A few things.........

I had an interview this morning with Wiggle and that's always fun, tomorrow I am with Chuck Carver on WATS/WAVR. I also had the first meeting of the committee that is going to decide which contractor to choose for the guaranteed energy savings program. That is going to be quite a process. There is a ton of information to look over. WENY was down yesterday to get thoughts on the state budget process, here is that story...click here.

A Quick Update....

Yesterday was an interesting and busy day. I had a CCAP meeting with Governor Rendell in Harrisburg. It was a great experience. The discussion focused on state budget issues in regards to county funding. This was an opportunity for the commissioners to communicate their concerns with the proposed budget solutions and how they will affect the counties.
Last week I supported adopting a resolution requesting the state legislators to re-instate critical funding for agricultural programs. The Dairy Princess candidates came in to present a few remarks and also share some ice cream. Read the resolution below!

Resolution 2009 7 Dairy Support

A few things...

Some new things include:

A new online questionnaire tool for 911 readdressing, read about it... CLICK HERE!

New natural gas info on the county website...CLICK HERE!

Wednesday we went down to a seminar on Act 32 which is the state mandate on the collection of Earned Income Tax.
Thursday and Friday I had CCAP (county commissioners association of Pa)Board meeting in Butler County. It was quite fun as we were given a tour of some sties in Butler County including a dairy production facility called the Marburger Farm Dairy, I had the opportunity to see how milk is produced, bottled and shipped. They also do all kinds of different drinks such as iced tea. It was very enjoyable. We also toured their county park which was very nice. We toured their brand new jail which was so brand new they have no prisoners in it yet. Then we went to their county nursing home and then on to their airport. Thanks to butler county for their hospitality! Then Friday morning we had our board meeting got home last night.

Weekend full of fun......

I had a very nice Saturday over in Ridgebury for the Grand Opening of their community park. It turned out very nice. Brandy and I enjoyed the company of a lot of friends, had some BBQ Ribs and just had a great time. I had a friendly reminder from Niel (you know who you are) about keeping this blog going as he stated stated it's "a great way to let people know whats going on". I could agree more. Congratulations to Ridgebury! Read a bit about it here

Today we served the veterans at the Bradford County Veterans Appreciation Day. What an event drawing thousands of people into our county, right on down to Hornbrook Park. The weather held out for a beautiful day. I spent the day manning the potato salad... a job only meant for the most experienced professional....LOL! I had the opportunity to visit with my grandfather who is a Korean War veteran. It was a great day and thanks to all those who make it happen!

Unusually Slow Monday............

well sort of..........the Chief Clerk and the Human Resources director are at a conference and the Financial Director was off for personal business. So besides the Maintenance Director and the 911 Director meetings things were slow enough to catch up on the pile of snail mail (you know, not e-mail, the other stuff). Also, I had some phone calls to return and, as always a boat load of e-mails. In the afternoon I went out to Troy to meet a gentlemen about some parks issues. Then I came back to the office, talked to the Sheriff on the phone about some jail issues. Then it was on back here to the house for a quick bite to eat, before going to see my grandma in the hospital, and then on the South Waverly Borough council meeting regarding the 911 readdressing. I returned home and received a phone call from a C.C.A.P. staff member (County Commissioners Association of PA) regarding some policy issues with the Clean and Green legislation that is needed at the STATE level for which they have a meeting about first thing in the morning. I did get to have a nice frozen dinner and now I am doing laundry and writing this blog post.......

Statement on Closing the South Towanda Daycare Facility

As promised at the outset of this year the Bradford County Commissioners’ Office has engaged in an in depth study of the Bradford County Daycare operation. The goal of the study was to gain a greater understanding of the operation in regards to both the current, historical and future financial implications of running the program. It was another important aspect of the study to look at the current child care needs of the county especially in the local areas our daycares are currently serving. Furthermore, options for the future operation of the program have been studied. We have been engaged in many months of research, analysis, and we reviewed different restructuring models.

The facts and numbers gathered throughout our efforts are final and accurate. They have been checked, double checked and checked again. As commissioners we have met weekly with the human services director discussing all the various aspects of this and receiving information that he has gathered over the course of many months. We have met with the independent auditors in Williamsport to discuss the financial history, current financial condition and the future financial implications of the program.

The study has revealed some very serious facts regarding the financial condition of the daycare operation as a whole. After careful study and verification with the county’s independent auditors Bradford County has, for many years, been carrying forward the debt of the daycare year after year. This has happened because the daycare has continually lost more than it was budgeted to lose and in some years those losses were not made whole and instead they were carried forward into the next year as a debt.

This has created a situation that has placed significant burden on the taxpayers’ general fund over the years. In fact in 2007 the county transferred over $592,000 to the daycare from the taxpayers’ general fund to keep the program financially viable.
Additionally, the all but certain future state funding cuts the county will receive this summer as well as the current financial climate has made a decision to remedy any financial issues more than a necessity at this point. It is apparent and unfortunate that budget proposals at the state level will have a negative effect on local property taxpayers.

After all the research it is apparent that there is no way to make the program as a whole financially viable without some hard decisions that will require severe inconveniences for parents and even more severe hardships for some Bradford County employees.
After careful study it is necessary to close the South Towanda daycare facility effective July 3, 2009. This center is expected to lose nearly $90,000 in 2009 alone. It has been determined there is little that can be done to manage the current and future deficit considering the staffing required, the building it is in and the payer mix of this particular facility. Enrollment has been in decline for a number of years; however operational costs continue to rise. The facility is licensed at a capacity of 81 however it currently serves 54 participants. There are nine full time and eleven part time staff members who will be laid-off at the time of the closing.

The Bradford County Child Care Information System has confirmed there are openings in licensed day care centers in the local area to be able to accommodate many of the children currently served by the facility. Bradford County Human Services will be directed to assist parents in every way possible in the transition from the Towanda Day Care Center to their new child care providers.

In regards to the other facilities operated by Bradford County which include the Athens School age program, the Sayre Day Care Center, Towanda School Age Program they will continue to operate as normal as they are capable of collectively breaking even.

As a commissioner I have been involved in many tough decisions, all of which pale in comparison to this decision. Not one decision or situation has stirred as many of my own emotions as this. People should know that this is not easy for anyone involved in this process. I would like to apologize in advance to the inconveniences those parents and their children will go through. Also to those employees whom will be laid off, I offer my sincerest apologies and best wishes.

For Denny....

That was for you Denny W. (a bit of an inside thing)....LOL.