Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout890131January 31, 1989 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 Linda C. Irvin, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Richard E. Roulette and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. PROCLAMATION - EYE HEALTH CARE MONTH Commissioner Bowers presented Dr. Peter Danziger with a proclamation naming January 1989 as Eye Health Care Month in Washington County. Dr. Danziger accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons and stated that it is of great importance that people be made aware that help is there and can be rendered and that blindness is not a necessary evil. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin reported on the Airport Commission meeting and the Western Maryland Counties meeting and Commissioner Downey reported on the waste management seminar held at Hagerstown Junior College. ADVANCE FUNDING - SANITARY COMMISSION Paul Waggoner and Vicky Mallott, representing the Sanitary Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to request a funding advance to allow them to extend the casing pipe 10 additional feet across the Stewart Warehousing property needed for the Wastewater treatment plant to be constructed in the 70/81 Industrial Park. Ms. Mallott explained that the Stewart Warehousing property, which is adjacent to the Sanitary Commission's site, has received approval from CSX to construct a rail spur and the advance of funds would allow the Sanitary Commission to extend the pipe by open cut at this time, which would cost approximately $500 per linear foot as opposed to $1300 per linear foot using the jack and boring method, which would be necessary if the rail spur were in place. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to advance the funds needed to allow the Sanitary Commission to extend the casing pipe an additional 10 feet through the Stewart Warehousing property to the wastewater treatment plant site at the 70/81 Industrial Park. Unanimously approved. IMPROVEMENTS TO BEAVER CREEK ROAD Glenn Dull, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners and reviewed the design for the Beaver Creek Road intersection with Route 40. Mr. Dull estimated the cost of the renovations to be approximately $80-90,000 and asked the Commissioners if he should proceed with advertising for bids for this project and the amount of participation the County Commissioners require from the property owner who is developing the property on this road. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to request 20% of the cost of the improvements to be paid by the developer in addition to the necessary right-of-way. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to require financial participation from the developer for the improvements to the intersection at Beaver Creek Road and U.S. Route 40 for 20% of the project cost, not to exceed $20,000, in addition to the donation of right-of-way necessary, and to authorize the County Engineer to proceed with advertising for bids for the project. Unanimously approved. CABLE TELEVISION - REGULATION Ralph Kline, who resides in Pleasant View Heights subdivision, appeared before the Commissioners to express his concern with the lack of regulations governing cable television companies. Mr. Kline stated that there is no agency to require the company to repair damages to private property or to insure that the cable is installed correctly. Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the provisions in the County Subdivision Ordinance reserve an easement on lot lines for underground installation of cable and utilities and that the County is holding a bond in the amount of $16,000 for this company which would pay any damages which may occur to County -owned land or public rights-of-way, but that this does not provide any regulation for damages occuring in utility easements on private property. Mr. Kline reiterated that his concern is that private citizens have no recourse or protection for damages to their property and no agency to turn to if there is a problem. He added that he would like the County to oversee these companies. Several possible solutions were discussed and the Commissioners referred this matter to the County Attorney for his recommendation. JANUARY 31, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. DEVELOPMENT FEE PROPOSAL Richard Parks, Director of Planning & Review, along with Paul Prodonovich, Director of Permits & Inspections, and James Brittain, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, presented a development fee proposal for permits for Planning and Permits departments. Two options were presented and Mr. Parks explained that Option I would reimburse approximately 75-80% of County costs for staff time and paperwork and that Option 2 would reimburse the County over 100% of their costs. Commissioner Roulette suggested that the Committee find a "middle ground" from these two options before the new fee schedule is taken to public hearing. The Commissioners agreed to reschedule this discussion. INTERIOR RENOVATIONS - FARMHOUSE - REGIONAL PARK Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to accept the recommendation of the Director of Planning and Review and award the bid for the interior renovations at the old farmhouse at the Washington County Regional Park to Gruber Building, Cleaning & Restoration, who submitted the only bid, with the contractor to perform Bid Item No. 2 - $20,355, Bid Item No. 3 - $8,415, Bid Item No. 4 - $550, Bid Item No. 5 - $2,970 and Bid Item No. 9 - $2,000 for a total of $34,290. Unanimously approved. METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION - FUNDING Keith Godwin, Manager of the Transportation Commission submitted the Metropolitan Planning Organization Payment/Annual Element required for Federal funding. Mr. Godwin explained that the request covers operating assistance, capital assistance for construction, Section 3 Capital Grant for purchase of II buses and Capital Assistance to support funding for transportation service by non-profit agencies for elderly and handicapped individuals for Fiscal Year 1989 and needs formal approval by the County Commissioners. Mr. Teach suggested that this application be sent to all governmental agencies within the Metropolitan Planning Organization for their review and comment before the Commissioners formally approve this submittal. HEAD START HUMAN SERVICES - REQUEST Paul Pittman, Director of Head Start Human Services, appeared before the Commissioners to request that they forgive a $6,000/year maintenance fee which Head Start pays for janitorial services at the Martin Luther King Center. Mr. Pittman explained that this would permit them to hire additional staff needed for the increase of handicapped students. He also requested that the Commissioners advance up to $40,000 for salaries until their federal funding is available. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to approve the requests made by Head Start Human Services to forgive the $6,000/year maintenance fee and to advance up to $40,000 for salaries to be repaid when funding is available. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 17, 1989 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to approve the minutes of January 17, 1989 as submitted. Unanimously approved. STREET LIGHTS - OAK VALLEY DRIVE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to authorize the installation of a street light at the intersection of Oak Valley Drive and Halfway Boulevard for an estimated cost of $4,000. Unanimously approved. TOURISM - TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM The Commissioners directed Barry Teach, County Administrator, to negotiate for the purchase of the telecommunications system in place at the new Tourism office. APPOINTMENT - HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to appoint James Harp to the Historic District Commission to fill the unexpired term of Charles Swisher to January I, 1991. Unanimously approved. CONTRIBUTIONS TO MANDATORY RETIREMENT PROGRAM The County Administrator informed the Commissioners that, due to a change in the Federal tax law, contributions to a mandatory retirement program may be tax exempt. The County has filed an application with IRS and is waiting for a determination as to whether the County's plan qualifies for this status. JANUARY 31, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. SUBDIVISIONS - DAM NO. 5 ROAD AND BARNHART ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation and require Jerry Coates, who is developing five lots on Dam No. 5 Road, to participate financially in widening 1790' of the road to a width of 18' for the estimated cost of $11,187.50, or 50% of the total cost, with the Roads Department to perform the work as their schedule permits. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation to require the developer to pay one-half the cost of widening Barnhart Road in front of three (3) lots, submitted for approval by Wilbur Trumpower, to 18' for the estimated cost of $3500 or 50% of the total cost. Unanimously approved. ON BEHALF OF PROGRAM Neil Curran, Program Planning Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners with a proposal that the County transfer its housing allocation to the Community Development Administration for the "On Behalf Of' revenue bond housing allocation early in the year to avoid losing this funding this year. Mr. Curran stated that this plan has been discussed with the Community Development Administration and they are in agreement that this will satisfy Article 13 of the Maryland Code. The Commissioners approved Mr. Curran's proposal. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive Session at 11:15 a.m. in regard to personnel, property and potential litigation in accordance with Section 10.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. At this time Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting, and Commissioner Irvin, Vice President, assumed the Chair. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to reconvene in Regular Session at 12:15 p.m. Unanimously approved. ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to accept 1300'+/- of Betty's Avenue from the John R. Oliver Company reallotment plat, Section I of Roxbury Hill, with a maintenance bond set at $6,500; accept the Option Agreement from Freda E. Tucker, et al, for 2,403' in fee simple for the Beaver Creek Road relocation at Route 40 for no consideration; accept three option agreements for revertible easement for Doub/Sterling Road - 1) Fred and Judith Phillips - 17008 sq. ft. for $600, 2) Carl Gearhart - 2,335 sq. ft for $350, and 3) George H. Miller - 336 sq. ft. for $500. The Motion carried unanimously, with the exception of the three easements on Doub/Sterling Road on which Commissioner Downey ABSTAINED from voting. EMPLOY - DATA PROCESSING PROGRAMMERS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to employ Brian Ridenour and Angela Nelling as Programmers in Data Processing Department. Unanimously approved. PROMOTION - DEPUTY TREASURER Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to promote Lillian Bloyer from Tax Clerk to Deputy Treasurer to fill an existing vacancy and to authorize advertising for the vacancy created by the promotion. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to adjourn at 12:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk