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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.25.1986February 25, 1986 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, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, John R. Salvatore and Martin L. 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. LIABILITY INSURANCE COMMITTEE PRESENTATION Jay Frantz, acting as spokesperson for the eight -member committee established to study the county's insurance plans, appeared before the Commissioners to recommend that all fully insured policies currently in place, be allowed to stand until their expiration, and that $1,000,000 be allocated in both the current and next fiscal years towards totally self-insured liability coverage. Mr. Frantz also said that, after reviewing the financial status of Washington County, the documented loss history of the insurance program and the self-insurance proposal, it is felt that self-insurance is a very viable means of County asset preservation. Al Davis, Employee Benefits Administrator, stated that the liability insurance proposal is similar in concept to the self-insurance programs the county has for workers' compensation and health insurance and that both of these programs are working extremely well. The Commissioners expressed their appreciation to the committee members with the hope that they could be called upon as more information on insurance matters is needed. COMMISSION ON AGING CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM Ralph Garver, Executive Director of the Washington County Commission on Aging/Area Agency on Aging, appeared before the Commissioners to inform them that Federal budget cuts will cause a deficit of $30,000 through September 1986 in the budget that funds the Congregate Meal Program. He said that 263 elderly clients depend on these services to help meet their nutritional, social and emotional needs. Mr. Garver said that the program would have to be cut to three days a week unless the county helped by funding the deficit. MOTION made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to allocate up to $20,000 through Fiscal Year 1986 for the Commission on Aging's Congregate Meal Program, with these funds to be appropriated from Operating Contingency, and to consider the funds required through September 1986 in the FY 1987 Budget request. Unanimously approved. CONFIRM AREA AGENCY ON AGING APPOINTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Snook to confirm the appointment of William E. Goodman as a member of the Board of Directors of the Area Agency on Aging. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS TO TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to reappoint Samuel Bayer, Michael Harsh and Paul Waggoner to serve as members of the Tourism Advisory Commission for terms to expire March 1, 1989. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Downey to distribute one-half of the $75,000 state grant for fire & rescue associations on an equal basis to county associations, with the remaining $37,500 placed in a grant fund to be disbursed on a per request basis within the guidelines to be established by the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Committee. Unanimously approved. POLICE SERVICES FOR SHARPSBURG AND KEEDYSVILLE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to offer the towns of Sharpsburg and Keedysville the services of a deputy assigned to the towns a minimum of 30 hours per week, in accordance with their proposal to forego a tax differential and provide an additional equal amount for these services. Unanimously approved. MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 4, 1986 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette approve of the Minutes of the County Commissioners Meeting of February 4, 1986, as submitted. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 25, 1986 MINUTES, CONT'D. PUBLIC HEARING - ENACTING THE 1984 BOCA BASIC NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE President Bowers convened the Meeting in Public Hearing at 11:00 a.m. to permit any resident of Washington County to testify concerning the proposed adoption of the 1984 BOCA Basic National Plumbing Code. Paul Sprecher, Chief Plumbing Inspector, explained that the 1984 Code had minor revisions which were required to give it local application and would replace the 1981 Code currently in effect. There being no one else present to speak for nor against said Plumbing Code enactment, the President announced that the Record would be kept open for ten (10) days for comments to be submitted in writing. He closed the Hearing at 11:15 a.m. and reconvened the Meeting in Regular Session. FUNDS FOR HANDICAPPED RAMP AT EXTENSION OFFICE Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Roulette to allocate up to $3500 for the construction of an access ramp for the handicapped at the Extension Office, with these funds to be appropriated from Operating Contingency. Unanimously approved. LOAN TO POTOMAC VALLEY FIRE COMPANY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Salvatore to concur with the recommendation of the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Committee, and lend the Potomac Valley Fire Company $75,000 towards the purchase of a new pumper. Unanimously approved. REPROGRAMMING OF 1982 CDBG FUNDS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to approve of an application to HUD for reprogramming of a minimum of $75,000 of the 1982 Community Development Block Grant Funds earmarked for the Maugansville/Orchard Hills sewer hook-ups, to the Martins Crossroads and Highfield Water Projects for hook-up assistance. Unanimously approved. DRAINAGE EASEMENT AGREEMENT - FOUNTAIN HEAD COUNTRY CLUB Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Salvatore to approve of the Agreement to provide the developer of Fountain Head Estates Subdivision with an easement to connect the drainage from the aforementioned subdivision to the drainage system traversing the Fountain Head Country Club, which is within an easement conveyed to Washington County. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - ENACTING THE 1984 BOCA BASIC BUILDING CODES The President convened the Meeting in Public Hearing at 11:30 a.m. to permit any resident of Washington County to testify concerning the proposed adoption of the 1984 BOCA Basic Building Code, the One and Two Family Dwelling Code, the National Electrical Code, the Maryland Building Code for the Handicapped, and the BOCA Basic National Fire Prevention Code of 1984. Robert Coble, Director of Permits and Inspections explained that the proposed Codes had minor revisions which were required to given them local application and would replace those Codes currently in effect. There being no one else present to speak for nor against said Building Code enactments, the President announced that the Record would be kept open for ten (10) days for comments to be submitted in writing. He closed the Hearing at 11:45 a.m. and reconvened the Meeting in Regular Session. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive Session at 11:45 a.m. in regard to personnel and property matters, pursuant to the authority contained in Article 76(A), Section 11(a)(6 & 7) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Salvatore to reconvene in Regular Session at 1:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY RECREATION PROGRAM PERSONNEL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to employ Desiree Rowe and Gary Hartzell as Aides at Boonsboro High School, Tom Kitchens as Director and Jeffrey Daniels as Aide at Clear Spring High School, as staff persons for the School/Community Recreation Program. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 1:15 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. in the Court House Conference Room. FEBRUARY 25, 1986 MINUTES, CONT'D. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened by President Bowers at 7:00 p.m. with Vice President Roulette and Commissioners Downey, Salvatore and Snook present. Also present were Steve Sager, Mayor of Hagerstown and Council Members Flossie Murdock, Robert Schleigh, Steve Spalding and Rod Wagner. NORTHERN AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY Glenn Dull, County Engineer, presented the findings and recommendations of the committee established to determine what specific measures should be taken to improve the safety and traffic flow on Northern Avenue and how those measures would affect or be affected by the proposed Eastern Boulevard terminus at Maryland Route 60. Also submitted were cost estimates for traffic signalization in the amount of $44,000, Fountain Head Road Improvements in the amount of $47,000 and illumination at an approximate monthly charge of $260.00. He said it was further recommended by the committee that the county's portion of the roadway be turned over to the city in order to establish uniformity in speed limits, signing, pavement markings, access control, and law enforcement. At the suggestion of Councilman Schleigh, it was agreed by both governing bodies that the study and recommendations would be transmitted to the committee that assisted with an amicable resolution of the tax differential issue, with the request that they make recommendations on the Northern Avenue Study. DUAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC PROBLEMS State Highway Administration Officials presented plans for changes at seven crossover points on the Dual Highway which have been the source of many traffic problems and accidents. They briefed the City and County officials on the proposals for the 1.2 mile strip located between Cleveland Avenue and Mt. Aetna Road by way of a slide presentation. George Small, SHA Assistant District Engineer, said that the improvements would be in the design phase by midsummer and out for contract in fiscal year 1987-88. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Salvatore to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney Clerk