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HomeMy WebLinkAbout940628 June 28, 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. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION GRANT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the additional $19,400 allocation in Homelessness Prevention Program grant funds to be used to fund a Housing Counselor/Mediator position through Community Action Council and $3,000 to be used for eviction prevention. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER, INC., BY-LAWS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve the by-laws for the Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Inc., as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. LEASE FOR DOWNTOWN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve a 10- year lease with the City of Hagerstown, with the right to renew for 2 additional 5-year terms, for office space for the Convention & Visitors Center at the corner of East Washington Street for $8,625 per year for the first 5 years, pending the review and approval of the Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Unanimously approved. GRANT APPROVAL - GOVERNOR'S DRUG & ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAM CONTRACT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the contract for the Diversion Alternative grant to the State's Attorney's Office in the amount of $54,684 for the period August 1, 1994 to July 31, 1995. Unanimously approved. WESTERN MARYLAND PARKWAY - RECAPTURE AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the recapture agreement by which the County would transfer the water main going through County right-of-way to Western Maryland Parkway to the City of Hagerstown with the provision that the money returned to the County would be used for hook-up fees to the water line as the project develops. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Economic Development Commission meeting and the Western Maryland Consortium Board meeting; Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 21, 1994 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of June 21, 1994, as submitted. Unanimously approved. S.P.C.A. - ACCESS TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Jack Metzner and Haven Younger, representing the SPCA Board of Directors, met with the Commissioners to discuss areas identified where the County government may be able to help the SPCA reduce costs by providing administrative services. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that in addition to providing a $3,500 rabies appropriation and including the SPCA in its fleet insurance, the County could also consider billing them for parts only for the maintenance done on vehicles by the Roads Department, assisting with specifications and bidding of other insurance, providing health insurance to their employees at a lower premium, and possibly helping to finance the expansion of their facility through County General Obligation bonds at a lower interest rate than they are budgeting. After discussion and questions, the Commissioners asked Mr. Teach to outline the services discussed and the amount it will save the SPCA. ON-BEHALF-OF HOUSING BOND AND SCATTERED SITE HOUSING PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the On- Behalf-Of (OBO) Housing Bond Program funds from the Community Development Administration in the amount of $2,217,180 for issuance of tax exempt housing bond allocation. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to proceed with submittal of a grant application for the Housing Authority to pursue funding through the Department of Housing & Urban Development to purchase and renovate JUNE 28, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. approximately 27, 2-bedroom homes for purchase by low and moderate income families and to adopt the Resolution in support of the application. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - 1994 UNIFIED WORK PROGRAM The Commissioners met sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization at 10:28 a.m. to consider the 1994 Unified Work Program for the Hagerstown Urbanized Area. Robert Arch, Director of the Planning Department, reviewed the 1994 Work Program as proposed by the State Highway Administration. There was no one present who wished to comment regarding this program. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, to approve the 1994 Unified Work Program for the Hagerstown Urbanized Areas as proposed. Unanimously approved. TEXT AMENDMENT RZ-94-05 Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve text amendment RZ-94-05 regarding real estate directional signs, with the inclusion of the word "temporary", as recommended by the Planning Commission. Unanimously approved. TEXT AMENDMENT RZ-94-04 Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to refer text amendment RZ-94-04 back to the Planning Commission for further review and scheduling of another public hearing, to include a new definition of the word "temporary". Unanimously approved. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - EXTENSION SERVICE Donald Schwartz, Agricultural Extension Agent, met with the Commissioners to provide more detailed information on the request for an additional allocation of $5,300 toward the Nutrient Management Program. Mr. Schwartz stated that the monies would be used to help fund contract employees to perform soil testing for the program and who would only be used on an "as needed" basis. After discussion, the Commissioners took this matter under advisement at this time. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Suzanne Lushbaugh provided copies of a letter which she sent to Congressman Bartlett regarding a bill which would allow the transfer of a 95 acre parcel of land to the National Park Service (NPS). Ms. Lushbaugh indicated that she does not believe the NPS will then sell the tract to a private landowner as indicated which will place her home and several others in the middle of Park Service land. Donald Allensworth expressed his opinion regarding the proposal to transfer Sanitary District functions to the County Division of Public Works and on the welfare system. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - OLD FORGE ROAD BRIDGE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the transfer of $52,000 from the Newcomer Road Bridge Project (40-5-1320-586-032) which is now complete to cover the cost of design for the Old Forge Road Bridge project (40-5-1320-586-051), as requested by the County Engineer. Unanimously approved. WHITETAIL SKI RESORT - RESPONSE TO LETTER Mr. Teach informed the Commissioners that officials at the Whitetail Ski Resort have agreed to place advance notification signs on Rt. 68 if the resort is at capacity and will have their Facilities Manager in radio contact with Roads Department personnel to provide snow removal equipment to help keep Blair's Valley Road open during severe weather, at their expense. The Commissioners asked Mr. Teach to have this conveyed to the property owners along Blair's Valley Road. WITHDRAWAL OF REZONING CASE RZ-94-01 Mr. Teach informed the Commissioners that he received notification that Triad Properties has withdrawn rezoning case RZ-94-01. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to convene in Closed Session at 11:24 a.m. with regard to personnel matters and to consult with counsel 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 Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 11:40 a.m. Unanimously approved. JUNE 28, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed two personnel matters. APPROVAL OF NEW PAY SCALES Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the following pay scales as presented by the Director of Personnel: Sheriff's Department Sworn Personnel Scale and Civilian Employees' Scale, Administrative Employees' Scale, and Fire & Rescue Employees' Scale. Unanimously approved. RECESS - BOARDS & COMMISSION APPRECIATION LUNCHEON AND GROUNDBREAKING The Commissioners recessed at 11:41 a.m. to attend the annual Boards and Commissions Appreciation Luncheon and to attend the groundbreaking for the Mt. Aetna Road Reconstruction Project. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 2:44 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 CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to convene in Closed Session at 2:45 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. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:17 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed one personnel matter. MISS MARYLAND 1994 - KARISSA JONES Karissa Jones, who was recently crowned Miss Maryland for 1994, visited with the Commissioners to thank them for their support of the Miss Maryland Scholarship Pageant. Karissa, who is a resident of Washington County, expressed her pride in representing the State of Maryland and Western Maryland. The Commissioners congratulated her and wished her good luck in the Miss America Pageant. The Commissioners also discussed trying to get more State support for the pageant. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Closed Session at 3:28 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 4:20 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:48 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session, the Commissioners discussed 6 personnel matters, consulted with counsel on 5 matters, and discussed one property matter. PROMOTIONS - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to fill the Housing Specialist I vacancy by promoting Sheree Davis from Secretary I and to promote Shirley Dempsey from Information Specialist to the Secretary I position in the Housing & Community Development Office. Unanimously approved. PART-TIME EMPLOYEES PAY SCALE - RECREATION & PARKS Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the new pay scale for Part-time employees at the Recreation & Parks Department, as recommended by the Recreation & Parks Board. Unanimously approved. PERMITS COORDINATOR POSITION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to promote Ed Schreiber to the newly created Permits Coordinator Position. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS - ETHICS COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to reappoint Wanda Allenback and Weir Pollard to the Ethics Commission for three year terms. Unanimously approved. JUNE 28, 1994 MINUTES, CONT'D. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 4:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk