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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.16.2013 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland July 16, 2013 President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland to order at 9:03 a.m. in the County Administration Building located at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, Hagerstown, with the following members present: Vice President John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Cline, seconded by McKinley, moved to convene in closed session at 9:03 a.m. 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) (4) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed concepts for a business to locate in the State. During closed session, representatives of the business explained the proposal and discussed the benefits that would inure to the County and its citizens. The Commissioners directed staff to continue discussions with the representatives of the business. Present during closed session were Commissioners Terry L. Baker, John F. Barr, Jeffrey A. Cline, Ruth Anne Callaham, and William B. McKinley. Also present were Gregory Murray, County Administrator; Vicki Lumm, County Clerk; John Martirano, County Attorney; Kirk C. Downey, Deputy County Attorney; Sarah L. Sprecher, Assistant County Administrator; Debra Murray, Finance Director; Julie Pippel, Director, Division of Environmental Management; and individuals representing the proposed business. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Cline, moved to reconvene in open session at 10:35 a.m. The motion passed unanimously. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Barr gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JULY 9, 2013 Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the minutes of July 9, 2013. The motion passed unanimously. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There were no citizens present who wished to participate. July 16, 2013 Page 2 GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN — FISCAL YEAR 2014 FUNDING Melissa Nearchos, Senior Grant Manager, Office of Community Grant Management (OCGM), requested acceptance of a $706,675 funding award for FY 2014 from the Governor's Office for Children proposed for the following programs: • Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Diversion Initiative (Pressley Ridge) — $174,625 • Rural Out of School Time Initiative (Boys and Girls Club) — $122,500 • Post -Secondary Education and Training Coordination (HCC) — $60,545 • Family Centered Support Services (Child Care at the DSS Family Center) — $35,700 • Regional Family Navigation Program (MD Coalition for Families) — $134,474 • Positive Youth Development Initiative Coordination (Teens Have Choices) — $44,650 • Tomorrow's Leaders (Boys & Girls Club) — $44,181 • School Based Mental Health Services (new strategy to supplement the services of the School Based Health Centers) — $25,000 • OCGM Administration - $65,000 Ms. Nearchos described each program and the $65,000 funding included for the OCGM administrative costs. She advised that the programs require no County funding. The Commissioners discussed the matter. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to accept the FY 2014 funding award of $706,675 from the Governor's Office for Children as presented. The motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Countv Administrator County Administrator Greg Murray commented that the Commissioners would be visiting participants of the summer camp program at noon at the Martin L. Snook Memorial Park, sponsored by the Washington County Recreation Department. Charter Home Rule Letter from Delegate LeRov Mvers Mr. Murray read a letter received from Delegate LeRoy Myers to the County Commissioners requesting the appointment of a board to consider Charter Home Rule for Washington County. Mr. Murray and County Attorney John Martirano discussed the legal procedure applicable to the appointment of such a board, which can be initiated either by the County Commissioners or upon receipt by the Commissioners of a petition signed by the appropriate number of registered voters in Washington County. The Commissioners discussed the proposal and generally expressed their desire to hear from the citizens on the matter. No formal action was taken. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Health and Human Services Stephanie Stone, Health and Human Services Director, requested permission to advertise and fill a budgeted full-time, Grade 8 Permit Technician position in the Division of Plan Review and Permitting due to an employee retirement. July 16, 2013 Page 3 Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the request and to advertise and fill the position as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Hagerstown Regional Airport — Dodge Ball Tournament Phil Ridenour, Airport Director, reported on the recent "Dodge High Fares" Dodge Ball Tournament at the Hagerstown Regional Airport sponsored by Allegiant Air. He announced that the $1,275 proceeds went to three local charities, Children In Need, REACH, and the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. The Commissioners congratulated Mr. Ridenour on the event. Mr. Ridenour also noted that the Airport would be receiving additional Federal Aviation Administration funding because it exceeded 10,000 passenger enplanements. ASSIGNMENT OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVE AGREEMENT — BERGMAN EYE CENTER, LLC TO MARYLAND VISION INSTITUTE, LLC Robert Mandley, Project Coordinator, Economic Development Commission, recommended that the remaining terms of a Financial Incentive Agreement (Agreement) made in February 2011 with the Bergman Eye Center, LLC be assigned to the Maryland Vision Institute, LLC. The Commissioners previously approved the Agreement for $10,500 to assist with construction of a new building on Eastern Boulevard in Hagerstown in exchange for the creation of seven permanent full-time new jobs by December 31, 2012. Bergman Eye Center, LLC exceeded its obligation to create seven new positions and reported to the EDC that it created seventeen new jobs in 2012. Maryland Vision Institute, LLC acquired the assets of Bergman Eye Center LLC on April 4, 2013. The Commissioners commented on the positive employment numbers over and above those required in the Agreement. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the assignment of the remaining terms of the Agreement with Bergman Eye Center, LLC to Maryland Vision Institute LLC as presented. The motion passed unanimously. PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT — ADEOUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE Stephen Goodrich, Director, Planning and Zoning, and Kirk C. Downey, Deputy County Attorney, presented a proposed text amendment to the County's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) that would create an Alternate Mitigation Contribution (AMC). During the Commissioners' May 28, 2013 meeting, Mr. Goodrich presented a proposal to create a standardized formula to determine monetary contributions from developers when students expected to be generated by new development exceed adequacy thresholds for affected public schools. At that time, the Commissioners directed staff to proceed with the necessary steps to incorporate the concept into the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance as an alternative to the current mitigation procedures. July 16, 2013 Page 4 Mr. Goodrich discussed an AMC formula that would be an alternative to the current method of case-by-case mitigation proposals now required to be made by developers, as follows: (A/B x C) x D = Alternate Mitigation Contribution Where A = cost of 1 elementary school seat (average cost of construction from past and future projects / capacity) B = years of useful life of the seat or the school building C = pupil generation rate for the type of dwelling units under consideration D = # of years a student will spend in that type of school (6 in elementary K-5, 3 in middle 6-8 or 4 in high 9-12) The calculation would be performed for each school determined to be inadequate and for each type of housing proposed in the new development. The AMC would be the summation of all of the calculations. Mr. Goodrich stated that if schools were over 120% capacity, developers would have to use the existing mitigation procedure. The Commissioners discussed the proposal including the local and state -rated figures set for student capacity and the ability to update the student seat cost periodically, based on the average cost of construction from previous and future projects. It was their consensus that the contribution formula should be applied to all schools affected by the new development when any affected school level exceeds its rated capacity. They also decided that the proposal should provide that developers have twelve, rather than six months, to secure Planning Commission development approval before they must recalculate pupil generation yields using the most recent enrollment figures. It was the consensus of the Commissioners that the proposed text amendment, with the changes as discussed, be the subject of a public hearing on August 6 to obtain comment on the proposal. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline reported attending the Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues breakfast. He attended a meeting of the Tri -County Council with Commissioner Barr. Mr. Cline participated in a business visit to Stacy Nicole Interior Designs. He thanked the Conococheague Little League for inviting the Commissioners to opening day ceremonies for the Maryland State 11-12 year-old tournament. Commissioner Cline reminded all of the Civil War re-enactment at Williamsport's Springfield Barn and the Ag Expo and Fair opening this weekend. Commissioner Callaham commended the Conococheague Little League's All -Stars for playing well in the State tournament held locally. She reported meeting with the new Executive Director and a board member of the C&O Canal and Historic Trust. Ms. Callaham attended the initial meeting of the Emergency Services Advisory Council. Commissioner Barr reported on meetings he attended for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and Tri -County Council. He discussed the work in progress to compile four issues of priority for the 2014 legislative session. Mr. Barr advised that the MACo July 16, 2013 Page 5 Winter Conference would be held in early December. He promoted events scheduled for the Ag Expo and Fair. Commissioner McKinley reported attending the Eggs and Issues breakfast and commended the County's EDC and Public Relations and Community Affairs Department for presenting an excellent program. He reported on a recent EDC meeting and the business visit to Stacy Nicole Interior Designs. He attended the dodge ball tournament at the Hagerstown Regional Airport and the State Little League tournament in Williamsport. Commissioner Baker congratulated the Conococheague 11-12 All-Star Little League Team for its playing efforts during the State tournament. He attended the Eggs and Issues breakfast and reported on a recent EDC board meeting. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to adjourn at 12:07 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The Commissioners attended a Happy Camper Day luncheon at Martin L. Snook Memorial Park with attendees of the Recreation and Parks Department's Summer Camp Program. it 00% Gregory B. Iurray, County Administrator John M. Martirano, County At icy Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk Y