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HomeMy WebLinkAbout190507 OPEN MinutesI Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland Open Session Minutes May 7, 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 to order at 12:01 p.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113, Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice-President Terry 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 30, 2019. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Baker discussed the cap to residential taxes and the process of application. Commissioner Wagner asked for a listing of all programs available which could provide tax breaks for citizens. Sara Greaves, Director of Budget and Finance, shared that the information posted on the County's website and will be included in the Citizens' Guide at the upcoming budget hearing. President Cline attended the Motorcycle Awareness Event at the MVA and the Business Breakfast of Hospice. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Office of Grant Management Susan Buchanan, Director, advised the Commissioners of a funding request to be granted from the Hotel Rental Tax Fund in the amount of $3,510 to fund traffic control for the Antietam VELO Club's "Tour of Washington County Kickoff Criterium and Stage Race" to be held June 14-16. Ms. Buchanan informed the Commissioners that a grant of $1,000 was recently awarded from the General Fund Contingency to be used toward Interfaith Service Coalition, Inc. for its Reflective 911 Sign Initiative. Budget and Finance Ms. Greaves shared information regarding the County's Bond Rating, adding that it has remained unchanged. Additionally, she shared information regarding the bond sale held today. County Administrator Rob Slocum brought forth a request from Mr. Weaver on behalf of the Town of Sharpsburg, asking for the County's model for sewer rates. The Commissioners reached a consensus to share the model, as permissible by the licensing agreement. CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION None PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JULIANNA ALBOWICZ Commissioner Cline presented a proclamation to Julianna Albowicz in recognition of her dedication to service with Washington County. Page 2 of 5 OPEN Session, May 7, 2019 PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY AS "TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH" Commissioner Wagner presented a proclamation to The Community Free Clinic in recognition of May as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. SENIOR CITIZEN OPERATING FUND GRANT Allison Hartshorn, Grant Manager, Grant Management, and Amy Olack, Executive Director, Commission on Aging, recommended approval to submit an application for the Senior Citizens Activities Center Operating Fund Grant to the Maryland Department of Aging in the amount of $36,308.76, and to accept awarded funding. The proposed funding will be used to offset the cost of salary for the Assistant Manager of the Senior Activities Center. Commissioner Baker made a motion and withdrew said motion. Commissioner Cline discussed use of funding and success of programs. Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve the application and to accept the awarded funding as presented. The motion passed unanimously. CONTRACT BID AW ARD PUR-1393 KAETZEL TRANSFER STATION RETAINING WALL Rick Curry, Director, Purchasing Department, and David Mason, Deputy Director, Solid Waste, recommended award for the Kaetzel Transfer Station Retaining Wall project to Outdoor Contractor, Inc., Hancock, Maryland, who submitted the lowest total sum bid in the amount of $198,877.36 (for items 1.0 through 8.02, and plus contingent items Cl through C4). Project completion is within ninety (90) consecutive calendar days of the Notice to Proceed, with liquidated damages in the sum of $500 for each consecutive day beyond contract completion. Funds in the amount of$207,000 are available in the departments Capital Improvement Project, account 21-21010 LDI060. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to award Contract PUR1393 to Outdoor Contractor, Inc. in the amount of$198,877.36 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. CONTRACT BID AW ARD PUR-1416 REPAIR OF ONE AIRPORT FIRE FIGHTING VEHICLE Mr. Curry, and Garrison Plessinger, Director, Hagerstown Regional Airport, recommended contract award for the repair of one (I) Airport Fire Fighting Vehicle to Emergency Vehicle Specialist, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland, in the amount of $59,371. Funds are budgeted in the departments operating account 45-45080. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to award Contract PUR1416 to Emergency Vehicle Specialist, Inc. in the amount of $59,371 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. REIMBURSEMENT OF DESIGN COSTS FOR MARYLAND THEATRE EXPANSION Ms. Buchanan recommended approval for $345,225 of reimbursable design costs from the Governor's Capital Bond bill for the Urban Improvement Project be directed to the Maryland Theatre as additional County support for its expansion project. Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the request as presented. The motion passed unanimously. HOTEL RENTAL TAX FUNDING REQUEST MARYLAND THEATRE Ms. Buchanan, Jessica Green, Executive Director, and Benito Vattelana, Board President, The Maryland Theatre Association, appeared before the Commissioners to request $455,000 spread over four years of Hotel Rental Tax funding toward to assist with the organization's expansion which is a part of the Urban Improvement Project. Page 3 of 5 OPEN Session, May 7, 2019 Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve $455,000 over a four- year period in funding from the Hotel Rental Tax Fund as presented. The motion passed unanimously. The Commissioners recessed at I :09 p.m. and returned to the meeting at I: 16 p.m. FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION (ARC) PRELIMINARY PROJECT DESCRIPTION REVIEW AND RANKING Ms, Buchanan recommended approval of the Preliminary Project Descriptions as prioritized by the Board of County Commissions and to forward the ranking to the Tri-County Council of Western Maryland for funding consideration. Further, Ms. Buchanan requested approval to allow applicants to proceed with application submission to the ARC for those projects that receive funding recommendation from Tri-County Council and accept grand funding for County projects approved and provided by the ARC, Ms, Buchanan stated that funding requests for Washington County's Area Development Projects include ten (10) proposed projects requesting $2,842,000 in ARC funding, and six (6) projects requesting $4,850,000 in funding the from the Transportation Equity Act for the 21'1 Century Access Road category; total requested ARC funding is $7,692,000. Commissioner Keefer requested to move ranking number 5 (Town of Hancock Sewer Rehabilitation) to ranking number 4. The Commissioners reached a consensus for the change in ranking. Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the project description review and ranking with said changes, and to allow applicants to begin the application process as requested, The motion passed unanimously. CONSTRUCTION BID AW ARD -MARSH PIKE SIDEWALK EXTENSION Scott Hobbs, Director, Division of Engineering, recommended to conditionally award the Marsh Pike Sidewalk Extension contract to Priority Construction of Baltimore, MD in the amount of$386,241.25; conditional award based on receipt of concurrence in award from Maryland State Highway Administration. This would be a 120-day consecutive calendar day contract, with an anticipated notice to proceed date of June 2019, anticipated completion date in September 2019. The contract includes liquidated damages in the amount of $500 per calendar day for work beyond the completion date. This is a budgeted Capital Improvement Project LDI048. Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to award the County Contract number MS-MP-199-28 to Priority Construction in the amount of$386,24 l.25 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. MARYLAND NUISANCE INSECTS FUND LOCAL PARTICIPATION Ms. Buchanan appeared before the Commissioners to request $36,000 of Hotel Rental Tax funding towards local participation costs for participation in the Maryland Nuisance Insects Fund in FY20. Ms. Buchanan stated that this program replaces the Black Fly Funding program. Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2020 Hotel Rental Tax funding request in the amount of $36,000 local funding with the preference of four (4) treatments along the entire stretch of the river. The motion passed unanimously. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at I :43 p.m, The Commissioners attended the "Making Connections" Groundbreaking Campaign for Colonel Henry K. Douglas Drive at 3:30 p.m. at Maryland Route 65. EVENING MEETING -TOWN OF HANCOCK The evening session of the regular meeting of Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was held at the Town of Hancock, 126 West High, Hancock, Maryland, INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Page 4 of 5 OPEN Session, May 7, 2019 Reverend F. Allan Weatherholt, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CALL TO ORDER President Jeffrey A. Cline called the evening session of the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 6:05 p.m. with the following members present: Vice President Terry A. Baker, Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer, and Commissioner Randall F. Wagner. AWARD PRESENTATION The Commissioners presented representatives from Pennland Pure, Lanco-Pennland with an award recognizing its recent achievement of being ranked among the nation's best at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest. The event was celebrated with cheese tasting from Pennland Pure and pizza from Shives Pizza, Hancock, MD. TOWN OF HANCOCK LEADERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Mayor Ralph Salvagno thanked the Commissioners for visiting Hancock and for highlighting Lanco- Pennland for its accomplishments. Councilman Murray thanked Mr. Slocum and Deb Peyton for their assistance. The Board was introduced to the newly appointed Town Manager, Mike Lewis. Commissioner Meinelschmidtjoined the meeting at 6:11 p.m. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Vice-President Baker thanked the Town for hosting the meeting. He also asked Mr. Murray if additional flags for the parks would be needed. Commissioner Keefer shared that he is glad to be in his home town and discussed many of the activities taking place there. He attended the St. Jude Trike A than, which raised over $55,000 since inception. He and Mr. Slocum attended the Hancock Rotary Club and presented the State of the County. Commissioner Wagner is glad to be in Hancock. He thanked representatives from Pennland Pure, Lanco- Pennland for their contributions to the local economy. President Cline congratulated Pennland Pure, Lanco-Pennland for its efforts of bringing economic development to Hancock. He attended the opening of Henry K Douglas Blvd as part of the Making Connections Campaign for Washington County. He also congratulated Washington County Public Relations team for receiving the MEDA marketing award, kudos to staff. Commissioner Meinelschmidt added that the Henry K Douglas Blvd is a large private/public partnership. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Mr. Slocum asked staff to introduce themselves which consisted of Susan Small, Director of Business Development; Andrew Eshleman, Director of Public Works; Scott Hobbs, Director of Engineering; Rich Eichelberger, Director of Construction; Sara Greaves, Chief Financial Officer; Ashley Holloway, Director of Permitting and Plan Review; Danielle Weaver, Director of Public Relations; Kirk Downey, County Attorney, and Kendall McPeak, Deputy County Attorney. He also thanked the Commissioners for their support of the Making Connections Campaign. Mr. Hobbs provided an update on Pavement Maintenance Program in Washington County. Page 5 of 5 OPEN Session, May 7, 2019 Commissioner Keefer stated that during the Open session of the AM meeting, the Board approved a change in ranking for the ARC projects from #5 to #4 for Hancock Sewer Replacement Project. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Ann Weatherholt thanked the Commissioners for attending the dedication of Mat1ha's House. Nigel Dardar discussed Air BNB's with County staff. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to adjourn at 6:31 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ~-11J~b ] cf cu:51 Krista L. Ha11, County Clerk