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HomeMy WebLinkAbout890303March 7, 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 ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES Todd Hershey, County Treasurer, introduced Michelle Burkett, a new Tax Clerk in his department, and State's Attorney Kenneth Long introduced Darlene Reid, a new employee in his department. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin reported on the Historic Advisory Commission meeting; Commissioner Snook reported on the joint meeting of the Parks Board and Recreation Commission meeting; and Commissioner Bowers reported on the Revolving Loan Fund committee meeting. YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - DECEMBER The Commissioners presented Danielle Dahlstrom with the December 1988 Youth of the Month Award as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Roulette listed the many activities in which Danielle participates in her school, church and community. BID AWARD - BEAVER CREEK ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette, to award the bid for the Beaver Creek Road Bridge replacement to Building Systems, Inc., who submitted the low bid of $129,770. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - DOUB ROAD II PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette, to award the bid for the Doub Road II project to P & W Excavating who submitted the low bid of $460,407.50 using the alternate for concrete pipe. The Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Irvin, Roulette and Snook voting "AYE" and Commissioner Downey "ABSTAINING". TAX CREDIT - MID -EAST MILK LABORATORY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook, in accordance with the authority granted to the County Commissioners in Tax Property Article 9-323, Section C of the Annotated Code of Maryland, to grant a property tax credit against the County property tax for Mid -East Milk Laboratory Services, Inc., in the amount of $1,064.15. Unanimously approved. WEED CONTROL ORDINANCE - DRAFT Barry Teach, County Administrator, presented the first draft of the proposed Weed Control Ordinance for the Commissioners consideration. The Commissioners requested that the County Attorney review this ordinance for legal sufficiency prior to scheduling a public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING - INTENTION TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY - FIRST FEDERAL BUILDING The President convened the Meeting in Public Hearing at 10:00 a.m., as advertised, to hear comments regarding the County's intention to acquire property at 100 West Washington Street, known as the First Federal Building, for the purchase price of $995,000. This sale would be contingent upon the execution of a lease with Columbia First Federal Savings & Loan Assn., the current tenant. There being no one present to speak for nor against said acquisition, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin, to acquire the property located at 100 West Washington Street, contingent upon successful negotiation of a lease with Columbia First Federal. Unanimously approved. The Meeting was reconvened in Regular Session at 10:20 a.m. LONG DISTANCE SERVICE - PAY PHONES Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to endorse the use of AT&T as the long distance carrier to cover the 13 pay phones used by the County, pursuant to their proposal involving a commission of 6% of all non -coin cent revenue, as recommended by the Purchasing Agent and to add the exchanges 678, 842 and 432 to take advantage of the pro -Maryland and pro -America discount plans which we now utilize. Unanimously approved. POSTING "NO THROUGH TRUCKS" SIGNS - FAHRNEY CHURCH ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to post "No Through Trucks" signs on Fahrney Church Road, as recommended by the Roads Superintendent. Unanimously approved. MARCH 7, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION - MAUGANSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. Barry Teach informed the Commissioners that the Maugansville Fire Company has requested additional compensation for the calls they respond to at the Washington County Landfill. The Fire Company stated in their request that they have approximately one call per month at the landfill at an estimated $100/call. They also suggested that the County prohibit smoking in the area of the dumpsters and place an advertisement in the newspaper to remind citizens against disposing of hot ashes to hopefully lessen fires at the landfill. The Commissioners declined the request for additional compensation since additional employees will soon be hired at the landfill to better monitor the area, but agreed to prohibit smoking in that area and to place an ad to help educate the public. WIDENING - COFFMAN AVENUE Glenn Dull, County Engineer, appeared before the Commissioners regarding their request to have Coffman Avenue widened to 30' in order to allow two vehicles to pass while cars are parked on both sides of the street. Mr. Dull stated that it would be very difficult to widen because of the number of entrances and trees and that curb heights would vary between 0"-6 1/2". Mr. Dull recommended that they allow parking on one side of the street during even months of the year and on the other side during odd months. Commissioner Snook asked Mr. Dull to provide the Commissioners with an estimate of the cost involved to replace the sidewalks and curb. INSPECTION SERVICES - DOUB ROAD 11 Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin, to award Hagerstown Construction Services, Inc., who submitted the only proposal of $18.60/hr., the inspection services for the Doub Road II project with the condition that the proposed inspector, Jeffery Ryder, be the inspector used on this project until its completion. Unanimously approved. RIGHT-OF-WAY REQUEST - POTOMAC EDISON Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Snook, to grant the right-of-way requested by Potomac Edison to run parallel to the gas line on Western Maryland Parkway. Unanimously approved. TRAINING PROGRAM PROPOSAL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to endorse the concept recommended by the Director of Personnel for a training program for County personnel. Unanimously approved. PARKS DEPARTMENT RELOCATION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette, to authorize the Parks Department to proceed as requested in converting the existing maintenance building at Doubs Woods Park to office space in order to relocate the Parks Department administrative staff. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette, to appoint Edwin Hess of Farmers & Merchants Bank to replace Sue Rickett on the Tri -County Council Revolving Loan Committee. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - TOURISM COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to appoint the following persons to the Tourism Commission: Mike Callas representing the Sheraton Inn, Mark Gross representing the Ramada Inn, Dick Vidoni representing the Venice Inn, Richard Pellegrino of Howard Johnsons, Jim Golden of the Econo-Lodge, Judy Footen of the Holiday Inn, Jack Young as President of Tourism, Inc., Paul Waggoner, Doug Bast, and Sam Bayer and to appoint Susan Salvatore, City Planner; Sharon Disque, Economic Development Specialist and Charles Stroh of the Hagerstown -Washington County Chamber of Commerce as ex -officio members. Unanimously approved. PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL COUNTY FLAGS Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners to see if the Commissioners were interested in purchasing additional County flags. She stated that a special price of $25 for outdoor flags and $35 for indoor flags could be obtained if the County purchases at least 100 flags in 30 days. The Commisisoners advised Ms. Sprinkle to order 100 outdoor flags and 100 indoor flags and to place an advertisement in the newspaper to advise County residents who may be interested in purchasing a flag at this rate. MINUTES CONT'D. MARCH 7, 1989 BID OPENING - UNGER ROAD BRIDGE REPAIR The bids for the Unger Road Bridge Repair project were publicly opened and read aloud. Firms participating in the bidding and their proposals were as follows: Building Systems, Inc. - $104,748 and Fayetteville Contractors - $94,905. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. (Decision rendered later in the Afternoon Session.) CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to convene in Executive Session at 11:05 a.m. in regard to personnel, property and to confer with the County Attorney in accordance with Section 10.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook, to reconvene in Regular Session at 11:55 a.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY BUILDING INSPECTOR I Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to employ George Miller as Building Inspector I in the Permits & Inspections Office at Grade 5, Step A, to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to employ Richard Schweinsberg as Transportation Supervisor at the County Commuter. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 11:55 a.m. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 2:00 p.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Linda C. Irvin and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and Martin L. Snook. PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE VOTING MACHINES - ELECTION BOARD Dorothy Waters and Ralph McCauley, representing the Election Board, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss a proposal to purchase used voting machines. Ms. Waters explained that only 61 of the County's 167 voting machines can be set for three -party voting and, with the complex nature of future elections, setting these machines would be difficult and costly. Ms. Waters informed the Commissioners that they now have the option of purchasing replacement voting machines capable of being set for three parties from Unilect, who would also take the County's 106 old machines as a trade-in. The cost for 106 replacement machines would be $58,300, or $80,000 for 160 machines and Unilect would pay the freight charges. Also, Ms. Waters stated that Mr. Raymer, a representative from the State Elections Office, would be travelling to Florida and would inspect the machines. The Commissioners gave their consent for the Election Board to purchase 160 replacement machine but also requested that the County Attorney check regarding bidding procedures necessary before purchasing from Unilect. BID AWARD - UNGER ROAD BRIDGE REPAIR Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to award the bid for the Unger Road bridge repair to Fayetteville Contractors who submitted the low bid of $94,405. Unanimously approved. ACID RAIN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT Michael Evans of the W. R. Grace Company, appeared before the Commissioners to explain the demonstration project his company is interested in performing in Washington County at the R. Paul Smith plant in Williamsport. The project would use innovative techniques to control components of acid rain. Mr. Evans explained that this project would occur in phases and that the W. R. Grace Company is asking the State of Maryland to pay for 25% of the project costs but they must have legislative authority to begin this project. Commissioner Irvin suggested that the members of Citizens for the Protection of Washington County be contacted and given the details of the project for their review, prior to the Commissioners giving their support to the project. Mr. Evans agreed to meet with the Citizens for the Protection of Washington County. RECESS The Commissioners recessed the Meeting as 3:30 p.m. to be reconvened at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall in Boonsboro. MINUTES, CONT'D. MARCH 7, 1989 EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall in Boonsboro by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Linda C. Irvin and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and Martin L. Snook. Also present at the meeting were Mayor Kauffman and Boonsboro Town Councilmembers Robert Shifler, Shirley Metz, Howard Long and Richard Gross. Tax Differential Barry Teach, County Administrator, announced that pursuant to the provisions of Article 81, Section 32 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet annually with each municipality in the County regarding the tax differential program. Mr. Teach stated that the estimated payment for Boonsboro is $25,121 and that this figure will be revised based on actual audited expenditures. Water System Improvements Mayor Kauffman updated the Commissioners on the water system distribution problems in the Town of Boonsboro and informed the Commissioners that they had approved a resolution to apply for a Community Develoment Block Grant of $300,000. Judy Chamber, Town Manager, stated that the total project will cost approximately $1.18 million and that the major problems are fire flow for sufficient volume and pressure and water supply. Ms. Chambers also stated that the Town will be applying to the Maryland Department of Environment for funding, but they estimate that they will have to use $87,000 of their own monies even if they receive grants from the Department of the Environment and CDBG. Mayor Kauffman asked what role the County could play in helping and if there is a possibility the Commissiners could provide Boonsboro with a 12 month, interest-free bridge loan. The Commissioners said it was something they may consider to help the community urban growth area. Other topics discussed included financing the infrastructure in the Boonsboro Town Growth Area, the upgrading of Mapleville Road, cable T.V. problems. The meeting was then opened to the public to allow the Commissioners to answer questions. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk