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HomeMy WebLinkAbout921215 December 15, 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 Gary Rohrer, Chief of the Public Works Division, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. REPORT - SNOW REMOVAL J. Theodore Wolford, Road Department Superintendent, provided a report on snow removal in the County during last week's snow storm. Mr. Wolford estimated that over 24 inches of snow fell in the Hancock area and in various other sections of the County. He indicated that the storm cost approximately $37,000 for salt, stones, and labor. The Commissioners commended Mr. Wolford and his employees for their heroic efforts during the storm. ACTUARIAL REPORT - RETIREMENT PLAN Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, introduced Ed Wuenschell and Jon Kretzner of Beall, Garner, Screen & Gehr, who have been conducting a comprehensive review of the County's pension plan. Mr. Wuenschell explained that they were looking at plan design, plan funding, actuarial assumptions, and investment performance of the money in the pension plan. Mr. Kretzner reviewed the findings and stated that Washington County's plan is very generous and is in good shape. He stated that he does not feel the plan needs any changes at this time, but did recommend that the Commissioners develop an investment policy and review the funding adequacy each year with Aetna Insurance Company, who manages the County's retirement plan. Mr. Kretzner also expressed some concerns with Aetna's fees, which he feels are high for industry standards. Mr. Davis stated that this completes Phase I, and he outlined the items which would be included in Phase II if the Commissioners decide to continue with the review. The Commissioners took this under advisement at this time. APPROVAL OF PLAT - MT. AETNA ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the plat for the Palmer property, located on Mt. Aetna Road, which was recently purchased by Washington County. Unanimously approved. PRICE'S MILL BRIDGE Patricia Schooley of the Historical Society and Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, presented a plan to the Commissioners to preserve the historic Price's Mill Bridge and possibly develop a pocket park at this location. Ms. Schooley stated that Price's Bridge is a 5-arch stone bridge which is 170 years old and has been closed for vehicular traffic for some time due to its poor condition. She stated that the Historical Advisory Committee is investigating DECEMBER 15, 1992 MINUTES, CONT'D. several possibilities for funding including the Greenways Program, a matching grant from the Maryland Historical Trust, with possible help of the Maryland Conservation Corps or Corp of Engineers. Ms. Sprinkle asked for the Commissioners' support for the project and the support of County staff through their time. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Bowers, to support the proposal made for restoration of the historic Price's Mill Bridge and establishment of a pocket park, with the County contributing in-kind services through staff participation, and authorized the submission of an application to the Maryland Historical Trust for grant funds. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin-Craig reported on the Task Force on Homelessness activities; Commissioner Bowers expressed concerns regarding use of the airport terminal; and Commissioner Shank reported on the Mental Health Authority meeting. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Mrs. Wyatt expressed concerns about illegal dumping of construction material on the farm next to hers off Route 63. PUBLIC HEARING - PARKING (FINES AND IMPOUNDMENT) The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 11:15 a.m. in order to hear testimony regarding adoption of a Resolution regarding Parking, Fines, and Impoundment. After Ralph France, County Attorney, briefly reviewed the proposed Resolution, Commissioner Roulette opened the meeting for public comment. Sheriff Mades spoke in favor of the Resolution. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to adopt the Resolution as presented for Parking, Fines and Impoundment as provided for Article 25, Section 2 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. (A copy of the Resolution is attached to these minutes.) MISS WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT - CONTRIBUTION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to provide up to $1,000 to the Miss Washington County Scholarship Pageant Foundation for rental of the Kepler Theatre, with funds to be taken from the Commissioners' Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 1, 1992 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of December 1, 1992, as submitted, with one addition. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - MOTOR AND INDUSTRIAL OILS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for Motor and Industrial Oils to Ewing Oil Company, who submitted the low, responsive bid of $32,094.46. Unanimously approved. LIST OF STATE MANDATES - MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES Barry Teach, Administrator, presented a draft list to the Commissioners of State mandates prohibitive to the County for their review and approval as requested by the Maryland Association of Counties. The Commissioners authorized Mr. Teach to submit the list to MACo after their review. TRIAL BUS SERVICE - LAKESIDE MOBILE HOME PARK The Commissioners discussed the proposal to provide bus service to Lakeside Mobile Home Park and agreed to a two-month trial period. MARYLAND VETERANS' COMMISSION - OFFICE SPACE Mr. Teach informed the Commissioners that the Maryland Veterans' Commission has accepted the County's offer for office space with several conditions. The Commissioners agreed to all conditions except to providing 2 parking spaces since there are no additional spaces in the parking lot. EXTENSION OF CONTRACT - HAGERSTOWN AVIATION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to extend the contract for jet fuel with Hagerstown Aviation for a 90-day period, pending review by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF 1993 LEGISLATION LIST Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to approve the list of proposed legislation for 1993 as follows: LR 729-Board of Examiners & Supervisors-Electricians; LR-727-Creation of a State Debt-Children's Village of Washington County; LR 1022-Septic Tank Installers - Licensure; LR 730-Alarm DECEMBER 15, 1992 MINUTES, CONT'D. System Regulation; LR 931-Public Improvements - County Participation; LR 930-Sole Source Procurement; LR 718-Kennel License - Zoning; LR 31-Dog Licenses; and LR 733-Suburban Sanitary District. Unanimously approved. RECESS - FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON The Commissioners recessed at 11:53 a.m. in order to attend the annual Farm Bureau Legislative Luncheon. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 2:05 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. CERTIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, submitted the revised application for Certification for the Agricultural Preservation Program which would allow the County to receive additional Agricultural Transfer Tax monies. He indicated that the Maryland Office of Planning has given verbal approval for this application. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin-Craig, seconded by Shank, to approve the amended application for Certification of the Agricultural Preservation Program for submittal to the State of Maryland. Unanimously approved. PLANNING ACT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to adopt the schedule submitted by the Planning Director to implement the Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act of 1992, and to approve this for submission to the Governor's office as required. Unanimously approved. WAIVER OF INTEREST PENALTY Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Snook, to waive the interest penalty for real estate taxes owed by Clifton Smith in the amount of $57, due to a late deed recordation and subsequent misdirection of the tax bill. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISTRICT AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to renew the agreement with the Potomac Edison Company for electric lighting districts for Chewsville, Downsville, and Ringgold, for a ten year period. Unanimously approved. BROOK LANE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER David Rutherford, Executive Director of Brook Lane Psychiatric Center, and Lynn Rushing, Chief Financial Officer, appeared before the Commissioners to express their appreciation to them for their cooperation in helping Brook Lane to obtain revenue bonds in the amount of $3,865,000. Mr. Rutherford stated that the bond monies were used to expand services offered to children and adolescents and presented a list of how the funds were used. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 2:46 p.m. with regard to personnel and property matters, and to confer with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, 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 4:44 p.m. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin-Craig, to adjourn at 4:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk