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HomeMy WebLinkAbout880223 February 23, 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 Rev. John Schildt, pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. REQUEST FOR FUNDS - BOYS' CLUB Jay Crouse, President of the Boys' Club Board of Directors, and Norman Morin, architect, appeared before the Commissioners to request that funds be donated to the Washington County Boys' Club for improvements to their building from the proceeds of the sale of the old jail site, since the Boys' Club serves the youth in this area. Mr. Crouse requested $25,000 for improvements and to help make their building handicapped accessible. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to approve the request to donate $25,000 to the United Way for the express purpose of helping with the Boys' Club Capital Improvements project. Unanimously approved. COUNTY FLAG RESEARCH Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, and Tracy Bonn, an intern from Hagerstown Junior College working with Ms. Sprinkle, appeared before the Commissioners to present their research regarding the County flag. Ms. Sprinkle informed the Commissioners that she had checked with the company who, according to newspaper clippings, had designed an earlier Washington County flag, but they could not find any records of this design. The Commissioners then asked that Ms. Sprinkle along with Joan Hall, representing the Historical Commission, and Becky Horst, who won a County flag design contest, meet to recommend and present a design for their review and adoption. PROPOSED SKATING RINK - DITTO FARMS PARK Roger Worthington met with the Commissioners to present information on other ice skating rinks in the State and surrounding areas and their revenues, expenditures, etc., in support of his proposal to construct a multi-purpose type center which would house an ice skating rink at the Ditto Farms Park. YOUTH OF THE MONTH NOMINATION James Deaner, President of the Children's Council, submitted a nomination to the Commissioners to recognize Ralph "Chip" Kershner for the Youth of the Month Award for March l988. "Chip" is a member the the YMCA "Our Gang" Day Care Center and raised over $400 in their swim-a-thon for the center. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Snook to approve the nomination of Ralph "Chip" Kershner as the Youth of the Month for March l988 as recommended by the Children's Council. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 23, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. HOTEL/MOTEL TAX LEGISLATION Several hotel and motel owners came before the Commisisners to express their concern regarding the proposed hotel/motel tax bill which the Commissioners have submitted to the General Assembly and to request that they withdraw the bill. The owners in attendance felt that the costs of administering and collecting the tax would cost them money, that the additional tax would keep tourists from staying in Washington County, and the money used to promote tourism will not help their businesses. Commissioner Roulette explained that the tax was not meant to hinder the owners, but that all proceeds from the tax would go back into the tourism budget to help promote tourism in the County, which in turn would help the hotel/motel industry. The Commissioners thanked those in attendance for coming to express their views. CAPITAL PROGRAM ADVANCE - BOARD OF EDUCATION Dr. Wayne Gersen, Superintendent of Schools, and Wayne Stouffer, Director of Fiscal Planning, appeared before the Commissioners to present the Board of Education's Capital program and request that the Commissioners advance $l50,000 for planning and architectural fees for the design of the additions to Boonsboro Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Snook to approve the Board of Education's request to advance up to $l50,000 to be used for planning and architectural fees for the expansion of Boonsboro Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - RIDE ASSIST AND SECTION l8 GRANT APPLICATION The President convened the meeting in Public Hearing at ll:05 a.m. to hear any comments regarding the Ride Assist and Section l8 Grant Application. Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter, and Mary Taylor, Administrator of the SSTAP Program, were in attendance to explain the grant application and operating budget for these programs. There being no one else in attendance to speak for nor against said application, the hearing was closed at ll:l5 a.m. The record will be kept open ten (l0) days to accept any additional written testimony. CONSULTANT SELECTION - ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE ADDITION TO THE COUNTY COMMUTER BUILDING Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Snook to approve the Coordinating Committee's recommendation to select Morin Rocco, Inc. to perform the architectural/engineering services for the addition to the County Commuter building for the fee of $54,500, and as also endorsed by the Transportation Commission, with the contract to preclude Morin Rocco from bidding on the actual construction for this project. Unanimously approved. RE/APPOINTMENTS - MID-MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to appoint Claire O'Connell as Consumer Representative and to reappoint Dr. Randy Sue Ellis, representing the Washington County Hospital physicians to the Mid-Maryland Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council with terms to expire January l99l. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the Tourism Commission meeting and Commissioner Irvin reported on the Transportation Commission meeting. LEGAL MATTERS David K. Poole, County Attorney, reported on pending legal matters and also informed the Commissioners that the settlement for TFX Marine property will be on Thursday and for the Civil Defense building on Friday. LEGISLATION Barry Teach, County Administrator, reported that the Economic Development Commission bill has been withdrawn from the House and has been submitted in the Senate with one amendment; the Ways & Means Committee will vote on the hotel/motel tax bill on Friday with the amendments requested by the chairman of that Committee; and the bond legislation has been crossfiled. BOAT DOCK REGULATION The Commissioners discussed the regulation of boat docks on the Potomac River and agreed to ask the Planning Commission staff to develop a proposal that would zone the river "Conservation", make boat docks a principal, permitted use in Conservation districts and provide densities and dimensions for docks. FEBRUARY 23, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. PROPOSED INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE LEGISLATION After hearing the IRS proposal 87-3 to amend Section 457 of the Internal Code which would allow taxation of accrued sick and vacation time as income, the Commissioners decided to send a letter in opposition to this policy. ENDORSEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to endorse the Housing and Community Development's application to HUD for 60 vouchers for the Rental Assistance Program. Unanimously approved. BANK ACCOUNT - SHARPSBURG PIKE SANITARY SEWER CONSTRUCTION - BLOCK GRANT ACCOUNT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to adopt the resolution authorizing the opening of a bank account for the Sharpsburg Pike Sanitary Sewer Construction (MD-ED 2) with Ronald L. Bowers, President of the Board of County Commissioners; Barry A. Teach, County Administrator; James R. Young, Director of Finance; and Joni L. Bittner, County Clerk, as signatories. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:00 noon for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:00 p.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members in attendance: Vice President, Richard E. Roulette, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convene in Executive Session at l:00 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 Snook to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:l5 p.m. Unanimously approved. At this time Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting and Commissioner Roulette assumed the Chair. EMPLOY - GRID TECHNICIAN Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to employ William Knepper as Grid Technician in the Planning Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 3:l5 p.m. to be reconvened at the Williamsport Town Hall to meet with the Mayor and Council. EVENING SESSION - WILLIAMSPORT TOWN HALL The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Williamsport Town Hall by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. Also present were Williamsport Mayor John Slayman and Councilmen John Bloyer, Gene Nichols, Dewey Hartle and Charles South. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Article 8l, Section 32 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are meeting to discuss a tax differential or payment-in-lieu program. Williamsport is now being provided at no cost with a full-time deputy from the Sheriff's Department in lieu of receiving a payment. Based upon budgeted expenditures, the payment for l987 would be $7,768, which would be subject to change after the annual audit is performed. The Commissioners assessed the value of the deputy, including salary, fringe benefits and operation and equipment to be a minimum of $25,000 per year. The Commissioners also informed the Town officials that they are considering using l986 census estimates as opposed to l980 census figures. Other topics discussed included: sidewalks for Sunset and Vermont Streets, near the school. The Commissioners said they would look into the possibility of FEBRUARY 23, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. utilizing CDBG funds for this purpose. The renovation of the Williamsport Pool was also discussed. The Town is requesting that the County assist in renovation of the pool. Commissioner Bowers asked the Mayor and Council if they would be interested in having an ice skating rink at the park. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to adjourn at 7:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk