[0:23] That's a little theme music to start the
meeting. I like it. I'd
[0:28] » like to call to order the Dolphin County
Board of Commissioners meeting for
[0:30] September 9th, 2026. We'll begin with a
moment of silence followed by the Pledge
[0:34] of Allegiance.
[0:44] Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[0:49] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:54] justice for all.
[1:00] » Chief clerk's report. Mr. Hagerty.
>> Good morning, commissioners. An
[1:04] executive session was held on Tuesday,
September 8th, to obtain the advice of
[1:08] legal counsel on issues relating to
public safety, county finances,
[1:12] personnel matters, the purchase or lease
of real property, and active or pending
[1:17] litigation. Today, we are joined by
representatives from the Central
[1:21] Pennsylvania Food Bank in recognition of
hunger action month. In addition to the
[1:25] August 12th and August 19th, 2026 board
of commissioners meeting minutes, the
[1:30] August 12th, 2026 board of commiss
salary report meeting minutes, excuse
[1:34] me, salary board packet, personnel
packet, and the purchase order packet.
[1:38] There are 13 items for board
consideration. Today we have four
[1:42] adoption assistance agreements, six
human services agreements, two
[1:46] satisfaction pieces, and the training
packet.
[1:50] Um, like to remind department heads and
directors that the Office of Budget and
[1:54] Finance recently sent out detailed
instructions explaining how each
[1:58] department must enter budget revisions
if necessary before the end of this
[2:02] week. Effective Monday, September 14th,
we will be flipping the switch that will
[2:07] automatically reject payments if there
isn't sufficient budgetary authority.
[2:12] Uh, please contact Chris Davis
immediately if you have any questions or
[2:15] concerns about this process. And then
when you're done submitting your budget
[2:19] revisions, you can celebrate our
budgetary controls finally working again
[2:23] by joining me at the Jazz and Wine
Festival at Fort Hunter this weekend
[2:26] hosted by our wonderful Department of
Parks and Recreation. That concludes my
[2:31] report. Happy to answer any questions
you may have.
[2:33] » Thank you, Mr. Hagerty. Any questions
for Mr. Hagerty? Hearing none, we'll
[2:37] move to the solicitor's report. Mr.
Owens,
[2:39] » good morning. Uh, all matters requiring
uh board action today have been reviewed
[2:43] and approved by my office.
>> Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Owens?
[2:49] Hearing none, we'll move to public
participation related to agenda items
[2:52] only. So, if you have a public comment
on agenda items only, you'll need to
[2:57] state the agenda item. You'll have three
minutes. Uh, and you'll need to state
[3:00] your name prior to speaking. And we are
live streaming. Is there anyone for
[3:03] public participation related to agenda
items only? There is a time for general
[3:07] public participation at the end of the
meeting.
[3:11] Seeing none, we'll move to review and
approval of the minutes. We have minutes
[3:15] from August 12th and August 19th. Do I
have a motion to approve both? Moved by
[3:20] Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by
Commissioner Priest. Any discussion?
[3:23] Hearing none. All those in favor? I
opposed. Motion carries.
[3:28] Now, we would like to welcome uh Katie
Kerr and Skyler Carpenter Tobin from the
[3:33] Central Pennsylvania Food Bank as we
celebrate Hunger Action Month and the
[3:38] work that they're doing and we look
forward to hearing from them.
[3:42] » Good morning.
[3:51] Thank you commissioners for having us
this morning. Um it's good to see you
[3:55] all again. As you u may remember, I'm
Katie Kerr. I'm uh with Central
[3:59] Pennsylvania Food Bank. Um and this is
Skyler Carpenter Tobin from our agency
[4:03] services team. Um and we are here today
just to share a little bit of
[4:07] information um with you about hunger
action month. Um and again, thank you
[4:11] for your time um for recognizing such an
important cause for our network. Um you
[4:17] know, Hunger Action Month is really a
time for us to reflect upon the work
[4:20] that our network has done over the
previous year um and allows us time to
[4:25] kind of reflect upon um what is coming
next and the needs of our network. Uh we
[4:30] continue to see an increase in um visits
to our the charitable food network.
[4:34] Hunger is still a very pervasive issue.
It is not getting uh any better. we are
[4:38] just seeing more and more people need uh
the services that that the charitable
[4:43] food network provides. Um so we're
really grateful to have two of our
[4:46] wonderful partner agencies here with us
today uh to share a little bit about
[4:50] their experiences um you know recently.
Um but a couple statistics I'd like to
[4:57] share with you all. Um the most recent
um data from Feeding America's mapped
[5:02] meal gap research shows that nearly
40,000 people in Dolphin County
[5:06] experience food insecurity. Um this
includes um more than 13,500 children.
[5:13] Um we also know that children are much
more likely than adults to experience
[5:17] food insecurity. About 21 uh.1% of
children live in households that face
[5:22] insecurity or food insecurity compared
to 13.6% 6% of the overall population.
[5:28] Um, additionally, we've also seen a
pretty stark uh decrease in SNAP
[5:32] participation in the county. Um, since
January 2025, SNAP participation has
[5:37] decreased about 10.7%.
Uh, which compares um somewhat closely
[5:42] to the 14.2% we've seen uh statewide in
drop of SNAP benefits. So, that is
[5:48] coming back to our network. Um, because
people are still experiencing food
[5:52] insecurity. um just because they've lost
their benefits doesn't necessarily mean
[5:56] that they have become food secure. Uh it
just means that they have lost that
[5:59] vital support. Um so just again really
grateful to be here today and and share
[6:04] that our work continues with you all. Um
and we're just very grateful for your
[6:09] continued support network. So thank you.
>> Thank you.
[6:14] » Did you did you have any did your
partners have anything to share?
[6:17] » Yes. Uh Dra and Sandra have a couple
things they'd like to share.
[6:27] So Sandra and uh Dedra, right?
>> Great. Great.
[6:31] » Hi, I'm Dedra Lanker from the Harrisburg
Area Food Pantry. Um we are uh a food
[6:37] pantry serving Monday through Friday. Um
one of the few in the area. We serve
[6:43] primarily Dolphin County, but others if
if needed. Um it's about 98%
[6:50] Dolphin County residents. In the fiscal
year uh that just completed um we
[6:58] served, let me check my numbers. Uh we
served
[7:03] 16,185
households. Um so that was the number of
[7:09] requests we had over over the course of
the year. This is a 13% increase over
[7:15] the previous year. So the need is
continuing and continues to grow. One of
[7:21] the things we realize though that it the
need varies. You know, we're not seeing
[7:26] necessarily the same uh several hundred
people a month. We're seeing um
[7:34] different people, new people come in.
People come when they need us. It's not
[7:38] a constant. So, it just is a testament
to the es and flows of food insecurity,
[7:45] financial insecurity that is experienced
by our neighbors in in Harrisburg. Um,
[7:51] we um are grateful for uh the community
support that we have. Um the Harrisburg
[7:58] area food pantry, while it has a
relatively new name, has been ex in
[8:02] existence for over 54 years. um
previously under the name Ecumenical
[8:07] Food Pantry. We're located up at the her
at the um Camp Curtain branch of the
[8:12] YMCA on Sixth Street.
[8:17] » Good morning, Sarah.
>> My name is Sandra Brooks. I'm the
[8:20] director of the Nature Packs program in
the Central Buffin School District. Uh
[8:23] first, I would like to thank you for
your continued commitment and support
[8:27] for the organizations um that tirelessly
help uh to fight hunger in our own
[8:33] communities. Um although food insecurity
is harmful to any individual, it can be
[8:38] particularly devastating to children due
to increased vulnerability and their
[8:42] physical and mental development.
Malnutrition can have long-lasting
[8:46] effects on a young bodies, young child's
body and their ability to learn and
[8:51] their school performance. This is the
driver of Neutri Packs um to give
[8:55] children in our school district the
opportunity to be wellfed enabling them
[9:00] to fully engage in the classroom
curricular and activities with homework.
[9:04] Um we're getting ready to start our
distribution in October. So we're
[9:08] ramping up um preparation for that. Last
year we distributed over 22,000 bags of
[9:14] uh food and milk. Um we saw a definite
increase last year and it stayed steady.
[9:19] So we are seeing differences. um not
even just a a leveling out but that um
[9:26] continued increase in in need. Um
through the work that we do, we do see
[9:31] that firsthand um the important role
that our program does play within our
[9:36] community um and the health and
well-being of our students. Our top
[9:41] priorities continue to remain access to
funding to help maintain those levels of
[9:46] services. So being able to pro provide
that level of food to our students as we
[9:50] see um foods costs rise and then that
family need rise, increased access to
[9:57] healthy culturally relevant food such as
fresh fruit and vegetables, and then
[10:02] supportive policies that assist food
banks to purchase and distribute food at
[10:06] costs that agency partners such as ours
can actually afford to purchase. Um
[10:10] again we really thank you for your
recognition uh today for hunger action
[10:15] month and throughout the entire so thank
you
[10:19] » thank you for the work you're doing
commissioner
[10:23] » first off thank you for doing God's work
um the idea of I think it's Winston
[10:27] Churchill that said you make a living by
what you get you make a life by what you
[10:31] give and I know that I've been at both
of your locations um and I know kind of
[10:36] work volunteers and people that serve
those organizations
[10:40] uh who step up and make it their mission
to ensure other people don't go without.
[10:44] Uh and the ability for community members
to do that uh saves lives and allows for
[10:51] the level of you know uh
survival that need that it really needs
[10:58] to occur during these difficult economic
times. Uh and when folks have no place
[11:02] to turn, uh we still have volunteers and
individuals who have that mission
[11:06] stepping up and showing up for this
community. Um you know, again, I think
[11:11] it happens better when it comes from the
community and people, you know,
[11:15] » step forward in a way that uh shows uh
how we can solve these problems and and
[11:20] you lead the way. So, I I want to thank
you both for for the work that you do. I
[11:23] want to also thank the Central
Pennsylvania Food Bank for being one of
[11:26] the best um organized and regional food
distribution networks uh anywhere in the
[11:34] nation. I know there are people that are
envious when we travel places to the
[11:38] coordination and the efforts of our
central Pennsylvania food bank and we
[11:42] certainly are proud to have both
leadership in the organization and
[11:46] dedicated staff who take this mission
personally and that you can tell by the
[11:50] level of relationships they form and the
level of passion and and people in which
[11:54] they serve. So I want to thank you for
for your efforts and I guess my first
[11:59] question would be uh
how bad are things h getting? I mean, I
[12:04] I heard some of the challenges related
to SNAP benefits being taken away, how
[12:08] they're appearing at local uh food banks
and what that direct impact is. Um sort
[12:13] of, you know, this is the beginning of
that. Um te tell me uh sort of where
[12:17] you're at, where your projected budgets
are at and where you foresee this thing
[12:21] heading and and what you're going to
need in order to have the level of
[12:24] support from both us and other partners.
>> Well, food costs obviously continue to
[12:31] rise for all of us. So, it's true of of
food banks and and food pantries as
[12:37] well. So, um being able to source food
at a reasonable cost. You know, we um
[12:42] are obviously very grateful for the work
the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and
[12:47] regional retailers. Um you know, I don't
think most of most of us realize most of
[12:53] the people realize how many donations we
get from local retailers and farmers and
[12:58] so forth. And that is critical to um
making ends meet. Um when it comes to
[13:04] budgets, um our our food budget
continues to to increase even with all
[13:10] the the donations and lowcost options
that are made available from the food
[13:14] bank. So, it's going to continue to be a
challenge. The the budget number keeps
[13:19] going up. Um thankfully we've got a lot
of good partners, foundations,
[13:25] community organizations and so forth
that that help support us, but it it
[13:30] takes the whole village to do it. It it
it is a challenge and and it's a
[13:35] challenge to um serve the number of
people that we're serving. We're putting
[13:39] a lot of um work on a a set of
volunteers um who are who are serving. I
[13:47] think yesterday we served um seven 79
households in a three-hour period.
[13:53] That's a lot of people moving in and out
and a lot of food being moved in and
[13:57] around our pantry. So, um you know, it
it it it's challenging, but we have a
[14:03] lot of people with big hearts
and
[14:06] » and make no mistake about this is a
shift. It's a a shift from federal
[14:10] benefits to local costs that are being
borne by volunteers and local
[14:15] governments that are not leaving the
community behind despite the federal
[14:20] government's insistence on passing these
costs on and sort of ignoring the basic
[14:24] needs of of some of our most vulnerable
individuals. So, I think it's really
[14:28] important that we have people here that
continue to step up to the challenge. I
[14:32] know um I'm I'm I hear you. Uh I would
love to be able to help coordinate a day
[14:37] that we can assist in uh working with
you. I think uh in the past our board
[14:41] has um you know come out help pack and
um you know want to maybe even make a
[14:46] day for county employees uh to be a
participant um in in ways that we can be
[14:51] a part of the solution um and not just
point it out and and I know last year uh
[14:56] with the gaming allocations we're hoping
you're getting your requests in. uh we
[14:59] want to make sure that uh understanding
the need continues to grow that food and
[15:03] security remains a priority and
partnership as uh the need for your
[15:07] services continue to grow. But I I
really want to say thank you to the food
[15:10] bank and thank you to both of you and
the many volunteers who make this their
[15:14] life's work. It does make a significant
difference in our community and we're
[15:17] grateful.
>> Thank you.
[15:18] » Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your time.
[15:22] » You know, the need is real. The need is
great and the need is right here in
[15:27] Dolphin County. And uh I've had the
privilege in the past of attending the
[15:32] Cocoa Packs event with Commissioner
Hartwick several years back. I've
[15:36] attended neutral packs on several
occasions with a former commissioner and
[15:40] other staff and uh we see the great work
that you're doing on behalf of the
[15:45] residents and their time of need. Some
of the numbers you've thrown out over
[15:48] 16,000 households are impacted. That's a
huge number here in Dolphin County and
[15:54] the work you do is appreciated and um
can't thank you enough for what you're
[15:59] doing on behalf of those residents who
are in need. A lot of people don't think
[16:03] about the kids
not just during week that are impacted
[16:08] but on the weekends if it wasn't for you
and your organizations
[16:13] most of them would go hungry for the
weekend and the majority of the
[16:17] population doesn't even think about
that. But a rising a rising uh
[16:22] percentage of our population is impacted
on a weekly and weekend basis. And we've
[16:27] heard stories of kids going home and and
having a McDonald's hamburger to last
[16:31] them the entire weekend now thanks to
your generosity, the work that you
[16:35] organizations are doing. Uh they have
food for the entire weekend and I can't
[16:39] even imagine what that would be like.
And then clearly going to school on an
[16:43] empty stomach. uh you've seen the
studies out there that feeding kids in
[16:47] the morning enables them to have the
nutrients and and they learn a lot more
[16:50] as well. So you're impacting uh hundreds
of lives and by proxy thousands of lives
[16:56] by the great work you're doing. So thank
you very much.
[16:59] » Thank you so much. C can we just share
for the public a little bit about so
[17:03] Harrisburg Area Food Pantry. Can you
just share where you're located and what
[17:06] your hours are again? You said you're
open Monday through Friday, correct?
[17:09] Yeah, we're at the uh Camp Curtain
branch of the Y at 2135 North 6th Street
[17:14] and we're open Monday through Friday
9:30 to 12:30 and the third Saturday of
[17:19] the month 9:30 to 12:30.
>> Thank you for being open that
[17:23] frequently. That's that's got to be
quite the task for volunteers and staff
[17:27] and thank you for that. And for Neutri
Packs, for those who don't understand,
[17:30] this is a program in the school to to
ensure that kids have food over the
[17:35] weekend. Correct. And so maybe speak a
little bit just I just want to make sure
[17:38] the public's aware of the great work
you're doing and like it's obviously as
[17:43] we've talked about the need but I want
to kind of talk about how this is I
[17:46] think a creative way to to manage the
need in the sense that you're sending
[17:50] kids over the weekend with a bag of food
that that's something that they can you
[17:55] know manage and make themselves or that
they're with their families. So maybe
[17:58] just share a little bit about why you
chose to address it that way and how and
[18:02] impacts of of that. Um, our program
actually started with a school counselor
[18:06] who recognized that there were students
in need coming to school on Monday and
[18:10] having difficulty focused. So, it
started out small and it has just grown
[18:14] over the year and Neutropex now serves
students in all schools in the Central
[18:19] Dolphin School District. So any student
who attends a K through 12 um school in
[18:26] central Duffin school district um can
enroll in neutropacks program and with
[18:30] that they receive weekly from October
through May you said a pack of food
[18:34] that's intended to provide to breakfast
two lunch two dinners and some snacks um
[18:40] for that weekend when they're not
getting those breakfast and lunches at
[18:44] at school um which a lot of those
families and students depend on. So, um
[18:49] on online on our website
cdsdutepacks.org
[18:53] um they can go find information not just
about enrollment but about volunteering
[18:57] and donations
>> to our our program. Um and we start
[19:02] distribution in October.
>> That's great. Great. And then I just had
[19:05] one question for Central Pennsylvania
Food Bank. Can you you're you're you
[19:09] distribute to so many food banks in the
area. Do you have a number for how many
[19:13] food pantries you support in not even
just Dolphin County like your regional
[19:17] through multiple counties? Um do you
have a number?
[19:20] » Yeah, across our 27 uh county service
territory about 11 partners.
[19:25] » So So just for those who can't hear
because the mic 27 counties you serve
[19:29] and 1100 partners, 1100 like food banks
or groups that are distributing food.
[19:33] Wow.
>> Dolphin County
[19:37] partners
>> 130 partners in Dolphin County. Wow.
[19:40] That's amazing work. Well, we're
incredibly proud of the work y'all are
[19:44] doing and I know there's many others
throughout the county. We have a small
[19:48] representation of the many that are
giving their time, energy, and effort to
[19:51] this and uh very grateful for you. We
have a proclamation uh to read in honor
[19:56] of Hunger Action Month. So, I'll read
that now and then maybe we'll get a
[19:59] picture. All right. We, the Dolphin
County Board of Commissioners, are
[20:02] united in acknowledging and addressing
the tragic reality that 13.5% of
[20:06] Pennians experience food insecurity. And
one in every five children do not know
[20:11] where their next meal will come from.
Whereas food insecurity, the condition
[20:15] of limited or uncertain access to
adequate food, is associated with
[20:19] numerous adverse social and health
outcomes, and is a critical public
[20:24] health issue. Adequate nutritious food
has become more expensive and out of
[20:28] reach for many neighbors with cost with
food costs rising more than 33% between
[20:33] 2019 and 2026 leading to record demand
for charitable food. Whereas Dolphin
[20:39] County is committed to working with the
central Pennsylvania food bank to
[20:43] educate people about the role and
importance of food banks in addressing
[20:47] hunger and raising awareness of the need
to devote more resources and attention
[20:51] to hunger issues and food insecurity.
Whereas, the Central Pennsylvania Food
[20:56] Bank distributed over 63.1 million
pounds of food in fiscal year 2026 to
[21:03] Pennians experiencing food insecurity.
In Dolphin County alone, more than 8.2
[21:08] million pounds of food were distributed
with over 1.47 million pounds of this
[21:14] being produce. Whereas Dolphin County is
committed to taking steps to combat
[21:18] hunger in every corner of our
commonwealth and to providing additional
[21:23] resources to those in need. Public and
private entities, including policy
[21:28] makers, business leaders, community
activists, farmers, concerned citizens,
[21:32] and hunger relief organizations must
collectively work to address food
[21:35] insecurity within the Commonwealth.
Therefore, we join the 293,000 residents
[21:40] of Dolphin County in encouraging
everyone with the heart and the
[21:44] resources to take effective and
immediate steps to combat hunger and
[21:48] support their local food banks as we do
hereby proclaim September as hunger
[21:53] action month in Dolphin County.
[22:04] Here
[22:12] you go.
[22:39] One more.
[23:19] Well, Now head into salary board which
consists of the commissioners and
[23:22] controller. Uh we have minutes to
approve from August 12th. Do I have a
[23:25] motion?
>> So moved.
[23:27] » Moved by controller Baitman. Do I have a
second?
[23:30] » Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Priest. Any
[23:32] discussion?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor? I
[23:36] opposed. Motion carries. We have a
salary board packet before us for
[23:40] approval today.
>> Do I have a motion?
[23:42] » So move.
>> Moved by controller Baitman. Seconded by
[23:45] Commissioner Hartwick. Any discussion?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor? I
[23:49] opposed. Motion carries. Human
resources. Fay Fischer.
[23:55] » Morning, Fay.
>> Good morning.
[23:56] » Morning.
>> Are there any questions on today's
[24:00] personnel packet?
>> None for me.
[24:04] » Make a motion we accept the personnel
packet as presented.
[24:07] » Motion made by Commissioner Hartwick. Do
we have a second? I will second. Any
[24:12] discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor? I
[24:17] opposed. Motion carries.
>> Thank you.
[24:22] » Budget and finance. Mr. Davis.
[24:28] » Morning. Commissioners.
>> Morning.
[24:31] » I have no changes to the investment
report that was distributed yesterday.
[24:35] There's also no changes to the purchase
order packet that's ready for your vote
[24:38] and approval.
>> Do we have a motion for the purchase
[24:41] order packet?
>> So moved.
[24:43] » Moved by Commissioner Priest. Seconded
by Commissioner Hartwick. Any
[24:46] discussion?
>> Everything's within the budgeted 2026
[24:49] numbers.
>> Correct.
[24:50] » Thank you.
>> All those in favor? I
[24:54] » opposed. Motion carries.
>> Thank you.
[24:57] » Thank you.
>> We have 13 matters requiring board
[25:01] action before us today. Does anything
need to be pulled out for a separate
[25:05] vote?
>> Motion to approve 1 through 13.
[25:09] » Motion made for items 1 through 13 by
Commissioner Priest. Second of a second.
[25:13] Seconded by Commissioner Hartwick. Any
discussion?
[25:17] Hearing none, all those in favor? I
opposed. Motion carries. We have no
[25:21] former business. Any new business?
Hearing no new business, we'll move to
[25:25] commissioner remarks. Commissioner
Hartwood, I'd first like to thank uh
[25:28] Danny Albert, Kristen Barner, uh our
human services staff, and all those who
[25:33] participated in recovery night at the
ball field on the Harrisburg Senators
[25:36] this weekend. Uh hearing from the
senators, it's probably one of the
[25:40] largest attended events all year for the
senators. I know a lot of time, effort,
[25:44] work went into it. Uh, thank you to to
Senator Kim for coming to throw out the
[25:47] first pitch and for all that were
involved in celebrating recovery and
[25:51] that successful event. Uh, secondly, I
join my colleagues at the Labor Day
[25:55] breakfast. Um, I want to congratulate
uh, new CLC President Delane Simpson. I
[26:00] thought he gave an incredible sense of
energy, uh, new spirit and, uh,
[26:05] certainly it was a well-run uh, Labor
Day breakfast. very well attended by a
[26:09] bipartisan group of uh elected officials
and um certainly leaders throughout the
[26:16] county as well as throughout labor. Uh
and it was an honor to be able to be
[26:20] there with a labor legend Dave Gash uh a
mentor and friend uh who was great to
[26:25] see. Um and um uh it it was certainly a
great day. And last but not least, um I
[26:31] want to give my personal condolences to
the Dler family. um both Kim Dler who
[26:38] works here as a um a leader um one of
the co-directors of children and youth
[26:43] uh Jamie Corey um and coach Rob Dabler
who's passed they they lost their father
[26:50] big Jim Dler last night. I just um
wanted to make an acknowledgement that I
[26:55] don't think there were very few people
that were that instrumental uh in the
[26:59] shaping of my life and career and um
sort of my childhood. Uh, Coach Dive was
[27:05] my principal. He was my coach and one of
those leaders who helped shape
[27:08] generations of young people in the Steel
and Heispire community. His impact went
[27:12] far beyond the school or the field. He
helped build the pride, discipline,
[27:16] toughness, and tradition that make our
community so special. Today, I pray he's
[27:21] reunited with his beloved Leslie who
passed away last year and with his son
[27:25] number 13, Coach Rob Dler. What a
homecoming that must be.
[27:31] Thank you, Mr. to dive for the lessons,
the leadership, and the legacy. Once a
[27:35] roller, always a roller. West rest well,
coach.
[27:41] » Yes. I have a couple updates here. Uh
first of all, I want to share that our
[27:45] Dolphin County Drug and Alcohol
Department had their yearly monitoring
[27:48] from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug
and Alcohol Programs, and the department
[27:52] scored a 100% compliance, which is
pretty remarkable. So, shout out to
[27:58] Kristen Barner and her great staff at
Drug and Alcohol. Uh, also we learned on
[28:03] Saturday, September 7th, that Judge
Scott Arthur Evans is now the longest
[28:09] serving judge in Dolphin County history.
So, whenever folks see him, make sure
[28:14] you congratulate him on that milestone
accomplishment. And I also want to
[28:17] follow up on what Chief of Staff Hagerty
said earlier. This weekend, Saturday and
[28:22] Sunday, is the annual Dolphin County
Jazz and Wine Festival at Fort Hunter
[28:26] Park. And they have a great lineup of
musicians set up this year. Thank you.
[28:31] » Thank you, Commissioner Priest. Uh this
weekend I had the opportunity to attend
[28:34] the Noir celebration in Dolphin County.
Uh and uh people coming from all over,
[28:39] from Ohio, from New York. Uh this is a a
Nepali people from from all over uh came
[28:45] together to celebrate culture and it was
uh great to be part of that. Uh also
[28:49] from there went to Capona. It was
amazing to see so many people out on
[28:52] Front Street. Uh that that is a it's
just a gem here in Dolphin County that I
[28:57] don't think many of us are aware of. is,
you know, I've lived in many different
[29:00] places. Like to have that space, to have
festivals like that, it's a really cool
[29:05] uh to be out and to see uh just people
coming together. Uh as Commissioner
[29:09] Hartwick stated, I attended the Labor
Day breakfast with the Central Labor
[29:12] Council and it was a great gathering. Uh
I also attended the final dress
[29:17] rehearsal for uh Theater Harrisburg's
Come From Away. Uh I am not a theater
[29:22] person. I'm just going to say that right
out the gate. But it was a really
[29:24] amazing performance. Um, and shared a
real story that I didn't know about. Um,
[29:30] in Gander, uh, this small little town in
Canada, uh, on 911, uh, many of the
[29:36] planes were diverted to that small town.
Um, a town basically more than doubled
[29:41] in size overnight with 7,000 flight or
7,000 people from multiple international
[29:47] flights coming in representing many
different cultures. And it was a story
[29:51] of radical hospitality in a time of like
fear and uncertainty. And I just think
[29:54] it's um really amazing that this is
running through the 25th anniversary of
[30:00] 9/11 and an opportunity for us to to
reflect on the terror of that day that
[30:05] many of us might have experienced. Um to
hear the stories of people who showed
[30:10] radical hospitality in the midst of that
fear. So, um, just as we head into
[30:14] Friday, uh, and we honor those who lost
their lives, we honor those who ran
[30:20] toward danger, uh, in the midst of
uncertainty, we even reflect maybe on
[30:25] our own public servants here who serve
in EMS and fire and police, um, and who
[30:29] are doing work that often runs toward
danger to provide for others. Um, it's a
[30:34] great opportunity Friday for us to
reflect on all those impacted by 911,
[30:37] including ourselves. Um, but to also
just take some time to to consider what
[30:43] it looks like to be hos hospitable in
the midst of of fear. And so, uh, if you
[30:47] get a chance to go to Come From Away,
Peter Harrisburg, uh, really encourage
[30:51] you, uh, to get out to that show that's
taking place right here. Local actors
[30:55] did an amazing job. Uh, just just a
great performance. Uh, we have no
[31:00] correspondents and we'll move to general
public participation. I believe I have a
[31:04] signup sheet. After the signup sheet, I
will then open it to the floor. Just a
[31:08] reminder, you'll have a three minute
time limit. You'll have a clock in front
[31:11] of you showing that we are being live
streamed and you'll need to state your
[31:14] name prior to uh prior to speaking.
We'll begin with James Carter.
[31:22] » Mr. Carter, how are you?
>> I'm doing fine.
[31:24] » Morning, Mr. Carter.
>> Morning. I think I know everyone.
[31:28] Hey. Um, my name is James Carter. I live
at 2097
[31:34] Raleigh Road in Hummelstown,
Pennsylvania,
[31:37] uh Derry Township. I am currently the
um the committeeman for Derry 15, the
[31:47] Democratic committee man, but when I sit
here today, I sit here as a committee
[31:51] for Daring 15, including all of the
people or all of the residents that we
[31:57] have there right now. Um, we received
notice yesterday that our polling place
[32:05] is going to be moved. Uh, we have never
voted in Derry 15, but there's no
[32:11] facility there that could handle this.
We were previously at the fieldhouse in
[32:18] Lower Dolphin. I received word yesterday
that we're being moved to St. Jon of
[32:25] Arcs in in uh in Hershey.
Um that is quite a distance from our
[32:33] precinct.
Um I talked to a few people with the air
[32:38] of today's political scene. The first
thing they came that came out of their
[32:43] mouths. One of them was my pipe. She
know she knows a lot about she said can
[32:48] this be seen as voter suppression? I
told her that I talked to Mr. Specman. I
[32:53] guarantee that he had stated the fact
that it wasn't. It's just the fact that
[32:58] we don't have enough places to go. But
the one thing that I did speak to Mr.
[33:03] Specman about was the fact that
perception
[33:07] is going to be the biggest picture here,
especially in light of everything that's
[33:12] going on politically in this country.
And I told him point blank, I said,
[33:19] "This is going to be put out broadly.
I'm going to put it out broadly because
[33:23] I don't want the people to feel that
their vot is being, you know, uh,
[33:29] basically interfered with. However,
that is going to be the outcome just
[33:34] from the few people that I've seen.
There was an indication over a year ago
[33:41] that this may happen.
And we sent
[33:46] 50 days before the election
telling the people that you're going to
[33:51] have to go down.
Derry 15 is a voting precinct. I know
[33:57] you all have seen the numbers. It is a
voting precinct. It's the largest
[34:01] precinct in Derry Township.
Derry one votes with us. Derry one is
[34:07] the second largest precinct.
Between the two of us, we carry over 13%
[34:14] of the vote in Derry Township.
I'm asking that consideration of
[34:21] inclusion be brought. We're going to
have to look for places to make this
[34:27] vote viable for all of the people.
And basically what we're looking for is
[34:34] inclusion. I would like to be involved
in it as the only sitting committee
[34:38] member in Derry 15. So any discussion is
going to go on I would like to be a part
[34:44] of that discussion to ensure that the
total populace of Derry 15 gets proper
[34:51] recognition. Thank you for that.
>> Thank you Mr. Carter.
[34:56] » Anyone else for public participation?
[35:08] Good morning.
>> Good morning,
[35:13] » Chelsea True, Lower Paxton Township.
>> Every week I listen to those that come
[35:19] to these meetings with complaints and
concerns. And while it is an integral
[35:23] part of the government to have free
dialogue with those they serve, I am
[35:27] disheartened by the lack of plausible
and functional solutions offered up by
[35:31] that same community. There are problems
in Dolphin County. I can't speak to many
[35:36] of them as I lack the knowledge or
expertise, but I can talk at length
[35:40] about the failings of the county in
regards to its employees. I know I only
[35:44] have a few moments, so I know it must be
brief. But as I watch more and more
[35:47] hardworking employees and good people
leave the county, I feel compelled to
[35:51] offer up concerns and a possible
solution. Start taking care of your
[35:55] people and acknowledge them to all the
hard workers who work tirelessly every
[36:00] day for Dolphin County. Thank you to all
that to all those that are willing to
[36:05] come in every day and do the of unseen
and underappreciated jobs. Thank you.
[36:10] Those that despite this county taking
more of their wellness incentives and
[36:14] benefits away, despite this county
denying raises for those that might
[36:18] deserve it, come in every single day and
do the work without complaint that keeps
[36:22] Dolphin County running. For those same
workers who also live in Dolphin County
[36:26] and suffer the same tax increase but
lost more benefits and income every day
[36:30] working here, a sincere and genuine
thank you from someone who has witnessed
[36:34] firsthand your hard and diligent work.
To all the workers who listen every week
[36:39] at these meetings about their potential
failings but can never speak for
[36:43] themselves for fear of retaliation or
censure. I see
[36:47] for those employees who pour 20 years or
more of their blood, sweat, and tears
[36:51] into this county and witness the lack of
acknowledgement or appreciation for
[36:55] those sacrifices. I'm sorry. Your years
of service and commitment should never
[37:00] have gone unnoticed or unrewarded.
Your legacy continues in your
[37:05] departments by the impact you had on all
those who worked with you and the
[37:08] longlasting good you provided to all the
residents of Dolphin County. You can
[37:13] tell a lot about a leader by how they
treat those in positions underneath
[37:16] them. Leaders who acknowledge the merit
of their workers and work alongside
[37:20] them, not just on an election year, but
consistently and diligently. Leaders who
[37:26] hold themselves and fellow leaders
accountable, always striving for better.
[37:30] I hope moving forward the leaders here
can do better so that the future of
[37:34] Dolphin County is one of progress and
plenty for all Dolphin County workers
[37:38] and its residents. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[37:43] » Anyone else for public comment?
[38:00] Good morning, commissioners.
>> Good morning,
[38:02] » Pamela Parson, City of Harrisburg. Um, I
just want to thank you for recognizing
[38:08] Hunger Action Month and for having
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank here. I
[38:14] worked for them for uh about a decade in
the 1990s. I'm really grateful for the
[38:21] work of Dedra Lanker and all the many
people who came before her in the 54
[38:27] years of the ecumenical food pantry. Um
the Fisers, the Meyers, Reverend
[38:34] Jefferson Wright and the folks at Second
Baptist who also partnered to create
[38:42] that food bank u that food pantry,
excuse me. Uh it's also really important
[38:48] to note that the building that
ecumenical food bank began in Messiah
[38:54] Lutheran Church and the bu and the
church next door second baptist um also
[39:00] more than 50 years ago ran a school
breakfast program in partnership with uh
[39:07] many people who were involved in the
Black Panthers in Harrisburg to feed the
[39:12] children who lived in Jackson Lake
apartments and in the neighborhood um
[39:18] surrounding Messiah and Second Baptist.
So they were feeding breakfast to
[39:23] children and providing uh food pantry
services well before uh school breakfast
[39:31] became a federal program. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Pam. Anyone else for public
[39:36] comment?
Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion for
[39:40] adjournment. Moved by Commissioner
Hartwick.
[39:42] » Second by Commissioner Priest. All in
favor? I we're turn.