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HomeMy WebLinkAbout881206 December 6, l988 Hagerstown, MD 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:l5 a.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT As was agreed upon at the meeting of December 2, l986, at the end of Commissioner Roulette's two-year appointment as Vice President, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to elect Commissioner Linda Irvin as Vice President of the Board of County Commissioners for the remainder of the term to December l990. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Bowers thanked Commissioner Roulette for his work as Vice President over the past years and stated that his accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. He then told Commissioner Irvin that he looks forward to working with her. PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE - BIG SISTERS Kristin Grosh, Director of Big Sisters Agency, appeared before the Commissioners to inform them that this is their l5th year anniversary and to thank them for their support over the years. Nancy Stockbridge, President of the Board of Directors for Big Sisters, presented the Commissioners with a plaque in appreciation for their support. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting and the Ad Hoc Committee on Animal Husbandry; Commissioner Irvin reported that she had presented testimony on State Housing Policy; and Commissioner Snook gave a report on the Park Board Meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 22, l988 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 22, l988 as submitted. Unanimously approved. BUDGET - REGIONAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS Barry Teach, County Administrator, requested that the Commissioners authorize establishing a project in the Capital Budget for improvements at the Regional Park in the initial amount of $25,000 with funds to be taken from the Capital Contingency Funds. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to appropriate $25,000 from the Capital Contingency Fund to establish a capital project for improvements at the Washington County Regional Park. Unanimously approved. IMPACT FEE LEGISLATION The County Administrator informed the Commissioners that he had spoken with Delegate Callas regarding the proposed impact fee legislation and the Delegation is willing to introduce this with the following criteria: l) that the fees collected would have to be expended in the areas where they were collected; 2) that the funds would be used in a reasonable amount of time; 3) that a formula be established by which the fees would be levied; and 4) that districts be established. The Commissioners requested that Mr. Teach ask the Delegation to draft legislation for their review. CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK - FOUNTAINDALE SCHOOL Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to appropriate the funding necessary for construction of a sidewalk from Fountaindale School to Northern Middle School and award the bid for this work to Kershner Construction who submitted the low bid of $l0,420. Unanimously approved. BOND AUTHORIZATION REPORT James Young, Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners to review the list of projects in the Capital Budget scheduled for the next three years in order to determine the amount of authorization the County should request from the delegation. After reviewing the list, which totaled approximately $50,000,000, and including projects which the Commissioners added, Mr. Young suggested that the Board request at least $25,000,000 in additional authorization. The Commissioners asked that the list be refined to include only those projects which are absolutely needed and can be justified since debt service expense and related costs may make a tax increase necessary. Commissioner Roulette also suggested that a "ceiling" be placed on funds for the Board of Education and let them prioritize their projects. After discussion, the Commissioners asked Mr. Young to contact the County's financial consultant for assistance in putting together the information on the affordability of additional debt and available options to finance debt service. DECEMBER 6, l988 MINUTES CONT'D. PUBLIC HEARING - ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISTRICT - CEDAR LAWN The President convened the meeting in Public Hearing at ll:l0 a.m. to consider a petition from the residents of the Cedar Lawn area requesting the establishment of an electric lighting district in their neighborhood. Mr. Teach explained that this district would authorize the installation of street lighting, with the property owners to be assessed annually as part of the property tax levied for their pro rata share for the district. Mrs. McAllister who was in attendance representing the neighborhood, stated that 57 of the 60 property owners in the area were in favor of establishing the district and that she was unable to contact the other 3 owners. She also stated that Potomac Edison had submitted 3 proposals for their consideration and that they are interested in 3 lights - at the intersection of Rt. l44/Cedar Crest, the intersection of Cedar Crest/Wabash and the Woodlawn/Cedar Crest intersection. Howard Garland and John Swadley also spoke in favor of the District. There being no one else present for nor against said district, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to authorize the establishment of an electric lighting district in the Cedar Lawn area with lighting to be provided as determined by the majority of the residents involved. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - TURNER PROPERTY The Commissioners convened in Public Hearing at ll:30 a.m. in order to receive comments regarding the intention to purchase property from Susan K. Turner, located on Basore Road, for the sum of $35,000. The property, as described in Liber 703, folio l of the Land Records of Washington County, is 7/l0 of an acre, with improvements, adjacent to the Washington County Regional Airport and is on the priority list for acquisition for airport purposes. (Noted for the record: the hearing was advertised for l0:00 a.m.). There being no one present to speak for nor against said purchase, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to approve the purchase of 7/l0 of an acre, as described in Liber 703, folio l of the Land Records of Washington County, with improvements, from Susan K. Turner for the sum of $35,000. Unanimously approved. FIRE & RESCUE ADVISORY BOARD - CHANGE IN GUIDELINE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to approve a change in the Fire & Rescue Communications Advisory Board guidelines to include an additional EMS representative on the Board. Unanimously approved. NAME CHANGE - SOUTH COUNTY PARK Pursuant to a request from the Parks Board, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to change the name of South County Park to Chestnut Grove Park. Unanimously approved. RECOMMENDATION FOR CONTINUATION - DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENT DISTRICT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to accept the recommendation of the Economic Development Commission and send a letter to the City of Hagerstown endorsing the continuation of the Downtown Assessment District ordinance. Unanimously approved. "NO PARKING" SIGNS - MD RT. 615/HOLLOW ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to accept the recommendation of the Roads Department, which was also endorsed by the Board of Education Transportatin Department, and place "No Parking" signs at the intersection of Rt. 615 and Hollow Road. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at ll:45 a.m. for lunch at the Department of Social Services. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:40 p.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Linda C. Irvin and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Richard E. Roulette and Martin L. Snook. DECEMBER 6, l988 MINUTES, CONT'D. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convene in Executive Session at 1:40 p.m. in regard to property matters in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. At this time Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting and Commissioner Irvin assumed the Chair. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to reconvene in Regular Session at l:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE Richard Parks, Director of Planning & Review, James Brittain, Planning Director, and Glenn Dull, County Engineer, appeared before the Commissioners to review the Adequate Facilities Ordinance. Mr. Parks explained that the purpose of the Ordinance is to control the rate of growth by limiting the issuance of building permits and approval of subdivisions to those areas adequately served by public facilities. This plan addresses roads, schools, water and sewer service. The Commissioners agreed that some type of ordinance is needed but that they need to determine to what degree and asked that various groups involved with development be asked to provide input. At this time Commissioner Bowers returned to the Meeting. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive Session at 2:50 p.m. in regard to personnel, property and potential litigation in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY HOUSING PROCESSOR III & MULTI-FAMILY LOAN PROCESSOR Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to employ Diane Nowell in the position of Housing Processor III and to employ Judy Noland in the position of Multi-Family Loan Processor to fill existing vacancies in the Housing & Community Development Office. Unanimously approved. ADOPTION OF POLICY - EMPLOYMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to adopt the policy regarding Employment of Family Members as presented for addition to the Washington County Policy Manual effective this date. Unanimously approved. COUNTY POLICY CHANGE - LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to remove "Light Duty Assignment" for any positions for which there are physical requirements to adequately perform the duties of the position, effective January l, l989, but to provide written notification of this change immediately. Unanimously approved. APPROVE SALE OF LAND - WOLFE/MOUL Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to approve the sale of land in the Washington County Business Park from Morin-Rocco, Inc. to Robert Wolfe and Douglas Moul and also to approve the design as presented. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to adjourn at 4:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk