HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.20.1986May 20, 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 Downey, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag by the full Assemblage.
REIMBURSEMENT FROM AETNA INSURANCE
Alan Davis, Personnel Administrator, appeared before the Commissioners to present
them with a check for $106,000 from Aetna Insurance Company. Mr. Davis said that
the check was a reimbursement of premiums paid due to an excellent health and
safety record among county employees and a reduction in administrative work due to
the screening of claims in his office. The Commissioners commended Mr. Davis on
the success of the county's insurance programs.
APPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURE PRESERVATION DISTRICT - LUROSE ESTATES, INC.
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to APPROVE of the application
of LuRose Estates, Inc. for designation of 129.62 acres located in the community of
Paramount as an Agriculture Preservation District and to concur with the
recommendation of the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board in its approval,
that said application be amended to exclude a right of way, with a suggested 50'
width, that may be necessary to accommodate future needs. Motion carried with
Commissioners Downey, Snook and Bowers voting "AYE", Commissioner Salvatore voting
"NO" and Commissioner Roulette "ABSTAINING".
REAPPOINTMENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to reappoint Jack Byers to
serve as a member of the Washington County Planning Commission for a five year
term. Unanimously approved.
NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO APPEAL TAX COURT
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Snook to submit the name of Earl
Sayles along with those of Edward Harriman and Robert Nichols as nominees for
appointment to the Appeal Tax Court. Unanimously approved.
APPOINTMENTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Salvatore to appoint Vincent
Spong and Rev. Thomas R. Fralin, Jr., to serve as members of the Social Services
Board for three (3) year terms. Unanimously approved.
REVENUE SHARING TRANSFERS
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Downey to approve of the
following transfer of Revenue Sharing funds in the amount of $250,531.69 to cover
eligible expenditures: General Fund - $86,838.69, Highway Fund - $143,033.00,
Capital Projects Fund - $20,660.00. Unanimously approved.
MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF APRIL 22 & 29, 1986
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Salvatore to approve of the Minutes
of the County Commissioners' Meetings on April 22 as submitted and on April 29 as
corrected. Unanimously approved.
DECISION RE APPEAL OF TREATMENT PLANT LOCATION
Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Salvatore to concur with the
decision of the Washington County Sanitary Commission for location of the treatment
plant for the Keedysville/Sharpsburg Sanitary District, and to deny the appeal of
Citizens for Responsible Environmental Sewage Treatment (CREST) for alternate sites
to be considered. Unanimously approved.
AWARD BID - DOUBS WOODS TENNIS COURTS PROJECT
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Snook to award the bid for the
Doubs Woods Tennis Courts Project to Har -Tru Corporation who submitted the low bid
of $11,860 plus $173.00 for a Performance Bond. Unanimously approved.
STUDY ON HUNGER IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Betty Willson, League of Women Voters Member and President of the Community Action
Council, appeared before the Commissioners to present a report on the League's
study on Hunger in Washington County. The report indicated that the chronic needs
are not being addressed and recommended steps that the county government, the Board
of Education, and social service agencies should take to meet the needs of the
hungry. It was further recommended that the county hire a food coordinator and
MINUTES, CONT'D.
MAY 20, 1986
establish a commission on hunger so that the food programs currently in existence
could operate more efficiently under a single leadership. The Commissioners
suggested that Community Action Council review the League's study to determine if
that agency could implement some of the suggestions.
PUBLIC HEARING - TANDY CORPORATION BOND ISSUE
The Meeting was convened in Public Hearing at 11:00 a.m. to permit any resident of
Washington County to testify concerning the proposed issuance of Washington County
Economic Development Revenue Bonds in a maximum amount not to exceed $8,000,000 for
the benefit of Tandy Corporation. Leroy Burtner, Economic Development Commission
Director, explained the project. Miciam Leder, representing Semmes, Bowen &
Semmes, explained the legal aspects of the bond issue and introduced the
authorizing Resolution. There being no one else present to speak for nor against
said bond issue, the Public Hearing was closed at 11:15 a.m. and the Meeting
reconvened in Regular Session.
RESOLUTION RE TANDY CORPORATION BOND ISSUE
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook and unanimously adopted
with Commissioners Roulette, Snook, Downey, Salvatore and Bowers voting "AYE" to
adopt a Resolution authorizing and empowering County Commissioners of Washington
County to issue, sell and deliver, at any one time or from time to time, its
revenue bonds in one or more series and in a principal amount not to exceed
$8,000,000, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 266A through 266-I of Article 41
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1982 Replacement Volume) as amended in order to
loan the proceeds thereof to Tandy Corporation for the sole and exclusive purposes
described in this Resolution; approving, pursuant to notice and following a public
hearing, the issuance of the bonds requested in the Letter of Intent from Tandy
Corporation to County Commissioners of Washington County dated April 23, 1986 which
Letter was accepted by County Commissioners of Washington County by Resolution on
April 29, 1986; making certain legislative findings, among others, concerning the
public benefit and purpose of such revenue bonds; providing that such revenue bonds
and the interest thereon shall be limited obligations of County Commissioners of
Washington County, repayable solely from the revenues derived from loan repayments
(both principal and interest) made available for such purpose, and that neither
such revenue bonds nor the interest thereon shall ever constitute an indebtedness
or a charge against the general credit or taxing powers of Washington County within
the meaning of any constitutional or charter provision or statutory limitation and
that neither shall ever constitute or give rise to any pecuniary liability of
County Commissioners of Washington County; authorizing and empowering the president
of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, prior to the issuance,
sale and delivery of such revenue bonds, to prescribe the rate or rates of interest
such revenue bonds are to bear, the form, tenor, terms and conditions of and
security for such revenue bonds, and to prescribe, determine, provide for and
approve various other matters, details, documents and procedures in connection with
the authorization, issuance, security, sale and payment for such revenue bonds; and
generally providing for and determining various matters and details in connection
with the authorization, issuance, security, sale and payment of such renvenue
bonds. Copy of Resolution and Letter of Intent attached.
CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive
Session at 11:15 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 1:20 p.m. Unanimously approved.
CHANGE ORDERS - HALFWAY PARK SWIMMING POOL CONTRACT
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Snook to approve of the
following Change Orders to the Contract with Callas Construction Company for the
construction of a swimming pool at Halfway Park: No. 1 - Deduct $1,000 for
underground electrical conduit to be Schedule 40PVC in lieu of Galvanized. No. 2 -
Add $2,881.49 for installation of sod inside fenced area around swimming pool in
lieu of seeding. Unanimously approved.
EMPLOY COURT HOUSE CUSTODIAN
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to employ Larry Swartz in
the position of Court House Custodian to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously
approved.
MAY 20, 1986
MINUTES, CONT'D.
PROMOTE ACCOUNT CLERK
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Roulette to promote Sherrie
Pearl to the position of Account Clerk II effective July 1, 1986, to fill an
existing vacancy. Unanimously approved.
EMPLOY PART-TIME MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT - COUNTY COMMUTER
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Roulette to employ Dennis
Mulligan in the position of part-time maintenance assistance for the County
Commuter system to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved.
REDUCTION OF YEARS OF SERVICE FOR RETIREMENT FOR DEPUTIES
Motion made by Commissioner Salvatore, seconded by Snook to reduce the years of
service required for retirement eligibility for deputies from 35 to 30 years, with
the additional cost of $200 per year to be deducted from salaries, and to include
the deputies in the 4.5 percent cost -of -living raise proposed for all other county
employees. Unanimously approved.
BID GOLF COURSE PROJECT
Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Salvatore to advertise for bids
for construction of a county golf course, and include an alternate bid for
management of the golf course under a 25 year agreement. Unanimously approved.
RECESS
The Meeting was recessed at 1:25 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. in Court Room
#1.
EVENING SESSION - PUBLIC HEARING
The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. in Public Hearing in Court Room #1 by
President Bowers, with Vice President Roulette and Commissioners Downey, Salvatore
and Snook present.
CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE, REVENUE SHARING AND PROPOSED 1987 BUDGET
Barry Teach, County Administrator, announced that the Public Hearing was being held
to permit residents of Washington County to testify concerning the Commissioners
intent to exceed the constant yield property tax rate and maintain the current rate
of $2.05 per $100 of assessed valuation for FY 1987 and concerning the proposed use
of Revenue Sharing Funds in the total amount of $1,800,000. Mr. Teach proceeded
with giving a detailed slide presentation of the proposed General Fund Budget in
the amount of $51,175,400 and the Highway Fund Budget in the amount of $4,919,380.
He also highlighted proposed capital project expenditures and sources of funding.
Representatives from Hagerstown Junior College, Commission on Aging, Library,
Hospice, Sheriffs Department, Health Department, Fire & Rescue Association,
Brooklane, Washington County Teacher's Association, Board of Education and Roads
Department expressed appreciation for levels of funding provided in the budget.
Irvin Golden asked that consideration be given to persons on fixed incomes when
setting the tax rate. There being no one else present to speak for nor against the
proposed budget, the intent to exceed the constant yield tax rate and the use of
revenue sharing funds, Commissioner Bowers announced that the tax rate would be set
at 11:00 a.m. at the County Commissioners' Meeting on May 27, 1986. He closed the
Hearing at 8:00 p.m.
County Attorney
,Clerk