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Home My WebLink About10.25.2016 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland October 25, 2016 President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 9:08 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr and Wayne K. Keefer. Commissioner LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. was absent. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Barr, seconded by Keefer, moved to convene in closed session at 9:08 a.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; to consult with staff, consultants or other individuals about pending or potential litigation; and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter, in accordance with Section 3-305(b) (1), (7) and (8) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Myers was absent.) In closed session, the Commissioners considered a number of personnel/position recommendations; and discussed several ongoing contractual issues that may, at some future time, lead to the initiation of litigation. During closed session, the Commissioners provided specific direction to County staff regarding several personnel recommendations/matters; and provided guidance to staff relating to ongoing as well as potential future contractual issues. Present during closed session were Commissioners Terry L. Baker, Jeffrey A. Cline, John F. Barr and Wayne K. Keefer. Also present were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; Vicki Lumm, County Clerk; John M. Martirano, County Attorney; and at various times Kirk C. Downey, Deputy County Attorney; Debra Peyton, Benefits Administrator, Health and Human Services; Jim Sterling, Director, Public Works; Dave Phillips, Highway Department; Rob Slocum, Director; Rich Eichelberger, Deputy Director, and Brennan Garrett, Senior Project Manager, Engineering and Construction Management. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Cline, moved to reconvene in open session at 9:57 a.m. The motion passed unanimously. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Barr offered the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. October 25, 2016 Page 2 CALL TO ORDER President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 10:06 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr and Wayne K. Keefer. Commissioner LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — OCTOBER 11, 2016, OCTOBER 17, 2016 AND OCTOBER 18, 2016 Commissioner Barr, seconded by Keefer, moved to approve the minutes of October 11, 2016. The motion passed unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Myers was absent.) Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the minutes of October 17, 2016 and October 18, 2016. The motion passed unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Myers was absent.) HOPEWELL MANOR EXPANSION PROJECT Attorney Jason Divelbiss, on behalf of developer Pax -Edwards, LLC, requested support for the provision of water and wastewater services to the Hopewell Manor Expansion Project (Project) by the City of Hagerstown pursuant to Exception #8 of the City's Water and Wastewater Policy. Mr. Divelbiss indicated that the City's Water and Wastewater Policy disallows the extension of service outside the City's Medium or Long -Range Growth Area without an exception (Exception 48) granted by the Mayor and City Council, to extend such service at the recommendation of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Administrator. The existing 64 -unit apartment community is located on 12.5 acres, plus or minus, adjacent to the north side of Hopewell Road to the west of Interstate 70. It is currently served by the City of Hagerstown public water service. The proposed four building expansion consists of an additional 60 apartment units located on the neighboring 8.5 acres directly abutting Interstate 70. Although the expansion project is located outside the Hagerstown Medium -Range Growth Area, it meets the requirements of the new Exception #8 to the City's Water and Wastewater Policy. The project will be subject to all applicable zoning, subdivision, site plan and other land use rules, regulations and review procedures, including the County's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. The Commissioners discussed the proposal. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Cline, moved to support the provision of water and wastewater services to the Hopewell Manor Expansion Project by the City of Hagerstown pursuant to Exception #8 of the City's Water and Wastewater Policy and recommend such action to the Mayor and Hagerstown City Council. The motion passed unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Myers was absent.) The County Administrator concurred with the recommendation that service be extended to the project. October 25, 2016 1 Page 3 MAIORANA-KOZLOVSKY-JAEHNIGEN RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM EASEMENT Eric Seifarth, Rural Preservation Administrator, Planning and Zoning, recommended approval of the Virginia C. Maiorana, Valerie A. Kozlovsky, Thomas A. Maiorana, Celesta I. Maiorana and Linda J. Jaehnigen Rural Legacy Program (RLP) Easement Project of $173,910 for 57.97 easement acres located on Park Hall Road, Boonsboro, in the Rural Legacy area. Mr. Seifarth described the parcel comprised by a majority of woodland that provides a buffer on two streams. He added that four development rights would be extinguished with this easement. The County has been awarded approximately $18 million since 1998 to purchase Rural Legacy easements on more than 5,600 acres in the Rural Legacy area near the Antietam Battlefield. RLP funds are 100% State funds. Commissioner Cline, seconded by Keefer, moved to approve the Virginia C. Maiorana, Valerie A. Kozlovsky, Thomas A. Maiorana, Celesta I. Maiorana and Linda J. Jaehnigen Rural Legacy Program Easement Project of $173,910 as presented, to adopt an ordinance approving the purchase of the easement, and to authorize the execution of all necessary documents that may be required to affect the purchase. The motion passed unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Myers was absent.) (Ordinance No. ORD -2016-21 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) MARYLAND SUSTAINABILITY AWARD RECOGNITION TO THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Julie Pippel, Director, Environmental Management, discussed a recent award received by the County's Division of Environmental Management for its Solar Initiative Project. The County collaborated with EPG Solar to build solar farms on about 130 acres of County - owned property. Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford presented the Maryland Sustainability Award for Preservation/Conservation to Ms. Pippel and Delegate Brett Wilson on September 15 at the Maryland State House. The Commissioners presented Ms. Pippel a certificate of recognition for the honor. CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION No citizens attending the meeting wished to participate. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 10:23 a.m. to attend the Holcim Hagerstown Plant Modernization ribbon cutting at 1260 Security Road, Hagerstown. They later attended a 3:00 p.m. ribbon -cutting ceremony for the Yale Drive Extension near Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown. EVENING MEETING — MAUGANSVILLE RURITAN CLUB The evening session of Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland was held at the Maugansville Ruritan Club, 18007 Maugans Avenue, Maugansville. October 25, 2016 Page 4 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Maugansville resident Leonard Horst offered the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CALL TO ORDER President Terry L. Baker called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. with the following members present: Commissioners John F. Barr and Wayne K. Keefer. Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline and LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. were absent. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Keefer commented on the good turnout of citizens for the evening meeting. Commissioner Barr reported attending a fundraiser for Governor Hogan in Baltimore during which Senator Serafni updated attendees on local and State issues. Mr. Barr reminded citizens of this weekend's Alsatia Mummers Parade and the upcoming Maryland Symphony Orchestra fall concert series. He praised the downtown Hagerstown walking trail that is almost complete. Commissioner Baker thanked citizens for turning out for the evening meeting. He reported attending the Ag Expo & Fair banquet during which board members reviewed this summer's event, which had an increase in participation and revenue. Mr. Baker attended the Humane Society of Washington County's "Roaring 20s" fundraiser this past weekend. The organization reported an 85% adoption rate for animals and that it had assisted with the care and adoption of a number of animals from North Carolina due to Hurricane Matthew. He attended the Maugansville Ruritan Club breakfast last Saturday. ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Rob Slocum, Director, Engineering and Construction Management, reported on today's ribbon -cutting ceremony for the Yale Drive Extension. He advised that the next phase of the project would be a bridge built over the Antietam Creek. RURITAN CLUB MEMBER COMMENTS Maugansville Ruritan Club member Martin Lumm reported on Club -sponsored events such as this summer's 36th annual Maugansville Pride Days, a recent Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company and Saturday's pancake breakfast. The Club also has a new LED outdoor sign donated in part by member Jerry Overdorff. He noted that the Maugansville Ruritan Club is 63 years old with 77 members, 12 being female. The annual Christmas tree sale will begin the week after Thanksgiving at the Long Meadow Shopping Center. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Linda Irvin -Craig, former County Commissioner and current Fund Development Director for Children's Village, distributed information on the Village and discussed the organization's partnership with the Washington County Board of Education. October 25, 2016 Page 5 Don Funk, Belview Avenue, Hagerstown, commented on chloramines now used in the City's water supply that apparently killed fish in his pond this summer. Mary Webb, Shinham Road, Hagerstown, commented on bicyclists traveling recklessly in the County and proposed the issuance of licenses. Pat Pile Gebhart, Long Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, expressed concerns with heavy traffic at the intersection of Longmeadow and Paradise Church Roads coming from both directions. Rob Slocum discussed a phased -in Capital Improvement Project planned to occur in that area after an additional twelve houses are built that justifies the traffic improvements. Mr. Martin of Cearfoss commented on vehicles parked on nearby properties for extended periods. He also commented on his property taxes and home value. Darrel Buchanan, Maugansville, discussed the controlled burning policy in the County and water drainage issues in the Maugansville area. Robert Walton commented on water drainage issues that may increase due to the planned Showalter Road truck stop and whether excess water in the Ruritan Community Park could be diverted. Barb Jacob, 14017 Showalter Road, Maugansville, expressed concerns with vehicle traffic and speeding on that road and the proposed truck stop that may add to those issues. D. Mallott commented on contractors working in the Freedom Hills subdivision and the possible effects of blasting. Chad Carter, Maugansville, thanked the Commissioners for sponsoring the great programs offered by the County's Recreation and Fitness Department. Martin Lumm requested updates on County projects at Shawley Drive and Crayton Boulevard. Rob Slocum provided the latest information. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Barr, moved to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Gregory B. M xray, Coun Administrator l John M. Martirano, County Attorney ��' V is i C. Lumm, County Clerk