MERCER COUNTY BHC official: Agency won't buy new car

The commissioner took exception to CEO's explanation.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER -- A controversial purchase of a car by a health agency apparently will not take place.
Mercer County Commissioner Olivia Lazor said Friday she received an e-mail from Dana Frankenburg, chief executive officer of the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission, stating a decision was made June 24 not to buy the car because of BHC's dissatisfaction with the bid and trade-in price.
Controversy began at the June 26 commissioners' meeting when a resident asked why the BHC was advertising to buy a car, specifying a Bonneville SE and trading in a 2001 Ford Taurus with 42,000 miles on it.
Options required
The advertisement also required several options, including a CD player, adjustable electric seats and electric mirrors. Lazor had promised to find out why.
In response, Frankenburg wrote a letter to area newspapers, stating that the Bonneville was chosen from eight midsized automobiles in the belief, bolstered by Consumer Reports, that it would hold up better than some other cars and because of its higher trade-in value.
He said the specifications listed are all standard for that model, and the final price considered was $23,000, not the $28,000 to $34,000 price range noted.
He added that the decision to buy a car depends on the state funding outlook for the coming year, saying: "If the dollars are not used, they are lost." Frankenburg also said the agency maintains only four vehicles for 85 employees.
Lazor replied Friday that the county has 200 employees and only three cars in its pool. She said the county cars have an average 70,000 miles and the county in one instance even bought a used car from BHC for $6,000.
She said she asked Frankenburg why he didn't buy a car through state purchasing -- a cheaper alternative -- and he replied that he had been told his agency was not eligible. She said the BHC is eligible.
She called Frankenburg's statement that leftover state money must be used or be lost "almost outrageous in my mind to think if we don't spend it before June 30 we have to send it back, so we will spend it on a vehicle."
The BHC, according to Frankenburg, has a $20 million budget, with $420,000 provided by the county.
Money transfers
Two money transfers also drew criticism from Lazor, who says they could jeopardize the county budget.
Lazor voted against the request of Mercer County Coroner J. Bradley McGonigle to appoint two additional deputy coroners -- Robert Snyder of Sheakleyville and Dr. Mark Elisco of Hermitage. Commissioners Gene Brenneman and Kenneth Seamans voted for the measure.
The coroner pointed out there was no increase in his total budget, only a line-item change. He said the deputies are needed in order to cover all areas of the county.
But Lazor said Friday that transferring funds is risky because there is no way of knowing in July how many autopsies will be needed before the end of the year.
She pointed out autopsies cost $40,000 last year, overrunning the coroner budget by $8,000. This year, $40,000 was budgeted and $33,000 remains.
She added that there was no provision for new employees in the coroner's 2003 budget.
Lazor also objected to another transfer in the Intermediate Punishment Program, although she ultimately voted in favor of it.
A total of $16,827 in unbudgeted IPP funds was moved to offset a decrease in state funding from $85,179 to $68,352 -- a move that was unanticipated when the budget was prepared.
Lazor said the only safe thing to do is to keep leftover funds in reserve.