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HomeMy WebLinkAbout900123 January 23, l990 Hagerstown, Maryland 2l740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.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 John S. Shank. 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 9, l990 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to approve the minutes of January 9, l990, as amended. Unanimously approved. EQUIPMENT PURCHASE - ROADS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to authorize the Roads Department to purchase a bucket truck from State Surplus with the proceeds from the sale of the post driver, which will be placed back into the budget for this purchase. Unanimously approved. DECEMBER l989 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD The Commissioners awarded the Youth of the Month Award for December l989 to Nicole Bohrer, as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Irvin listed Nicole's many accomplishments including involvement in the Student Government Association, S.A.D.D., and as President of P.R.I.D.E. of Washington County. Nicole thanked the Commissioners for this award. PARTNERS IN EDUCATION - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Lee Crawford, member of Partners in Education Alliance, and Sandy Shepherd, Coordinator of Public Information/Community Relations, appeared before the Commissioners to present examples of their l0 and 30 second "Stay in School" commerical spots which will be airing on local radio stations. Also discussed were other programs being implemented by the Board of Education aimed at keeping students in school. PRIVATE ROAD NAME - EDDY DRIVE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin, to approve the naming of a private road, located off White Oak Ridge, which goes into Parcel l0 of Tax Map 4, Eddy Drive as requested by those residents of this lane. Unanimously approved. REZONING TEXT AMENDMENT - RZ-440 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve rezoning text amendment, RZ-440, regarding permanent identification signs at primary roadway entrances for subdivisions, townhouses and apartment complexes. Unanimously approved. PROPOSAL - RESTRUCTURING COUNTY TAX BILLS Todd Hershey, County Treasurer, met with the County Commissioners to discuss his proposal to restructure the County's real estate and personal property tax bills and mailings. Mr. Hershey explained that the automated system would help relieve confusion on where to pay bills and will help to reduce error in mailings. Mr. Hershey estimated that the new system would cost $6,760 but noted that there would be a reduction in part-time help necessary for processing. The Commissioners voiced several concerns regarding tax bills being sent to homeowners whose taxes are held in escrow and paid by their mortgage company and the confusion which may result, and also asked that property owners with more than one property have all the bills sent in the same envelope. The Treasurer assured the Commissioners that these concerns could be resolved. The Commissioners approved the concept for the automated system. Commissioner Irvin suggested that notices be printed on the back of the bill prompting donations for volunteer fire and rescue companies. REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR l990-9l GENERAL FUND James Young, Director of Finance, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss projected revenues for l990-9l. Mr. Young stated that additional revenues, after allowing for five deputies recently authorized for Court House security and additional debt service requirements, are projected to run between $3,724,400 and $4,459,400 depending upon the percentage increase in income tax. ENCUMBRANCE FOR CRUISERS - SHERIFF MADES Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to authorize the Sheriff to order eight cruisers using the State Police bid of $l2,855 per vehicle for a total of $l02,840 and also to authorize the Sheriff to enter into an agreement with GMAC for the purchase of a l986 Chevrolet Blazer in the amount of $3,462, which had been confiscated, with funding to be encumbered for Fiscal Year l99l. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 23, l990 MINUTES, CONT'D. ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE - DRAFT 5 Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Planning and Codes Administration, appeared before the Commissioners to present Draft 5 of the Adequate Facilities Ordinance for their review and amendment. The Commissioners decided to review the Ordinance individually and discuss it in detail at the January 30 meeting. Barry Teach, Administrator, informed those in attendance that the Public Information Meeting for the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance has been set for February 8 at 7:00 p.m. in Court Room No. l and that the Public Hearing will be held later in February. The Commissioners also indicated that they would like to discuss the Ordinance with County municipalities. REAPPOINTMENTS - TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to make the following reappointments on the Transportation Commission: Howard Mendlesohn to a three-year term retroactive to May 6, l989; Joseph Widmyer to a three-year term retroactive to May 7, l988; Jack Bowers to a three-year term retroactive to May l, l987; and Charles Hoover for a three-year term extending to January 23, l993. Unanimously approved. GYPSY MOTH PROGRAM AND ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION Barry Teach, Administrator, presented a map showing the first priority area which the State Department of Agriculture will be spraying for gypsy moths in the South Mountain area of the County totalling 6,274 acres. Mr. Teach indicated that the second priority area is 5,4l6 acres located in the south part of Washington County but that this area would not be sprayed unless the entire cost is paid by the County. The cost for spraying this area would be approximately $6 per acre and, with the 50% costs for spraying the first priority area, would total an estimated $62,000. Mr. Teach informed the Commissioners that $35,000 is currently budgeted for gypsy moth spraying. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Agriculture, Gypsy Moth Suppression Program, to have both the first and second priority areas sprayed in Washington County and to provide additional funds necessary, over the $35,000 budgeted, from the Operating Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED LEGISLATION The Commissioners discussed the status of legislation submitted to the Delegation to the General Assembly. Mr. Teach told the Commissioners that Senate Bill 59 was introduced regarding payment of prisoners on work release and that Sheriff Mades has dropped his request in view of this statewide bill. The Commissioners also requested that the draft of the gaming bill be reviewed since it does not appear to accomplish what they hoped it would. Mr. Teach also reported that the Delegation has suggested setting the State's Attorney's salary at 80% of the District Court Judges' salary, and the Commissioners agreed with this decision. ADOPTION OF BIENNIAL WATER AND SEWERAGE PLAN UPDATE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to adopt the biennial update of the Water & Sewerage Plan as presented at the Public Hearing on January l6, l990, and to upgrade from W-7 to W-5 those areas targeted for future growth at a later date. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin reported on the Child Care Delivery Plan Committee, the Mid- Maryland Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council meeting, and the County Implementation Committee meeting; Commissioner Downey reported on the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Advisory Council meeting; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Parks Board meeting and the United Way Needs Committee meeting. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to convene in Executive Session at ll:55 a.m. in regard to personnel, property and legal matters in accordance with Section l0.50l of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 23, l990 MINUTES, CONT'D. APPROVAL FOR TOWER - MERRBAUGH PROPERTY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to approve the erection of a cellular phone tower and equipment shelter on the property to be conveyed to John Merrbaugh in the Washington County Business Park after approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals. Unanimously approved. AGREEMENT - FOXLEIGH MEADOWS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to enter into an agreement with Foxleigh Meadows Limited Partnership to accept $30,4l7 subject to their obtaining two bonds, for road maintenance in the amount of $52,250 and a maintenance bond in the amount of $l0,450. Unanimously approved. ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE - HANDLEMAN COMPANY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to approve the assignment of the lease from Greenwald Associates to Handleman Company, for the property located at l00 Western Maryland Parkway, contingent upon receiving a request from the Handleman Company and their agreement to abide by the terms of the current lease. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 3:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk