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HomeMy WebLinkAbout950801August 1, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Wade followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 11, 18, AND 20, 1995 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of July 11, 1995, as corrected, and the minutes of July 18 and 20, 1995, as submitted. Unanimously approved. UPDATE - HARVEST Jan Russell and Jim Mobley, representing the Harvest Board of Directors, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on its first year in operation. Ms. Russell stated that Harvest is a non-profit, tax exempt organization designed to pick up excess prepared and perishable food from restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments which is then transported by Hagerstown Laundry to non-profit feeding agencies. Ms. Russell indicated that 795 pounds of food was collected the first year. She also provided a financial report for the first year and thanked the Commissioners for their assistance in starting the project. AWARD OF FORMAL QUOTE - SEASONAL PROGRAM SCHEDULES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to relieve The Printing Press from their quotation without prejudice, due to hardship, and to award the formal quote for printing of the Recreation Department's Seasonal Program Schedules to The Printing Place who submitted the low quotation of $9,837. Unanimously approved. OPERATING ASSISTANCE GRANT - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Operating Assistance Grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation in the amount of 89,941 for the SSTAP Program to provide transportation services to elderly persons and/or persons with disabilities in Washington County, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. RIGHT -OF -ENTRY AGREEMENT - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Right -of - Entry Agreement with the Department of Natural Resources to allow the Roads Department to remove a bank on Brownsville Road. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF CONTRACT - INDUSTRIAL TOWEL SUPPLY Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the contract with Industrial Towel Supply, Inc. for rental uniform services for various County Departments for the period August 1, 1995 - July 31, 1996, renewable for two one- year periods, in the amount of $25,139.40 annually. Unanimously approved. BOILER REPLACEMENT CONTRACT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the contract for boiler replacement at the Transportation Commission building with Fridinger- Ritchie Co., Inc., in the amount of $13,975. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION FOR LINES OF CREDIT - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Ralph France distributed additional copies of the Resolution adopted on June 20, 1995 approving the establishment of lines of credit with the Hagerstown Trust Company for the Washington County Water and Sewer Department for the projects specified in the document. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the Resolution Authorizing Lines of Credit for the Water and Sewer Department, which was previously approved on July 11, 1995, to include specific project information, and converting lines of credit to long-term financing. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT FOR CRYSTAL SPRINGS TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Washington County's operation of the Crystal Springs Tourist Information Center for a one year period beginning August 1, 1995, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 1, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. DEEDS OF TRUST - NAME CHANGES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to accept the County Attorney's recommendation to have the names of the trustees on the Deed of Trust with St. James Corporation on file in the Court House changed from Lynn Palmer and Russell Marks to Gregory I. Snook as President of the Board of County Commissioners, and Ralph H. France, II, County Attorney. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS - BOARD OF ELECTRICAL EXAMINERS & SUPERVISORS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to reappoint David Raymer, Charles Shindle, and James Elliott, to the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors for three year terms. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING BANK WIRE TRANSFERS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the Resolution authorizing the wire transfer of funds from the First National Bank of Maryland Account 230-0355-4 by Washington County. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION - SHORT TERM DISABILITY ACCOUNT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the Resolution authorizing Gregory I. Snook, to be a signatory on Washington County's Short-term Disability Account, along with CIGNA Vice President Paul Bergsteinnson. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reappoint John Herbst to the Economic Development Commission for a three year term. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to appoint Donald Ardinger to the Mental Health Authority for a three year term. Unanimously approved. AUTHORIZATION FOR CONSULTANT FOR SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to authorize using James Young for consulting work on short-term investments for four hours. Unanimously approved. IMPACT FEES - FORMATION OF REVIEW COMMITTEE Robert Arch, Planning Director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the formation of a review committee to consider the implementation of impact fees. Mr. Arch stated that he had reviewed the composition and findings of the Impact Fee Study Committee which examined the issue in 1989, and he is recommending the appointment of a nine member committee, to include representation of the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Realtors, Associated Builders & Contractors, Farm Bureau, Architectural and Engineering, Board of Education, and Planning Commission. Mr. Arch also recommended that a consultant be hired to consider the legalities of the way these funds can be spent. He stated that impact fees cannot be used to mitigate a prior problem. The Commissioners discussed the issue, and Commissioner Wade stated that the County needs to identify revenues to help fund capital infrastructure costs for services required due to new growth. Commissioner Shank indicated that he feels the committee should study all possible financing alternatives and should not just focus on impact fees. He requested projections for the next 10 years to see if there really is a problem with growth issues. The Commissioners discussed the type of committee they wish to appoint and the representation they wish to have on the committee and asked the County Administrator to address the issue and establish parameters for this proposed group to study. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to rescind their earlier action to appoint an Impact Fee Study Committee and instead to form a new committee to study broader financial issues and possible alternatives for financing. Unanimously approved. INTRODUCTION OF BOY SCOUTS Commissioner Snook introduced Andrew and Patrick Ferguson who are working toward earning their Boy Scout Citizenship Merit Badges. MENTAL HEALTH CENTER - ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS Ronald Pike, President of the Mental Health Center Board of Directors, and Mark Lannon, Executive Director of the Center, met with the Commissioners regarding some difficulties they have been experiencing by using a shared billing system AUGUST 1, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. with the Mental Health Authority. Mr. Pike introduced the other Board members in attendance and read a prepared statement regarding the problems the billing system has caused and indicated that the Center is planning to purchase an accounting system package designed for them and hire their own billing specialist. Mr. Pike stated that he feels the Commissioners should undertake a complete evaluation of the Mental Health Authority. The Commissioners indicated that they would request audit reports from both agencies and discussed how the new billing procedure will work. The Commissioners took this matter under consideration at this time. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Sam Phillips asked the Commissioners if any consideration is being given to implementing quarterly or semi-annually the payment of County property taxes. Commissioner Snook stated that legislation has been passed to set up programs to bill on a semi-annual basis. Mr. Phillips also asked questions regarding the joint committees to be appointed to study issues with the school board. Helene Frazier, representing the Hagerstown Lioness Club, informed the Commissioners of the "Sentimental Journey" Dance which will be held at the Washington County Regional Airport terminal on September 9 in conjunction with the Fairchild Homecoming Airshow. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to convene in Closed Session at 11:25 a.m., with regard to personnel matters, to consult with the County Attorney, and to consider businesses relocating in Washington County, in accordance with Section 10.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 12:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed two (2) personnel matters and discussed one (1) economic development matter. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting at this time. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:11 p.m. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:00 p.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade. BASE REUSE ORGANIZATION PRESENTATION Dr. Richard Palmer, Director of the Economic Development Commission, introduced Tom Lowe from the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment, and Col. Ronald Adkins, U.S. Army. Mr. Lowe explained how they will be working with an appointed Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) to help create jobs lost due to the base closure of Ft. Ritchie. He stated that they can help with providing technical assistance and finance, as well as with working with the LRA to put together a plan for reuse of the base. The Commissioners discussed the establishment of the LRA and Col. Adkins explained the time frame involved and the process. Mr. Lowe stated that the next meeting of the Reuse Committee will be on September 7 and they will submit a list of recommendations to the Commissioners for appointment of a new committee to work with the LRA. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Lowe and Col. Adkins for meeting with them. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to establish the Board of County Commissioners to act as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for the Ft. Ritchie base closure plan. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convene in Closed Session at 2:02 p.m., with regard to personnel matters, to consult with the County Attorney, and to consider businesses relocating in Washington County, in accordance with Section 10.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. AUGUST 1, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. Commissioner Bowers returned to the Meeting at 3:19 p.m. Commissioner Snook was excused from the Meeting at 3:42 p.m., and Vice President Shank assumed the Chair. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed one (1) personnel matter, consulted with the County Attorney on eight (8) matters, and discussed two (2) property matters. APPOINTMENT - ETHICS COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to appoint Ralph Wachter to the Ethics Commission for a three year term. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 4:01 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney Clerk