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HomeMy WebLinkAbout910305 March 5, l99l Hagerstown, Maryland 2l740 The Commissioners presented service pins to those employees in the Treasurer's Office, the Computer Information Systems Office and the Sheriff's Department - Judicial Office, who have been employed by the County government for five years or more. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Douglas Oliver, Computer Information Systems, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. OPTION AGREEMENTS - SMITHSBURG/LEITERSBURG ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to accept the Option Agreement on the Smithsburg/Leitersburg Road, with Sidney and Margaret Ridenour for 4,492 sq. ft. in Fee Simple and l,568 sq. ft. in Revertible Easement for the purchase price of $2,300 and a letter stipulating the market value of the easement; and to accept an Option Agreement with Marlin and Eva Martin for 2,088 sq. ft. in Fee Simple for the purchase price of $l,000. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Economic Development Commission meeting; Commissioner Bowers reported on the Planning Commission meeting; Commissioner Snook reported on the Community Action Council Board of Directors meeting; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Noxious Weed Control Board meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 19, 1991 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of February l9, l99l, as corrected. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - PARKS PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for playground equipment at the Martin L. Snook Memorial Park and the Camp Harding Park to Taylor Associates who submitted the low bid of $ll,340. Unanimously approved. SEWAGE SLUDGE PERMIT - SANITARY COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to inform the State Department of the Environment that the County does not wish to request a public hearing regarding the Sludge Utilization Permit application filed by the Sanitary District in order to haul wet sewage sludge from Sharpsburg to the Williamsport plant for drying. Unanimously approved. MARCH 5, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. PROCLAMATION - MISS WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT WEEK The Commissioners presented a proclamation to David Guessford, Director of the Miss Washington County Scholarship Pageant, and Jennifer Winslow, Miss Washington County l990, naming March 3-9, l99l as Miss Washington County Scholarship Pageant Week in Washington County and urging all citizens to lend support in recognition of the educational training of our youth. ENVIRONMENTAL ROLL OF HONOR - ROHR INDUSTRIES & BRETHREN MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, announced that two companies, Rohr Industries and Brethren Mutual Insurance Company are being added to the County's Environmental Roll of Honor in recognition of their involvement with environmental concerns. He introduced Robert Garver, of Rohr Industries, who explained Rohr's recycling program and introduced other staff members present. Commissioner Snook presented the plaque to Paul Bowers, who accepted on behalf of Rohr Industries. The second plaque was presented to Calvin Mahaney, President of Brethren Mutual Insurance Company, and Bonnie Clark, Recycling Chairperson, by Commissioner Bowers. Mr. Mahaney provided highlights of their recycling program and the amount of paper, aluminum, and cardboard recycled. The Commissioners noted that these companies will also be added to the permanent plaque located in the County Administration Building. REQUEST FOR FUNDS - MORRIS FROCK AMERICAN LEGION POST 42 Barry Teach, Administrator, reviewed a letter from the Morris Frock American Legion Post 42 asking for financial assistance in order to purchase duplicates of the memorial tablets in front of the Court House listing the names of veterans killed in action. The letter indicated that the Morris Frock Post is experiencing problems in holding Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies in front of the Court House due to inclement weather, traffic, noise, etc., and would like to hold these ceremonies at their Post home and have the duplicate tablets located there. The Commissioners declined the request since they feel that the duplicate plates should not be housed in one post when there are several other American Legion posts in the County. They suggested the possibility of holding ceremonies at the Veteran's Memorial Garden at the Martin L. Snook Memorial park. REQUEST TO SUPPORT AFSCME'S PROPOSED COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION Commissioner Roulette read a letter from William Proctor, AFSCME Council 67 Representative, requesting that the Commissioners express their support of House Bill l044, with two proposed amendments, which was withdrawn last week by the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly. Barry Teach, Administrator, read a memorandum dated January 30, l99l, from the Commissioners to the Delegation stating that they did not oppose this proposed enabling legislation. Commissioner Roulette felt that this legislation would legitimize the bargaining unit presently recognized in the County, and the Commissioners should support the legislation. Commissioner Shank expressed the opinion that he does not see the need to send a letter in support because the legislation was proposed by AFSCME and the County has already expressed a neutral position regarding this. After discussion, Commissioner Roulette volunteered to draft a letter for the Commissioners' review. SANITARY COMMISSION - LIQUID WASTE TREATMENT AT CONOCOCHEAGUE TREATMENT PLANT Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, and Louise Fahrney, Chairman of the Sanitary Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to request that the Commissioners give their permission to add the capability to treat all liquid waste, except toxics, at the new Conococheague plant as mandated by State government. Mr. Palmer stated that this would be an increase in the price of $l52,000 but the expense could still be covered under their existing budget. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to proceed with construction of the facility to treat liquid waste as mandated by the State of Maryland and also to explore ways to measure the capability for handling liquid waste regionally for haulers. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Margaret Comstock stated that she is pleased to see two more companies added to the Environmental Roll of Honor and asked if the Commissioners are planning to appoint a citizens advisory committee to review recycling activities. Mr. Teach answered that he hopes to have information to the Commissioners next week regarding this proposal. Charles Cunningham questioned the Commissioners regarding the budget which the newspaper reported will be requested by Hagerstown Junior College this year and also asked various questions regarding County industrial parks. MARCH 5, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. PAYMENT OF INVOICE FOR TRIAL COSTS - ALLEGANY COUNTY Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to pay the invoice as outlined for Court costs for the Ralph William Mills case, which was removed to Allegany County for trial as requested by Mr. Mills, but to aggressively pursue a change in the legislation regarding such situations. Unanimously approved. OUTBUILDINGS - REGIONAL PARK Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to negotiate with the low bidder to try to revise the specifications for the renovation of the outbuildings at the Regional Park, and to return to the Commissioners for their further review. Unanimously approved. CORRECTION - LETTERS REGARDING CLOSING OF ANTIETAM DRIVE CONNECTOR ROAD Ralph France, County Attorney, corrected a misstatement he made at the February l9 public hearing regarding the closing of the connector road at Antietam Drive, when he indicated that all letters received were in opposition to the closing of the road when actually only 2 were in opposition to the connector road and the others were in opposition to the closing of the railroad crossing. LEGISLATION REGARDING COUNTY USE OF STATE FUNDING The Commissioners agreed to send correspondence to the County Delegation to the General Assembly opposing legislation that counties receiving State funds may not use them for increments in employee's salaries since State employees will not be receiving pay raises next fiscal year. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at ll:30 a.m. in regard to personnel and property matters and to confer with the County Attorney, 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 Bowers, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at l:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY PART-TIME SCHOOL COMMUNITY CENTER STAFF Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to employ the following persons for the Part-Time School Community Centers program: Kasey Davis, Director, Fountain Rock Elementary; Eric Michael, Director, Hancock High; Angie Sheerer, Director, Northern Middle; Tom Thomas, Director, Western Heights; Pete Yurish, Director, Smithsburg High; and Michel Taranto, Aide, Smithsburg High. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - HOUSING REHAB SPECIALIST Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to employ Landmark Builders as the second Housing Rehab Specialist, as needed, at the rate of $30 per hour for hours worked, as stated in the consultant agreement. Motion carried with Commissioners Roulette, Bowers, Shank and Snook voting "AYE" and Commissioner Irvin-Craig voting "NO". RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 2:00 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. at the Hagerstown City Hall. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Hagerstown City Hall council chambers with the following Commissioners present: Richard E. Roulette, President, Linda C. Irvin-Craig, John S. Shank and Gregory I. Snook. Also present were Mayor Steven Sager and Councilmembers Fred Kramer, Susan Saum-Wicklein, William Breichner, John Schnebly and Robert Smith. Tax Differential Barry Teach, Administrator, stated that pursuant to Article 8l, Section 32 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet at least annually with each municipality to discuss a tax differential or payment-in-lieu of taxes program. Mr. Teach explained the formula used for calculating the payment and stated that the City of Hagerstown is estimated to receive $598,250 for this fiscal year but this figure will be revised after the audit is performed. Mayor Sager identified other areas where he feels the philosophy fits for tax differential and would like to try to set up a schedule for phasing these in over MARCH 5, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. time. Commissioner Roulette stated that the Commissioners have not discussed this but that the County has participated in several large capital improvement projects which are located within the corporate limits of Hagerstown in excess of $l.2 million and the County cannot afford additional tax differential payments plus assist in joint capital projects. Wesel Boulevard Mayor Sager indicated that there is a shortfall in the Wesel Boulevard project and requested the County pay 50% toward the final local cost of the project, which is $l,600,000. Eastern Boulevard The Commissioners raised concerns regarding a possible bottleneck when the traffic reaches Frederick Street after the next phase of Eastern Boulevard is completed. Steven Feller, City Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the City is working on the final design of this phase of Eastern Boulevard though some right- of-ways still need to be acquired. The City officials indicated that they will borrow one-half of the total project cost of $2.4 million and request that the County provide one-half of the funds. Commissioner Roulette suggested that the County could possibly fund 25% each year for two years since this project will not be completed in one fiscal year. Mr. Feller agreed to provide a time-table for the project. Gateway Business Park Enterprise Zone Ralph France, County Attorney, informed the City that an agreement should be signed regarding the Gateway Business Park sometime next week. Transportation Study Update Mayor Sager asked what the transportation study entails. Barry Teach stated that County staff has been in touch with City staff regarding this and the study will look at major changes in road transportation that have occurred in the Urban Growth Area and develop recommendations. The County is in the process of writing the Request for Proposals for consultants. The Planning Department will be requesting one-half share from the City for this joint project. Recycling Barry Teach provided statistics on the amount of recyclables taken from the trailers at the County Market Site and the Memorial Boulevard site. The County Market site trailer brought in 38.93 tons of recyclable material and Memorial Boulevard, 5.l8 tons. The Commissioners and Councilmembers considered other possible locations that may be more visible. Mayor Sager requested the County institute a pilot, curbside project within the City limits. Mr. Teach answered that the County does not have the manpower or equipment available to do this project, but agreed to have Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, contact Doug Stull to identify additional locations in the City for a recycling trailer. Building Inspections Mayor Sager inquired about the the County's policy regarding building inspection services for municipalities. Mr. Teach explained the policy and said the County and City should have their staffs meet to discuss this matter. Mayor Sager said the City would like to explore this possibility. Alley Behind County Commuter Building Commissioner Irvin-Craig requested that the City put in speed bumps behind the County Commuter building or grant permission for the County to construct them. She stated that the Commuter is experiencing drainage problems at this site and the County would want to be sure this would not amplify the problem. Treatment of Leachate from County Landfill Mr. Teach asked if it would be possible for the City to treat the leachate from the new cell at the County landfill between the time the new cell opens and the new Conococheage Wastewater Treatment Plant is in operation. City officials expressed concerns with the composition of the leachate. Mr. Teach explained that the leachate would be from the new, lined cell and the composition should be at acceptable levels for the City plant. The Commissioners asked that Robert Davenport, Director of Solid Waste, meet with Rick Thomas, to discuss this possibility. MARCH 5, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. Parking for County Employees The Commissioners asked if the City would consider allowing County employees to park at no charge in their Market Lot. The Council agreed to consider this and stated that it may help the problem of employees parking in residential areas. Other items discussed were the Crampton development, legislative issues, the status of Dual Highway landscaping, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies being held at the Court House. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk