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HomeMy WebLinkAbout890314March 14, 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 Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, introduced Karen Hoff, the new Multi -Family Loan Specialist in their office and Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter, introduced Richard Schweinsberg who was recently employed as Transportation Supervisor. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting; Commissioner Irvin reported on the Commission for Women meeting; Commissioner Downey reported on the Advisory Board of Health meeting; and Commissioner Bowers informed the Commissioners that the Library board of Trustees agreed to open their parking lot to businesses after hours on weekends. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 21 & 28, 1989 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to approve the minutes of February 21 and 28, 1989, as corrected. Unanimously approved. PRIVATE ROAD NAME - ELEANOR LANE Motion made Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to approve the name of Eleanor Lane for the private lane owned by Kenneth Ridenour off Antietam Drive, as requested by those residents who live on this lane. Unanimously approved. MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET Dr. John Neill, County Health Officer, and Robert Brandt, Director of the Mental Health Program, appeared before the Commissioners to inform them that there is a deficit in the Mental Health Program budget at this time due primarily to the fact that collections have not come in as anticipated. Dr. Neill stated that projections show that the deficit may be $20,000 at the end of the fiscal year, but that there is still the possibility that if collections come in, that there may not be a deficit. MARCH 14, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. CHOLESTEROL SCREENING - REQUEST FOR CONTRIBUTION Dr. Neill informed the Commissioners that the Johns Hopkins Training Center for Public Health Research has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to perform a follow-up study to be called "CLUE 11". As a part of this project, they would like to offer cholesterol screening to participants in the project. The cost for cholesterol screening for 40,000 participants would total $112,375 and that they would appreciate any contribution the County could offer to help with these costs. The Commissioners requested James Young, Director of Finance, to identify if there are funds that may be available for use for this purpose. REVOLVING LOAN FUND APPLICATION - SMITHSBURG EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook, to approve the application made by Smithsburg Emergency Medical Services for a loan of $60,374 from the Revolving Loan Fund for the purchase of a new ambulance. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS - COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to reappoint Donna Smith and Edythe Rickard to the Commission for Women for terms extending to July I, 1992. Unanimously approved. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to approve the line item transfer requested by the Director of Landfills to transfer $2,606 from Vehicles (20-5-1460-683-000) to Office Furniture & Equipment (20-5-1460-687-000). Unanimously approved. AUCTIONEER - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette, to hire Albert Turner as the auctioneer for the Roads Department sale scheduled for April I. Unanimously approved. LANDFILL OPERATING REQUIRMENTS Robert Davenport, Director of Landfills; Richard Parks, Director of Planning & Review; and James Brittain, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, appeared before the Commissioners to give them an informal update on why landfill costs are going to increase based on the new State requirements that the County must comply with in the operation of the landfill. Mr. Parks distributed copies of new State regulations and also samples of approved materials which can be used to line the landfill. Mr. Davenport stated that the first cell would be at least 8 acres which, at $300,000 - $400,000 per acre, would cost approximately $2.5 million for materials and labor to have liner installed and meet State requirements. Mr. Davenport also stated that the present landfill site could be used approximately 1 1/2 to 2 more years at the present rate of fill. The Commissioners suggested that Landfill personnel proceed with seeking bids for a new compactor and not wait until next fiscal year. Barry Teach informed the Commissioners that a proposal on a pilot, curb -side recycling project would be presented in two weeks. PARTITIONS - ASSESSMENTS OFFICE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to notify the State Department of Assessment & Taxation that they are willing to pay 50% of the low bid of $8868.72 for partitions in the Assessments Office in the Court House, contingent upon the State paying 50% of the cost. Unanimously approved. CAPITAL BUDGET James Brittain, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, and Richard Parks, Director of Planning & Review, appeared before the Commissioners to present the Capital Budget for Fiscal Years 1990-1995. James Young, Director of Finance, reported that the total capital budget is $29,160,265 and also on the possible sources of revenues for these projects. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to schedule a workshop session for Thursday, March 16 to review this budget in more detail. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - DATA PROCESSING Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to approve the line item transfer for the Data Processing Department of $16,000 from Rentals - Equipment (01-5-0135-526-010) to Hardward/Software Maintenance (01-5-0135-542-020) in the amount of $14,300 and Office Furniture and Equipment (01-5-0135-687-000) in the amount of $1700. Unanimously approved. MARCH 14, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. IN-HOUSE PROCEDURES - ROAD IMPROVEMENT The County Administrator explained that, due to the Roads Department's scheduled projects, they cannot continue doing road improvement projects for new subdivisions which will require improvement of existing County roads. Mr. Teach then outlined proposed in-house procedures for dealing with these improvements. He explained that the County Engineer will give an estimate of the cost of the proposed improvements, once the estimate is made the County Commissioners will make the decision as to whether the County will participate or if the developer will be required to improve the road. At that time, the developer must work with the County Engineer as if it were a new road construction and follow the existing procedures to have the road improved to the standard required through his contractor. The County Engineer will monitor and inspect the work. The Commissioners agreed to this procedure. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to convene in Executive Session at 11:35 p.m. in regard to personnel and property matters 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 Irvin, seconded by Downey to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. TOUR OF HJC ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER The Commissioners toured the new Advanced Technology Center at Hagerstown Junior College. RECESS The meeting was recessed at 3:15 p.m., to be reconvened in Evening Session at the Town Hall in Clear Spring. EVENING SESSION - CLEAR SPRING TOWN HALL The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 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. Also present were Mayor Paul D. Hose Jr. and Clear Spring Town Council members Betty Shank, Mark Myers and Theodore Hovermale, along with Mayor James Myers of the Town of Hancock and Hancock Town Council Members Sally Fost and Gerald Shaw. Tax Differential Program Barry Teach, County Administrator, announced that this meeting is being held in accordance with Article 81, Section 32 of the Annotated Code of Maryland in which the Commissioners are required to meet once a year with elected officials of each County municipality to discuss the tax differential or payment -in -lieu program. Mr. Teach stated that the estimated payment to Hancock will be $24,844 and to Clear Spring, $2,000. These figures are subject to adjustment based on audited expenditures when the fiscal year ends on June 30, 1989. Councilmember Sally Fost of Hancock told the Commissioners that it would be helpful if a County official would explain the formula used in calculating these payments in more detail, to newly elected members of the town councils. Mr. Teach agreed that this was a good idea and suggested that time be set aside for this purpose at a Municipal League meeting. Signalization - Town of Clear Spring Betty Shank, Councilmember in Clear Spring, updated the Commissioners on their efforts to have a traffic signal installed at the intersection of Rts. 40/68/Mill St. She reported that the Town contacted the Transportation Advisory Committee which generated a traffic study of this intersection. The recommendations from this study included making Mill Street one-way north, to prohibit parking and to install pedestrian crosswalks. George Small of the State Highway Administration then explained the results of the study. Commissioner Bowers stated that this intersection does need geometric improvements and that the Commissioners would contact State Highway Officials in Baltimore. He also suggested that Town officials contact Neil Curran, Program Planning Director for the County, to apply for possible funding for sidewalks through the Community Development Block Grant Program or other grant programs. MARCH 14, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. Commission on Aging Several members of the Clear Spring Senior Citizens Club informed the Commissioners of problems they are experiencing with the Commission on Aging due to lack of a van for their use and other services. Commissioner Bowers promised that he would work with the Commission on Aging to have a more extensive program developed for the Town of Clear Spring. Boundary Survey Clear Spring officials asked the Commissioners if they could assist in having the Town's boundary surveyed on the east end near Thompson's Towing. They explained that Thompson's parking lot was expanded and that there is a question as to whether it is inside or outside Town limits. Harvey Road Regarding the property owner who placed a gate across Harvey Road, Barry Teach explained that Harvey Road is in the County roads system but it stops at the gate and from that point on, though it has a public right-of-way, it is not part of the County Roads system. He also stated that the public is entitled to use the road, it would take legal measures to have the gate removed. Commissioner Bowers suggested a possibility of filing a joint suit on the grounds of denied access. Revitalization Study - Town of Hancock Hancock officials asked the Commissioners if they would consider participating financially in a study of downtown revitalization in Hancock since they are trying to raise matching funds for a grant. The Commissioners took this under advisement at this time. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk