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HomeMy WebLinkAbout890502May 2, 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 John S. Shank. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was given by Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES J. Theodore Wolford, Superintendent of the Roads Department, introduced new employees Rodney Bowers and Terry Keefer who are employed at the Western Section office; Robert Davenport, Director of Landfills, introduced Mike Shifler and Dennis Brown, the new Weigh Clerks at the Landfill; and Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, introduced Diane Nowell Griffin, the new Rental Assistance Programs Manager. HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEEK Elizabeth Earley, Co -Chairperson of the Historic Preservation Council, appeared before the Commissioners to invite them to Historic Preservation Week activities and also to present the poster advertising this event. DETENTION CENTER ADDITION PLANS Sheriff Mades distributed copies of the plans for Part II of the new jail facility, which are being sent to State Planning, to the Commissioners for their review and promised to update them on this project periodically. MARCH YOUTH OF THE MONTH - STEPHANIE FANN Commissioner Irvin presented Stephanie Fann with a Certificate of Merit naming her as the Youth of the Month for March 1989, as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Irvin explained that Stephanie was nominated by the Vice Principal at South High and the Boy's Club, where she works as advisor to the "Just Say No Club" and coordinates many other projects. Stephanie is also involved with the Junior Optimist's Club and the March of Dimes. CHILDREN'S COUNCIL COLORING BOOKS Robert Storer and Carol Barnhart, Co -chairpersons of the Children's Council presented the Commissioners with copies of the new coloring books illustrated by local artists for the Family Friendly waiting areas. Commissioner Irvin, the Commissioner -representative to the Children's Council, presented a Certificate of Merit to Michael Morsett, Robert Essex, and Cia Czechanski, of the Review and Herald Publishing Company for publishing the coloring book at no cost to the Children's Council. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT - CAC & SALVATION ARMY Cheryl Walkley, Executive Assistant at Community Action Council, and Capt. Darrell Kingsbury, director of the Salvation Army, appeared before the Commissioners to request their approval to submit an application for a $50,000 grant that is available through the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant Program. Ms. Walkley stated that Community Action Council would like to request $20,630 for expansion of shelter facilities and the Salvation Army, $34,200 in a joint request. The agencies agreed to compromise to cut their funding requests to meet the $50,000 limit. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to authorize the Community Action Council to submit an application for Emergency Shelter Grant Program funds in the amount of $50,000, for use by the CAC and Salvation Army. Unanimously approved. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Irvin reported on the Children's Council meeting and the Airport Commission meeting and Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting. FISCAL YEAR 1989-91 HIGHWAY ELEMENT The Commissioners, in their capacity as Metropolitan Planning Organization, considered the Fiscal Year 1989-91 Highway Element of the Transportation Improvement Program. Barry Teach, County Administrator, explained that this enables the County to review the State's plans for this period. James Brittain, Director of the Planning Commission, and Richard Kautz, Director of the Planning Department for the City of Hagerstown, were in attendance for the discussion. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to endorse the Fiscal Year 1989-1991 Highway Element of the State's Transportation Improvement Program. Unanimously approved. MAY 2, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. PROPOSED T -HANGAR FEES Barry Teach, presented the new airport t -hangar and tie -down fees which the Airport Commission has proposed. The Commissioners had no objections to the proposed fees. NAME - WASHINGTON COUNTY REGIONAL PARK Barry Teach informed the Commissioners that the Park Board has recommended that the recreational area next to Black Rock Golf Course be named the Black Rock Recreation Area. The Commissioners decided not to rename the area but to keep the name Washington County Regional Park. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT - MISS MARYLAND SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Roulette, to provide a supplemental appropriation of $1500 to the Tourism Department to be used to assist the Miss Maryland Scholarship Committee with the rental of the Maryland Theatre. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - WASHINGTON COUNTY LAND COMPANY The President convened the meeting in Public Hearing at 11:05 a.m. to hear public comments regarding the land exchange advertised by the Board of County Commissioners with the Washington Land Company. The County will receive 13.898 acres adjacent to the Washington County Regional Park and will convey 12.499 acres. John Urner, attorney for three property owners in the area, spoke in favor of the proposed exchange and state that his clients have an agreement with Mr. Sheedy, owner of the property, and one condition of the agreement is the subject land exchange. Mr. Sheedy also stated that he is agreeable and supportive of this action. There was no one present to speak in oppostiion. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey, to authorize the proposed land exchange, as advertised, and express their intent that the agreements between Mr. Sheedy and Mr. Urner's clients be carried out. Unanimously approved. WEED CONTROL ORDINANCE Pursuant to the public hearing held on April 25 and the comments submitted in writing, a MOTION was made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to adopt the proposed Weed Conrol Ordinance with the following amendments: deletion of Paragraph (d) in Section I regarding the 60' buffer strip, to increase the penalty charge to $50 and to amend the allowable height of the weeds to 18". Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to amend the Main Motion to include an implementation date of May 15, 1989. Unanimously approved. The Question was called on the Main Motion, as amended. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 11:25 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. RECESS -LUNCH The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:05 p.m. in order to attend a luncheon sponsored by the Homemaker's Council, and reconvened in Executive Session at 1:30 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION & HISTORICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin, to appoint Susan Frye and Larry Miller, subject to his willingness to serve, to the Historic District Commission for terms extending to May 2, 1992, and to appoint Elizabeth Earley, historic representative, and Ann Corcoran, as agricultural representative, to the Historical Advisory Committee. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY PART-TIME BUS DRIVERS - COUNTY COMMUTER Motion by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to employ Carol Kendle, Marsha Davies and Buddy Foley as Part-time Bus Drivers for Summer/Saturday work when needed at the County Commuter, to fill existing vacancies. Unanimously approved. MAY 2, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. DIRECTOR - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to confirm Richard Willson as Director of Housing & Community Development based on his satisfactory completion of the probationary period. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - UTILITY VEHICLES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to award the bid for a utility vehicle for the Airport to Hoffman Chevrolet, who submitted the low bid meeting specifications of $16,212 and to award the bid for a utility vehicle for Civil Defense Company 28 to Hoffman Chevrolet who submitted the low bid meeting specifications of $15,934. Unanimously approved. BUDGET REVIEW James Young, Director of Finance, and James Brittain, Director of the Planning Commission, reviewed the proposed budget changes for expenditures and revenues. Mr. Young stated that by projecting an 8 1/2% increase in income tax revenue and 8 1/2% interest rate for return on investments and utilizing an additional $200,000 from the Highway Fund and $200,000 in surplus from the Capital Budget, revenues would increase by $756,000; coupled with proposed budget cuts of $1,597,673, the budget would be balanced for the next fiscal year. The proposed budget cuts include $957,419 from the Board of Education, representing a 1.3% reduction in the Board's proposed budget. Mr. Teach stated that the Board of Education will receive $2.785 million from the County and the largest increase in the operating budget funds ever given by the Commissioners to them. The Commissioners agreed to the proposed budget changes but asked that the cuts in the Board of Education budget be with the condition that they not affect any formal negotiated agreements with employee groups or the funding of those positions which are affected by the loss of federal and state revenues. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 4:15 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney Clerk