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HomeMy WebLinkAbout040217 February 17, 2004 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners participated in the State of the County forum sponsored by the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel at 7:30 a.m. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:30 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 10, 2004 Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Nipps, to approve the minutes of February 10, 2004, as amended. Unanimously approved. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES Dee Hawbaker, Human Resources Administrator, introduced new County employees Joel Footen (Sheriff’s Department), Michelle Rupp (State’s Attorney’s Office), Terri Shoemaker-Kreit (Budget & Finance), and Cynthia Langwell (State’s Attorney’s Office). The Commissioners welcomed the new employees and wished them well in their new positions. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Kercheval reported on the Planning Commission meeting. He stated that the Planning Commission finished reviewing the individual zoning requests and that their recommendations would be coming before the Commissioners for a final decision. The Commissioners agreed to schedule public hearings for the 37 properties in question. They directed staff to make a recommendation on the best way to structure the hearings. Commissioner Kercheval stated that he attended the Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Company banquet and the Miss Maryland Scholarship Foundation and Parent/Child Center fundraiser. He also reported on the Economic Development Commission (EDC) meeting and informed the Commissioners that the EDC would like the Commissioners to appoint its new members in May to allow them to be included in their annual strategic planning meeting which is held in June. Commissioner Wivell informed the Commissioners that he attended last week’s meeting of the Local Delegation to the General Assembly regarding proposed changes to the PenMar Development Corporation legislation. He also reported on the MACo Legislative and Taxation Committee meeting and provided an update on several bills that they reviewed. Commissioner Wivell stated that he, Hagerstown Council member Penny Nigh, and Robert Brennan, Assistant Secretary of Financing Programs for the Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED) met with DBED Secretary, Aris Melissaratos, regarding the loss of “blue collar” jobs in Hagerstown. He stated that he attended the Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Company banquet. Commissioner Wivell reported on the strategic planning session held by the PenMar Development Corporation Board. Commissioner Munson suggested that the former Chief of Community Rescue be nominated as the Citizen of the Month. The Commissioners agreed and asked Commissioner Munson to supply the necessary information. Commissioner Nipps reported that the Commission for Women would be holding a ceremony on March 10 to announce the winners of their essay contest. She stated that she attended the Western Maryland Consortium meeting. Commissioner Nipps informed the Commissioners that she spoke to Delegate Shank regarding the options for funding school capital projects presented by the Task Force on School Construction. She stated that he hopes to schedule a meeting with Nancy Kopp, State Treasurer, who chaired the Task Force to further discuss their concerns. Commissioner Nipps indicated that she feels a County representative should be included on the new Board of Education task force being formed to review the fees being charged for groups using their facilities. FEBRUARY 17, 2004 PAGE TWO Commissioner Snook reported on the meeting of the Public Safety Interoperability Governance Working Group. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to promote Sandy Schulte to fill the vacant Office Manager position in the Department of Permits and Inspections. Unanimously approved. Steve Goodrich, Interim Director of the Planning Department, stated that the Planning Commission finalized its recommendations on the individual applications for changes to the comprehensive rezoning of rural areas and reviewed the process to bring the recommendations before the Commissioners. ADOPTION OF 2004 COUNTY GOALS The Commissioners discussed the goals reviewed at last week’s meeting. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Wivell, to adopt the following goals for 2004 as modified: 1) Develop and implement a Highway Pavement Management Plan, 2) Adopt Rural Area Zoning after consideration of the Task Force recommendations and begin implementation of Comprehensive Plan recommendations for Urban and Town Growth Areas, 3) Enhance e- government services by developing procedures to post appropriate documents and data on the Internet and intra-net and by developing a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) system on the County web page, 4) Develop and implement a rewards/recognition program for County employees that is linked to a suggestion program, 5) Work with municipalities to develop policies to increase urban tax base,. 6) Develop a program to utilize the runway extension, increase the tax base, and promote the advantages of the Foreign Trade Zone at the Airport, and 7) Develop a master plan to ensure adequate emergency medical services for the citizens of Washington County. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION Raymond Tylicki distributed information on alternative biofuels and stated that he would like the County to consider using them in the County Commuter buses. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that additional budget workshop meetings might have to be scheduled to finalize the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) FY 2005-2010 BUDGET PRESENTATION The Commissioners continued their review of the projects submitted for the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2005-2010. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, attended the workshop. The Commissioners reviewed projects proposed for railroad crossings, bridges, and parks and recreation. The Commissioners discussed the recommendations made by the Recreation & Parks Board regarding Program Open Space (POS) projects. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to include the projects recommended which utilize POS funds and to adjust the schedule for the remaining projects out to the following fiscal years. They also agreed to include the project to construct restrooms at the Doubs Woods Park maintenance facility using the $40,000 that was received from the sale of land at the park. The Commissioners discussed the request for the construction of several new buildings at the Agricultural Education Center. They asked staff to make recommendations regarding future reductions and agreed that the Ag Center needs to generate revenue to cover the operating costs of its facilities. Mr. Rohrer discussed the repairs needed to the dam located at Devil’s Backbone Park. He stated that there was a prior appropriation of $100,000 made for the project and asked to proceed with design of the project. Mr. Rohrer informed the Commissioners that the State has agreed to assist in finding grant funding for this project. It was the consensus FEBRUARY 17, 2004 PAGE THREE of the Commissioners to transfer the prior appropriation funding to road repair projects. RECESS – LUNCHEON AT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS The Commissioners recessed at 11:49 a.m. in order to attend a luncheon sponsored by the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:27 p.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. REQUEST FROM CITY OF HAGERSTOWN - FUNDING FOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AREA PARKING DECK The Commissioners discussed the request from the City of Hagerstown that the County match the City’s grant of $300,000 per year over the next two fiscal years to help construct a new parking deck on South Potomac Street. The deck would serve the Arts and Entertainment District as well as the new University System of Maryland Center. Commissioner Wivell stated that he would prefer to wait until the CIP budget is complete and consider alternative methods of financing the project. Commissioner Munson indicated that he was undecided at this time. Commissioners Kercheval and Nipps expressed their support for the program and asked that staff compile information on tax credit programs that are used in other jurisdictions. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to support the City of Hagerstown’s request for County funding of $300,000 in FY 2005 and $300,000 in FY 2006 for construction of a new parking deck on South Potomac Street, with the financing method to be determined at a later date. Motion carried with Commissioner Kercheval, Nipps, and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioners Wivell and Munson voting “NO.” FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR EXTENSION OF RUNWAY 9-27 Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Lester Guthorn, Financial Advisor, met with the Commissioners to review and discuss financing options available for the extension of Runway 9-27. Mr. Guthorn and Ms. Bastian outlined the following scenarios for their consideration: 1) One - eight year bonds; 2) Two - ten year bonds; 3) Three – twenty year bonds; 4) variable rate issue; and 5) grant anticipation notes. Ms. Bastian explained that the scenario 1 (8-year bonds) would provide the lowest cost of financing, but would also have the most risk. Scenario 2 (10- year bonds) would provide for a small amount of flexibility but would cause the County additional interest costs. Scenario 3 (20-year bonds) would hold the highest cost for the County but would provide the most flexibility. Ms. Bastian indicated that they had until the second quarter of 2005 to review the information and determine which package is most appropriate in meeting the financing requirements of the project. She stated that the project would require cash flow financing of $18,845,000 to fund the timing difference. Ms. Bastian reviewed a graph outlining debt service costs for various bond fund options. The meeting was opened for questions from the Commissioners. PROPOSAL – ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE (APFO) TRANSITION POLICY Steve Goodrich, Interim Planning Director, met with the Commissioners to present a policy for their consideration regarding payment of the APFO school contribution. Mr. Goodrich stated that the proposal would permit payment of the contribution at some time other than before subdivision approval. The policy would apply only to minor subdivisions applications (5 lots or fewer) that were submitted to the Planning Department but not approved before January 1, 2004. He recommended that they be given the option to make the APFO payment at the building permit application stage. Angela Smith, Deputy Director of Permits & Inspections, outlined the FEBRUARY 17, 2004 PAGE FOUR process that would be used by the Permits Department. The meeting was then opened for discussion and questions. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to adopt a transition policy for the APFO fee as outlined to permit payment of the contribution at the building permit application stage for minor subdivisions of five lots or fewer. Unanimously approved. EARLY ACTION COMPACT TO ATTAIN EIGHT-HOUR OZONE STANDARD Mr. Goodrich and Jill Baker, Planner, introduced Howard Simons and Mike Nixon from the Maryland Department of Transportation, Jim Frazier from Baker Consultants, and Brian Huff from the Maryland Department of the Environment. The group appeared before the Commissioners to present control measures to attain new 8–hour Ozone Standards. Mr. Simon reviewed the list of measures that are currently in place in Washington County or which the County has agreed to institute in order to reach attainment status by 2007. He then reviewed the list of control measures that the County could implement if attainment is not reached by 2007. Mr. Goodrich stated that the selected control measures were chosen based on the most effective measures that had little fiscal impact to the County. The measures will be presented at public hearing on February 25 and, if approved, recommendations would be made to the Board by early March. The adopted recommendations would then be incorporated into the Early Action Plan that will be submitted to the EPA by March 31, 2004. The staff stated that they hope to present the recommendations to the Commissioners in early March for their consideration. BID AWARD – CONSTRUCTION/BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to award the contract for construction/building inspection services to Development Facilitators, Inc., which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible proposal in the amount of $60,750 and the hourly unit price for each class of inspector. This is a one-year contract with four consecutive one-year renewals. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:52 p.m. JOINT MEETING WITH CITY OF HAGERSTOWN The Commissioners met with Mayor William Breichner and City Council members Linn Hendershot, Kristin Aleshire, Lewis Metzner, Penny Nigh, and Carol Moller at City Hall at 4:00 p.m. Tax Setoff – City of Hagerstown Commissioner Snook stated that, pursuant to Section 6-306 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 setoff program. He then reviewed the calculations made for the services included in the program - parks, highways, and police. Commissioner Snook stated that, for fiscal year 2004, the City is estimated to receive $1,009,408. He indicated that the Joint Tax Setoff Committee meetings resumed meeting to discuss revising the formula. Once it is finalized, the recommendations would be brought before both bodies for approval. Commissioner Snook reminded the Mayor and Council that City employees are invited to utilize the safety programs offered by the County. He stated that the City might also want to piggyback onto the County’s overlay contract . Commissioner Snook informed the Mayor and Council that the County had approved funding for construction of the Arts & Entertainment District parking deck. He stated that the County would also like to work with them to develop incentives for the downtown area. Council member Aleshire suggested that appropriate City and County staff meet to address the State shortfall in Highway User Revenues and to develop a response to the Governor’s initiative to supplement the loss of funding. FEBRUARY 17, 2004 PAGE FIVE ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Nipps, to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________,County Clerk