HomeMy WebLinkAbout190430 OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
April 30, 2019
MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A moment of silence was observed, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full
assemblage.
CALL TO ORDER
President Jeffrey A. Cline called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of
Washington County, Maryland, to order at 8:05 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113,
Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice President Teny L. Baker and
Commissioners Wayne K. Keefer, Cort F. Meinelschmidt, and Randall E. Wagner.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the minutes of April
23, 2019. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Keefer attended the 2019 Congressional Fire Institute Emergency Services Dinner
and Awards with students from Washington County Technical High School Homeland Security
class; he shared that several students were honored at the event. Additionally, he attended the 2019
MEDA Awards Banquet where Washington County received the Marketing Award for Making
Connections Campaign.
Commissioner Wagner congratulated staff for the MEDA award and thanked Commissioner Keefer
for representing the Commissioners. He also thanked firefighters and EMS staff for their support at
today's meeting.
President Cline congratulated the Technical High School Homeland Security student award winners.
He also congratulated staff for the MEDA Marketing Award and shared his appreciation for
Commissioner Keefer attending on behalf of the Commissioners. He thanked staff and volunteers
for attending today's meeting.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
County Administrator
Rob Slocum followed up with discussion regarding the MEDA award. He shared that Hagerstown
received the Ag Pitch A ward for Small Community.
CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION
Kevin Lewis, 8916 Light Street, Williamsport, discussed staffing with Emergency Services and
urged the Board to follow the advice of upcoming presenters at today's meeting.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASE: TWO FORD POLICE
INTERCEPTOR UTILITY VEHICLES, SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Rick Cuny, Director, Purchasing Depaitment, and Cody Miller, Sheriffs Office, recommended
authorizing by resolution, the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase (INGT-19-0016) with
Howard County, Maryland, contract ( 4400003197) awarded to Hertrich Fleet Service, Inc., of
Milford, Delaware, for the purchase of two (2) Ford Police Interceptor utility vehicles at a cost of
$33,916 each. Mr. Cuny shared that funds are budgeted in the Sheriffs Office Capital Improvement
Plan, account number VEH006.
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OPEi\! Session, April 30, 2019
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to authorize by resolution
the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase relating to the purchase of two (2) Ford Police
Interceptor utility vehicles for the Sheriffs Office, from Hertrich Fleet Services, Inc., as presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS-2019-11 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
Commissioners recessed at 8:23 a.m. and returned to the meeting at 8:27 a.m.
Commissioners returned to Citizens' Participation since the meeting was moving ahead of scheduled
times.
CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION
Joseph Jefferson, 1321 Glenwood Avenue, Hagerstown, discussed his personnel dispute with the
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Center (CVB). Mr. Jefferson was advised
that his concern is a personnel issue with the CVB and is not an issue to which the Commissioners
can offer a resolution.
Joanna Bingaman: 28 East Sunset Avenue, Williamsport, urged the Board to listen to the Command
Staff when discussing unity for EMS.
PROPOSAL FOR PILOT AGREEMENT FOR ROCKDALE SOLAR, LLC
Andrew Wilkinson, Esquire, and Tom Anderson, Rockdale Solar, LLC, had been asked to return to
the Commissioners after first presenting a request for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)
agreement on April 23, 2019 before the Board. Mr. Wilkinson provided the Commissioners with a
brief update on the previous presentation. He provided information regarding cmTent construction
status, the labor force, and the PILOT levels in other counties.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the PILOT
agreement at $6,500 per megawatt per year for 25 (twenty-five) years, subject to decommissioning
and abandonment language incorporated into the written agreement and executed by the President.
The motion passed 3-2. (Vice-President Baker and Commissioner Keefer voted "NAY")
Commissioner Meinelschmidt presented the recommendation to the Board that the County consider
the adoption of a solar rate program. Staff will provide the Commissioners with cun-ent regulations
concerning Solar Energy Generating Systems as established in the Zoning Ordinance.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Gary Hoffman, Jr. EMS Coordinator, Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS; Ward Fleiger, EMS
Committee Co-Chair, Smithsburg Area Emergency Medical Services, Robert Buck, Assistant Chief,
Community Rescue Service, and Todd Smith, 2nd Vice-President of Washington County Volunteer
Fire and Rescue Association, discussed the formation of a unified EMS organization, merging of
staff into one system. Additionally, they have recommended a workforce group be established to
recognize issues, financial options, and to find a viable method to merge the units into one.
Vice-President Baker left the meeting at 9:41 a.m. and returned at 9:43 a.m.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Dave Hays, Director, Division of Emergency Services; Dave Chisholm, Assistant Director, Division
of Emergency Services; and Robert Moncrief, President, Washington County Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Association (WCVFRA), discussed EMS staffing issues and resolutions. Mr. Hays stated
that staff and WCVFRA recommends option 1, which includes hiring up to 49 ALS providers at a
cost of $832,667.33 (in addition to the 30% billing and existing EMS staffing subsidy).
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OPEN Session, April 30, 2019
Commissioner Meinelschmidt left the meeting at 10:05 a.m. and returned at 10:07 a.m.
FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET
Sara Greaves, Chief Financial Officer, and Rob Slocum presented the board with information
regarding the fiscal year 2020 (FY20) proposed General Fund Budget.
Commissioner Wagner left the meeting at 11:01 a.m. and returned at 11:04 a.m.
Ms. Greaves shared a change to an attachment as previously presented to include:
Total Budget Increase $1,984,850 (from $1,962,110); 11 (from 13) new Pre-K Teachers, 11 (from
14) Paraprofessionals, 1 (from 2) new Tech Positions.
Ms. Greaves reviewed the line items in the proposed budget with the Commissioners for
informational purposes.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to adjourn at 11 :33 a.m. The
motion passed unanimously.
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Krista L. Hart, County Clerk