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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 49 - 12-31-1980 - COMMISSIONER312 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Frank-R. Mascara 0MXX K$rQXK DAVID L. GILMORE. EDWARD M. PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS Minute No. 49 Office of County Commissioners Washington, Pa., December 31, 1980 The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with the following members being present: Commissioners Paluso, Gilmore and Mascara. Also being present: Chief Clerk Dallatore; Controller Stache; Acting Solicitor Retos; Budget Director Gillespie; Human Services Director Fiumelli; CETA Director Lig- nelli; Coroner Farrell Jackson; EMS Director J. Bracken Burns; Jack Wagner, Director of Elections/Registration; Administrative Assistant Davis; Linda Hands, Secretary; Keith Long of Computer Election Systems; Bob Sabot, WKEG; Susan Neft, WESA; Kim Kleinle, Daily Herald; Jon Stevens and Bob Robertson of The Observer - Reporter; Jim Jefferson, WJPA; Helen Miller of the League of Women Voters; and Bob Sprague and representatives of KDKA-TV. Chairman called the meeting to order at approximately 11:30 a.m. and asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 48, each member having received a copy. (NOTE: The meeting did not convene at the 10:00 a.m. regular time due to the Commissioners" attendance in Court regarding their Petition to the Court to grant them approval to increase the tax rate of the County in an amount not to exceed three mills for the tax year 1981.) Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Minute No. 48 be approved as read. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Correspondence: Chief Clerk informed the Board of the receipt of the following checks: 1. U.S. Treasury - $50,000.00 - Employment & Training Program 2. U.S. Treasury - $107,000.00 - Employment & Training Program 3. Commonwealth of Pa. - $42,319.67 - Children & Youth Program Title XX - Contract #3063 - period of 7-1-80 to 9-30-80 New Business: Chief Clerk informed the Board that Commissioner Gilmore has been recom- mended for reappointment to the Soil Conservation Board for the term of one year (1-1-81 thru 12-31-81). Moved by Mr. Paluso, seconded by Mr. Gilmore, reappointing Commissioner Gilmore to the Soil Conservation Board as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE BOOK 313 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS $g WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA I ,ak DAVID L. GILMORE. EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMI$SIONEft Chief Clerk requested authorization to advertise for bids for groceries and staples for the County Jail. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, authorizing the Chief Roll call vote taken: Clerk to advertise for bids as per above, Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Concerning the WCETA program, Chief Clerk presented to the Board an amended OJT Agreement with Bill's Tire Center for the purposes of enabling the participants to gain the full length of the training program which involves 1,040 hours of training; the initial agreement only ran through September 30, 1980. Chief Clerk also presented to the Board a YETP Agreement with the LeMoyne Community Center for the amount of $120,000.00 for the purpose of train- ing 15 youths in a multi -media training program. The contract period will be from January 5, 1181 through September 30, 1981. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, approving the foregoing amended OJT Agreement and YETP Agreement. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk presented to the Board an Agreement with Erin A. McKinley, M.D., for professional medical services at the Washington County Health Center at the rate of $25.00 per hour; said services to be performed eight hours per week and distributed into four 2-hour periods during weekdays, effective 1-5-81. Mr. Paluso explained that these services will provide additional medical coverage to those already being performed by Dr. Large. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, approving the Agreement with Erin A. McKinley, M.D., as per above, Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously, Chief Clerk presented to the Board for approval and signature a Petition for Court Approval of the Sale of a right-of-way by the County to the WIDC for conveyance to Dynamet, Inc., so that Dynamet may substantially meet the coverage requirements of the zoning ordinance of Chartiers Township. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, approving the Petition as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk presented to the Board a resolution authorizing a $3 million loan of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes for the year 1981. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, adopting the Resolution as per above. 314 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Frank R. Mascara M�xlig,�iLIK DAVID L. GILMORE. EDWARD M. PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS _ w_ Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes; Motion carried unanimously. (Adoption of 1981 County Budget) Chairman Mascara informed all those present that the Commissioners had been in Court since 9:30 a.m. and that the Court had not yet made a decision on the Petition presented by the Commissioners requesting approval to increase the tax rate by three mills. Mr. Mascara stated that there may be a separation of power between the judicial branch of government and the legislative body of the Board of County Commissioners and that he has a very strong feeling about finali- zing the budget for 1981 if the Courts don't go along with the 3-mill tax increase. Mr. Mascara explained that because of the court -ordered reassessment program, the Commissioners were not able to stay within the 105 per centum allowed by law. He also explained that at this time the Commissioners are unable to ascertain what the results will be concerning the negotiations with SEIU and PSSU. Mr. Mascara also stated that he feels that the Courts should not engage in ascer- taining on how the fiscal affairs of this County should be run and that as long as he is Chairman of this Board, the Courts are not going to run the fiscal affairs of this County - the Board of Commissioners will. Mr. Mascara also pointed out that 45% of the real estate taxes in this County go to providing services for the criminal justice system and that approximately $800,000.00 of the proposed 2-mill increase will go for Courthouse and Jail renovations, all of which are a part of the criminal justice system. He further stated that nobody likes to raise taxes, but the Commissioners have a statutory obligation; and in light of what is going on in surrounding counties, he feels that it is a very small in- crease of 1 mill in the general fund and 2 mills in the sinking fund. Mr. Gilmore pointed out that the increase of 3 mills to the average County resident represents approximately a $10.00 - $15.00 increase in taxes annually. He also pointed out that the increase in the general operating budget amounts to only approximately 5% - 6%. Considering the increase in the debt service, he stated that the Commissioners felt it absolutely essential to embark upon a num- ber of programs to maintain the existing structures that we have, i.e., Court- house and Jail; and the failure to do so now would affect us later on in the year or at some point in the future which would be more expensive and necessitate a tax increase down the road. Mr. Gilmore then explained that court approval was necessary because the additional revenues to be collected during 1981 would be more than can be legally collected in the first year after a reassessment. Mr. Paluso pointed out that there are very serious structural problems at the Jail and that the costs for replacing the Jail would be astronomical - some- where in the area of $15 million - and it would be to our advantage now to make 1 1 c ■ ■ 315 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Ffiank Rom. as ca a RQ AVIb L. GILMORE, EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS whatever necessary changes and renovations to that structure to preserve it. He stated that these types of projects should be done now in order to save money. He noted that the Commissioners have taken advantage of reducing costs by taking steps to implement the new voting system by bidding it this year, thus avoiding increased costs in 1981. He atated that he feels the Board has exercised good judgment in those matters; and ,f the Court does not agree, the people of this County will have to pay a great deal more money in the future to accomplish these things. Chairman Mascara further pointed out that the necessity to petition the Courts has overshadowed the fiscal restraints of the County Controller, Budget Director and the work of the County Commissioners in their attempt to limit the amount of millage necessary to run this County. He explained that the original budget requests amounted to an increase of 15 mills and that the budget was posted with an 8-mill increase; and since that time, they have eliminated an additional 5 mills. Mr. Mascara stated that he feels that having to go to Court to ask for approval for what was really an increase within our statutory limits is overshadowing the work of this Board. Chairman Mascara announced that the County offices would be closed on Thursday, January 1, 1981, in observance of the New Year's Holiday. Henry R. Fiumelli, Human Services Director, requested that the Board notif:a the Department of Public Welfare that the Washington -Greene Community Action Corp- oration will serve as the County''s agent in an energy crisis assistance program. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Board contract with the Community Action Corporation to provide services in connection with the energy crisis assistance program and to so notify the Department of Public Welfare as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Solicitor: Acting Solicitor Retos informed the Board of a request from the Army National Guard to use Cross Creek Park for training sessions on January 10 and 11, 1981. He stated that if the Board so approves this request, he would prepare the necessary agreement. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr, Paluso, approving the foregoing request. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. 316 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY C9*Wh SIRN Sscara WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA DAVID L. GILMORE. EDWARD M. PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS OPENING OF BIDS: Controller Stache opened and read the following bids: (Emergency Medical/Rescue Equipment) 1. Conaway Enterprises, Inc. P. 0. Box 1132 Uniontown, PA 15401 Total Amount of Bid: $10,691.45 Bid bond in the amount of $1,070.00 accompanied the bid. (Electronic Voting Equipment) 1. Computer Election Systems 106 Old Meadow Court or 1001 Eastshore Highway Canonsburg, PA 15317 Berkeley, California 94710 Total Amount of Bid: Proposal #1 - $340,745.00 Proposal #2 - $338,245.00 Bid bond in the amount of ten percent accompanied the bid. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the foregoing bids be tabled for further review. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman entertained a motion to recess the meeting until 10:00 a.m. Monday morning, January 5, 1981. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the meeting recess as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. (Meeting recessed at approximately 11:55 a.m.) MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1981 Meeting reconvened at 10:00 a.m, on Monday, January 5, 1981, in the Public Meeting Room of the Courthouse Square Office Building with the following members being present: Commissioners Paluso, Gilmore and Mascara. Also being present: Chief Clerk Dallatore; Acting Solicitor Retos; Budget Director Gillespie; Administrative Assistant Davis; Linda Hands, Secretary; Susan Neft, WESA; Kim Kleinle, Daily Herald; Bob Sabot, WKEG; Robert Gregg, Lori Gordon and Mike Bonehard of WJPA. Chairman entertained a motion to continue to recess the meeting until sucr time that we come to an agreement with the Courts as to the budget for 1981. 1 317 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS g WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MW AfflX777yy�&WAVIDA_. GILMORE. EDWARD M. FALUSO, COMMISStONEiRS E J 1 Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the meeting recess as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting recessed at approximately 10:05 a.m. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1981 Meeting reconvened at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 1981, in the Public Meeting Room of the Courthouse Square Office Building with the following members being present: Commissioners Paluso, Gilmore and Mascara. Also being present: Chief Clerk Dallatore; Controller Stache; Budget Director Gillespie; Roland Bourke, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority; Administrative Assistant Davis; Linda Hands, Secretary; Bob Sabot, WKEG; Susan Neft, WESA; Bob Robertson, Observer -Reporter; Jim Jefferson and Lori Gordon of WJPA; Helen Miller of The League of Women Voters; Cynthia Perkins, Intern from California State College; and George Eckert of Monongahela. Chairman Mascara announced that he was advised by the Court that the Order concerning the 1981 budget is not complete at this time but that it should be filed later today. Chairman therefore recommended that the meeting be recessed. Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the meeting recess until 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 1981. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. (Meeting recessed at approximately 10:05 a.m.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1981 Meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 1981, in the Public Meeting Room of the Courthouse Square Office Building with the following members being present: Commissioners Paluso, Gilmore and Mascara. Also being present: Chief Clerk Dallatore; Budget Director Gillespie; Administrative Assistant Davis; Linda Hands, Secretary; Bob Sabot, WKEG; Bob Robertson, Observer -Reporter; Jim Jefferson, Mike Bonehard and Lori Gordon of WJPA; Kim Kleinle, Daily Herald; Susan Neft, WESA; and Lucy Rea, Girl Scouts. Chairman announced that the Court has handed down its Opinion approving the Commissioners' request to increase the County's tax rate by one mill for General Fund purposes and two mills for the Sinking Fund. Chairman therefore entertained a motion to approve the 1981 Operating Budget. 318 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA Frank R. Mascara MX =WKbC W1. DAVID L. GILMORE. EDWARD M. PALUSO. COMMISSIONERS Moved by Mr. Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Paluso, adopting the Tax Levy and Appropriation Resolution for 1981 which provides for 20 mills on the General Operating Fund, 5 mills on the Debt Service Fund and 4 mills for personal property. REMARKS: Mr. Paluso suggested that a copy of the Courts Opinion be made a part of the record (see attachment). Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Gilmore - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes; Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Mascara thanked his colleagues for their diligence and hard work during 1980. Meeting adjourned at approximately 11:05 p.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED: AR , 1981 ATTEST: /& aCUCITIVCLERK �1 I