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HomeMy WebLinkAbout020108 January 8, 2002 Hagerstown, Maryland The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Vice President Paul L. Swartz with the following members present: Commissioners Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. (President Snook was aboard the inaugural flight of the Pan Am Clipper Connection from BWI Airport to Hagerstown and would join the Commissioners at the ceremony at the Hagerstown Regional Airport at 10:00 a.m.) INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Schnebly, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – DECEMBER 18, 2001 Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Wivell, to approve the minutes of December 18, 2001, as submitted. Unanimously approved. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES Dee Hawbaker, Assistant Director of Human Resources, introduced new County employees Robert Coe (Plant Operator – Water & Sewer Department) and Jeannine Klein (Accounts Receivable Technician – Budget & Finance). The Commissioners welcomed the new employees and wished them well in their positions. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Iseminger reported on the meetings of the Public Golf Corporation, the Agricultural Education Center, and the Planning Commission. He informed the Commissioners that he met with Delegate Shank and Senator Munson regarding their concerns about the cellular phone tower provisions of the County’s Zoning Ordinance. Commissioner Iseminger also stated that he was in attendance when the Olympic torch passed through Hagerstown. Commissioner Schnebly reported on the Airport Advisory Commission meeting. Commissioner Swartz reported on the meetings of the Arts & Entertainment District Steering Committee and the Recreation & Parks Board. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, informed the Commissioners that he has been working on personnel requests for the FY 2003 budget. He also reported that he met with Donna Messina, the City’s new Human Resources Director, and that the County staff is reviewing its safety program with the City. Mr. Davis stated that the Medical Review Officer has approved the County’s automatic external defibrillator training program. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, stated that she and her staff are working on budgets, the quarterly report, and the presentation to the bond rating agencies. Joe Kroboth, Emergency Services Director, reported on meetings of the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association and the anti-terrorism coalition. He asked the Commissioners to consider recommending Bridgette Heller to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for appointment to the Local Emergency Planning Committee as a representative of emergency medical services. Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to submit the name of Bridgette Heller to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for appointment to the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Unanimously approved. Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, informed the Commissioners that the Economic Development Administration has asked the County to request an extension for the Halfway Boulevard Extended project. He stated that he is ready to submit the information for the JANUARY 8, 2002 PAGE TWO Program Open Space conversion of the Ditto Knolls property. Mr. Arch thanked the Information Technology staff for their help in th developing the website for the 140 re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam. He reported on the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting and the Heritage Area program. Mr. Arch informed the Commissioners that he received 45 applications for funding from hotel rental tax proceeds and that they would be considered as part of the budget process. He also stated that his staff is looking at the possible use of CDBG funds for redevelopment efforts in the Cascade area. PROPOSED LIBRARIES IN SMITHSBURG & BOONSBORO Michael Schaeffer, President of the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Free Library, and Mary Baykan, Library Director, met with the Commissioners to request that they allocate funding in the capital budget for construction of new branch libraries in Smithsburg and Boonsboro. Mr. Schaeffer stated that there is widespread support for both projects in the respective communities. Judith Ferro, President of the Smithsburg Library Board, provided an update on their campaign to construct a new branch library. She stated that the Board decided on a site in Veterans Park, but found that since the site was purchased with Program Open Space monies that there would have to be an exchange made with an appropriate parcel. Ms. Ferro indicated that they have found an appropriate parcel to “swap” with the Board of Education and that the proposal has been sent to Annapolis for review. She also outlined some of the fundraising activities they have planned. Richard Hawkins, Boonsboro Town Council member and liaison to the Boonsboro Library Board, informed the Commissioners that the Mayor and Council are willing to contribute by providing land for the new library. He reviewed some sites they are considering and also informed the Commissioners of fundraising activities in that community. The Commissioners discussed the information with the group and the proposed size of the facilities. They agreed that they would have to discuss the amount of funding they could contribute since neither of the projects is included in the current long-range Capital Improvement Program budget. The Commissioners asked the Library Board to determine which project should be started first since they would not be able to fund both projects concurrently. RECESS – DEPART FOR HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT The Commissioners recessed at 9:45 a.m. in order to attend the ceremony at the Hagerstown Regional Airport welcoming the new Pan Am scheduled air service to Baltimore. INAUGURATION OF PAN AM AIR SERVICE TO BALTIMORE AND CUMBERLAND The Commissioners participated in the ceremony welcoming the inaugural flight of the Pan Am scheduled air service to Baltimore and Cumberland. DEDICATION OF AIRPORT CRASH RESCUE VEHICLE The Commissioners participated in a ceremony to dedicate the newly acquired crash rescue vehicle that was donated to the airport by the Maryland Aviation Administration on November 14. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President Paul L. Swartz, and Commissioners John L. Schnebly, Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., and William J. Wivell. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION J. Michael Nye, Executive Director of Community Rescue Service, informed the Commissioners that he met with the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (WCVFRA) regarding his request for a grant of $50,000 from the County to match one given by the City of Hagerstown. Mr. Nye stated them that the Association voted to endorse the request with the stipulation that all companies receive the same amount. Jason JANUARY 8, 2002 PAGE THREE Baer, President of the WCVFRA, stated that he recognizes the problems at CRS and was not happy with the vote. Mr. Nye stated that CRS is at a point where it will need to cut its operations without additional funding. Commissioner Iseminger asked that the Association earnestly reconsider the request within the next 30 days. Commissioner Snook stated that the Commissioners would take the request under consideration in hopes of taking action within the next two to three weeks. Karl Weissenbach, representing the Cascade Committee, expressed his concerns with the pace of redevelopment of Fort Ritchie and the effect the closure has had on the Cascade community. He provided a list of recommendations that he believes would help to remedy the problems. CONTRACT AWARD & BUDGET TRANSFER – INTERFACE BETWEEN THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM AND STATE AND FEDERAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to award the contract to provide an interface between the Sheriff’s Office computer-aided dispatch system and the State of Maryland’s Maryland Interagency Law Enforcement System/National Crime Information Computer system to Keystone Information Systems, Inc. in the amount of $72,121 (including $5,000 for 7/24 maintenance – item DD on the price schedule) and to approve the budget transfer request of $33,000 from the Capital Improvement Program contingency to cover the funding shortfall for this project. Unanimously approved. (Commissioner Wivell was out of the room when this vote was taken.) TRANSFER OF SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS – BARKDOLL TRACT SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Swartz, to approve a resolution authorizing the bond trustee, Allfirst Trust Company National Association, to transfer each of the special obligation bonds for the Barkdoll Tract Special Taxing District, Series 1998, 1998 B, and 2000 from the present holder, Prime Retail, L.P., to Outlet Village of Hagerstown Limited Partnership, waiving the requirement that any transfer be accompanied by an opinion of bond counsel, and consenting to the transfer (resolution attached). Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD – DESIGN AND PREPARATION OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR CELL 2 AT THE FORTY WEST LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Iseminger, to award the contract for design services to prepare construction plans for Cell 2 at the Forty West Landfill to EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc., for the total lump sum fee of $78,920. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners discussed various landfill issues including the possibility of implementing an environmental fee, upcoming negotiation of rates for large haulers, and the purchase of a bailer. They asked the staff to come back with a recommendation on whether the environmental fee could be charged. PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM - ADOPTION OF PURCHASING CARD POLICY Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, and Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners to review the new purchasing card program and the proposed policy to control the use of cards assigned to employees. Ms. Luther stated that the purchasing cards would be used to procure low dollar value goods and services of less than $1,000 each. She informed the Commissioners that the cards would benefit the County by streamlining the purchasing process, providing additional flexibility and efficiency. Ms. Luther explained that the program would also reduce the number of manual checks processed through Accounts Payable. She then reviewed the proposed Purchasing Card Policy with the Commissioners. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to adopt the policy and to allow minor revisions to be made with the approval of the County Administrator. Commissioner Snook stated that he would like to review the policy in six months to see how well it is working. Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to approve the Purchasing Card Policy, as presented. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 8, 2002 PAGE FOUR APPROVAL - PAYMENT ON CLAIM FOR HOMEOWNER REPLACEMENT COST Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Schnebly, to approve payment to John Bowers in an amount up to $23,905.33 under the Federal Homeowner Replacement Cost program to reimburse Mr. Bowers for costs incurred in connection with the purchase of a dwelling comparable to his former residence at 14560 Pennsylvania Avenue, which was purchased by the County. The FAA will reimburse the County for 90% of the cost and the MAA will reimburse 5%. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS – RECREATION & PARKS BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Iseminger, to reappoint Mildred “Mickey” Myers, Barry Brown, and Carroll “Jerry” Strailman to the Recreation & Parks Board for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. RE/APPOINTMENTS – AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Swartz, to reappoint John Shank and Hal Spielman to the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Education Center for three-year terms and to appoint Kirk Stiles to fill an existing vacancy on the Board that extends to November 30, 2004. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - EMERGENCY SERVICES COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Swartz, to appoint James LaFleur, Dr. Lawrence Johns, Mary Kalin, Jack Latimer, Jay Grimes and Wayne Williams to the Emergency Services Council, with Commissioner Iseminger to serve as the Commissioners’ representative on the Council. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Board that County employees raised a grand total of $6,753 through Casual Day collections for 2001. Employees also collected 620 pounds of food for Food Resources and the Red Cross collection for 9- 11. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Swartz, to convene in closed session at 1:35 p.m. to discuss personnel issues, consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, discuss a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy for a bid or proposal, and consider a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Iseminger, to reconvene in open session at 3:13 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed one (1) personnel issue, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on one (1) matter, discussed one (1) matter directly related to negotiating strategy for a bid or proposal, and considered a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, Paul L. Swartz, Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. Also present at various times were Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Richard Douglas, County Attorney; John Martirano, Assistant County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Tim Troxell, Assistant Director of the Economic Development Commission (EDC); Cassandra Latimer, EDC Marketing Coordinator; Gerald Hoak, EDC member; Debra Bastian, Director of Finance; Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development; Carolyn Motz, Regional Airport Manager; Phil Ridenour, Special Operations Administrator; Greg Larsen, Airport Marketing Specialist; and Chuck Trice, URS Corporation. APPOINTMENT – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Swartz, to appoint James Hamill to the Economic Development Commission to fill the unexpired term of Donald Bowman, which extends to June 30, 2002. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 8, 2002 PAGE FIVE ADJOURNMENT AND TOUR OF HERBST AGRICULTURAL FARM The Commissioners adjourned at 3:15 p.m. in order to tour the Herbst family dairy farm in Smithsburg. , County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk