HomeMy WebLinkAbout200825 OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
August 25, 2020
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 10:32 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113,
Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice President Terry L. Baker,
Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer, Commissioner Cort F. Meinelschmidt, and Commissioner
Randall E. Wagner.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the minutes of
August 11 , 2020. The motion passed 4-0, Commissioner Meinelschmidt abstained.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Vice-President Baker requested that representatives from Budget and Finance present information
on the maintenance of effort funding for children who have been removed from public schools and
enrolled in private schools.
Commissioner Keefer discussed the possibility for the Board of Education to use savings within
it's budgets due to CO VID-19 / school closures and assisting parents with increased daycare
expenses associated with facilitating online learning for students, since providing a safe learning
environment is a tenant of Washington County Public Schools.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt discussed the Washington County Public Schools and the distance
learning. He shared that his daughter will be protesting the decisions made at Western Heights
Middle School, September 2nd at 9 am.
Commissioner Wagner echoed the other Commissioner's comments.
President Cline shared information on the possibility of opening the meetings for citizens
participation and the development of said plan.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Division of Engineering
Scott Hobbs, Director, and Matt Mullenix, Director, HEMPO, requested approval to submit a letter
of support for the 1-81 Transportation Systems Management and Operations: Smart Work Zones
Advanced Transportation and Congestion management Technologies Deployment 2020 Grant
Request. Mr. Hobbs shared that no financial commitment is required from Washington County.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to submit the letter of support
as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Additionally, Mr. Hobbs shared that the Maryland Department of Transportation Tour will be held
virtually on October 7, 2020. He added that the number one transportation priority is the widening
ofl-81.
OLDEN RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM EASEMNT {RLP)
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OPEN Session, August 25, 2020
Chris Boggs, Land Preservation Administrator, Planning and Zoning, recommended approval of
the Olden RLP project, paid for 100% by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, for
$546,360 for 184.12 easement acres and to adopt an ordinance approving the purchase. Mr. Boggs
shared that the property is located at 3702 Rohrersville Road, Rohrersville, Maryland, containing
mostly hay, cropland and woodland. The Olden property lies in a part of Washington that was
heavily trafficked during the Civil War and the Battle of Antietam. Mr. Seifarth shared that fourteen
( 14) development rights will be extinguished with the easement.
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the Olden RLP, and
to adopt an ordinance approving the purchase of the easement and to authorize the execution of the
necessary documentation to finalize the easement purchase. The motion passed unanimously.
(Ordinance No. ORD-2020-27 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.)
CONSENSUS -APPLICATION FOR ZONING MAP AMENDMENT RZ-20-001
Jill Baker, Director, Planning and Zoning, requested approval to approve or deny the applicant's
request to rezone the properties located at 11107, 1111 , 11115, and 11119 Hopewell Road, as
presented in the during the Public Hearing on August 11 , 2020. No citizen comments received in
the Clerk's office.
The Commissioners reached a consensus to approve the amendment and directed staff to prepare a
Decision and Findings of Fact to be presented to them for consideration and vote during a future
meeting.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASE {INTG-20-0038) LEASE
/PURCHASE OF ONE (1) USED DST DOZER AND ON (1) NEW EXCAVATOR FOR
SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT
Brandi Naugle, Buyer, Purchasing, and Dave Mason, Deputy Director, Solid Waste, recommended
authorization by Resolution, for the Washington County Department of Water Quality, Solid Waste
Department to purchase one (1) used CAT D8T Waste Handler Dozer ($170,820.66/annual lease
amount for five years), and one (1) new CAT 366 Excavator ($84,231.89/annual lease amount for
five years) from Carter Machinery Company, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, and to utilize another
jurisdiction's contract (#032119-CAT), awarded by the Caterpillar, Inc. and contingent upon
approval of the final Lease Agreement by the County Attorney's Office. Mr. Mason shared that if
approved, there will be four ( 4) pieces of equipment replaced / traded. These funds are budgeted in
the amount of $350,000 in the department's operating account 21-21020.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to award by Resolution,
the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase (INTG-20-0038) to Carter Machinery Company, Inc.,
as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS-2020-38 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioner's Office.)
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OPEN Session, August 25, 2020
PUBLIC HEARING: REQUESTS BY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST
OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS MAY CONTRIBUTE FUNDS, PURSUANT TO §1-108 OF THE
CODE OF THE PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD
President Cline convened a public hearing at 11 :03 a.m. to obtain public comment regarding
requests by various Washington County nonprofit organizations to which the Board of County
Commissioners may contribute funds, pursuant to the § 1-108 List. Mr. Downey presented the
letters of request received from:
• TruNorth;
• Main Street Hancock, Inc.
Mr. Downey explained that approval by the Board for the nonprofit organizations to be added to
the § 1-108 list does not assure that the organizations will receive funding from the County. That
decision is made separately as a part of the Community Organization Funding process and
ultimately the County's budgetary process.
The Public Hearing will remain open and citizens who wish to make comments on the inclusion of
either party on the 1-108 List, contact the County Clerk no later than Monday, August 31 , 2020 via
email at khart@washco-md.net; or mail to 100 West Washington Street, Suite 1101 , Hagerstown.
The Commissioners took no action at this time and instructed staff to bring the matter forth at a
future meeting for consideration.
STUDENT LEARNING CENTER
Andrew Eshleman, Director, Public Works, and Jaime Dick, Deputy Director, Parks and
Recreations, presented the Board with information regarding the implementation of a Student
Learning Center. Mr. Eshleman explained that the Center would be available for children of
essential County personnel where teleworking is not an option.
Mr. Eshleman shared that the center would accept 15 students with a cost to operate of 10 hours
per day, $2,200 per week; the cost to the employee would need to be $150.00 per child. He
recommended that the fee for employees be more cost efficient at $75.00 per child.
The Commissioners took no action on the matter.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to convene in closed
session at 11 :27.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)(l) of the General
Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Mary land. The motion passed unanimously.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed potential appointments to a board over which the
Commissioners have appointing authority and gave staff direction in regards thereto. Additionally,
the Commissioners discussed the employment, recruitment, or assignment of County personnel
with staff.
Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline, Terry L. Baker, Randy E.
Wagner, and Wayne K. Keefer (Cort F. Meinelschmidt was absent). Also present were Kirk C.
Downey, County Attorney /Interim County Administrator; Krista L. Hart, County Clerk, and at
various times, Dave Hays, Director, Emergency Services; Dave Chisholm, Assistant Director,
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OPEN Session, August 25, 2020
Emergency Services; Jeremy Mose, Director, Environmental Management; Davina Yutzy, Deputy
Director, Water Quality; and Deb Condo, Deputy Director, Human Resources.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to reconvene in open session at
12:48 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to adjourn at 12:48
p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Krista L. Hart, County Clerk