APPROVED JANUARY 14, 2010

Minutes of Tax Collection Committee November 10, 2009 6:30 p.m. Mifflin County Annex Meeting Room

Delegates Present: Sean Daubert- MCSD Lisa J. Swisher- Granville James W. North-Armagh Mark DeVecchis- Lewistown Holli B. Barger- Armagh Alt 1 Pamela Liddle- Lewistown Alt 1 Jeffrey Ranck- Bratton Robert T. Long- Lewistown Alt 2 Teresa King- Brown Wilda Fisher- McVeytown Alt 1 Martin Bubb- Burnham Harold Johnson- Menno Margaret M Stewart- Derry Francis Goss- Oliver Alt 1 N. Sue Reinke- Derry Alt 1 Rich Fultz- Decatur

Quorum Present? Yes

Others Present: W. Keith Booher Nancy Sowich Betty Henry Mark A Sunderland James R. Fosselman Cathy L. Romig Vickie Kauffman

Proceedings: Meeting Called to order at 6:30 p.m. by County Commissioner, Mark Sunderland

 Selection of Chairperson: o Call for nominations o James North nominates Sean Daubert o Mark Devicchis seconds . All ayes . No opposed . No abstentions  Selection of Vice Chairperson: o Call for nominations o Mark Devicchis nominates Harold Johnson o Holli Barger seconds . All ayes . No opposed . No abstentions  Selection of Secretary: o Call for nominations o No nominations o Holli Barger agrees to take position o Peggy Stewart nominates Holli Barger for secretary o Harold Johnson seconds . All ayes . No opposed . No abstentions

 As per the agenda, Chairmen Sean Daubert discussed options for future meetings to develop bylaws and regulations. Committee wants to be sensitive to other regularly scheduled meetings of the school board and the local governments. Meeting not set but 2nd Thursday of each month as needed is tentative.  Meeting opened to public comment o Vickie Kauffman-Vickie received a non-filing notice from Miffco. She went to her tax preparer and obtained a copy of the return and took that and her carbon copy of her check to Miffco’s office. She felt that she was treated rudely by the staff, who told her that she would have noticed that they never cashed her check if she had balanced her check book. She was also charged a non-filing fee of $20, which she thought was unjustified since her check had been written in March, over a month before the tax filing due date. She also wanted to know why it took them so long to notify her. . Holli Barger explained part of the process of how the state shares information with Miffco . Chairman Daubert stated that the Mifflin County School District backs the efforts of the local tax collector to find non-filers and ensure compliance. He did however state that he did not endorse rudeness to taxpayers. . Chairman Daubert suggested that she schedule a meeting with Keith Booher, who did not comment . All were in agreement that comment was appreciated and will be noted in future meetings. Chairman Daubert pointed out that the Committee currently does not govern Miffco. o Nancy Sowich of PRN medical staffing raised complaints of dealing with Miffco in general and specifically issues due to recent changes with submitting Magnetic Media. . Holli Barger said that the Magnetic Media issue, while frustrating was common in accounting and tax software . Jim Fosselman agreed that it was standard, common practice and that the software/program used by Miffco had not been changed in years.  Chairman Daubert raised the issue of whether or not we need a solicitor. o Teresa King was not in favor of having an attorney at every meeting due to the cost to her township. o Chairman Daubert says that by law, expenses associated with Act 32 such as Auditor and Attorney are to be passed on to the localities. o Chairman Daubert suggests Attorney Jeff Snook is a possibility since he is solicitor for several townships and is familiar with the Act. o Holli Barger asked how many committee members feel that they are familiar enough with the Act to proceed without legal counsel. o Teresa King raised her hand. o The majority of the members were in favor of at least some legal counsel.  Vice Chairman Harold Johnson suggests that each delegate print Act 32 and become familiar with it before the next meeting. Act is 138 pages and can be found at www.newpa.com  Committee decides to have Attorney Jeff Snook at next meeting if willing and available.  Teresa King asks committee why a treasurer was not elected. She says that having a solicitor at the next meeting will mean there will be a bill incurred and the committee has no treasurer to bill each locality. Chairman Daubert says that the committee will need to decide if they want to create that infrastructure or leave that up to the individual localities. Decision tabled until next meeting

Notable Dates: Bylaws must be finished by April 2010 Appointment of Tax Collector must be made by September 15, 2010 Collection to begin by January 1, 2012

 Future meeting sites to be announced. Several delegates offered the use of their facilities as needed.  Per Chairman Daubert, Mifflin County School District will create a page on their website to post future meetings, minutes etc.  Committee notes that Martin Bubb does not receive email.  Keith Booher offers the Bylaws of the Perry county board for reference.

Meeting adjourned by Chairman Daubert at 7:27 p.m.

Minutes taken by Holli Barger