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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.26.2013 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland February 26, 2013 INVOCATION Pastor Mark Sandell of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church gave the Invocation. President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 9:07 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members: Vice President John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Baker led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — FEBRUARY 19, 2013 Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the minutes of February 19, 2013. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline attended the Agricultural Education Center board meeting and advised that a spaghetti dinner fundraiser would be held this weekend. Mr. Cline enjoyed the popular Super Hero event at Hagerstown Community College (HCC) Athletic Recreation and Community Center (ARCC) sponsored by the County's Recreation Department. He attended a press conference at Hagerstown City Hall for the "Run for Your Luck" 5K run to be held on March 16. Mr. Cline attended a kickoff for the March of Dimes "March for Babies" walk to be held on April 27. He attended a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Antietam Exchange Club. Commissioner Cline congratulated Public Works Director Joe Kroboth, III on his upcoming retirement from County government. Commissioner Callaham discussed the recent presentation by Sora Group to local officials and the public. She commented that the Commissioners have a "toolbox" of ideas that can be used to further growth in the County but that there is no "silver bullet." She asked citizens to consider the information presented by Sora Group and work together to achieve success. Commissioner Barr reported a busy week where he attended many worthwhile fundraisers throughout the community. He stated that he continues to attend meetings in Annapolis every Wednesday during the legislative session as a board member of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and to report on issues of importance to Washington County. Mr. Barr indicated that he and Airport Director Phil Ridenour would be traveling this week to Arizona for an Allegiant Air conference where they would be discussing operations with Allegiant officials. February 26, 2013 Page 2 Commissioner McKinley congratulated Joe Kroboth on his outstanding career in Washington County. Mr. McKinley attended a kickoff luncheon for the Hagerstown Suns and a board meeting of the Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission. He participated in the local TEA Party Day of Resistance march from the Academy Theatre to Hager Hall. Commissioner McKinley congratulated the Hagerstown Rotary Club on its recent successful fundraising event. Commissioner Baker reported attending many fundraisers in the County for various fire companies and non -profits. He commended the Recreation Department for the successful Super Heroes event at the ARCC. Mr. Baker commented on the first joint meeting last week with the new Hagerstown City Mayor and Council. He attended a press conference at City Hall for the upcoming "Run for Your Luck" 5K run to benefit the Community Free Clinic. Commissioner Baker presented awards during the Maryland State Archery championships held at HCC. He also participated in the TEA Party's Day of Resistance. Mr. Baker thanked Economic Development Commission Vice Chair Ron Bowers for organizing yesterday's presentation by Sora Group in the County Administration Building. He attended the Antietam Exchange Club's spaghetti dinner. The Commissioners recognized Joe Kroboth for his service to Washington County and wished him well in future endeavors. Commissioner Callaham requested that a date be set for the Commissioners to recognize individuals and teams that achieved high school athletic championships this past year. i" (Commissioner Barr left the meeting at 9:25 a.m.) BUDGET DISCUSSION — CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM — DRAFT 1 PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT Sheriff Doug Mullendore presented an overview of the Public Safety/Law Enforcement budget covering Judicial, Process Servers, Patrol, Central Booking, the Detention Center, and Narcotics Task Force. The Sheriff indicated that he is requesting $2.5 Million for a proposed Home Detention/Day Reporting Program to treat, educate, and monitor up to 150 non-violent offenders committing drug-related and minor crimes. That amount includes one-time costs to reconfigure a building such as the former Phoenix Color building and two new positions for general oversight of the operation. There would be a Request for Proposal for the day -do -day management of the facility and program. Sheriff Mullendore stated that the program would help control inmate populations and achieve overall budget savings. The new program is not being recommended to be implemented at this time due to budget constraints. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET REVIEW — EDUCATION Finance Director Debra Murray reviewed proposed budgets for the Education category covering the Washington County Board of Education and Hagerstown Community College. Ms. Murray indicated that the Board of Education's (BOE) proposed ten-year Capital Improvement Project (CIP) plan beginning with FY14 totals $145,644,600.00, February 26, 2013 Page 3 which is $1.5 Million lower than last year during the same time period, mainly due to the projected $2.9 Million decrease in school excise taxes. She indicated that the projects had been prioritized according to the BOE recommendation. Boyd Michael, Deputy Superintendent, Washington County Public Schools discussed his concerns with funding for new schools, the cost of building per square foot, and what directions the BOE should be giving architects before bidding projects such as the new West City Elementary School. If the new State square footage construction rate is to be used, additional local money will be required to fund the projects. The Commissioners discussed the information presented, including funding the school at the current level and keeping construction costs as previously projected. Dr. Guy Altieri, President, Hagerstown Community College (HCC), discussed the County's ten-year CIP plan for HCC and that it did not include any 2013-14 projects due to forward funding provided last year for various campus projects. Dr. Altieri proposed a plan that would delay some CIP projects at the college in order to place the Public Safety Training Center in the ten-year plan, using both County and State funding sources. Ms. Murray stated that current funding operating issues for other projects should be discussed before any commitments are made. County Administrator Greg Murray indicated that the costs of operating the Training Center in relation to the CIP budget also need to be considered. He added that the County Commissioners would first like to have a Fire Services Master Plan in place before determining what amounts to budget for operations. The Commissioners discussed the proposal including associated costs, City of Hagerstown involvement, and whether there would be State funding available for such a project. Dr. Altieri was thanked for his efforts to reprioritize projects. CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION Hagerstown resident David Smith expressed concerns for the future of the former Massey building and discussed its possible historical significance. Christopher Smith, Manor House Homes, and Corey Linthicum, President of the Washington County Home Builders Association, requested an extension of the Excise Tax Stimulus Program. Dale Hill, President of the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, commented on training needs in the public safety sector. PUBLIC HEARING — WASHINGTON COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, GRADING, SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL ORDINANCE (REVISION 1) President Baker convened a Public Hearing at 11:14 a.m. to obtain public comment regarding proposed revisions requested by the State of Maryland to the Washington County Stormwater Management, Grading, Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance (Revision 1) (SWM.) Jennifer Smith, Director, Plan Review and Permitting, stated that the February 26, 2013 Page 4 SWM was adopted by the County Commissioners on December 18, 2012 and became effective January 9, 2013. After the adoption, the State requested several revisions, which Ms. Smith described for the Commissioners. The public hearing was opened for public conunent. There was no one present who wished to comment. (Commissioner Barr returned to the meeting at 11:20 a.m.) The public hearing was closed at 11:21 a.m. The Commissioners discussed the changes. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Callaham, moved to amend the Ordinance and accept the State -proposed revisions as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -2013-02 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REVENUE PROJECTIONS, Ron Bowers, Economic Development Commission Vice Chair, spoke on current economic conditions and the major loss of revenue being dealt with by the Board of County Commissioners. He discussed budgetary issues surrounding the future needs of the community and the effect of the County's excise tax on development. Mr. Bowers favored the suspension of the tax that may be affecting growth. He stated that the excise tax achieves its primary goal of controlling development but it has not been nearly as successful in its secondary goal of increasing revenue to the County. Its suspension or adjustment would potentially provide jobs and revenue to the County; and those changes could be dialed up or down depending on the circumstances. The Commissioners discussed the Excise Tax Ordinance and whether to change how the tax is calculated or collected. It was their consensus to further discuss this issue during next week's regular meeting. HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT UPDATE Hagerstown Regional Airport Director Phil Ridenour presented a status report to the Commissioners regarding various activities at the Airport including additional T -Hangar construction, progress on the new Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) facility, and the Airport Marketing Plan being developed by AvPorts of Dulles, Virginia. Mr. Ridenour briefly discussed the possible March 1 sequestration and its potential impact on the Airport. He also announced the success of Allegiant Air flights from Hagerstown to Florida and the greater number of enplanements that result in federal funding toward Airport projects. Mr. Ridenour advised that Airport and County representatives would be meeting with Allegiant this week to discuss performance and potential target markets, including seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He thanked departing Public Works Director Joe Kroboth, III for his guidance to the Airport during his tenure and wished him well in the future. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Ridenour for the report. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 12:41 p.m. February 26, 2013 Page 5 AFTERNOON SESSION President Terry L. Baker called the afternoon session to order at 2:05 p.m. with the following members: Vice President John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASE — PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM Karen Luther, Purchasing Director, and Darryl Brown, Accounting Supervisor, Budget and Finance, requested approval to authorize by Resolution, an Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase/Use of Commercial Card Services with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or Chase Bank, USA, N.A. via a Fairfax, Virginia contract. Ms. Luther stated that the contract provides for a percentage rebate to the County based on the annual combined charge volume and average file turn tier contained in the contract. The purchasing card program is used by employees to procure low dollar goods and services. The proposed contract is currently being utilized by several other Maryland counties and municipalities. Ms. Luther stated that based on the County's current purchasing card program spending amounts, it is anticipated that the County would receive annual rebates of approximately $24,000.00. Individual spending limits would be increased from $1000.00 to $2,500.00. The Commissioners discussed the proposal. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to authorize by Resolution an Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase/Use of Commercial Card Services with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., or Chase Bank, USA, N.A. as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS -2013-01 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) OTHER BUSINESS Countv Attornev RZ-12-004 Deputy County Attorney Kirk C. Downey requested approval of text amendments to Sections 3, 4, 5D, 8, 9, 10 and 28A of the Zoning Ordinance. The amendments update, correct, and clarify various zoning regulations and were the subject of a public hearing, after which the Commissioners reached a consensus to adopt the revisions. The adopting ordinance is prepared and ready for approval. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to adopt an ordinance to amend certain provisions of the Zoning Ordinance for Washington County and adopt amendments relating to its text (RZ-12-004.) The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -2013-03 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) RZ-12-005 Mr. Downey requested approval of an Ordinance for a map amendment relating to properties in the Carriage Hills Subdivision, which were assigned a mistaken zoning classification during the comprehensive rezoning of the Urban Growth Area. The February 26, 2013 Page 6 erroneous classification prohibits townhouse uses on the property, even though the development was designed and intended to provide townhouse residential uses. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to grant the requested rezoning to change the zoning classification from RU (Rural Urban) to RM (Rural Multi -family.) The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -2013-04 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) Countv Administrator County Administrator Greg Murray wished Public Works Director Joe Kroboth, III well in his new endeavors upon retiring from County government. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Health and Human Services Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Stone requested permission to advertise and fill vacancies for six budgeted positions, as follows: Two Emergency Communications Specialist Call Takers, Grade 8 — 9-1-1 Center Collection Operator Trainee, Grade 8 - Department of Water Quality Bus Operator, Grade 6 - Transit Department Motor Equipment Operator I, Grade 6 - Highway Southern Section Weigh Clerk, Grade 8 - Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Cline, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve the requests as presented. The motion passed unanimously. YALE DRIVE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT Joe Kroboth, III, Public Works Director, requested approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the County Commissioners and the Hagerstown/Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF) regarding Yale Drive utility improvements. Mr. Kroboth indicated that the MOA provides for the extension of utilities by CHIEF during the County's construction project. The Commissioners discussed the proposal. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to authorize execution of the Yale Drive Utility Improvements Memorandum of Agreement between the County and CHIEF as presented. The motion passed unanimously. BUDGET DISCUSSION — HUMAN RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS Stephanie Stone, Director, Health and Human Services, initiated a discussion of the Human Resource recommendations for Fiscal Year 2014 beginning with the Election Board, which is requesting $3,000.00 of additional wages to pay each of six Board members/support staff to train poll workers. Kaye Robucci, Election Director, discussed the proposal with the Commissioners, who expressed concerns with paying Election Board members to conduct training. February 26, 2013 Page 7 The Commissioners suspended discussion of the matter to move to the next scheduled agenda item. WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Rebecca Massie Lane, Director of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, introduced Suzette Sherman, of the American Alliance of Museums, who is conducting a peer review of the Museum this week pertaining to an assessment program focused on objectives surrounding community engagement. The assessment programs provide museums with peer review on different areas of operations and help staff to better meet best practices in the field. The review is part of the museum's preparation for the reaccreditation process with the American Alliance of Museums. The Commissioners thanked Ms. Sherman for appearing during the Commissioners' meeting and they praised the Museum for its art collection and community involvement. BUDGET DISCUSSION — HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATIONS (cont.) Stephanie Stone, Director, Health and Human Services, continued a presentation on various Human Resource recommendations for Fiscal Year 2014 as follows: Sheriff's Department — $423,987.00 requested to cover the cost of four new deputies, one School Resource Deputy for Clear Spring schools, one Property/Evidence Room Technician to maintain seized firearms, a Home Detention/Day Reporting Program Director and deputy to cover that program. Greg Murray advised the Commissioners that they could agree to immediately approve the request for a School Resource Deputy to cover the Clear Spring school complex and feeder schools, in that the Board of Education funds the salary and benefits through its budget and the Sheriff's Department provides the equipment funding. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to agree to the recommendation. Additional human resource requests were discussed covering the following departments: Emeraencv Services - $188,690.00; includes rectifying 9-1-1 salary inequities, part-time wage costs, and funding for an Emergency Services Emergency Management employee; Plan Review and Permittina - $21,344.00 for a full-time receptionist; and Fitness and Recreation - $2,288.00; to upgrade an employee and for overtime costs. The Black Rock Golf Course requested to hire two part-time employees and eliminate the full-time grill cook position, resulting in $44,345.00 savings; and Weed Control requested to increase part-time wages. Stephanie Stone advised that the Coordinating Committee is currently reviewing County employee Medical, Dental, Vision and General Benefits proposals. She stated that employee contributions to the health plan would likely increase by 10% this fiscal year, and due to no foreseeable increases to County employee salaries, it was suggested that President's Day be approved as an additional holiday. This would not be a material budgetary increase. February 26, 2013 Page 8 Ms. Stone also discussed a proposal evaluated by Employee Benefits Advisor Smith Downey for additional options for employees entering the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) Plan. One would be a payout option that would provide a third distribution choice for employees who are eligible to enter into the DROP Plan. There would be no change to eligibility to enter the Plan and no cost to the County for this or any, option discussed. In fact, there are substantial savings implications by pursuing these ever increasingly popular options for this benefit in Public Sector Plans. This option would allow employees to select an in-service distribution when entering the five-year maximum DROP period. Alternately, an employee could allow the DROP benefit to accrue as normal and request a buy -up annuity option for disbursement of the accrued lump sum based on several lengths of payout currently available in the Plan. If retaining the lump sum payout at the end of the DROP, an employee could also request that the payout occur no later than the February following the year in which the employee retires, given specific conditions. The Commissioners discussed the proposal and expressed their approval to add these options that would benefit both the employees and the County. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve executing the options discussed for the County employee Deferred Retirement Option Program Plan by amending the Plan as presented. The motion passed unanimously. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Barr, seconded by Cline, moved to convene in closed session at 3:56 p.m.; to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, and/or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body had jurisdiction; and to discuss other personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; in accordance with Section 10-508 (1) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed with staff the recent performance of a County employee. During closed session, the Commissioners provided specific direction to staff relating to . the employment status of a County employee. 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; Sarah Sprecher, Assistant County Administrator; Vicki Lumm, County Clerk; John M. Martirano, County Attorney; Ron Whitt, Director, Information Technologies; and Stephanie Stone, Director, Health and Human Services. February 26, 2013 Page 9 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cline, seconded by Callaham, moved to adjourn at 4:24 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ,2-16 1 Gr6gory B. rray, Cou ty Administrator ok John M. Martirano, County -A tt6iiiey Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk