HomeMy WebLinkAbout191210 OPEN MinutesWashington County
Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
December 10, 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 9:00 a.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 Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the minutes of
December 3, 2019. The motion passed unanimously.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to convene in closed
session at 9:01 a.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline,
demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees,
employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter
that affects one or more specific individuals; and to conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding
on actual or possible criminal conduct, in accordance with Sections 3-305(b) (1) and (12) of the
General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed specific employment recommendations with staff
and gave staff direction in regards thereto. The Commissioners received information regarding
potential changes to organizational relationships and bylaws related to certain appointees over
whom the Board has jurisdiction and directed staff as to further actions. The Commissioners were
also briefed by legal counsel on the status of an investigative proceeding on possible criminal
conduct.
Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline, Terry L. Baker, Wayne K.
Keefer, Cort F. Meinelschmidt, and Randall E. Wagner. Also present were Kirk C. Downey,
County Attorney/Interim County Administrator; Krista L. Hart, County Clerk; Kendall
Desaulniers, Deputy County Attorney; Andrew Bright, Assistant County Attorney; and at various
times Rachel Brown, Director, Human Resources; Dave Hays, Director, Emergency Services; Jill
Baker, Director, Planning and Zoning; Ashley Holloway, Director; Plan Review and Permitting;
Joseph Michael, Deputy State's Attorney; Andrew Eshleman, Director, Public Works; Erin
Overdorff, Administrative Assistant, Ag Center; Dave Brooks, Facility Supervisor; Sue Harr,
President, Ag Center Board of Directors; and Dennis Reeder, Vice -President, Ag Education Center
Board of Directors.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to reconvene in open session
at 10:21 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Keefer left the meeting at 10:21 a.m.
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OPEN Session, December 10, 2019
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Meinelschmidt provided the Board with an update on the MD Association of
Counties Winter Conference.
Commissioner Keefer returned to the meeting at 10:22 a.m.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Human Resource Personnel Reguests; Rachel Brown, Director
Senior Plan Reviewer / Floodplain Manager — Plan Review and Permitting
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve hiring Gail
Abbott for this position (Grade 15, Step 3, $62,650). This position is vacant due to the retirement
of Mark Stransky. The motion passed unanimously.
CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION
None
LEASE OF EXCAVATOR - DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE
David Mason, Deputy Director, Solid Waste, presented information regarding a potential lease and
requested a funding source for said lease. He explained that the Solid Waste department has a need
to lease an excavator for the day-to-day functions of the department. Additionally, he shared the
lease will be presented in the FY21 budget; however, the need is present now. In order to fund the
lease in the current budget period, Mr. Mason has proposed to trade various pieces of equipment.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt asked for a purchase versus lease option and instructed Mr. Mason
to return with that information.
The Commissioners reached a consensus to review a purchase versus lease option at a future
meeting.
RESPONSE TO MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION
Sara Greaves, CFO, and Rachel Brown, Director, Human Resources, presented for consideration,
an approach for the FY2021 budget and future years as it pertains to the minimum wage legislation.
Ms. Brown provided an outline which involved the regular part-time positions and temporary part-
time positions, thus creating a new wage/step scale for those employees.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt expressed his concern for this method to have the potential to create
congestion on the pay scale, with higher grades being paid less than lower grades. Commissioner
Wagner would like to see a total fiscal impact.
The Commissioners reached a consensus that staff should address the potential pay scale
congestion and return with total cost for further discussion.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to convene in closed session at
10:43 a.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion,
compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or
officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects
one or more specific individuals, in accordance with Section 3-305(b) (1) of the General Provisions
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed credentials and qualifications of specific
employees within a specific department and gave staff further instruction regarding the matter.
Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline, Terry L. Baker, Wayne K.
Keefer, Cort F. Meinelschmidt, and Randall E. Wagner. Also present were Kirk C. Downey,
Page 3 of 3
OPEN Session, December 10, 2019
County Attorney/Interim County Administrator; Krista L. Hart, County Clerk; Kendall
Desaulniers, Deputy County Attorney; Andrew Bright, Assistant County Attorney; and at various
times Rachel Brown, Director, Human Resources; and Jeremy Mose, Deputy Director, Water
Quality Operations.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to reconvene in open
session at 10:51 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.
The Commissioners recessed at 10:51 a.m. and returned to the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
PUBLIC HEARING: WATER AND SEWERAGE PLAN AMENDMENT, CITY OF
HAGERSTOWN WS -19-003
President Cline convened a public hearing at 11:00 a.m. to obtain public comment regarding a
request from the City of Hagerstown, through the Planning and Codes Administration Department,
for an amendment to the Water and Sewerage Plan. The request proposes additional text in
Chapters 2, 3, and 4, to include references and information related to the City of Hagerstown's
recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, visionHagerstown 2035. President Cline reviewed the
procedures for the Public Hearing.
Jill Baker, Director, Planning and Zoning; and Nancy Hausrath, Director of Utilities, City of
Hagerstown, presented the staff report dated November 13, 2019 for WS -19-003 on behalf of the
Washington County Department of Planning and Zoning. Ms. Baker the proposed text describes
Hagerstown's growth management strategy and enumerates current policies regarding the
provision of service from its water and sewer facilities to development outside municipal limits
and outside of the Medium Range Growth Area. A public information meeting was held by the
Washington County Planning Commission (Planning Commission) on October 7, 2019 to obtain
public comment on the application. The Planning Commission discussed the proposed changes
during its regular meeting on November 4, 2019, at which time staff recommended minor changes
to the text, which would serve to further clarify certain language and definitions within the
proposed text as submitted by the City of Hagerstown. The Planning Commission acted at its
regular meeting on November 4, 2019 to recommend approval of the proposed text including the
minor recommended changes made by staff.
The hearing was opened for public comment and no individuals offered comments.
The matter was opened for questions and/or comments from the Commissioners.
The public hearing was closed at 11:03 a.m.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve the request
for text amendments to the Water and Sewerage Plan with the City of Hagerstown, as submitted.
The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to adjourn at 11:06 a.m. The
motion passed unanimously.
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Kris 'ta L. Hart, County Clerk