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September 25, 2003
Hagerstown, Maryland
A workshop meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of
Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by
President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present:
Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioners James F.
Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps.
ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE (APFO) WORKSHOP
Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, and Stephen Goodrich,
Interim Director of the Planning Department, reviewed the
current APFO. Mr. Rohrer explained that the APFO needs to be
revised to assure that infrastructure is adequate to serve new
development. He stated that the Ordinance is divided into
sections that address schools, water and sewer, roads, and fire
protection. Mr. Rohrer reviewed revisions that have been made
to the APFO to date.
Mr. Goodrich provided information on the developments pending
approval as of September 18 and the effect the developments
could have on schools. Dennis McGee, Director of Facilities
Management, and William Blum, Chief Operating Officer, were in
attendance to discuss the Board of Education’s recommendations
with regard to the proposed revisions to the Schools section
(Article V) of the APFO. The Commissioners then reviewed the
recommendations: 1) Current Enrollment Definition – a) Include
all pre-kindergarten, and b) Kindergarten capacity should be at
state-rated capacity of 22 students per class. After
discussion, it was the consensus to include all eligible pre-
kindergarten students in the formula. The staff will develop
the formula for presentation prior to finalizing the revisions.
2) Multiplier – Change from 105% to 85% for elementary schools.
The Commissioners asked Mr. Goodrich to re-run the calculations
using the 85% multiplier for capacity to determine how it would
impact elementary schools. They agreed that an APFO
contribution would be triggered at 85% of capacity for
elementary schools; however, development would not be stopped
until it reached 105% of capacity. 3) Pupil Yields – Use a
0.42 factor consistent with the 1998 Tischler Report. After
discussion, the Commissioners agreed to use this factor for
planning purposes. 4) Construction Costs – Use IAC and
Tischler Report as a model of per student cost. Both models use
actual cost per square foot times the average building square
footage. The Commissioners asked Mr. Rohrer to meet with Mr.
McGee and Mr. Blum to establish a document for their
consideration. 5) Disposition of APFO Collected Revenues –
Dedicate to the CIP for schools throughout the County. The
Commissioners agreed that funds from this source should be
restricted to reduce school construction costs and would be used
throughout the County for the entire school system.
The Commissioners agreed to discuss the mechanics at the next
workshop meeting. Other items to be discussed are the
“triggering mechanism” for the APFO and a method to determine
how to calculate the APFO for various phases of a development.
Mr. Rohrer and Mr. Goodrich agreed to address Mr. Arch’s
proposal for discussion at the next workshop session.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:12 a.m.
,
County Administrator
,
Assistant County Attorney
_________________________, County
Clerk