludes my report. Happy to answer any questions.

Any questions for Mr. Haggerty? Hearing none, I just want to extend from this board, I believe my colleagues joined me in thanking you and all the staff who have worked on the Oracle, addressing Oracle issues. It's been an ongoing challenge, and I appreciate the strategic way we've approached this to ensure that things are better for that software as it touches so many departments and so many necessary outcomes. So thank you for all your work on that. Anything else? All right, we'll move to the solicitor's report. Mr. Owens?

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

Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Owens? Hearing none, we'll move to public participation on agenda items only. So before us today, this is an opportunity to speak on anything that is on our agenda. Three-minute time cap, and you'll need to state your name prior to speaking. Anyone for public participation related to agenda items? we've got a number of people all right uh we'll begin in whatever order whoever can get here first no i'm just kidding uh why don't these lovely ladies in the front come first and then we'll have y'all next and then mr connolly can come after that and then uh pam after that and then here okay yes good morning good morning my name is nolene duncan good morning

Good morning. My name is Dorothy Scott, and we are here on behalf of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. I am the financial secretary and board member of the organization, and Norleen is also on the board and a vice president of membership. Membership. So we have been in existence in Dauphin County since 2012. Our mission is to advocate on behalf of black women and girls by educating and empowering them by narrowing disparity gaps in the areas of health, education, leadership, development, and economic empowerment. NCBW advocates on behalf of the Black women and girls promoting sisterhood, striving for maximum community impact, and preparing our youth for a bright future. We are the eyes, ears, and voice of all women of color, and we serve as a complement to the strong heritage of existence of black women organizations that share our goals. Since 2012, we have provided services to roughly 32,000 women and girls via our critical advocacy programs, youth mentoring, annual post-secondary education scholarships, healthy well-being, and financial stability initiatives in the greater Harrisburg area of Dauphin County. A key aspect to our success has been a donor-centric approach and positive collaborations with community partners such as the Dauphin County Gaming Corps. Without these connections, our organization would not maintain our sustainability. Our vision is to see Black women and girls live in a world where socioeconomic inequity does not exist. NCBW's gaming grant is for our bright futures. building Bright Futures for Women and Girls project, which allows us to make a difference on issues that impact the present and the future for Black women and girls in Dauphin County. Our program provides the necessary tools and resources to prepare Black women and girls for success and create healthy households. Future Forward improves the quality of life for residents and enriches the health of Dauphin County residents by training and education to address inequities, structural barriers over... Don't do that. Just give me one second. Overarching goal of Grant Future Forward, which is to provide meaningful education, support, and training to women and girls in Dauphin County facing challenges mentally, personally, professionally, socially, and academically. We seek to decrease the gap of inequities for black women and girls. As an African-American woman, I believe that the ages eight through 17 is informative for little black girls. Mentoring during this time helps them navigate self-esteem, representation, and confidence, especially when they face unique biases. It also creates a safe space for them to dream big See role models who look like them and get encouragement to break glass ceilings. Plus, having a mentor gives them tools to cope with social challenges and envision their future success. It's all about helping them thrive. Early mentoring lays a foundation of resilience. Girls who have strong mentors often develop coping skills, self-worth, and trust, and supportive adults. And as we grow older, those early experiences can help us make healthier life choices and navigate difficult situations and break cycles like substance abuse and trauma.

I'm very sorry.

Given that there's two of them, let's give them six minutes. So if we could maybe start the timer for another 90 seconds. Actually, we only need like a minute.

So thank you. It's not a guaranteed shield, but mentoring can be a powerful protective factor, encouraging them to seek help and build positive futures. In the climate that we're in today, And with the crime, especially of the, we just had the most recent young lady just murder and stab a young man. It is imperative for us to continue on with the STARS program. So we ask that you reconsider our application in the amount of $25,000. Thank you. And thank you for your time. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you both.

Next up, I think we're over here.

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning. Hi, my name is April Hutchison. I'm president of Temple of Shalom. With me is Rabbi Jasper, our spiritual leader. We wanted to first thank you for allowing us to come and speak today. We are also an applicant and a proposed recipient of a gaming grant. There's been a lot of discussion about the grant process Good questions, important questions and questions about things that happened in the past. Anytime public funds are spent, there needs to be controls and processes in place to ensure that they are spent properly. But it's important to know what our reality is. The money that the authority recommended to be granted to Temple of Shalom and all of the nonprofit organizations, like the ladies who just spoke, it's vital now. It's vital for our survival. It's vital for our ability to continue to serve the community. in our case this grant will help us heat and cool our building so that we can remain open to serve the harrisburg community we have a building that's about 100 or so years old we've been in this community for 175 years Now, our reality is a little bit different. In today's world, we have to use our money to make sure that people are safe. We are doing everything we can. We are fundraising. We are asking not just the Harrisburg Jewish community, but the Harrisburg greater community that uses our facilities and our resources that we support gladly and willingly to support us. But what's different for us is that we have to have an armed security guard at our building for our kids to come for religious school, for organizations like Capital Rebirth and the LGBT Center to be on our premises to pray. That's jarring in itself for our congregants and the people who come to our building, but it's also extremely costly. And the money that we're using to do that, we can't use to repair our building. So what do you do? What do you do? That's what these gaming funds are meant to do. So there are processes and plans in place. Use them. We fully will participate and willingly be part of that process. We followed the entire process to get to this point, but we desperately need that grant money in order to continue to be a beacon for the entire community. We open our doors to everyone. We've opened our doors to some of you sitting there today and we love it and we welcome it and we want to continue to be a welcoming place. Having an armed guard there, well, that's a little bit different, right? And yeah, it does put a damper on trying to heat and cool the building to make sure that we can actually be a food pantry or be able to be a resource for financial literacy education. We need to continue to do those things. Please release those funds so that groups can do the good that was intended by that grant money.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good morning. Good morning. Tom Connolly, 345 North Harrisburg Street. I'm going to start by saying I have a plan from here on out. I'm going to bring someone with me so I could get extra minutes if I need it. But I don't think I'm going to need it today. Let me start by saying last week I was shocked that after the reforms that I thought were in place, which was a new gaming board with impeccable people on it, people that where we were told wouldn't be influenced by politicians. We got rid of the Mike Musser oversight paid position. All these things that we entrusted this group to do. And at the end of the process, it didn't go through. And I see that three members of the gaming board stepped down. Those were incredible people that did a great job, that gave up night after night to do the work that now, from what I see from the two speakers before me, really probably wasn't necessary. Because you put this in a spot where now people can just come here and plead and the two groups before me incredible groups they should have got them they shouldn't have to come here today all the other groups shouldn't have to come here today i'm expecting today that you're going to go with the recommendations from from that group that you put in place to do the work for you but there's another layer in this the municipalities out there also had a role in this to move those applications forward to give them a letter of support so Last week, the way it came out is there seemed to be no trust for the gaming advisory board members that you appointed and the municipalities in the process. And I certainly respect that reforms are needed. I think the reform that's needed is to take that process away from this group right here and divide the money to the municipalities. And then we can figure out what to do with it rather than wait. And after seeing what came out in the paper yesterday, you don't know how many times I came here and spoke about those and was discredited that there was problems. It looked like family and friends of people at your level. I'm not accusing you three, but it looks like it went to the top. It wasn't the gaming board. It wasn't an independent group. Somebody was making decisions here. And now I didn't even have time to read it. I mean, it is extensive. And I think that's the tip of the iceberg. So I'm saying, please, this year at least, respect the recommendations from the gaming board that you appointed, that the municipal leaders also approved those applications to get this far. Not saying everybody, you certainly have the right to rule out anybody that is involved in lawsuits or legal actions or that got in the past. I understand that. But to shut it down is absolutely ridiculous. You have a lot of groups that really could use the money that work with the municipalities and save money for the county. I'm not against any safeguards going forward, but I would prefer that you not have anything to do with this ever again after reading what happened when you were in charge. Thank you. Oh, I have three seconds. Later today, I will be sending you information about multiple complaints, and I will line it up on a timeline now that we finally see basically what I was talking about. And I appreciate the fact that you did fine the PAC for giving $8,000 to two Swan Island Township commissioners, and it didn't show up on anybody's report. So I'm going to backtrack that for a year's worth of complaints.

Thank you, Mr. Conley.

Appreciate you.

I think next is Pam.

Good morning commissioners. Good morning. Pamela Parsons, City of Harrisburg. I'm also speaking to the former business and like was said before me, I also was shocked about the decision that was made last week. I spent the week looking through my own personal research from 2023 to the present, and yesterday accessed what was available from PennLive, and I'm grateful for them putting resources there that are difficult for the average citizen to get. i came to the conclusion with all due respect to all the people sitting behind me who are asking for money and for the board members i believe the conclusion you reached last week was the correct one it is clear that the process is deeply flawed there are no ethical guardrails the scoring rubric is nonsense And there is no balance in awards above Middle Paxton to municipalities and organizations on that side of Middle Paxton, as opposed to organizations and municipalities below Middle Paxton, consciously or unconsciously. the system is set up to give insiders celebrities and those connected to power or know how to connect it to power to get what they want and those who aren't don't this has never been about need It has always been about politics. And while shame abounds, and I am not a fan of shame, we shame women, we shame immigrants, we shame poor folks, apparently there is no shame in politics, especially in Dauphin County Gaming Grant Awards. The state legislature has enabled gaming awards in Dauphin County to be just politics as usual here in our county from the visitors bureau to the prison to the solar farm to gaming it is the same and there is a continued lack of audits a lack of regular reports and as someone who has attended the industrial development authority and community and economic development authority meetings, it is difficult for individuals to access that and the way in which decisions are made there is very much in the old boys network. I would say to pass this today would certainly be expedient and would make a lot of people happy. To vote it down, would that be necessary? Would that be messy? Absolutely. But both the taxpayers and awardees deserve better than this mess we currently have. Thank you.

Thank you, Pam.

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Jim Fisher, a resident of Middle Paxton Township and have served the Dolphin Middle Paxton community for the past 52 years in various public safety and public service capacities, including 12 years as an elected township supervisor. I fully support the Board's April 8th action calling for substantial reforms in its allocation and management of gaming grant awards. I also recognize the tremendous amount of time expended by the county's gaming grant advisory board members and having reviewed and vetted the 159 grant applications placed before you for consideration. Having personally assisted our township manager in presenting our project applications before the advisory board during my term as township supervisor. Well, I understand that reform is necessary. I urge the board to consider the immediate needs reflected in the 68 presently tabled 2025-26 local share municipal grants for municipal infrastructure and public safety that includes fire, EMS, and law enforcement grant awards representing essential services to the residents of our Dauphin County communities. Our utmost concern to me is the impact of withholding anticipated debt relief funding for municipal infrastructure improvement projects and fire EMS company vehicle purchase commitments that have been previously undertaken with the understanding future annual requests for debt relief grant funds would receive high priority for continued funding. Municipalities and fire EMS companies entered into multi-year loans to fund high dollar infrastructure projects, expensive vehicle purchases after having received previous year gaming grant awards limited to annual dent payments. rather than funding an applicant's total ask the county's gaming advisory board chose to limit awards to annual debt payments on outstanding loans covering the municipal and fire company project costs this enabled the advisory board to rep to recommend gaming grants be awarded to more applicants on an individual basis on an annual basis Withholding highly anticipated debt relief grant funding places municipalities and those fire companies in a real financial bind. Withholding recommended gaming grant awards to our county's municipal governments and public safety agencies denies essential services relied upon by the residents of Dauphin County. Your municipal governments and your fire, your public safety agencies are very responsible in handling the gaming grant monies that have been distributed these past many years. I thank you for the time to address the board concerning this most important matter.

Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Fisher. Thank you for your service. Just a reminder, we are on agenda items only, so public comment on agenda items only. It is a three-minute cap. Is there anyone else for public participation on agenda items before us today?

Antonio Foster, 594 Chamber Street.

Good morning, Mr. Foster. Good morning.

How y'all doing? I figured I'd find me a way to steal an extra three minutes or so. Is it related to the agenda?

It's related to agenda.

Yeah, the option was on there. That's what I'm going to talk about. I told you I always find a way. That's very sharp, buddy. Now, what I want to speak about is the system. Yeah, it's going to be a little unorthodox, but it's going to all be the truth with proof that can back it. I want to talk about how to assist them Adopts kids that don't even need to be adopted. I've already spoken about the things that we have tried with crisis intervention. I kind of proved that. I don't know what y'all was thinking with that one. But when it comes down to my daughter, domestic relations, you guys are well aware of domestic relations, right? So yeah, I don't need to speak, I got it. But when it comes down to domestic relations, When it came down to my child, my child was supposedly in witness protection program for about seven, eight years. I wasn't allowed to speak to my child, find my child. And when it came down to me seeking my child, I was always told witness protection. That's all I was told. And for me to be denied me being a father because of so-called witness protection, but let me break that down a little. I'm gonna get a little deeper into that. My kid's mother was supposed to be in witness protection for somebody that she told on. But when it comes down here, regard years later, people are in the same lodge. So here it was. My daughter was taken from me for really no reason. I feel like I was the one that was being attacked. Also being as though when she comes back eight years later, domestic relations jumps right on it. It seems like they're able to contact me, chase me down, want all these type of funds from me. But when I wanted to see my child or find my child, it was witness protection. I think that's something in the system that y'all need to fix. I feel like the father should have just as much rights as the mother. I feel like y'all try to adopt my child from me for reasons that I can break down. I guess it's maybe just the gifting. I don't know. We'll break that down. You guys should follow me on Facebook because I'm going to be breaking things down, posting a lot of things. And some things you guys will be, you know, I want you to be privy to it. I've never been a man to talk behind one's back. Um, that's my thing. So I, I think you guys should follow me on Facebook and, um, get well tuned in. Um, I don't know your name. I don't know. Why am I here? I call you. Where's Waldo? I still haven't figured out the thing about mid pen and why you did that, but that's not on a, uh, agenda. I'll be back.

Thank you, Mr. Foster.

As you are.

Just a reminder to the public, decisions of the court are not decisions of the commissioners, and we have no oversight of those decisions that are made by the court. Anyone else for public comment on agenda item zone? All right. We'll move to review and approval of the minutes. We have one packet of minutes to approve. April 1st, 2026, Board of Commissioners meeting minutes. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Moved by Commissioner Priest, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Directors and guests, I'm going to invite up Director Enders, Public Safety Director, and Robert Stout, 911 Center. Come on up. I believe I'll hand it over to Commissioner Preece at this point.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Dauphin County, and it is our opportunity to have our folks here from Public Safety Emergency Management, and we are so thankful for the work that you and your staff do 24-7, 365 days. The amount of calls that come in for service, over 400,000 calls for assistance came in last year and they dispatched over 320,000 dispatches for police, fire and EMS. So when we're at an event like this or home watching TV and that dispatch goes out, we're still at an event like this or home watching TV, but our first responders are responding at a moment's notice to help our our residents in their time of greatest need. And we're going to hear about three of them today and some great things that they've done. I cannot tell you how proud we are of the work that you and your staff do working with fire, police and EMS around Dolphin County. The calm, cool, collect voices on the other end of the phone when you call when folks are having some of the worst moments of their life. It's these folks that we're honoring to each of you. So proceed.

Thank you commissioners again. The big highlight for today is. Not just the 3 people sitting behind me, but the entire 911 staff that does make those daily sacrifices. And I always like to come up and highlight that. It's not just the people that are sitting behind me. Or that are working and I'm 1 shift it is their families that are at home that have to deal with. post-game results of those traumatic incidents that those people do every day in a professional manner, and then they go home, and that's where the problems can sometimes begin. But again, it's their sacrifice, their time, And to highlight today for you three gentlemen is that you should have the pride beyond pride that they are some of the best County employees we have that are dedicated to the job that are there to ensure the public safety throughout the County day in and day out, whether it's a snow day or rain day or a storm day, they're there and they're making thoughts and preparations for the next 15 minutes to make sure that safety can be there for everyone. Bob, anything?

No, I'll just echo what director under said, you know, the. The room back there is filled with professionals. They are dolphin counties true 1st, 1st responders. They deal with everything you can imagine from barking dogs to. Domestic abuse to medical emergencies day in and day out and. they are some of the greatest professionals that we have here in Dauphin County it's my pleasure to be here with a couple of them today just know that this is a very small part that you're gonna hear today that what they do this stuff happens day in and day out so thank you to all the staff in the number one center

I've been figuring out the order here and for the record he's got an award that we're gonna present we're figuring out who's going we have decided we wanted to you know for the record we have Jeff Enders and and Bob Stout here and could we please have mr. powers come up first and have a seat Craig has been a telecommunicator and 32 years of experience. He has taken thousands and thousands of calls and saved hundreds of lives via that time by your calm, cool demeanor on the phone and your ability to handle very difficult situations when folks are literally whether it's a horrific car accident, a tragedy at home, just anything that happens during a day's period, you're there. You're also, your experience enables you to teach the younger folks there too, and they watch you. You are a mentor and a role model. We can't thank you enough for the great work that you do. I specifically have you here today because of an event that occurred on August 25th. 2025 at 13 21 hours. So 1 21 p.m. Craig received a call from a male in Harrisburg City who was armed with a knife. He was experiencing a mental health crisis during this call. The male indicated that he was going to kill a police officer. Craig stayed on the phone with this person for 14 minutes, eventually talking the male into putting the knife down and surrendering to law enforcement. Can you please tell us about that day, that call, and what that means to you?

I mean, it was very... it was a very touching case because of being a former law enforcement officer as well. And the fact that an individual wanted to kill one of my brothers or sisters, um, any law enforcement, any public safety person, any public official, anybody like that. Um, it was, it really hit, uh, it hit home. And one thing we try and ever to do is give our names. Um, but I, in this case provided him my name and talk to him as an individual, and let them know that there is a person here that cares. One thing I want to congratulate and thank the three of you for allowing us at the 911 Center to get involved in the crisis team training, intervention training. I know Mr. Hartwick, Commissioner Hartwick stopped at one of our trainings and spoke. By having that part of our training at the 911 Center has really helped with some of the calls. um and allowing bob and and director enders allowing some of our fellow dispatchers to go and get that certified training the crisis training that we have here at the county is incredible and with that that helped me and talking with the police officers they even said they're like craig we knew you were on the phone we felt very comfortable with keeping you on the phone and again successful outcome you know, and that's all that matters. Nobody was hurt. And from what I understand, following up, the individual is receiving training, is receiving education, and is doing well, from what I understand.

And Craig, I want to thank you for singling out Commissioner Hartwick, because it was Commissioner Hartwick who brought the crisis training to the Board of Commissioners several years ago, and that's now coming into play. And he's still working with

with director anders on some other items related to that but thank you commissioner i mean again it was all it was all the commissioners but i mean you know commissioner hartwood was definitely a positive and again to the three of you please please allow that to continue i mean here's a successful case that it definitely works

I wouldn't miss a chance just to say thank you to Craig. I mean, we want to talk about confidence of police officers and emergency responders. I don't know a single person that probably is more versed in resources, response, and relationships in the community of first responders. You quite frankly are a, one of the things is as folks deal with emergencies, I think we sleep better at night knowing that there are folks like you that are leading the charge and are able to handle extraordinarily complex issues and understanding where the resources are and then having the respect from your colleagues to have them respond in a way that that ultimately provides the kind of care that's necessary and responsive to our community so you've got incredible amounts of respect for me you've dedicated your life um to this you know sort of like the people that get into your profession and take it seriously it is uh it becomes you know almost a part of who you are and the commitment to community hate the acknowledgement I know that many ways when you sit up front it's like it's almost like you want to duck away from the spotlight but And it's always with you. That's why people continue to step up and why you are one of the most respected people in all of the area of first responders. So I just want to thank you for this effort, your leadership with the 911 group, who is I put them up against anyone anywhere else in the state. We hear negative news. Those are those are the people. And you are what's right with Dalvin County. People can play whatever way they want to politically. We have a lot to be proud of and beat our chest with employees, responders, and people who do an incredible job in this county. And they're the ones who we should be talking about on a daily basis, really highlighting rather than political motives and how this thing moves. So thank you for your service, and thank you for all you've done to serve Dauphin County.

Thank you.

Craig, thank you for decades, three decades of service in this capacity. And I just want to say, I know, you know, much of the public doesn't realize when they pick up the phone and call 911, they're talking to the county. They don't realize all the good that the county does for them. And professionals like you help people understand, like, in their greatest moment of need to be on the phone with you. And you have to, unfortunately, be the person who picks up the phone on the other line when someone's in crisis. It's rare that you're not picking up the phone and someone on the other end is not having their worst day, maybe even the worst day of their life. And so we appreciate all that that means to have to carry that, but also to have to respond to that with professionalism. in this particular case i think you know we've seen so many adverse outcomes for people who are in mental health crisis and i'm incredibly grateful that you humanize that moment even in saying your name even in trying to you know pull out any stop you could to try to empathize with the individual on the other end because it's clear in this case that that resulted in a phenomenal outcome and as you said the individuals getting treatment now and and uh and i guess i'm just incredibly grateful for you and every single other person who does the exact same thing every day at our 911 center so thank you so much for your service thank you thank you and for those folks who have never been into our 911 center it is state of the art equipment i mean you could probably launch the space shuttle from inside that place

it's it's pretty impressive craig i just want to uh let you know that this recognition award signed by the three commissioners jeffrey anders director and robert stout manager communications and dolphin county department of public safety and the board of commissioners is proud to present this recognition award for actions taken with an armed male with mental health issues threatening to kill police and craig was able to talk him down and drop his knife on august 25th 2025. thank you craig

Do you want to do everybody as a group or do you want to do them individually? Do we want to do pictures at the end?

Sometimes we would have.

It's my opportunity to honor Oriana Pomeroy. Oriana, step forward, please. Let's give her a round of applause. First, on behalf of the grateful residents and leadership in Dauphin County, we want to thank you for your commitment, your tireless work, and all you do to respond and offer calm and life-saving advice at the time of individuals' probably most frantic situation. So thank you for all that you do. Oriana is a telecommunicator with two years of experience, and on May 25, 2025, at 1215, Oriana took a call from a mail reporting that someone came at him. and he retaliated with a brick. During this call, Oriana stayed on the line, gathered specific details about the event. The police responded and the caller was gone on arrival. Later that day at 1500 hours, another caller reported finding a deceased person that appeared to have been beaten with a concrete block. Based on the very specific details that were received on the first call, Harrisburg police were quickly able to identify and locate the suspect of the homicide. So obviously, We appreciate your aid and rendering to the police, which hopefully resulted in an arrest. Unfortunately, a loss of life, which can never be replaced, but ultimately bringing somebody who committed that act to justice. So could you describe a little bit about the event?

Yeah, so I took the call around lunchtime. He had called in on the non-emergency line. So he was kind of weird on initial. Typically, they'll kind of go right into what they're calling about if it's like a repossession or just a phone call for an officer. But he said he had to report an act of self-defense. And I kind of tried to direct him into being more specific. the information with the brick and how somebody came at him is all that he would really explain to me about the situation so i figured the best thing i could do in this since it was a past event is to get as much information about him that i could so the officers could make contact with him and they can figure it out from there so i was able to get the location of where he estimated it happened i got his name his phone number his date of birth even his description since i believe he was at the station at the time um And with that, we were able to run them in our background, like through Informer, how we do our criminal justice search, stuff like that, and pull up his 29, his driver's license, so that the officers have a photo of kind of like who they're looking for. And, yeah, they did find him later that day, I believe. And that's that.

Thank you for your quick action, your accurate reporting of details and the assistance you provided in this case. I know this is just one small example of the hundreds of differences you've made in your role, but thank you for all you do. And today's the day to publicly acknowledge you for this specific effort and all you do. So on behalf of the Dauphin County Department of Public Safety and the Board of Commissioners, we are proud to present a recognition award for actions taken gathering from a caller admitting to an assault that turned into a homicide. Detailed information led to the arrest of the suspect based on his call and her detailed questions. We are honoring on today Oriana Pomeroy. Thank you for your service.

I don't know about you all, but she was being discussed. I'd be hyperventilating in a bag if somebody was telling me that stuff. Thank you for what you do. That's what all that training comes into play, too.

Well, it's my great privilege and honor to honor Rebecca Morrison. Give her a round of applause. Thank you so much for your commitment and hard work. We know how difficult it is to day after day go into that space. I mean, we don't know from experience, but we hear about how challenging it is to be on the phone with someone in crisis. And we're so grateful for your effort, your hard work, and all that entails. the job you've been on the job for two years from what i see here and uh on june 29th 2025 at 9 53 pm rebecca took a call for a baby choking in halifax borough during this call rebecca provided life-saving airway obstruction instructions crazy upon the arrival of emergency medical services the baby was no longer choking great work i got it While the others are receiving recognition awards, you're receiving a lifesaver award. And we're so incredibly grateful to honor you. And we know there's many in our 911 center who have provided life-saving instructions. And I'm incredibly grateful. So, Dauphin County 911 Department of Public Safety and the Board of Commissioners is proud to present a lifesaver pin for providing life-saving choking and airway instruction on June 29th, 2025 for an infant. Rebecca, do you have anything to share about that experience and that call prior to us taking a picture together?

I am actually an EMT as well. So when I first got the call, the mom was frantic in every right to be because her child was not breathing. She was able to state that child was choking on formula and that was able to have me start the rapid response of not just police and EMS, but also fire. And in Halifax, you know, that can take a few moments to get there. There's driving time and not everybody can, you know, just teleport over. and so i was able to get those instructions and i heard the best you know hearing voice over the uh the phone and i heard the baby crying again and i was so excited to hear that you know i was talking to the mom and i was like this is a good sign you know it doesn't sound great but i said this is a great sign and i was gonna stay on the line because you never know if anything's gonna change and that actually did change the mom said that the baby stopped breathing again and baby's turning blue and you know your heart drops and you don't hear the baby crying anymore and You just want to do the best you can for that mom so that she doesn't have to have a different type of loss in that moment. And so we gave different instructions that time. And I am lucky to then hear babies cry a second time on that phone call. And that was right before fire arrived. And I actually knew who walked to that door because I heard the voice and said, ma'am, you're in great hands. And I said, congratulations. I said, your baby's going to be OK. I heard the baby cry again. I was super excited.

Wow.

I have a question.

Yeah. I've got a question for the folks at home and folks are here for myself. So if you have a baby that's choking on formula, there's one thing that you go through. But you said you had to go through another avenue. What would that be?

Yeah. So when a baby is choking, I mean, you give certain instructions for that. But then when the baby is not breathing, that's when you give those CPR instructions. And that's different from the choking instructions. And in itself, it's different from adult CPR instructions because it is an infant. So we were able to provide the correct age-appropriate CPR instructions. And the mom was wonderful. I mean, I'm not a mother, but I would be freaking out. And I'm a first responder as well. And so the fact that she stayed so calm was telling me everything that she was seeing and hearing. And I could just visualize that to give her the best instructions I could. Really was helpful. And so I commend the mom because she stayed so calm in that when it could have gone completely different.

And she's lucky that she was on the phone with a telecommunicator because a lot of times these incidents occur and you can't get to the phone and you're reacting. And I don't think I would have known the difference between the two on how to handle it. So I appreciate you bringing that up.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing. And let's give it up one more time.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right, for the final piece of this, as I mentioned initially, is Telecommunicators Week in Dauphin County.

And at this time, I'd like to present this proclamation into the record from the Board of Commissioners. We, the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, take immense pride and pleasure in commending the extraordinary county team members who exhibit such incredible knowledge, compassion, and grace under pressure as we honor telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Whereas since 1991, we have recognized the men and women who answer the call as public safety telecommunicators. Although they are often invisible at the scene of an emergency, their guidance and rapid responses have directly contributed to the savings of countless lives and property here in Dauphin County. Whereas these highly skilled and expertly trained telecommunicators offer callers life-saving medical instructions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and dispatch fire, police, and medical units that are so urgently needed in an emergency when every minute matters. Whereas in 2025, Dauphin County telecommunicators answered a total of 277,000 calls for help and dispatched police, fire, and EMS countless times for cries ranging from accidents and crimes to medical emergencies, each time patiently assisting frantic callers and providing rapid response in times of intense stress. Therefore, in grateful tribute to the life-saving aid offered by the calm, competent, and reassuring voice at the end of every 911 call, we proudly join the 293,000 residents of Dauphin County in thanking our county telecommunicators for offering critical aid for every area of emergency. And we so proudly proclaim the week of April 12th through 18th as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Dauphin County.

Thank you.

Got us, Jess? Yeah.

We're so grateful to all of our emergency responders across Dauphin County in every municipality and certainly those within the county and county leadership. And so thank you all for your service. Those who were honored today and those who are a part of the team, we're so grateful for you. We'll move forward. We have nothing of action for salary board. We'll move to human resources. Faye Fisher. Good morning, Faye.

Good morning, Commissioners. Good morning. There is just one budgeted transaction in the personnel packet. Are there any questions?

I'll entertain a motion for the personnel packet. So moved. Second. Moved by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by Commissioner Preece. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. We'll move to budget and finance. Mr. Davis.

Good morning.

I have no changes to the purchase order packet that was sent out. Everything's ready for your approval. Again, just please disregard the budget remaining column.

Do we have a motion for items, or sorry, for the purchase order packet? So moved. Second. Moved by Commissioner Priest. Seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Any questions for Mr. Davis? Hearing none. Thank you. All right. Do I have a motion for the 30 items and matters requiring board action? So moved. Moved by Commissioner Priest. Do I have a second? Second. Seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. We'll move now to... 159 items before us. Any items of former business that need pulled for a separate vote? This is not the gaming stuff yet, correct? It is. I believe this is the 159 former business items before us.

So I'm going to pull items. I'm going to request that we amend items as it was suggested that we do in the process that are on the agenda. amending items to pull out items 90, 93, 94, 104, 114, 125, and 129. and i will um uh obviously i'm gonna have to include this in is that a motion for those items would you like to make an emotion i think the motion should be specific to pull it i'm making a motion to pull those items out to be voted on separately yeah can you list them one more time yes they are 90 93 94 104 114 slow down please i'm sorry i'll do it again 104 104 114 125 and 129. the motion's been made to pull out items 90 93 94 104 114 125 and 129 by commissioner hartwick is there a second second

We're just pulling these out for separate.

Correct.

Okay.

All those in favor? Aye.

Aye. Opposed? Aye. Any other items needing to be pulled out for separate vote? Nope. I would like to pull item 27, and I'll be specific to the action when I pull it, just so that we don't need to be redundant. I'd like to pull and request a motion for approval of item number 27. So a motion to approve, I am making that motion for item number 27. And I'll second that. Okay, so we have a motion made by myself, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. During discussion, what I would like to add is because these items qualify for funding through Dauphin County bond proceeds designated for infrastructure updates, I am encouraging my colleagues to vote no to this motion that I made so that the funding can be considered and approved separately at a future date from the bond proceeds.

And I believe there was one more that needed to be pulled out separately. It was the Borough of Stilton. I'll do that next.

That's okay. Okay. So, again, I'm encouraging a no vote for the purpose of voting to utilize bond funds as this is an internal department.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? No.

Okay. Restate the motion, please. Sorry. Just a reminder, we're voting no. If we want to fund this through the bond, we will vote no to vote down because it's currently designated to gaming restriction.

So this would be considered separately for a vote down.

we're voting it down right now. That's the motion on the floor. We're voting it down with a caveat. If we approve it, we're approving it for coming out of gaming monies. Understood. If we vote no, we're voting no for approval. The goal would be to approve at a later date for bond funds.

Now that I understand the motion, I would vote no.

So we will restate our votes. All those in favor? I'm sorry, you have a question.

For everyone at home who's not following this, so This is the Dauphin County Public Safety Project Description Safety Enhancements to Facility Security and Public Safety Professionals. And this will go out of the recommended list and then we'll wind up funded by a bond that we already have secure that we can utilize these dollars specifically for. Yes. So it's going to get funded. Yes. Just not out of this pot.

I thought I made that clear, but I apologize. Maybe I should make sure for clarity in the future. And it is a little odd to vote no to something that we certainly all support. We have to vote no because of the way it appears on the agenda as coming out of gaming restricted funds and us wanting to fund it out of the bond, which addresses infrastructure. All right.

Are we ready for the vote? All right.

All those in favor? opposed no okay motion does not pass I would also like to pull out item number 60 from former business for a motion to approve this will be the same thing an emotion to approve and the emotion would be to vote it down yes okay The motion is to approve, but we will vote no. That is if we're all in agreement. And I'll explain why here in a moment, because that's during the comment portion. I make a motion for item number 60. Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Commissioner Preece. My understanding is that funds have been secured for this project, which is item number 60, from a non-county fund source. Therefore, I'm encouraging my colleagues to vote no on approval as the grant is no longer necessary for funding the project. The project is funded. Any clarifying comments or questions? All those in favor? Opposed? No. Okay. Round two went better. That was great. And now I believe... Commissioner Hartwick will probably want to clarify a motion for, do we want to do each of these individually, 90, 93, 94, 104, 114, 125, 129, or would you like to do those as a package?

You know, I have comments that really would encapsulate my purpose for doing this.

I will provide you a second so that you can speak during the comment. Sure.

Is that helpful? That'd be great. And then I think, you know, I'd like to move them all in one motion. Okay. Do you want to make that motion? I'll make a motion that we amend items 90 from 15,000 to be sure i'm correct on this one to 22 650 to honor their full commitment for clarification would you say what that item is it is the greater zion missionary baptist church i'm just trying to do these in order number 93 hannah's food pantry from amending it from 30 to 50 thousand dollars The Harrisburg area food pantry from 25 to $50,000. Item number 94, correct? Item number 94.

And what was the amount, 25 to what?

They had been authorized under the recommendations from the Gaming Advisory Board for 25. I am making an amendment to increase that amount to 50,000. Okay. Item 114, the Midwest Food Bank.

You missed 104. Was there a 104?

There was, but it's separate than food security, so I'm just going to keep all of those the same.

Okay, keep going.

Midwest Food Bank from 25, which was awarded by the Gaming Advisory Board to $50,000. Item 104, Workforce Development under the Ironworkers Local from $35,000 to $50,000. Item 129, plumbers and pipe fitters from 40 to 50,000. And then the final one is item 125, the organization of Hindu religion and culture from 25 to 50.

Okay, so we have a motion as stated by Commissioner Hartwick. I'll provide a second for public comment now.

And what funding stream is that coming out of?

The recommendation is any additional funding, and I'm also going to make a request under new business. to be able to fund specific areas. Those areas include all of the areas that we outlined last week, from food insecurity to affordable housing to jobs and workforce development. Those three will be a part of that recommendation.

Just as a point of reminder that any... um restricted grants the board approves today must total less than 10 847 235 unless the board chooses to borrow against future restricted Grant cycles and and my my suggestion there is I I would ask that we would come with unrestricted monies to be able to cover those amounts

Now you're talking. Can I ask for an executive session just because of the polity of this and the order? I want to make sure that I get a reference from our solicitor for Sunshine Act if we're moving money and it wasn't previously stated on the agenda. I just want to make sure I get a legal opinion on that. Do I have a second for a motion to executive session for that? Sure. Second. Second. Okay. Thank you.

Good afternoon. Is it afternoon? Is it morning? Good morning. It's not afternoon yet. On Wednesday, April 15th, an executive session was held to obtain the advice of legal counsel on parliamentary procedure.

All right. We have a motion on the table. to amend items 90, 93, 94, 104, 114, 125, and 129. For clarity's sake, the motion does not change the funding source. It does change the funding amount. We have a motion and a second. Is there any more discussion?

And just for clarification, this is part of the money that was recommended by the Gaming Advisory Board?

Yes.

Thank you. Any other comment? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. I'm going to move. I'd like to request a motion for approval of items 22 and 26. Do I have a second? second so i have a motion and a second motion made by myself seconded by commissioner hartwick for approval of items 22 and 26. and just for clarification when you say to approve them that means that this board is accepting the recommendations of the gaming boards a yes vote recognizes approval a no vote would recognize just as we did similarly that they're voted down any further discussion Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye. Opposed?

No. We will move forward. We have before us... I'm going to make a motion for approval of items 1 through 159, excluding... And I'll try to go slowly because these have already had action. 22, 26, 27, 60... 90, 93, 94, 104, 114, 125 and 129. Did I miss any numbers that anyone might be able to just give me a nod? Okay, I think I got all the numbers we've already taken action on. So this motion I'm making to approve items one through 59, excluding the numbers I just listed. Do I have a second? Second. Second. Okay. Any discussion?

Yes. For clarification purposes, does this mean that we are not following the gaming board's recommendation?

These are all items in which the gaming board has recommended.

Yes, each of the items made under this motion were previously recommended by the Gaming Advisory Board.

With the same funding level? Correct. Thank you.

Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Give me a moment to get my bearings here.

we will move to new business are there any items for new business yes um if i could please um obviously uh i made several comments at last week's board of commissioners meeting and i want to first thank our gaming advisory board for their time and their efforts that they placed into these recommendations i also want to you know talk about how important it is i believe for us to address areas that i outlined last week. And I believe that it was important this week on Monday in an attempt to try to address areas of food insecurity, affordable housing, and workforce development. I went back and tried to review all submitted applications for those areas that were represented in the gaming grant process. and on monday i spent several hours thoroughly reviewing the recommendations of the dolphin county gaming advisory board including the projects they advanced for approval and the ones that they did not and again there there's a lot of good projects that were included on the the recommendations from the gaming advisory board and and obviously in areas where i felt were underrepresented particularly in those areas that i've outlined i felt that there were significant gaps I found some areas where there was consistency, and I think I pointed them out last week, some clear gaps, particularly in the categories addressing our basic human needs. The law is explicit, while the Advisory Board provides recommendations, the Board of Commissioners is ultimately responsible for making those final decisions, and I take that responsibility very seriously. My approach today is guided by simple principle in a time of rising costs and economic pressure, we must prioritize food security, affordable housing, and job creation, the foundational needs of the residents that we serve. The plan also ensures fairness and consistency by providing equal funding levels per project across these critical categories. Instead of giving 135, 25, I think we should keep them uniform and aligned, not sort of putting people against each other or pitting favorites. I believe the impact of some of these recommendations of which I'm going to ask to be considered on a new business are pretty clear. With these adjustments, we would achieve 1,210 new jobs created as well as almost a $15 million economic impact. As we take a look at leveraging an economic impact, it's the idea of trying to take a single dollar and have that leverage for significant economic development and benefit within the community. Additionally, this plan includes funding for the Tri County Regional Planning Commission to review and update the County Comprehensive Plan. An initiative not included in the original recommendations. If this comprehensive plan update would not be funded through gaming dollars, the local share would fall directly on taxpayers. And I don't think there's another project as we talk about countywide impact and how we would talk about economic development would be more reflective of a countywide economic development strategy than this. And at a time when families are struggling to meet basic needs, our responsibility is clear. I believe we should prioritize what matters most, invest wisely and leverage local dollars for the largest amount of economic impact, and deliver results that strengthen both our economies and our communities. I want to thank both of my colleagues for allowing me the latitude to be able to present these, knowing how passionate we all are about these issues. and today the motion i'm making today ensures our final plan may reflect all of these priorities so with that i'd like to make a motion under new business which i think is the appropriate way to do this would you like me to explain for the public if you could please

So following a Supreme Court ruling in November of 2025, there are new processes for considering new business during these types of meetings. So the steps here to consider new items today would be for first to make a motion for the board to consider the items. And if a majority of the board agrees to consider those items, they will be added to the agenda. And then there will be a public comment portion on that. Those agenda items, whatever they may be followed by a motion and consideration of the item itself. So. It's a sort of multi step process to consider items. Which are added to the agenda same day, and then we would publicly post within 24 hours, a revised version of the agenda that lists the new items, which may or may not be added here.

Thank you, Eric. And all of these items that I'm going to be bringing up were not recommended to be funded. And I'm going today to make a motion that they would be considered to be funded under the amount that has parity and that I list. I'll just start first with food and security.

If I may ask for a point of clarification, what funding source would you be recommending that these grants receive funding out of? Unrestricted gaming. Thank you.

The first is the Panther Ram Foundation. We made amendments to Hannah's Food Pantry. I'll just recap. We made amendments to Hannah's Food Pantry, Harrisburg Area Food Pantry, and Midwest Food Bank to reflect an amount of $50,000. I'm asking for the same $50,000 amount to be considered for the Panther Ram Foundation and for Cocoa Packs. And BreadCoin is also on here. BreadCoin, while they had a funding request, that was clear. We cannot go above their funding request. So... I'm asking that they be considered for $20,000 for bread coin. That is for the food insecurity and distribution oversight. The affordable housing oversight would be Beehive. They had requested $75,000. Again, I'm requesting $50,000 be added in unrestricted gaming to be able to honor their request. Brethren Housing, $50,000 to honor their request. Helping Handles, $50,000 to honor the request. Latino Connection, $50,000 to honor the request. And Wild Heart Ministries, $50,000 to honor the request. and summit terrorist neighborhood association fifty thousand dollars to honor their request i'm sorry can you repeat the last four i would be glad to the last four handles helping hand foundation latino connection and all of these slow down sorry handles helping

$50,000 for Handles Helping?

$50,000. Latino Connection, $50,000. Wild Heart Ministries, $50,000. Summit Terrace Neighborhood Association, $50,000. Under Workforce Development... We had made amendments to two prior ones. The one I would like to add in back into the list that was not funded was the heat frost insulators local for 50,000.

No, he said.

heat and frost insulators who are investing in a training center. Under the trades, they are in a different position where they need workers. They've got significant amounts of jobs and they literally do not have the workforce to be able to assist in attempting to try to meet the demands of the jobs. These are training dollars. And how much for? $50,000. Under Economic Development, Tri-County Regional Planning, is the one I mentioned about the comprehensive plan for us to be able to take care of our local share. They requested $150,000. I believe our essential local share amount is $75,000. So I will recommend what our local share amount would be for that, which was $75,000 to come from gaming. Thank you, Commissioner, if I may.

We did receive an email from them stating that if they didn't get any funding at all, it was going to have to be a general fund obligation, I believe. Is that how that was? Correct.

Thank you. um the uh the final one the other two were amended here under this um the final one is the cathedral parish of saint patrick um that had made the request for 50 000 for lighting repair and that is the final one that i'd like to have considered under

So, if I may repeat back, just to make sure.

Yeah, please check the numbers as he's repeating back. I will.

So, my understanding is the motion on the table is to add to the agenda consideration of a $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to the Panther Ram Foundation, a $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Cocoa Packs, $20,000 unrestricted gaming grant to BreadCoin, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Beehive, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Brethren Housing, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Handles Helping, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Latino Connections, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Wild Heart Ministries, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to Summit Terrace Neighborhood Association, $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to the Heat and Frost Insulators, $75,000 unrestricted gaming grant to the Tri-County Planning Association, and a $50,000 unrestricted gaming grant to the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick.

I'll second that motion. That's correct, though?

That is correct.

Just for sake of discussion, before we call a vote of this, can I have a total tally of what that budgetary impact is?

Yes, give me one second.

My number reflects, and I'm doing quick math here, obviously, is $595,000. That's correct. Okay, I'm just going to make sure I get a quick comparison.

545,000. You might have missed a 50.

You probably missed a 50 in there.

$5.95 it is? Okay. I think it is. These iPhone calculators, you know, not quite up to the tab.

Can you just check this, Vince, and make sure? Because I don't want to move forward without clear numbers. I know we're doing this on the fly public. Thank you so much for being patient, obviously.

$5.95, thank you. Just a...

a point of order we are just adding this to the agenda with a motion right now it is not approving anything at this particular time uh commissioner hartwick has made a motion and it has been seconded by commissioner priest and it would simply add these items for consideration on your business is that accurate correct okay all those in favor aye opposed no we will now move into a time of public participation on these agenda items only so this is not a time of open public participation it is not a time to talk about what has taken place up to this point in the meeting only under new business and under these particular things that have now been placed on the agenda any one for public comment three minute time limit you'll need to state your name prior to speaking

If I may, as she walks up here. Pam, may I say something under this portion? Please come on up, have a seat. As we prepare to take steps in reforming our current gaming allocation process in Dauphin County, I'm requesting our solicitor's office to undertake a thorough review of gaming law and related laws for the purpose of preparing proposed reforms, the Board of Commissioners review. In addition, I'm asking our solicitor's office to review all conflicts of interest provisions for the purpose of proposing further restrictions. This, I believe, will lay the groundwork for meaningful reforms. Thank you, Commissioner Preece. Okay.

Thank you, that helps. Pamela Parson, City of Harrisburg. Wow, this really feels like a ton of bricks. This feels like the absolute opposite of transparency. not being able to look at the figures, not having anything except what you just said. Part of what I was going to talk about in public comment at the end is the inequities between what we have here in Dauphin County below Middle Paxton Township and the amount of money and things that flow above Middle Paxton Township. Upper Dauphin County gets roughly 23% agencies that serve Upper Dauphin County exclusively and 21 municipalities as opposed to this is under what is before us before the additions as opposed to 68 agencies that serve below Middle Paxton Township. This brings the total to 79 agencies below Middle Paxton Township, as opposed to 23 for the northern part of the county. I excluded any that serve across the county. Middle Paxton alone has seven grants in here, coming up to over half a million dollars. So I didn't even bother to add up all the money that is going to this part of Dauphin County, but I would like to remind you that our county is bigger than Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Hershey, and Middletown. And as I said, this is the absolute opposite of transparency to me. Thank you.

Anyone else for public comment? We'll move forward on new business. It has been placed on the agenda, but now it will require action, if I'm correct.

I just want to make sure we're following parliamentary procedures properly. I believe I need to make a motion to accept the recommendations.

Motion to approve. Motion to approve. I'll let you. I'm not making a motion.

I will make a motion to approve the recommendations. Can you? elaborate on that the recommendations so the recommendations that are put forth here are are of the areas and in which we highlighted earlier and again I believe you know when we research and and look at these things the idea of trying to miss out on a county's opportunity to be a participant in ways in which our communities have significant need and I I believe a lot Could have been changed related these things I've outlined those things, but as it relates to some of these essential priorities in which I laid out initially, I wanted to make sure, or as 1 commission, I want to make sure that we attempted to address some of these inequities. And again, in the past, we were given the opportunity to do that. Um, and where the commissioners make made decisions and actually provided some level of feedback this time we've, I would suggest it's been all public our discussion and those levels of discussion have been clearly out. related to our public discussion. So absent a the the ability for us to be able to talk to individuals or to professionals that are representing the gaming board i think i have no choice but to try to make these recommendations both last week in my comments and today formally as it relates to how we address them and then define the specific areas in which i've discussed and and asked for uh the board support so that's that's what we've done and this these dollars are coming out of unrestricted gaming i will make sure that's clear

which I just want to add on was the recommendation of the gaming board when they gave their unanimous recommendation of all of the items they recommended that if the commissioners wanted to approve additional items that they did not recommend we do have that ability to utilize those unrestricted gaming dollars, which I believe there's up to $16 million in there right now. And we certainly don't want to raid that. But $595,000 to go to the organizations that Commissioner Hartwick has just listed, I think is a very fair and equitable distribution. Thank you.

So the motion was made. Was it second? Second. Okay. It is seconded now. Now we will open for a time of discussion. Is there any further clarifying comments from my colleagues? All right. I want to make some comments here. We have a process here of receiving restricted and unrestricted monies. Unrestricted monies operate as the county's savings. It's just clear, because restricted monies are not able to be utilized for tax relief. Unrestricted monies are. And so this is ultimately our savings account. And I have full support of many of the organizations that Commissioner Hartwig just listed. But we are dealing with extreme budgetary challenges. As I came on here as a county commissioner, we spent almost two decades not raising taxes. And I was staring down the barrel of a gun when I walked into this job of tax increases. And I've had to make, you know, be forced with two bad decisions every year at the end of the year to support a budget. to ensure that we're able to deploy the services that just sat before us, the 911 services, the things that are critical for the county, to ensure that they're done with excellence so that you have, as constituents, the needs and services that ultimately are necessary. I cannot support any unrestricted money going to anything above and beyond what the balance of unrestricted is. because we are making very difficult choices as a county on cutting budgets. Every one of our directors has done a fabulous job of working within really challenging constraints this last year. And so then send close to $600,000 in this particular motion, don't ever ask me to support a tax increase again and be in that position. If we have this money that is ultimately allocated to a savings that can provide tax relief for residents, These are hard decisions. I have supported the recommendations of the gaming board, except the recommendation to go over budget. And that's something that simply I as an elected official feel strongly I cannot support. But I do want to just echo that I support these organizations and I support the priority of hunger relief. It's something that last year I supported in the gaming package and was adamant about supporting. I just can't support any dollar from unrestricted going to these i just wanted that to be reflected on the record but if i recall correctly i believe you voted out of unrestricted when you first became a commissioner to fund your new county vehicle i've learned a lot as a commissioner since then we have a motion on the table all those in favor aye aye opposed no motion carries

we'll move to commissioner's comments commissioner hartwood yeah i want to thank staff and all those who spent some hours with me this week going through applications and processes i want to also thank Hajir Elshek, who this weekend we had a chance to talk about and to honor her nonprofit organization, which was an incredible event where there were a number of dignitaries, but also important community partners in which we were able to both acknowledge their efforts, many behind the scenes that are helping out in the area of autism. and autism awareness um also i know we had several opening days this weekend in baseball and uh uh we'll announce quickly that yeah that my son's team beat steel yesterday's and everybody always hears that uh i don't support anything but still in uh middletown actually beat steelton yesterday in baseball so thank you that's all i have

Commissioner Preece. Thank you. It was mentioned by our chief of staff, and I'm going to follow up with some more detail here. Today is economic development director George Connors' last day as a county employee. Under his direction, several billion with a B dollars in economic activity took place throughout Dauphin County. Hundreds of millions of dollars in additional investments and job creation came about during his tenure. Some highlights. The first infrastructure bank, not only in Pennsylvania, but in the United States, came about, allowing municipalities to engage in projects they normally couldn't budget for. The first land bank in the state of Pennsylvania, putting blighted properties back on the tax rolls, a win-win for school districts, municipalities, and the county. The first demolition bank in the state of Pennsylvania. The Industrial Development Authority, the Redevelopment Authority. Millions granted in community development block grant projects. Millions granted in affordable housing projects. Millions in HUD projects. The first time home buyers program. New business openings. the great american outdoor show he was very a very large part of which isn't just the largest outdoor show in pennsylvania or the united states it's the largest outdoor show in the world bringing over 80 million dollars in economic impact each year 8 000 jobs and 2.3 million dollars in taxes to the city the annual dolphin county cultural festival very big part of that annual festival the gaming grant program the tourism grant program, workforce development, Harrisburg regional chamber and critic. He was engaged in every one of those areas and I want to thank him for his service to dolphin county and I wish him the very best in his next chapter. Thank you.

I just, I just want to stay for the record just before I get into some of my commissioner comments that my yes votes today, reflecting gaming and I know last week, I heard from a number of individuals who, you know, were frustrated with me not supporting my support was today contingent on all the gaming awards included in this package and I've heard that it is the intent of this board to do this. will comply with the contractual requirement of submitting 90-day progress reports. There will also be no waiver of the closeout audits. And so these will be implemented for this gaming package. And that was just critically important to my support. So while I want to recognize even the individuals who commented who are still in the room, I'm thankful for all the work that you do. And I'm sorry it took an extra seven days for this money to get out. But I am committed to your organizations and to the work that you're doing and to what was before us today for action. But I also have to be committed to that transparency piece on the back end. And I know each of you are willing to comply with that. It is within the contract. And so I'm thankful for you for that. But I just wanted to make the public aware that that is why I was able to support today. I also want to state that I had the opportunity to go to Stilton Career Day. And it was a great opportunity in their gymnasium. They had multiple different vendors there to give opportunities to students to, you know, spark their imagination about what they might want to go into, where they might want to work, what they might want to envision their life, you know, of public service or of private service. And it was a great event and I'm thankful for them for putting that on. I also went to a data center town hall at the ymca camp curtain it was great to have an opportunity for the public to speak and. and have an opportunity to share about their priorities when it comes to data centers I was thankful for that opportunity. I also went to the True Abundant Life Church luncheon, their priority on reentry and mental health. Got to be connected there to many of the individuals who are doing that work. Even had a really great conversation with someone who has reentered from Dauphin County Prison and is experiencing support from that group and is really on a great path forward. And it was a fabulous conversation that I had with that individual. as commissioner hartwig noted uh kareem's mission annual autism luncheon took place that is his year and all of her work and effort uh you know it was an amazing video i actually literally was in tears during that video because it was really phenomenal if you've ever um had interactions with families dealing with autism, you know, the burden that's put on the parents as they go through that and to see how Karim's mission and their work is really giving parents a place to find some relief. You know, they have an area where their child can go play with sensory sensitive You know tools, while the parents kind of have a break room of sorts where they can connect with other parents who also are any of them on a similar journey and that was something that hearing those parents testimonies, and the kids testimonies was really powerful and I'm just grateful for, for the work they do they are in Cumberland County but they serve many residents of Dauphin County, and I was very grateful to be a part of that. I also just want to note that over the weekend on Saturday, my office became aware of two valid green card holding Bhutanese refugees who were detained from their homes on Saturday morning by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A member of my office met with each affected family to offer support and gather additional information. A press conference with members and leaders of the Bhutanese community will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the county administration building. I invite my colleagues to join myself and others, along with any members of the public, who wish to stand with this community as they continue raising awareness about these targeted detentions. And that is the end of my public comment. May I ask, you said a member of your office. You mean a county employee? Yes. A member of our office. Yes. I just meant my executive assistant. So, yes. No further, I don't think there's any correspondence. We will move to general public participation. I believe I have a list coming to me for that. I know we've had quite a long meeting, so if some of these individuals may no longer be here, but I will begin with Antonio Foster.

Antonio Foster, 594 Chamber Street. Came down here with something different to speak on publicly, but as a chameleon, I will adjust. Some new things have come to mind. The director, it's a good thing this ain't retiring, but truth must be told, regardless of whatever. The director, you called him out one time. So I think I should tell the truth about the whole situation. The director was there. I'm sure y'all got cameras all around this building. I have taken a page out of you guys' book and weaponized the camera system myself. You will hear me and the director have a conversation about what is happening to me. He 100% agrees. All of this is on camera. I'm sure y'all didn't expect me to come up and think that way. Also, he was also there with Corey Dickerson when I told him that all he did was question the witnesses and pay them to say what, you know, he coerced them. And all Corey Dickerson can do is walk away and put his head down. The director was current. He was there. And I think these are the reasons that he is retiring because, you guys, you know, through my cell phone you know you guys and your technology um kind of get to know what i'm doing and see what i'm doing before i present that um i think i've already presented proof of that um but that's neither here nor there today i'd like to talk about um corey dickerson also um and also a little bit about the swatter brestler area um commissioner hard work i'm sure you're very familiar with that area we'll get into that later on it's not your day today um As far as Corey Dickerson, numerous issues with him. On camera, in this building, him harassing me. Also, I ain't 100% for sure if this is his son, but with the video that I will post, told you guys to follow me, but the video I will post that is in SWAT air, I'm sure will clear things up of who this is. As I said, I have used cameras to weaponize. Now, this person that will live three, four doors down from the video that I will display, which will be I'll explain it as the video is displayed. I like to do it that way. But I'm not for sure if this is Corey Dickerson's son, but maybe you guys can figure it out. Now at Rise Dispensary on camera, which would have been the 23rd, 740. He caught himself pulling me in, cornering me off. which I thought was stupid. I guess because I'm injured, people think they have an advantage. But with me being injured, you got to understand, I'm going to be a little more dangerous than that.

Mr. Foster, your time's up. Thank you for your comment.

You want to end me quick? I'll be back.

Okay, sounds good. Next up, we have April Hutchinson. Thanks, IRD. Okay. Next up, we have Dorothy Scott. Right here, we have Tom Connelly. I don't believe Connelly is here either. And Louis Butts. Okay. Thanks for clarifying. We appreciate that. Mr. Butts. It's a long meeting, Louis Butts. Just for the public record, Director Enders is not retiring. If he is, that's news to me. Right, I think there might have been a misunderstanding there. Mr. Butts.

Okay, this is a long meeting. I'm glad these guys are getting together a comprehensive plan for the county. I would like to offer some suggestions, maybe because we are this downtown development and the groups that I see that represent this new vision for downtown. I don't see any representation that are, you know. My complexion and it's important that we have a narrative. Of this community that is diverse, um. I want to add a suggestion or or, um. Item that we can put in downtown Harrisburg that would create the energy that we need for economic development and some functionality. To our city that we can springboard from many cities have aquariums. I was looking at the market street, the old post office. There's a lot of money. We got a lot of money going on. We got a lot of money going on. If we can get an aquarium at that site and do a transportation development project that would increase tourism, our train station is horrible. I don't know, it's like twigs in sheep metal. i think we can do better as a harrisburg as a capital city let's let's up the grade let's bring something that is alive let's help our school district let's help employment because if we got we have if we if we do something that brings this bring money we need money okay balance taxes we need items like uh we're at the the uh the um what the centers the data centers they need power that's the big thing with the data centers if we had hydropower that would help us be more accommodating to those different centers it's important that we have people that are diverse as well as dynamic from our city that are on these boards that are on these different vision boards um i'm gonna add some suggestions for the county because it's important the city doesn't have a comprehensive plan at all and i don't think they're looking at one so i look to you guys as a a fair playing field as well as can accommodate you know ideas for the future because the city can't do that right now and the groups, the little cells that are put together to, well, these are the ideas for Harrisburg. They're not diverse enough. We have a diverse community and I don't see it right now. So make sure those ideas and those ingredients, those platforms are diverse.

Thank you, Mr. Butts. Appreciate you. Anyone else for public comment? That's the extent of my sheet for those who signed up advanced.

I'm a frequent flyer today. Too bad I don't get any points for it. Pamela Parsons, City of Harrisburg. The gaming process isn't broken. It's operating exactly the way it was set up to, the way it was designed by statute by the state legislature, which enables this mess, pitting agency against agency, having agencies come in here and plead their case. All of what we see in PennLive's investigation, that is exactly the way it was designed to operate. That it helps the insiders, that it enables those who are well-connected, and it creates walking around money for county commissioners, which I think was clearly operative today. um Dauphin County gets what no other county gets when it comes to gaming money you can look at that across the state and we need to do as commissioner priest suggested audits reporting vetting and by vetting i mean making sure that taxes are paid before one applies and full disclosure full disclosure of connections by commissioners family and business connections past and present before it ever comes here for a vote and i believe as a county we should look at clawing back money from those projects which are not completed and did not happen in the way that they should that is our money and we should get it back if that is not happening and let's talk about transparency for a moment um i have attended authority meetings, particularly the Industrial Development Authority and the Economic Development Authority. And yes, they meet the letter of the Sunshine Act, but certainly not the spirit of the act. Those are difficult meetings to access. When you attend, you often cannot hear what is being said. and staff has directed members of the public to sit over there we are no longer allowed to sit at the table where we can hear and the members talk to each other across the table if one cannot hear then it's not accessible. Even if I'm in the room, if the public is in the room and you cannot hear what is being said, it is not accessible. It is better if you watch it online, but then you cannot comment because there's no ability to comment if you are watching online. I would have liked to have had a copy of the presentation that was made last year, last week by the Gaming Commission on the grants. It was not available on their website. Now, the folks who resigned, that was quickly changed. By Thursday morning, their names were gone. But as of this morning, when I walked into this meeting, I could not access that report. And often those kinds of things can only be gotten by right-to-know requests. Thank you.

Thank you, Pam. Anyone else for public comment?

Good afternoon gentlemen.

Thank you. No, we don't get a chance to speak like this. I'm not here to discuss the process. Excuse me, sir. Could you please state your name for the record? Name called. City of Harrisburg. Okay, I'm not going to discuss the process of gaming grant, but I want to discuss what. Commissioner Hartwick said 3 areas of focus that. Really. Harrisburg, or even surrounding counties had to be have to pay attention to. Workforce development that's got to be number 1. Why that's job creation. For the city, and for the county, it also helps with, you know, so other organizations that I'm involved with. Today, high school has given our youth a chance to develop skills that they can reapply back into the community. They're serving the community. I hate to say it, don't yell at me about this, but it gives them a little Dolphin County prison. It gives them something. productive to do. Okay, so that's got to be majorly focused. It matches back criminal justice along with workforce development. If you do one very well, you're going to have some downstream effects on the other. Second, food insecurity. I help with food pantries and we are a food desert. Even though we're surrounded by all this farmland here and we grow a lot, Okay, I don't know how we reapplied it back into the county. Could be, but our people, and I say this a lot. We cannot have hungry people in our city. We can't have people who do not have food deliverable. Why? Because you're going to cause another problem. Okay. When people get hungry, they're going to get something to fill their bellies up. Okay. Which means they're going to be feeding another part of our systems. And we don't want that. Okay, and 3rd is affordable housing and. I'm more of an expert in that area because I basically the chairman of the Harrisburg zoning board. I have this when people come in front of me and they say affordable housing. There's 2 terms that will get my. Very fast when you tell me low income housing. I always ask what do you mean? Oh, we didn't, you know, we say we want affordable housing. I said, don't worry. Just don't want to step up the ladder. You're not there yet. Okay. Portable housing. Do we are people understand what the affordability factor is for housing and this. In our county, they got to understand that. So, when a developer comes in and wants to develop and do things and say, can we say. I can say portable housing, but basically market housing.

I said, do you understand what the mean income is for the Harrisburg area? $31,000, $32,000.

You're basically out renting things for $2,000 a month. That is not affordable. I am glad commissioner Hartwood that you basically put focused on that and you commissioner priest. Okay. I think I've had talks with you guys off the record a few times, but I'm glad we're focusing on that because that's something the county services can do. The city of Harrisburg is not going to be able to do that and some of the surrounding areas not be able to do that, but by some type of. focus from the county. It gets everybody focused on what you do. So thank you for your time and thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Fitz. Anyone else for public comment?

Good afternoon. afternoon gentlemen ralph rodriguez harrisburg city just changing the momentum and the pace today uh two years ago on this very day uh this board um inducted by way of proclamation all you can ink day here in dauphin county so i'm just here to encourage everyone to spread love on this beautiful 90 degree day this absolutely amazing week do something for others that you don't expect anything back for go out into this world with positivity Just do God's work. I thank you all for the hard decisions you had to make not only this year, but just today. I respect it behind the curtain as well as in front. But through our program, we've already assisted over 2,500 students with real-life social-emotional learning and certifications that they can take post-graduation. Ran into the commissioner Monday while we were on a field trip. coming from UPMC. At the end of this month, our students will be certified as junior EMTs right here in Dauphin County by way of partnership with UPMC Central VA. So on this All You Can Inc. Day, I just want to encourage everyone to show love, be kind, and find a reason to smile, and ask each other, are you doing all you can today? Thank you.

Anyone else for public comment? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Moved by Commissioner Priest, seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. All in favor? Aye. We're adjourned.