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HomeMy WebLinkAbout921117 November 17, 1992 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 Shank, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. DECEMBER MEETING SCHEDULE The Commissioners discussed the December meeting schedule and agreed to meet on Tuesday, December 22, but not to hold a meeting on December 29. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the legislative meeting sponsored by the Commission for Women and informed the Commissioners that Crimesolvers is looking for new members; Commissioner Bowers reported on efforts to have the State Highway Administration improve a curve on Route 68 near Boonsboro and on the State Task Force on School Construction meeting; Commissioner Snook reported on the meeting with the Department of Transportation, the United Way meeting, and the County's supervisory training course; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting and the Transportation Advisory Committee tour of State Highway facilities. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM - COUNTY CONTRIBUTION Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, met with the Commissioners to review a new program being proposed to assist low and moderate income families to purchase homes. Mr. Willson stated that the program would involve use of an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant and County contribution through tax abatement and abatement of permit fees, and he provided examples of how the program would work. The Commissioners discussed the matter and asked Mr. Willson to get feedback from local lending institutions and also a list of criteria with regard to developer participation, before they endorse the concept. SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM UPDATE Angie Harsh, Chairperson of the Animal Control Authority Board, presented an update on the spay/neuter program for the period July 1, 1992 through October 31, 1992. She reported that 172 animals have been sterilized and that the S.P.C.A. has seen a reduction of 251 animals for the period January - September 1992 over the previous 3 year period. FIRE & RESCUE STUDY COMMITTEE - RECOMMENDATIONS Ronnie Jeter, President of the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, along with Fred Teeter, Kathleen Riley and Betsy Wilson, members of the Committee, appeared before the Commissioners to present a recommendation on how to implement Option B of the plan they presented in September for reorganization of the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association. Mr. Jeter suggested that the bylaws be changed to include the reorganization of the Executive Committee. He stated that the new structure addresses the Commissioners' concerns about public input by recommending appointment of 3 representatives from the public sector. The Commissioners discussed the recommendation and decided that there was not enough at-large representation on the Executive Committee. After deliberation, it was agreed that the Executive Committee be comprised of 1 active firefighter, 1 active EMS representative, 2 citizen at-large representatives, 1 representative each from the Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Hagerstown alumni, the President of the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, the lst or 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President of the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, Inc. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to participate at the scheduled time of 11:15 a.m. FISCAL YEAR 1991-92 AUDIT REPORT Jim Young, Director of Finance, and Michael Manspeaker, Partner at Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, presented the Fiscal Year 1991-92 audit report for Washington County. Mr. Manspeaker reviewed the Financial Report and reported that the County ended the year with an excess of $92,000 in the general fund after operating and budget transfers. He stated that managing the budget was a significant accomplishment considering the shortfall of revenues from the budget, the unanticipated transfer of $500,000 to the Board of Education to help fund their deficit in the self-insurance fund, and the refund of $488,000 to the State for savings and loan franchise taxes. Mr. Manspeaker also complimented the NOVEMBER 17, 1992 MINUTES, CONT'D. Commissioners on their prompt reactions to the budget problems which kept the County in a sound financial position and kept the operating budget in the black. He then reviewed the Highway Fund, Capital Projects Fund and the Enterprise Fund. Mr. Young announced that he received a telephone call from the State this morning on the first distribution of income tax. He was informed that Washington County will receive $5,532,000, which is $150,000 more than budgeted for this period. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth was granted time to speak although he was not present at the scheduled time for Citizen Participation. Mr. Allensworth distributed numerous press releases he initiated regarding the Victor Cullen Center, the Food Lion project, lawsuits against citizen's groups, and an editorial in the Washington Post. He also submitted written testimony on Rezoning Case RZ-92-14. LIGHTING AT LONG MEADOW ROAD AND MAUGANS AVENUE EXTENDED Terry McGee, County Engineer, and Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Public Works, met with the Commissioners to present various options to resolve the problem of inadequate lighting at the intersection of Long Meadow Road and Maugans Avenue Extended, and the costs involved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the expenditure of $9,100 for installation of one metal lighting pole and cat-eyes at the eastern portion of the intersection of Long Meadow Road and Maugans Avenue Extended. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - CAPITAL PROJECTS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to approve the request for transfer of $20,000 from the excess funds provided for improvements to the County Administration Building parking lot to allow the purchase and installation of new computer hardware and software at the Roads Department. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 27 AND NOVEMBER 3, 1992 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the minutes of October 27, 1992, and November 3, 1992, as submitted. Unanimously approved. REJECT BIDS - MOTOR & INDUSTRIAL OILS Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to reject all bids for motor and industrial oils and to rewrite the specifications and rebid. Unanimously approved. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:40 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:12 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. 1 REAPPOINTMENT - RECREATION & PARKS BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to reappoint James Brown and Joseph Hannah to 3 year terms, Alan Sheaffer to a 2 year term, and Ransom Doyle to a l year term on the Recreation & Parks Board. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - SANITARY COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reappoint Paul Waggoner to the Sanitary Commission for a 6 year term. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 1:18 p.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, and to consider businesses relocating within Washington County, 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 Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:57 p.m. Unanimously approved. NOVEMBER 17, 1992 MINUTES, CONT'D. RENTAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM - GRANT AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to enter into an Agreement with the State Department of Housing & Community Development for grant funds in the amount of $57,630 for the Fiscal Year 1993 Rental Allowance Program. Unanimously approved. AGREEMENT - MARYLAND AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to enter into an Agreement with the Maryland Aviation Administration for State participation in the amount of $33,572 toward the construction of T-hangar taxiways and related projects. Unanimously approved. REVISION TO CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS Ralph France, County Attorney, presented a proposed amendment to the Code of Local Public Laws for the exemption of personal property from taxation for property located in the Enterprise Zone for a 5 year period based on the number of additional employees a business would employ. The Commissioners made several suggestions and requested that Mr. France send this to the Department of Legislative Reference to be drafted for legislation. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 3:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk