HomeMy WebLinkAbout210302 OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
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 181 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
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about a particular proceeding or matter, in accordance with Sections 3-305(b) (1), (7), (8), and (13) of 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
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.
Krista L. Hart, County Clerk