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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.22.214 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland July 22, 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 9:46 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 — JULY 15, 2014 Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the minutes of July 15, 2014. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline attended the Urban Partners presentation of its downtown Hagerstown redevelopment plan. He participated in the business outreach to DOT Foods that is celebrating its 20th year of operations in Washington County. He attended a Chamber of Commerce mixer at Star Community. Mr. Cline attended the Boonsboro Economic Development Commission meeting and the Community Free Clinic MUDD Volleyball fundraiser. He attended several events held to commemorate the Battle of Funkstown. Commissioner Cline participated in the Holcim groundbreaking and collected gate receipts at the Ag Expo & Fair. Commissioner Callaham attended the DOT Foods business visit and reported on a Housing Authority board meeting. She attended a Commission on Aging board meeting where Meritus Hospital discussed methods to improve the health and wellness of local citizens. Ms. Callaham attended the Urban Partners presentation plan to improve Hagerstown's City Center. Commissioner Barr attended a breakfast with Funkstown's mayor and re -enactors of the Battle of Funkstown commemoration. He attended a visit by Ken Ullman, democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, who toured FedEx Ground operations with the Commissioners and various officials. Mr. Barr traveled to Crisfield, Maryland for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) annual crab feed. Commissioner McKinley attended the business visit to FedEx Ground. He participated in the DOT Foods business visit and praised the company for its business ethics. He visited Funkstown's Civil War reenactment event that is sponsored in part through Hotel Rental Tax Funds to municipalities. July 22, 2014 Page 2 Commissioner Baker attended the Urban Partners City Center plan presentation. He attended the DOT Foods business visit and Holcim groundbreaking. Mr. Baker collected gate receipts at the Ag Expo & Fair and reported that attendance is up this year. 2014 HOUSING BOND ALLOCATION TRANSFER Stephen Goodrich, Director, Planning and Zoning, requested approval of the transfer of Washington County's 2014 Housing Bond Allocation of $5,260,563 to the Maryland Community Development Administration for the issuance of housing bonds for first time homebuyers in Washington County. He advised that each year State law permits local governments to collaborate in a statewide bond pool for first-time homebuyers. Washington County has traditionally used its allocation to participate in the Maryland Mortgage Program. Mr. Goodrich described the benefit of allocating the money back to the State that might allow more money for Washington County if excess funds from other counties are returned to the pool for re -distribution. He noted that coincidentally the interest rate on these -type loans was just reduced by one-quarter percent. The Commissioners discussed details of the participation by individuals. Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the transfer of Washington County's 2014 Housing Bond Allocation of $5,260,563 to the Maryland Community Development Administration for the issuance of housing bonds on behalf of Washington County. The motion passed unanimously. CONTRACT AWARD - PROVISION OF SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Karen Luther, Purchasing Director, and Stephanie Lapole, Grant Manager, Office of Community Grant Management, recommended award of the contract for the provision of School Based Mental Health Services in Washington County (PUR-1257) to the responsive, responsible proposer, Brook Lane Health Services, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland for $69,648.48. Ms. Luther advised that no County funds are involved in the award. Ms. Lapole described the programs held at South Hagerstown High and Western Heights Middle schools that provide sessions targeted for youth with behavioral/mental health conditions. The contract tentatively begins August 1, 2014 and ends June 30, 2015 with an option by the Washington County Community Partnership to renew for up to two additional 11 -month periods (August through June) if funding is provided. The Commissioners discussed the proposal. Commissioner McKinley, seconded by Callaham, moved to award the contract for the provision of School Based Mental Health Services in Washington County to the responsive, responsible proposer, Brook Lane Health Services, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland for $69,648.48 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION No citizens were present who wished to participate. July 22, 2014 Page 3 OTHER BUSINESS Countv Clerk — Appointments to Boards/Commissions Emeraencv Services Advisory Council Commissioner Cline, seconded by McKinley, moved to reappoint David Kline to the Emergency Services Advisory Council to a three-year term retroactively from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2017; appoint Ron Horn to a first, three year term through March 31, 2017; and appoint Oley Griffith to a first, three-year term through March 31, 2017. The motion passed unanimously. Housina Authority of Washington County Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to appoint Ronnie Brezler, Jr. to the Housing Authority of Washington County to serve a first, five-year term through July 31, 2019. The motion passed unanimously. Washinaton County Aaricultural Education Center Commissioner Cline, seconded by Barr, moved to appoint Sue Hull to the Washington County Agricultural Education Center to a first, full three-year term retroactively from May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2017; reappoint Dennis Reeder to a second, three-year term retroactively from May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2017; and appoint Adna Fulton to a first, three-year term through July 31, 2017. The motion passed unanimously. County Administrator County Administrator Greg Murray reminded all of the Ag Expo & Fair being held at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center through July 26. He advised that the Commissioners would not be holding a meeting on July 29. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Health and Human Services Stephanie Stone, Director, Health and Human Services, requested approval to advertise and fill a budgeted, full-time Grade 12 Electrical Inspector I position in the Division of Engineering and Construction Management. Commissioner Cline, seconded by McKinley, moved to approve the request as presented. Commissioner Cline withdrew his motion and Commissioner McKinley withdrew his second of the motion. Ms. Stone requested approval to advertise and fill a recently vacated, budgeted, full-time Grade 13 Risk Management Administrator position and to advertise and fill a new full- time, Grade 6 Office Associate position in the Health and Human Services Department. Ms. Stone described the rationale for the requests. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Cline, moved to approve the three personnel requests as presented. The motion passed unanimously. July 22, 2014 Page 4 Hajaerstown Regional Airport — Allegiant Air Service Report Phil Ridenour, Director, Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR), and Commissioner Barr reported on the status of Allegiant air service from Hagerstown and sessions they attended during Allegiant's annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Ridenour announced that Allegiant would be sponsoring a "15 Years of Sunshine" event at HGR on July 24 where attendees may enter to win two free roundtrip plane tickets. He reported on Allegiant's increased enplanement numbers at HGR this past year and discussions of additional destinations that could be offered in the future. He referred to the County's current five- year agreement that includes no concession fees to Allegiant the first two years, a $50,000 annual marketing incentive, and a $100 refueling per flight fee. The schedule for years 2015-17 includes the addition of a $1,670 annual passenger terminal fee, $60 per flight landing fee, $.03 surcharge per gallon of fuel, and a $150 customer service -assistance fee. Mr. Ridenour recommended that the County continue with its low cost fee structures for local service through years four and five. The same five-year concession structure would be applied to any additional service that Allegiant decides to offer out of HGR. Commissioner Barr discussed the importance of keeping a good relationship with Allegiant and attending marketing conferences. Discussion of the matter was suspended to hold a scheduled public hearing at 11:00 a.m. PUBLIC HEARING — PROPOSED REPEAL AND REENACTMENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ORDINANCE FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND President Baker convened a Public Hearing at 11:05 a.m. to obtain public comment on the proposed repeal and reenactment of the Economic Development Commission Ordinance (Ordinance) for Washington County, Maryland. County Administrator Greg Murray, Assistant County Administrator Sarah Sprecher and County Attorney John Martirano discussed amendments recommended to the Ordinance to more accurately reflect the operational practices and duties of the Economic Development Commission (EDC). Mr. Murray indicated that the EDC is moving toward a matrix approach of individuals that will bring certain skill sets to the Commission. Mr. Martirano advised that the current Ordinance is recommended to be repealed and reenacted to provide one document without amendments. The hearing was opened for public comment. No citizens were present who wished to comment. The Commissioners discussed the proposed changes including the matrix approach and the Board's ability to appoint non-voting ex -officio members at its sole discretion. Mr. Murray indicated that the proposed revisions were presented and discussed with the EDC Executive Board and full membership. The Public Hearing was closed at 11:22 a.m. July 22, 2014 Page 5 Commissioner Barr, seconded by McKinley, moved to repeal and reenact the Economic Development Commission Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD -2014-13 is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Hagerstown Rep-ional Airport — Allegiant Air Service (continued) Mr. Ridenour and Commissioner Barr recommended that the remainder of the five-year concession schedule (2014-2017) for Allegiant remain the same level as year three. The Commissioners discussed the figures involved in the proposal. Commissioner Callaham, seconded by Cline, moved to approve continuing the year three concession level to Allegiant Air for years 2014-2017 as recommended. Greg Murray commented that Allegiant should be encouraged to use funds provided for marketing toward their presence in Washington County. The motion passed unanimously. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner McKinley seconded by Cline, moved to convene in closed session at 11:37 a.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; and 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) (1) and (4) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed specific personnel matters concerning several County employees; and generally discussed the proposals of several businesses that propose to locate businesses in the County. During closed session, the Commissioners provided direction to staff regarding certain personnel issues/positions; and gave staff general direction concerning the possibility of several new businesses locating in the County. 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 Martirano, County Attorney; and Debra Murray, Finance Director. July 22, 2014 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cline, seconded by McKinley, moved to adjourn at 12:16 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Gregory B Administrator John M. Martirano, County o ey Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk