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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.25.2000 MinutesJuly 25, 2000 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners toured the Summer Parks Department program, "Adopt a Grandparent" at the Homewood Health Care Center in Williamsport, prior to their regular session. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 2:45 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. BID AWARD -- INSURANCE FOR COUNTY COMMUTER BUSES Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Swartz, to award the contract for insurance for the County Commuter buses to J. Edward Cochran, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $59,965. The motion carried with Commissioners Swartz, Schnebly, Wivell and Snook voting "AYE" and Commissioner Iseminger "ABSTAINING." ESTABLISHING ASCHOOL ZONE AT THE ST. JAMES SCHOOL ON COLLEGE ROAD Terrance P. McGee, P.E., Chief Engineer, met with the Commissioners to review a recommendation to establish a School Zone and provide for the doubling of fines for speeding at the St. James School on College Road to facilitate speed enforcement efforts in this area. President Snook recommended that the school also consider increasing the lighting for the crosswalks. Motion made by Commissioner Swartz, seconded by Iseminger, to approve a resolution to formally establish a school zone and provide for the doubling of fines for speeding at the St. James School on College Road. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX CREDITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001 Todd L. Hershey, Treasurer, met with the Board of Commissioners to secure their authorization as the local governing body to grant the Washington County Real Estate Property Tax Credits for fiscal year 2001. The credits are granted in accordance with Section 9-323 of the Tax- Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, among other provisions. Mr. Hershey reported there are several types of credits included in the "Authorization to Write-Off Uncollectible Taxes" report: 1)Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes; 2)Ruritan clubs and civic organization credits; 3)Special credits; 4)Enterprise zone - Airport; 5)Enterprise zone - Hancock; 6)Enterprise zone - Interstate 81; 7)Enterprise zone - Hagerstown. The adjustments are made in accordance with Section 9-323 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, among other provisions. Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to approve the "Authorization to Write-Off Uncollectible Taxes" for a total fiscal impact to the County of $672,777. Unanimously approved. CONOCOCHEAGUE INDUSTRIAL PRE-TREATMENT FACILITY (CIPF) UPDATE Greg Larsen, Pretreatment Marketing Specialist, came before the Commissioners to report that the CIPF continues to prosper with increasing revenues and client base. New processes are complete and ready to market to the target clientele. Revenue projections have been exceeded and the facility is on track with the five-year plan implemented two years ago to become self-sufficient. The CIPF partnership with Spirit Services continues to grow. (A copy of the presentation, goals and objectives is attached) CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to convene in closed session at 3:49 p.m. to discuss personnel matters and a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State, all 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 Schnebly, seconded by Swartz, to reconvene in open session at 5:28 p.m. Unanimously approved. JULY 25, 2000 PAGE TWO In closed session, the Commissioners discussed personnel and a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State. 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 various times were Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Cindy Dodson, Executive Office Assistant; Greg Murray, Director, Water and Sewer Department; Greg Larsen, Pretreatment Marketing; and Rich Ellman, President, Spirit Services. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:29 p.m. EVENING SESSION -- MT. AETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE HALL The evening session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Hall 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 Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 18, 2000 Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to approve the minutes of the meeting of July 18, 2000, as amended. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Wivell reported that he and Commissioner Schnebly are continuing discussions with the Board of Education on the school facilities review. He said that school costs range from $49 to $200 per elementary student. Commissioner Wivell received a letter from the Landlord and Property Owners Association requesting that lead-based paint abatement income tax credits be added to the Board's legislative agenda for the 2001 session. They are requesting local support as last year's bill did not pass. Commissioner Schnebly added comments on the Joint Task Force with the Board of Education. He said that it is a consensus of the members that the optimum size for an elementary school is 500 children. The Board of Education will improve its capital planning to allow schools to operate on a more efficient model. Commission Schnebly attended the Airport Commission meeting. Updates of projects and other issues will be on the agenda for the meeting of September 12, 2000. Commissioner Schnebly reiterated the County's position at the hearing of the Thornton Commission that the County cannot continue to increase funding of local public schools by 8% to 9% while the State increases its support by only 1%. Commissioner Iseminger reported on the Chamber of Commerce Downtown Task Force discussions on the Arts and Entertainment District. He said a consultant is developing a marketing piece. In addition, a strategy to build the Arts and Entertainment District is in the planning stages. Commissioner Iseminger reported that Black Rock Golf Course is operating in the black. The Golf Course plans to raise some rates but will continue to offer discounts to seniors, with the focus on County residents. Commissioner Iseminger informed the Commissioners that the Ag Center now has $20,000 in hand to match the $75,000 grant from the legislature. The Ag Expo will be held August 5 through 12, 2000. Commissioner Swartz said that the committees on which he serves do not meet in summer months and that he had been out of town for the last couple of weeks. He read a letter thanking the Children's Council and the County for JULY 25, 2000 PAGE THREE sponsoring the Youth Meritorious Award and ceremony from the Clear Spring Middle School recipient, David Ernst. President Snook reminded the Commissioners of the August 3 Quad State Legislative Conference at the Four Points. He thanked Norman Bassett for preparing the excellent comments he delivered to the Thornton Commission. President Snook said that he swore in the new members of the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association Board of Directors in Clear Spring. Jason Baer, the new President, promised to bring new initiatives before the Commissioners. President Snook said a Project Open Space (POS) grant has been received for renovations to Chestnut Grove Park in South County. He reminded the Commissioners that the joint meeting with the local delegation to the General Assembly would be held on July 28 at the Airport. The Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) revisions are in the hands of the consultants and it is hoped that an agreement will be ready soon. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Van Conway of the Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Company, welcomed the County Commissioners and thanked them for their support of the volunteer fire companies. Mr. Conway reported on plans to relocate the Mt. Aetna Fire Hall due to constraints in the size of its land and building and to improve service of its territory. He asked for the County's cooperation in providing consultation services and consideration of future funding. STNEIGHBORHOODS1 REQUEST stVickiBodnar, Co-Chair of Neighborhoods 1, appeared before the Commissioners to request funding for the upcoming Festival 2000. The event is being held to raise funds and awareness for the restoration of the historic Hagerstown Fairgrounds entrance buildings. Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to make a one-time contribution in the amount of 1,480.00 from the contingency fund to pay for the cost of the County Commuter shuttle bus transportation for Festival 2000, to be held from July 31 through August 5, 2000. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’SCOMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards would be presenting a prestigious "Recognition of Achievement" award to the staff of the Detention Center on July 27, 2000. Mr. Shoop reported that a successful fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy resulted in a free pizza luncheon for employees on August 14 at Noon in the County Administration Building. Irene Rosenberry did an excellent job as coordinator of this successful fundraiser. CHANGE ORDER -- BNR UPGRADE Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Iseminger, to approve a change order to the BNR upgrade project reducing the amount by $77,000 by changing the pipe specification for ductile iron, direct buried piping as requested by the contractor. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD – (PUR-762) SUPPLYING, LOADING, HAULING AND DELIVERING OF VIRGIN SOIL, TYPE SM-SC OR GM-GC Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Schnebly, to award a one-year contract to Smithfield Enterprises, Inc., of Hagerstown, Maryland, for a bid of $33,760.00 based on a unit price of $2.11 per ton and an estimated annual quantity of 16,000 tons, to facilitate operation at the Resh landfill. Unanimously approved. CHANGE ORDERS – 40 WEST LANDFILL Motion made by Commission Swartz, seconded by Wivell, to approve 40 West Landfill Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $71,506.50 for additional clearing and grubbing needed; Change Order No. 2 for relocation of the proposed landscaping berm in the amount of $32,497.80; and Change order No. JULY 25, 2000 PAGE FOUR 3 in the amount of $10,588.50 for additional clearing and grubbing of 5.43 acres at $1,950 per acre by C. William Hetzer, Inc. The motion carried with stipulations that internal staff communications amd processes with the contractor be improved and that reimbursement of $32,497.80 be pursued from the architectural design firm for failure to locate a berm at the correct location at the Landfill. Commissioner Iseminger, Swartz, Wivell and Snook voted "AYE" and Commissioner Schnebly abstained. ADOPTION OF DEBT AFFORDABILITY POLICY Debra S. Bastian, Director of Budget and Finance, met with the Commissioners to discuss the adoption of a formal Debt Policy for Washington County. The debt policy would provide the foundation for the Commissioners to oversee and manage a fiscally responsible capital improvement program. This policy supports long-range issues and goals and provides an additional tool to evaluate current decisions and the fiscal impact on short-term and long-term implications related to debt financing. After discussion, a motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Swartz, to adopt the Debt Policy with annual review by the Board. Unanimously approved. (A copy of the Debt Policy is attached.) ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Schnebly, seconded by Iseminger, to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney Executive Office Assistant