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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.11.2014 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland March 11, 2014 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 1:08 p.m. in the County Administration Building, Room 227, 100 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, with the following members present: Vice President John F. Barr and Commissioners Ruth Anne Callaham, Jeffrey A. Cline, and William B. McKinley. EASEMENT ACOUISITION —19925 MARBLE OUARRY ROAD Joe Kuhna, Real Property Administrator, requested approval of an option agreement for real property easement acquisition at 19925 Marble Quarry Road, Keedysville, for $374 to provide for road widening and supporting slopes relating to the Marble Quarry Road Bridge Repair Project. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve the option agreement for real property easement acquisition at 19925 Marble Quarry Road for the purpose stated, the adoption of an ordinance approving said easement purchase, and authorization to execute the necessary documentation to finalize the easement acquisition as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -2014-04 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT - LANDFILL COMPACTOR REPAIR Dave Mason, Environmental Engineer, Division of Environmental Management, recommended award of an emergency procurement for the repair of a Landfill Compactor totaling $436,108.51 to Alban -CAT of Baltimore, Maryland. He described the circumstances that require repairs to the compactor that is used at the Forty West Landfill. The Commissioners discussed the matter. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to award an emergency procurement for the repair of a Landfill Compactor for $436,108.51 to Alban -CAT of Baltimore, Maryland as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Mason advised that formal approval by the Commissioners of a fund transfer from the Division of Environmental Management's reserve account to its Capital Improvement Program account is necessary to procure the repair as previously discussed. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to approve the transfer of the necessary funds from the Division's reserve fund into its operating budget for the stated purpose. The motion passed unanimously. March 11, 2014 Page 2 GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION GRANT FOR WEEKEND INTAKE CENTER Steven Kessell, Assistant State's Attorney, and Nan Louise Regan, Director of Alternative Sanctions, State's Attorney's Office, requested approval of a $30,950.00 grant application to cover the County's share of the salary of the Work Crew Supervisor for the Weekend Intake Center. The Work Crew Supervisor oversees persons who have agreed to perform voluntary community service as an alternative to possible fines or jail time as part of the disposition of a criminal court proceeding. The grant money would be applied to the Supervisor's salary, thereby reducing the amount needed from the State's Attorney's Office budget. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Callaham, moved to approve the submission of an application to the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention for a $30,950.00 Weekend Intake Center grant. The motion passed unanimously. BID AWARD — GREENSAND FILTER SYSTEM AT ELK RIDGE WATER TREATMENT PLANT Rick Curry, Buyer, Purchasing Department, and Mark Bradshaw, Environmental Engineer, Division of Environmental Management, recommended award of the contract for the purchase of a Greensand Filter System (PUR-1241) to be used in the Elk Ridge Water Treatment Plant, to the responsible, responsive bidder, Neu -Ion, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, that submitted the lowest Total Sum Bid of $52,383. The new filters are recommended due to the age and pressure rating of the existing filters. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by McKinley, moved to award the contract for the purchase of the Greensand Filter System to the responsible, responsive bidder, Neu -Ion, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, for the lowest Total Sum Bid of $52,383. The motion passed unanimously. BUDGET DISCUSSION — DEPARTMENT OF WATER OUALITY Julie Pippel, Director, Division of Environmental Management, presented an overview of the FY 2015 Department of Water Quality budget that includes water and sewer rates. The total expected revenue for the Utility Fund is $3,966,950, representing an overall increase of 5.3%. The Water Fund of $1,230,510 represents an overall increased amount of 1.51%. Ms. Pippel reviewed the proposed water and sewer rates for FY 2015, which indicate an increase per quarter for the average residential user of 1.6% (or $1.50) for water and 3.5% (or $3.60) for sewer. Similar increases were proposed for other user classes. The Commissioners discussed the information presented. Ms. Pippel noted that water and sewer rates will continue to increase annually as programmed through the years 2017-18, where a cash value is created and the pretreatment fund debt is paid in full. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to hold a public hearing on April 8 regarding the proposed water rates and sewer rates. The motion passed unanimously. March 11, 2014 Page 3 BUDGET DISCUSSION - PUBLIC SAFETY — EMERGENCY SERVICES Kevin Lewis, Director, Division of Emergency Services, and Dale Hill, President, Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (WCVFRA), presented the FY 2015 budget for the Public Safety—Emergency Services category. Mr. Lewis reviewed the proposed $14,334,960 budget that represents a 19.4% increase over the current budgets covering the 7-54 Air Unit, Special Operations, 9-1-1 Communications, Fire and Rescue Operations, and Emergency Management categories, mainly involving wages and benefits, insurance, and associated equipment purchases. The Fire and Rescue Volunteer Services category contains $824,000 to fund Phase I of the WCVFRA Fire and Rescue Plan (Plan) that outlines the first phase to assist volunteer fire companies. Mr. Lewis indicated that Workers Compensation costs increased by $358,670 based on the recent bid award by the County Commissioners. President Hill reviewed the Phase I Plan developed the past year by WCVFRA members. The Plan contains an amount up to $25,000 per company for the reimbursement of fuel costs and equipment maintenance, and $350,000 to assist volunteer companies in maintaining adequate response time, which can include hiring paid personnel when necessary. The Plan also includes funding for the required testing of hoses, ladders, pumps and breathing apparatus. Mr. Hill indicated that Phase I1 of the five -phased Plan should be completed in July 2014. The Commissioners generally endorsed the Plan and discussed accountability for funding. Commissioner Callaham recommended a reimbursement system. Commissioner Baker suggested that $10,000 be provided through the County's Contingency Fund to purchase grain bin rescue kits that were demonstrated at a recent seminar. The cost of each kit is approximately $6,750. The Commissioners discussed the proposal and whether such funding should go toward other "more critical" fire and rescue needs. It was their consensus to discuss the matter at a future Commissioners' meeting. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Barr, moved to convene in closed session at 3:21 p.m. to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, in accordance with Section 10-508(a) (3) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed with staff various details relating to the potential acquisition of real property that would be necessary for a public project During closed session, the Commissioners provided staff with general direction as to how to proceed relating to the possible acquisition of a parcel of real property needed for a public project. March 11, 2014 Page 4 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; Rob Slocum, Director, Engineering and Construction Management; and Stephen Goodrich, Director, Planning and Zoning. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Cline, moved to adjourn at 4:16 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Gregory B. urray, C my Administrator Tohn M. Martirano, County Attorne Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk