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HomeMy WebLinkAbout880126 January 26, 1988 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 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, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Rev. Charles Weber of the Grace United Methodist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPOINTMENT - ADVISORY BOARD OF HEALTH Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to appoint Theron K. Rinehart to the Washington County Advisory Board of Health. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY l2, l988 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to approve the Minutes of January 12, 1988 as submitted. Unanimously approved. LEGAL MATTERS David K. Poole, Jr., County Attorney, updated the Commissioners on the status of various legal matters and cases dealing with the County government. ODOR COMPLAINT - FAIRPLAY AREA The Commissioners discussed an odor complaint received from residents of the Fairplay area due to a large hog farm operation. Since the farmer does have all necessary permits and is in the appropriate zoning area, the Commissioners requested that the County Administrator contact the Extension Office to see if they know of any technology which could eliminate the odor problem. Also discussed was the possibility of having the Planning Commission decide if large hog farming operations such as this should be considered a special exception to the Zoning Ordinance. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Downey reported on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board; Commissioner Snook reported on the Commission on Aging meeting, the Parks Board and the Transportation Advisory Committee; Commissioner Irvin gave a report on a meeting she attended regarding landfills and incineration methods; and Commissioner Roulette reported that there will be a meeting next week regarding the sludge application program. APPOINTMENT - COMMISSION ON AGING Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to appoint Ronald L. Bowers to replace Commissioner Snook as the representative on the Commission on Aging Advisory Board. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED ICE SKATING RINK - DITTO FARMS PARK Roger and Paula Worthington appeared before the Commissioners to request that the Commissioners provide space for an ice skating rink at the Ditto Farms Park. Mr. Worthington stated that he has researched this matter and asked that if the Commissioners hold any public hearings regarding recreational facilities needed at the park that he be notified. SANITARY DISTRICT - ADVANCE TO HIRE ENGINEERING FIRM Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to approve a refundable advance of up to $4,000 to the Sanitary Commission for the purpose of hiring an engineering firm on a retainer basis to finish the Sandy Hook project, with funds to be taken from the amount appropriated to hire an engineer for the Sanitary Commission. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED LEGISLATION REGARDING BLUE LAWS In response to a request from Delegate Callas that the Commissioners give him their opinions regarding legislation to repeal the Blue Laws, the Commissioners discussed the situation and felt that the number factor should be eliminated and that all stores should be allowed to open on Sundays regardless of the amount of employees or that all stores should close on Sundays. RECLAMATION BOND - BENEVOLA CHURCH ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to accept a $7,000 reclamation bond from the Martin Marietta Corporation in regard to their quarry operation on Benevola Church Road to cover any damage to the road caused by their operations. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 26, 1988 MINUTES, CONT'D. PUBLIC HEARING - REEDERS MEMORIAL NURSING HOME EXPANSION President Bowers convened the meeting in Public Hearing at ll:05 a.m. to hear testimony regarding the proposed expansion of Reeders Memorial Nursing Home. Joseph Hannah, President of Reeders Memorial, requested that a tax exempt bond in a not-to-exceed amount of $4,000,000 be issued for the expansion of the nursing home to provide an additional 99 beds and for l8 one-bedroom and efficiency units. He also stated that the zoning problems have been cleared with the Town of Boonsboro officials. A presentation of the feasibility study and comments by the bond counsel were also heard. There being no one else present to speak for nor against said bond, MOTION made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to adopt the resolution as presented for a $4,000,000 tax-exempt bond issue for the expansion of Reeders Memorial Nursing Home. Unanimously approved. The Public Hearing was closed and the meeting reconvened in Regular Session at ll:30 a.m. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to convene in Executive Session at ll:30 a.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 l2:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. APPROVE RESOLUTION - BANK ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENT AUTHORIZATION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to approve the resolution authorizing Barry A. Teach, County Administrator, James R. Young, Director of Finance, and Joni L. Bittner, County Clerk, to open accounts with First National Bank of Maryland for the purpose of engaging in transactions to purchase, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise enter into agreements, contracts, commitments or similar agreements for cash or forward settlement or future contracts, either mandatory or optional for the following types of instruments: U.S. Government and Federal Agency Securities, Money Market Instruments, Finance Agreements and Tax- Free obligations. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:40 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION - BOONSBORO TOWN HALL The Afternoon Session was convened at 2:00 p.m. in the Boonsboro Town Hall by 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. Also present were Mayor Herr and Boonsboro Town Council members: Richard Gross, Charles Kauffman, Eugene Smith and Robert Shifler along with Judy Chambers, Town Manager. Ownership of the King Road Bridge was discussed with regard to repair and replacement costs. After various options were discussed, the Town officials agreed to take Commissioner Roulette's proposal that the Town maintain King Road from Route 34 to the Town limits and in turn the County will pay for repair of King Road Bridge and its maintenance, under consideration at their next Council meeting. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Article 81, Section 32-C of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are also meeting to discuss the tax differential or payment-in-lieu program. The amount to be paid for Boonsboro for the Fiscal Year '87-88 will be based on final audited expenditures. The estimated amount for the payment in lieu program is $22,5l5. Town officials requested that the County use the projected l986 Census figures in calculating the population amounts used in the formula for tax differential instead of the l980 Census figures since Boonsboro has experienced substantial growth since l980. The Commissioners suggested that the Municipal League decide this issue since it will affect the payments for some municipalities. Water and sewer services outside the Town limits were discussed. Town officials informed the Commissioners that any establishment requesting water and sewer service must be annexed into the Town and find a water source. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to adjourn at 2:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk