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HomeMy WebLinkAbout910723 July 23, 1991 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Commissioners presented service pins to those employees at the Sheriff's Department who have been employed with 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 and John S. Shank. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CHANGE ORDER - SIGN FOR AIRPORT TERMINAL Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Planning & Codes Administration, appeared before the Commissioners to request approval for a change order for a sign at the entrance of the new airport terminal. Mr. Rohrer distributed a sketch of the proposed sign, previously approved by the Airport Commission. He stated that the cost of the sign, including lighting and installation, will be $29,l44, of which 20% would be local funds. The Commissioners discussed the design of the sign and its location. They asked Mr. Rohrer to investigate the possibility of having a larger version of the present sign at the Airport installed. Commissioner Irvin-Craig agreed to discuss this matter with the Airport Commission at its next meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 9, 1991 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of July 9, l99l, as submitted. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - FIRE & RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to reappoint Mary Kalin as Delegate-at-Large representative to the Fire & Rescue Communications Advisory Board for a three year term. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - EMPLOYEES COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to appoint Bernie Bossler to the Employees Council to represent the Parks Department. Unanimously approved. CREDITABLE TIME FOR MILITARY SERVICE Nancy Reamy, Deputy at the Sheriff's Department, appeared before the Commissioners to request that they consider granting time for active military service as creditable time toward retirement. Deputy Reamy stated that she will be retiring as of July 3l and is requesting that the County be consistent with other government employers in the area who do credit time served in the military. Alan Davis, Director of Personnel and Insurance, informed the Commissioners that the State of Maryland and the City of Hagerstown, who participate in the State's retirement system, allow up to four years of military time to be added if an employee has been with their agency for l0 years or more. Mr. Davis also added that he contacted Aetna, the County's insurance carrier, who estimated it would cost the County $l2- l4,000 per year to include military time. The Commissioners instructed Mr. Davis to obtain more specific figures from the actuaries at Aetna. They also thanked Deputy Reamy for coming in and also recognized her as the first retiree from the Sheriff's Department. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee's trip to Tennessee to tour a materials recovery facility; Commissioner Bowers reported on the possibility of moving the Antietam Railroad Station onto property owned by the Legion for use as a tourist information center; and Commissioner Shank reported on the opening of the Farmers Market last week. BUDGET APPROPRIATION - SIGNALIZATION ON MASSEY BOULEVARD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to appropriate $l25,000 from the Capital Contingency Fund for the signalization of Massey Boulevard and Railway Lane, to include geometric improvements and stacking lanes. Unanimously approved. JULY 23, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. UPDATE - VARIOUS TOPICS Pen Mar Park - Barry Teach, Administrator, informed the Commissioners that it is possible to drive to the pavilions at Pen Mar Park if the guard on duty is notified to open the gates. Amendment to Solid Waste Management Plan Barry Teach informed the Commissioners that the County has received approval from the State to proceed with amendment of the Solid Waste Management Plan and Operating Permit to allow the City of Hagerstown to utilize the landfill at 4:00 a.m. Mr. Teach stated that they will proceed with necessary advertising of the amendment for public hearing. FAA Lease Extension - Airport Tower Ralph France, County Attorney, received a Supplemental Agreement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to extend the lease for the tower located at the Regional Airport effective October l, l99l through September 30, 200l. The Commissioners instructed Mr. France to review this with the Airport Commission. Talbot County - Litigation Mr. France informed the Commissioners that he has received information regarding litigation between Talbot County and its Election Board which could have State-wide implications. He explained that the Talbot County Election Board feels that the County government is obligated to fund any budget requests which they make. Talbot County has asked other counties if they are interested in becoming a party in the litigation as amicus curiae, or an interested party, which would in no way obligate the County financially. The Commissioners instructed Mr. France to pursue this matter. HALFWAY BOULEVARD - REQUEST TO STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to have the County Attorney send a letter to the State Highway Administration requesting conveyance of a portion of Halfway Boulevard to the County to allow construction of an additional exit at the Home Federal Savings & Loan location. Unanimously approved. ADVISORY BOARD OF HEALTH - BYLAWS Barry Teach, County Administrator, stated that he received a copy of the Advisory Board of Health's by-laws and a membership roster. Commissioner Bowers asked that he make sure the by-laws are observed and the professions mandated for membership are being met. The Commissioners also suggested that Mr. Teach request that the Health Department provide an update on how many years members have served, if they are staggered terms, and other information. REFUND CHECK - DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Barry Teach informed the Commissioners that a check was received from the Office of the Attorney General in the amount of $2,622 as a refund for gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil purchased by the County from August l973 through January l98l. Mr. Teach stated that the Purchasing Department and Accounting Department should be commended for the time put into compiling the records necessary to receive the refund. FY 1992 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM - METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION The Commissioners met sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider the Fiscal Year l992 Unified Planning Work Program. James Brittain, Planning Director, and Keith Godwin, Manager, Transportation Commission, reviewed the plan for the Hagerstown Urbanized Area and the funding sources by task. Richard Kautz, City Planner, was also recognized as a member of the MPO staff. There was no one present who wished to comment on the program. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the Fiscal Year l992 Hagerstown-Washington County Unified Planning Work Program as presented and to submit this program to the State. Unanimously approved. FY 1992 WORK PROGRAM - PLANNING COMMISSION James Brittain, Planning Director, and Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, presented the Fiscal Year l992 Work Program for the Planning Commission. Mr. Brittain noted that the Planning Commission adopted the program at its July l, l99l, meeting. Mr. Brittain reviewed the Highway Interchange study program and provided a time line and preliminary draft. Commissioner Roulette asked that the Commission and staff work on the intersections with high development pressure first. Steve Goodrich reviewed the Forest Conservation Act which was passed in the l99l Legislative session. He provided a brief overview and index of the sections of JULY 23, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. S.B. 224, which will require the County to adopt a Forest Conservation Plan to protect forests. Mr. Goodrich also explained that replacing trees for any area over one acre which are disturbed during development and planting of trees where there are none at the present time. He stated that the Plan will be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources for enforcement and approval. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Margaret Comstock, observer for the League of Women Voters, asked the Commissioners to speak into their microphones because she finds it hard to hear them in the back of the room. Commissioner Bowers mentioned that he received several calls regarding noise levels at the dragstrip. He stated that he feels this violates the verbal agreement made with the residents in the neighborhood. The Commissioners asked the County Attorney to investigate this matter. Commissioner Bowers also noted that he received a telephone call regarding the widening of Seavolt Road. SANITARY COMMISSION - UPDATE ON VARIOUS PROJECTS Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, and Louise Fahrney, Chairman of the Sanitary Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on several projects. Jefferson Boulevard, Rt. 64 Corridor and Smithsburg Urban Growth Area Mr. Palmer explained the process by which they chose the firm, BCM Engineers, to perform the study for the Jefferson Boulevard, Route 64 corridor and Smithsburg Growth Area. He also added that he would like Mr. Barton, who represents the Town of Smithsburg, and James Brittain, Planning Director, to serve on the Committee to review the study. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to advance $59,000 to the Sanitary Commission from the Fund Balance, with an interest rate of 80% of the prime rate, to be repaid at the time this becomes a rate-paying subdistrict, for the Jefferson Boulevard/Route 64 Corridor and Smithsburg Urban Growth Area project and to approve the selection of BCM Engineers to perform the study. Unanimously approved. Cedar Lawn - Public Water System Questionnaire Results Mr. Palmer presented updates of the questionnaire results to see if residents of Cedar Lawn wish to have public water service. The results indicated that 50% are in favor of public water, 40% are against, and l0% are undecided. Mr. Palmer stated that they are considering the option of performing the work in-house to help reduce costs. Mr. Palmer also stated that he feels the work could be done for $230,000 if his staff does the design work and construction. Robert Leatherman, a resident of Cedar Lawn, spoke in favor of public water system. The Commissioners advised the Sanitary Commission to proceed with the public hearing and public information meeting process through borrowing funds from other subdistricts, with a letter of guarantee provided by the Commissioners, to be repaid to the other projects when it becomes a rate paying subdistrict. Sandy Hook Community Public Utility Improvements - Nos. l9 and l9-l Mr. Palmer explained the problems associated with funding from the Department of the Environment for the Sandy Hook Public Utilities Project. He stated that the project received a setback when they learned that only 76% of the wastewater treatment plant would be eligible for grant participation. Mr. Palmer presented various options to allow the project to proceed, although many of the options would make the project unfeasible because of the high cost to the residents in the area. The Commissioners agreed to forgive the $220,000 which they have loaned to the Sanitary Commission until the Sandy Hook Project is completed. Mr. Palmer also stated that they will continue to seek Community Development Block Grant funding to assist the residents with hook-up fees. He also suggested that the Commissioners correspond with the Governor and the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly regarding the project for release of supplemental grant monies to Washington County health and environmental programs. Fort Ritchie Wastewater Treatment Plant Mr. Palmer announced that the Sanitary Commission has agreed to accept the wastewater treatment plant from Fort Ritchie, which will save the people of the Highfield/Cascade area in exess of over $600,000 over a l0 year period. He noted that this transfer does need approval from Congress but the Parameters of Agreement have been signed by the Commanding Officer at Fort Ritchie. JULY 23, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:43 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:l0 p.m. by the President, Richard E. Roulette, with the following Commissioners present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin-Craig and John S. Shank. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at l:l2 p.m. in regard to personnel, property 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 Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. FUNDING - FREDERICK COUNTY ANIMAL LABORATORY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to provide $9,000 from the Commissioners Contingency Fund as part of the local share for the Animal Laboratory in Frederick County for a one-time capital expense for their building project. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - IMPROVEMENTS TO MARSH PIKE/LONGMEADOW ROAD INTERSECTION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for improvements to the Marsh Pike/Longmeadow Road intersection to Henson & Sons, who submitted the low bid of $27,0l7. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 3:3l p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk