Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout940125 January 25, 1994 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. QUARTERLY SERVICE PIN AWARDS Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, presented service pins to the following employees in recognition of their years of service with the County government: 20 years - Arnold Barr and Doug Eccard; 15 years - Carroll Keller and Manford Hart; 10 years - Sherry Bowers, Barbara Brown, Joyce Ripple, Bob Farmer and Chris Doyle; and 5 years - Angela Smith, Crystal Bennett, Janet Moats, Debbie Yost, Kelly Ausherman, Keith Bowers, Brian Banzhoff, William Cooper, Steven Pryor, and Terry Shiffler. Commissioner Roulette congratulated and thanked the employees for their long-term service and loyalty to the County government. WHITETAIL SKI SHUTTLE - RECOMMENDATION TO TERMINATE SERVICE Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter, appeared before the Commissioners on behalf of the Transportation Commission regarding its recommendation to terminate shuttle service to the Whitetail Ski Resort. Mr. Godwin distributed a handout listing the expenses and income for the shuttle which displayed a deficit of $3,121.99 on the trips. He also indicated that they had only 6 passengers in 48 trips. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to accept the recommendation of the Transportation Commission and terminate the shuttle service to the Whitetail Ski Resort. Unanimously approved. CHANGE ORDER - MAUGANS AVENUE PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the use of unallocated State Aid funds for the Maugans Avenue project to cover the $225,000 shortfall and to approve a Change Order in the amount of $32,068.95 to C. William Hetzer, Inc., as close-out of this project. Unanimously approved. UPDATE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN - FY 1993-94 AND FY 1994-95 Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, presented an update on the Affirmative Action Plan for Fiscal Year 1993-94 and 1994-95. He briefly reviewed the report and indicated changes in the minority percentages. Mr. Davis stated that the Plan will be considered for approval at next week's meeting. Commissioner Irvin-Craig asked that the update be reviewed with the Commission for Women. VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION MATTERS Ron Jeter and Bill Pennington, representing the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, met with the Commissioners to discuss the new Fire & Rescue Coordinator position and the standards adopted by the Association for equipment. Mr. Jeter also explained the changes the Association is considering. The Commissioners assured Mr. Jeter and Mr. Pennington that the County will permit the Association to participate in interviewing for the Fire & Rescue Coordinator position and that this position will primarily be a resource to assist the Association. JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS RZ-94-02 AND FC-94-1 The Commissioners asked that the Joint Rezoning Hearing for Zoning Text Amendments RZ-94-02 and FC-94-1 be rescheduled and readvertised since the Planning Commission did not have a quorum present. EXTENSION SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT Mary Ellen Waltemire, Executive Director of the Washington County Extension Service, and Kathleen Riley, Chairperson of the Advisory Council, appeared before the Commissioners to present its 1993 Annual Report. Ms. Waltemire introduced faculty and staff members in attendance and highlighted programs the Extension Service provides in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, 4-H and youth development, natural resources, nutrition and health, family, leadership, and economic stability. Ms. Waltemire thanked the Commissioners for their support of the programs and discussed possible funding for an additional faculty position in the County. She stated that they want to inform the University of Maryland as soon as possible if the County is interested in an additional position and that this would require a County commitment of $11,000 in FY 1995. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to support the request to the University of Maryland for an additional faculty position at the Washington JANUARY 25, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. County Cooperative Extension Service in the Fiscal Year 1995 budget with a County share of approximately $11,000. Unanimously approved. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION - BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS Leroy Burtner, Director of the Economic Development Commission, and Sondra Ridenour, Chairperson of the Marketing Committee, presented plaques to the recipients of the Economic Development Commission's beautification awards for existing businesses or properties which are in a visual location and have superior standards in their overall appearance in the neighborhood. She presented awards to Mark Bikle representing Bast of Boonsboro/Boonsboro Museum of History; to Asad Ghattas owner of Fountainhead Plaza/Office Suppliers; and to Charles Sekula, owner of the Schmankerel Stube. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to participate. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 11 & 18, 1994 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of January 11 and January 18, 1994, as submitted. Unanimously approved. REQUESTS FOR OLD COUNTY VOTING MACHINES Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Election Board has received requests from several municipalities to purchase the old voting machines from them when they receive the new machines. The Commissioners discussed the request and agreed to offer each County municipality two machines at no charge. DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES - MCFARLAND ROAD TIMBER BRIDGE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to accept the recommendation of the Coordinating Committee and accept the proposal of Sweetland Engineering, Inc., who submitted the low proposal of $25,100 for the design and construction inspection services for the McFarland Road Timber Bridge project. Unanimously approved. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - RECREATION AND PARKS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the following transfer as requested by the Recreation and Parks Department: $1,440 from Rentals-Facilities (01-5-1811-523-020), $560 from Gasoline (01-5-1811-550- 010), $500 from Automobile Allowance (01-5-1811-557-000), $500 from Utilities (01-5-1811-560-000), $100 from Postage (01-5-1811-515-000), and $400 from Contract Maintenance & Repairs (01-5-1811-554-000) for a total of $3,500 to Wages - Temporary (01-5-1811-413-000). Unanimously approved. OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SUMMER PLAY CAMPS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Operational Standards for Summer Play Camps conducted by the Washington County Recreation and Parks Department as submitted. Unanimously approved. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM The Commissioners agreed not to offer a summer employment program this year but to try to budget youth summer employment for Fiscal Year 1995. LEASE - FT. TONOLOWAY The Commissioners reviewed the lease for Ft. Tonoloway sent by the Department of Natural Resources and asked the County Attorney to obtain information on the access road into the property and its ownership before accepting the lease. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Historic Advisory Committee's meeting with the Antietam Battlefield Advisory Committee and the Transportation Commission meeting; Commissioner Shank reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting; and Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:19 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:07 p.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. JANUARY 25, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 1:08 p.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, and to consider businesses relocating in Washington County, in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:25 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed seven matters involving personnel, five matters involving economic development and industries locating in Washington County, consulted with counsel regarding a development in Washington County, and discussed a matter in litigation. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting at this time. The Commissioners recessed to travel to Hancock and Clear Spring to meet with town governments. MEETING WITH TOWN OF HANCOCK The Commissioners met with Mayor Ralph Wachter and Councilmembers Sally Fost and Louis Close at 3:10 p.m. in the Community Building in Hancock. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Section 6-305 of the Tax- Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax differential or payment-in-lieu of services program. Mr. Teach stated that for the last fiscal year the Town will receive $34,139 and for FY 1994-95 is estimated to receive $35,895 but the final payment will be based on audited expenditures. The Commissioners discussed the State's Admissions and Amusement Tax with the Town officials and Mr. Teach offered to send them a copy of the State law. The Commissioners also discussed the Ft. Tonoloway lease and the questions regarding access to the property, recycling updates, and the transfer of the Monterey House property. Mayor Wachter asked the Commissioners to send a letter in support of updates and improvements to the C & O Canal. The Commissioners recessed at 4:00 p.m. MEETING WITH TOWN OF CLEAR SPRING The Commissioners met at 4:30 p.m. with Mayor Paul Hose, Vice Mayor Julianna Albowicz, and Councilmembers Mason Mundey and Gary Grove, at the Clear Spring Town Hall. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Section 6-305 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax differential or payment-in-lieu of services program. He stated that the Town of Clear Spring will receive the minimum payment of $2,000. The Commissioners discussed the Town's sewage treatment plant capacity and possible allocation of surplus, benefits and disadvantages associated with the nearby Whitetail Ski Resort, and an update on the negotiations for land for the construction of a proposed senior citizens housing complex. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 5:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney Clerk