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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.08.2011 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland March 8, 2011 LUNCHEON AND MEETING WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Washington County Free Library Board of Trustees hosted a luncheon meeting with the Board of Commissioners at 12:00 p.m. at the Otterbein United Methodist Church, 108 East Franklin Street, Hagerstown. President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 1:42 p.m. with the following members present: Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. (Vice President John F. Barr was absent from the meeting.) INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pastor Mark Sandell of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —March 1. 2011 Commissioner Callaham, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the minutes of March 1, 2011 with incorporated changes. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline stated that he and Commissioner McKinley visited two local businesses to discuss any issues they may currently be facing. He enjoyed attending the Home Show sponsored by the local Home Builders Association and the Hancock Volunteer Fire Company Awards banquet. Mr. Cline congratulated the fourth and fifth grade Williamsport Girls travelling basketball team for winning the league championship. Commissioner Callaham attended the Daughters of the American Revolution Tea to honor outstanding students and a Citizens for the Protection of Washington County (CPWC) presentation on energy issues. Ms. Callaham stated that she judged a History Day competition held by the Board of Education, along with Commissioner McKinley. She was present at the kickoff meeting for the Washington County Political Action Committee and the first meeting of a new local citizens group that will focus on education issues. Commissioner McKinley discussed the History Day competition and the passion expressed by the students. He reported visiting Fort Ritchie to meet with officials of Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT.) Mr. McKinley talked about the impromptu visits he and Commissioner Cline did with small business owners in the community. He also reported attending the Planning Commission meeting and announced that member Terry Reiber was elected as its new Chair. March 8, 2011 Page 2 Commissioner Baker thanked the Library Board of Trustees for hosting the luncheon meeting today. He attended the Parks and Recreation Board meeting where various municipalities presented Program Open Space (POS) funding requests for FY 2012. Mr. Baker advised that the State of Maryland announced that no POS funding would be available for proposed FY 2011 projects. He noted that Bill Stachoviak, Environmental Planner -Planning Department is working on the State and Local Preservation Plan update for the County. Commissioner Baker indicated that the County is allowing dog walking in County parks and would be providing proper signage and clean-up stations. OTHER BUSINESS Annointment to Boards/Commissions Disabilities Advisory Committee Commissioner Cline, seconded by Callaham, moved to reappoint Jeffrey Gladhill, Ronnie Hooten, and Mauricio Santiago to first full, three-year terms through January 31, 2014; and to reappoint Brenda Laughlin to a second, three-year term through November 30, 2013. Commissioner Cline thanked outgoing Chair Peggy Martin for her dedication and work performed on the Committee, and invited her continued participation in the group as a citizen. The motion passed unanimously. Animal Control Authority Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Cline, moved to reappoint Dr. Katie Carr to a second, three-year term as the veterinarian representative on the Washington County Animal Control Authority, extending through February 28, 2014. The motion passed unanimously. lu /_\ Ca'� 1I_\►` 11�.`y�y���1C!)��ri�/>i/\�l%�►1i.'?w�7y�(I]����ZIaJ�� INTERSTATES 70 AND 81 Joe Kroboth, III, Public Works Director, requested authorization to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) for the Interstate 70/81 Interchange Improvements and Interstate 70 over Hopewell Road Bridge Widening project. Mr. Kroboth advised that the SHA plans to perform interchange ramp improvements at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 81 and also widen the bridge carrying Interstate 70 over Hopewell Road. SHA must seek permission to perform the work over the roadway since Hopewell Road is County -owned. The Commissioners discussed the issue. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Maryland as presented. The motion passed unanimously. PROCLAMATION — COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH President Baker presented a proclamation, on behalf of the Commissioners, to Holly Luther, Community Health Educator for Cancer Screening Programs, and Wendy Beckley, Nurse Case Manager/Program Coordinator, representing the Washington County Health March 8, 2011 Page 3 Department, designating the month of March 2011 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Ms. Luther urged all citizens to be screened for colon cancer. WASIUNGTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN — TE XT AMENDMENT CP -10-001 Jill Baker, Senior Planner -Planning Department, presented proposed Text Amendment CP -10-001, which modifies the Priority Preservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Baker indicated that the amendment addresses concerns raised by the Maryland Department of Planning as part of the Washington County Land Preservation Program certification in 2009. She discussed comments heard at a public hearing held on February 8, 2011 regarding the proposed amendments, and advised that the Planning Commission has recommended approval. The Commissioners discussed the issue and Ms. Baker and Eric Scifarth, Rural Preservation Administrator, addressed their questions. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve Text Amendment CP - 10 -001 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS -2011-01 is located in the County Commissioners' Office) REAL PROPERTY ACOUISITION Joe Kulma, Real Property Administrator, requested approval of two option agreements for the partial acquisition of properties located at 11208 and 11142 Robinwood Drive, to allow for future widening and improvements planned in the area. Mr. Kuhna detailed that $22,425.00 is contained in the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget for the acquisitions. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Cline, moved to approve two option agreements to acquire the real property as presented, and to approve "An Ordinance to Approve the Purchase of Real Property," and to authorize execution of the necessary documentation to finalize the acquisition. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. OIZD-2011-06 is located in the County Commissioners' Office) AG CENTER TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM LOAN Jim Sterling, Director -Parks, Recreation and Facilities, and Ronald Shifler, Agricultural Education Center Board member, presented information regarding the proposal to loan $59,000.00 to the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Education Center (Ag Ed Board) for five years with no interest, for the purpose of meeting the two-year deadline on the matching grant for the 2010 Rural Heritage Transportation Museum loan. Mr. Sterling indicated that in 2010, the Ag Ed Board was awarded a $75,000.00 snatching grant from the State of Maryland for construction of, and equipment for, the Rural heritage Transportation Museum. He advised that the Ag Ed Board has raised $16,000.00 in donations thus far. Mr. Sterling noted that in 2006, the Ag Ed Board was loaned $29,000.00 to meet a two-year deadline, and the loan was repaid. The Commissioners discussed the request. March 8, 2011 Page 4 Commissioner Cline, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve a loan commitment of up to $59,000.00 to the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Education Center, as presented. The Commissioners discussed the loan repayment terms. The motion passed unanimously. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Cline, moved to convene in closed session at 2:5C p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, compensation, and/or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction; to discuss personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; and to consider matters that relate to collective bargaining negotiations, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the appointment, employment, assignment, compensation, and/or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction; discussed personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; and considered matters that relate to collective bargaining negotiations. Present during closed session were Commissioners Terry L. Baker, Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. Also present were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; Vicki Lumm, County Clerk; John Martirano, County Attorney; and at various times Dan DiVito, Director of Permits, and William Sonnik, lIl, Human Resources Director. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Cline, moved to reconvene in open session at 4:13 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cline, seconded by McKinley, moved to adjourn at 4:14 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Gregory B. Murr y, CounTdministrator I A L Tohn M. Martirano, on ty Attorney Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk