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HomeMy WebLinkAbout911015 October 15, 1991 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 Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. SEPTEMBER 1991 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD Commissioner Shank presented Jeffrey Cree with a Certificate of Merit recognizing him as Youth of the Month for September l99l, as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Shank listed Jeffrey's accomplishments and commended him for being a superior role model by his exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and involvement in extracurricular activities. Jeff introduced his parents who were in attendance and thanked the Commissioners for the award. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEE - COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS Ronald Whitt, Director of Computer Information Services, introduced Paul Armstrong, who was recently employed as a Programmer in this department. FISCAL YEAR 1992 BUDGET REDUCTIONS James Young, Director of Finance, appeared before the Commissioners to review the State budget cuts announced last week and how they will affect County budgets. He informed the Commissioners that the cuts made by the State last week resulted in an additional reduction of $ll5 million in aid to counties which includes a reduction of $l.7 million to Washington County. Mr. Young reviewed the reductions recommended last week to the County's General Fund budget which total $922,099 and noted that CASA has been taken off the list as requested by the Commissioners. He proposed reductions to the County budget of $l,ll3,300 to the General Fund budget and $l84,700 in the Highway Fund budget. Barry Teach, Administrator, explained that the cuts include the recommendation to reduce work hours for Landfill employees from 48 hours to 42, Roads Department from 40 hours to 35, and all other agencies from 37.5 hours to 35 hours per week, as of December l. Mr. Teach also noted that the Union contract would have to be reopened and negotiated before these reductions could take place, but if this is not accomplished, the work force will have to be reduced by l0 employees. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to adopt the reductions to the General Fund and Highway Fund Budgets as proposed and recommended by the Director of Finance and County Administrator, and to reopen the AFSCME Contract for negotiations. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY HOSPITAL BOND ISSUE - CAPITAL PROJECTS Raymond Grahe, representing the Washington County Hospital Association, appeared before the Commissioners to request their support for the $7.2 million bond issue they are seeking in order to complete a construction/renovation project. Mr. Grahe explained that the money will be used to construct a building on the Hospital campus to house Magnetic Resonance Imaging, air handling and heating equipment, and also to replace their entire computer information system. James Young, Director of Finance, stated that the County will have no financial liability for this bond issue but would only be acting as a conduit. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to assist the Washington County Hospital Association in their efforts to issue bonds for Capital Improvement Projects by acting as the issuer for the Association's $7.2 million bond issue which will be used for the construction/renovation projects specified. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - FY 1992-94 HIGHWAY ELEMENT Commissioner Roulette convened the public hearing regarding the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Fiscal Year l992-94 Highway Element of the Transportation Improvement Program. Richard Kautz, of the Hagerstown Planning Department, was also present to represent the City of Hagerstown. It was noted for the record that all jurisdictions in the MPO were directly notified of the hearing and invited to participate. Robert Arch, Director of the Planning Department, reviewed the projects and answered questions from the Commissioners. Mr. Kautz inquired about geometric work required at the intersection of U.S. Route 40 and Eastern Boulevard. The Commissioners answered that they would bring this up at their meeting with the State Highway Administration on November l4. Commissioner Irvin-Craig also asked that accurate signage be placed on Interstate 8l for the Regional Airport terminal. There was no one present who wished to comment. OCTOBER 15, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the Metropolitan Planning Organization Fiscal Year l992-94 Highway Element of the Transportation Improvement Program, as presented. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Airport Commission meeting and their decision to visit the Airport on a weekly basis to work with the Interim Manager. She also reported that Floyd Pond, Executive Director of the Governor's Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, met with Community Solidarity last week. Commissioner Shank reported on the Boy's and Girl's Club open house and the United Way Mission's Committee meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 1, 1991 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the minutes of October l, l99l, as corrected. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to award the bid to the following low bidders: (Roads Department) Independence Truck - 9 tarps - $l0,620; Fallsway Spring & Equipment - 6 spreaders - $30,l25; John C. Lewis - brush chipper - $l4,306; Powlen Equipment - industrial tractor - $29,300; Massey Ford - l single axle cab/chassis - $35,999; (Parks Department) Antietam Equipment - Dump body - $4,352; Massey Ford - small chassis/cab - $l7,492. Unanimously approved. BOARD OF EDUCATION - REVISED FISCAL YEAR 1992 CAPITAL BUDGET The Commissioners requested that the Board of Education be scheduled at next week's meeting for further discussion of its revised Fiscal Year l992 Capital Budget before they approve it for submittal. STATUS REPORT - GRID NUMBERING SYSTEM Robert Arch, Director of the Planning Department, provided an update on the grid numbering system and explained how the grid system works and how the numbers are assigned. He explained the problems they have encountered in the County with random numbering, odd and even numbers on the same side of the street, house numbers increasing in different sequences, etc., and reviewed how the grid numbering system deals with these problems to make implementation consistent throughout the County. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Russ Wiebel informed the Commissioners that Greencastle, Pennsylvania, has an Occupational Privilege Tax of $l0 assessed to out-of-state employees for the privilege of working in the State. Mr. Wiebel felt the Commissioners should investigate this as a possible way of raising revenues. Angie Harsh, member of the Animal Control Authority Board, informed the Commissioners that 34 certificates have been issued to date for the spay/neuter program. Ms. Harsh also told the Commissioners that she made a promise to an elderly woman that she would take her dog when she died. After seeing the woman's obituary in the paper, she learned from the Department of Social Services that the dog had been taken to the S.P.C.A. When she tried to get the dog, the S.P.C.A. told her she would be charged the adoption fee of $54. Ms. Harsh asked the Commissioners to waive this fee, as provided for in the Animal Ordinance, due to the unusual circumstances of this case. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to waive the fee of $54 charged by the S.P.C.A. for adoption of a dog for Angie Harsh due to unusual circumstances, as provided for in the provisions of the Animal Ordinance. Unanimously approved. SUBDISTRICT 18-1 (WATER) - PROPOSED RATES & FEES Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, and Louise Fahrney, Chairperson of the Sanitary Commission, appeared before the Commissioners regarding proposed rates and fees for Subdistrict l8-l (Water) for the Hopewell Road Project. Mr. Palmer reviewed several scenarios for rates and fees and stated that they tried to be consistent with rates charged at the adjoining Martins Crossroad water project and the proposed Cedar Lawn project. He also noted that the City of Hagerstown's hook-up charge of $885 will apply to this subdistrict. The Commissioners agreed to charge a hook-up fee of $0 for 0-6 months, $700 after six months, and rates of $54.20 per quarter. OCTOBER 15, 1991 MINUTES CONTINUED Mr. Palmer also explained that due to changes in the scope of the study performed by PSC Engineering for the St. James project, the Sanitary Commission is requesting an advance of $8,900 to pay for the study. He noted that this will be repaid to the County when this project becomes a subdistrict. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to advance $8,900 as needed to the Sanitary District for the study performed by PSC Engineering for the St. James Sewer Project to be reimbursed to the County when it becomes a Subdistrict. Unanimously approved. APPALACHIAN TRAIL PROTECTION PLAN - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Mark Spencer, Regional Planner for the Department of Natural Resourcs, and Pam Underhill of the National Park Services, met with the Commissioners to review routes being considered by the State DNR and Park Service which would require the acquisition of private land for the Appalachian Trail. Mr. Spencer gave a brief history of the Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia, and has a 38 mile segment through Maryland. They are trying to acquire land or l000' easements to maintain the rural character of the Trail. Mr. Spencer explained the three routes under consideration at this time. Commissioner Roulette stated that he favors the route which affects the fewest number of people and also feels the rights of the citizens should be addressed. The Commissioners asked that the State re-examine the routes and consider alternates. Mr. Spencer noted that a public meeting will be held on November l2 and stated that the Commissioners are welcome to attend. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Spencer and Ms. Underhill for providing a status report on this subject. FIRE & RESCUE MATTERS Richard Mettetal, representing the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems, and Jean Burns, Chairperson of the Mid-Maryland Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, met with the Commissioners to ask for their support in their efforts to protest the severe budget cuts they have received. Mr. Mettetal stated that MIEMSS has a 63% reduction in funding for FT l993 which will result in the elimination of training programs for Emergency Medical Technicians and several certification programs including Cardiac Rescue Technicians, First Responders, etc. Commissioner Roulette indicated that the Commissioners will bring this to the attention of the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly at their meeting with them on November 7. RECESS - LUNCH The Meeting was recessed at l2:45 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:15 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 Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to convene in Executive Session at l:20 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 Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:55 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to employ Dale Poffenberger as Motor Equipment Operator III at the Landfill. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER/PROMOTE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY - REGIONAL AIRPORT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to transfer/promote Kelly Ausherman to the position of Administrative Secretary at the Regional Airport to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO STUDY BURNING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE The Commissioners discussed the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee to study the Independent Cement Corporation's (ICC) application to the State of Maryland to allow burning of hazardous waste. Commissioner Roulette endorsed the creation of a group to review the application and to appoint 3 County representatives, with some being selected from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and the remainder of the OCTOBER 15, 1991 MINUTES, CONT'D. committee being chosen from interested citizens. He also felt the County should provide secretarial support to the Committee. Commissioner Irvin-Craig agreed to appointing an ad hoc committee for this purpose but also felt the Commissioners should pursue legislation authorizing the formation of an Environmental Commission to study all environmental issues. The Commissioners discussed this and agreed to appoint a committee to review this application and others which may be submitted in the future by other firms to burn hazardous waste and the information available and to advise the County and ICC as to the appropriateness of this application. The Commissioners also agreed to provide secretarial support for the group. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to appoint James Mosher and James Black from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Dr. George Comstock, Robert Barnhart, Ray Johns and James Kittle, and to authorize 3 representatives for appointment by ICC, 5 appointments from Citizens Ensuring A Safe Environment (CEASE), 1 appointment by the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, and to ask the Washington County Delegation to appoint a representative to review the Hazardous Waste Burning permit application and information available, and to advise the County and ICC regarding the appropriateness for the community. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 4:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk