Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout940222 February 22, 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. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Historic Advisory Committee meeting. Commissioner Snook reported on the Airport Commission meeting and also suggested that the Commissioners send a letter to the Delegation to the General Assembly on Senate Bill 571 concerning residency requirements for county employees. The Commissioners discussed the matter and felt that this decision should be made individually by county and agreed to convey this to the Delegation. Commissioner Shank reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, and Commissioner Roulette reported on the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association meeting and the Rails to Trails meeting. APPOINTMENT - HISTORIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to appoint Ralph Young to the Historic Advisory Committee. Unanimously approved. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT APPLICATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve submittal of an application to the Department of Housing & Community Development for Emergency Shelter Grant Funds in the amount of $50,000 to be used for shelters operated by the Community Action Council and the Salvation Army. Unanimously approved. BOARD OF EDUCATION - REVISED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGET Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the Revised Capital Improvements Program Budget as submitted by the Board of Education. Unanimously approved. CHILD SUPPORT UNIT - OVERTIME REQUEST Kenneth Long, State's Attorney, and David Engle, Director of the Washington County Department of Social Services, met with the Commissioners to present their proposal for overtime hours in the Child Support Unit. Mr. Long stated that they have a backlog of 450 cases through November and feel it would cost approximately $16,000 in overtime to process the necessary paperwork. He informed the Commissioners that 66% of this cost could be reimbursed by the State and that he has approximately $8,700 remaining in his budget which could be used for the local share for this purpose. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to approve the request made by the State's Attorney for overtime hours for the Child Support Unit contingent upon the requirement that it not require any additional contribution from the County government. Unanimously approved. HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, and Fran Smith, Benefits Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners to present an update on the County's health insurance claims for the six-month period from July 1, 1993 - December 31, 1993. Mr. Davis reported that expenses have increased by 14% over last year's costs and actual claims processed have increased by 1,212, but the County should break even and finish the current fiscal year with total account reserve levels of $500,000. Mr. Davis recommended that the County solicit bids for a managed care package which could be offered to agency employees as part of the bid package for health insurance and stated that he feels this will have a substantial impact on lowering costs in the future. BUDGET TRANSFER - RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to approve the transfer of $1,000 from Utilities in the Recreation budget (01-5-1811-560-000) to Utilities in the Parks Department budget (01-5-1801-560-000) which was inadvertently placed in the wrong budget. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - HOUSING AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to appoint Paul Mellott to the Washington County Housing Authority to fill the unexpired term of Della Wachter extending to September 30, 1998. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 22, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT - TOWN OF WILLIAMSPORT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to provide the additional financial support requested by the Town of Williamsport in the amount of $8,552.49 for its pilot recycling program to be divided equally in the second and third year of the 4 year contract at the present contract percentage rates. Unanimously approved. GYPSY MOTH PROGRAM - COMMITMENT OF FUNDS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve up to $25,000 for the State's Gypsy Moth Program, not to exceed the amount expended for last year's program. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - EASEMENT APPLICATION RANKINGS The Commissioners convened the public hearing at 10:30 a.m. as advertised to select easement applicants for the Agricultural Land Preservation Program. Eric Seifarth informed the Commissioners that the State has asked that 50% of the applications be submitted for the January 1994 cycle since the funding is limited. Mr. Seifarth reviewed the applications and their ranking by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board. The meeting was then opened for public comments. Donald Allensworth spoke in opposition to the program, and Andrew Sussman spoke in support of the process and the rankings as they stand. Commissioner Shank expressed some concern with the category of Agriculture- Miscellaneous in the priority ranking system, and Mr. Seifarth agreed to take his concerns back to the Advisory Board. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve submittal of the four highest ranked Agricultural Land Preservation applications, as ranked by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board, to the State as presented. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth expressed his support of the Hagerstown Moose Lodge and stated that he feels the recent charges of racial discrimination against it are false. PROPOSED LEGISLATION - SALARY STUDY COMMISSION AND SANITARY DISTRICT LEGISLATION Barry Teach, County Administrator, submitted a draft of proposed legislation from the Delegation dealing with the establishment of a Washington County Salary Study Commission which would be created to consider salary adjustments for County elected officials, including the Board of County Commissioners, Board of Education, Treasurer, Sheriff, State's Attorney, and Judges of the Orphans Court. After discussion, the Commissioners recommended enlarging the proposed commission to allow two at-large members and also asked that the Delegation check with the groups referenced in the legislation to make sure they are willing to participate. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to support legislation to establish a formal Salary Review Commission with the amendment that two at- large members be added and that the groups referenced in the legislation be contacted to determine if they are willing to participate. Unanimously approved. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed not to change the Sanitary District legislation but to leave it as written. SEMPLES RUN DRAINAGE STUDY UPDATE Terry McGee, County Engineer, updated the Commissioners on the Semples Run Drainage Study and stated that the developer of Parkview Meadows is willing to be responsible for grading through the subdivision area and for pipe crossings under Bower Avenue but want to recover whatever lots they can through elimination of the drainage pond. Mr. McGee stated that they would also like the County to take over maintenance of the streets within the subdivision and, in exchange, will commit to financially help with the project based on the bid prices. The Commissioners discussed the matter, and Commissioner Roulette suggested they hold a community meeting to inform the residents of what is being planned. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:57 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 12:30 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. FEBRUARY 22, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at 12:31 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 Bowers, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:15 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed four personnel matters, one matter involving companies interested in locating at the Washington County Regional Airport, and consulted with counsel regarding three matters. The Commissioners also discussed amusement taxes as they relate to Bingo Island and the amusement tax differential between the County and City of Hagerstown. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 2:16 p.m. EVENING SESSION - TOWN OF KEEDYSVILLE The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Keedysville Town Hall by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following Commissioners present: Linda C. Irvin-Craig and John S. Shank. Also present was Mayor Ralph Taylor from the Town of Keedysville and Council members Kenneth Brandenburg, Wayne Kephart, Harold Moore, and Richard Sinnisen, and from the Town of Sharpsburg, Mayor Christopher Yeager, Vice Mayor George Kessler, and Council members Ralph Hammond, Ron Milburn, Ed Palmer and Russell Weaver. Tax Differential Barry Teach, Administrator, stated that pursuant to Section 6-305, 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 Fiscal Year 1993-94 Sharpsburg is estimated to receive $5,800 and Keedysville, $3,600, and that the two municipalities apply this money toward the service of a County deputy for 30 hours per week. He also explained that the estimated amounts will be subject to audited expenditures. Mayor Taylor complimented the job the County Roads Department has done in the recent ice and snow storms. Mayor Yeager expressed concerns regarding the public water and sewer system and the Sanitary District. Commissioner Roulette stated that an Allocation Committee was recently appointed and is looking at the administrative costs of the Sanitary District and for expenses that could be eliminated or lowered to see if the formula is fair and equitable system-wide. The Sharpsburg Council members discussed problems they are experiencing with the Sanitary District. Also discussed was a vacant building in the Town which the Council feels may be suitable for use as a museum. Marvin Harsh expressed his complaint that the County Roads Department snow plow is plowing the Potomac Fish & Game Club Road and also that the school bus turns around at this location which is private property. Commissioner Roulette stated that he would look into the matter. Robert Harsh asked the Commissioners to look into the road which is closed off near the Potomac Fish & Game Club. Jack Wetzel expressed his concerns regarding loss of access to the Potomac River and with the process used to obtain a permit for a boat dock. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk