CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Franklin County commissioners approved a series of staffing changes during its latest weekly meeting, including reclassifications and expanded hours in the Human Resources Department, while also hearing renewed public concerns about the county’s use of Flock public safety cameras.
The board also received a positive fiscal update showing revenues and tax collections continuing to outpace last year and recognized longtime county employee Brandi Stevens as July’s Employee of the Month.
HR restructuring approved after workload review
The commissioners approved several personnel changes across county government, with the most extensive discussion focusing on Human Resources Director Tiffany Bloyer’s request to restructure positions within her department.
Bloyer told commissioners the proposal was the result of a new classification review process that required departments to justify requested changes based on how positions have evolved rather than simply seeking higher pay grades.
She said she had already reduced her original request by removing one proposed reclassification after reviewing workloads, noting the final package represented a 13.4 percent reduction from what had originally been requested during the county’s supplemental budget process.
Among the approved changes were increasing two Human Resources positions from 37.5 hours to 40 hours per week and reclassifying several positions to reflect expanded responsibilities. Bloyer said employees in the two reduced-hour positions have consistently worked beyond their scheduled hours because of increasing workloads, requiring repeated requests for additional time throughout the year.
The board also approved a pay grade increase for the president judge’s judicial assistant after President Judge Shawn Meyers described how the position has grown beyond traditional administrative duties.
Meyers said the role now requires extensive interaction with state agencies, county officials and the public, making it important that the county offer compensation capable of attracting and retaining qualified employees.
“I’d want to make sure that I am able to secure a talent level that would meet these demands,” Meyers said.
Commissioner John Flannery said he generally looks for two things when considering salary requests: whether the position itself has changed and whether comparable positions support the requested pay level. Bloyer said the county’s new classification process examines the actual duties being performed before recommending changes.
The board also approved creating a permanent part-time law clerk position for the president judge, a new independent living specialist position in Children and Youth Services, and an additional administrative assistant in the tax services department.
Commissioners hear continued debate over Flock cameras
Commissioners also heard another round of public comments regarding the county’s participation in the Flock public safety camera system.
Several speakers urged the county to reconsider the program, raising concerns about privacy and government surveillance, while supporters argued the license plate reader technology has become an effective investigative tool for law enforcement.
Commissioner Robert Ziobrowski said he believes the issue deserves a broader public discussion at a future meeting so residents can better understand how the system operates, what information is collected and what safeguards are in place regarding access to the data.
Fiscal roundup
Fiscal Director Janelle Friese reported that the county’s finances continue to perform ahead of expectations through May.
General fund revenue totaled $49.1 million, approximately $4.5 million higher than the same period last year, reflecting continued growth in the county’s tax base and additional distributions received during 2026. Tax collections through June totaled $44.9 million, about $400,000 ahead of last year and consistent with historical trends.
General fund expenditures stood at 39.7 percent of the annual budget through May, slightly below the level normally expected at that point in the year.
Friese also reported that investment earnings continue to outperform budget projections, providing another positive indicator as the county moves through 2026.
Employee of the month
The commissioners concluded the meeting by recognizing Brandi Stevens, a tax assessment specialist in the Tax Services Department, as Franklin County’s July Employee of the Month.
Stevens has worked for Franklin County since March 1994 and received eight of the 17 nominations submitted to the county’s STAR Committee for July. Coworkers praised her willingness to mentor newer employees, extensive institutional knowledge and readiness to step into additional responsibilities whenever needed.
Commissioners congratulated Stevens on the recognition and thanked her for more than three decades of service to Franklin County.
