Jo Ellen Litz
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People Above Politics

Taking Action, Getting Results.

Lebanon PA  17046

644-4698

If you demand open government, drop me a note to receive email alerts informing you of meeting highlights that let you know how commissioners vote on issues.  Litz@mbcomp.com

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 Jo Ellen Litz

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Jo Ellen Litz Campaign Video
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People Above Politics

Team Litz:

Honorary Chair:     Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll --a woman who broke the glass ceiling and contributed greatly to PA politics; born in 1930, died November 12, 2008.

Chair:  Jeff Werner

Treasurer:  Richelle Whitman

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ABWA Homepage link

League of Women Voters

 

Meeting Highlights

Votes taken by the Lebanon County Commissioners 2009:

February 4, 2010

Sallie Neuin presented a resolution to open a separate bank account for the signal project.

Gary Robson requested permission to fill a vacant Caseworker position in Children and Youth. 

Based on receiving at least 5% of the highest vote cast for a local countywide candidate in the last two November elections, Nick Yingst, Voter Registrar, received approval to certify the Republican and Democratic parties in Lebanon County.

Commissioners approved a Redevelopment Authority administration contract at 18% or $85,521.

Certification for uses of E911 wireless funds for chargers was approved.

Certification for MHMR of development programs and coordination services also received approval.

Using liquid fuels funds, a new $48,700 emergency resolution passed to repair the underside of the Cornwall bridge with Gunite.  The temporary netting would have cost about as much ($40,000) as the Gunite, and the contractor suggested closing the ends of the bridge to use torpedoes to heat the area in order to complete repairs in less than two weeks.

Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing 200 years of Boy Scouting.

On a Stohler/Carpenter motion, Lowell Brogan was appointed to the COLT board.  Commissioner Litz asked that the vote be postponed for a regional analysis of representation by board members.

Archie and Mike Battistelli along with Mike Butt and Jim Morehead, reviewed the Retirement Fund, which closed at $83,670,000 at the end of 2009.  This is an 18.6% gain over the previous year.  The total asset allocation ratio stood at 59% equity and 41% fixed income.  Our goal is 65/35 (+ or -), but in the down economy, the current ratio has served us well.

January 28, 2010

Treasurer Neuin reported that Lebanon County is owed $2.387 million by the State.  In addition to not having this money invested and drawing interest in our treasury for working capital until the spring real estate tax starts coming in, Lebanon County had to take a loan in a similar amount from a Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note and pay out 5.5 interest. 

A resolution passed to change Fulton Bank account names to the County of Lebanon.

Commissioners approved a 2-year Court Related non-Professional union contract with Teamsters Local 429.  The unit consists of approximately 75 employees.  Health insurance remains the same.  A 3% wage increase is included in the contract.  Additional contracts are being negotiated with EMA and AFSME at the prison where approximately 120 employees work.

Jonathon Johnson and Suzanne Mentzer were appointed to the MHMR board.

Because they have served their maximum term, Joyce Dissinger and Bridget Hoffman will receive letters of thanks for their service on the Women’s Commission. 

Commissioners voted to appoint the Lebanon County Historical Society as the County’s official historical society.

 

National Weather Service's Meteorologist Bruce Budd and PEMAs Fred Boylestein congratulated EMA and Lebanon County for attaining “StormReady” designation, which will result in additional ISO—Insurance Services Organization—community rating points.  Usually, the ISO rating reduces homeowner’s insurance.  The safety skills acquired will help to save lives and property—before and during an event.  There are currently 1550 sites in the USA and 44 sites in PA.

Designation is based on communication systems, weather awareness, initiation of local warning evacuations, NOAA weather radio in schools…, and community preparedness activity.  The 4-year designation will be posted on signs in the County.  For more information, visit www.stormready.noaa.gov .

If you would like to be a “Storm Watcher,” attend a training session on May 18 at the Municipal Building auditorium.  Call EMA at 272-7621 to register.

January 21, 2010

Cedar Haven:

Census:  301—90 male and 211 female or 95% capacity

H1N1 vaccines are completed, but if employees request another inoculation opportunity, Director Schlegel is willing to set another date to administer shots.

Prison Board:

Census:  399—339 male and 60 female

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Unsentenced Inmates 104

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Work release Inmates 54

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State Sentenced Inmates 13

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Parole/Probation violators 183

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DJ sentenced 3

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Court of Common Pleas sentenced 33

Regular Meeting:

From the repository of unclaimed property, Sallie Neuin requested approval to sell a trailer at 1C Twin Maple Park for $1.

Personnel Director Gary Robson requested approval and signatures on the 2010 Children and Youth, MR/MR/EI, Area Agency on Aging, and Drug and Alcohol Civil Service Compensation Plan.

Voter Registrar Nicholas Yingst presented Help America Vote Act reports for approval.

 

Dr. Yocum shared a 2009 Coroner’s Report:

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418 Cremations, down from 458 in 2008;

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130 Natural Deaths from heart disease, cancer…; Accidental Deaths included:

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12 Motor Vehicle Accidents

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1 Bicycle Accident

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2 Motorcycle Accidents

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12 Suicides of which 2 were hangings, 7 gunshots, 1 train, and 1 carbon monoxide

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4 Adverse Drug Reactions

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0 Heroin Overdoses, down from one last year

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3 Homicides

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2 Drownings.

This does NOT include people transferred to Hershey Medical Center.

At a cost of about $2000 each, in 2009, 35 autopsies were performed in Allentown for Lebanon County.

 

John Wengert and Mark Wilson were on hand for signatures supporting a $300,000 50-stall parking facility for a Lebanon Valley Rail Trail trailhead near the Lebanon Daily News on S 8th Street, Lebanon.  Neighbor Dave Blouch will help maintain a demonstration wetland to treat the quality of water runoff.  This is the fifth trailhead for LVRT.  One more trailhead at Alden Place would put the accesses at 3-mile intervals.  The other trailheads are:  Lawn where the trailhead adjoins a community park and shares restroom facilities; Expo where the parking area accommodates horse trailers; Colebrook where Earl and Lee Moyer developed a wildflower garden; and of course Cornwall featuring the Root Beer Barrel.

 

Commissioners approved an emergency resolution to span netting under the Cornwall bridge.  Liquid Fuels funds will be used to fund the temporary (net) and permanent (Gunite—spray concrete) repairs.  School buses use this route.  So, repairs will be timed for the summer months.

Catherine Kilgore, and Sheriff Mike DeLeo were on hand to receive approval for CJAB’s Standardization and Modernization Process to update “license to carry“ reporting.

Kevin Schrum presented five amendments to three HealthChoices Agreements, which leverage federal dollars through a Gross Receipts Tax.

Dennis Firestone was on hand to recommend that a bid to replace flooring at Eldercare be awarded to low bidder Spectra of Harrisburg at a cost of $15,905. 

Administrator Wolgemuth presented a request for certification of $175,000 for farmland preservation.  $100,000 will come from the County budget, and $75,000 from other sources like the federal farm and ranchland protection pool as well as local municipalities.

Assessment Board:

Commissioners heard one assessment appeal; approved two disabled veterans and exonerated the Lickdale Fire Co apartment; and assigned Jamie Wolgemuth to review reassessment bids.

January 13, 2010

Treasurer Neuin received approval on three new accounts—two for CAP and one for the DA Stop Grant.

Neuin also presented a bid of $1 for a mobile home at 4 Stonehill Park.

 

Commissioner Litz moved to participate in Jigar Patel's live streaming video study for his master's degree, but the motion died for lack of a second.  With an $80 camera installed in the commissioner's meeting room, voters could have watched, proposed questions, or made comment using email, telephone, Twitter or Facebook and listened to answers during public comment at commissioner meetings.

Jigar pointed out that history or civics classes could have used the live streaming video as a classroom teaching tool.  He envisioned students getting excited about government, participating in elections, and taking their civic duties seriously, even volunteering time at the local library as part of their  senior projects by teaching town folks how to watch and participate in meetings. 

Jigar is a Northern Lebanon High School graduate, and currently studies in England.

Dennis Firestone opened bids to replace flooring at Eldercare:

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Spectra Contract Flooring, Harrisburg, bid $15,685 for medium grade and $15,905 for high grade;

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Weaver’s Carpet & Tile, Lebanon, bid $17,958 and $19158;

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Ames Services Ltd, Annville, bid $20,844.45 and $24,016.51; and

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Slough Flooring, Harrisburg, bid $40,959 and $41,695.

 

Cindy Heisey, president of the Lebanon County Commission for Women, updated commissioners on 2009 projects like the Glass Slipper, Girl Power, Ladies Night Out for Habitat, and columns on women published in the Lebanon Daily News.  For 2010, Cindy also invited nominations for the Women's Hall of Fame as well as explained an initiative on bullying.

Commissioners approved an $18,936.13 – 48 month - Dell Financial Services PC lease. 

Commissioners approved a $3300 CCAP share-point web hosting contract.

Commissioners also approved a $1000 annual farm lease for Kenneth Reist on 13 tillable acres near the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center.

Commissioner Litz requested that the Safety Committee walk the buildings to check for dark spots that need more light, then turn on lights.  The main stair well was provided as an example of a dark spot that might be a safety issue.  Chairman Carpenter directed Administrator Wolgemuth, who sits on the safety committee, to comply with the request.

 

Harrisburg 1/13/10:  Senator Bob Casey and Terese, his wife, champion the fight against child hunger with a traveling display--50 women, 50 cameras.

 

January 6, 2010

 

Prior to the Commissioners Meeting, Commissioner Litz attended the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs presentations.

 

 

 

 

 

From the Tax Claim Bureau, Treasurer Sallie Neuin requested that the Commissioners accept a $1 bid for each of two trailers at Green Acres Park.

Administrator Wolgemuth reported that a $500,000 draw will be necessary from the Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note to meet the next payroll.

From the Record Improvement Fund, at a cost of $3840, Commissioners approved Dan Seaman’s request for a Landex license and support.

All employees were rehired.  Jamie Wolgemuth was reappointed as the Administrator and Penny Snelling as the Solicitor.

 
 

Commissioner Carpenter was elected chair; Stohler vice chair; and Litz secretary to the board of commissioners.  The same was true for the election, salary, and assessment boards.

Meetings are to be conducted every Thursday in Room 207 of the Municipal Building beginning at 9:20AM.  If a holiday falls on Thursday, then the meeting will be held on the preceding Wednesday.

The third Wednesday of each month, commissioners will meet at Cedar Haven beginning at 10:30AM.

During reorganization of the board of commissioners, all liaison assignments remained the same as in 2009.

Stohler

Litz

Carpenter

Area Agency on Aging

Ag Extension Agency

Assessment

Children & Youth

Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development

Building & Grounds

Drug & Alcohol

COLT

City of Lebanon

Emergency Management

Conservation District

Elections

Mental Health/Retardation

Housing & Redevelopment

Management Information

Tourist Promotion Agency

Southcentral Employment

Planning

Renova Center

United Way

Veterans Affairs

A list of depository banks was approved.

Meeting dates were approved for the Board of Assessment:  1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/15, 5/20, 6/17, 7/15, 8/19, 8/26, 9/2, 9/16, 9/23, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 11/18, and 12/16.

Commissioner Stohler requested the approval of Suzanne Kilmoyer on the Renova Center Advisory Board.  Commissioners are receiving requests to serve on the Renova Center and COLT boards where one vacancy remains on each board.

 

Commissioner Litz asked if there was interest in hearing a former NLHS student’s presentation to broadcast commissioner meetings via “live streaming” on the Internet.  The student is conducting research for his master’s thesis, and was accepted to broadcast Jonestown Borough meetings earlier this week.  Patel’s concept is to incorporate social media—Twitter and Facebook—as a means of participation during public comment.  The system can be set up for under $100.  Commissioners Carpenter and Stohler agreed to invite Jigar Patel to the next commissioner’s meeting for his presentation.

 

2009   2008   2007    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002    2001    2000    1999    1998

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