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HomeMy WebLinkAbout910402 April 2, l99l Hagerstown, Maryland 2l740 The Commissioners presented service pin awards to those employees at the Parks Department who have been employed by the County 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 David Barnhart, Economic Development Commission, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. FAIR HOUSING AWARENESS MONTH - PROCLAMATION Commissioner Bowers read and presented a proclamation to Cornelia Freeman, on behalf of the County Commissioners, proclaiming April l99l as Fair Housing Awareness Month in Washington County and commending all citizens to observe and encourage fair housing practices. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH - PROCLAMATION Commissioner Snook presented a proclamation to Paula Lampton naming the month of April l99l as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Washington County. Commissioner Bowers commended the Exchange Clubs in Washington County for sponsoring the Parent/ Child Center in Washington County which deals with abused children. INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS - BROOK LANE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER The Commissioners signed bond documents previously approved for Brook Lane Psychiatric Center, where the County will be acting as a conduit for the bond issue. ZONING REGULATIONS - KENNELS Lori Jones, President of the Dog Owners Guild, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss current regulations in the Zoning Ordinance dealing with kennels. Ms. Jones stated that she feels the definition of the word "kennel" needs to be revised as it reads that anyone who owns more than three adult dogs is required to obtain a kennel license and is also subject to setbacks of 400' from their property line. She argued that this is unfair to dog owners and feels the ordinance should be amended. Commissioner Roulette stated that individuals can apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Special Exception from the setback requirements, but at the public hearing, the applicant must also prove that this will have no adverse impact on the adjacent property owners. The Commissioners took this matter under advisement at this time. PRESENTATION OF CHECK - SHERIFF MADES Sheriff Charles Mades presented the Commissioners with a check in the amount of $l43,63l from the State of Maryland which represents an increase in their payment for State prisoners. FY l992 REVENUE BUDGET James Young, Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners to review the l992 revenue budget. Mr. Young stated that the total revised revenue budget for FY l99l is $70,267,059 and the estimated actual budget is $70,ll0,234 leaving a shortfall of approximately $l50,000. He projected revenues of $74,3l5,000 for the Fiscal Year l99l-l992 budget, which shows an increase due in most part to real and personal property taxes. Mr. Young informed the Commissioners that $2l,659,337 will have to be cut from the FY l99l-92 budget requests to balance the budget at the current tax rate and with projected revenues. Commissioner Bowers raised concerns that the budget for this year be cut now so monies do not have to be taken from audited surplus funds. Mr. Young also reviewed the major areas of change and stated that he and Mr. Teach have met with the Roads Department Superintendent and identified $300,000 which can be cut in this year's budget to balance the Highway Fund. Mr. Teach stated that the budget will be balanced between now and June 30. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, introduced the 9th grade Civics class from the Paradise Mennonite School who were in attendance to observe the County Commissioners meeting. The Commissioners then opened the meeting for questions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 11, 12, AND 19, 1991 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of March ll, l2 and l9, l99l, as submitted. Unanimously approved. APRIL 2, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. WALNUT POINT ROAD Barry Teach, Administrator, informed the Commissioners that he has received notification that the north/south portion of Walnut Point Road will maintain the same name and the western branch will be named Walnut Point Road West. The Fire & Rescue Communications Department and the volunteer fire and rescue service providers have reviewed this situation and have no objections to the road names in this case. EXHIBIT - MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES SUMMER CONFERENCE The Commissioners agreed to request exhibit space at the Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference and to highlight the Washington County Regional Airport in the display. CONVEYANCE OF BURNSIDE BRIDGE ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to convey the abandoned road bed of Burnside Bridge Road, which runs from Harpers Ferry Road to the pond, to the Town of Sharpsburg as per their request. Unanimously approved. BOARD OF EDUCATION - APPEAL TO BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Commissioner Roulette expressed his appreciation to Commissioner Bowers for his participation in the appeal to the Board of Public Works made by the Board of Education for the North Hagerstown High School Renovation/Construction Project. Commissioner Roulette announced that the Board of Public Works as agreed to appropriate funds to allow the start of this project with a commitment of $7.9 million in long-term State funding. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Planning & Codes Administration, and John "Bud" Gudmundson, Planner, appeared before the Commissioners to present information on the Geographic Information System (GIS). Mr. Rohrer explained that the GIS is the combination of computers, maps, and the capability to analyze these maps. He recommended that the Commissioners have a needs assessment study done to evaluate this system, but that a standalone unit be purchased to be used until the study is complete. He also noted that the County could be eligible for matching funds from the Tri-County Council in a dollar-for-dollar match up to $50,000. The Commissioners took this matter under advisement at this time. HIRT TEAM - TRANSFER OF FUNDS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the transfer of $2,500 to Capital Outlay (0l-5-l2l8-682-000) from the following accounts: $l,500 from Uniforms (0l-5-l2l8-5l2-000), $500 from Training (0l-5-l2l8-527-000), and $500 from Machinery & Equipment (0l-5-l2l8-542-000), in order to purchase leak kits and equipment, as requested by the HIRT Team. Unanimously approved. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to transfer $43,000 from Contracted Services - Curbside to Contract Rentals - Drop Off (20-5-l468-523- 080) in the amount of $20,000 and Contract Services - Drop Off (20-5-l468-524-060) in the amount of $23,000, to cover hauling and rental of recycling containers as requested by the Landfill Department. Unanimously approved. NARCOTICS TASK FORCE ADVANCE - PURCHASE OF VAN Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to advance the additional $l2,229 needed by the Narcotics Task Force for purchase of a van, which will be repaid upon receipt of monies from the Drug Enforcement Administration Profit Sharing Funds, which have been guaranteed. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:33 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:05 p.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. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at l:l0 p.m. in regard to personnel, property and legal matters, in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. APRIL 1, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at l:58 p.m. Unanimously approved. BUDGET PRESENTATIONS Capital Budget - James Brittain, Director of the Planning Department, and James Young, Director of Planning, presented the Capital Budget for Fiscal Year l992-l996 which recommends funding $l3,800,000 of the requested projects. Transportation - Keith Godwin, Manager of the Transportation Commission, and Kathleen Riley, Chief, Division of Citizens Services, presented the Transportation Commission's budget request in the amount of $l,389,334. Fire & Rescue Communications - Ronald Karn, Chief, Fire & Rescue Communications, presented the Fire & Rescue Communications budget in the amount of $387,554, Civil Defense - $4l,560, and the 9ll budget request - $l87,8l9. Pete Loewenheim, Supervisor of Communications Maintenance presented his budget request in the amount of $l3l,l82. Airport - Leigh Sprowls, Airport Manager, and Rollan Myers, President of the Airport Commission, presented the budget request for the Regional Airport in the amount of $448,656. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 4:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk