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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031104 November 4, 2003 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 President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President, William J. Wivell, and Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Kercheval reported on the Planning Commission meeting. He stated that he attended the legislative forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Hagerstown Committee meeting. Commissioner Kercheval also provided a summary of the topics discussed at the meeting last week regarding alternative financing for school capital projects. Commissioner Nipps reminded the Commissioners that the Chamber of Commerce’s “Eggs & Issues” forum would be held tomorrow morning. Commissioner Munson reported on the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health meeting. He stated that he would like to revisit the Hagerstown Housing Authority’s request for a waiver of the excise tax. Commissioner Munson reviewed an advertisement in a motor home publication outlining requirements for convention locations. The Commissioners advised him to provide the information to the Economic Development Commission for follow-up. Commissioner Snook reminded the Board that the Smithsburg Fire Company would be dedicating its new rescue unit on November 6. He stated that the Contemporary School of Arts is sponsoring programs at the Martin Luther King Center on November 15. Commissioner Snook reported on the meeting of the University System of Maryland Center Steering Committee, the Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Maryland Association of Counties Executive Board. He read a letter from the Washington County Historical Trust requesting that the Commissioners reimburse them for an application they submitted to the State for funding of an architectural survey of Leitersburg. Due to limited State funding, the grant was not received, and the Trust is now requesting reimbursement of the $420 application fee. The Commissioners asked Steve Goodrich, Interim Planning Director, to review the request and report to them. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, informed the Commissioners that he met with Neil Pedersen, Administrator of the State Highway Administration, to review several County projects. Joe Kroboth, Director of the Emergency Services Department, informed the Commissioners that he requested funding from the Maryland Numbers Board for a digital recorder. He provided an update on the new cellular telephone requirements. Mr. Kroboth also advised the Commissioners of the possibility that his Department might incur higher long-distance charges due to a problem caused by the older technology used to transfer emergency calls. He stated that an after-action critique of the emergency operation center and activation procedures used during Hurricane Isabelle is scheduled for November 5. Mr. Kroboth also reminded the Commissioners that Citizens Emergency Preparedness Day activities are scheduled for November 15. The kick-off of the Home Chemical Safety Program will also be held this month. Steve Goodrich, Interim Planning Director, reported that the staff is reviewing the comments regarding the Comprehensive Zoning. He stated that the joint rezoning hearing is scheduled for November 10. Mr. Goodrich informed the Commissioners of the resignation of Kristin DeBold, Office Associate II, and outlined the need to fill her position. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Munson, to approve the request to fill the Office Associate II position in the Planning Department. Unanimously approved. NOVEMBER 4, 2003 PAGE TWO BUDGET TRANSFER – FORTY WEST LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to approve a budget transfer of $82,000 to provide for engineering and construction at various locations to address the wetland mitigation requirements at the Forty West landfill, with funds to be transferred from Landfill CIP Reserves. Unanimously approved. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES Dee Hawbaker, Assistant Resources Director, introduced new County employees Robert D. Franklin (Water Quality Department) and Kathleen Hedstrom (State’s Attorney’s Office). The Commissioners welcomed the new employees and wished them well in their new positions. RESOLUTION – DESIGNATION OF AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Nipps, to approve the revised Resolution (Designation of Authority having Jurisdiction for Washington County) delegating the authority conferred by the Code of Public Local Laws Section 10-402 for the provision of fire, rescue, and ambulance services in Washington County to the Director of Emergency Services, with the stipulation that the Director seek advice from the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, Inc. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD – PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to award the contract for the pump control system for the Department of Water Quality to Freemire & Associates, Inc., which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible bid of $33,500 to include Alternate No. 2. The pump station improvement costs are 100% developer reimbursable. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD – MOTOR & INDUSTRIAL OILS Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to award the contract for motor and industrial oils to H.N. Funkhouser & Company, which submitted the sole bid of $59,873.10, based on unit costs and estimated annual quantities, for a one-year period with no options for renewal. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners that there would be no meeting next week due to the Veterans’ Day holiday. REAPPOINTMENTS – PUBLIC GOLF CORPORATION Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to reappoint Richard Roulette and Mary Myers to the Public Golf Corporation Board of Directors for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT – SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Wivell, to appoint William Ruland to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. DISCUSSION OF 2004 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS Richard Douglas, County Attorney, reviewed the list of funding and legislative requests discussed for submittal to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly for the 2004 legislative session. Mr. Douglas stated that the list was revised following the discussion at last week’s meeting. He asked the Commissioners to indicate which items they wish to support. The staff will then assemble the necessary support documentation for presentation to the Delegation. The Commissioners discussed the funding requests and legislative agenda items. Funding Requests Runway Extension Project – request for $8 million in the following increments to lessen the cost of financing: FY 04 - $3 million, FY 05 - $3 million, and FY06 - $2 million. NOVEMBER 4, 2003 PAGE THREE Support for bond bill for a Central Booking Facility – The Commissioners agreed to discuss the details of this request with Sheriff Mades next week before submitting it to the Delegation. Support for Request for Fifth Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Shoop stated that they expect the renovations at the Court House to be completed in FY 2005 to accommodate the new judge. New Parking Deck for Arts & Entertainment District – This would be a joint request from the City of Hagerstown and Washington County for a $500,000 grant toward the construction of a new parking deck to serve the Arts & Entertainment District and provide additional parking for the University System of Maryland. The Commissioners agreed to discuss the City’s funding priorities with them before submitting the request to the Delegation. Highway User Revenues – Request to reinstate highway user revenues that were removed during FY ‘04 and are scheduled to be removed in FY ‘05. Legislative Requests Addition of Second Deputy State’s Attorney – State’s Attorney Ken Long has requested an amendment of MD. Code, Article 10, Section 40, for authorization to create an additional deputy state’s attorney position. The position would be created from one of the existing assistant positions. Bond authorization – It was the consensus of the Commissioners to request bonding authority of $50 million. Commissioner Wivell dissented on the amount of bonding authority being requested. Gaming Legislation – The Gaming Commission is seeking the following legislation: The Board of License Commissioners would not issue a license to an applicant who has outstanding gaming proceeds, payments or fines. The County Commissioners may establish an annual fee for non- profit bingo permits. The present law allows the charging of fees only to for-profit bingo operations. The Commissioners discussed the request and decided to make no change in the current statute. A wholesale operator’s license may not be held by the holder of a tip jar operator’s license or certain related parties, or an association of tip jar operators. Lengthen the time a school bus may operate from 12 to 15 years – The Commissioners agreed to submit this request to the Delegation. Emergency Services Tax – the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association has made the request that the Commissioners seek enabling authority to impose a tax. The Commissioners did not support this request. Commissioner Kercheval suggested that the Commissioners also include on the agenda a discussion of fees for agricultural land preservation and compensation to landowners, such as transferable development rights (TDRs) and installment purchase arrangements (IPAs). The Commissioners also discussed the possibility of assessing a flat fee per real estate tax account with proceeds to be used for agricultural land preservation. The requirement could then be removed from the transfer tax legislation that $400,000 be designated for agricultural land preservation. The Commissioners agreed to include this on the agenda for presentation to the Delegation Commissioner Wivell suggested that they discuss the removal of the prevailing wage rate requirement for school construction projects with the Delegation. He indicated that there might also be the need for legislation dealing with PenMar Development Corporation. NOVEMBER 4, 2003 PAGE FOUR Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to present the list of legislative requests, as revised, to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly for consideration for the 2004 session. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to participate. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to convene in closed session at 10:44 a.m. to discuss personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, 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 Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to reconvene in open session at 11:34 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed three (3) personnel items that affect one or more specific individuals and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on two (2) matters. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, William J. Wivell, James F. Kercheval, Doris J. Nipps, and John C. Munson. Also present at various times were Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Richard Douglas; County Attorney; John Martirano, Assistant County Attorney; Duane Gigeous, Part-time Assistant County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Carolyn Motz, Airport Manager; and David Hankinson, Director of Human Resources. ADJOURNMENT – LUNCHEON & TOUR OF CASA The Commissioners adjourned at 11:34 a.m. in order to attend a luncheon and tour at the Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused (CASA) facility. , County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk