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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.08.2000 Minutes February 8, 2000 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners participated in the State of the County forum sponsored by the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at the Sheraton Four Points at 7:00 a.m. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:30 a.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. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Schnebly, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 1, 2000 Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Swartz, to approve the minutes of February 1, 2000, as amended. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT APPROVAL – UPGRADE FOR BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL (BNR) AT THE CONOCOCHEAGUE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to award the contract for upgrades for biological nutrient removal at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant to M.A. Bongiovanni, Inc. for the low responsible, responsive total base bid of $5,990,800. Unanimously approved. Greg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, was present to answer questions and provide additional information on the details of the BNR removal project. He also reviewed the funding sources for the project and the amount projected in the CIP budget. CONTRACT AWARD – CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION & RELATED ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR CONOCOCHEAGUE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to award the contract for construction inspection and related engineering services for the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant to George, Miles & Buhr, LLP, which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible proposal for a total of $137,475. Unanimously approved. BUDGET WORKSHOP – FY 2001 WAGES & BENEFITS Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, met with the Commissioners to present personnel recommendations for the fiscal year 2001 budget. He stated that he is providing an overview and does not expect the Commissioners to make an immediate decision on the proposal. Mr. Davis reviewed the requests for new positions. He recommended the approval of a procurement technician, program analyst I, and technical support analyst for funding in July of fiscal year 2001 and funding for a legal assistant and plans examiner effective January 1, 2001. Mr. Davis then reviewed the requests for reclassification and the recommendations. Mr. Davis stated that the requests total $107,274 for FY 2001. The Commissioners postponed further discussions in order to hear comments from the public during the scheduled citizens participation session. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth voiced his opinion on the proposal to increase the hotel rental tax to 6% that was made by the local delegation to the General Assembly. BUDGET WORKSHOP – CONTINUED Mr. Davis discussed other requests for funding. Other requests include an increase in wages for the summer help at Marty Snook Pool, the part-time staff at the Recreation Department, and increases in overtime for Sheriff’s Department. These requests total $41,489. Mr. Davis and Sheriff Charles Mades reviewed the uniformed personnel wage scale for the Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Davis provided a comparison of the County wages to those paid by Frederick County, as well as a proposed scale for uniformed Sheriff’s personnel. Sheriff Mades stated that he is losing deputies to other police agencies that pay $4,000-7,000 more for entry-level law enforcement positions. Mr. Davis proposed that the Commissioners FEBRUARY 8, 2000 PAGE TWO adopt a separate pay scale for the Sheriff’s Department uniformed deputies that would place personnel within the scale based on longevity. He asked if the Commissioners wanted him to develop a separate pay scale for review. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Commissioners to have Mr. Davis formulate a separate pay scale for their review. Commissioner Wivell indicated that they might decide to phase in the schedule over a certain period of time after they review the cost. Mr. Davis recommended a 3-4 percent wage increase for County employees this fiscal year. He informed the Commissioners that 85% of County employees are below mid- point on the wage scale and proposed developing a policy and a formula to get long-term employees to mid-point within a reasonable period of time. The Commissioners agreed that they are not interested in establishing such a policy at this time. Mr. Davis recommended maintaining the current level of health insurance benefits. He also provided a summary of the current plan and the weekly cost to employees. Mr. Davis asked the Commissioners to consider providing five weeks of vacation after 25 years of service. The Commissioners also reviewed current retirement benefits. Mr. Davis informed the Commissioners that he is not recommending any changes to the plan this year. Sheriff Mades requested that the Commissioners consider modifying the benefit levels for uniformed personnel. Other items discussed included retiree health insurance and a cost of living increase for retirees. Mr. Davis informed the Commissioners that it would cost approximately $2.2 million to provide health insurance to retirees. RECESS – RIBBON CUTTING AT CRIST INSTRUMENT COMPANY The Commissioners recessed at 11:46 a.m. for lunch and to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at CRIST Instrument Company. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President Paul L. Swartz and Commissioners John L. Schnebly, Bertrand L. Iseminger and William J. Wivell. DISCUSSION OF HOMEBUILDERS LICENSING Commissioner Snook stated that the local delegation to the General Assembly encouraged the Commissioners to develop a County ordinance to license homebuilders. Paul Prodonovich, Director of Permits & Inspections, met with the Commissioners to discuss the operational impact on his department if the ordinance to license homebuilders is adopted. He informed the Commissioners that he estimated start-up costs of $109,550 for additional personnel and board members, benefits, and the purchase of a vehicle and equipment. He also discussed contracting inspections to outside firms. John Martirano, Assistant County Attorney, informed the Commissioners that he hopes to have a draft of the homebuilders licensing ordinance for them to review by February 22. REPORT ON NEW YMCA FACILITIES & PROGRAMS Commissioner Snook stated that the Commissioners had questions about the YMCA’s request for capital funding when they reviewed the CIP budget, and asked for additional information. Paula Lampton, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the YMCA, met with the Commissioners along with fellow Board members David Beachley, Kent Oliver, Rich Hoban, Jack Hershey, and Bob Zeigler, to provide additional information about the programs and facilities planned for the new YMCA facility. Mr. Beachley reviewed the final design for the new facility that includes two gymnasiums, an aquatic center, a health center, and areas for childcare as well as juvenile and adult programs. He stated that the State of Maryland has agreed to provide $500,000 and the Board has raised $4,750,000 from private sources and foundations. The YMCA has requested that the County provide $250,000 each year for a three-year period. Mr. Hoban provided financial information on the cost of the project. He stated that the total cost is estimated at $8.7 million. Michael Flicek, Executive Director of the YMCA, provided the Commissioners with an update on their programs, membership and sponsorship statistics, and scholarship FEBRUARY 8, 2000 PAGE THREE information. He stated that the YMCA provided $97,153 in sponsorships to local youth and adults. The Commissioners thanked the Board for providing the additional information as requested. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION – TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS Richard Douglas, County Attorney, informed the Commissioners that U.S. Treasury Income Tax Regulations, Section 1.150-2, requires that an issuer must adopt a declaration of intent in order to assure the eligibility of expenditures made by the County Commissioners for reimbursement from the proceeds of tax-exempt obligations. He stated the proposed resolution authorizes and designates the President of the Board of County Commissioners and the Director of Finance to sign the declaration of the official intent of the County for the purposes of complying with the requirements of the above regulation to assure the eligibility of expenditures for reimbursement from tax- exempt financing. Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to approve a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of County Commissioners and the Director of Finance to declare the official intent of the County for the purposes of complying with the requirements of U.S. Treasury Income Tax Regulations, Section 1.150-2, to assure the eligibility of expenditures for reimbursement from tax-exempt financing. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS & COMMENTS Commissioner Swartz reported on the meetings in Annapolis with the local delegation to the General Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor. He also reported on the Recreation & Parks Board meeting. He stated that he also attended a meeting of the Maryland Sportsmen’s Association. Commissioner Swartz indicated that he heard concerns expressed by emergency medical services personnel and asked that Tim Gargana be named to the Emergency Services Council. Commissioner Schnebly reported on the Tri-County Council meeting. Commissioner Iseminger reported on a meeting with the Paramount Elementary School PTA and the Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Wivell reported on the Sportsmen’s Association meeting. Commissioner Snook distributed a letter from Brothers United Who Dare to Care requesting renovations to the Martin Luther King Center. He asked that County staff analyze the cost of the requested items and report back to the Commissioners. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners of the CIP budget workshop on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. He reported on the MACO Public School Construction Funding Committee meeting. The Commissioners also discussed Senator Munson’s initiative to locate the Board of Education offices in downtown Hagerstown. REAPPOINTMENT – ADVISORY COMMISSION TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Iseminger, to reappoint Marion Miller to the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - HERITAGE AREA STEERING COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Iseminger, seconded by Schnebly, to appoint Dick Trump, as a business representative, to the Heritage Area Steering Committee. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:05 p.m. in order to meet with the Board of Education at Conococheague Elementary School. JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION - CONOCOCHEAGUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Commissioners met with the Board of Education at the Conococheague Elementary School at 3:30 p.m. The following members of the Board of FEBRUARY 8, 2000 PAGE FOUR Education were present: Edwin Hayes, B. Marie Byers, Paul Bailey, and Herbert Hardin. Staff members present were Dr. Herman Bartlett, Superintendent of Schools; Dennis McGee, Director of Facilities Management; William McKinley, Executive Director of Support Services; and Christian South, Director of Budget & Finance. Adopted Goals for 2000 Mr. Shoop reviewed Washington County’s adopted goals for 2000 with the Board of Education. The goals are as follows: 1) Establish County urban revitalization initiatives. 2) Review citizens’ comments and develop final recommendations for the County Comprehensive Plan. 3) Adopt a plan to transfer wastewater flows west of Hagerstown to the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant with the ultimate goal of an interconnected system. 4) Transfer ownership of water service areas at Martin’s Crossroads and Conococheague to the City of Hagerstown. 5) Adopt and implement a formal debt management policy. 6) Develop and adopt land use and marketing plans for the Airport and vicinity. 7) Resolve County government downtown space needs. 8) Adopt a long-range development plan for the library. 9) Adopt a right to farm ordinance. Review of Legislative Agenda The Commissioners reviewed the list of requests submitted to the local delegation to the General Assembly. Mr. Shoop provided information from the MACo Public School Construction Committee. The Commissioners also discussed the Governor’s proposal to require the prevailing wage rate to be paid on school construction projects and the effect this will have on the cost of the projects. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 4:30 p.m. TAX REBATE - TOWN OF SMITHSBURG The evening session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Smithsburg Town Hall by President Gregory I. Snook, with the following Commissioners present: Vice President Paul L. Swartz and Commissioners Bertrand L. Iseminger, Jr., John L. Schnebly, and William J. Wivell. Commissioner Snook stated that, pursuant to Section 6-306 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax set-off or payment-in-lieu-of-services program. Commissioner Snook stated that for fiscal year 1999, Smithsburg received $29,505. In fiscal year 2000, it is projected that the Town will receive $30,806, an increase of 4.41%. He also explained that the estimated amounts would be subject to an audit of expenditures. Commissioner Snook reviewed the summary and formula for highways, police, and parks. The Commissioners then discussed items of interest to the Smithsburg Mayor and Town Council. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Swartz, to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator , County Attorney , Clerk