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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071106 November 6, 2007 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners attended a luncheon and groundbreaking ceremony for the second Rural Heritage Museum to be located at the Washington County Ag Center site. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland was called to order at 2:25 p.m. by President John F. Barr with the following members present: Vice President Terry L. Baker, and Commissioners Kristin B. Aleshire, James F. Kercheval and William J. Wivell. SENIOR CENTER SURVEY RESULTS Linn Hendershot, President of the Commission on Aging Board of Directors; Ed Branthaver, Advisory Council Chair; and Susan MacDonald, Executive Director, met with the Commissioners to review the results of the Senior Community Center Survey. They indicated that 643 people took part in the survey and noted where it had been distributed. Mr. Hendershot stated that 70 percent of those taking part in the survey were in favor of the development of a senior center. Ms. MacDonald asked the Commissioners to appoint a Commissioner representative and staff member to the Site Selection Committee. She also asked that they reserve $800,000 in the FY 2009 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget in order to obtain a State matching fund grant. Mr. Hendershot provided estimates of the projected increase in the number of senior citizens in the County. Ms. MacDonald indicated that the Committee would be meeting with representatives from Hagerstown Community College regarding a possible partnership in conjunction with the College’s Continuing Education program. The meeting was opened for questions from the Commissioners regarding the survey and its findings. After discussion, Commissioner Barr and County Administrator Greg Murray agreed to serve on the Site Selection Committee. The Commissioners recognized the need for such a facility and agreed to consider the project during CIP budget deliberations but felt that there were too many unknowns about the project to commit funding at this time. YOUTH MERITORIOUS AWARDS – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 The Commissioners presented a certificate of merit to Benjamin Cornwell (Clear Spring Middle School) in recognition of his selection as the Youth of the Month by the Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) for September 2007 and to Samuel Elwood (Clear Spring Middle School) for October 2007. The Commissioners commended them for their leadership, academic and extra-curricular activities. Commissioner Barr stated that they would each receive a $100 savings bond from the WCCP. CONTRACT AWARD - #2 HEATING FUEL Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Aleshire, to piggyback the Board of Education’s renewal of the contract for #2 heating fuel for Transport (tanker) with Petroleum Traders, Inc. based on the OPIS index and to award the County’s contract for tank wagon loads to AC&T Company – bidder factor of +$.1494. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD – CIRCUIT COURT ANNEX ROOF REPLACEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Baker, to award the contract for the Circuit Court Annex roof replacement to Kline Associated Roofing Contractors, Inc., which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible base bid of $206,000 including alternate 1 for $15,000 and alternate 2 for $25,000, for an overall total bid of $246,000, and to authorize a budget transfer or $203,100 from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Contingency Fund to fund the project. Motion carried with Commissioners Kercheval, Baker, Aleshire, and Barr voting “AYE” and Commissioner Wivell voting “NO.” WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY – THANK YOU PRESENTATION Mary Mallory, representing the Friends of the Washington County Free Library, met with the Commissioners to thank them for their financial support for the Library in FY 2008 budget. Ms. Mallory presented them with thank you cards containing comments written by Library users. NOVEMBER 6, 2007 PAGE TWO MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES (MACO) 2008 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE NOMINATION It was the consensus of the Commissioners to appoint Commissioner Kercheval to the MACo Legislative Committee and Commissioner Barr as alternate for calendar year 2008. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:55 p.m. EVENING SESSION – TOWN OF FUNKSTOWN The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Funkstown Town Hall by President John F. Barr with the following members present: Vice President Terry L. Baker, and Commissioner Kristin B. Aleshire, James F. Kercheval and William J. Wivell. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Barr, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 30, 2007 Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Aleshire, to approve the minutes of October 30, 2007. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Baker thanked the Mayor and Council of Funkstown for hosting tonight’s meeting at Town Hall. Commissioner Aleshire stated that he attended the welcoming reception for the new Vice President of Sales for Mack Trucks/Volvo. He reported on the Board of Education’s 2+2 Committee and issues raised at the Sharpsburg Town Council meeting last night. Commissioner Aleshire informed the Commissioners that he met with School Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan regarding future school needs and participated in the Centenarian luncheon hosted by the Commission on Aging. Commissioner Wivell stated that he also attended the reception welcoming the Mack Trucks/Volvo Vice President and thanked the Funkstown Mayor and Council for their hospitality this evening. Commissioner Kercheval provided a synopsis of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Legislative Committee meeting. He reported on the meetings with the City 2+2 Committee, the Board of Education 2+2 Committee, the Department of Transportation Tour meeting, and the Planning Commission. Commissioner Kercheval stated that he attended the Commission on Aging’s Centenarian Luncheon and the Greater Hagerstown Committee forum. He informed the Commissioners that there is a bill being introduced in the legislature to shift the requirements on funding for teacher pensions from the State to the counties. He stated that the Finance Department informed him that this would cost the County approximately $7 million. Commissioner Barr stated that he attended the meeting to launch the new C&O Canal Trust. He reminded the Commissioners of several Veterans’ Day ceremonies that are th scheduled and the 50 Anniversary Celebration of the Western Maryland Hospital Center. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION Mayor Robert Kline, Vice Mayor Paul Crampton, and Council members John Phillips voiced their concerns about the traffic congestion in the Town and asked if the County had scheduled the construction of the “Southern Bypass” around the town in the capital budget. A number of citizens from the Town of Funkstown also expressed the need for a bypass around the Town. The Commissioners cited funding issues as one of the main reasons that the project has not been started. Commissioner Kercheval indicated that the project is estimated to cost $25 million. Commissioner Aleshire stated that the City’s future plans for the R. Paul Smith Boulevard and new business park may provide a link to the proposed southern bypass and could possibly include developer funding for the project. NOVEMBER 6, 2007 PAGE THREE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Greg Murray, County Administrator, stated that he appreciated the opportunity to hear the citizens’ concerns. He reminded those in attendance that they can listen to the County Commissioners’ meetings on their computers through the County’s Internet website at www.washco-md.net. APPROVAL TO FILL VACANCY – FULL TIME BUS OPERATOR Motion made by Commissioner Baker, seconded by Kercheval, to authorize filling the full-time bus operator position in the Transportation Department. Unanimously approved. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Sheriff Doug Mullendore stated that he looked forward to working with the Mayor and Council to resolve any problems they may have in the Town of Funkstown. Joe Kroboth, Director of Public Works, reported that railroad crossings at Longmeadow Road, Reiff Church Road, and Airview Road are being reconstructed by Norfolk Southern Railroad. He indicated that this would require the crossings to be closed for a minimum of two days. Jim Hovis, Director of the Gaming Office, informed the Commissioners that there was a great turnout from County non-profit agencies and fire and rescue agencies in opposition to House Bill 14 that was introduced in Special Session to repeal the authority in Washington, Allegany, Garrett and Frederick Counties to regulate tip jar gaming and give that authority to the State Lottery Commission. He provided an update on the activities and stated that it appears there will not be a vote on the bill. Mr. Hovis also stated that there was no decision made on House Bill 19. Commissioner Kercheval thanked Mr. Hovis for his efforts on behalf of the County. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Kercheval, to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. _____________________________, County Administrator _____________________________, County Attorney ________________________ County Clerk