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Home My WebLink About930202 February 2, 1993 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, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE - ELSIE HORST The Commissioners presented Elsie Horst with a plaque recognizing her as a Charter Member of the Commission on Aging and for her dedicated years of service. Mrs. Horst thanked the Commissioners for the plaque and provided a brief history of the organization and development of the Commission on Aging. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Advisory Council meeting, the Historic District Commission meeting, and the Airport Commission meeting; Commissioner Snook reported on the Western Maryland Health Planning Agency meeting; Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Mental Health Authority meeting and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. PRESENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY Angie Harsh, Lori Jones, and Marie Wampler, members of the Animal Control Authority Board, presented an outline of an educational program they will be presenting in the public school system. Ms. Jones stated that their goal is to educate children in grades K-12 on issues relating to responsible pet ownership. Ms. Harsh asked the Commissioners for $500 to purchase educational materials and tapes and for copying expenses for this program. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to provide up to $500 to the Animal Control Authority Board, based on proper invoicing, for the education program they will be providing in the school system, with funds to be taken from the Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS The Commissioners, sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, met to consider a request from the Maryland Department of Transportation to amend the current Transportation Improvement Program to reflect the following changes: l) Installation of a traffic control beacon and lighting at MD 65 at Roxbury Road; 2) Construction of an outer ramp in the southwest quadrant of the interchange at I-70 and MD 65; 3) Minor resurfacing at various locations; and 4) fish diversion passages for State Highway Administration structure at various locations. There was no one present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed amendments. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, to approve the amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program as presented. Unanimously approved. ADOPTION OF LOCAL FOREST CONSERVATION ORDINANCE Commissioner Roulette informed the Commissioners that the Department of Natural Resources has committed their staff to help the County with implementation of a Forest Conservation Ordinance and any changes which the County may want to incorporate as amendments, if it adopts a local ordinance. Commissioner Roulette also stated that DNR has agreed to return plans submitted to it by Washington County. The Commissioners discussed legislation which has been introduced this year to repeal or amend the requirements of the Reforestation Legislation, and asked the County Attorney if they could make it a condition of the County's ordinance that any action taken by the State Legislature would allow them to readdress the County ordinance. Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, reviewed the editorial changes and clarifications made to the ordinance since the public hearing. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the Washington County Forest Conservation Ordinance as taken to public hearing on December 14, 1992, as amended, and to yield to the decision of the State Legislature if it repeals or defers the legislation which required this Ordinance, with the ordinance to become effective this date. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - SECTION 18 AND RIDE ASSIST GRANT The Commissioners convened the public hearing at 10:20 a.m. in order to hear comments regarding the proposed Section 18 and Ride Assist Program for the FEBRUARY 2, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. Transportation Commission. There was no one present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the program. The Commissioners took this matter under consideration at this time. UPDATE ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - MISS MARYLAND Tammy Wyatt, the reigning Miss Maryland, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on the education program she is presenting at local elementary schools which attempts to help children build self-esteem and help prevent drug abuse. Miss Wyatt described the program and thanked the Commissioners for their support. BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS PROGRAM - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Leroy Burtner, Director of the Economic Development Commission, and Sandra Ridenour, Chairperson of the Marketing Committee, recognized Eleanor Lakin Architects, Roger Schlossberg, and Bowman Industrial Park as recipients of Beautification Awards for outstanding business properties. David Barnhart, Economic Development Specialist, presented a slide show of the properties. The property owners received special plaques from the Commissioners and their names will be engraved on the Beautification Award Honor Roll plaque. HANCOCK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Barry Teach, County Administrator, briefly reviewed the Hancock Landfill Study which was completed in 1990. Mr. Teach noted that the permit for the landfill in Hancock expires on April 7, 1993, and it is not feasible under the new regulations to continue at this site. Ralph Wachter, Mayor-Elect for Hancock, stated that he feels the 1974 agreement with the County Commissioners should be taken into consideration when negotiating landfill fees for the Town. The Commissioners and Town officials agreed to have representatives meet next week to negotiate an acceptable agreement. REVISED BUDGET - BOARD OF EDUCATION Dr. Wayne Gersen, Superintendent of Schools, and Marie Byers, President of the Board of Education, met with the Commissioners to present their revised budget. Dr. Gersen stated that the Board has cut an additional $165,202, which the Commissioners requested to fund the Social Security tax payments. Dr. Gersen also distributed copies of the Superintendent's Budget to the Board of Education for the Commissioners' review. The Commissioners thanked the Board for its cooperation in making the necessary cuts and stated they realize that next year will be a difficult budget year. RECESS - PRESS CONFERENCE - JJ&W The Commissioners recessed at 11:34 a.m. for lunch and to attend a press conference for JJ&W at Top Flight Airpark. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:03 p.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Susie Smith provided an update on Clean Rock Industries' application for a State air quality permit and asked the Commissioners to write to the State to clarify the information they have on the fact sheet. TASK FORCE - SLUDGE APPLICATION Barry Teach, County Administrator, presented the Commissioners with a list of the proposed composition of a task force to review sludge application. He recommended having representatives from Wastewater Operations and Management, the Washington County Health Department, the Extension Service, the Farm Bureau, and the Soil Conservation Service, as well as at-large representation. The Commissioners suggested that a representative from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee also be included on this group. Robert Creter, Department of the Environment, agreed to provide assistance and information to the group and asked that he be notified when the list is formalized. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 1:30 p.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, and to consider businesses relocating within Washington County, in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 2, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. SUPPORT FOR COUNTY LEGISLATION PACKAGE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to formally support and recommend all legislation submitted to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly by the County government, as follows: Board of Examiners and Supervisors - Electricians; Creation of a State Debt - Children's Village of Washington County, Inc.; Septic Tank Installers - Licensure; Alarm System Regulation; Public Improvements - County Participation; Sole Source Procurement; Kennel License - Zoning; Dog Licenses; Washington County Sanitary District; Procurement Contracts - County Taxes Paid; Youth Camps - Publicly Operated Play Camps; Bingo Regulation - Penalties; Economic Development - County Tax Exemptions; Gaming Legislation; Sewage Sludge Applications; and Forest Conservation - Local Programs and Variances. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 19 AND 26, 1993 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the minutes of January 19, 1993, as corrected. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the minutes of January 26, 1993, as submitted. Unanimously approved. ADOPTION OF PLUMBING ORDINANCE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to adopt the amended Washington County Plumbing Ordinance with an effective date of March 1, 1993, and to grandfather all current projects submitted prior to that date. Unanimously approved. LINE ITEM TRANSFERS - PERMITS AND NARCOTICS TASK FORCE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve a line item transfer of $800 from Account 01-4-0000-320-039 (Other) to 01-5-1231-522-010 (Printing - Code Books) as requested by the Permits & Inspections Department to allow printing of additional Code Books. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve a line item transfer of $1,900 from Building Improvements (01-5-1202-581-000) to Equipment Improvements and Updates (01-5-1202-582-000) and $1,900 from Office Furniture and Equipment (01-5-1202-687-000) to Equipment Improvement and Updates (01-5-1202-582-000) as requested by the Narcotics Task Force to allow upgrading of the present radio equipment. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to appoint Jane Hershey, representing the Historical Society; John Schildt and Sam Pruett, representing the Historical Advisory Committee; Ed Itnyre and John Powell, representing the Hagerstown Civil War Roundtable, Inc.; and Suzanne Lushbaugh, Joanne Frobuck, Jan Wetterer and Nancy Keefauver, local property owners, to the Antietam Battlefield Advisory Committee. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to employ Debra Bastian to fill the newly created position of Assistant Director of Finance, Grade 12, Step C. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 4:18 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk