HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.07.2012 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Hagerstown, Maryland
August 7, 2012
President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County
Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 10:04 a.m. at 100 West
Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members present: Vice President
John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B.
McKinley.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Barr offered the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag by the full assemblage.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JULY 31, 2012
Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the minutes of
July 31, 2012. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Cline attended a ribbon -cutting ceremony for the new Edward Jones office
on East Oak Ridge Drive. He reported on a business outreach visit to Interstate Batteries in
Williamsport. Mr. Cline congratulated Discovery Station on its new "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame" exhibit. He attended the "Buck Wild" hunting exposition at the Ag Center and
the Clear Spring Fireman's carnival. Commissioner Cline was present during Senator
Barbara Mikulski's announcement of grant funding for the hiring of post 9/11 veterans at
the City of Hagerstown Police Department.
Commissioner Callaham attended business outreach visits to Interstate Batteries and the
new north Hagerstown location of the Black Eyed Susan restaurant. She was present at the
ribbon -cutting ceremony for Discovery Station's baseball exhibit and Senator Mikulski's
police grant announcement. Ms. Callaham volunteered at the Fort Ritchie Triathlon in
Cascade. She reported on a brief presentation of the proposed Multi -Use Stadium given by
Jill Estavillo, City of Hagerstown Economic Development Manager, during a recent
Chamber of Commerce Board meeting. Ms. Callaham attended a "Business and Baseball"
event at Municipal Stadium with Department of Business and Economic Development
(DBED) Secretary Christian Johansson and Deputy Secretary Dominick Murray.
Commissioner Barr attended the business outreach visit to Interstate Batteries and the
"Business and Baseball" event with DBED officials. He advised the Commissioners of
several informative events planned during next week's Maryland Association of Counties
(MACo) summer conference in Ocean City.
Commissioner McKinley attended business outreach visits to Edward Jones, Interstate
Batteries, and Black -Eyed Susan restaurant. He was present during Senator Mikulski's
grant announcement. Mr•. McKinley congratulated the Williamsport Lions Club for its
worthwhile projects and for clearing trash along the road in the Williamsport area.
August 7, 2012
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Commissioner McKinley attended the visit by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to the
Knob hall Winery in Clear Spring. He reported on a recent Planning Commission meeting,
Commissioner Baker reported on the well -attended Clear Spring Fireman's carnival last
week. He congratulated James Searcy and Jalyx Hunt of Hagerstown who carne in first and
second respectively in the high jump event during the AAU Junior Olympic games in
Houston, Texas. He wished them well in the long jump event to be held later this week.
PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK
The Commissioners presented proclamations to Kim Murdaugh, Executive Director of the
Walnut Street Community Health Center, and Susan Walter, Chief Executive Officer of the
Tri-State Community Health Center in recognition of National health Center Week during
August 5-11, 2012. Ms. Murdaugh and Ms. Walter provided information on assistance
provided by their agencies. The Commissioners thanked them for the important services
provided to the community.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Richard Gruber discussed concerns with plans for the Senior Center at Hagerstown
Community College.
Former County Commissioners John Salvatore, R. I,ee Downey, Richard Roulette, and
Ron Bowers appeared as part of a group of citizens recommending that the Hagerstown
Community College Athletic Recreation and Coimnunity Center (ARCC) Arena be named
after local coach Jim Brown. Mr. Salvatore and others described the many contributions of
Mr. Brown, who spearheaded the committee to build the ARCC. The Commissioners
expressed support for the naming request.
RESOLUTION — PRESERVATION OF SMOKETOWN ROAD,
Gary Rohrer, Antietam Battlefield guide, John Frye, local historian, and Tom Riford,
President and CEO, Hagerstown -Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau,
recommended adoption of a resolution for the protection of Smoketown Road, The
individuals discussed the historical significance of the unpaved road and the Civil War
Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862.
Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to adopt "A Resolution for the
Protection of Smoketown Road" as presented, The motion passed unanimously.
(Resolution RS -2012-11 is located in the County Commissioners' Office)
FFY 2012 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT APPLICATION
Dave Jordan, Executive Director, Washington Comity Community Action Council,
provided details of the FFY 2012 Emergency Solutions Grant application and requested
the Commissioners' approval to submit the application. Mi•. Jordan advised that the
$75,000.00 grant funding ($25,000.00 above last year) is vital to the maintenance and
operation of shelters that provide services to homeless individuals in Washington County;
Community Action Council, CASA, St. John's Shelter, and REACH, Inc.
August 7, 2012
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Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve submission of the
Emergency Solutions Grant Application and approval of the forthcoming grant and
sub -recipient agreements to the Department of Housing and Community Development as
presented. The motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Countv Administrator
County Administrator Greg Murray announced that County GIS Manager Bud
Gudmundson was recently appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the Maryland
Integral Map Executive Committee. The Commission advises the Governor on issues
relating to Maryland iMap and geospatial policies.
Fairplay Area Emereencv Services Task Force Recommendations:
The Commissioners announced their individual appointments to the Fairplay Area
Emergency Services Task Force, as follows:
Commissioner Baker — Paul E. Lewis
Commissioner Cline — Kevin Clipp
Commissioner Callaham — Paul F. Miller
Commissioner Barr — Jeb Eckstine
Commissioner McKinley — Charles E. Wines, Jr.
Kevin Lewis, Director, Division of Emergency Services, and Dale Hill, President,
Washington County Fire and Rescue Association (WCVFRA) advised of further
appointments to the Task Force, according to guidelines set forth by the Commissioners
during their July 31, 2012 meeting, as follows:
Division of Emergency Services — Charles Summers, Deputy Director
WCVFRA — James Sprecher, Jr., Second Vice President
Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company - William E. Pennington, Jr., President, and Leonard
Heller, Chief of Operations
Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Company — W. Alan James, Chief of Operations
Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS —Tim Ammons, Engine Operator
First Hose Company of Boonsboro — Oley Griffith, Chief of Operations
Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company — Steven Pifer, Lieutenant of Operations
The Commissioners discussed goals of the Task Force. Greg Murray advised that meetings
would be conducted in an open manner. Mr. Lewis stated that meetings might begin as
soon as next week.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Department of Environmental Services
Tony Drury, Recycling Coordinator, announced a new program at the County Landfill to
accept VHS tapes for recycling at no charge to citizens.
August 7, 2012
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Division of Plan Review and Permittine - Commercial Customer Avnreciation Week
Sarah Lankford Sprecher, Director, Public Relations, and Tim Lung, Deputy Director, Plan
Review and Permitting, announced details of the Commercial Customer Appreciation
Week to be held by the Division of Plan Review and Permitting during August 13-17,
2012. Incentives offered by the Department that week include the waiver of all commercial
permit application and technology fees, a daily drawing for a $50.00 permit or plan review
fee voucher, and a grand prize drawing for a $100.00 AC&T gift card.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL, COOPERATIVE PURCHASE — SURVEYING,
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM EOUIPMENT
Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, and Rob Slocum, Deputy Director, Public Works -
Engineering and Construction, requested approval to authorize by Resolution, an
Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase for the Division of Public Works, Engineering
and Consti action Department for surveying global positioning system equipment at a cost
of $98,785.13 utilizing another jurisdiction's contract (Contract No. 4400006847) that was
awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Trimble Navigation, LTD of Dayton,
Ohio (Dealer — Keystone Precision Instruments of Allentown, Pennsylvania). Mr. Slocum
advised that the current survey equipment is over twelve years old and some components
are obsolete. Ms. Luther discussed the intergovernmental cooperative purchase process that
allows the County to procure goods and services through a contract entered into by another
governmental entity. Funds of $110,000.00 for the purchase of replacement equipment are
included in the Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Improvement Project budget.
Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to authorize by Resolution an
Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase for the Division of Public Works - Engineering
and Construction Department for surveying global positioning system equipment at a cost
of $98,785.13 utilizing another jurisdiction's contract that was awarded by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Trimble Navigation, LTD of Dayton, Ohio as
presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution RS-2012-12 is located in the
County Commissioners' Office)
Commissioner Barr suggested that the Resolution for the Protection of Smoketown Road,
approved earlier in the meeting, be dated September 17, 2012 in honor of the Civil War
Battle of Antietam's 150th anniversary that day. County Attorney John Martirano
recommended that the effective date of the Resolution be September 17, 2012.
Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Callahan, moved that the Resolution for the
Protection of Smoketown Road be made effective as of September 17, 2012. The motion
passed unanimously.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to convene in closed session at
11:55 a,m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assigmnent, and/or performance
evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has
jurisdiction; to discuss a persotmel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; and
August 7, 2012
Page 5
to consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to
locate, expand or remain in the State, in accordance with Section 10-508(a)(1) and (4) of
the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Mayland. The motion passed
unanimously.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the current appointee as well as a possible
new appointee to a County appointed committee position; received a brief update from
staff on several companies' recent proposals to locate, expand or remain in the County; and
discussed a specific economic incentive package relating to a local company's proposal to
expand in the County/State.
During closed session, the Commissioners instructed staff to place the potential
appointment to a County appointed committee position discussion on a future open session
agenda, and provided direction to staff regarding continuing discussions with a local
company relating to potential economic incentives.
Present during closed session were Commissioners Terry L. Baker, John F. Barr, 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 Rob Ferree, Deputy Director, Economic Development Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to adjourn at 12:16 p.m. The motion
passed unanimously.
Gregory . urray, unty Administrator
-A
John M. Martirano, on ty Attorney
Viki &C Lumm, County Clerk