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HomeMy WebLinkAbout951010October 10, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 8:30 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 Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. 1995 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - JESIKA ASARO Commissioner Downey presented a Certificate of Merit to Jesika Asaro in recognition of being selected as the Youth of the Month for September 1995 by the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Downey listed Jesika's activities and accomplishments and commended her for being a superior role model for all our youth. Ms. Asara thanked the Commissioners for the award and introduced her parents who were in attendance. COPS UNIVERSAL HIRING PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION Sheriff Charles Mades met with the Commissioners to request their authorization to submit a COPS Universal Hiring Application Form to the U.S. Department of Justice for matching grant funds for 3 full-time officers. Sheriff Mades indicated that two officers would be dedicated to the Halfway area and one to the Town of Boonsboro. He stated that the Federal grant funds requested are $212,000 with the Town of Boonsboro's share $23,600, and the County's share, $47,000, over a three year period. Sheriff Mades also stated that he is waiting on a letter of authorization from the Town of Boonsboro to submit with the application. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to authorize the submittal of the COPS Universal Hiring Program Grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for funding for three additional officers, pending a letter from the Town of Boonsboro, and to agree to the County's matching portion of the grant funds if successful in obtaining the grant award. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS & COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reported on the dedication ceremony for the new facility at the Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company. He also distributed a revised route for a sewage sludge application. Commissioner Shank reported on the Recreation & Parks Board meeting. Commissioner Wade reminded the Commissioners of upcoming appointments to the Transportation Commission. Commissioner Bowers stated that the Board of Education's audit indicates that they do not maintain a detailed fixed asset inventory, and he explained ways that this adversely affects the County government. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, explained that in order for the County to be in compliance with EPA regulations for landfill closure, the County must provide either insurance or financial assurances which include an unqualified audit opinion. She stated that the only reason that the County has a qualified opinion is because the Board of Education does not have a fixed asset inventory. The Commissioners directed Mr. Shoop to send correspondence to the Board of Education requesting that they start to maintain this inventory. Commissioner Downey informed the Commissioners that the Tri -County Council will meet Thursday to review the project package for the coming year. He also reported that signs have been put up for the rubble landfill. APPOINTMENT - RECREATION & PARKS BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to appoint Deborah Murphy to the Recreation and Parks Board for a three year term. Unanimously approved. ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the first meeting of the Executive Council for the Re -use of Ft. Ritchie will be held on October 20. The Commissioners agreed to schedule a joint meeting with the Board of Education on October 17 to discuss legislative issues and the budget. CONVEYANCE OF LAND - CITY OF HAGERSTOWN Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convey easements which were transferred to County government by the Board of Education for the regional stormwater management facility located at the North Hagerstown High School property to the City of Hagerstown as required by City ordinance. Unanimously approved. OCTOBER 10, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE - 911 Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Compliance to Ronald Karn, Chief, Fire & Rescue Communications, from the State Emergency Numbering Systems Board in recognition of the efficient and professional manner in which the Washington County 911 operation is managed. PROCLAMATION - NATURAL DISASTER & MITIGATION AWARENESS DAY Commissioner Shank presented a Proclamation to Ruth Mascari, Emergency Management Planner with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, naming October 11, 1995, as Natural Disaster and Mitigation Awareness Day in Washington County and commending this observance to all citizens. Ms. Mascari thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and provided information about the agency for which she works. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 3, 1995 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of October 3, 1995, as corrected. Unanimously approved. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - PRIORITIES Terry McGee, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to discuss the priorities of projects in his department. Mr. McGee distributed a list of 94 projects of which the top 33 were ranked, showing their current priority and previous priority. He stated that he would like to Board to review the list and advise him what their priority projects are for the Engineering Department. Mr. McGee indicated that this information will help him in structuring the department to accomplish these tasks. Also discussed were "EDC pop-up" projects. The Commissioners reviewed possible ways to alleviate the back-up, including outsourcing, using contractual employees to fit the workload with the ability to decrease it when projects are completed, and considering increasing the staff to 40 hours per week. The Commissioners agreed to review the list and set priorities and directed Mr. Shoop to provide alternatives regarding subcontracting or hiring contractual employees. FUNDING AWARD FROM MENTAL HYGIENE ADMINISTRATION Leon Bayless, Executive Director of the Mental Health Authority, and Joan Gilese, representing the Mental Hygiene Administration, met with the Commissioners to present the report and proposal from the Washington County Joint Task Force on Mental Health and Corrections and introduced other members in attendance. Mr. Bayless stated that the Mental Health Authority will be receiving $50,000 to establish a program to serve mentally ill inmates at the Detention Center and will receive $5.5 million over 5 years in Federal funds to begin a pilot program to address this population. He indicated that the project is three fold. It will help divert individuals who they could keep from being in jail because of mental illness or substance abuse, it will enhance the services to this population while at the detention center, and will provide after-care services to include housing. After discussion of the program proposed, the Committee agreed to provide an annual update to the Commissioners. Commissioner Snook thanked the Committee members for their involvement and for making the presentation. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Willie Miller distributed photographs of Corbett Street and asked that the Commissioners consider upgrading this street. Commissioner Snook indicated that he will have the Roads Department evaluate the area and make recommendations. WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT STATUS Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, and Dawn Barnes, Comptroller at the Water & Sewer Department, appeared before the Commissioners to provide a financial status report for the Water & Sewer Department. Also present were Water & Sewer Commission members Sam Phillips, Peggy Bushey, Robert Holsinger, and Joe Robeson. Ms. Barnes provided a history of the Water & Sewer Department's cash flow from 1990 to 1995 and summarized that there was an ending cash balance of $600,502 as of June 30, 1995. She reviewed a summary of the operating income(loss) and pointed out that the principal problem is in Subdistrict 18 which includes the debt for the Conococheague Pre-treatment Plant. Ms. Barnes reviewed the revenue and expense comparison for the General Fund budget and indicated that there was a net loss of $2,061,901. She also reviewed cash projections for the next three quarters and a summary of the line of credit for operations. Mr. Rohrer stated that they are in the process of choosing a consultant to perform a water and sewer rate study which they hope to have by early 1996. He also stated that an annual savings of approximately $400,000 will be realized through the changes made since OCTOBER 10, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. July 1, 1995, when the Sanitary District was placed under the control of the Division of Public Works. Mr. Rohrer informed the Commissioners that the Water & Sewer Commission will be holding a work session to try to find ways to deal with the debt and will come back to the Commissioners with a plan. He also stated that he feels they have done all they can do until the rate study recommendations are completed. Mr. Rohrer informed the Commissioners that a study and testing need to be conducted to find out if the Conococheague and Nicodemus wastewater treatment plants will meet Federal and State requirements which need to be in place by the year 2000. He stated that he can utilize grant funds from the Maryland Department of the Environment but they will require a 50% match from the County of approximately $100,000. The Commissioners took this request under consideration at this time. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:22 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:24 p.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. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convene in Closed Session at 1:25 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. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 2:51 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:16 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed seven (7) personnel matters, consulted with the County attorney on four (4) matters, and discussed five (5) economic development matters. PROMOTION OF COLLECTION & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATOR II Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to promote Craig Reed to the position of Collection & Distribution System Operator II at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. TAX CREDITS - C.E. STEVENS PACKAGING, INC. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the tax credits offered to C.E. Stevens Packaging, Inc., as an incentive to relocate in the Hagerstown district in accordance with the tax abatement schedule offered to them in a letter of April 14, 1994. Unanimously approved. AUTO SALVAGE & PARTS CO., INC. - PURCHASE OPTION AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to exercise the purchase option agreement with Auto Salvage & Parts Company, Inc., to purchase property located on Route 40 west of Hagerstown, near Huyett's Crossroads. Unanimously approved. VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OF HALFWAY - RESOLUTION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the obligations referenced in the Report on the Public Hearing on the Proposed Issuance of Tax - Exempt Obligations by the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, Maryland, Inc., in accordance with the requirements of Sections 150(e) and 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Unanimously approved. PAYMENT EXTENSION - NEW BINGO ISLAND Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve a three month extension to allow Mary and Harold Pompell, owners of New Bingo Island, to make three equal payments of the commercial bingo operations tax, with the understanding that when the permit is renewed, it will be paid in full at the time it is due. Unanimously approved. OCTOBER 10, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT - CHARLES S. ZIES, II Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to terminate the employment of Charles S. Zies, II, from the Housing & Community Development Department. Unanimously approved. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - 40 HOUR WORK WEEK Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to increase the Engineering Department employees, excluding secretaries, from 37.5 hours per week to 40 hours per week. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 4:21 p.m. Unanimously approved. 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