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HomeMy WebLinkAbout180530BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND Hagerstown, Maryland May 30, 2018 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Barr offered the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CALL TO ORDER President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 2:06 p.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr, Wayne K. Keefer and LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. EMERGENCY RELATED CONTRACTS FOR SOUTH COUNTY County Administrator Rob Slocum advised of measures taken to re -open roads and return services to citizens after the devastating storm and flooding event on May 15 in southern Washington County. He noted that the County would be continually updating its website with the latest information and would lift the State of Emergency declaration once certain emergency contracts are approved. Scott Hobbs, Director of Engineering, discussed the need to proceed with certain emergency related on-call contracts due to the damage sustained during the significant flooding event. He indicated that one contract relates to dewatering and repairing the culvert at Chestnut Grove Road to expedite the opening of the road. The work will include utilizing current on-call State contracts and preparing condensed bids. Several roads have remained closed due to damage, including the 2500 Block of Chestnut Grove Road, north of Mt. Lock Hill Road. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to proceed with emergency -related contracts to dewater and repair the culvert at Chestnut Grove Road to expedite the opening of that road as presented and also to agree to reduce the time frame for the receipt of bids/responses for certain necessary contracts that will be processed through the County's procurement process in order to expedite the awarding of these contracts. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hobbs discussed the condition of other structures in the south County area and the plan to pursue a design build project for replacing a one -lane bridge on Garretts Mill Road with a two-lane bridge, which will involve a longer timeframe. He indicated that updated maps are being placed on the County's website as soon as they are available. PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT AND MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN LANDFILL RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 Sara Greaves, Chief Financial Officer, Budget and Finance, and Dave Mason, Deputy Director, Solid Waste, initiated a discussion of the proposed modifications to certain May 30, 2018 Page 2 landfill rates and fees for Fiscal Year 2019. The Commissioners held a public hearing on April 24, 2018 regarding the proposed rates and discussed those rates on May 22, 2018 without reaching a final decision. The proposed Solid Waste Budget for FY 19 is $8,121,710 and the shortfall would be $430,000 if the fee modifications are not approved. The proposed rates reflect the current and projected cost of landfill and recycling operations. Sara Greaves discussed the history of the Solid Waste Fund that is an Enterprise Fund and as such, operates much like a private -sector business. It is primarily self -supported through user fees which cover the cost of services provided. The Fund is self -supported with the exception of an annual transfer from the General Fund to cover the costs associated with closed landfill sites. Dave Mason discussed five options prepared by staff for consideration by the County Commissioners in lieu of the modifications proposed earlier: Option 1 assumes the $250,000 loan repayment plus reduced fee increases for a total budget increase of $455,500. Option 2 assumes the $250,000 loan repayment plus adjustments to tipping fees; tipping fee increases are $186,660 for atotal budget increase of $440,500. Option 3 assumes the $250,000 loan repayment plus adjustments to permit fees and the minimum charge. Permit fee increases equal $65,300 with a minimum increase of $15 instead of $10 ($130,000), totaling $445,300 for a total permit revenue of $890,400. Option 4 reduces several proposed fee increases and postpones hiring a new full time employee. Option 5 involves cuts to services, staff, and staff hours that would require Union approval, for a total of $439,973. Landfill operations might have to be reduced using this option. The Commissioners discussed the fees and services relating to the proposed options. Commissioner Keefer stated that he would like to see the sticker permit fee remain a constant $130 with other fees being flexible. Commissioner Cline suggested that the fee for the disposal of mattresses and box springs remain incorporated as a weight charge in lieu of charging $10 due to potential littering concerns. Commissioner Baker approved of the fee for the disposal of tires that is reduced in Option 1. County Administrator Rob Slocum stated that the County plans to work with the Maryland Department of the Environment to recycle more tires or obtain a tire shredder. The Commissioners discussed their desire to keep the full time operator position in the budget due to increased activity at the landfill. They generally agreed that Option 1 included the compromise they were seeking. May 30, 2018 Page 3 Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Myers, moved to approve Option 1 for the modifications to certain landfill rates and charges for Fiscal Year 2019 and adopt a resolution as to those rates and charges, rules and regulations. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution RS -2018-11 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.) ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2019 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET Sara Greaves and Kim Edlund, Deputy Director, Budget and Finance, stated that the Fiscal Year 2019 General Fund (Operating) and Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budgets, which include all funds, amount to $328,752,270. The Operating Budget of $229,639,310 represents a 2.64% increase or $5.6 million over the FY 18 budget and the CIP Budget is $43,958,000. The FY 19 proposed budget is balanced with no increase in the property tax and income tax rates. The Commissioners discussed the Operating Budget. Commissioner Cline commented that he did not support keeping funding in the budget for a proposed Multipurpose Center because the details have not been discussed enough by the Commissioners and it might compete with other venues. Commissioner Myers stated that perhaps smaller community centers in outlying areas of the County would better serve citizens. Funding for a Multipurpose Center contains $400,000, of which $250,000 is derived from Program Open Space (POS) funding. Jim Sterling, Public Works Director, advised that the POS money would be shifted to assist other POS projects expected to be discussed by a committee in June. The remaining $150,000 could be moved into a contingency fund until its use is determined by the current or future Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners discussed that such funding could be used toward additional school vestibules, south County storm damage costs or funding requests expressed by the public during the County's budget hearing that included the Senior Activity Center and emergency services. The decision will be made after the POS options are discussed during a future County Commissioners' meeting. Commissioner Myers, seconded by Keefer, moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Improvement Project Budget as discussed with $150,000 from a proposed Multipurpose Center being placed into a contingency fund until its use is determined. The motion passed unanimously. The Commissioners discussed the General Fund. Commissioner Cline expressed his preference that four 9-1-1 Call Takers be hired for the Emergency Communications Center if possible in lieu of two planned in the budget. Rob Slocum and Dave Hays, Director, Emergency Services, discussed the costs to afford two more employees at this time and the plan to improve the quality of Call Taker positions over the quantity through higher pay scales, shorter work shifts, more breaks and providing a career path for longevity. Commissioner Cline agreed to the two Call Taker positions in the budget based on what was discussed and asked to be provided regular updates on how the plan is working. May 30, 2018 Page 4 Commissioner Myers, seconded by Keefer, moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2019 General Fund (Operating) Budget as presented and to further adopt the specified FY 2019 property tax rates as presented and discussed. The motion passed unanimously. LIFTING OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION Commissioner Cline, seconded by Barr, moved to lift the State of Emergency declaration entered into on May 16, 2018. The motion passed unanimously. SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO ZONING — FORMER WINTER STREET SCHOOL Susan Small, Business Leader, Business Development, requested the consent of the Commissioners to the proposed filing for a special exception by the contract purchaser of the Winter Street School with the City of Hagerstown relating to the planned use of the former Winter Street School property. The consent of the Commissioners is required for this filing because the County is still the owner of the property. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Keefer, moved to consent to the filing for a special exception by the contract purchaser with the City of Hagerstown relating to the former Winter Street School property. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Myers, seconded by Barr, moved to adjourn at 3:19 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Robert J. Slocum, County Administrator John M. Martirano, County Attorney Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk