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HomeMy WebLinkAbout951017October 17, 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 Downey, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 10, 1995 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of October 10, 1995, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that he received a copy of a request to the State MDE for application of sewage sludge from the correctional facilities to the J. Harp site and asked if they wished to request a public information meeting. The Commissioners asked that Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, follow through to see if the sludge from the Water & Sewer Department could be included in this application. Commissioner Snook asked the Commissioners to read the decision from the Board of Zoning Appeals and note the special conditions attached to it. The Commissioners also discussed the MACO meeting regarding 1996 legislative items. Commissioner Wade reported on the Annual Fall PTA meeting. Commissioner Shank reported on the Mental Health Authority meeting. Commissioner Downey reported on the Tri -County Council meeting and the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health meeting. Commissioner Bowers stated that the Convention & Visitors Bureau is interested in the establishment of a transportation museum using the roundhouse area. Commissioner Bowers also distributed a copy of a memorandum from the Superintendent of Schools regarding the fixed asset inventory and the recommendation from their auditor that the Board account for purchases over the $5,000 level. The Commissioners discussed the matter and agreed to let the County's bond counsel recommend a fixed asset figure for the Board of Education. Commissioner Bowers informed the Commissioners that he met with elected officials from Boonsboro and Keedysville along with representatives from the Department of the Environment regarding problems with the water system. SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT George Gross, Administrator of the Water & Sewer Department, and Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, met with the Commissioners to request that the sole source procurement section in the Code of Local Public Laws of Washington County be utilized to allow the purchase of 6 Simplex Grinder Pumps and six fiberglass control panels for the Sharpsburg/Keedysville subdistrict. Mr. Gross explained that this is a unique system designed for the Sharpsburg/Keedysville system and this is the only company who currently supplies equipment to fit this system. The Commissioners discussed the system currently in use and the performance of the pumping equipment. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to permit the sole source procurement, authorized under Section 1-106.2(A)(1&2) of the Code of Local Public Laws, of six Model 2010-93 Simplex Grinder pumps and six fiberglass control panels from Environment One for the amount of $16,135. Unanimously approved. CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT - DIVERSEY CORPORATION Mr. Gross informed the Commissioners that the degreasing agent purchased for the Water & Sewer Department does not work, and he asked the Commissioners to formally take action to cancel the contract with the Diversey Corporation. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to cancel the contract, as outlined in the contract terms, with the Diversey Corporation for 61 drums of degreasing agent and to put this item out for bid. Unanimously approved. RECOMMENDATIONS ON LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS Paul Prodonovich, Director of Permits and Inspections, along with representatives from the Homebuilders Association, Timothy Keener, Donald Gehr, and Carl Gearhart, met with the Commissioners regarding the recommendations and alternatives to licensing contractors in Washington County, without adding additional staff to the Permits Department. Mr. Prodonovich stated that the Homebuilders Association felt that the best alternative is to require all residential contractors to obtain a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license. He indicated that this would assure that the contractor does have worker's compensation insurance, liability OCTOBER 17, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. insurance, a bond, and has passed the MHIC test requirements. Mr. Prodonovich stated that the second recommendation is to provide consumer education seminars for homeowners and lending institutions. The third recommendation is to update information and requirements in the Permits Department which they are doing at this time. Ralph France, County Attorney, indicated that the State legislation would have to be changed to make this applicable to Washington County. The Commissioners also considered the possibility of getting enabling legislation for this requirement. Commissioner Snook stated that he does not want to create a hurdle for the majority of businesses which are doing things correctly by establishing procedures tailored to the minority of problem contractors. The Commissioners asked Mr. Prodonovich to obtain a print-out of Washington County contractors who hold an MHIC license and to continue with the second and third alternatives proposed. WASHINGTON COUNTY INVESTMENT POLICY Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, advised the Commissioners that the State is now requiring that each county have in place an approved investment policy, which includes the Board of Education and Library, to regulate investments and put internal controls in place for general fund monies. Ms. Bastian stated that the County is required to report twice a year to the Maryland State Treasurer's Office. She explained how the procedure would work and noted that she is waiting for clarification for several paragraphs from the State. Ms. Bastian reviewed the proposed policy and answered questions from the Commissioners regarding the funds which would be regulated by this policy. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Investment Policy for Washington County as presented by the Director of Finance. Unanimously approved. EDA GRANT FOR FT. RITCHIE Michael Waggoner, Executive Director of Tri -County Council, appeared before the Commissioners to update them on the recently funded Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for Ft. Ritchie. Mr. Waggoner distributed a flow chart showing how the project will be administered. He stated that the total authorized budget is $1,453,125, of which $1,000,000 is a Federal contribution. He stated that the Tri -County Council will be the recipient on the grant with 900 of the funding centered on Washington County. He informed the Commissioners that the funds will go for business networking, entrepreneurial assistance, the revolving loan fund, and infrastructure feasibility. He provided an outline of the standard terms and conditions from EDA. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Waggoner for briefing them on the grant. LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Robert Arch, Director of Planning, reviewed a map which will be submitted to BMI Consultants for use in developing the long-range transportation study. Mr. Arch identified projects by color coding on the map showing the major changes in transportation in the past 5 years, the areas which they hope to see improvement in the next 5 years (short-term), and the long-term improvements on a 5-20 year basis, and how these improvements would affect traffic flow in the County. Mr. Arch stated that BMI has completed the draft for the non -urbanized area and they are now working on the urbanized area plan. The Commissioners gave their approval to submit the plan to BMI but asked that Mr. Arch look at alternative routes for the Robinwood loop shown on the map. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Dick Ritter, a member of the Hagerstown High School Class of 1940, requested that the Commissioners include names of several individuals who died in training accidents during World War II and other military duty, to the plaque located in front of the Court House. Robert Graff, Facilities Administrator, explained that the plaque is the property of the Morris Frock Post of the American Legion, and he has sent a letter to them requesting that they include these individuals. The Commissioners also suggested the possibility of placing a plaque at the Veterans Memorial Garden located at the Martin L. Snook Memorial Park. Donald Allensworth distributed an article relating an incident in Washington, D.C. where general funds are being diverted to subsidize social programs. WATER & SEWER RATE STUDY - CONSULTANT SELECTION Gary Rohrer, Director of the Division of Public Works, reported on the selection process for the Water & Sewer Rate Study. He stated that it is the consensus of OCTOBER 17, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. the Coordinating Committee to recommend Black and Veetch who submitted the low proposal of $40,000, but, with additional services requested, the cost would be 52,500. Mr. Rohrer stated that they will provide a comprehensive financial plan, CIP funding alternatives, a sensitivity analysis, design the cost of service analysis, design an alternate rate form, and structure a uniform implementation plan. He indicated that they would perform the project in three phases with a completion date of April 1996. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the recommendation to award the Water & Sewer Rate Study to Black & Veetch, contingent upon the approval of the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission and the ability of the County Attorney to negotiate a contract with the firm. Unanimously approved. Mr. Rohrer reminded the Commissioners that funding for this study was not budgeted and indicated several projects in the CIP budget where funds could be transferred to this project. The Commissioners directed Mr. Shoop to make a recommendation to them next week regarding funding for the project. UPDATE ON REGIONAL AIRPORT PROJECTS Carolyn Motz, Regional Airport Manager, displayed an aerial photo of the Airport property and provided a status report on current projects. Ms. Motz informed the Commissioners that Chatauqua Airlines will be starting service at the Airport on November 1 and will also have a maintenance base here. She reported that the rental car agencies based in the terminal building had total gross revenues of 1,126,612 this year, and they are in the process of interviewing for prospects for a delicatessen. She also stated that she is not recommending charging for parking at this time. With regard to the air field facilities, Ms. Motz reported that Taxiway Foxtrot should be finished in 1995, the security fencing is being installed, and the JRA Executive Air paint facility will be finished in 2 weeks. She also noted small improvement projects being completed to improve safety concerns and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) application due in November. Under general aviation concerns, she noted that two new businesses, Advanced Interiors and International Aviators, have located at the Airport. She indicated that the Minimum Standards booklet has been distributed and has been activated and the disaster drill is set for Saturday, October 21. Ms. Motz asked that the Brandon Taksa's contract be continued and indicated that she does have the funding in the budget for this expense. The Commissioners took this under advisement. AUTHORIZATION - AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (AIP) APPLICATION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to authorize preparation of a purchase order in the amount of $2,500 for preparation of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) application by Greiner Consulting Engineers. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to convene in Closed Session at 11:30 a.m., 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 Bowers, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at 12:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed three (3) economic development matters. AUTHORIZATION FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to transfer $300,000 from the General Fund budget to the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget effective June 30, 1995, to maintain the level of the Fund Balance, as requested by the Director of Finance. Unanimously approved. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:25 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:12 p.m. with the following members present: Vice Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, OCTOBER 17, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION by the President, Gregory I. Snook President John S. Shank, and and James R. Wade. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to convene in Closed Session at 1:13 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 3:13 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:22 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed six (6) personnel matters, discussed four (4) legal matters, and discussed one (1) economic development matter. EMPLOY - LABORATORY TECHNICIAN - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to employ Loren Ward as Laboratory Technician at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF RANDLEMAN LEASE Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to renew the Handleman Lease at 100 Western Maryland Parkway for one year extending to February 1, 1997, with a 5% increase as presented. Unanimously approved. PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING - REDUCTION OF COUNTY COMMUTER SERVICE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to advertise for a public hearing to present options to reduce County Commuter bus service. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to transfer funds from the CIP Miscellaneous Drainage Projects Line Item (40-5-1301-580-050) to Engineering - Operating Expenses (01-5-0164-524-000) to allow Paul Melby and Lisa Comer from the Water & Sewer Department to work on the Engineering Department projects. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - COURT HOUSE SIDEWALK PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to transfer $92,000 from line item 40-5-0100-581-066 (ADA) to 40-5-0100-580-018 (Court House Sidewalk) for changes to the brick and additional ADA requirements. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - AIRPORT - FIRST RESPONSE VEHICLE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey to transfer $15,599.85 from 40-5-3100-580-098 to 40-5-3100-683-111 to pay the additional costs for the first response vehicle at the Regional Airport. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - AIRPORT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to reappoint Richard Phoebus to the Airport Commission for a three year term. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 4:33 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney Clerk