Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout940104 January 4, 1994 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 Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to approve the transfer of $11,250 from the Salaries line item in the Patrol Division budget to Tuition for training of 11 newly hired deputies at the State Police Academy. Unanimously approved. ORDER FOR NEW CRUISERS - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Sheriff Mades requested the Commissioners' authorization to order 13 new cruisers, 10 for the Patrol Division to replace those with excessive mileage, 2 vehicles per contract with the Town of Boonsboro, 1 vehicle per contract with the Town of Williamsport, and 1 transport van, through the State of Maryland contract. He estimated that the cost would be $193,368 with delivery to occur in September of 1994. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to accept the recommendation of Sheriff Mades to order 13 replacement cruisers and 1 transport van through the State of Maryland contract with delivery and invoicing to occur during the Fiscal Year 1995 budget year. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported that the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Advisory Council will be sponsoring a summit on Thursday and the State is sponsoring a seminar on homeless services procedures on Thursday as well. CONDITIONAL STREET ACCEPTANCE - HALFWAY BOULEVARD EXTENDED Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to conditionally accept Halfway Boulevard Extended with 80' right-of-way and Blake Road with a 60' right-of-way and to require a 1 year Maintenance Bond in the amount of $6,000. Unanimously approved. FEDERAL AID BRIDGE PROGRAM - ESTIMATED COSTS FOR OLD FORGE ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT Terry McGee, County Engineer, appeared before the Commissioners to review estimated costs for administration of the Old Forge Road Bridge Project utilizing Federal Aid monies. Mr. McGee explained how the costs were derived and provided estimates from 2 engineering firms for hours and fees. Mr. McGee recommended either using entirely local monies on this project or to start over and use Federal Aid funds and to include the administrative costs. He explained that using local funds the project would cost approximately $229,000 or, using Federal Aid funds, the local share would be $119,000 plus possible administrative costs. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to use Federal Aid funds for the project and to document the process for future review. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to use Federal Aid funds for the Old Forge Road Bridge Project and to review the process at the completion of the project. Unanimously approved. SPECIAL RECOGNITION - WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, submitted a Press Release detailing the events and activities to be held next Tuesday in recognition of the Washington County Public School System for its outstanding achievement in the Maryland Performance Program Report. PUBLIC HEARING - MICRF FUNDS - DOT FOODS DISTRIBUTION CENTER The Commissioners convened the public hearing at 10:16 a.m. to consider submittal of an application to the Department of Economic & Employment Development for a MICRF grant to purchase 17 acres in the 70/81 Industrial Park for DOT Foods, Inc. to construct a new facility and warehouse. Neil Curran, Program Development Coordinator, and Sharon Disque, Economic Development Specialist, explained the application process and stated that the application is for a $300,000 grant with the County to act as a conduit. There was no one in attendance to speak in favor of or in opposition to the application. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve submittal of an application to the Department of Economic & Employment Development for a MICRF grant in the amount of $300,000 to purchase a 17 acre site for DOT Foods, as presented. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 4, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. PRICE'S BRIDGE PROJECT Terry McGee, County Engineer, and Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Public Works, met with the Commissioners regarding the Price's Bridge Project. Mr. Rohrer stated that the County had been approaching the project as a repair of an existing structure but with the Federal funding involved now, the project will have to be done as a complete package to include the park and floodplain area. He explained that the added administration and paperwork will have an impact on the Engineering Department workload. Mr. Rohrer estimated that the project would cost approximately $30,000 for engineering and administrative costs if it were contracted to a private firm. The Commissioners agreed to contract the project out since they do want to proceed with the concept of the Price's Bridge project but do not want to hold up other engineering projects and priorities. They also agreed that Mr. McGee should meet with the Director of Finance on how the project will be funded and its timetable. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 21, 1993 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of December 21, 1993, as corrected. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR ROAD CLOSURE - PLEASANTVILLE ROAD The Commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing on the request made by the Superintendent of the C & O Canal National Historical Park to close the unpaved section of Pleasantville Road that runs through the Park property to prevent unauthorized vehicles from going into the Park, and asked that adjacent property owners be notified. HISTORIC MARKERS - DEDICATION The Commissioners asked that they be notified when the Historic District Commission schedules the dedication of 4 historic markers for the Christian Newcomer house, the Grove Farm, the George Adams Geeting house, and Smithsburg's Heritage Walk. DISTRICT COURT LEASE AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve the lease agreement with the State of Maryland for rental of space at the County Office Building by the District Court, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION The County Attorney informed the Commissioners that Donald Allensworth has submitted a Motion for Reconsideration of the Commissioners' decision to accept Business Parkway into the County roads system. The Commissioners denied the request since this motion can only be made by a Commissioner who voted with the prevailing side. MISS MARYLAND PRESENTATIONS - FUNDING Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to provide one-half the funding, approximately $1,600, from the Commissioners Contingency Fund for the cost of presentations to Washington County middle and elementary schools by Miss Maryland 1993 with the Board of Education to fund the remaining portion. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Angie Harsh, Chairperson of the Animal Control Authority, met with the Commissioners regarding the spay/neuter program. The Commissioners asked Ms. Harsh to standardize the rate structure for the program, and agreed to allow some flexibility for unique situations. After discussion, the Commissioners asked Ms. Harsh to provide a rate structure for the spay/neuter reimbursements for cats and for dogs based on weight categories. AMENDMENTS TO PLUMBING CODE AND ORDINANCE FOR SEPTIC TANK INSTALLERS The County Attorney presented an amendment to the Plumbing Code defining the differences between septic tank installers and on-site utility contractors and their regulation. The Commissioners asked that these amendments be sent to the Associated Builders & Contractors and the Homebuilders Association for their comments and to schedule a public hearing. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 11:59 a.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, and to consider businesses relocating in Washington County, in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 4, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. The Commissioners recessed from 12:44 p.m. to 1:16 p.m. for lunch. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting at 2:38 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:58 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed four matters involving personnel and discussed negotiations concerning the purchase of certain real estate needed by the County. The Commissioners also consulted with counsel concerning freedom of information requests and litigation involving an insurance matter and rental of a T-hangar at the Airport. The Commissioners also discussed the Federal class action suit involving General Motors Corporation and certificates which the County should be receiving in the amount of $1,000.00 each for the 46 vehicles the County owns which fall under the purview of the suit. The Commissioners also consulted with counsel regarding the suit against A.C.&T. Co., Inc. in the Circuit Court. After the lunch break, the Commissioners considered businesses which may relocate to Washington County from outside the State, and consulted with counsel regarding counsel for the Washington County Sanitary District. APPOINTMENT - WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC GOLF CORPORATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to appoint Garland Harbaugh to the Washington County Public Golf Corporation to fill the unexpired term of Richard Kelly extending to November 30, 1995. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - RECREATION SPECIALIST Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to employ Stacey Jenkins as Recreation Specialist in the Recreation and Parks Department to fill an existing vacancy, with the provision that she relocate to Washington County within 6 months. Unanimously approved. INVOICE - ELECTRICAL WORK - BLACK ROCK Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to pay half of the $5,177.56 invoice from Kube Electric, with funds to be taken from the check amount Commissioners Contingency, with the Washington County Public Golf Corporation to pay the remaining half for electrical work done at the Black Rock Golf Course for the Governor's Crab Feast. Unanimously approved. ADOPTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION SEARCH FEE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to institute a $35 per hour search fee for any formal public information request which requires staff time to search and compile data or copy documents, to be paid in advance, and to include 25 cents per page copied and $1.00 per copy for plats. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 3:09 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney Clerk