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HomeMy WebLinkAbout950106January 6, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 2:30 p.m. by the President, Gregory 1. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade, to review the package of legislative requests with the State .Delegation. Members of Washington County's Delegation to the General Assembly in attendance were: Senators John Derr and Donald Munson and Delegates John Donoghue, Anita Stup, Bruce Poole, Louise Snodgrass, Sue Hecht, and Robert McKee. The_ Commissioners reviewed each of the following requests with the Delegation BondingAuthority The Commissioners requested enabling legislation for issuance of up to $40 million over a 4 year period. The Delegation members asked the Commissioners to provide information on the capital projects to be completed with these funds and on the - amount of the County's current bond indebtedness. The Commissioners agreed to have this information compiled along with information from the bonding houses in New York and sent to the Delegation. Act following amendments proposed to the Forest Conservation Act:" 1) Amend the Exemptions Subsection to add an exemption for any area within or adjacent to an airport which is subject to application. of Federal -Aviation Regulation Part 77 pertaining to "Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace". 2) Add a new Subsection E to "State Review -and Approval of Local Programs", Section .01 of General Requirements to read that any County which has 100,00o acres or more of forest cover, may request an exemption from the "Afforestation" provisions -of the regulation if 1) the County submits to the Department a -letter signed by the appropriate County officials requesting the exemption; and -2) the Department confirms that the. County has 100,000 acres or more based on data from the Maryland Office of Planning or the Department's forest resource inventory provided for in COMAR 08.19.06.04. 3) Amend the Exemptions Subsection to acid an exemption for all lands zoned Industrial or parcels of property proposed for development with an industrial or manufacturing land uses in any zoning classification. Regional Airport Recommendations Requests from the Regional Airport included amendment to the Reforestation Act, continuation of funding of the State's five percent of the Airport Improvement Plan (AIP) grants, reinstitution of funds for the Maryland Entitlement Program and MATAP, and the provision of state surplus equipment to Maryland airports, free of charge. Issuance of County Licenses or Permits The Commissioners recommended amending Article 56,, Section 2A-1 to delete real estate taxes from that article. Contamination of Recyclable Materials The Commissioners presented a request from the Solid Waste Department recommending the amendment of the State Littering Law to allow the County Commissioners to enact an ordinance to prevent the contamination of recyclable materials which have already been placed in recycling bins. State's Attorney The Commissioners presented a request from the State's Attorney that the language of Article 27, Section 576 of the Annotated Code of Maryland relating to trespass be amended to allow police officers in Washington County to file charges in District Court for trespass in County parks. The Delegation discussed this request and asked that the County Attorney clarify who would be authorized to file charges. JANUARY 6, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D, Closing -Out Sale -- The Commissioners recommended repealing Title 5 of the Public Local Laws Washington County relating to closing -out sales since this has been pre-empted Subtitle 11 of the Commercial Law Article in the Annotated Code of Maryland. Marriage License and Divorce Fees The Commissioners presented a request to amend Section 2-404, Family Law Articl Annotated Code of Maryland, to authorize the County Commissioners to increase t marriage license fee from $35 to $50 with the increased amount to be direct toward support of domestic violence programs in Washington County. The Commissioners also recommended enactment of statewide legislation authorizer an additional court cost of $50 upon the filing of a divorce decree in Circu9 Court with the monies to be directed toward support of domestic violence programe The Delegation discussed this request and asked the Commissioners to estimate tt amount of additional revenues this would generate for the domestic violen< programs along with the increase in the marriage license fee. Delegate Hect indicated that she has information on this subject which she would share and wou] also be willing to help the County Attorney draft the bill. Convention & Visitors Bureau The Commissioners recommended that Article 24, Section 9-318 of the Annotated -Cod of Maryland be amended to reflect that all revenues derived from the hotel rents tax going into the General Fund and which go the Visitors and Convention Bureat be -paid to the Convention & Visitors Bureau only if all members of the Bureau as appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for set terms of office. The Delegation members discussed the tax and the concerns they have with it ar. the Bureau itself. They indicated that this would warrant further discussion. Bingo Permit Charge The Commissioners requested an amendment to the Annotated Code to allot._?ashingto County- to charge fees for the issuance of permits for the operation of "fo profit" bingo games, including games to be operated in the municipalities. T Commissioners requested authority to charge up to $5,000 yearly for these permit with the proceeds generated to be designated to fire and rescue companies. TP Commissioners indicated that current "for profit" bingo operations would grandfathered and would not be charged the permit fee. Water & Sewer Authoritv The Commissioners presented amendments to the Washington County Public Local I to abolish the Washington County Sanitary District with all powers, authoriti responsibilities, and liabilities assumed by the Board of County Commissione Gary Rohrer, Chief, Division of Public Works, explained that this would be mode after the Frederick County law and would come under the Board of Public Wor The Delegation discussed this legislation and had several questions on haw would be instituted. The meeting was then opened for public comment. Jay Grimes and Jim Xershner, representing the Washington County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, presented proposals for legislation on bingo operations, ga for carnivals, and the off -premises operation of tip jars. Mr. Kershner a presented a proposal on a training facility. Stan Crimp spoke in support of licensing "for profit" bingo and the Washinc County Club Association opposed the further expansion of "for profit" bingo gave its support to all Fire & Rescue Association fundraising efforts. John Staub, Chairman of the Agricultural Education Center Committee, asked t H.B. 1667 -be submitted again this year for funding for the Agricultural Educat Center. Commissioner Snook stated that this request will be submitted with regular package. Commissioner Downey stated that he has received several telephone calls regard the bill on.emissions testing. Delegate Poole discussed the proposed purchase of the Sharpsburg American Lec property and the Commissioners stated that they would like to have an apprai of the property before they continue with discussions. The Commissioners agre ANUPRY 6, 1995 T_NUTES, CONT'D. to have Dean Lowry, Administrative Engineer, meet with representatives of the State Highway Administration to have an in-house survey of the property done. Ommissioner Wade stated that the County needs to look to the future with regard to gambling and limiting the type of devices people might want to bring into the ounty. NVLNE IN CLOSED SESSION otion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in Closed ession at 4:26 p.m., with regard to personnel matters, in accordance with Section 10.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. nanimously approved. CONY NTS otion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at -4:37 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed two (2) personnel matters. MUR2 bBMT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 4:38 p.m. nanimously approved. --- Count Attorney All Clerk to the Commissioners 17