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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.20.2015 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland January 20, 2015 The Washington County Board of County Commissioners attended a luncheon meeting at 1:00 p.m. with the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts staff members and Board of Trustees at 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland. President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 2:41 p.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr, LeRoy E. Myers, and William J. Wivell. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Barr 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 regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 2:41p.m. in the County Administration Building located at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, Hagerstown, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr, LeRoy E. Myers, Jr., and William J. Wivell. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JANUARY 13, 2015 Commissioner Cline, seconded by Myers, moved to approve the minutes of January 13, 2015. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioners Barr and Myers had no items to report. Commissioner Wivell reported that he attended the unveiling of a time capsule in the Town of Williamsport. He thanked the Clear Spring Ambulance Company for inviting the Commissioners to their banquet that he attended. Commissioner Cline thanked the Museum of Fine Arts for hosting the Commissioners at today's luncheon. He attended the business outreach visit to Foltz Manufacturing & Supply Company and participated in the Commission on Aging Swearing -In ceremony for the appointed officers. Mr. Cline attended the Williamsport/Clear Spring boys' basketball event that was a fundraiser for the Monica Bowers Scholarship Fund. He attended the Washington County Humane Society Polar Bear Plunge at Greenbrier Lake and the Girls Inc. fundraiser on Saturday evening. Commissioner Cline participated in the MLK Celebration of Cultural Diversity event at Hagerstown Community College and the Professional Advisory Council and Professional Development Activities meeting at the Washington County Technical High School. He offered congratulations to Governor -Elect January 20, 2015 Page 2 Larry Hogan and to Senator Christopher Shank for his appointment as the Executive Director to the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Lastly, he offered his condolences to the Lumm and Charles family on the passing of Jack Markwood Charles. Commissioner Baker attended the Downsville Ruritan Club breakfast and the Clear Spring Ambulance Club banquet. He thanked the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts for hosting the Commissioners at its luncheon. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Assistant County Administrator Assistant County Administrator Sarah Sprecher distributed and discussed the January/February issue of the Washington County Department of Business Development Journal. This journal highlights different events occurring in Washington County. WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUVENILE DRUG COURT GRANT M. Kenneth Long, Jr., Administrative Judge, and Eunice Plank, Court Administrator, Washington County Circuit Court, appeared before the Commissioners to request approval of the FY 2015 Washington County Juvenile Drug Court grant of $85,000. Judge Long indicated that each year the program receives funds from the Office of Problem -Solving Courts (OPSC) to provide services to adolescents and their families participating in the Juvenile Drug Court Program. The program is a voluntary, community-based program that provides an alternative to traditional juvenile probation. Services provided through the funding include salary and fringe benefits for the Drug Court Coordinator, drug testing kits, transportation services for court -related activities and services, support services such as GED classes, acquisition of birth certificates, etc., and therapeutic and community service activities. No matching funds are required from the County. The Commissioners discussed the information presented. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to accept the FY 2015 Washington County Juvenile Drug Court grant of $85,000 as presented and to authorize the President of the Board of County Commissioners to sign and execute an agreement and any other necessary documentation needed for acceptance of the grant. The motion passed unanimously. WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT FAMILY DIVISION/FAMILY SERVICES GRANT Judge Long and Ms. Plank requested approval of the FY 2015 Washington County Family Division/Family Services grant of $150,925. The program provides funds each year from the Department of Family Administration's Family Divisions/Family Services Grant program of the Maryland Judiciary to the Washington County Circuit Court to deliver appropriate services available for low-income families who appear before the court to resolve family legal matters. Services funded through the grant include salary and fringe benefits for the Family Support Services Coordinator, Permanency Planning Liaison, Family Law Advice Clinic, and Family Services Programs. No matching funds are required from the County. The Commissioners discussed the information presented. January 20, 2015 Page 3 Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to accept the FY 2015 Washington County Family Division/Family Services grant of $150,925 as presented and to authorize the President of the Board of County Commissioners to sign and execute an agreement and any other necessary documentation needed for acceptance of the grant. The motion passed unanimously. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Nathan Donaldson of Williamsport came before the Board to discuss the Emergency Management Service policy regarding the C & O Canal. He also expressed opposition to the fee being proposed for using the Canal. Rick Wills of Hancock expressed his opinion about a Washington County employee and encouraged the Commissioners to contact him if they should have questions. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION FUNDING COMMITTEE — FISCAL YEAR 2016 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS Jim Hovis, Director, Community Grant Management, and Harry Reynolds, Community Organization Funding Committee (COFC) member, presented the Fiscal Year 2016 funding recommendations to the County Commissioners. Jim Hovis thanked COFC members April Dowler, Michael Guessford, Harry Reynolds, Nica Sutch, and Kelsi Waltemire for their volunteerism. He indicated that COFC members reviewed and evaluated thirty-six funding applications submitted by thirty-three separate community- based, non-profit organizations totaling $2,283,924.73. The COFC used the priorities approved the County Commissioners in 2014 to develop recommendations for the available funding allocation of $1,683,420: Arts and Culture, Domestic Violence, Families and Children Programs, Recreation, Seniors, and Other. The Commissioners discussed the information provided and thanked COFC members for their time spent developing the proposed list. Mr. Hovis noted that the recommendations presented today are subject to acceptance or amendment by the Commissioners during the upcoming budgetary process. The Commissioners discussed the application, reviewing and funding process. The Commissioners thanked the Committee members for their efforts and for a job well done. WASHINGTON COUNTY GRANT POLICY Debra Murray, Chief Financial Officer, presented a Grant Policy developed to provide oversight to any grant in which Washington County is the grantee. It provides guidance in the administration and accounting of all grants. Ms. Murray indicated that the County currently administers grants but an actual formal grants policy does not currently exist. The proposed policy would provide the County Commissioners with a consistent and general format of relevant grant information when presented for pre -approvals and final approvals. It also completes the consolidation and transfer of all grant oversight to the Department of Community Grants Management, a department of the Office of Budget and Finance. The Commissioners discussed the policy with Ms. Murray. January 20, 2015 Page 4 Commissioner Barr, seconded by Cline, moved to approve the Washington County Grant Policy as presented. The motion passed unanimously. APPLICATION FOR MAP AMENDMENT — RZ-14-005 Deputy County Attorney Kirk C. Downey presented the proposed Ordinance and Decision (including Findings of Fact) for Case No. RZ-14-005 from Applicant Jason Adkins/Adkins Automotive, LLC. The subject parcel is located on the west side of Crystal Falls Drive, north of the intersection of Crystal Falls Drive and White Oaks Road, consisting of approximately 2.3 acres. The Applicant requested that the property be rezoned from Rural Village (RV) to Rural Business -New (RB -N). The County Commissioners held public hearings on the requested map amendment on October 14, 2014 and December 9, 2014. Following the public hearing on December 9, 2014, the Commissioners reached a consensus to approve the requested rezoning. Commissioner Cline, seconded by Barr, moved to adopt the Ordinance and Decision granting the requested rezoning for RZ-14-005 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -15-01 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) FEE SIMPLE AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION — UNDERPASS WAY PROPERTY Scott Hobbs, Deputy Director, and Susan Smalls, Real Property Administrator, Engineering and Construction Management, requested approval of an option agreement for fee simple and easement acquisition of certain property at Underpass Way from the Estate of Dominick J. Perini for $5,000 to allow for future intersection improvements in that area. Mr. Hobbs indicated that the project includes the construction of designated turn lanes on Underpass Way and Railway Lane, the installation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible sidewalks/ramps at the intersection, and minor drainage improvements and asphalt paving. The intersection presently has a level "F" service rating, which is the worst possible rating. Commissioner Cline, seconded by Myers, moved to approve the option agreement for fee simple and easement acquisition of certain property at Underpass Way from the Estate of Dominick J. Perini for $5,000 as presented, to adopt an ordinance approving the purchase, and to authorize the execution of the necessary documentation to finalize the acquisition. The motion passed unanimously. BUDGET AMENDMENT REOUEST — HAGERSTOWN/EASTERN PANHANDLE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION Jill Baker, Chief Planner, Planning and Zoning, and Matthew Mullenax, Director, Hagerstown/Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization (HEPMPO), requested approval of a budget amendment due to obtaining additional federal grant money since the adoption of the FY 2015 HEPMPO budget. Ms. Baker indicated that funding is provided at an 80% federal, 10% State, and 10% local cost-sharing ratio for both Maryland and West January 20, 2015 Page 5 Virginia. Funds are provided for planning related activities only and may not be used for engineering or construction costs associated with transportation projects. The State of Maryland has increased the HEPMPO's federal and State grant allocation by $30,129. Washington County's current general fund match for Fund 29 in the FY 2015 budget is $7,510. An increase of $3,344 would bring the total general fund local match to $10,854. In order to use this funding, staff is requesting a transfer of $3,344 from the general fund to cover the additional required local match. The Commissioners discussed the funding. Ms. Baker also expressed that she is seeking a County Commissioner volunteer member for the MPO board. Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Barr, moved to approve a budget transfer of $3,344 from the General Fund Contingency account to cover the additional required local match to accept the federal grant as presented. The motion passed unanimously. ANTIETAM CREEK AT DEVIL'S BACKBONE PARK STREAM RESTORATION GRANT Scott Hobbs, Deputy Director, Engineering and Construction Management, advised that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has imposed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirement on the Antietam Creek and Conococheague Creek. The TMDL will restrict land development over time if not addressed with mitigation measures. He indicated that County staff analyzed various mitigation methods and subsequently applied for a grant that requires a 40% match or $260,000. Mr. Slocum described the project that would further enhance the natural environment at Devil's Backbone Park and address the TMDL requirements using stream restoration, which is recognized as an approved mitigation measure that is also cost-effective. The project would stabilize 1,500 feet of stream bank. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Cline, moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Maryland Department of the Environment that will award up to $390,000 for stream restoration at Devil's Backbone Park. The motion passed unanimously. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Myers, seconded by Wivell, moved to convene in closed session at 4:21 p.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; to discuss any other personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter, in accordance with Section 3-305(b) (1) and (7) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. January 20, 2015 Page 6 In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the potential appointment of a specific individual to a board of examiners over which the Commissioners have appointment authority; discussed the potential reappointment of a specific individual to an advisory authority over which the Commissioners have appointment authority; and discussed a specific County employee matter with County staff and others. During closed session, the Commissioners instructed staff to bring forth the potential appointment to a board of examiners over which the Commissioners have appointment authority for further consideration and discussion during a future open session meeting; instructed staff to bring forth the potential reappointment to an advisory authority over which the Commissioners have appointment authority for further consideration and discussion during a future open session meeting; and provided specific direction to the County Administrator relating to a specific County personnel matter. Present during closed session were Commissioners Terry L. Baker, Jeffrey A. Cline, John F. Barr, LeRoy E. Myers, Jr., and William J. Wivell. Also present were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; Sarah Sprecher, Assistant County Administrator; Katie Yoder, Executive Assistant; John Martirano, County Attorney; Angela Smith, Chief of Permitting, Plan Review and Permitting; Stephanie Stone, Health and Human Resources Director; Edwin Plank, Director, Highway Department; Ricky Martz, Section Supervisor, Highways; and a former County Employee. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cline, seconded by Barr, moved to adjourn at 6:02 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Gr0'g`ory, B.M rray, Coumty Administrator John M. Martirano, County Att tey Katie R. Yoder#xecutive Assistant