HomeMy WebLinkAbout220524 OPEN Minutesi Washington County
Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland
Open Session Minutes
May 24, 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 10:02 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; Commissioner Charles A. Burkett was
absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the minutes of May
17, 2022. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
The Commissioners provided a brief overview of events attended throughout Washington County.
Vice President Baker thanked all those who attended the Budget Hearing on May 17th. Additionally,
he thanked staff for a successful MML Meeting.
Commissioner Keefer congratulated all those who participated in the John Frye Preservation
Awards. Additionally, he recognized May as Older American's Month and thanked the Commission
on Aging. He further thanked County staff for hosting the MML, he recognized the late Paul Hose
and Theodore Hovermale.
Commissioner Wagner congratulated those honored at the John Frye Preservation Awards, echoing
Commissioner Keefer's comments.
President Cline thanked staff for the Budget Hearing. He remembered Mayor Hose and Councilman
Hovermale and thanked staff for the plaques.
STAFF COMMENTS
County Administrator
John Martirano thanked staff for participation in the Budget Hearing and for a successful MML
event. He added that Commissioner Burkett was absent and read a quote from Commissioner Burkett
sharing his support for the upcoming budget.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Dave Williams, Hagerstown, shared his support for fully funding the Board of Education's budget.
Stephanie Philips, Falling Waters, WV, discussed various matters in Washington County.
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OPEN Session, May 24, 2022
APPROVAL OF MODIFIED CHARGES, RENTALS, AND FEES AT THE HAGERSTOWN
REGIONAL AIRPORT
Kelcee Mace, Interim CFO, presented the proposed rates and charges for the Hagerstown Regional
Airport, Fiscal Year 2023, as discussed at the Public Hearing held April 26, 2022; and recommended
adoption of said modifications by Resolution.
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve by Resolution, the
modified charges, rentals, and fees at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, as presented. The motion
passed unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS -2022-19 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
APPROVAL OF MODIFIED LANDFILL USER FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
David Mason, Deputy Director, Solid Waste, and Ms. Mace presented the proposed rates and certain
modified fees for the Washington County Landfill, as discussed at the Public Hearing held April 26,
2022; and recommended adoption of said modifications by Resolution.
Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve by Resolution, the
modified rates for the Washington County Landfill, as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS -2022-20 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
APPROVAL OF WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
Mark Bradshaw, Director, Environmental Management, and Ms. Mace presented the proposed rate
schedule for the water and sewer for FY23, as discussed at the Public Hearing held April 26, 2022;
and recommended adoption of said modifications by Resolution. Mr. Bradshaw shared the proposal
included an increase to certain lab fees only.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve by Resolution, the
modified lab fees for the Division of Environmental Management, as presented. The motion passed
unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS -2022-21 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
COUNTY INCOME TAX RATE
Kirk Downey, County Attorney, recommended adoption of a resolution establishing the County's
income tax rate at 2.95%, effective January 1, 2023.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve by Resolution, the
establishment of the County's income tax rate of 2.95%, as presented. The motion passed
unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS -2022-22 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
COUNTY REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES
Mr. Downey recommended adoption of a resolution establishing the County's real and personal
property tax rates, effective July 1, 2022. Mr. Downey shared that (1) sets the county real property
tax rate at $0.928 per $100 of assessment; (2) sets the real property tax rate for those properties
located in municipalities within the County's corporate boundary at $0.803 per $100 of assessment;
and (3) sets the tax rate for personal property and operating real property described in MD. Code,
Tax -Property, § 8 109O for Washington County, Maryland, at 2.5 times the rate for real property.
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OPEN Session, May 24, 2022
Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve by Resolution, the
establishment of the County's real and personal property tax rates, as presented. The motion passed
unanimously.
(Resolution No. RS -2022-23 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of
Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.)
APPROVAL OF FY2023 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS
Ms. Mace requested adoption of the FY2023 Capital, and Operating Budgets as presented at the
public hearing held May 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the FY2023 Operating
and Capital Budgets, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Commissioner Burkett shared
his support of the FY23 budget through a verbal comment through Mr. Martirano),
FY23 HEALTHY FAMILIES HOME VISITING GRANT - APPROVAL TO SUBMIT
APPLICATION
Rachel Sounders, Senior Grant Manager, Office of Grant Management, recommended approval to
submit a grant application to the Maryland Department of Education in the amount of $277,993 and
to accept funding as awarded. The Washington County Health Department is the vendor contracted
to provide the services; funding of $6,606 is included in the award for County administrative support
and no County funds are involved.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the submission of the
grant application and to accept the total award funding of $277,993 as presented. The motion passed
unanimously.
The Commissioners recessed at 10:24 a.m. and returned to the meeting at 10:35 a.m.
AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST PURCHASE OF SAVE HISTORIC ANTIETAM
FOUNDATION PROPERTY IN SHARPSBURG, WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY
HOLDING LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENT AND SUBMISSION OF AMERICAN
BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION
Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, Planning and Zoning, and Ms. Souders,
recommended approval to act as the government sponsor for a grant application, in the amount of
$122,856.19 to the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABT) and to hold a conservation
easement over the Save Historic Antietam Foundation Tracts (SHAF), located in the core area of the
Antietam Battlefield. A 50% match is required which would consist of $35,000 from ABT and
$87,856.19 from SHAF; Washington County is not expected to contribute funds to this project.
Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the request to submit
a grant application in the amount of $122,856.19 to the ABT, to accept funding as awarded, and to
act as government sponsor, as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
DAY REPORTING CENTER GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OPIOID
OPERATIONAL COMMAND CENTER - APPROVAL TO SUBMIT APPLICATION AND
ACCEPT FUNDING AS AWARD
Ms. Souders and Meaghan Willis, Program Director, Day Reporting Center, recommended approval
to submit an application in the amount of $107,261 to the Opioid Operational Command Center and
to accept funding as awarded. The Office of Grant Management has reviewed the grant application.
This grant has a one-year performance period, to begin July 1, 2022 and end on June 30, 2023.
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the grant application
in the amount of $107,261, and to accept funding as awarded. The motion passed unanimously.
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OPEN Session, May 24, 2022
DIVISION OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CENTER YEAR TO DATE UPDATE FOR 2022
Susan Grimes, Director, Business Development, and Herb Melrath, Maryland SBDC, Washington
County Office, presented the Commissioners an update on the ongoing growth and successes in the
Small Business sector of Washington County.
CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to convene in closed session at
10:50 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, in accordance with Section 3-305(b) (1) of the General Provisions
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the compensation and filling of certain personnel
vacancies with specific candidates; and to discuss certain business development updates.
Present during closed session were Commissioners Jeffrey A. Cline; Terry L. Baker; Wayne K.
Keefer; and Randall E. Wagner; Charles A. Burkett 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 member was present at various times: Deb Condo, Interim
Director, Human Resources; Mark Bradshaw, Director, Environmental Management; and Alex
Reed, Watershed Specialist.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Commissioner Baker, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to reconvene in open session at
11:33 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to adjourn the meeting 11:33 a.m.
The motion passed unanimously.
Krist L. Hart, County Clerk