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HomeMy WebLinkAbout951031October 31, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 2:30 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 Downey, seconded by Wade, to convene in Closed Session at 2:40 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. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 5:36 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed five (5) personnel matters, consulted with the County Attorney on two (2) legal matters, and considered one 1) property matter. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:36 p.m. for dinner and to travel to the Town of Clear Spring. EVENING SESSION - TOWN OF CLEAR SPRING The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Clear Spring Town Hall by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following Commissioners 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 24 AND 26, 1995 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of October 24 and 26, 1995, as submitted. Unanimously approved. AMENDMENT OF OCTOBER 10, 1995 MINUTES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to amend the minutes of October 10, 1995, under the heading Water and Sewer Department Status to read Conococheague Treatment Plant" rather than "Conococheague Pre-treatment Plant". Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook read a letter from the State Highway Administration's plans for upgrade of a roadway in the Clear Spring area, and he reported on a letter from the County Treasurer that the conversion cost for the County to change to a semi- annual billing system for property tax will be $48,300, which will be reimbursed by the State. Commissioner Bowers stated that he received a letter from the Fifth Grade class at Clear Spring Elementary asking him to meet with them to hear why they feel there should be air conditioning in elementary schools. He also reported that the Executive Council for the Re -use of Ft. Ritchie met with the Chancellor of the University of Maryland to discuss economic development aspects of Ft. Ritchie. Commissioner Bowers stated that the Governor's Council on Productivity & Management will be meeting tomorrow. Commissioner Wade asked Mr. Shoop to contact the Town Administrator in Hancock regarding problems they are having with the closure of the landfill in Hancock. He also reported on the Soil Conservation Service Annual Banquet. Commissioner Shank reported on the Public Hearing held on the Highway Interchange Group IV comprehensive rezoning. HISTORICAL SITE RATING SYSTEM Pat Schooley and Jane Hershey met with the Commissioners to report that the project to include historic sites on planning maps is almost complete. She stated that approximately 250 sites are remaining to be put in the computer system. Ms. Schooley distributed a Maryland Historical Trust listing of historic designation classifications and asked if they could also input the priority designation letters on the computer to be included as an overlay on the planning maps. The Commissioners questioned the difference between the "A" level designation for exceptionally high level priority and the "B" level designation as high level. OCTOBER 31, 1995 MINUTES - PAGE 2 Ms. Hershey explained that they used the "A" designation for all 18th century structures on the survey or those on the Historic Register. The Commissioners asked that a better differentiation be made between "A" and "B" designations. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to adopt the prioritization designation letters for historic structures as submitted by the Maryland Historical Trust and to allow the volunteers to put the letter designations into the computer system at the Planning Department and to recommend that the municipalities in the County also adopt this designation system to make the standards compatible. Unanimously approved. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Ralph Funk stated that he feels the Commissioners should request the State's Attorney to get involved to investigate items mentioned in the Board of Education's audit which were not elaborated upon in the final report. Mary Kline asked if signage can be placed on roads in the County showing the elevation of the mountains. The Commissioners indicated that they would have the Transportation Advisory Committee discuss this with State Highway Administration representatives at its next meeting. Marion Thomas expressed concerns about the problems at the Board of Education. Joe Swope stated that he feels the Commissioners need to hold additional public meetings in the evening to allow more citizen participation. Mr. Swope also expressed concerns regarding reductions in public transportation and the possible privatization of the landfill. Also discussed were problems at the Rt. 615 interchange with Interstate 70 in Hancock and the need for additional signage in Clear Spring to avoid confusion between MD Route 68 and Interstate 68. Steve Ernst spoke about agricultural issues and the major feed companies moving into the county and the County monies put into the projects. Julianna Albowicz related problems the residents of the Town of Clear Spring are having with the local post office. Several other residents also commented regarding the problems which have occurred. CLEAR SPRING - SENIOR HOUSING UPDATE Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on the status of the senior citizens housing planned in Clear Spring. Mr. Willson stated that an appraisal has been completed for a parcel of land in Clear Spring for a possible site for the housing, senior center and library. He stated that six or seven sites are being ranked for possible use. Mr. Willson also advised that because of the disappearance of funding sources, the County may want to consider updating the market study to include moderate income as well as lower income senior citizens in the area. He indicated that updating the study would cost approximately $5,000. He then responded to questions regarding funding and site selection. Councilperson Albowicz stated that they are interested in considering a section of the Snyder Farm for use as a community park. Commissioner Shank advised her to contact the Recreation & Parks Department for information on the process for applying for POS funding and the timeframe involved. WATER SYSTEM METER READING Councilperson Julianna Albowicz asked the Commissioners if the Water & Sewer Department could help the Town of Clear Spring to establish a meter reading system. The Commissioners stated they would have someone from that office contact them regarding the request. RESOLUTION - MILA LOAN Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to adopt a Resolution to accept a $1.5 million MILA loan from the State of Maryland to be used for construction of a second shell building at the Washington County Regional Airport. Unanimously approved. DEVELOPER AGREEMENT - WASHINGTON COUNTY HOSPITAL ENDOWMENT FUND Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the developer agreement with the Washington County Hospital Endowment Fund for infrastructure OCTOBER 31, 1995 MINUTES - PAGE 3 improvements required due to the Phase II development near the Robinwood Drive/Mt. Aetna Road area, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - ADVISORY COMMISSION TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to appoint Dr. Eldon Hawbaker to the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for a three year term. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD & BUDGET TRANSFERS - RENOVATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE'S CHAMBERS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to award the bid for the renovation of the Administrative Judge's Chambers to Trademark Builders, Inc., who submitted the low total bid of $68,900 and to approve the budget transfer of 15,000 from 40-5-0100-581-074 and $13,000 from 40-5-0100-581-075 to Account 40-5- 0100-581-032 to cover funding for the project. Unanimously approved. WATER & SEWER RATE STUDY - BUDGET TRANSFER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the budget transfer of $65,000 from the Hump Road Water Line Extension Project in the CIP budget to fund the Water & Sewer Department Rate Study. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS - RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to reappoint James Brown, Joseph Hannah, Robert Powell, and Ronald Phillips to the Recreation & Parks Department for three year terms. Unanimously approved. FAIRPLAY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY - CIP TRANSFER Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, recommended that the Commissioners transfer the $250,000 needed by the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company for construction of a new facility out of the funding budgeted for the HJC Learning Resources Center in the CIP Budget. The Commissioners again expressed their displeasure that they were not consulted before this project was included in the package for County bond funds. They also stated that they feel this bond fund condition requires that all County taxpayers fund the construction of a fire company in one area of the County. Commissioner Bowers stated that he feels it is a misuse of power for a State Senator to encumber County bond funds for a fire company because he could not obtain State funding for the project. Commissioner Bowers stated that he is formally going to request that other fire companies in the County receive funding for their construction projects. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the transfer of 250,000 from the HJC Learning Resources Center project to the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company project in the CIP budget and to go on record insisting that Senator Munson not legislate issues in Washington County. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to include in the 1996 legislative request package to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly that $250,000 be reimbursed to Washington County in some way to compensate the County for the requirement that they use bond monies for Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company. Motion carried with Commissioners Wade, Bowers, Downey, and Snook voting "AYE" and Commissioner Shank voting "NO". HALFWAY BOULEVARD EXTENSION UPDATE Robert Arch, Planning Director, provided an update on the proposed extension of Halfway Boulevard. He stated that he is trying to schedule a meeting with the State Economic Development Administration and Tri -County Council to find funding for this project. Commissioner Bowers asked Mr. Arch to look at all options and asked if the $4.5 million in funding already identified could be used for this project. Mr. Arch indicated that he would check to see if these funds could be used and will keep the Commissioners informed of his progress. r v rt•i:i iU Mw Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney