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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.06.2014 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland May 6, 2014 JOINT MEETING WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION The Board of County Commissioners met with the Board of Education at 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown. County Commissioner President Terry L. Baker called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. In attendance were Vice President John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. Board of Education members present were Justin Hartings, Paul Bailey, Donna Brightman, Jacqueline Fischer, Karen Harshman, Wayne Ridenour, and Melissa Williams. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Board of Education member Donna Brightman and Commissioner John Barr discussed the recent Legislative Session of Maryland's General Assembly and topics concerning County government and the Board of Education. Mr. Barr commented on Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) legislative activities in his role as its Second Vice President. Ms. Brightman covered topics such as equity and adequacy of funding, school construction and prevailing wage rates, and State mandates affecting dates and times of school openings. She reported that student apprenticeship programs and additional career training options were a popular topic among educational boards, and that a government task force was formed to discuss funding for school construction. The parties discussed the phase in of pension costs shifted from the State to counties since 2013. 2014 PUPIL GENERATION RATES Stephen Goodrich, County Planning and Zoning Director, and Chad Criswell, Director of Facilities Planning and Development for the Washington County Board of Education (BOE), presented the 2014 pupil generation rates developed for Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), a process undertaken yearly to estimate the number of new students expected in the public schools system as a result of the construction and occupancy of new dwelling units. Mr. Criswell outlined the criteria used by the Board of Education and the County's Planning and Zoning Department to develop figures to meet the requirements of Section 5.5 of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance entitled "Measuring for Available Capacity." Mr. Goodrich discussed average pupil generation rate used in the Alternate Mitigation Contribution (AMC) formula adopted by the Commissioners on October 22, 2013. The Boards discussed the information presented. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the 2014 Pupil Generation Rates prepared by Washington County Public Schools in accordance with the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, Section 5.5, as follows: Single Family - Elementary 0.42, Middle 0. 17, High School 0.24 average per household; Townhomes — Elementary 0.27, Middle 0.09, High School 0.10 average per household; and Multi - Family — Elementary 0.3 4, middle 0. 14, high school 0.16 average per household. The motion passed unanimously. May 6, 2014 Page 2 RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 9:11 a.m. to return for their regular meeting at the County Administration Building, 100 W. Washington Street, Room 227, Hagerstown. 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 10:06 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — APRIL 29.2014 Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the minutes of April 29, 2014. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline participated in the business outreach visit to Scoopalicious in Williamsport. He attended the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts reception to announce the recipient of the first Jean Cushwa Art Scholarship. Mr. Cline participated in the citizenship awards at the Elks Lodge that recognized two students from each local school. Commissioner Callaham attended the business visit to Scoopalicious and the Ladies of the Elks Good Citizens Awards banquet. Commissioner Barr also attended the Elks Lodge citizenship awards and the Excellence in Career Technology Education ceremony. Mr. Barr reported on several items discussed during a conference he and Hagerstown Regional Airport Director Phil Ridenour attended at Allegiant Air headquarters in Las Vegas. Commissioner McKinley reported on a Planning Commission meeting that covered growth issues and standard agenda items. He attended the opening of the outside patio dining area addition at Burkett's Deli on North Locust Street. Mr. McKinley attended the reception for the Jean Cushwa Art Scholarship Award presented to a Williamsport High School student. Commissioner Baker thanked the Board of Education for hosting the joint morning meeting. He reported on a Recreation and Parks Advisory Board meeting where members discussed municipal projects. Mr. Baker gave a presentation on economic development and infrastructure at a meeting of the Longmeadow Rotary Club. May 6, 2014 Page 3 PROCLAMATION - TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH Maria Johns, Executive Director of Teens Have Choices, and Nick Miller, Board President, accepted a proclamation from the Commissioners in recognition of Washington County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in May 2014, to raise the awareness of the consequences of teen pregnancy. Both discussed the organization's need for funding. The Commissioners thanked Ms. Johns and Mr. Miller for their efforts toward the prevention of teen pregnancy in the community. NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK The Commissioners presented a proclamation to Major Craig Rowe of the Washington County Sheriffs Department and representatives from various correctional institutions and the American Jail Association, designating the week of May 4-10, 2014 as National Correctional Officers' Week in Maryland. Major Rowe described the observance first proclaimed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. The Commissioners thanked all individuals for their important work. AWARD OF BID FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF 2014 Les Guthorn, Financial Advisor, Public Advisory Consultants, and David Funk, Bond Counsel, Funk and Bolton, reviewed the online bids for the issuance and sale by the County Commissioners of Washington County of its $14,000,000 Public Improvement Bonds of 2014. Mr. Guthorn explained that the Notice of Sale originally provided for the sale of $14,000,000 Public Improvements Bonds of 2014 and $10,120,000 Refunding Bonds of 2014. Due to market conditions, the Director of Finance modified the provisions of the Notice of Sale to provide that no Refunding Bonds would be issued. The Commissioners viewed the online bids and evaluated the ones representing the lowest interest rate to the County. Mr. Guthorn announced that the low bid received was from Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC at the True Interest Cost of 3.05%. He indicated that bids were spread much tighter in the current financial market. Mr. Guthorn discussed the County's recent upgraded rating to "AA+" from the Wall Street agency Standard and Poor's. He indicated that Moody's was predicting rating Washington County as "Aa2" and Fitch's "AA", due to the County's positive credit outlook and extraordinary good job managing its finances, but the economy was holding back any higher ratings. Both agencies will be looking at the County's 2014-15 financial report before doing so. Further discussion of the item was postponed while the resolution was updated and the bids were confirmed. OTHER BUSINESS Countv Clerk - Annointments to Countv Boards/Commissions Washington Countv Local Management Board Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to appoint Christal Smith Block and Laurie Harrison as community representatives to first, three-year terms through May 6, 2014 Page 4 June 30, 2017, and to appoint Luis Flores as a community representative to serve an unfulfilled term through June 30, 2015 on the Washington County Local Management Board. The motion passed unanimously. Washiniaton Countv Commission for Women Commissioner Callaham, seconded by McKinley, moved to appoint Jennifer Carbaugh to serve an unfulfilled term through May 31, 2016 and appoint Dee Dee Allen, Christy Turner, and Kathy Valentine to first, three-year terms through April 30, 2017 on the Washington County Commission for Women. The motion passed unanimously. Washington Countv Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to appoint Cleonica Sutch to a first, full three-year term through April 30, 2017 on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. The motion passed unanimously. Countv Administrator County Administrator Greg Murray reminded citizens of the County's FY 2015 budget presentation public hearing this evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Kepler Theatre, Hagerstown Community College. He also advised of an economic development presentation by County staff at tomorrow's Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues breakfast. AWARD OF BID FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF 2014 (continued) David Funk returned to the meeting and described the "Resolution Supplementing Resolution RS -2014-06, Adopted on April 15, 2014" that must be adopted by the County Commissioners to effect the bond award. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to award the bid for the Washington County $14,000,000 Public Improvement Bonds of 2014 to the bidder with the lowest interest cost to the County, being Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC at the True Interest Cost of 3.05%, and to approve the accompanying resolution supplementing Resolution RS -2014-06 as presented. The motion passed with Commissioners Barr, McKinley, Cline, and Callaham voting "AYE" and Commissioner Baker "NO." (Resolution No. RS -2014-09 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION Rose Marie Suder, 11415 Rock Hill Road, Hagerstown, discussed the newly located methadone clinic in Williamsport and her preference that the property's owner, not the County, plant trees or place fencing behind the building as a buffer for adjoining property owners. May 6, 2014 Page 5 Bob Miller, 11405 Kemps Mill Road, Williamsport, discussed screening for the methadone clinic and ongoing traffic safety issues at the location. Barbara Hovermill, 16286 Spielman Road, Williamsport, commented that methadone clinics should be located at established medical facilities. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 11:54 a.m. EVENING SESSION PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET A public hearing of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Kepler Theatre at Hagerstown Community College to consider the proposed Tax Rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 pursuant to Maryland law as well as the FY 2015 budget for Washington County. In attendance were President Terry L. Baker, Vice President John F. Barr, and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. County Administrator Gregory Murray stated that the public hearing was being held pursuant to the general requirements of Maryland law, the requirements of the Constant Yield Tax Rate law, as described in the notice published in The Herald -Mail on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, and to consider and obtain public comment on the proposed FY 2015 budget for Washington County as advertised. He announced that the County's real estate tax remains at $0.948 per $100 of assessed value with no tax increases in fourteen consecutive years. Washington County has one of the lowest expenditures per capita of all the Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Mr. Murray provided details of the proposed balanced budget of $204,539,010 (General Fund budget and $296,328,890 total budget), which is $3,349,740 or 1.66% above the FY 2014 budget level for the General Fund and $7,459,950 or 2.58% for all funds, and assumes slightly increased revenue projections. He indicated that a majority of the increase is to be applied toward the County's educational and public safety services, which account for over 72% of the General Fund budget or $148.8 million. One priority of the budget plan this year was to include funding for Phase I of a Fire Plan that totals $825,000 by July 2015. Workers Compensation insurance covering Fire and Rescue volunteers also increased by $358,000. Mr. Murray noted that the introduction of a reduced bulk solid waste rate and the start of the waste to energy facility are important initiatives also planned for the next fiscal year. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan includes expenditure projections for the next ten years totaling $402.7 million and includes a proposed borrowing level of $12 million for FY 2015. CIP projects are funded through several sources such as grants and contributions, cash, taxes, fees, cash reserves, and bonds. The funding mix for the FY 2015 CIP is 66% cash and grants, and 34% bonds; with 27% tax -supported debt and 8% self -supported debt. May 6, 2014 Page 6 Greg Murray announced that the County today had received a 3.05% low bid on its bond offerings and recently earned an upgraded rating of "AA+" from Standard and Poor's indicating that it has a favorable low debt profile, uses sound debt management policies, and remains in a solid financial position. Commission President Terry L. Baker opened the hearing for public testimony. Six individuals spoke on issues concerning the budget. After all testimony was presented, each Commissioner offered comments relating to the budget. Commissioner Baker adjourned the hearing at 8:15 p.m. Gregory B. lurray, Co my Administrator To—hn M. Martirano, County Attome lL� CJ Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk