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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.10.1987 November 10, 1987 Hagerstown, Maryland 21730 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County 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 and Linda C. Irvin. 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. LETTER OF COMMENDATION - ROY LESCALLEET, JR. Commissioner Bowers presented a letter of commendation to Fire & Rescue Technician, Roy Lescalleet, Jr., for the professional manner in which he discharged his duties during a recent fire incident. Mr. Lescalleet calmed the invalid caller whose home was on fire and prevented her from attempting to vacate the house which could have resulted in serious injury. PROCLAMATION - AMERICAN EDUCTION WEEK Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to proclaim the week of November l5-2l, l987, as American Education Week in Washington County and to urge all citizens to make a commitment to public education and to the future of Washington County children by donating their time and talents to help make public schools better. Unanimously approved. The proclamation was presented to Sherry Koontz, President of the Washington County Teachers Association. WAIVER OF TAX REQUIREMENT - PERMITS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to grant the request made by Robin Fullmer to waive the requirement that personal property taxes be paid in full prior to obtaining a building permit. Unanimously approved. NARCOTICS TASK FORCE - SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to appropriate an increase of $3500/County Share, to the Narcotics Task Force to be taken from the Commissioners Contingency Fund for use as "buy money". Unanimously approved. ETHICS COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to reappoint Carol Johnson and Wanda Allenback to the Ethics Commission for three-year terms extending to July l, l990. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin reported on the Airport Commission's recent trip to visit other airport terminals; Commissioner Downey reported on the Health Systems Agency meeting, the Farm Bureau dinner and Board of Health Meeting. AETNA RETIREMENT ACTUARIAL REPORT James Myron, representing Aetna Insurance Company, and Alan Davis, Director of Personnel & Insurance for Washington County, appeared before the Commissioners to present the Actuarial Retirement report and to review the Discretionary Asset Management Report in view of the recent stock market fluctuations. The Discretionary Asset Management investments in the stock market comprise less than 20% of the entire account and these investments will not affect funding of the pension plan. He also reported that during the third quarter, the County received a 43.4% return for investments. Mr. Myron reported in the Retirement Actuarial valuation, that the pension plan is in a fully-funded status due mainly to l) big gains on the rate of return on investments, 2) changing the salary assumption from 6 1/2 down to 5 l/2, and 3) changing the multiplier from l.7% to 2% of final average earnings. At this time Commissioner Snook arrived at the Meeting. PUBLIC HEARING - BOCA BUILDING AND RELATED CODES The Commissioners convened the meeting in Public Meeting at l0:l5 a.m. in regard to adopting the l987 Edition of the BOCA Building and Related Codes. Robert Coble, Director of Permits & Inspections, stated that the main difference is the clarification and reorganization of the articles and that he has received no comments from contractors. There being no one else present to speak for nor against said Code, the President closed the public hearing stating that the record will remain open for ten days in order for written comments to be submitted. NOVEMBER 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. AGENDA ITEMS - MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION The Commissioners discussed agenda items for the scheduled meeting with the Board of Education on November l7 at Fountaindale Elementary School. Items to be discussed are maintenance projects, options for use of excess insurance trust fund monies , an update on the School Construction Task Force and general budget discussions. WATER/SEWER PLAN AMENDMENTS After due consideration of the matters and facts adduced at the public hearing held on October 27, l987, for water and sewer plan amendments, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to approve of the amendments for the Sandy Hook area and the State Highway Administration Sideling Hill Interpretive Center; there was no decision made regarding the International Salt Company's request for amendment until after the public hearing is held by the State on December 8. Unanimously approved. INTENTION TO CONVEY LAND - LEHIGH AVENUE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convey any right, title or interest it may have in and to a certain portion of right-of-way for Lehigh Avenue, approximately .03 acres, located approximately 425 feet +/-, east of its intersection with Catawba Place, to the adjacent property owners, Thomas A. Shank and Edward Trumpower, with Mr. Shank and Mr. Trumpower sharing the cost of advertising and deed preparation. Unanimously approved. 1987 AUDIT REPORT Michael Manspeaker, representing the accounting firm of Smith, Elliott, Kearns and Company, who performed the FY l987 audit for Washington County, and James Young, Director of Finance, to present the completed report. Mr. Manspeaker reviewed the audit in detail and stated that the County is in sound financial condition and that expenditures are "on line". PROPOSED SLUDGE DISPOSAL - DOWNSVILLE AREA Gary Hovermill along with other residents of the Downsville area appeared before the Commissioners to present their concerns regarding a proposed sludge disposal storage pit being considered by the City of Hagerstown to be located on a farm near Route 63. Residents of this area are requesting that the Board of County Commissioners assure that a public hearing be held regarding the State permit. The Commissioners suggested that this group keep in touch with their State representatives and assured them that they would request that a public hearing be held regarding this permit. SHARPSBURG PIKE SEWER PROJECT Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary Commission, and Leroy Burtner, Director of the Economic Development Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss private sector participation in the Sharpsubrg Pike Sewer project and gave examples of how this could work. The proposed plan to help initiate the project is to encourage financial participation by the private sector in providing money upfront to help get the projects started with funds to be repaid when additional hook-up fees are paid. The Commissioners agreed to the concept. LUNCH The Meeting was recessed at l:05 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:30 p.m. with the following members present: President Ronald L. Bowers, Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook in attendance. REZONING CASES - RZ-262, RZ-366, RZ-368 AND RZ-369 Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to take from the Table the rezoning cases postponed from October 27, l987. Unanimously approved. After due consideration of the matters and facts adduced at the Joint Public Hearing held with the Planning Commission on September 2l, l987, the comments submitted in writing within the ten (10) day period following said hearing and the recommendations made by the Planning Commission and staff, the following decisions were rendered: RZ-262 The Commissioners requested additional information regarding other public lands which were rezoned during the comprehensive rezoning before they make a decision on this case. NOVEMBER 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. REZONING CASES (cont'd.) RZ-366 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to APPROVE the application of Phillip J. Dolson for the Richard G. Wolfinger Estate, to reclassify the 150+/- acres located on the East Side of Marsh Pike, 450 feet north of Donnybrook Drive, from "A" - Agricultural to "RR" - Residential, Rural due to the facts that the land is located in the Urban Growth Area, that it is contiguous on three sides with residential zoning, water and sewer have been extended to the area and will be available within the next ten years, and that there has been a change in the character of the neighborhood from the standpoint of the development of residential housing. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Roulette, and Downey voting "AYE", Commissioner Irvin voting "NO" and Commissioner Snook "ABSTAINING". RZ-368 Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to APPROVE the application of Kenneth Ritter to reclassify .86 acres +/-, located on the north side of Maryland Route 64, 600' west of White Hall Road from "RR" - Residential, Rural to "BT" - Business Transitional due to the fact that the business at that location was established prior to zoning and there was a mistake in the original zoning and it was the intent of BT zoning to allow existing businesses of a low traffic nature as a transition from a residential area. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Roulette, Downey and Irvin voting "AYE" and Commissioner Snook "ABSTAINING". RZ-369 Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to APPROVE RZ-369, a rezoning application submitted by Maurice Martin, to reclassify land located at 2358 Pennsylvania Avenue, .2 miles north of its intersection with Maugans Avnue, from "A" - Agriculture to "BG" - Business General due to the fact that the surrounding area is zoned "BG" and the Agricultural zoning is inappropriate, and also to accept the findings of fact of the Planning Commission and Staff Report and Analysis as the findings of fact of the Board of County Commissioners. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Roulette, Downey and Irvin voting "AYE" and Commissioner Snook "ABSTAINING". APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER l3, 20 and 27, l987 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to approve the Minutes of October l3, 20 and 27, l987 as submitted. Unanimously approved. BEAVER CREEK ROAD BRIDGE - ENGINEERING PROPOSAL Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to accept the recommendation of the Coordinating Committee and to choose the firm of Associated Engineering Science, Inc. who submitted the low proposal of $6,000 for engineering services for the replacement of Beaver Creek Road Bridges. Unanimously approved. EXTENSION OF SEWER SERVICES - AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK, FAIRCHILD, & AIRPORT TERMINAL Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Snook to award the contract for engineering services to Associated Engineering Science, Inc. who submitted the low proposal of $47,750 for the two projects of extension of sewer service to the Airport Business Park and Fairchild building and airport terminal. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE & MARYLAND FIRE & SAFETY TRAINING BOARD Motion made by Commissioiner Downey, seconded by Irvin to appoint Kingsley Poole to the Maryland Fire & Safety Training Board as the County's representative and to appoint Dan Grove to the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - COUNTY COMMUTER RENOVATIONS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to award the bid for the renovations at the County Commuter to The K-Team, Inc., for their low bid of $32,855, which was over the estimated budget but which the State has approved for additional funding necessary and has concurred with the recommendation. Unanimously approved. CIRCUIT COURT - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to approve the supplemental appropriation of $4,l30 to Circuit Court to allow them to purchase and install the equipment necessary to coordinate an electronic data processing system with the Department of Social Services, with funding to be taken from the General Fund Balance. Unanimously approved. NOVEMBER 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. APPOINTMENT - AREA AGENCY ON AGING Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to accept the recommendation of George "Ed" Donn for appointment to the Area Agency on Aging Board for a term extending to October l990. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convene in Executive Session at 2:20 p.m. in regard to personnel and property matters 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 Irvin, seconded by Downey to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - TOURIST INFORMATION SPECIALIST Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to employ Charlotte Thren in the position of Tourist Information Specialist at the I-8l Center to fill an existing vacancy. unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 2:45 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. for a meeting with the Hagerstown Mayor and Council. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Meeting Room for a joint meeting with the Hagerstown Mayor and Council. Present at the meeting were County Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, Richard E. Roulette, R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook along with Mayor Steven Sager and City Council Members Steven Spalding, Robert Schleigh, Florence Murdock, Herman Whitaker and Roderick Wagner. The following items were discussed and considered: 1) A group of citizens from the Downsville area addressed the Commissioners and Mayor and Council to voice their concern regarding the proposal for the City to purchase land for sludge disposal in their community. Rick Thomas, City Water Pollution Control Administrator, met with the citizens to answer any questions they might have regarding this proposal. 2) A status report on Eastern Boulevard was presented. It was stated that engineering and design work are proceeding and that the City will soon enter into negotiations for necessary rights-of-way with the hope that the project can be bid during the l988 construction season. 3) Regarding Northern Avenue, City officials reaffirmed their willingness to enter into an agreement with the County whereby the City would assume title and responsibility for Northern Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to Potomac Avenue and, in return, the County would assume maintenance responsibility for that portion of Eastern Boulevard within City limits. The County and City Attorneys will confer and prepare the appropriate agreement. 4) The proposed sewer allocation agreement was discussed and City and County officials agreed in concept to a revised agreement whereby the remaining allocation for Subdistricts 6 and l5 would be rescinded and the County would then be guaranteed an allocation of l00,000 gallons of treatment capacity plus 65,000 gallons for treatment necessary for the Sharpsburg Pike, Fairchild (Rohr Industries), and the Air Business Park projects. The agreement will be revised by the City and transmitted to the County for review and approval. 5) Municipal Stadium Improvements - The City requested that the County provide financial assistance with improvments proposed to Municipal Stadium to include replacement of the bleachers and overlay of the parking lot. The Commissioners took this matter under advisement at this time. 6) Joint Direction Signs - The County and City Administrators will coordinate and develop a plan to adopt a uniform directional sign policy for the City and County. 7) Regarding the Narcotics Task Force, Steve Feller, City Administrator, and Barry Teach, County Administrator, will meet with the NTF management team and report back to their respective elected officials. NOVEMBER 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. 8) EDC/CIC Consolidation - It was agreed to proceed immediately with employing a Commerical Development Specialist. City officials agreed to pay one-third the cost for the position for the remaining portion of this fiscal year. 9) Regarding possible annexation of the golf course, the City is to provide information for the County to review and approve regarding the annexation of this property into the City. 10) Museum of Fine Arts Expansion - The City agreed to cooperate with the Museum in making land available for additional parking facilities and possibly to assist with construction of this parking lot in conjunction with the Museum expansion. 11) Greyhound Racing - In response to an inquiry from the City, the Commissioners stated that according to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly this has now become a Statewide issue as opposed to a local issue. 12) Water system improvements were discussed with the City agreeing to provide a schedule of improvements to the water system outside the City limits and if necessary to meet further with County officials to develop an arrangement whereby out of City complaints concerning the water system could be handled. 13) Recreation Commission - The City requested that the County assume the City's current $25,000 contribution to the Recreation program, at which time the City would forfeit its representation on the Recreation Commission Board. The Commissioners took the request under advisement. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 8:55 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk