HomeMy WebLinkAbout201208 OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
Dec em her 8, 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 10:04 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113,
Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice-President Terry L. Bak.er,
Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer, Commissioner Randall E. Wagner, and Commissioner Cort F.
Meinelschmidt.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the minutes of
December 1, 2020. The motion passed 4-0-1 , Vice-President Bak.er abstained.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the minutes of
November 23 , 2020. The motion passed 4-0-1 , Vice-President Bak.er abstained.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
President Cline announced that John Martirano has been selected as the County Administrator, Grade
22, Step 22, $171 ,621 with acceptance of employment offer as agreed upon by all parties.
Commissioner Bak.er, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve the selection as
presented. The motion passed unanimously.
The Commissioners congratulated Mr. Martirano and shared that they are all looking forward to
working with him. Additionally, they thanked all those who applied for the position of County
Administrator, noting that there were many who were very well qualified.
Vice-President Bak.er thanked his fellow Commissioners for the cooperative efforts in the selection of
the County Administrator.
Commissioner Keefer echoed Commissioner Baker's comments. Additionally, he thanked staff from
the Public Relations team, Information Systems team, and Krista Hart, County Clerk, for the
collaborative efforts in the transition of the live Board of County Commissioners meeting to a virtual
meeting.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt echoed Commissioner Baker's comments. Additionally, he shared that
the fundraising event at Lake Royer was a large success, he thanked all involved to include President
Cline for his participation.
Commissioner Wagner thanked staff for efforts in the transition to the virtual meeting. Additionally,
he echoed Commissioner Bak.er' s comments.
President Cline thanked Kirk Downey for acting as the Interim County Administrator and leading the
County through difficult times on various matters. Additionally, he echoed Commissioner Baker's
comments.
STAFF COMMENTS
Division of Emergency Services
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OPEN Session, December 8, 2020
Dave Hays, Director, presented the Commissioners with an update regarding staffing issues related to
COVID-19 and recommended the implementation of a "Supplemental" County Staffing Program -
Fire/EMS COVID-19 Relief Plan.
The Commissioners reached a consensus to proceed with implementation of said plan and thanked
Director Hays for his efforts on managing the Fire/EMS staffing issues.
Emergency Management
Tom Brown, Emergency Manager, presented the Board with an update regarding the CARES Act
Funding reallocation. Mr. Brown shared that an additional amount of approximately $600,000 has been
submitted for wage reimbursement and would reduce the County's remaining portion by that amount.
The Commissioners requested detailed information from staff. Sara Greaves, CFO, agreed to send the
information via email to each Commissioner for review prior to the end of the meeting.
DISCUSSION TO REVIEW DEMOLITION PERMIT REVIEW POLICY
This matter has been postponed.
REVISION OF PR-22, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS POLICY
Kirk Downey, Interim County Administrator/County Attorney, presented revisions to the County
Policy PR-22, Boards and Commissions and recommended approval to restate and republish said policy
as amended. Mr. Downey shared that the changes would consist of removal of language which would
require an applicant to be considered only if residing in Washington County and adding language that
would permit an applicant to be considered ifresiding and/or working in Washington County.
Commissioner Keefer requested language to be included which would give preference to those
applicants residing in Washington County.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the changes as
presented to include the recommendation by Commissioner Keefer. The motion passed unanimously.
COUNTY REGULATRIONS CONCERNING PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS
Mr. Downey recommended approval to rescind County regulations concerning Public Information Act
Requests (PIA), in favor of those procedures as set forth in the Maryland Code.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved approve rescind the County
regulations concerning PIA requests as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
BUDGET TRANSFER FOR TERMINAL EXP ANSI ON CHANGE ORDER
Garrison Plessinger, Director, Hagerstown Regional Airport, recommended approval of a budget
adjustment and change order to Callas Contractors in the amount of $57,600 as related to the
Hagerstown Regional Airport Terminal Project.
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve budget
adjustment and change order as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
MARYLAND AVIATION ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL GRANT
Mr. Plessinger recommended acceptance of an award from the Maryland Aviation Administration
(MAA) in the amount of $135,375 for the completion of upgrades to the existing Virtual Perimeter
Monitoring System, purchase of an Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Foam Testing Equipment, and a Live
Scan Fingerprinting Machine. The division of Grant Management has reviewed the grant funding
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OPEN Session, December 8, 2020
guidelines. There is a County match requirement of 25% associated with this grant and is included in
the Fiscal Year 2021 Airport Capital Improvement Project budget.
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to accept funding as
awarded by the MAA as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
The Commissioners returned to the matter of the CARES Act Funding reallocation. Ms. Greaves shared
that the information has been sent to the individual Commissioners for review and provided an outline
of the proposed changes.
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to authorize staff to adjust
the reallocation as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner moved to adjourn at 11 :00 a.m.
The m tion passed unanimously.
Krista L. Hart, County Clerk