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HomeMy WebLinkAbout990318 March 18, 1999 Hagerstown, Maryland WORKSHOP SESSION A workshop session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President Paul L. Swartz, and Commissioners Bertrand L. Iseminger, John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. Water & Sewer Rate Discussion Greg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, and Clarence Scheer, Chairman of the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss options for increasing revenue for the water and sewer funds. Also present were Advisory Commission members Michael Armel, Bonnie Parks, Ed Renn, Glenn Fishack, and Gordon Crabb. The Commissioners reviewed the water and sewer fund revenue options and cash projections presented by the Advisory Commission for fiscal years 2000  through 2009. Mr. Murray presented three options for the Commissioners consideration. He stated that the staff is recommending Option 1 for the Sewer Fund which includes a general fund contribution of $2.27 million. Mr. Murray explained that this option would maintain a positive cash flow with a 25 percent operations and maintenance (O&M) reserve by 2009 and realize a three percent revenue increase. The general fund contribution would be lowered from the current $2.3 million in this option. Mr. Scheer informed the Commissioners that the Advisory Commission is recommending Option 3 which includes raising the general fund contribution to $2.995 million. This option would also maintain 25% operations and maintenance reserve. Mr. Scheer reviewed the rationale for the Advisory Commission recommendation as well as the goals adopted by the group. The Commissioners then reviewed each of the eleven options presented. Mr. Murray reviewed the rates which would be charged for each class of customer based on the three percent revenue increase recommended by staff. He stated that the average residential customer would pay an additional 90 cents per month using this option. Mr. Murray then reviewed the water fund revenue options. He stated that the option recommended by staff provides for a four percent revenue increase while the option recommended by the Advisory Board contains a two percent increase. Mr. Murray reviewed the current and proposed rates for the recommended option. Mr. Scheer distributed a handout outlining scenarios for rate options. The Commissioners discussed the recommendations and commended Mr. Murray and his staff for their management of the system. Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to accept the rate options for water and sewer as recommended by staff which includes a general fund contribution of $2.27 million, maintaining a 25% operations and maintenance reserve, a three percent revenue increase for the sewer fund, and a four percent revenue increase for the water fund in fiscal year 2000 for presentation at the public hearing. Unanimously approved. Personnel Recommendations Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, met with the Commissioners to continue discussions on proposed changes in wages, compensation and benefits for Fiscal Year 2000 and the savings or costs involved with each recommendation. The Commissioners discussed the issue of going to biweekly pay periods. After reviewing the modest amount of cost saving projected, the Commissioners agreed to maintain the weekly payroll system. Mr. Davis informed the Commissioners that a government class at Hagerstown Community  College has been collecting data on the Countys appointed boards and commissions and will be making a recommendation to them on various related issues. Mr. Davis presented recommendations on vacation and sick leave benefits. He recommended that the annual sick leave accumulations be adjusted from 18 days to 15 days which would result in a savings of approximately $213,890. He also recommended providing four weeks of annual paid vacation after 15 years of employment instead of 18 years. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to both recommendations. Commissioner Swartz suggested that Mr. Davis consider establishing a sick leave bank for employees to contribute time for those who have exhausted their leave time. Mr. Davis review proposed changes to the health insurance plan. He  recommended piggy backing on the Board of Educations long-term disability MARCH 18, 1999 PAGE TWO plan to provide additional benefits to County employees. Mr. Davis recommended several changes in the point-of-service medical plan including increasing employee co-pay in network to $10 and increasing the employee out-of-pocket maximum to $1,500 for an individual and $4,500 for a family. The Commissioners took this recommendation under consideration. Mr. Davis reviewed other changes to the insurance plan including a new HMO  lock-in program and increasing employee co-payments in the prescription drug plan. The Commissioners preliminarily agreed to these changes contingent on consideration of the total package which will be offered to employees. The Commissioners also agreed with the recommendation to eliminate the indemnity medical plan option and to offer benefit credits  recommended for withdrawing dependents from the Countys medical plan. Mr. Davis outlined the savings or costs for each recommendation. It was the consensus to approve increasing the employee contribution to seven percent  of the insured benefit costs. Wage & Classification Scales Mr. Davis reviewed his recommendations for the wage and classification scales. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Commissioners to approve the recommendation to increase the total scale by eight percent.  Mr. Davis explained that this action will help the Sheriffs Department and the County with recruitment of new employees. Mr. Davis again recommended providing an eight percent wage adjustment to County employees as the first option. He also provided two additional options regarding compensation for  the Commissioners consideration. Option II would provide a five percent increase using performance multiplier and current salary to midpoint adjustments as well as a lump-sum payment of $1,000 to all full-time employees prior to June 30 by using the current retirement surplus. Option III would move employees with seven years or more credited service who are still below midpoint as of July 1 to midpoint. The option also proposed adopting general guidelines that employees would move through the scale using salary to midpoint ratio multiplier, however, after seven years of full-time service, the employee would automatically go to midpoint if it has not been reached. Mr. Davis stated that each of the three options is estimated to cost $1.8 million. The Commissioners discussed each of the options presented and took them under consideration at this time. Kammerer House  Commissioner Snook reviewed the letter from Citicorp rejecting the Countys offer with regard to the Kammerer house. He stated that Citicorp will proceed with their plans for the property unless the Historical Society wishes to move the house by the proposed deadline. The Commissioners agreed to send letters of appreciation to Citicorp for considering the proposal and to the Historical Society for their involvement. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk