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HomeMy WebLinkAbout940308 March 8, 1994 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Commissioners met at 7:30 a.m. for the annual State of the County forum sponsored by the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at the Venice Inn. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:30 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 Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. INTRODUCTION - MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, introduced his new Maintenance Technician, Howard Bankes, to the Commissioners. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting; Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported that the Historic Trust approved Paula Reed's application for a grant; and Commissioner Bowers reported on the Western Maryland Consortium Board meeting. HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANT APPLICATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to authorize the submittal of a Housing Preservation Grant application to the Farmers Home Administration in the amount of $110,000, as approved. Unanimously approved. LINE TRANSFER - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGET Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to transfer the remaining $22,406.02 from the Dam No. 5 Road Bridge project (40-5-1320-586-039) in the Capital Improvements Program budget to the Special Account - Air Quality (40-5-1430-581-106) to solve the problems concerning noxious fumes and odors at the Landfill office building. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF CONTRACT - HAULING/RECYCLING OF SCRAP TIRES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to renew the contract for hauling/recycling of scrap tires with Milton Grove Demolition & Tire Recycling Center, a Division of Waste Management of North America, Inc., with the following renewal rates: car tires - $92.25/ton, truck tires - $107.25/ton, and equipment tires - $209.00/ton. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF CONTRACT - HVAC & AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MAINTENANCE SERVICE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to renew the contract for HVAC and Automatic Temperature Control Maintenance Service at County facilities with Zeigler Mechanical Contractors and to add the Airport Terminal to the full service contract at the following rates for Fiscal Year 1995: Specific services - $63,900; Regular hours - HVAC Mechanic $32/hour, Helper $25/hour; Evenings and Saturdays - HVAC Mechanic $48/hour, Helper $37.50/hour; Sundays and Holidays - HVAC Mechanic $48 hour, Helper $37.50/hour. Unanimously approved. REVIEW OF CHANGES - POLICY S-3 Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Public Works, and Dean Lowry, Administrative Engineer, presented an overview of proposed changes to Policy S-3, Acceptance of Subdivision Streets into the County Roads System. After discussions and questions by the Commissioners, they agreed to have the proposed changes presented to the development community for review and input before proceeding. PUBLIC HEARING - REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF NON-PROFIT AGENCIES TO WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS MAY CONTRIBUTE FUNDS The Commissioners convened the public hearing to consider the request made by Western Maryland Interfaith Housing to be added to the list of non-profit agencies to which the County may contribute funds. Ed Richards and Monsignor Robert Passarelli, representing Western Maryland Interfaith Housing, stated that their organization is a developer of affordable housing for low and moderate income residents in the four western counties of the State. Mr. Richards explained that there are two projects in the Hagerstown area they are working on and will be seeking funding for a project manager. The Commissioners expressed concerns regarding the request for funding of operating expenses and asked them to meet with the County's Director of Housing & Community Development and other similar groups to see what assistance may be available to them. There was no one in attendance to speak in favor of or in opposition to the request, and the hearing was concluded at 11:25 a.m. MARCH 8, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. BID OPENING - MODULAR BUILDING - LANDFILL The bids for a modular building for office space at the Washington County Landfill were publicly opened and read aloud. Firms participating in the bidding and their proposals were as follows: Valley Modular Offices, Inc. - $36,875; Mobile Modular Express, Inc. - $37,660; G.E. Capital Modular Space - $36,530; Scotsman Group, Inc. - $39,409; and Allied Trailers Sales & Rentals - $48,720. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. (Decision rendered later in the Session.) CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Michael Nye expressed his concerns to the Commissioners that the new carrier at the airport which is taking over the commuter flights will not be as reliable as the current carrier with regard to frequency of flights and asked the Commissioners to take steps to make sure that this is in the best interest of the County. Stan and Robin Kifer explained how the proposed changes in the "HI" (Highway Interchange) zoning regulations will affect them if they are approved before they have a survey completed and plats submitted to build their new home. The Commissioners advised them to file a formal preliminary plat with the Planning Department as soon as possible. Donald Allensworth expressed his opinions on the proposed construction of a stadium in Laurel, Maryland, for the Redskins football team and moving their training camp facilities to Frostburg. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 11:47 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 for lunch from 12:20 p.m. to l2:50 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed six personnel matters, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on four legal matters, and discussed various businesses relocating into Washington County from outside the State. EMPLOY - INFORMATION SPECIALIST - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to employ Shirley Dempsey as Information Specialist at the Housing & Community Development office to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - MODULAR BUILDING - WASHINGTON COUNTY LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for a modular building at the Washington County Landfill to G.E. Capital Modular Space who submitted the low bid of $36,530. Unanimously approved. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve a supplemental appropriation to the Spay/Neuter Program in the amount of $4,194, which is equal to the amount of the dog license fees collected to be transferred from the previous fiscal year. Unanimously approved. MARCH 8, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. AUTHORIZATION FOR RENEWAL OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE - PUBLIC GOLF CORPORATION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to give authorization as the property owner, to the Washington County Public Golf Corporation to renew the alcoholic beverage license at Black Rock Golf Course clubhouse. Unanimously approved. CREDIT FOR POLICE PROTECTION - TAX DIFFERENTIAL PROGRAM The Commissioners discussed the credit given for police protection in the tax differential program, and Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed them that the Town of Williamsport has not been credited for having full-time deputies whereas the Town of Boonsboro has been given a credit for the Resident State Trooper program it had in effect. The Commissioners agreed to include Williamsport in future payments as a police providing municipality. CLARIFICATION - SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Commissioners agreed to send a letter clarifying that Washington County and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee do not endorse the activities of or is affiliated with the Mid-Maryland Symposium on Waste and any Committee members who participate with this group are doing so on an individual basis. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 2:30 p.m. EVENING SESSION - CITY OF HAGERSTOWN The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at Hagerstown City Hall by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following Commissioners present: Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. Also present was Mayor Steven Sager, and Councilmembers William Breichner, John Schnebley, Susan Saum-Wicklein, Mark Jameson and Fred Kramer. 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 Fiscal Year 1993-94 The City of Hagerstown is estimated to receive $630,006. He also explained that the estimated amounts will be subject to actual audited expenditures. Mayor Sager stated that they are interested in asking the County to help them fund a recycling program for City residents similar to the pilot curbside pickup program just started in the Town of Williamsport. The Commissioners explained how the Williamsport program operates and the level of County funding, and Commissioner Roulette suggested that the County's Recycling Coordinator meet with the City Engineer to estimate the costs involved for the program. Commissioner Roulette asked for a status report on the downtown office space which the County would like to rent for the Convention & Visitors Bureau office. Bruce Johnston, City Engineer, informed them that the architect has completed schematic drawings and will proceed with design documents. He estimated that the bid opening for the renovations will be in April and stated that they hope to have the project completed in August. Ralph France, County Attorney, asked the City for a written commitment from them to reimburse the County for purchase of the electronic voting machines. The Commissioners explained how the new machines will operate. Other items discussed were initiation of a tax credit formula for low and moderate income housing projects, the Forest Conservation Ordinance, and the Economic Development Commission's Downtown Marketing Report. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk