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HomeMy WebLinkAbout910813 August l3, l99l Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 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 Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. MARYLAND'S MOST BEAUTIFUL PARENTS AWARD Kristin Grosh, Children and Youth Coordinator, and Dr. John Neill, Health Officer, introduced Sandra Barrett, the winner of Maryland's Most Beautiful Parents Contest for Washington County, who was nominated by her daughter, Amanda. Dr. Neill explained that the winners from each county in the State will attend a ceremony in Annapolis to be honored by the Governor. Commissioner Roulette presented a plaque to Ms. Barrett for demonstrating excellent parenting skills to our community. INTRODUCTION - PROJECT MANAGER Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Planning & Codes Administration, introduced Steven Spalding, who was recently hired as Project Manager for County construction projects. BID AWARD - MINIMUM SECURITY WING ADDITION - DETENTION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to award the bid for the minimum security wing addition to the Detention Center to Callas Contractors, Inc., who submitted the low bid for Base Bid and l0 add alternates of $2,320,000. Unanimously approved. CHANGE ORDER - DETENTION CENTER DESIGN CONTRACT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to approve a Change Order in the amount of $5,000, requested by Bushey Associates, for additional printing services necessary for the Detention Center design project. Unanimously approved. CHANGE ORDER - COURT HOUSE RENOVATIONS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve a Change Order for the Court House Renovation Project for demolition of the second floor ceiling, labor, equipment and materials to remove plaster from the stairway, and removal and replacement of paneling, for a total of $4,939, and to approve a Change Order for insulation of domestic water lines for the entire second floor of the Court House Annex, in the amount of $l0,9l9. Unanimously approved. SANITARY COMMISSION - VARIOUS MATTERS Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, and Louise Fahrney, Chairperson of the Sanitary Commission, appeared before the Commissioners regarding distribution of funds for non-subdistrict related expenditures and also the St. James sewer project. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to distribute the funds for non-subdistrict related expenditures in quarterly increments of $5,000 and to require a quarterly report accounting for the funds plus an itemized account for expenditures of $l,000 or more. Unanimously approved. Regarding the St. James Sewer Project, Mr. Palmer outlined two possible alternatives to provide a sewer system to the residents of the St. James area. He explained that the State could provide the 400,000 gpd capacity necessary for the St. James area if the County wishes to participate in the upgrading of the plant at MCI, which would cost the residents a rate of approximately $2.00 per thousand. Another alternative would be to use a force main to pump to the Potomac Edison pumping station for treatment at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant which would cost approximately $l.60 per thousand. Mr. Palmer noted that although this option is less costly, it could open agricultural land for development possibilities and right-of-way acquisition could be difficult. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to commit an advance of $l8,000, at no interest, to be repaid when the subdistrict becomes revenue producing, to allow the Sanitary District to proceed with the planning phase of the Maryland Environmental Service study to upgrade the treatment plant at MCI. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 13, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. UPDATE - MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS PROJECT Theron Rinehart, Chairman, and Odell Rosen, Treasurer, of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Board of Directors, appeared before the Commissioners regarding the addition planned at the Museum. Mr. Rinehart informed the Commissioners that J. C. Burrey Architects have been chosen to design the new wing. PUBLIC HEARING - ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISTRICT - ROESSNER AVENUE Commissioner Roulette convened the public hearing at l0:l0 a.m. to hear public testimony regarding the request to establish an electric lighting district on both sides of Roessner Avenue from Virginia Avenue to Gay Street. Barry Teach, Administrator, stated that 37 of the 39 property owners on Roessner Avenue signed a petition requesting establishment of a lighting district. Mrs. W. H. Needy spoke in favor of establishing a district. There was no one in attendance to speak in opposition. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve establishment of an electric lighting district on both sides of Roessner Avenue from Virginia Avenue to Gay Street, as requested. Unanimously approved. RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION James Schlossnagle, District Conservationist with the Soil Conservation Service, and Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, met with the Commissioners to provide further information regarding the proposed Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development application. Mr. Schlossnagle explained that the County's role would be to appoint a representative to the Council, but funding and staffing is provided through the Soil Conservation Service. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to support the application for submittal to establish a Resource Conservation & Development area in Western Maryland, as presented. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY GOLF CORPORATION - PRESENTATION Robert Nichols, Chairman of the Washington County Golf Corporation, along with members Richard Kelly, Connie Richards, Ron Stansberry, Bert Yingling, Jim Young, Judge Irvine Rutledge and Richard McCleary, appeared before the Commissioners. Mr. Nichols reported that the Board has made $388,958 of capital improvements to the golf course and club house, which, minus the $270,000 loan from the County's General Fund, leaves a contribution of $ll8,958 by the Corporation. Mr. Nichols presented the Commissioners with a check in the amount of $54,000 as the first payment to the County on the loan they provided. APPRAISAL - ANTIETAM STATION - SHARPSBURG Dean Lowry, Administrative Engineer, met with the Commissioners to provide his appraisal of the Antietam Railroad Station. His appraisal for the structure was $20,000 and the land value, $34,848, for a total of $54,848. Mr. Lowry estimated that the cost of moving the structure to another location would be $50,000. The Commissioners asked Mr. Lowry to submit this appraisal to the Norfolk and Western Railroad for their review. PRESS RELEASE - DONATION PROGRAM - ABANDONED OR DERELICT VEHICLES Patricia Bocock, Program Coordinator with the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland, was in attendance to announce a new program to help rid the County of unwanted, abandoned or derelict vehicles and also benefit the National Kidney Foundation. Ms. Bocock explained that Staley's Auto Parts is participating in the program and will pick up any vehicles free of charge. The owner donating the car will receive an IRS tax write off for donation to a non-profit organization and Staley's will donate $40 to the Kidney Foundation in the name of the owner for each car received. The County will notify owners of abandoned and/or derelict vehicles and encourage them to donate the cars to the Kidney Foundation via Staley's Auto Parts. The Commissioners thanked Mrs. Staley for participating in the program and also thanked Barry Teach for facilitating Washington County's involvement. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There was no one in attendance who wished to participate. PUBLIC HEARING - CONVEYANCE TO HOUSING AUTHORITY - BOONSBORO ELDERLY HOUSING Commissioner Roulette convened the public hearing pursuant to Washington County Public Local Laws requried that such a hearing be held if the government is conveying land to a non-governmental entity. Ralph France, County Attorney, explained that the Board of Education conveyed this property to the County Commissioners in l988 and the Housing Authority is now requesting that the requesting that the Commissioners convey this property to them for the AUGUST 13, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. Boonsboro Elderly Housing Project. No one was present to testify regarding the proposed conveyance. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to convey 4.72 acres of land located on Campus Drive, adjacent to Alternate Route 40, in the Town of Boonsboro to the Washington County Housing Authority for construction of an elderly housing project, in accordance with Section l-30l, Code of Public Local Laws of Washington County. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to convey the bed of School Street, in the Town of Boonsboro, from Alternate Route 40 to the elderly housing project. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - AMENDMENT TO ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE The advertised public hearing was convened at ll:30 a.m. regarding the proposed amendment to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. Ralph France stated that the amendment is to add a new section 5.l.2 which provides that the Planning Commissin may exempt from the terms of this Article the subdivision of an original tract of land for transfer to a member of the immediate family or the owner(s) of the original tract of land for the purpose of constructing a single family dwelling. Any such subdivision shall contain a statement on the plat, signed by the owner that: a) certifies the intent of the owner to transfer the land only to a member of the immediate family; and b) expressly warrants that no conveyance of the lot will be made to anyone not a member of the immediate family for a period of ten (l0) years, except as may be required to satisfy a mortgagee in case of loan foreclosure. Commissioner Shank asked that it be included for one tract per family member. James Brittain, Acting Director of the Planning Department, stated that this would require a text amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance. The meeting was then opened for public comments. Gerald Ditto spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment. There was no one present to speak in favor of the amendment. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve the proposed amendment to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to add Section 5.l.2 which provides that the Planning Commission may excempt from the terms of the Article the subdivision of an original tract of land for transfer to a member of the immediate family of the owner(s) of the original tract of land for constructing a single family dwelling as presented. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Airport Commission meeting, the Historic District Commission meeting and the Task Force on Homelessness meeting; Commissioner Bowers discussed the Planning Commission meeting; Commissioner Snook commended the Employee's Council for their organization of the County picnic and also the Road's Department for the overlay program. LEASE APPROVAL - WIND TOWER AT REGIONAL AIRPORT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the lease agreement for the wind tower located at the Regional Airport, as reviewed by the County Attorney and the Airport Commission. Unanimously approved. SEASONAL EMPLOYEES - APPRECIATION LUNCHEON The Commissioners recognized the 70 seasonal employees for their work this summer and expressed their appreciation to them. Commissioner Roulette presented each employee with a Certificate from the Commissioners and invited them to a luncheon in recognition of their efforts. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to convene in Executive Session at 12:30 p.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 Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - PLANNING DIRECTOR Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to employ Robert Arch as Director of the Planning Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 13, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. EMPLOY - PROGRAMMER - COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to employ Paul Armstrong as Programmer in Commputer Information Systems effective September 3, l99l. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to employ Leonard Miller as Full-time Electrical Inspector and to authorize hiring John Cole and Warren Connor as Part-Time Electrical Inspectors to be used as needed. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - PLAN REVIEWER - ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to employ Graydon Hebb as Plan Reviewer in the Engineering Department. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to appoint Gregory Leggett to the Animal Control Authority for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 23, 1991 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of July 23, l99l, as submitted. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the recommendation made by Sheriff Mades, Chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee, to install stop signs at the intersection of Bluebird Avenue and Peacock Trail and the intersection of Dewey Avenue and Blue Mountain Drive in Maugansville. Unanimously approved. RETURN FUNDS - FOXLEIGH MEADOWS LTD. PARTNERSHIP Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, pursuant to the agreement of August 25, l988, to return funds held in the amount of $l5,000 to Foxleigh Meadows Ltd. Partnership for road improvements to Marsh Pike which were not commenced by July l5, l99l. Unanimously approved. AMEND PERSONNEL POLICY - PROBATIONARY TIME Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to have the County's Personnel Policy regarding Probationary Time amended to extend the period from 90 days to l80 days for all new hires, effective immediately. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 4:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk