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HomeMy WebLinkAbout930309 March 9, 1993 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, Gregory I. Snook, and John S. Shank. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Shank, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. PUBLIC HEARING - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISTRICT The Commissioners convened the public hearing, as advertised, in order to hear comments regarding an application for establishment of an Agricultural Land Preservation District. Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, informed the Commissioners that the application to be considered has been approved by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board, and the Planning Commission has found it to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Seifarth reviewed application AD-92-11, which was submitted by Daniel Rohrer, Jr., for establishment of a District on 123.80 acres of land located along Wheeler Road. There was no one present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed application. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve application AD-92-11, submitted by Daniel Rohrer, Jr., for establishment of an Agricultural Land Preservation District, as presented. Unanimously approved. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION CERTIFICATION Joe Scott, representing the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, presented the County Commissioners with the approved application for Certification for the additional Agricultural Transfer Tax money. Mr. Scott stated that Washington County has met the requirements of the Foundation and demonstrated its commitment to an aggressive and effective agricultural land preservation program. Mr. Seifarth stated that the certification will allow the County to retain additional transfer tax monies to be used for the local easement program or in conjunction with the State program. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Scott for making the presentation. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Historic District Commission, the Governor's Drug & Alcohol Commission, the Task Force on Homelessness, and the Women's Fair. MARCH 9, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 23, 1993 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the minutes of February 23, 1993, as corrected. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED POLICY - FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the proposed policy for Family & Medical Leave as presented by the Director of Personnel, in order to comply with the Federal Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - AMENDMENT TO FY 1993- 95 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM The Commissioners convened at 9:30 a.m. sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization in order to hear testimony regarding the proposed amendments to the 1993-95 Transportation Improvement Program. Robert Arch, Director of Planning, reviewed the following amendments the State is proposing: Landscaping at various locations; replacement of loop detectors at various locations; planning and study to examine the historic, cultural, and recreation resources of the National Road Corridor in Washington County; and modification of bridge parapets at the I-70/I-81 interchange. There was no one present to speak in favor or in opposition to the proposed amendments. The Commissioners requested that Mr. Arch and the Hagerstown City Engineer draft a letter asking for the State's consideration to include the Route 40 corridor from I-70 to Hagerstown. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, to approve the amendments to the 1993-95 Transportation Improvement Program as proposed by the Maryland Department of Transportation. Unanimously approved. REJECTION OF BIDS - BUSES Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reject all bids submitted for the purchase of 18 buses due to exceptions to the specifications submitted with each bid, as advised by the Regional Representative for the Mass Transit Authority, and to have the specifications rewritten and the project rebid. Unanimously approved. UPDATE AND REVIEW OF STORM DAMAGE J. Theodore Wolford, Roads Department Superintendent, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on the storm damage which occurred on March 4. Mr. Wolford reported that 35 roads were closed due to flooding and high winds which downed trees and power lines, but that all but 6 roads were opened by that night. He stated that 58 hourly employees, 13 salaried employees, and many volunteers worked in getting these roads open. Commissioner Roulette commended the employees and staff of the Roads Department for the exemplary fashion in which they responded to this emergency. PARAMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT - BOARD OF EDUCATION Dr. Wayne Gersen, Superintendent of Schools, and Marie Byers, President of the Board of Education, met with the Commissioners to discuss the recommendation of their consultant to demolish the present Paramount Elementary School and build a new facility at the site. Dr. Gersen stated that the new project will cost an estimated $5.3 million and the local cost would be $3.1 million instead of the $4.1 million in the CIP budget. He explained that the students will be sent to Eastern Elementary until the Paramount project is completed. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the revision to the Paramount Elementary School project in the Capital Improvements Program budget as presented by the Board of Education. Unanimously approved. BIRD PROBLEMS - DOUBS WOODS PARK Kathleen Riley, Chief, Division of Citizens Services, and Ronald Kidd, Director of Recreation & Parks, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on the problems they are experiencing with excessive crows and blackbirds roosting at Doubs Woods park and their attempts to get them to move from this area. Ms. Riley stated that the birds are damaging the trees and the park, but they have been unsuccessful in their attempts to get the birds to move. She explained that they have learned that the time to begin their efforts is when the birds first start to roost in the fall, and the Parks Department will try different methods again at that time. The Commissioners asked that she keep them updated on the problem. MARCH 9, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. INVESTMENT POLICY - RETIREMENT FUNDS Commissioner Shank stated that he does not feel the Commissioners are qualified to complete the questionnaire submitted by the consultant examining the County's investment policy for retirement funds. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to ask the consultant to present 3 options to them which would allow them to choose one of the proposals. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Linda Taulton, representing a group organized to fight the State's Rail- Trail Program, presented a number of concerns and questions to the Commissioners on this program. Commissioner Roulette asked Mrs. Taulton for a complete list of her group's concerns, and the Commissioners agreed to send a letter to the State Delegation to the General Assembly regarding this matter. Charles Thompson and Thomas Mose also spoke reiterating Mrs. Taulton's concerns with the State's Rail-Trails Program. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND BYLAWS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve a Resolution establishing the Antietam Battlefield Advisory Committee and adopting by-laws for the Committee. Unanimously approved. (Copy of Resolution attached.) TRANSFER OF LAND - STUDENT TRADES FOUNDATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to transfer Lot A-6 to the Student Trades Foundation, as advertised, for construction of a residence. Unanimously approved. PLEASANT VALLEY PARK DEVELOPMENT - FUNDING Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Pleasant Valley Park Development is ready to bid and the Recreation & Parks Department is estimating it will cost $280,000, which is approximately $140,000 over the amount estimated when the project was first budgeted. Mr. Teach proposed the options of phasing the project, using existing Program Open Space monies which are not committed, or using monies appropriated to the Snook park but which were not needed. The Commissioners asked Mr. Teach to obtain the plans for the project for their review. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 11:28 a.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, and to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, 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 Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 12:18 p.m. Unanimously approved. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCEDURES Motion made by Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adopt procedures for collective bargaining, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:20 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:04 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. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at 1:05 p.m. to perform annual personnel evaluations, 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 Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 4:36 p.m. MARCH 9, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. EVENING SESSION - TOWN OF CLEAR SPRING The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at Clear Spring Town Hall by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following Commissioners present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin- Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. Also present were Paul Hose, Jr., Mayor of Clear Spring, and Council members Gary Grove and William Albowicz. Tax Differential Barry Teach, Administrator, stated that pursuant to Section 6-305, Tax- Property Article, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax differential or payment-in-lieu of services program. Mr. Teach stated that for current Fiscal Year the Town of Clear Spring will receive the $2,000 minimum payment, but explained that the estimated amount will be subject to audited expenditures. Councilman Albowicz informed the Commissioners that the Town is working with the Sanitary District to develop a hook-up fee schedule which will be adopted at their next Council meeting. The Commissioners discussed various options for hook-up for new development. The Commissioners discussed the Town Growth Area program and agreed to have the Planning Department contact the Mayor and Council with background information. Also discussed was the status of a senior citizens' housing project and the search for appropriate sites. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk