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HomeMy WebLinkAbout990427 April 27, 1999 Hagerstown, Maryland The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President Paul L. Swartz, and Commissioners Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Iseminger, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 20, 1999 Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to approve the minutes of April 20, 1999, as amended. Unanimously approved.  PROCLAMATION - VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK Commissioner Swartz presented a proclamation to Jill Ritter, Victim/Witness Coordinator; Cindy Collins, Domestic Violence  Assistant; and Charles Strong, Deputy States Attorney,  proclaiming the week of April 25 - May 1, 1999, as Victims  Rights Week and asking all citizens to honor those who bring  honor to victims of crime. He also congratulated the staff on their hard work and dedication. Ms. Ritter thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and listed activities planned for the week. PROCLAMATION - SOIL & WATER STEWARDSHIP WEEK Commissioner Iseminger presented a proclamation to John Shank II, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Soil Conservation District, and Elmer Weibley, Director of the Soil Conservation Service, proclaiming the week of April 25 - May 2, 1999, as Soil and Water Stewardship Week in Washington County in appreciation for the value of our soil and water resources and of those individuals and agencies who work to protect our natural resources. Mr. Shank thanked the Commissioners for their support and provided information on the Envirothon competition which will be held this week.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Schnebly reported on the Tri-County Council meeting. He suggested that a joint signing session be scheduled to sign the amendments to the Consolidated General Service Agreement with the City of Hagerstown. He informed the Commissioners that the team from Beaver Creek Country Club won the State golf championship and asked that they be recognized by the Commissioners. Commissioner Swartz reported on the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting. He stated that he attended a drug awareness seminar and visited some of the schools in the area. Commissioner Swartz also reported on the Commission on Aging meeting and the Salvation Army celebration banquet. He informed the Commissioners of topics which were discussed at a meeting of his personal advisory committee. Commissioner Iseminger reported on the meetings of the Black Rock Golf Course Board of Directors, the Agricultural Education Center Board of Directors, and the Social Services Board. Commissioner Wivell reported on the meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Washington County Club Association. He stated that he also attended the banquet to honor those participating in the Justice Douglas Through Walk on the C&O Canal. Commissioner Wivell asked that the Commissioners schedule time in the near future to review the information and bid analysis with the staff on the recommendation for the enterprise financial system software and the justification for the award. Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, agreed to schedule this item  on next weeks agenda. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners of letters he had received regarding the proposed FY 2000 budget and distributed them for their review. He reported on the meeting with Secretary Lewin of the Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED) and his staff regarding the pretreatment plant and the costs involved. He stated that staff is working with DBED to develop estimated costs for direct piping into the plant. Commissioner Snook noted that he was contacted by individuals who have relatives buried in the cemetery on the 40 West Landfill property who are in support of moving the bodies to a more appropriate location. He stated that there is a town meeting scheduled for May 5 in Maugansville which is being hosted by the Maugansville Historical Society. Commissioner Snook provided APRIL 27, 1999 PAGE TWO information from the Department of Transportation regarding improvements scheduled for the bridge at US Route 40 and Eastern Boulevard. The Commissioners decided not to request that the Department of the Environment hold a public information for the heat-set printing presses being installed at Phoenix Color Corporation. Mr. Shoop gave an update on the lighting project for the senior league field. He stated that the staff is working to obtain the plans and specifications from the national organization. The Commissioners asked that he assure that the operating expenses will be paid by the league. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO CONSOLIDATED GENERAL SERVICE AGREEMENT Richard Douglas, County Attorney, reviewed the amendments to the Consolidated General Service agreement. Mr. Shoop stated that he will schedule a joint signing of the documents with the City of Hagerstown. Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to approve Amendment #2 and Amendment #3 to the Consolidated General Service Agreement with the City of Hagerstown to allow the transfer of flow in the Sharpsburg Pike service area to the County, contingent upon securing funding to construct the needed infrastructure. Unanimously approved. (Copies of the approved amendments are attached.) RENEWAL OF LEASE - DOBSON CELLULAR SYSTEMS(CELLULAR ONE) Motion made by Wivell, seconded by Swartz, to renew the lease of space on the Sharpsburg water tower through 2004 with Dobson Cellular Systems (Cellular One) for cellular antennas to serve the southern portion of Washington County for a rental of $14,976 this coming year, increasing by 4% each year, compounded. Unanimously approved. AGREEMENT - CREATION OF HAGERSTOWN/WASHINGTON COUNTY SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly to approve the creation of a multi-agency law enforcement unit with  the the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the City of Hagerstown to be known as the Special Response Team which shall  be directed at the resolution of certain high risk and life- threatening situations. Unanimously approved. RE/APPOINTMENTS - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Schnebly, to reappoint Priscilla Harsh and appoint John Rinehart, Jr. to the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board for three-year terms and to appoint Jim Coffman for a three-year term beginning July 1, 1999. Unanimously approved. REVISED ANNUAL PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PRESENTATION Ronald Kidd, Director of the Recreation & Parks Department, and Yogi Martin, Chairperson of the Recreation & Parks Board, met with the Commissioners to present the revised Annual Program Open Space (POS) funding requests. Mr. Kidd outlined the selection procedures used by the Recreation and Parks Board to develop its recommendation to present to the Commissioners. He reviewed the revisions made to the development and acquisition projects being recommended for POS funding for Fiscal Year 2000. The development projects being recommended for POS funding are as follows: Town of Funkstown - $9,450 (gravel base road to community park); City of Hagerstown - $14,000 (Hager House Park entrance); Town of Hancock - $265,000 (construction of new gymnasium); Town of Sharpsburg - $10,000 (picnic pavilion); Town of Smithsburg - $23,775 (rebuild softball/baseball fields); Town of Williamsport - $30,000 (road widening and curbing at Byron  Park); and Washington County - $30,000 (Kemps Mill Park) for a total of $382,225. The acquisition projects recommended are for the City of Hagerstown Fairgrounds ($70,000) and Town of Boonsboro land purchase ($55,000). Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Schnebly, to approve the revised Program Open Space Annual Program for Development and Acquisition for Fiscal Year 2000, as revised, for submission to the State. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - 40 WEST LANDFILL ACCESS ROAD AND BRIDGE Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Swartz, to award the contract for the construction of the 40 West Landfill access road and bridge to the Joseph B. Fay Company which submitted the low responsive, responsible bid of $4,369,801.95. Unanimously approved. DISCUSSION ON REQUESTS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE COUNTY MAY CONTRIBUTE FUNDS APRIL 27, 1999 PAGE THREE The Commissioners considered the requests made by the Community Free Clinic, Western Maryland Blues Fest, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Alumni Association of Hagerstown Community College and the Hagerstown YMCA to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds. The public hearing was held on April 13, 1999. Mr. Douglas reviewed the Code of Public Local Laws pertaining to inclusion on the list. Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Schnebly, to approve requests made by the Community Free Clinic, Western Maryland Blues Fest, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Alumni Association of Hagerstown Community College and the Hagerstown YMCA to be placed on the list of nonprofit agencies to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds, maintained by the County Attorney pursuant to Section 1-108 of the Code of Public Local Laws. Motion carried with Commissioners Swartz, Schnebly  and Snook voting AYE and Commissioners Iseminger and Wivell  ABSTAINING.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There were no individuals who wished to comment. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to convene in closed session at 10:20 a.m. to discuss personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, and to discuss the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Swartz, to reconvene in open session at 12:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed one (1) personnel issue, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on three (3) matters, and discussed one (1) issue regarding the possible acquisition of real property for a public purpose. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, Paul L. Swartz, Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. Also present at times were Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Richard Douglas, County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works; Debra Bastian, Director of Finance; Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development; Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources; Tim Lung, Associate Planner; Terry McGee, Chief Engineer; and Dean Lowry, Real Property Administrator. RECESS - LUNCHEON & TOUR OF MACK TRUCKS The Commissioners recessed at 12:10 p.m. in order to attend a luncheon and tour of Mack Trucks. EVENING SESSION - PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET AND CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE The evening session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Community College 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, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. The public hearing is being held to consider the proposed Fiscal Year 2000 budget for Washington County and the property tax. Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, announced that this public hearing is being held to permit the residents of Washington  County to comment on the Commissioners intention to continue the current property tax rate of $2.31 per $100 of assessed valuation Section 6-308, Tax- for the Fiscal Year 2000 as required by Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, and to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2000 budget as advertised. Mr. Shoop announced, in accordance with provisions of the Tax Property Article, that the Board of County Commissioners will adopt the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2000 on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, in the  Commissioners meeting room in the County Administration Building.  Mr. Shoop presented Washington Countys vision statement and 1999 goals as well as the initiatives developed by the County Commissioners for their term of office. He stated that written comments will be accepted until May 4. Mr. Shoop indicated that the proposed budget is a balanced budget which APRIL 27, 1999 PAGE FOUR provides significant increases in funding for education, improves funding for public safety, and promotes economic expansion. At this time he reviewed the projected revenues for fiscal year 2000 for property tax, income tax, and other sources. Mr. Shoop reviewed the proposed General Fund budget which totals $113,620,148; the Capital Improvement Projects budget in the amount of $26,760,927; the Special Revenue Funds (Highway Funds - $6,172,100 and Solid Waste Fund - $3,566,400); the Transportation Fund - $1,354,751; Airport Fund - $930,820; Golf Course Fund - $1,216,680; Water & Sewer General Services - $2,964,663; Water Fund - $1,093,080; and Sewer Fund - $8,162,660; Pretreatment Fund - $850,000. He stated that the total proposed budget is $166,692,229. The hearing was then opened for public testimony. After all testimony was given, Commissioner Snook adjourned the hearing at 10:50 p.m. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk