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HomeMy WebLinkAbout891107November 7, 1989 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was convened 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 Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - SEPTEMBER 1989 Commissioner Irvin presented Jeremy Newkirk with a Certificate of Merit honoring him as the Youth of the Month for September 1989, as recommended by the Children's Council. Commissioner Irvin noted that Jeremy's activities include participation in the Boy Scouts, his church youth group, chorus, band, and Science Club, among others. Jeremy thanked the Commissioners for the Certificate and commented on his future plans. BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS Leroy Burtner, Director of the Economic Development Commission, presented the three winners of the Beautification Awards recognizing outstanding business properties. Mr. Burtner stated that 17 nominations were received for consideration by the Advertising and Promotion Committee of the Economic Development Commission. Commissioner Bowers presented plaques to Burger King - Pennsylvania Avenue, Callas Contractors, and Tri-State Community Health Center. Mr. Burtner stated that a permanent plaque will be located in the Court House naming award winners for each year. STATUS REPORT - ADMINISTRATION BUILDING RENOVATION Jack Burrey, architectural consultant, and Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Planning and Codes Administration, met with the Commissioners to update them with regard to the renovation of the Administration Building. Mr. Rohrer and Mr. Burrey reviewed schematic drawings of the second floor office space, conference rooms and the new meeting room. Mr. Rohrer stated that the new meeting room will provide seating for 48 persons and will also be accessible to the handicapped. The Commissioners made several changes to the plans and scheduled time to meet with Mr. Rohrer to walk through the building. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Downey reported on the Health Department expansion; Commissioner Irvin reported on the Historic District Commission meeting; and Commissioner Roulette reported on the Planning Commission meeting. CLARIFICATION - PETITION REGARDING PROPOSED MOVIE RENTAL TAX Barry Teach, County Administrator, acknowledged that a petition was received in opposition to placing a tax on movie rentals. Mr. Teach clarified that this was a proposal by the Municipal League and not the County government or County Commis- sioners, and the petition will be returned with an explanation that concerns should be directed to municipal officials and the Delegation to the General Assembly. AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM - LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS Eric Seifarth, Agricultural Planner, explained the funding cycles and procedures for the Agricultural Preservation Program and requested that the Commissioners formally allocate the local share of the Agricultural Transfer tax as the matching funds for purchase of easements. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to continue to allocate all of the local share of the Agricultural Transfer Tax as the local matching funds for the purchase of agricultural preservation easements in Washington County for Fiscal Year 1990. Unanimously approved. PEN MAR WATER & SEWER PETITIONS The Commissioners considered two petitions received opposing the Sanitary Commission's decision to install public water and sewer facilities in the Pen Mar area. Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, informed the Commissioners that the water system will have 79 hookups and there were 32 signatures in opposition on the petition. Mr. Palmer also stated that the sewer project will receive 87 1/2% funding from the Farmers Home Administration and other State grants and may be eligible for an I. & A. grant and HUD funds. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to uphold the Sanitary Commission's decision to proceed with installation of public water in the Pen Mar area in view of the State and Federal funding grants available for this project. Unanimously approved. NOVEMBER 7, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette, to uphold the Sanitary Commission's decision to proceed with installation of public sewer in the subdistrict. Unanimously approved. STATUS REPORT - GROUNDWATER SURVEY Dr. John Neill, Health Officer, and Rod McRae, Sanitarian, reported on the groundwater quality sampling program instituted by the Health Department in conjunction with the Sanitary District at the request of the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. McRae informed the Commissioners that the sample points will be selected by sanitarians from the Environmental Health staff and they will be sampling at least 140 points across the County. He also informed the Commissioners that only wells drilled as of 1981 have been used since those wells are of a known common construction standard. Samples will be tested for bacteriologic quality, nitrate levels and turbidity. Mr. McRae noted that test results done to date show that there has been no significant change in groundwater quantity. Barry Teach stated that this will be an effective planning tool and that testing will begin in the Hagerstown metropolitan area to work in conjunction with the water and sewer facility study being done with the City. CHARLESTON RELIEF FUND DRIVE RECOGNITION Paulette Sprinkle, Community Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners along with the volunteers involved in the Charleston Relief Fund Drive. Ms. Sprinkle stated that three tractor -trailer loads of building supplies, pharmaceutical supplies, clothing and food were shipped and that volunteers worked diligently on this effort. Commissioner Bowers presented certificates to John and Vickie Merrbaugh, Mack Trucks, Inc., D. M. Bowman, Inc., Allegany County, Frederick County and Wayne Billmyer. Commissioner Irvin presented certificates of recognition to Boat America and their employees: Jeff Snyder, Jeff Mahoney, Darlene Shoemaker, Cindy Minnick, Joe Garvin, Freida Kenny, Wanda King, Dan Powers, Wendy Ramsey, Mark Michael and Jim Braden. Commissioner Roulette presented certificates to Packaging Services, Inc, Whitaker Moving Systems, Inc., Roy Rogers and American Home Furnishings. Commissioner Shank presented certificates to the Herald Mail Company, WQCM Radio and David Miller, Hoffman Transport and Jack Henrietta, driver. Commissioner Downey presented certificates to Sheriff Mades and also asked him to present five certificates to inmates who helped in the effort. James Young, Director of Finance, presented Commissioner Bowers with a check in the amount of $4,142.50, representing the donations from County residents for the relief fund, which will be mailed to the City of Charleston. Commissioner Bowers also thanked Ms. Sprinkle for coordinating the effort and for the time she spent on this project. APPLICATION - MARYLAND CONSERVATION CORP Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Roulette, to authorize the Parks Department to submit an application to the Maryland Conservation Corp for a crew to perform further work at Devil's Backbone Park next summer, to include upgrading of 1500' of the nature trail and landscaping projects. Unanimously approved. SANITARY COMMISSION - DATA PROCESSING NEEDS Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, along with members of the Sanitary Commission and staff, appeared before the Commissioners to present their request for new computer equipment and a software package. Mr. Palmer stated that COMAR regulations require that separate account books be maintained for each subdistrict and the needs cannot be met by the system which the County utilizes for both the accounting and engineering needs of their projects. Mr. Palmer estimated that it would cost between $150,000 and $160,000 for the equipment and software needed, which the Sanitary District would pay through the Administration Accounts of the subdistricts and these accounts would be reimbursed through a bond issue or short-term note. Ron Whitt, Director of the Data Processing Department, stated that the problems with the County system could be resolved but certain applications they require for engineering would require IBM architecture and would have to run off a separate system. The Commissioners asked that an independent systems analyst be retained, possibly through Hagerstown Junior College, to study the County's computer system and the request made by the Sanitary Commission before making a decision. FUNDING ADVANCE - SCATTERED SITE HOUSING PROJECT Kathleen Riley, Chief, Division of Citizens Services, and Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, appeared before the Commissioners to request assistance with the Scattered Site Housing Project. Mr. Willson informed the Commissioners that the closing deadlines for four properties the Housing Authority has under option for the first phase of the project will expire in the next 10 days, and HUD has advised that approximately 80 days will be required for NOVEMBER 7, 1989 MINUTES, CONT'D. processing and review. Mr. Willson asked that the Commissioners provide the necessary funds to purchase these four properties and that the Housing Authority would then reimburse the County when funding is received from HUD. Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette, to advance $240,300 to the Department of Housing & Community Development for purchase of four properties for the Scattered Site Housing Project, with the contingency that the funds are reimbursable from the Department of Housing & Urban Development for this project. Unanimously approved. BEAVER CREEK ROAD/ROUTE 40 INTERSECTION PROJECT The Commissioners discussed the proposed closing and reconstruction of a new access at the Beaver Creek Road and Route 40 intersection. The total project cost is estimated at $122,000 of which the State has agreed to provide $50,000 of inspection services, and the developer will pay $50,000 toward the geometric improvements, and they are requesting that the County pay the remaining $22,000 needed to complete the project. The Commissioners asked to see drawings of the proposed intersection before making a decision. CHANGE ORDER - MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve a Change Order submitted by Kline Associated Roofing, Inc., for $3,500 needed to make additional repairs to the east -west expansion joint on the roof at the Martin Luther King Center. Unanimously approved. ACCEPTANCE OF ROADWAY INTO COUNTY ROADS SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to accept the unnamed entrance road located on the north side into the Chestnut Grove Park into the County roads system. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Shank, to convene in Executive Session at 1:55 p.m. in regard to personnel, property and legal 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 Downey, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. ACCEPTANCE OF AGREEMENTS - BRIGHTWOOD ACRES EAST, COLLEGE ROAD & HARPERS FERRY ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Roulette, to conditionally accept the following agreements: A subdivision agreement for 3100'+/- in the remaining part of Section A and all of Section C in the Brightwood Acres East subdivision with a 1 -year Maintenance Bond in the amount of $15,000; An Easement Agreement for 1,290 sq. ft. +/- deeded to Fred G. Norris on College Road for no consideration; and Option Agreement acceptances for 3,328 sq. ft +/- deeded to John B. and Mamie V. Bartlett, Sr., on Harpers Ferry Road for $1,500 and 4,308 sq. ft. +/- deeded to Charles M. and Darlene Bartlett for $1,500 on Harpers Ferry Road. Unanimously approved. BEAVER CREEK ROAD/ROUTE 40 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey, to approve up to $22,000 as the County portion for geometric improvements to the Beaver Creek Road/Route 40 intersection project. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin, to adjourn at 2:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk