Tempers flare at county meeting with expletive-laced tirade during CYS staffing vote

Carlisle, Pennsylvania — A growing volume of children needing care provided by Cumberland County Children & Youth, including increasingly “complex cases,” was the center of a sometimes expletive-laced attack that Democrat Commissioner Jean Foschi fueled, alongside Republican Commissioner Kelly Neiderer – targeting Commissioner Gary Eichelberger, during Thursday’s Cumberland County Commissioners Meeting. Eichelberger was the single “no” vote, against hiring two additional Children & Youth case workers, believing a hiring freeze should be undertaken by the county, facing a $3.3M budget deficit, with a process that considers other cost offsetting measures and addressing the prime “drivers” of the problem. 

Foschi referenced her testimony the day prior (Oct. 23) in a hearing before the state’s Children & Youth (House) Committee. (Foschi is a member of the statewide CCAP Complex Case Task Force.) Foschi said the facilities are stressed with the volume; and sometimes youth have to stay in C&Y offices, or hotels, when there is nowhere to place a child, costing “the tune of $2,200 a day.”  

Neiderer reiterated her position, stating she supported C&Y Director Necole Gresh’s plan, approved by the state and within her funding parameters, which considered the rising volume and “complex cases.” Neiderer quoted the cost of “up to $1,000 a day” for the special facilities that handle these very “challenging” cases. 

Then Foschi turned on attack mode, claiming that Eichelberger’s motive is campaign-driven (at around minute mark 13:30).

Eichelberger said he has reservations about the expansion plan. Eichelberger said he wished the debate would consider other cost offsetting measures, but the offline debate resulted in an “all or nothing” option. Eichelberger said the “cost structure” is out of control, which threw Neiderer to holler back: “My cost structure?! The one I inherited, the one you handed me for a $20M deficit? “ to which Eichelberger told her to look in the direction of Foschi, who served on the previous Board of Commissioners.