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HomeMy WebLinkAbout880830 August 30, l988 Hagerstown, Maryland 2l740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was convened at l0:00 a.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner R. Lee Downey, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Barry Teach, County Administrator, announced that Neil Curran, who is currently the Director of Department of Housing and Community Development, will be assuming the duties of the newly created position of Director of Program Development, assigned to the Finance Office. Duties will include securing State and Federal grant assistance for all departments of County government. Mr. Curran said he looks forward to performing in this capacity and he welcomes the opportunity. RESIGNATION OF COUNTY ATTORNEY The County Administrator announced that the Commissioners have decided to hire a full time County Attorney due to the increasing amount of legal work the County is experiencing. County Attorney, David K. Poole, Jr. informed the Commissioners that, although they have offered him the full-time position, he feels he must give his resignation as County Attorney. Mr. Poole stated that he enjoyed serving the County and found it interesting and challenging work, but, due to obligations in his private practice and the budgetary constraints of the County, he feels he could not devote himself full-time to County legal work. HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM - COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL James Lathan and Cheryl Walkley, representing the Community Action Council, appeared before the Commissioners to present their Homeownership Program. Ms. Walkley stated that the prospective homeowner would obtain l/2 the mortgage money through traditional financing and l/2 through a supplement from ARC and development money from the State to handle costs for building the houses but this is all contingent upon having the land. She also stated that they have identified l.2 acres owned by the Board of Education bordering on Westwood Street, now being leased for the City golf course, which they feel would be satisfactory to build l0 single-family homes. The Commissioners stated that they like the concept but feel that CAC should look for another location since there are too many contingencies on that particular property right now. l988-89 FARM QUEEN - KERRY CAVANAUGH Kerry Cavanaugh, Washington County's l988-89 Farm Queen met with the Commissioners to introduce herself and express her feelings regarding the importance of agriculture and her wish to see more involvement with aid to farmers. Commissioner Bowers thanked Ms. Cavanaugh for representing Washington County so well and for being an active participant in the community. DETENTION CENTER RENOVATIONS/ADDITION Sheriff Mades, Lt. McAllister and Robert Bushey and Brent Feight of Bushey Associates, architects for the project, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss the proposed plans for renovations and addition to the Detention Center. Also in attendance were Senator Victor Cushwa, Delegate Peter Callas, Judge Daniel Moylan, along with representatives from Washington County Hospital and the Health Department. Lt. McAllister stated that an addition and renovations are needed to relieve the overcrowing at that facility and to allow the establishment of an addictions unit where in-mates could receive certified treatment and also a follow- up program. The expansion would allow for 30 additional in-mates to be housed in the addictions unit and 40 additional in-mates for work release and pre-release programs. Phase I would consist of l6,000 sq. ft. for minimum security space, Phase II - $3,400,000 Administration (patrol facility and renovation of the administration building) and Phase III - a medium security addition to house in- mates. Judge Moylan stated that the Circuit Court judges do support the concept. Washington County Hospital officials and Health Department officials also spoke in support of the program. The project will be discussed with the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly at their meeting with the County Commissioners. INTENTION TO CONVEY RIGHT-OF-WAY - DUAL PLACE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convey a 50'+/- right- of-way for a distance of 375' +/- along Dual Place with Lots 5-l0 to be deeded to Kenneth and Barbara Kline, Lots l5-l6 to Linda Hollinger and Lots l7-l8 to Mr. & Mrs. Ray Weikert, adjacent property owners without consideration and at no cost to the County; said conveyance is subject to a 20' sanitary sewer easement to be retained for a 8" sanitary sewer main owned by the City of Hagerstown, with said grantees to pay the cost of publication and deed preparation and to guarantee that this roadway will not be restricted in use to the adjacent property owners. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 30, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the study committee on animal husbandry operations; Commisisoner Irvin reported on the Women's Equality Day at Ft. Ritchie; and Commissioner Downey gave a report on the outgrowth of the Urban Growth Area Study done for the Town of Boonsboro. HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN COMMITTEE - APPOINTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to appoint Paul Prodonovich to the Housing & Community Loan Committee. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to approve amending the minutes of July 5, l988 regarding the Highland Manor subdistrict, and approving the minutes of July 25, l988, as amended, and August 2 and 9, l988 as submitted, and approving the Board of Health minutes on August l2, l988. Unanimously approved. AMENDMENT TO TRAVEL EXPENSE POLICY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to increase the County meal allowance in the Travel Expense Policy from $l8 to $25 per day. Unanimously approved. LUNCHEON AND RIBBON CUTTING - ALZHEIMERS PROGRAM The Commissioners recessed for lunch and a ribbon cutting for the Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Program being initiated by the Washington County Hospital. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:30 p.m. by the President Ronald L. Bowers with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. PROPOSED SISTER COUNTY PROGRAM/WESEL Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners regarding their interest in establishing a Sister County relationship with Wesel, West Germany, similar to the Sister City relationship that the City of Hagerstown shares with Wesel. Since County Attorney, David Poole, will be traveling to Germany, the Commissioners decided to send a letter of intent regarding their hope to participate in a Sister County relationship, which Mr. Poole will deliver to government officials in Wesel. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to convene in Executive Session at l:50 p.m. in regard to personnel matters 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 Downey, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:40 p.m. Unanimously approved. AMUSEMENT TAX - BINGO The Commissioners agreed to consider the request to lower the amusement tax during the budget process next year since revenue projections have been set for this fiscal year using the current percentage. COMPUTER PURCHASE - S.P.C.A. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to approve the purchase of a personal computer and software package as requested by the S.P.C.A. in the amount of $l800 with the funds to be taken from the Comissioners Operating Contingency. Unanimously approved. PRELIMINARY PROJECT PLAN - TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to authorize submission of a Preliminary Project Plan to the Tri-County Council regarding the Washington County Industrial Wastewater Reclamation Facility for ARC funding in the amount of $l,000,000 to be matched by a local share and a Federal grant. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF LIABILITY INSURANCE Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to renew the County's liability insurance with the Hartford Insurance Company for the second year of the option for coverage in the amount of $2,000,000 for the fee of $l34,435. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 30, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. RENAMING OF MT. LENA ROAD - NORTH/SOUTH SECTION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to rename the north/south section of Mt. Lena Road - Crystal Falls Drive. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF BOND Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to require the renewal of a bond by Woodrow Barron on Linwood Road for a period of one year to allow him time to hook-up to the City of Hagerstown's water system before completing necessary improvements to his property. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - SANITARY COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to reappoint William Winebrenner to the Sanitary Commission for a term of six years. Unanimously approved. LATERAL TRANSFER - JULIE ECKERT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to laterally transfer Julie Eckert, Administrative Secretary, currently in Permits & Inspections to the Economic Development Commission to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. SCHEDULE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING The Commissioners requested that the County Administrator schedule a Board of Health meeting in September to discuss possible health problems in Chewsville. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to adjourn at 5:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk