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February 9, l988
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 Commissioner Snook, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage.
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT - I-70 WEST TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER
Robert O'Connor, Director of the Tourism Department, introduced the staff of the I-
70 West Tourist Information Center - William Stoner, Libbey Wallach, Joan Estes and
Fred Downs, who were honored by the Department of Economic and Employment
Development as l987 Information Center of the Year. The Commissioners expressed
their appreciation for the fine job the staff members are doing and presented them
with a Certificate of Merit.
SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM - CIVIL DEFENSE
Jack Murray representing Civil Defense Company 28 and Cole Brown, an intern from
the University of Maryland working with Company 28, outlined the need for a search
and rescue team in the County and informed the Commissioners that they will be
pursuing grants for funding if the Commissioners support such a project. The
Commissioners decided to wait for a decision by the Washington County Volunteer
Fire and Rescue Association before approving the project.
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT
The Commissioners convened sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization to
discuss the Washington County Transportation Improvement Annual Element for the
period July l, l987 - June 30, l988. Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter,
presented the Bus System operating program, the capital program and the capital
program for services by private, non-profit agencies. Mayor Steven Sager was in
attendance representing the City of Hagerstown.
Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to approve the Annual
Element of the Washington County Transportation Improvement Program for the period
July l, l987 - June 30, l988. Unanimously approved.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - AUTHORIZATION TO ORDER VEHICLES
Capt. Keller and Lt. Norford appeared before the Commissioners to request
authorization to order eight replacement vehicles for the Sheriff's Department.
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to authorize up to $98,000
to allow the Sheriff's Department to order eight replacement vehicles from the low
bidder in accordance with the County replacement policy for vehicles and to specify
that delivery is to be made after July l, l988. Unanimously approved.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - PURCHASE OF BUNKS
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to authorize up to $ll,000
for the purchase of 27 bunks needed for double-celling at the Detention Center.
Unanimously approved.
At this time Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting to attend the Health
Systems Agency hearing in Annapolis and Vice President Roulette assumed the Chair.
SHARPSBURG PIKE SEWER PROJECT
Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, appeared before the
Commissioners to discuss the Sharpsburg Pike Sewer Project and the proposed
agreement for vestors in the project. Several problems associated with the
agreement were discussed regarding the date for start of service and the payment of
the private, up-front monies. The Commissioners asked that the County
Administrator and County Attorney meet with Mr. Palmer to address these issues and
also to obtain figures for upscale of the size of the pipe to be used.
PUBLIC HEARING - PURCHASE OF 638 FREDERICK STREET FOR USE AS FACILITY FOR CIVIL
DEFENSE COMPANY 28
The Meeting was convened in Public Hearing to hear comments regarding the purchase
of 638 Frederick Street as a facility to house the Civil Defense Company 28 unit as
advertised. Jack Murray, Capt. for Co. 28 attended in support of the purhcase. No
one was in attendance to express opposition. The County Administrator presented a
letter received from Mrs. Virginia Earley donating Lot 07572, which is adjacent to
638 Frederck Street to the County if they approve the purchase.
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to acquire the property known
as 638 Frederick Street as advertised for the price of $l53,500 from Donald B.
Yesacavage to be utilized as a facility for the Civil Defense Company 28 unit.
Unanimously approved.
FEBRUARY 9, l988
MINUTES, CONT'D.
The Meeting was reconvened in Regular Session
REVIEW OF FIRST HALF OF FY l987-88 BUDGET
James Young, Director of Finance, appeared before the Commissioners to review the
Highway Fund and General Fund revenues and expenditures for the first half of
Fiscal Year l987-88. Also presented were operating budgets and expenditures for
each County department.
CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive
Session at l2:20 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 Snook, seconded by Downey to reconvene in Regular
Session at l:l5 p.m. Unanimously approved.
APPOINTMENT - TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to appoint Charles Gaver,
First National Bank, to the Tri-County Council Revolving Loan Fund to fill the
vacancy created by the resignation of Ed Kemmet. Unanimously approved.
LEGISLATION UPDATE
Barry Teach, County Adinistrator, informed the Commissioners that the impact fee
legislation hearing will be held on February l8; the EDC legislation has been
reintroduced in the Senate with amendments; and the information for the bond issue
has been sent to the Delegation.
BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Irvin reported on the Task Force on Homelessness meeting and
Commissioner Roulette on the South County Planning Committee meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 19 AND 26, 1988
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to approve the minutes of
January l9 and 26, l988 as amended. Unanimously approved.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS - BOARD OF EDUCATION
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to commit and guarantee
$352,947 for textbooks, $279,715 for materials and $l62,7l5 for library books, the
amount currently budgeted in FY l988, to the Board of Education to allow them to
order books and materials for the l988-89 school year and guarantee their arrival
time. Unanimously approved.
REQUEST FOR EXPENDITURE - SANITARY COMMISSION
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to include the installation of
a sleeve under the railroad siding to be constructed at the 70/81 Industrial Park
as part of the rail spur bid as a deductive alternate, with engineering costs to be
paid from the previously approved $25,000 for the planning phase of the future
Conocheague Waste Water Treatment Plant. Unanimously approved.
REPAIRS - CHEWSVILLE CENTER
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to appropriate $3900 for pipe
repair and asbestos removal at the Chewsville Center with funds to be taken from
the Commissioners Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved.
ASBESTOS ABATEMENT SERVICES
Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to expand the Scope of
Services for the asbestos abatement program with Spotts, Stevens and McCoy to meet
proposed new federal regulations with the additional $2800 required for the
additional services to be charged against the project in the Capital Budget.
Unanimously approved.
FIRE & RESCUE REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to increase the ambulance
portion of the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund to $200,000 with funds to be taken
from the Fund Balance. Unanimously approved.
FIRE & RESCUE LOAN APPROVALS - CLEAR SPRING AND SHARPSBURG AMBULANCE COMPANIES
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to approve the loan requests
made by Sharpsburg Area Rescue Squad in the amount of $37,000 ($l3,000 loan
approved on 11/24/87 for a total of $50,000) and Clear Spring Ambulance Co. in the
amount of $37,000 from the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund. Unanimously
approved.
FEBRUARY 9, 1988
MINUTES, CONT'D.
EMPLOY SUBSTITUTE PART-TIME BUS DRIVER
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to employ Glendora Brechbill
as a Substitute, Part-time Bus Driver at the County Commuter to fill an existing
vacancy. Unanimously approved.
APPROVE RESOLUTION OPENING BANK ACCOUNT - 70/81 INDUSTRIAL PARK RAILROAD SIDING
Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to approve a Resolution
authorizing Ronald L. Bowers, President of the Board of County Commissioners, Barry
A. Teach, County Administrator and James R. Young, Director of Finance as
signatories opening the 70/81 Industrial Park Railroad Siding bank account.
Unanimously approved.
RECESS
The Meeting was recessed at 2:l5 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. in the
Smithsburg Town Hall.
EVENING SESSION
The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Smithsburg Town Hall by the
President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following Commissioners present: R. Lee
Downey and Linda C. Irvin. Also in attendance were Mayor Robert Kline of Funkstown
and Mayor Paul Boswell of Boonsboro, along with Town Council members, "Mickey"
Myers and John O'Neal.
Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Article 8l, Section 32-C
of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are meeting to discuss the tax
differential or payment-in-lieu program. The amounts to be paid to Smithsburg and
Funkstown for the Fiscal year l987-88 will be based on final audited expenditures
but the estimated amount of payment for Smithsburg will be $9827 and for Funkstown,
$3980. The Commissioners informed the Town officials that they are considering
using l986 estimated population figures which could change the amounts paid to the
Towns.
Other topics discussed included: improvement of the Smithsburg/Leitersburg Road
and Cave Hill Road, a business growth area commitee comprised of Town and County
officials to study growth in in the Smithsburg area and possible annexation of land
near the Town of Smithsburg.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
Unanimously approved.
County Attorney
, Clerk