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HomeMy WebLinkAbout890425April 25, 1989 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 At 8:30 a.m., John S. Shank was sworn in as County Commissioner by Dennis Weaver, Clerk of the Court, to fill the vacancy left by the recent death of Martin L. Snook. Mr. Shank was appointed to this position by Governor William Donald Schaefer on April 21, 1989. 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 John S. Shank. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Reverend J. Clark Hayes, pastor of Salem Reformed Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. FEBRUARY YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD David Gardiner was presented with a Certificate of Merit by Commissioner Irvin, recognizing him as the February Youth of the Month as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Irvin listed David's activities and noted that he was nominated by his Sunday School teacher. PRESENTATION - NATIONAL PIKE FESTIVAL POSTER Robert O'Connor, Director of Tourism, appeared before the Commissioners to present them with the new State of Maryland poster promoting the National Pike Festival which will be celebrated May 20 and 21. The poster, entitled "Don't Miss the Train" has several County citizens involved in the project and is available for purchase at the Tourism office. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Roulette reported on the opening of Black Rock Golf Course on April 20 and the seminar on rezoning sponsored by the State; Commissioner Irvin reported on the Transportation Commission meeting and announced that the commuter bus will begin operations on May I, she also reported on the Historical Advisory Committee and the Washington County Historical Trust meeting; and Commissioner Downey reported on the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council meeting. RESPONSE TO QUESTIONNAIRE - VOLUNTARY RECYCLING PROGRAM Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that 315 questionnaires were distributed to the St. James and Tammany areas regarding the voluntary recycling program and that 40% have been positive responses. Mr. Teach also suggested the possibility of municipalities adopting a similar program to help reduce costs by reducing the volume of refuse and to make technical information available to them. SECTION 18 OPERATING ASSISTANCE GRANT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to approve the submission of an appication for a Section 18 Operating Assistance Grant for the Washington County Commuter and Ride -Assist Programs as presented at the public hearing held on April 11, 1989. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT RENEWAL - TRANSPORT OF INDIGENT PATIENTS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to renew the contract for transportation of indigent patients for an additional one-year period with County Medical Transport, as provided for in their contract and as recommended by the Purchasing Agent, at the same rate. Unanimously approved. REZONING CASE RZ-417 The Commissioners agreed to keep Rezoning Case RZ-417 tabled until the County Attorney returns from Naval Reserve duty. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to approve the line item transfer as requested by the Sheriffs Department to transfer $5,887.50 from Prisoners Payroll (01-5-1221-529-170) to Capital Outlay - Office Furniture & Equipment (01-5-1221-687-000) and to transfer $1,219.95 from Judicial (01-5-1114- 413-000) and $1,055.80 from Dentention (01-5-1221-413-000) to Patrol Division - Temporary Wages (01-5-1201-413-000). Unanimously approved. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - HAGERSTOWN JUNIOR COLLEGE Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to approve the line item transfer of $6,368.91 within the Capital Improvement Budget for Hagerstown Junior College to improve the ventilation system in the Science Building, which are the funds remaining from the project to make physical modifications in the air handling system in the chemistry labs. Unanimously approved. APRIL 25, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. LINE ITEM TRANSFER - RECREATION COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to approve the line item transfer as proposed for the Recreation Commission to transfer $650 from Per Diem (01-5-1811-528-000), $650 from Gasoline and Diesel Fuel (01-5-1811-550-010), and $650 from Office Supplies (01-5-1811-513-000) to Wages - Temporary/Summer Help (01- 5-1811-413-000). Unanimously approved. PROPOSED ANNEXATION - CITY OF HAGERSTOWN Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to endorse the Petition for Annexation submitted by CSX Minerals, Inc., CSX Transportation, Inc., and Washington County Marketplace Associates, to the City of Hagerstown for the property known as "Valley Park". Unanimously approved. NAME FOR NEW CUL-DE-SAC Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to name the new cul-de-sac on Hump Road, Jamison Circle, after establishing that there are no similar road names existing in the County. Unanimously approved. TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT REPORT Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, introduced Barbara Mank of Integrated Systems Planning, the County's consultant on telecommunications, who presented an update on this project. Ms. Mank informed the Commissioners that the project began last July when the company inventoried all telephones and Centrex lines and they have also been working with C & P and AT&T to obtain necessary records and see the County was billed accurately. Based on the results of the questionnaire distributed and their findings, they put together a request for quotes to telephone vendors for budgetary purposes only. Ms. Mank gave figures on the present lease and some options that are available. She stated that the present amount for leasing telephones is $58,630.56 annually for the basic telephone and maintenance. Some alternatives available are: Purchase in Place - $93,536.83 for the first year and $1,094.10 each year thereafter for maintenance; Purchase of New Equipment - $187,086.34 for the first year and $13,129 annually thereafter for maintenance; and Five -Year Lease/Purchase - which would allow the purchase to be spread out over a five-year period. Ms. Mank presented a written report to the Commissioners for their review. C & P AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC TELEPHONE SERVICE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to endorse the Purchasing Agent's recommendations to accept C & P's new commission schedule for Public Telephone Service: 8% on Revenue $0-$60, 10% on Revenue $60.01-$120,12% on Revenue $120-$250, and 15% on Revenue over $250. Unanimously approved. BICENTENNIAL COMMUNITY DESIGNATION & VISIT FROM "GEORGE WASHINGTON" Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, and Marge Peters, representing the Historical Advisory Committee, appeared before the Commissioners to request that the Commissioners appoint the Historical Advisory Committee as the Ad -Hoc Committee for the Bicentennial Community. MOTION made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to appoint the Historical Advisory Committee to act as the Ad -Hoc Committee regarding participation in the Bicentennial Community. Unanimously approved. Jack Weihl, who was portraying George Washington, appeared before the Commissioners to recount the details of the ride from Mount Vernon to New York for the first inauguration. Commissioner Bowers presented a proclamation urging the citizens of Washington County to commemorate the 200th inauguration of Washington on April 30. BID OPENING - FLEET VEHICLES The bids for utility vehicles for Civil Defense Co. 28 and the Airport were publicly opened and read aloud. The following firms and their proposals were as follows: Hoffman Chevrolet: Airport - $16,212, Company 28 - $15,934; Martin Truck Company: Airport - $16,242, Company 28 - $16,223. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. APRIL 25, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. BID OPENING - WASHINGTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION - ADDITION TO COUNTY COMMUTER FACILITIES The bids for four phases of the addition to the County Commuter building were as follows: Phase I - Prime Contractors - Antietam Construction - $519,600; Perini Construction - $557,592 (Phase 11 - $82,000, Phase III - $64,000, Phase IV - $54,500 and Phase V - $39,000); Callas Contractors - $588,174 (Phase V - $43,935); Phase 11 - Mechanical (HVAC System): Shifler Electric Co. - $9275827 M. S. Johnston - $79,987, Robert F. Ziegler, Inc. - $78,888, James Craft & Son - $84,900; Phase III - Electrical - Ellsworth Electric - $65,500, Crum Electric - $67,250, Funk Electric Service, Inc. - $63,748, Shifler Electric - $6978007 Valentine Electric - $65,500; Phase IV - Plumbing: H.R. Ebersole - $59,865, Robert F. Ziegler, Inc. - $54,465, James F. Craft & Son - $58,000; Phase V - Sprinkler System: Kennedy Fire Protection - $21,460, Hub City Sprinklers - $22,500. The bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. PUBLIC HEARING - WEED CONTROL ORDINANCE The President convened the meeting in Public Hearing at 11:30 a.m. in order to hear comments regarding the proposed Weed Control Ordinance. Richard Parks, Director of Planning and Review, and Paul Prodonovich, Director of Permits & Inspections, reviewed the proposed ordinance which stated that weeds or grass shall be no higher than 12 inches on residential lots or lots of record developed residentially or a tract of land within a residentially zoned district existing adjacent to a recorded residential subdivision lot and a vacant lot must have a 60' mowed buffer if adjacent to a developed lot. Mr. Prodonovich stated that they are proposing that a warning letter be sent after they are notified of a violation, if they do not have the weeds cut a $25 fine would be levied for administrative costs and for the cost incurred for the County to have the weeds mowed. Commissioner Downey suggested that Section D be removed. Commissioner Bowers stated that the record will be held open for six (6) days in order to receive written testimony and the hearing was closed. PUBLIC HEARING - CDBG-ED APPLICATION - HJC ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER The Commissioners convened the meeting in Public Hearing at 11:00 a.m. to hear any comments regarding submittal of a Community Development Block Grant - Economic Development Application for funding for the Hagerstown Junior College Advanced Technology Center. Neil Curran, Program Planning Coordinator, explained that the grant request is for $640,000 - $62,000 for completion of labs, $460,000 for computer equipment, and $120,000 for materials and computer software. Charles Ernst, Director of the Advanced Technology Center, informed the Commissioners that the computer software and electrical equipment are not eligible for State Community College bond funds. Dr. Norman Shea, President of HJC, and Leroy R. Burtner, Director of the Economic Development Commission, spoke in favor of the project. No one was present to speak in oppostion and the hearing was closed. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to authorize submission of the Community Development Block Grant -Economic Development appliction to the State Department of Economic & Employment Development for the amount of $640,000 for completion of the Advanced Technology Center at Hagerstown Junior College. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR TAX ABATEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to abate the personal property taxes for Novan Manufacturing in the amount of $232.38 for the Fiscal Year 1988 on recommendation of the County Treasurer in view of the fact that the personal property of the corporation had been disposed of prior to the fiscal year 1988 tax year. Unanimously apporved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESION Moion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 11:50 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. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to reconvene in Regular Session at 1:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. BUDGET REVIEW James Young, Director of Finance, and Barry Teach reviewed the County departmental budget requests and the changes they have recommended. Mr. Young informed the Commissioners that they are recommending cutting $2,165,989 from the requested departmental and agency budgets. The Commissioners agreed with the proposed budget cuts which leave $2.3 million yet to be cut to maintain the current tax rate of $2.13 per $100 of assessed valuation. APRIL 25, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 2:45 p.m. EVENING SESSION - BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET HEARING The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. in Court Room #1 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 John S. Shank. Board of Education members B. Marie Byers, Janice Circincione, Boyd Michael, Kenneth Grove and Barbara Stansberry were also present and spoke in favor of funding the full budget requested. Dr. Wayne Gersen, Superintendent of Schools, and Wayne Stouffer, Director of Fiscal Services, presented the budget increase totaling $6,119,000 which includes $3,815,777 for salaries, $443,988 for fringe benefits and $824,000 in new positions. The Commissioners then opened the hearing to allow those in attendance to speak regarding the budget. No decisions were made at this time. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk