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HomeMy WebLinkAbout931221December 21, 1993 Hagerstown, Maryland 21.740 The Regular. Meeting of the Board of. County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Richard F. Roulette, with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin -Craig, Gregory I. Snook, and John S. Shank. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. 1992 HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD - SAVE HISTORIC ANTIETAM FOUNDATION Commissioner Roulette presented Tom Clercn, President of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation (SHAF), with a plaque honoring SHAF as the 1992 recipient of the County's Historic Preservation Award. Commissioner Roulette noted that this award is given annually to an individual or group in special recognition of efforts to promote historic preservation in Washington County. He then listed some of SHAF's activities and accomplishments since it was established in 1986. Mr. Clemens thanked the Commissioners for the award and for their help in many of SHAF's projects. PRESENTATION OF RETIREMENT PLAQUES Alan Davis, Director of Personnel, presented a retirement plaque to Frank Weller who is retiring from the Roads Department with 24 years of County employment. Mr. Davis stated that plaques will also be given to Ben Fisher and Richard West, who were unable to attend the meeting today, also retiring from the Roads Department. COMPENSATION STUDY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Michael. Hardy, Chairperson of the group appointed to study compensation for the Sheriff, State's Attorney and County Commissioners for the 1994-98 term of office, appeared before the Commissioners to formally present the committee's recommendations. Mr. Hardy presented the following recommendations for the Commissioners' consideration for presentation to the Delegation to the General. Assembly: 1) The compensation of the Sheriff of Washington County be set at $45,000 annually at the beginning of the next term and increase to $50,000 beginning with the third year and extending through the fourth year of the term; 2) The compensation of the State's Attorney be set at 85% of that for a District Court Judge; and 3) The compensation of the members of the Board of County Commissioners be set at $24,000 annually and $25,000 for the President. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Hardy and the committee members for their efforts, and the recommendations were taken under advisement. (Decision rendered later in the Afternoon Session.) AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT PRIORITY CHECKLIST Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, met with the Commissioners to present the revised priority ranking checklist for easement applicants which has been amended by the Advisory Board. Mr. Seifarth reviewed the changes made to assure that the County is selecting the best farms to be sent for evaluation in Annapolis. After discussion, the Commissionerstook this under advisement. BID AWARD — ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for an electronic voting system for the Election Board to Business Records Corporation (BRC) who submitted the low and only bid of $107,624 annually for Option 2 with a 7 year lease/purchase agreement and Annual Full Service Agreement, with the first payment to be made after July 1, 1994. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners suggested that the Election Board schedule several hands-on demonstrations for the public for use of the new machines prior to the 1994 elections. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 14, 1993 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of December 14, 1993, as submitted. Unanimously approved. GRANT AGRENENT - RENTAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve the grant agreement with the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development for an additional $6,000 from the Rental Allowance Program. Unanimously approved. AGREEMENT - RECORD -KEEPING AND ACTUARIAL SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Snoo , seconded by Shank, to enter into an agreement with William M. Mercer, Inc., for Record -Keeping and Actuarial Services for Washington County's retirement plan for $10,300 the first year, with an option to renew for $10,500 the second year, and $10,700 the third year. Unanimously approved. DECEMBER 21, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT OF CONCRETE RAMPS - LOW QUOTATION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin -Craig, to accept the low quotation of $19,400 submitted by Building Systems, Inc., for removal and replacement of a concrete ramp at the Regional Airport Fixed Base Operator. Building. Unanimously approved. REQUEST PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING - SEWAGE SLUDGE APPLICATION The Commissioners agreed to request the Department of the Environment to hold a public information meeting for applications for permits for sewage sludge utilization sites to agricultural lands on the Lohman property, Robert Carr, Steven Rhoton, and Wilbur Rhoton. TURNING POINT PRESENTATION Susan Sims, President of the Board o€ Directors of Turning Point, along with Roger Larson, Executive Director, and several of the Board members met with the Commissioners to present an overview of Turning Point and its philosophy. They clarified information previously presented to the Commissioners and also reviewed their system for processing complaints and concerns. ADDITIONAL FUNDING — ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve the request for additional funding for the enhanced 911 system in the FY 1995 Capital Improvement Program budget from $129,100 to $185,151, with the understanding that this will be fully reimbursed by State funding. Unanimously approved. VARIOUS PLANNING MATTERS — TEXT AMENDMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Bowers, to approve the amendment to Section 19.A.8. "Buffer Yards" in the HI -1 District with the understanding that there will be a comprehensive review of this section and future public hearing. Motion carried with Commissioners Snook, Bowers, and Roulette voting "AYE", Commissioner Irvin -Craig voting "NO", and Commissioner Shank "ABSTAINING". Text Amendment - RZ-93-11. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve Text Amendment RZ-93-11 as amended to read as follows: "Except as otherwise provided for in this ordinance, all lots, parcels or tracts either created prior to or after the adoption of this ordinance which are located in A, C, RR, RS, and RU districts shall be limited to one principal permitted residential. use on a lot, parcel, or tract." Unanimously approved. Subdivision Ordinance S-9 Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve Subdivision Ordinance S-9, amending Article II, Section 202- defined accessory structures, Article III - Section 318.1 simplified plat, and 318.3A - owner's statement. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Daniel Weiss expressed his concerns regarding the Sanitary Commission and his opinion that funds should be used to hire an engineering firm to see what should be done at the water intake and an audit should be performed. RECESS — RIBBON —CUTTING AND LUNCHEON The Commissioners recessed at 11:28 a.m. to attend a ribbon -cutting at Western Maryland Parkway and Community Action Council's annual luncheon. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:11 p.m. by the President Richard E. Roulette with the following members present: Vice President Ronald L. Bowers, and Commissioners Linda C. Irvin --Craig, John S. Shank, and Gregory I. Snook. ACCEPTANCE OF COMPENSATION COMMIITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to accept the recommendations of the Compensation Study Committee for salaries for the 1994-98 term of office for the Sheriff, the State's Attorney, and to accept the recommendation of the committee for the County Commissioners with the exception of keeping the President's salary at an additional $500 and to phase the increase in equally over a 4 year period. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR SECOND PRISON WORK CREW Barry Teach, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that he spoke to the Warden at MCTC regarding the County's request for a second work crew. He indicated that the State said it could make the manpower available if the County can provide supervision. Mr. Teach asked if the Commissioners were interested in paying for supervision of a second crew with the State being responsible for recruitment and obtaining the supervision. The Commissioners agreed to this DECEMBER 21, 1993 MINUTES, CONT'D. arrangement with funding to be taken from the Roads Department budget and to have the County Attorney draw up an agreement. FOREST CONSERVATION ORDINANCE Robert Arch, Director of the Planning Department, and Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, presented amendments to the Forest Conservation Ordinance to accommodate an express procedure for minor subdivisions of 1-5 lots. Mr. Goodrich reviewed the eligibility requirements to utilize this procedure. The Commissioners gave their approval to continue with the amendment to the Forest Conservation Ordinance and to advertise the amendment for public hearing. AGREEMENT FOR PROVISION ON DEPUTIES - TOWN OF BOONSBORO Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the agreement between Washington County, the Sheriff's Department, and the Town of Boonsboro for provision of. 2 deputies for the Town at a cost of $62,390, effective January 1, 1994. Unanimously approved. PAYMENT -IN -LIEU OF TAXES POLICY - SENIOR CITIZENS HOUSING Motion made by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, seconded by Snook, to approve the Payment -in -Lieu of Taxes Policy for senior citizen housing for abatement of $100 per housing unit, as submitted by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION FOR FACSIMILE SIGNATURES - FIRST NATIONAL BANK Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Irvin -Craig, to approve a Resolution for facsimile signatures for Richard E. Roulette, President, and Joni L. Bittner, Clerk, on the Payroll Account for First National Bank of Maryland. Unanimously approved. SANITARY DISTRICT - CALCULATION OF UNIFORM SEWAGE TREATMENT RATES Lynn Palmer, Executive Director of the Sanitary District, met with the Commissioners to present scenarios to combine wastewater treatment plant rates to create a uniform rate. He stated that this would place the quarterly rate in the $60 range, and would possibly include subdistricts 1, 4-1, 5, 5-1, 9-1, 18, and 19. it was the consensus of the Commissioners to have the Sanitary District move ahead with the plan. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin -Craig, to convene in Executive Session at 3:06 p.m. with 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. Commissioner. Bowers was excused from the Meeting at 3:45 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:07 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Board of County Commissioners discussed three personnel matters and a property matter. EMPLOY SECRETARY I — HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin -Craig, seconded by Shank, to employ Starlet Goeins as Secretary I in the Housing & Community Development office to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. MFLOY MAINTENANCE ASSISTANg'/STOCK otion made by Commissioner Shank, aintonance Assistant/Stock Clerk acancy. Unanimously approved. CLERK — COUNTY COMMUTER seconded by Snook, to employ Ellis at the County Commuter to fill an Snyder as existing EMPLOY MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin -Craig, to employ Larry Whitson as Maintenance Technician in the Housing & Community Development since the previous applicant chosen did not meet the physical eligibility standards for the position. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Snook, to adjourn at 4:08 p.m. Unanimously approved. ty'Attorney Clerk