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HomeMy WebLinkAbout220125 OPEN Minutesn Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland Open Session Minutes January 25, 2022 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, Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice-President Terry L. Baker; Commissioner Randall E. Wagner; and Commissioner Charles A. Burkett; Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to approve the minutes of January 11, 2022. The motion passed unanimously; Commissioner Burkett abstained due to an absence. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS The Commissioners provided a brief overview of events attended throughout Washington County. Vice-President Baker shared his condolences to the family of Chief Milton A. Bloom III. Additionally, he discussed the property tax increase and instructed staff to provide an update. Commissioner Baker further discussed concerns of which he would like addressed during the process of review of the upcoming budget presentations. Commissioner Burkett discussed Maryland Association of Counties and his role on the committee. Additionally, he discussed the upcoming budget and the need for reduction of tax rates for Washington County. Commissioner Wagner shared his condolences to the family of Chief Bloom. He also discussed the tax rates. President Cline also shared his condolences to the family of Chief Bloom. Additionally, he thanked the staff of the Highway Department and Water Quality for providing an essential service during the past snowstorm, including the members of Emergency Services. He requested a five-year projection on the taxes for Washington County. He further shared his support for the restoration of the Highway User Revenue funds. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL AS THE OFFICIAL ARTS COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND Mary Anne Burke, Executive Director, Washington County Arts Council (WCAC), recommended authorization by resolution the designation of the Washington County Arts Council as the official arts council of the county. Page 2 of 5 OPEN Session, January 25, 2022 Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Burkett, moved to approve a resolution designating the WCAC as the official arts council for Washington County. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS-2022-05 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.) STAFF COMMENTS Division of Emergency Services Dave Hays, Director, recognized that the recent death of Milton A. Bloom III would be considered a line of duty death by the organization. The Commissioners reached a consensus to support the decision of the fire department. Division of Human Resources Lany Etchison, Director, presented a recommendation to authorize a temporary COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank Benefits for new employees hired six months or less who are unable to use sick leave per policy, with a review of the matter in 60-days, effective December 14, 2021. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Burkett, moved to approve the temporary COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank Benefits, effective on this date. The motion passed unanimously. Emergency Management Tom Brown, Emergency Manager, provided the Board with an update on the COVID-19 Pandemic; he shared information on the precautionary measures being taken by the County. County Clerk Krista Hart encouraged citizens wishing to participate in the Board meetings, to submit a request to by calling 240.313.2204 or by email at khart@washco-md.net no later than 24 hours in advance. County Administrator John Martirano thanked all staff involved in the recent snowstorm event. REQUEST TO CONSIDER ALLOCATION OF $10,000 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR THE QUARANTINE OF COVID POSITIVE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS Brooke Grossman, Chief Mission Officer, Horizon Goodwill, and Chair the Washington County Homeless Coalition requested approval of the allocation of $10,000 of American Rescue Plan Act Funding for the quarantine of COVID positive homeless individuals in Washington County. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to approve the funding request in the amount of $10,000 from American Rescue Plan Funding as presented. The motion passed unanimously. QUARTERLY SAFETY REPORT Brian Overcash, Safety Compliance/Training Coordinator, Human Resources, provided the Commissioners with a brief report on safety improvements made in accordance with the revised Safety Committee bylaws. Page 3 of 5 OPEN Session, January 25, 2022 CONSTRUCTION BID A WARD -LEITERSBURG-SMITHSBURG ROAD STREAM RESTORATION Scott Hobbs, Director, Engineering, recommended conditional award of the Leitersburg- Smithsburg Road Stream Restoration contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Appalachian Stream Restoration, LLC, Danville, West Virginia (WV) in the amount of $507,000, and to approve acceptance of funding as awarded by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) as part of the 319h Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal grant funding program. Mr. Hobbs added that conditional award is based upon receipt of concurrence in award from MDE/EP A. This is a budgeted capital improvement plan project (DNG030, Stream Restoration at various locations); funding through the EPA federal grant program would be approximately 60% of the design-build contract with a local match by Washington County. Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to award the contract for Leitersburg-Smithsburg Road Stream Restoration contract to Appalachian Stream Restoration, LLC, Danville, WV in the amount of $507,000; and to accept funding as awarded by MDE/EPA, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. JOINT SEWER SERVICE AGREEMENT Mark Bradshaw, Director, Environmental Management, recommended authorization by resolution, the approval of the Joint Sewer Service Agreement with the Board of County Commissioners and the Mayor and Council of the City of Hagerstown, amending the Consolidated General Services Agreement (CGSA) for Provision of Sanitary Sewer Service. Mr. Bradshaw stated that the CGSA establishes the parameters for wastewater service to, and the expansion of, the Joint Sewer Service Area (JSA.) He indicated that County and City staff discussed the amendment and concluded that a new agreement incorporating all amendments would be appropriate, rather than create amendment number 13. Mr. Bradshaw explained that the current proposal consists of a Capital Improvement Project to construct a new sewer line from the Cedar Lawn area to the Maugansville area, thus transporting sewage to Washington County's Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant. Commissioner Burkett, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to approve a resolution authorizing the Joint Sewer Service Agreement incorporating all previous amendments, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS-2022-06 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASE {INTG-22-0080) ONE NEW 2023 FORD F650 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER QUALITY Brandi Naugle, Buyer, Purchasing, recommended authorization by Resolution, the purchase of one (1) new 2023 Ford F650 (F6D) Regular Cab Base, CA 84" WB with Rugby 11' Eliminator Dump Body via Dejana for a total cost of $89,755, and to utilize another jurisdiction's contract (#060920- NAF), awarded by Sourcewell, to 72 Hour LLC dba/National Auto Fleet Group, Watsonville, California (CA); funds are budgeted in the Washington County Water Quality Department's Capital Improvement Plan (600300.37.40010.VEH007). Commissioner Burkett, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to authorize by Resolution for the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase INTG-22-080, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS-2022-07 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.) Page 4 of 5 OPEN Session, January 25, 2022 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASE {INTG-22-0079) THREE NEW 2022 UTILITY VEHICLES FOR THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES Rick Curry, Director, Purchasing, recommended authorization by Resolution, the purchase of three (3) new 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe's for the Division of Emergency Services for the cost of $49,888 each, total purchase of $149,664 from Criswell Chevrolet and to utilize another jurisdictions contract awarded by the State of Maryland Purchasing (contract #001B600354). Mr. Curry advised that if awarded, these vehicles would replace three (3) vehicles currently assigned to the department which exceed the County's Vehicle and Equipment Types and Usage Guidelines; they will be advertised on GovDeals.com for auctioning. Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to authorize by Resolution for the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchase INTG-22-0079, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Resolution No. RS-2022-08 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is in the County Commissioners' Office.) REFUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR 2013 AND 2014 BONDS Kelcee Mace, Interim CFO, requested consensus to move forward with the refunding opportunity for the 2013 and 2014 General Obligation Bonds, which would produce an estimated savings of $680,291 or 3.91 % Net Present Value. The Commissioners reached a consensus to proceed as recommended with authorization to issue the bonds will be presented in the form of a resolution late April 2022. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT {ARP A) AND FY21 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE Andrew Eshleman, Director, Public Works; Kelcee Mace, Interim CFO; and John Martirano, County Administrator, presented on behalf of the ARP A Committee, recommendations pertaining to the total amount of funding of $29 .4 million ARP A funds from the US Treasury, and the allocation of said funding. Commissioner Burkett, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the recommendations as presented by the members of the ARP A Committee. The motion passed unanimously. CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Burkett, moved to convene in closed session at 11 :46 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; and to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto; in accordance with Sections 3-305(b) (1) and (3) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed personnel vacancy and the hiring process. The Commissioners also discussed the acquisition/exchange of real property. r Page 5 of 5 OPEN Session, January 25, 2022 Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline, Terry L. Baker, Randall E. Wagner, and Charles A. Burkett (Commissioner Keefer was absent); also, present were John M. Martirano, County Administrator; Kirk C. Downey, County Attorney, and Krista L. Hart, County Clerk. Additionally, the following staff members were present at times: Larry Etchison, Director, Human Resources, and Todd Moser, Real Property Administrator. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to reconvene in open session at 12:47 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Burkett, moved to adjourn the meeting 12:47 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Krista L. Hart, County Clerk