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HomeMy WebLinkAbout900306 March 6, 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. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEE Pete Lowenheim, Supervisor, Communications Maintenance, introduced Jeff Cooper, Electronic Technician, who was recently employed by the Fire & Rescue Communications Maintenance Department. SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD - PAULETTE SPRINKLE Commissioner Bowers presented a Salute to Excellence award from Governor Schaefer to Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, for her coordination of the Hurricane Hugo relief efforts in Washington County. SUBDIVISION ACCEPTANCE - TOMS ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to accept the $30,000 Letter of Credit from Harry L. Toms III for road improvements in relation to the subdivision of five lots on Toms Road. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 20, l990 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to approve the minutes of February 20, l990, as submitted. Unanimously approved. RIGHT-OF-WAY REQUEST - POTOMAC EDISON Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin, to approve the request for a Right-of-Way Easement at the Business Air Park for the installation of underground electric service. Unanimously approved. LETTER OF SUPPORT - WASHINGTON COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to draft a letter of support to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly in support of the concept to give special consideration to first-time homeowners, under certain income guidelines, during implementation of the Impact Fee Ordinance. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX CREDITS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SPECIFIED HISTORIC STRUCTURES Ralph H. France, II, County Attorney, reviewed a proposed ordinance to provide property tax credits for improvements to specified historic structures. The proposed ordinance provides a 5% tax credit for attached structures and l0% credit for restoration and preservation of property in the "HP" District or within the boundary of the Antietam Overlay zone and which are listed on the Maryland Historic Sites Survey. The Commissioners instructed Mr. France to proceed in advertising for public hearing. APPOINTMENT - LOCAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL Barry Teach, Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Board of Education is forming a Local Interagency Coordinating Council and is asking that one of the Commissioners serve on this Council. Commissioner Shank volunteered to serve on behalf of the Commissioners. RENOVATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS - DETENTION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to authorize additional work for the renovation of the administrative area at the Detention Center and the expenditure of $9,330 for consultant services for design of the renovations as proposed by the architect. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION APPLICATION The President convened the Public Hearing at l0:30 a.m., as advertised, to review an application for a l07 acre agricultural preservation district owned by David H. Ankeney, for sale of the easement to the State. Eric Seifarth, Agricultural Planner, presented the application and stated that the Agricultural Land Preservation Board approved this application at their last meeting. No one was MARCH 6, l990 MINUTES, CONT'D. present to speak in opposition and Mr. Ankeney was present in support of the proposed easement sale. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to approve the application for easement sale in the Agricultural Land Preservation Program, as submitted by David H. Ankeney. Unanimously approved. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT Kathleen Riley, Chief, Division of Citizens Services, appeared before the Commissioners to ask for their approval to submit an application to the State Department of Housing & Community Development, Community Development Administration, for Emergency Shelter Grant monies in the amount of $50,000. Ms. Riley explained that these are federal funds passed through the State and that four local non-profit agencies will utilize this grant. The four agencies are Community Action Council, CASA, the Salvation Army and Union Rescue Mission. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to approve the submission of an application to the State Department of Housing & Community Development for Emergency Shelter Grant funds in the amount of $50,000. Unanimously approved. BID OPENING - COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING The bids for the County Administration Building demolition and complete construction of all interior finishes, roofing, signage and mechanical electrical systems, were publicly opened and read aloud. Firms participating in the bidding and their proposals were as follows: Building Systems, Inc. - $856,000; Callas Contractors - $864,l30; and Antietam Construction - $894,000. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. (Decision rendered later in this session.) CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to convene in Executive Session at ll:05 a.m. in regard to personnel, property and potential litigation, in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at l2:00 noon. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to award the bid for demolition and complete construction of all interior finishes, roofing, and mechanical electrical systems at the County Administration Building to Building Systems, Inc., who submitted the low bid of $856,000. Unanimously approved. TURNING POINT - BUILDING FACILITY PROJECT Kay Stephey, Executive Director of Turning Point, appeared before the Commissioners to report on the funding sources in place for their proposed building renovation project. Ms. Steffey informed the Commissioners that she has a commitment from the Community Development Block Grant Program for a $35,000 loan and this reduces the shortfall for the project to $34,000. She then reviewed all funding sources for the project. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to commit a $34,000 grant to Turning Point's building renovation project, with funding to be taken from the Fund Balance in the General Fund. Unanimously approved. WITHDRAWL OF VARIANCE - LANDFILL The Commissioners decided to withdraw the variance request to Board of Zoning Appeals for reduction of the buffer zone from 400' to 200' at the site proposed for the new sanitary landfill, due to the concerns and comments made by the residents of the area at the public information meeting. The Commissioners also agreed to make arrangements with the Health Department to provide well testing to adjacent landowners and additional screening. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to withdraw the request to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance to reduce the buffer zone at the site of the proposed landfill. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at l2:35 p.m. in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. MARCH 6, l990 MINUTES, CONT'D. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to reconvene in Regular Session at l:55 p.m. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l:55 p.m. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Williamsport Town Hall 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. Also present were Mayor John Slayman and Town Councilmembers John Bloyer, James Black, Walter Tracy and Eugene Nichols. Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that pursuant to Article 8l of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax differential or payment-in-lieu of taxes program. Mr. Teach informed Town officials that they will receive an estimated payment of $9,235 but this figure is subject to audit of the County's actual expenditures for highways, parks and police service. Mr. Teach explained that Williamsport does not receive these funds but their payment is applied toward the service of a Sheriff's deputy for 30 hours per week. Town officials indicated that they are satisfied with this arrangement and wish to continue this service. Barry Teach gave Mayor Slayman a copy of the draft recycling plan and gave examples of ways the Town might become involved. Mayor Slayman thanked the Commissioners for their help with the renovations to the Town's swimming pool and informed them that it should be completed by May 30. Councilman Tracy discussed possible plans to establish a permanent facility for the Senior Division Little League and the need for an easement on the Springfield Middle School property to erect a fence for the ballfield. Mayor Slayman also asked the Commissioners if the County would like to take over the Pinesburg softball facilities. The Commissioners advised the Mayor that they would wait for the Parks Board recommendation before making a decision on this matter. The meeting was then opened for public comments. Ralph Young, local resident, voiced his concern regarding the proposed rubble landfill to be established and asked that the Commissioners work more closely with the community in the future before the public hearing stage. He suggested that the County consider more screening, restricting the materials to be accepted and limiting Saturday hours. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. County Attorney , Clerk