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HomeMy WebLinkAbout210302 OPEN MinutesWQashington County Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland Open Session Minutes bw March 2, 2021 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 9:32 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice -President Terry L. Baker, Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer, and Commissioner Randall E. Wagner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the minutes of February 23, 2021. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS The Commissioners all shared appreciation for the return of in -person meetings. STAFF COMMENTS County Attorney Kirk Downey, County Attorney presented a request from Senator Corderman's office for a letter of support on SB869. Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to submit a letter of support for SB869 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Vice -President asked Mr. Downey to provide a financial cost when available. County Administrator John Martirano provided a brief update on the plan of action for in -person meetings. Additionally, he shared that he is working on a plan for a return to work for the County Government. Vice -President Baker asked for a collection of entities who have yet returned to in person work. Office of Grant Management Susan Buchanan, Director, and Scott Hobbs, Director, Engineering, presented the Board with a request for a letter of support to the Maryland Department of Transportation regarding the submittal by the State on the I81 Widening, Phase II to the FY21 INFRA Grant Program. The Commissioners reached a consensus to submit a letter of support as presented. NAILE CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM EASEMENT PROPOSAL Chris Boggs, Land Preservation Planner, Planning & Zoning, recommended approval of the Gary and Renee Naile Conservation Enhancement Program (CREP) easement project, paid for 100% by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, for $262,092.19 for 188.19 easement acres located at 13020 Indian Springs Road, Big Poole, Maryland, and to adopt an ordinance approving the easement purchase and to authorize the execution of the necessary documentation to finalize the easement purchase. In addition to the easement funds, the County will receive up to 3% of the easement value for administrative costs, a mandatory 1.5% for compliance costs and funds to cover all the County's legal/settlement costs. Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the Naile CREP project in the amount of $262,092.19, to adopt an ordinance approving the purchase of the easement, and to Page 2 of 3 OPEN Session, March 2, 2021 authorize the execution of all necessary documents required to affect the easement purchase. The motion passed 3-1, Commissioner Wagner recused himself from the vote. (Ordinance No. ORD-2021-05 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.) FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET - HUMANE SOCIETY Colin Berry, Executive Director, and Crystal Mowery, Field Services Director, presented information related to the budget of the Humane Society of Washington County's Animal Control Contract. Mr. Berry shared that the total amount of the request for FY22 is $1,545,264. Ms. Berry shared that the Humane Society's budget has remained the same for three years. FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET - PUBLIC SAFETY (Law Enforcement & Emergency Services) Sheriff Mullendore presented details of the budget as submitted for Law Enforcement at $35,882,070, an increase of $1,377,090 over FY21. Dave Hays, Director, Emergency Services; and Dale Fishack, Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association presented details of the budget as submitted for Emergency Services at $23,371,570, an increase of $4,356,280 over FY21. FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT Ms. Greaves recommended approval of a budget adjustment as related to the issuance of bonds. She provided the Commissioners with an overview of the Capital Projects included in the adjustment, as previously approved in the FY21 Capital Budget. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the FY21 Budget Adjustment as presented. The motion passed unanimously. FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET, DRAFT ONE (REQUESTED VERSION) Ms. Greaves and Kim Edlund, Director, Budget & Finance, provided the Board with information on the Draft 1, requested version, General Fund revenue and expense summaries, to include a 5 -year outlook. Ms. Greaves shared that the amounts are those requested by departments and outside agencies for consideration; of which the staff of Budget & Finance Department will recommend adjustments at a future date in order to balance the budget for FY22. PRESENTATION OF THE 2022 - 2031 CAPITAL BUDGET. DRAFT TWO Ms. Greaves and Kelcee Mace, Deputy Director, Budget & Finance, provided the Board with an update pertaining to the Ten -Year Capital Improvement Plan ("Plan"). Ms. Greaves explained that the Plan is developed each year and included scheduling and financing of future community facilities such as public buildings, roads, bridges, parks, water and sewer projects, and educational facilities. Ms. Greaves shared that Draft One had been presented before the Board on February 9th; however, several current year capital budget adjustments have been approved, impacting the FY22 Capital Budget to some extent. The total amount of the FY22 Capital budget has been presented at $56,997,000. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to convene in closed session at 11:14 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; to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter; to consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation, and to comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicially imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures Page 3 of 3 OPEN Session, March 2, 2021 about a particular proceeding or matter, in accordance with Sections 3-305(b) (1), (7), (8), and (13) of L the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed pending litigation and received legal advice related thereto. The Commissioners also discussed appointments to County Boards and Commissions; the filling of certain personnel vacancies and the hiring of certain individuals; an employee issue; and certain staff issues. The Commissions further discussed a legal matter and received legal advice related thereto. Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline, Terry L. Baker, Wayne K. Keefer, and Randall E. Wagner. Also present were John M. Martirano, County Administrator; Krista L. Hart, County Clerk; and Kirk C. Downey, County Attorney and at various time: Debra Condo, Deputy Director, Human Resources; Mark Bradshaw, Interim Director, Environmental Management; Davina Yutzy, Deputy Director, Environmental Management; Susan Buchanan, Director, Office of Grant Management; Jill Baker, Director, Planning & Zoning; BJ Goetz, Planning Commission; and Jeff Semler, Planning Commission; and Bruce Poole, Esquire. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to reconvene in open session at 1:32 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. JOINT MEETING WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Presentation and discussion of the Draft FY2022 General Fund Budget for Washington County Public Schools The Board of County Commissioners met with the Board of Education at 100 West Washington Street, Suite 1113 Hagerstown. President Jeffrey A. Cline called the meeting to order at 1:39 p.m. In Yir attendance were Vice President Terry L. Baker and Commissioners Wayne K. Keefer, and Randall F. Wagner. Also present were Dr. Boyd Michael Superintendent, and Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Financial Officer, Washington County Public Schools; Board of Education (BOE) members joined the meeting via Zoom from a separate location. Dr. Boyd Michael, Superintendent, staff and BOE members presented the draft FY22 General Fund budget for the BOE. Dr. Michael discussed the expenditure factors to include the groups of FY2021 Alignment increase of $57,000, Grant Adjustment increase of $442,000, Mandatory Increases of $275,000, Compensation & Benefits increase of $6.524 million, and Budget Adjustments by Program decrease of $1.350 million. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to reconvene in open session at 2:25 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer moved to adjourn at 2:26 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. iA Krista L. Hart, County Clerk