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HomeMy WebLinkAbout230307 OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland Open Session Minutes March 7, 2023 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 John F. Barr called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 9:02 a.m. with the following members present: Vice-President Jeffrey A. Cline, Commissioner Derek Harvey, Commissioner Wayne K. Keefer, and Commissioner Randall E. Wagner. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Wagner welcomed representatives of the American Red Cross, Washington County Public Schools and School Board members/staff for being present. Commissioner Keefer commented on the recent decision of the Board to terminate the Work from Home Policy and recent communications received from employees that were affected. Commissioner Harvey attended the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company banquet and praised the volunteers. Commissioner Harvey commented on the budget process and the increase in budget requests. Commissioner Cline attended the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company banquet. Commissioner Cline thanked all staff involved in preparing for the Home Show held at Hagerstown Community College. Commissioner Barr reminded the Board that the Legislative Assembly is actively in session and reported attending weekly meetings on Wednesdays to discuss proposed bills and initiatives. Commissioner Barr thanked the local delegation for their hard work. STAFF COMMENTS Leslie Hart, Business Development Specialist, Department Business Development, presented the 2023 Grown Local magazine, all agricultural publication. Ms. Hart shared that there was a 35% increase in advertisers from 2022 to 2023 which shows the successful impact and interest in the magazine. Scott Hobbs, Director of Engineering, requested to advertise the Chief of Surveys position to be posted at a Grade 15 which is currently vacant. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Cline, moved to approve the advertisement as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Michelle Priebe, Assistant to the County Administrator/Interim County Clerk, on behalf of the Washington County Gaming Commission, requested a consensus to re-appoint Matthew Schnebly to a Page 2 of 5 OPEN Session, March 7, 2023 first, full two-year term through September 30, 2024, and to re-appoint Deborah Reeser to a first, full two-year term through February 28, 2025. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the re-appointments as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Priebe, on behalf of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, requested a consensus to appoint Kathy Harple to serve a first, three-year term to serve from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2026; to appoint Dawn Nally to serve a first, three-year term to serve from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2026; to re-appoint Harry Wagaman to serve a second, three-year term to serve from February 1, 2022, through January 31, 2025; to re-appoint Vernell Doyle to serve a second, three-year term from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026; and to re-appoint Susan Taylor to serve a first, full three- year term from February 1, 2022, through January 31, 2025. Commissioner Keefer, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the appointments as presented. The motion passed unanimously. John Martirano, County Administrator, presented a request to the Commissioners to provide a letter of support requested by Andy Smith, President, Brothers United Who Dare to Care, to support the acquisition and preparation of property to house their Youth News Corp internship program and their Neighborhood Youth Club Mentorship program. Commissioner Cline, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the letter of support as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Martirano thanked County staff for their hard work on the recent Home Show vendor booth. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Rick Hockensmith, a Washington County resident, presented a letter with attachments against the recent decision to not support the proposed noise reduction bill being presented during the current legislative session. PROCLAMATION FOR AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH The Board presented a Proclamation to Stacy McFarland, Executive Director, American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter, to recognize the month of March as American Red Cross Month. The Board encouraged Washington County citizens to reach out and support its humanitarian m1ss1on. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S DRAFT FY2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE WASHING TON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (WCPS) Melissa Williams, President, Dr. David T. Savine, Superintendent of Schools, Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, David Brandenburg, Executive Director of Finance, Eric Sisler, Finance and Budget Manager, Washington County Board of Education, presented the Washington County Board of Education's Draft FY2024 General Fund Budget. FY24 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION FUNDING RECOMMEND A TIO NS Susan Buchanan, Director, Office of Grant Management, presented the funding allocation recommendations of the Community Organization Funding Committee. The Committee is charged Page 3 of 5 OPEN Session, March 7, 2023 with reviewing and evaluating annual grant application requests submitted by community based local non-profit organizations. The recommendations are subject to acceptance or amendment by the Board of County Commissioners during the annual budget approval process. FY24 PERSONNEL REQUESTS Michelle Gordon, Chief Financial Officer, and Kendall Desaulniers, Deputy County Attorney/Interim Director of Human Resources, presented personnel requests and other personnel adjustments submitted through the budget process. Total personnel adjustment requests total $4,305,655 for FY24. REINHART RURAL LEGACY PROGRAM {RLP) EASEMENT Chris Bogs, Rural Preservation Administrator, Department of Planning and Zoning, presented a request to approve the Estate of James Reinhart RLP Easement project in the amount of $1,000,000.00 for 267.138 easement acres, paid for 100% by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and to adopt an ordinance approving the easement purchase and to authorize the execution of the necessary documentation to finalize the easement purchase. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Harvey, moved to approve the project as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Ordinance No. ORD-2023-04 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioner's Office. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION, YOUTH AND VICTIM SERVICES FY24 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT PROPOSAL Rachel Souders, Senior Grant Manager, and Nicole Phillips, Grant Manager, Office of Grant Management, presented a request to approve submission of the FY24 Community Partnership Agreement proposal to the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services requesting $810,266 and to accept funding as awarded. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve submission of the proposal as presented. The motion passed unanimously. FY24 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE GRANT -APPROVAL TO SUBMIT APPLICATION AND ACCEPT FUNDING AS AW ARD ED Rachel Souders presented a request to approve submission of the application for the Performance Incentive Grant to the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services requesting a total of $173,501.00 for FY24 and to accept funding as awarded. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Harvey, moved to approve submission of the application as presented. The motion passed unanimously. MARYLAND 9-1-1 BOARD -APPROVAL TO SUBMIT APPLICATION AND ACCEPT AW ARD ED FUNDING Kevin Lewis, Deputy Director, Division of Emergency Services, and Nicole Phillips presented a request to approve the submission of a grant application to the Maryland 9-1-1 Board in the amount of $286,876.69 and to accept funding as awarded for Motorola Solutions Dual Network Connection Installation. Page 4 of 5 OPEN Session, March 7, 2023 Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve submission of the application as presented. The motion passed unanimously. CONTRACT AWARD (PUR-1481) TASK ORDER 15) WASHINGTON COUNTY AG RI CULTURE EDUCATION CENTER INDOOR MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING AND EVENT PARKING Rick Curry and Andrew Eshleman, P.E., Director, Division of Public Works, presented a request to award the contract for the Agriculture Education Center Indoor Multipurpose Building and Event Parking project to the lowest responsible, responsive bidder, L.S. Grim Consulting Engineers, LLC, of Hagerstown, Maryland, who submitted the total lump sum bid in the amount of $991,954 for Task No. 1 and Task No. 2. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Harvey, moved to approve the contract award as presented. The motion passed 4-1 (Commissioner Keefer voted "NAY"). REJECTION OF BID (PUR-1601) -ONE NEW 2022 OR LATEST PRODUCTION MODEL CHASSIS/CAB WITH UTILITY BODY Rick Curry and Mark Bradshaw, P.E., Director, Environmental Management, presented a request to reject the bid for one new 2022 or latest production model chassis/cab with a utility body due to the vehicle no longer being available from the dealer. The recommendation is to request permission to solicit a replacement truck utilizing a cooperative contract. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Cline, moved to reject the bid as presented and to solicit a replacement truck utilizing a cooperative contract. The motion passed unanimously. AG RI CULTURE -FACES OF FARMING Leslie Hart presented the "Faces of Farming" agricultural-focused video marketing campaign that premiers two local Washington County farms every month, for one year. The "Faces of Farming" marketing videos will be showcased on the County's website, as well as Facebook and other social media platforms, and will target a new industry and highlight a local farmer from that specific agricultural industry. **Departfor the Commission on Aging Luncheon at 535 East Franklin Street, Hagerstown, Maryland. WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING FY24 BUDGET PRESENTATION Amy Olack, CEO, Ed Lough, President, and Tim Delbrugge, Vice President, Washington County Commission on Aging, presented a request for an 86% increase of its current line-item allocation to meet the demand for support programs and services for seniors, those with disabilities regardless of age, and caregivers in Washington County. **Return to JOO West Washington Street, Suite 1113, Hagerstown, Maryland. CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to convene in closed at 1:30 p.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 consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the state; to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter; and to Page 5 of 5 OPEN Session, March 7, 2023 comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicially imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding or matter, in accordance with Section 3-305(b) (1), (4), (7), and (13) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed unanimously. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed Boards and Commissions Appointments, personnel matters, a legal matter/contractual negotiation, and business proposals. Present during closed session were Commissioners John F. Barr, Jeffrey A. Cline, Derek Harvey, Wayne K. Keefer, and Randall E Wagner. Also present at various times, were: John M. Martirano, County Administrator; Kirk C. Downey, County Attorney; Michelle Priebe, Executive Administrative Assistant; Kendall Desaulniers, Deputy County Attorney/Interim Human Resources Director; Mark Bradshaw, Director, Environmental Management; Todd Moser, Real Property Administrator; Andrew Eshleman, Director, Public Works; and Jonathan Horowitz, Director, Business Development. **Reconvened in Open Session at 3:06 p.m. ** GEORGE EDWARDS FUND-WASHINGTON COUNTY PROJECT RANKING Jonathan Horowitz, Director, Business Development, presented a request to approve the proposed Washington County project ranking priority list. The Senator George Edwards Fund is opening the first round of funding at its March 9, 2023, Board meeting. The Board of County Commissioners is the final approver of the Washington County project ranking priority list. Commissioner Cline, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the proposed Washington County project ranking priority I ist. The motion passed unanimously. ADDITIONAL STAFF COMMENTS Kendall A. Desaulniers, Deputy County Attorney/Interim Human Resources Director, presented a request for approval to hire Gayle Abbott for the position of Civil Engineer in the Division of Engineering at a Grade 15, step 6 with a salary of$76,128.00. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve hiring Gayle Abbott for the position of Civil Engineer as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Michelle Priebe, on behalf of the Area Agency Advisory Commission, requested a consensus to appoint Cheree Ware to serve a first, three-term from February 1, 2023 through January 31, 2026. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Harvey, moved to approve the appointment as presented. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cline, seconded by Commissioner Harvey, moved to adjourn at 3:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.