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HomeMy WebLinkAbout870908 September 8, l987 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the board of County Commissioners was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Downey, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. GOLF COURSE STATUS REPORT Glenn Dull, County Engineer, and Robert Elder, architect and contractor at the golf course, appeared before the Commissioners to give an update on the status of the golf course. Mr. Dull reported that they are having problems finding sufficient water sources which would properly irrigate the course if particularly dry periods occur during the summer months. Alternatives discussed to supply needed water included tapping into the City water system or drilling additional wells. The Commissioners then authorized up to $7,000 to drill for two additional wells on the course to a depth of 600'. Mr. Elder reported that the earthwork is almost complete on the course, the drainage is finished on the greens, the mix for the surface is in place with the exception of three greens and three tees have to be built. The water system is complete on the front side except on Holes 9 and l and seeding will take place the last week in September. The completion date for the golf course is scheduled for June of l988. Also discussed were ways of securing the golf course after it is complete. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioners Downey reported on the Tri-County Council meeting, Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting, South County Planning Commission meeting, the Site Selection Committee for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Commissioner Irvin gave a report on the Airport Commission meeting and the Agriculture Field Day. CITIZENS AGAINST THE TRUCK STOP - PETITION The Citizens Against the Truck Stop (C.A.T.S.) appeared before the Commissioners to present a petition with approximately 800 names of those in opposition to the proposed travel plaza to be built near the west end of Hagerstown. Mr. Rodney Tucker, spokesman for the group, read a prepared statement citing reasons for their opposition. Commissioner Bowers accepted the petition on behalf of the Commissioners. COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL - FOOD WAREHOUSE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to appropriate $8,3l4 for the Food Warehouse program to be taken from the Commissioner's Contingency Fund, with additional funding, if needed, to come from Community Action Council's budget, and for CAC's Fiscal Year l989 budget to be based on the $75,000 amount appropriated to them by the Commissioners for FY l988. Unanimously approved. BID OPENING - GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS - ROBINWOOD DRIVE & MT. AETNA ROAD INTERSECTION Bids for the geometric improvements to the intersection of Robinwood Drive and Mt. Aetna Road were publicly opened and read aloud. Firms participating in the bidding and their proposals were as follows: P & W Excavating - $83,956.50 and Wolfe Brothers, Inc. - $l3l,390.50. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. (Decision rendered in Afternoon Session). OFFICE PARTITION - HOUSING Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to approve the recommendation of the Housing Director and accept the low quote of $3,73l from Portaking for office partitions for the Housing & Community Development Office to be taken from Section 8 unappropriated funds. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - SHERIFF'S COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to accept the low bid from General Electric in the amount of $8ll6 for Communications Equipment for the Sheriff's Department. Unanimously approved. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - OVERTIME FOR MUMMER'S PARADE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to appropriate $528 from he Commissioners' Contingency Fund to pay overtime for eight Sheriff's Department Deputies to work crowd control duties at the Mummers Parade. Unanimously approved. SEPTEMBER 8, l987 MINUTES, CONT'D. CHARTER BOARD - INTRODUCTIONS Members of the newly appointed Charter Board met with the Commissioners and introduced themselves. They were presented with relevant materials and Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that the Charter must be presented to the County Coimmissioners by August l6, l988 in order to be on the General Election ballot for November 8, l988. The Commissioners thanked the members of the Board and offered their assistance. HOUSING PRESERVATION PROGRAM - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to award the contract to provide administrative services for the Housing Preservation Program to Ernest Muhley as recommended by the Coordinating Committee. Unanimously approved. AMENDMENT TO MINUTES - JULY 28, l987 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to approve amending the minutes of July 28, l987 to add the Bid Opening for Roof at the Chewsville Center which was inadvertently omitted. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive Session at l2:05 p.m. in regard to personnel, property and potential litigation in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at l:l5 p.m. Unanimously approved. AUTHORIZATION TO FILE TRESPASSING CHARGES - HALFWAY PARK Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to authorize the County Administrator to file charges in District Court against six individuals for trespassing at the Halfway Park Swimming Pool. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS - ROBINWOOD DRIVE & MT. AETNA ROAD INTERSECTION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to award the bid for geometric improvements at the intersection of Robinwood Drive and Mt. Aetna Road to P & W Excavating who submitted the low bid of $83,956.50. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l:30 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. at the Potomac Valley Fire Hall in Dargan for a public meeting to discuss the proposed closing of Hoffmaster Road. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Potomac Valley Fire Hall in Dargan by the President, Ronald L. Bowers with the following Commissioners present: R. Lee Downey and Martin L. Snook. PUBLIC MEETING - PROPOSED PERMANENT CLOSING OF HOFFMASTER ROAD The public meeting was held to allow citizens of the southern portion of Washington County to voice their opinions regarding the proposed permanent closing of Hoffmaster Road which has been closed since it was damaged by flooding in July of this year. Ted Wolford, Roads Department Superintendent, Ed Donn, Director of Transporation at the Board of Education, Richard Stanton, Superintendent of C & O Canal Historical Park and Harvey Sorenson representing the Harpers Ferry National Park were also in attendance to answer any questions raised by the citizens. Ted Wolford outlined what would have to be done to Hoffmaster Road to make it useable, which includes ll00' of gabion baskets for a total cost for labor and materials of $65,000. All citizens in attendance expressed their desire to have Hoffmaster Road remain open citing the problems encountered by using the alternate route of Morgan Pine Road, which include unsafe conditions regarding the bus stop and turnaround area, snow routes, fire and escape route problems and safety factors in using the alternate route. SEPTEMBER 8, l987 MINUTES, CONT'D. Also discused were parking problems and lack of parking space for the C & O Canal Park and Harpers Ferry National Park. Commissioner Bowers stated that a decision will be made by the Commissioners regarding the proposed permanent closing of Hoffmaster Road on Tuesday, September l4, that Morgan Pine Road as it intersects with Harpers Ferry Road will be improved and that he will contact the citizens when he receives a response from Congresswoman Byron regarding parking problems at the National Parks and federal funding to help with the road improvements for Hoffmaster Road. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, Seconded by Snook to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk