Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout040729 July 29, 2004 Hagerstown, Maryland 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. BID AWARD – 2004 PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM & BUDGET TRANSFER Terry McGee, Chief Engineer, and Rob Slocum, Deputy Chief Engineer, met with the Commissioners to present a recommendation to award the bid for the 2004 pavement maintenance program. Mr. McGee stated that the low bid received was from Craig Paving for $1,159,575.38, which is $242,555 over the budgeted amount. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, recommended that that the shortfall be taken from the FY 2004 surplus. She provided a report on the tentative final surplus and stated that $2.5 million of the surplus has been encumbered by the Commissioners for various projects. Ms. Bastian stated that, if the final two income tax distributions meet budget, the final surplus would be approximately $2.5 million. She cautioned the Commissioners that this would give the County an 11% surplus, and the adopted Financial Policy recommends holding a 14% surplus, which is in accordance with the County’s target peer group. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Wivell, to award the contract for the 2004 pavement maintenance program to Craig Paving, Inc., which submitted the low responsive, responsible bid of $1,159,575.38 to include the alternate, and to approve funding the $242,555 shortfall from the FY 2004 budget surplus. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD – FORTY WEST LANDFILL CELL 3 CONSTRUCTION & BUDGET INCREASE Mr. McGee informed the Commissioners that the low bid for construction of Cell 3 at the Forty West Landfill was submitted by C. William Hetzer, Inc. for $5,166,210. He stated that this is $678,067 over the budgeted amount for the project. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, recommended funding the shortfall through a combination of Maryland Water Quality Bonds and the supporting issue portion of General Obligation Bonds. She stated that Maryland Water Quality Bond funds have a 1.5% interest rate and she would recommend utilizing these funds to the extent possible. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to award the contract for construction of Cell 3 of the Forty West Landfill to C. William Hetzer, Inc., which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible bid of $5,166,210 and to approve the recommendation to utilize a combination of Maryland Water Quality bond funds and General Obligation Bonds as necessary to cover the $687,067 shortfall. Unanimously approved. BID REJECTION – BROADFORDING ROAD BRIDGE Terry McGee, Chief Engineer, appeared before the Commissioners to recommend that they reject the bid received from George Hann for the Broadfording Road bridge project without prejudice. Mr. McGee explained that the only bid received came in $1,755,829 over the engineer’s estimate for the project and he does not feel it is in the County’s best interests to award the bid at this amount. He stated that Washington County reserves the right of the Commissioners to reject any and/or all bids, to waive technicalities, and to take whatever action is in the best interests of Washington County. The meeting was then opened for questions from the Board. Commissioner Munson suggested that a new bridge be built in the area to replace the stone-arch bridge. Mr. McGee stated that the bridge is eligible to be included on the National Historic Register and that the Maryland Historical Trust would have to be involved in any decisions of this nature. He also noted the time factor and cost involved to construct a new bridge. JULY 29, 2004 PAGE TWO Mr. McGee explained that the State Highway Administration has given its approval for the County to use a negotiated proposal process. He stated that the County would select three firms that have shown interest in the project to negotiate a contract. He stated that the Broadfording Road Bridge project is funded 80% through the Federal Aid Bridge Program. The Commissioners asked that he investigate to determine whether additional federal funds were available for the project given the increase in the bids amounts. Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the recommendation to reject the single bid received for the Broadfording Road Bridge project from George Hann without prejudice in the amount of $2,646,794 (alternate) and $3,181,480 (standard), to authorize staff to use the negotiated proposal process approved by the State Highway Administration for the project, and to investigate whether additional federal funding would be available. Unanimously approved. WATER & SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE COMMISSION – APPOINTMENT OF DESIGNEE Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to authorize Greg Murray, Director of the Water Quality Department, to serve as Commissioner Snook’s designee on the Water & Sewer Infrastructure Commission. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS – PEN MAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Munson, to appoint George Stone to the Pen Mar Development Corporation to fill the unexpired term of Steve Hull which extends to June 30, 2005. Motion carried with Commissioners Nipps, Munson, Wivell, and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioner Kercheval “ABSTAINING.” Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to appoint Dr. John Simpson to the Pen Mar Development Corporation for a four-year term. Motion carried with Commissioners Wivell, Munson, Kercheval, and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioner Nipps voting “NO.” CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to convene in closed session at 10:43 a.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, consult with staff about pending or potential litigation, and consider matters that concern proposals for businesses or industrial organizations 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 Nipps, seconded by Wivell, to reconvene in open session at 11:43 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on two (2) matters, consulted with staff about pending or potential litigation on two (2) matters, and considered a matter that concerns a proposal for a business to locate, expand, or remain in the State. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, William J. Wivell, James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. Also present at various times were Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Richard W. Douglas, County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; and Terry McGee, Chief Engineer. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to adjourn at 11:43 a.m. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator _________________________, County Attorney ______________________, Clerk