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HomeMy WebLinkAbout951107November 7, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 7:30 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. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to convene in Closed Session at 7:34 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 Downey, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at 9:32 a.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed four (4) personnel matters and consulted with the County Attorney on twelve (12) legal matters. 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 31, 1995 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of October 31, 1995, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook asked that a hearing be scheduled for legislative requests to be submitted to the Delegation to the General Assembly. The group decided that Commissioner Snook and Commissioner Wade would serve as the County's representatives to discuss the future structure of the Economic Development Commission office with representatives from the City of Hagerstown. The Commissioners also agreed that the County Administrator, County Attorney, Director of Human Resources and Commissioner Snook will screen the applications for County Attorney. Commissioner Wade informed the Commissioners that the MACO newsletter states that one of their predominant issues for legislation this year will be on school board funding and accountability. Commissioner Bowers reported on the Executive Council meeting for reuse of Ft. Ritchie. Commissioner Downey stated that the Community Housing Resources Board will be holding workshops for the public and they may be able to provide a seminar to help individuals who are interested in having a home built to avoid problems with contractors. PRESENTATION OF FISCAL YEAR 1995 AUDIT REPORT Mike Manspeaker, representing Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, appeared before the Commissioners to present the County's Fiscal Year 1995 audit report. Mr. Manspeaker reported that the County's audit does have a qualification which stems from the Board of Education's fixed asset record. He stated that he will send a letter to the State indicating that is the sole reason for the qualification. In answer to questions from the Commissioners, Mr. Manspeaker recommended that the Board of Education keep a fixed asset report for items $1,000 and over. Mr. Manspeaker provided a detailed review of the audit report, including the General Fund, Highway Fund and Capital Improvements Projects. He indicated that the County finished the year with a surplus of $338,000 in the General Fund which increased the Fund Balance total to $6.6 million. He then responded to questions from the Commissioners. PRESENTATION - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Jessie Rohrer, a local 4-H member, presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to John Herbst and John Staub, members of the Agricultural Education Center Advisory Committee, to be used toward the construction of a sheep, goat, and swine barn. Mr. Herbst and Mr. Staub thanked Jessie for the contribution and for the effort which went into collecting the money. PRESENTATION - TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS Richard Willson, Cheryl Walkley, James Martin, and Carol Springer, members of the Task Force on Homelessness, made a presentation to the Commissioners to provide them with more information on the composition of the Task Force and its goals. Ms. Walkley provided a history of the project and the sources of its funding. She stated that 122 people are sheltered in Washington County on any given night. Mr. NOVEMBER 7, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. Martin furnished information on how REACH, a private organization, works with the Task Force and Carol Springer reported on the subcommittee which makes recommendations on ways to improve the system to best utilize both staff and funds. Mr. Willson stated that the Task Force places an emphasis on cooperation, prevention, and future planning. Commissioner Snook thanked the Task Force members for the presentation and for their efforts on behalf of the homeless. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to participate at this time. Commissioner Snook acknoweldged that this is Herald Mail reporter Debbie Liederman's last day and thanked her for her fair and accurate articles on the County government. BID AWARD - GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL AND MOTOR AND INDUSTRIAL OILS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the bids for Gasoline, Diesel Fuel and Motor and Industrial Oils to the following firms who submitted the low bid meeting specifications: Gasoline: Transport Loads - Louis Dreyfus Energy - $194,239.80, Tankwagon Load - Ewing Oil Company, Inc. - 49,516.43; Diesel & Kerosene: Transport Load - Louis Dreyfus Energy - 299,774.30, Tankwagon Loads - A.C.&T. Co., Inc. - $32,535.9895; Motor & Industrial Oils: Ewing Oil Company - $28,657.31. Unanimously approved. PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT POLICE VEHICLES - FY 1996-97 Sheriff Charles Mades met with the Commissioners regarding the purchase of replacement police vehicles for Fiscal Year 1996-97. Sheriff Mades explained that in order for them to "piggy -back" the State Contract, they must have a purchase order in by December 1, 1995, with delivery expected in February or March of 1996. He stated that the State had only one bidder for vehicles with the police package at $18,373 per unit. Sheriff Mades requested replacement of 10 vehicles for Fiscal Year 1997 and reviewed the mileage on the vehicles he would like to replace. He stated that this would cost $183,730 and would have to be funded during this fiscal year. The Commissioners discussed the request, and gave their authorization to Sheriff Mades to piggy -back with the State contract for 10 replacement vehicles. RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT - POTOMAC EDISON Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers to approve the Right -of -Way Agreement with The Potomac Edison Company for three phase service to the concession stand located at Martin L. Snook Memorial Park, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF CONTRACT - WATER & SEWER RATE STUDY Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the contract with Black and Veatch for the Water and Sewer Department rate study, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. LEASE AGREEMENT - WASHINGTON COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the lease agreement with the Washington County Extension Service for 6,380 square feet at 1260 Maryland Avenue for 3 years at no consideration. Unanimously approved. ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that Washington County will be reimbursed $251,750 by the FAA for 30 acres of land located in the runway protection zone for Runway 27. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that the staff has completed their study to identify core county services and are ready to review it with the Commissioners. Mr. Shoop advised the Commissioners that the Regional Transportation Meeting held by the Delegation to the General Assembly will be held at HJC on November 10. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:06 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:08 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. NOVEMBER 7, 1995 MINUTES, CONT'D. FORUM FOR RURAL MARYLAND Bill Walker, Executive Director for the Forum for Rural Maryland, appeared before the Commissioners to give them an overview of the purpose of the Forum and share its mission with them. He stated that the Forum is in the process of holding its Ears to Rural Maryland" regional tour to hear the concerns of people in the rural parts of the State which will then be presented at the Governor's Annual Meeting. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS - APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to appoint Leonard Lowry as Alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a term extending to February 19, 1996. Unanimously approved. SETTLEMENT - CHICORP Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the settlement from ChiCorp in the amount of $14,454.93 for the master lease/purchase agreement of equipment for the Sheriff's Department which was not received. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY - PARKS AND SPECIAL POPULATION SPECIALIST Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to employ Eric Creter as Parks and Special Population Specialist at the Recreation & Parks Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. PROMOTION - MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to promote Walter Frazee to the position of Maintenance Supervisor in the Housing & Community Development Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM - TRANSFER TO S.P.C.A. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to transfer the administration of the Spay/Neuter Program from the Animal Control Authority to the S.P.C.A., subject to approval from its Board of Directors, and to request a formal policy on how certificates will be issued. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to convene in Closed Session at 1:36 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 3:08 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:13 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed two (2) personnel matters and discussed four (4) economic development matters. r v rt•i:r Mw Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 3:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney Clerk November 13, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING CASES RZ-95-07, RZ-95-08 AND CP -95-03 A Joint Public Hearing of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and the Washington County Planning Commission was convened in Court Room No. 1 at 7:00 p.m. to hear testimony regarding Rezoning Case RZ-95-07, RZ-95-08, and CP -95- 03. Presiding at the hearing were County Commissioners' President Gregory I. Snook and Planning Commission Chairman, Bertrand Iseminger. Also present at the hearing were County Commissioners John S. Shank, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade, along with Planning Commission members Paula Lampton, Bernard Moser, Robert Ernst, and Andrew Bowen. Planning Commission member, Donald Spickler arrived during the presentation of the first case, RZ-95-07. Staff Reports were presented by Timothy Lung and James Brittain, Associate Planners, and Robert Arch, Planning Director. After presentations and testimony for the cases were heard, it was announced that the record will remain open for ten (10) days to allow additional testimony to be submitted in writing. The hearing was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. County Administrator November 14, 1995 Hagerstown, Maryland Clerk 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. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT - KATHLEEN RILEY Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Merit to Kathleen Riley in recognition of 7 years and 4 months of dedicated service as Division Chief of Citizens Services and for the excellent work she performed on behalf of Washington County and wished her success in her new endeavors. Ms. Riley thanked the Commissioners for the certificate. PRESENTATION TO COUNTY ATTORNEY Commissioner Snook presented County Attorney, Ralph France, with an engraved gavel from all the County Commissioners. Mr. France will be sworn in today as a Judge in the District Court. Mr. France thanked the Commissioners for the gift and stated that he enjoyed his work as County Attorney.