Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
York County approves juvenile and federal planning grants amid debate over staffing and oversight
Summary
Commissioners voted to accept juvenile justice and federal planning grants and to begin planning work, while several raised questions about staffing (grant compliance officer, case managers), reimbursement timing and audit capacity; staff were directed to produce a clear responsibilities plan.
County staff briefed the board on two grants related to juvenile justice, mental-health services and planning. Commissioners heard that one planning grant is intended to create a roadmap for county programs and make the county more competitive for follow-on funding; staff described partner roles and a preliminary staffing plan that included case managers, a program manager and a grant compliance officer.
The board debated how many hires would be needed and whether the positions would be county employees or subawards. "Anytime that you get money from the federal government, there are strings attached," a commissioner said, urging careful oversight. Another commissioner said the county should hire a grant compliance officer early to avoid being behind during reimbursements and audits.
Several commissioners expressed concern about reimbursement timing and cash-flow: the grants are reimbursement-based and the county must be able to front payroll and other costs before federal reimbursement arrives. Commissioners requested a written action plan listing who would be responsible for quarterly and semiannual reporting, subaward oversight, and how the county will manage cash-flow during reimbursement cycles.
After discussion, the board moved and approved accepting the grants and authorized staff to proceed with the preplanning and training required within 30 days, with the expectation staff would return with a clear staffing and oversight plan by early next year.
