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Home My WebLink About090203 February 3, 2009 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners participated in the State of the County forum sponsored by the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at Fountain Head Country Club at 7:30 a.m. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland was called to order at 10:07 a.m. by President John F. Barr with the following members present: Vice President Terry L. Baker and Commissioners 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 – JANUARY 20 & JANUARY 27, 2009 Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Baker, to approve the minutes of January 20 and January 27, 2009. Unanimously approved. INTRODUCTION Bud Gudmundson, GIS Administrator, introduced his stepdaughter, Brianne Wade, a student at Boonsboro Middle School, who was attending the meeting today as part of the “Eighth Grader on the Job Program.” HIRING OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR – DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Wivell, to hire Cliff Engle as Deputy Director of the Department of Solid Waste at an annual salary of $71,650 (Grade 17, Step 7) to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Baker reported on the Community Action Council Board meeting. He stated that he attended the Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company’s banquet. Commissioner Kercheval reported on meetings of the Hagerstown Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Planning Commission. He stated that the I-8l Corridor Coalition members held a conference call last week and noted that the website should be in operation soon. Commissioner Kercheval congratulated Kathy Kefauver for her 31 years of service at the Sheriff’s Department and sent his congratulations on her retirement. He reminded the Commissioners that tomorrow is lobbying day in Annapolis and expressed his appreciation to the community leaders who are attending to support local projects. Commissioner Wivell asked if it had been determined what the financial impact would be if the State requires the counties to fund the Assessment Offices. He stated that he attended the annual banquets of volunteer fire companies in Williamsport, Maugansville, Boonsboro, and Clear Spring. Commissioner Wivell congratulated Phil Ridenour for serving 20 years as Chief of the Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company and thanked the volunteers who work to make the County a better place. Commissioner Barr apologized for not attending the Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company banquet and explained that his travel plans went awry. He stated that he attended a reception to welcome the new principal of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Michael Thorsen to the community. Commissioner Barr also reported on the Airport Advisory Commission meeting. He stated that the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) has scheduled a meeting with representatives of the Pilot Truck Stop. CITIZENS’ PARTICIIPATION Commissioner Barr welcomed Nigel Dardar, who was recently elected to the Town Council in Hancock. COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES Kirk Downey, Assistant County Attorney, stated that the Local Delegation to the General Assembly has discussed several County bills. Mr. Downey indicated that the Sheriff has asked that Washington County be added to the list of governmental entities that are allowed to use polygraph tests FEBRUARY 3, 2009 PAGE TWO for pre-employment screenings for new hires for the 911 Emergency Communications Center. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Commissioners to support the Sheriff’s request. Mr. Downey provided information on the other legislative requests forwarded to the Delegation by the County. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF William Sonnik, Director of Human Resources, requested authorization to advertise to fill vacancies for a Senior Plant Operator (Grade 10) in the Water Quality Department and a Maintenance Equipment Operator I (Grade 6) in the Highway Department. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Baker, to support the request to advertise to fill vacancies for a Senior Plant Operator (Grade 10) in the Water Quality Department and a Maintenance Equipment Operator I (Grade 6) in the Highway Department. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Greg Murray, County Administrator, thanked all staff who assisted in the State of the County presentation and thanked County employees whose work helped to provide a positive outlook for the County. He informed the Commissioners that Cape Air will begin daily flights from the Hagerstown Regional Airport to BWI Airport on March 24. PUBLIC HEARING – SECURITY SYSTEM FALSE ALARM The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 11:00 a.m. to hear comments on the proposed Security System False Alarm Ordinance. Andrew Wilkinson, Assistant County Attorney, and Sheriff Douglas Mullendore stated that a public hearing was held on this matter on September 11, 2007 and that it was discussed again with the Commissioners on January 13, 2009. Another public hearing was scheduled due to the amount of time between the first hearing and the request to enact the ordinance. The Sheriff stated that although he had originally recommended that a permit fee be instituted; he is now recommending that the one-time registration fee be removed from the draft Ordinance. However, he is requesting that the permit process remain in place. Sheriff Mullendore provided background information and statistics on the number of false alarm calls that deputies respond to each year. He stated that only 1% of responses to alarms were actually from attempted crimes. The Commissioners discussed the proposed fee structure. Sheriff Mullendore explained that the fees would take effect after the third violation. He also noted that a new position would not be created for the Alarm Administrator but that the work would be absorbed by a current employee. The meeting was opened for questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners discussed whether the cumulative fine should be capped. It was suggested to cap the maximum fine at $100/residential and $250/non- residential. It was also suggested to make the Ordinance effective on January 1, 2010. Commissioner Barr opened the public hearing for comments. There was no one present who wished to comment and the hearing was closed at 11:30 a.m. Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Kercheval, to adopt the Security System False Alarm Ordinance with the following stipulations: 1) Implement only the fees for “Response Requested to Non-Permitted Site – Alarm User,” “False Alarm – Residential Alarm User Permit Holder,” and “False Alarm – Non-Residential Alarm User Permit Holder.” 2) Individual systems should be treated as separate sites. 3) The position of Alarm Administrator shall be absorbed by current employees and through the use of technology. 4) Alarm companies shall be required to electronically register and update alarm information. 5) Unregistered alarms need not be responded to, but if they are, shall be charged the appropriate fee for either a residential or non-residential false alarm with no warnings given. 6) The maximum fine per incident is not to exceed $100 for residential and $200 for non-residential. The Security System False FEBRUARY 3, 2009 PAGE THREE Alarm Ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2010. Unanimously approved. (Commissioner Aleshire arrived at 11:38 a.m.) CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Aleshire, to convene in closed session at 11:39 a.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, and/or compensation, of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction and to discuss personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals, in accordance with Section 10- 508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Baker, seconded by Kercheval, to reconvene in open session at 12:16 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the appointment, employment, assignment, and/or compensation, of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction and discussed personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals. Present during closed session were Commissioners John F. Barr, Terry L. Baker, Kristin B. Aleshire, James F. Kercheval, and William J. Wivell. Also present at various times were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; John Martirano, County Attorney; Andrew Wilkinson, Assistant County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Joe Kroboth, Director of Public Works; and William Sonnik, Director of Human Resources. (Commissioner Baker was excused from the meeting at this time. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 12:16 p.m. for lunch at the Department of Environmental Management on Elliott Parkway. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by President John F. Barr with the following members present: Commissioners Kristin B. Aleshire, James F. Kercheval, and William J. Wivell. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND 911 CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT UPDATE Joe Kroboth, Director of Public Works, and Pete Loewenheim, Manager of the Communications Maintenance Department, provided an update on the status of the Public Safety Communications Radio Project. Mr. Kroboth introduced the members of the committee who were in attendance. Mr. Kroboth outlined the milestones for the project and indicated that the anticipated system activation will be October 2009 (without the southern County site). He reviewed the components of the overall project, which will consist of voice messaging, mobile data messaging, paging, fire station alerting, and interoperability. Mr. Kroboth outlined the sites and the status of each location. He stated that the 911 Center renovation project was awarded to Palmer Construction in 2007 and is nearing completion. Mr. Kroboth reviewed the project expenses and stated that the total project cost is $27,843,292 which is comprised of funding from the Federal, State, County, and municipal governments as well as private funding. He outlined the pending issues and opened the meeting for questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners then toured the new 911 Center and Communications Shelter. REAPPOINTMENT – FIRE & RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Baker, to reappoint Linda Irvin-Craig to the Fire & Rescue Communications Advisory Committee for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT – BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Aleshire, to reappoint Donald Spickler to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 3, 2009 PAGE FOUR CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by Kercheval, to convene in closed session at 2:20 p.m. to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Aleshire, to reconvene in open session at 3:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners considered the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. Present during closed session were Commissioners John F. Barr, Kristin B. Aleshire, James F. Kercheval, and William J. Wivell. Also present at various times were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; John Martirano, County Attorney; Andrew Wilkinson, Assistant County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Joe Kroboth, Director of Public Works; Robert Slocum, Deputy Director of Public Works-Capital Projects; Mac Davis; and Gary Batey. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Aleshire, to adjourn at 3:45 p.m. ____________________________ County Administrator ____________________________ County Attorney ________________________ County Clerk