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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.12.2012 Minutes11y\k71 11�1[K�IIJ thir01u�li..&3Le t '7.Y17� WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland June 12,2012 EVENING MEETING — TOWN OF SMITHSBURG President Terry L. Baker called an evening meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 7:02 p.m. at Smithsburg Town Hall, 21 West Water Street, Smithsburg, with the following members present: Vice President John F. Bair and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, and William B. McKinley. (Commissioner Jeffrey A. Cline was absent from the meeting.) INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Callaham gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JUNE 5, 2012 REGULAR MEETING AND FY 2012 CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATEBUDGET PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2012 regular meeting. The motion passed unanimously. (Commissioner Cline was absent from the meeting.) County Clerk Vicki Lumm requested approval of the May 12, 2011 FY 2012 Constant Yield Tax Rate/Budget Public Hearing minutes, which were not approved last year in open session by the County Commissioners. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the minutes of the May 12, 2011 FY 2012 Constant Yield Tax Rate/Budget Public Hearing as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Commissioner Cline was absent from the meeting.) . 10MAIL93 WJ► IZK111R kt11►1LY.� Town Clerk Betsy Martin welcomed the Commissioners to Smithsburg on behalf of Mayor Mildred "Mickey" Myers who was unable to attend due to health reasons. She introduced Smithsburg council member -elect Jim Fritsch. Rebecca Fishack, Delegate Andrew Serafini's representative, was also recognized as being in the audience. OTHER BUSINESS Countv Administrator Comments County Administrator Greg Murray provided an overview of the situation regarding funding for School Health Assistants in Washington County Schools that was discontinued by the County in its FY 2013 budget. He stated that the County was never required to fund nursing services but had done so in the past. Mr. Murray indicated that the Board of Education (BOE) is evaluating the best options for provision of the service. Both the County and BOE have offered funding options to allow the program to have an orderly transition over the summer from its current structure. The layoffs and program cuts June 12, 2012 Page 2 positioned by the Health Department as a crisis unfortunately only served to inflame the public unnecessarily. Mr. Murray discussed pension costs absorbed by the County and funding cuts made to address the budget issues it faces. He noted that only Washington County Schools and Public Safety had received increased funding in the FY 2013 budget. Commissioner McKinley commented that as a former educator, he would not have voted the way he did if he was not certain that the BOE would pick up costs of the program. Commissioner Baker stated that meetings between the BOE and the County were held prior to the decision and he assured the audience that nurses would remain in the schools. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Glen Fishack, 13134 Bikle Road, Smithsburg, speaking as a member of the Smithsburg Parks Board, requested assistance from the Commissioners in obtaining road signage for the Smithsburg Veterans Park and Lions Community Park. He also commented on costs for water and sewer upgrades that may be needed at Ft. Ritchie. Andrew Sargent, 1004 Hamilton Boulevard, and Terry Randall, 13101 Fountain Head Road, Hagerstown, representatives of Fairview Orchards in Hancock, spoke of the changes proposed to the Forest Management Plan that would require ten years before making a change in land usage opposed to the five now required. They requested that the County amend the Washington County Forest Conservation Ordinance and adopt the State -defined limitations on the Forestry Declaration of Intent as set forth in COMAR. Nine individuals commented on the School Health Assistant funding issue: Jane Deavers, 1655 Langley Drive, Hagerstown Lauren Villa, 10213 Stagecoach Drive, Hagerstown Jane Malphrus, 109 South Main Street, Boonsboro, Program Supervisor for the School Health Nurse Program Phil Daniels, 17724 Bluebell Drive, Hagerstown Andrea McCall, 108 South Mont Valla Avenue, Hagerstown Heidi Welsh, 21122 Park Hall Road, Hagerstown Amanda Deavers, 1655 Langley Drive, Hagerstown, South Hagerstown High student. William Cluistoffel, Crest Valley, Hagerstown, former County Health Officer Quentin Fleming, 13201 Johnny Cake Lane, Hagerstown, commented on the means of communication regarding the School Health Assistant situation and methods used to disseminate County Commissioner decisions to the public. I:\ 171111"11 10T WC Y Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham moved to adjourn at 8:38 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. June 12, 2012 Page 3 Gregory J} B f Murray, (County Administrator John M. Martirano, C my At f lmey Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk