Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout940208 February 8, 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 Shank, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. PROPOSAL - YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT DAY Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, was contacted by the Board of Education asking if the Commissioners wished to reinstitute the Youth in Government Day to allow students to spend a day with elected officials. The Commissioners agreed and asked Ms. Sprinkle to work with the Board of Education staff to coordinate the activities. TAX BILLING ADJUSTMENTS Todd Hershey, County Treasurer, met with the Commissioners to review the requests made for adjustments to tax billings. Mr. Hershey stated that Freline, Inc., ceased doing business in Washington County in August of 1993 and has requested that its property taxes be pro-rated accordingly. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to pro-rate the property taxes for Freline, Inc. (Account #D-0579698), in the amount of $264.28 and interest of $13.22, based on the certification that the company did cease business in Washington County in August 1993. Unanimously approved. Mr. Hershey reviewed letters he received from James and Lilly Spamer who stated that their tax bill was sent to their former address so they did not receive the billing and are asking that interest in the amount of $32.15 be waived, and from Gerald Taylor stating that the check they sent in August was lost in the mail and are requesting that interest in the amount of $31.52 be waived. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to waive interest on personal property taxes in the amount of $32.15 for James and Lilly Spamer (Account #008195) and for Gerald and Joan Taylor (Account #02-013851) in the amount of $31.52. Unanimously approved. CROSS CREEK SUBDIVISION - ACCEPTANCE OF PERFORMANCE BOND Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to accept a performance bond in the amount of $13,000 for 285 linear feet of Battlecreek Drive in the Cross Creek Subdivision to allow the temporary issuance of a Use & Occupancy Permit for the Teamsters Building. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISTRICT The Commissioners convened the public hearing to consider application AD-93-01 submitted by Robert and Thelma Castle for the establishment of an Agricultural Land Preservation District. Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, reviewed the application and stated that it had been approved by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board and that the Planning Commission found it to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. 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-93-01 submitted by Robert and Thelma Castle for establishment of an Agricultural Land Preservation District as presented. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve the recommendation to send the top four applications to the State for sale of easements in the Agricultural Land Preservation Program. Unanimously approved. TEXT AMENDMENT RZ-93-13 - ANIMAL HUSBANDRY The Commissioners discussed Text Amendment RZ-93-13 - Animal Husbandry and agreed to adopt the proposed Ordinance with the modification that if the farm is located in an Urban Growth Area or Town Growth area and will generate in excess of 3,000 ton of waste per year, a Planning Commission Site Plan Review must be held. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve Text Amendment RZ-93-13 - Animal Husbandry, as amended to trigger a Planning Commission Site Review if the farm is located in an Urban or Town Growth Area and will generate over 3,000 ton of waste per year. Unanimously approved. (Copy of approved amendment attached.) FEBRUARY 8, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. TOTAL QUALITY SERVICE - UPDATE Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, introduced Bill Lewis and Tom Kincaid, who are providing Total Quality Service (TQS) training to County employees. Mr. Davis stated that Phase I, training of the Steering Committee, is complete and they are ready to begin TEAM training. He reviewed the six pilot projects chosen and also estimated that the 30-40 employees participating in the training will be committing between 50-60 hours of time to the training. Mr. Lewis reviewed the schedule for training and answered questions from the Commissioners. CDBG PUBLIC HEARING The Commissioners convened the public hearing to hear comments regarding a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. Neil Curran, Program Development Coordinator, stated that the proposed application would be submitted to the Department of Economic and Employment Development and is for purchase of land for an economic development project for a 10-acre parcel located in the 70/81 Industrial Park owned by CHIEF. Mr. Curran stated that the application is for a $300,000 grant which would pass through the Tri-County Council and then be released to CHIEF to reimburse them for the value of the property. Sharon Disque, Economic Development Specialist, presented a prepared outline of the project and noted that the company is expected to hire 200 employees within 18 months. She stated that if the land is purchased with the CDBG grant, the company will be required to hire 50% low and moderate income persons. There was no one present who wished to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed application. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to submit the Community Development Block Grant application to the Department of Economic and Employment Development for an economic development project as presented. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Historic District Commission meeting; Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Recreation & Parks Board meeting. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Ed French and several residents of the Hancock area expressed their support for the County to lease Ft. Tonoloway Park from the State of Maryland. PAYMENT-IN-LIEU OF TAXES Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve a payment-in- lieu of taxes for Alphin Aircraft, Inc., in the amount of $260.12 (Hangars 19 and 20). Unanimously approved. PROPOSED LEGISLATION - WEVERTON/ROXBURY RAILROAD CORRIDOR Barry Teach, County Administrator, reviewed a draft bill being introduced by Senator John Derr regarding the Weverton/Roxbury railroad corridor for the purpose of prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources, in the absence of a request from the Commissioners, from engaging in certain planning, development and related activity concerning the corridor. The Commissioners discussed various sections and suggested amendments to the proposed legislation be forwarded to the Washington County's Delegation to the General Assembly. BID AWARD - HIRT TEAM PROTECTIVE SUITS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to award the bid for 4 Vapor Protective Suits and Liquid Splash Protective Suits for the HIRT Team to Vallen Safety Equipment Company which submitted the low bid of $15,992. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR OLD VOTING MACHINES - BOARD OF EDUCATION The Commissioners approved the recommendation to provide 2-3 of the County's old voting machines to the Board of Education for use by the schools. APPOINTMENT - TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to appoint Officer Richard Moats from the City of Hagerstown Police Department to the Transportation Advisory Committee to replace Sgt. Roger Powers. Unanimously approved. CONTRACTUAL POSITION - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to hire a contractual employee as Case Manager for the Department of Social Services' Responsible Fathers Program, with the State's grant to reimburse the County for all costs involved for the position. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 8, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. RESCHEDULE HEARING - CLOSING OF PLEASANTVILLE ROAD The Commissioners agreed to the request made to reschedule the public hearing regarding the proposal to close a portion of Pleasantville Road. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at 11:45 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. The Commissioners recessed from 12:20 p.m. to 1:06 p.m. for lunch. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 1:32 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed five personnel matters and one matter regarding a company relocating to Washington County. PRESS CONFERENCE - DOT FOODS Commissioner Roulette introduced Pat Tracy, President of DOT Foods, and Jim Tracy and Joe Tracy, Vice-Presidents at DOT Foods, who met with the Commissioners regarding the relocation of DOT Foods to Washington County. Mr. Tracy stated that it is a pleasure to be in Washington County and explained how they selected Washington County as the site of their new facility. He indicated that they have a target date of June 1 for occupancy and thanked the County Commissioners and Economic Development Commission staff for their support and assistance. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 2:25 p.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. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting at 2:45 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:26 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed three personnel matters, one matter involving a business in Washington County, and 2 litigationmatters involving the County. SUMMER EMPLOYEES - MARTY SNOOK PARK SWIMMING POOL Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to employ James Andra, Aaron Benchoff, Lisa Grove, Stacey Henson, Bret Mower, Jeremy Sumpter, Roman Ganor, Dave Roelkey, and Kelly Tracy as Lifeguards, and Terra Hawbaker and Amy Toms as Cashiers, as Summer Employees at the Marty Snook Memorial Park Swimming Pool. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 3:28 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney Clerk