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Resident urges Franklin County commissioners to reconsider senior-meal increase and raises concern about local property
Summary
At a public comment period, a resident asked commissioners to delay after a July 1 increase in senior-center meal contributions from $2 to $3, saying it burdens frequent attendees, and urged officials to investigate reports that a government entity sought to buy a local property.
A resident addressing the Franklin County Board of Commissioners urged the board to reconsider a July 1 change that raised suggested payments at county senior centers from $2 to $3 per meal, saying the increase places a strain on seniors who attend meals frequently.
The commenter told commissioners “Valerie, Jordan” that the rise — a $1 increase — translates into a sizable annual cost for seniors who use the centers daily. She said many of the county’s low-income seniors rely on food vouchers at the Chambersburg farmers market and asked the board to “hold back on this decision for one more year” and reassess it in 2027. The statement attributed figures about county budgets and spending to the speaker’s internet research rather than county staff: the commenter said the county’s 2026 government budget was $154.22 million and that the human services budget showed $41.3 million with only $10.3 million spent to date; she urged commissioners to consider those numbers when evaluating the meal payment change.
During the same public-comment statement the resident raised an unverified concern that a government entity had shown interest in purchasing a local property referred to in the comment as the former Scotland School for Boys. The speaker named County official Bob Zabrowski and urged commissioners to reach out to Governor Josh Shapiro if they learned of any plan to acquire the site, saying she feared the property could be used in ways she opposed. The speaker framed the concern with references to historical abuses; she did not present documentary evidence during her remarks.
County staff later clarified to the board that payment for senior-center meals is voluntary and that the suggested contribution increased from $2 to $3 per meal.
The board did not take an immediate action in response to the comment; the matter was raised publicly during the comment period and may prompt follow-up or staff inquiries.
