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HomeMy WebLinkAbout960402 April 2, 1996 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners met with the 1995-96 class of Leadership Hagerstown at 7:30 a.m. to participate in their Local Government Day program. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. (Commissioner Shank was absent from the meeting due to a death in his family.) INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Rev. Ellie Doub, Leadership Hagerstown participant, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 7 AND 19, 1996 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of March 7, 1996, as submitted, and March 19, 1996, as corrected. Unanimously approved. PROCLAMATION - FAIR HOUSING MONTH Commissioner Bowers presented a proclamation to Jennifer Short and Patricia McMillian, representing the Community Housing Resources Board (CHRB), naming the month of April 1996 as Fair Housing Month in Washington County and commending this observance to all citizens. Ms. Short thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and for their past support of CHRB. PRESENTATION OF SERVICE PINS Commissioner Snook presented service pins to the following individuals for their years of service with the Washington County government: 5 years - David Iseminger, Gail Warfield and Steven Greathead; 10 years - Donald Faith, Mary Helmer and Douglas White; 15 years - Ronald Clark, Kristin Devault, Janet Bowen and Daniel Shindle; 20 years - Herbert Smith and William Delauter; 25 years - Richard Mummert. Commissioner Snook thanked the employees for their hard work and dedication to County government. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT - CHARLES STROH Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Merit to Charles Stroh in recognition for his outstanding job as Director of Leadership Hagerstown and commended him for his efforts. They recognized that the program strongly supports developing leadership in our community. Mr. Stroh thanked the Commissioners for the Certificate and for their support of the program. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reminded the Commissioners of the budget workshop on Thursday, April 4 and the meeting on April 3 at Ft. Ritchie. He also informed the Commissioners that he attended Hagerstown's Downtown Summit and the Homebuilder's Home Show. Commissioner Downey reported on the meeting held by the "Blue Ribbon Panel" and its recommendations for restructuring of the Economic Development office. Commissioner Bowers reported on the LRA Executive Council meeting. REQUEST FOR CAD SYSTEM HARDWARE UPGRADE AND BUDGET TRANSFER Ronald Karn, Chief, Fire & Rescue Communications, and Roy Lescalleet, Dispatcher, met with the Commissioners to request approval to purchase a new central processing unit for the CAD system currently being used by Fire & Rescue Communications. He stated that the existing processor is over 5 years old and has more software and data on it than it was intended to handle. Mr. Karn said that the new system would reduce the response time and make it almost instantaneous. He indicated that he has been in contact with the Director of Finance who advised him that Fire & Rescue Communications has $71,000 in the CIP budget which could be transferred to the General Fund to cover the purchase. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the request made by Fire & Rescue Communications to purchase a new central processing unit for the CAD system, in accordance with purchasing procedures, and to approve the transfer of $71,000 from the CIP Budget Accounts 40-5-1210-582-040 and 40- 5-1210-582-021 to Account 01-5-1211-682-000. Unanimously approved. APRIL 2, 1996 PAGE TWO INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEE - HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, introduced Larry Ardinger, who was recently employed in the maintenance department for Housing & Community Development. DESIGNATION OF COUNTY AGENT - DEPT. OF HUMAN RESOURCES GRANT APPLICATION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to designate Joe Kuhna of Housing & Community Development as the County's agent for an application submitted to the Department of Human Resources for grant funding. Unanimously approved. PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION - MERVIN W. MYERS Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve a refund of $258.15 to Mervin W. Myers who was overcharged this amount in property taxes. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST - ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the Engineering Department's request to transfer $17,800 from the Unger Road Bridge project, Account 40-5-1320-586-046, to the Amos Reeder Road Bridge project, Account 40-5-1320-586-063, to begin reconstruction of this bridge. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, provided status reports on various County legislative requests. Mr. Shoop also stated that MEMA has not released the funding for flood damage to the designated counties. PUBLIC HEARING - AIRPORT ENTERPRISE ZONE APPLICATION The Commissioners convened the public hearing to consider the application to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development for the expansion of the Washington County Regional Airport Enterprise Zone and to hear comments from the public regarding this application. Beverly Baccala, Economic Development Coordinator, reviewed the application. She stated that it would expand the existing zone by an additional 130 acres, for a total of 830 acres. The additional area would include Citicorp Credit Services, the Airport Business Park, and Fulton properties. The hearing was then opened for public comment. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the proposed application. Ms. Baccala noted for the record that she has received letters of support from Merle Elliott, President of CHIEF, Bradley Fulton, and Michael Looney, Citicorp. The hearing was closed at 10:12 a.m. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the submission of an application to the State Department of Business and Economic Development for the expansion of the Airport Enterprise Zone, originally designated on June 14, 1994, which currently includes Top Flight Air Park, Washington County Regional Airport, and areas adjacent to Interstate 81 and by expansion will include Citicorp Credit Services, Airport Business Park, and Fulton properties. Unanimously approved. CERTIFICATES OF NEED FOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES Bonnie Distad, Program Manager for the Washington County Health Department Home Health Agency, appeared before the Commissioners regarding applications filed with the Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission by Bay Area Health Care and VNA of Maryland for Certificates of Need to supply home health services in Washington County. Ms. Distad asked the Commissioners to review information regarding the applications and to consider sending a letter in opposition to the Health Resources Planning Commission. She explained that the Health Department, along with the Washington County Hospital and local home health care providers, feel they can handle the expected rate of growth in the County and that surveys have shown that the clients have been pleased with these local providers. John Aulls, representing Clinical Support Services at the Washington County Hospital, Elise Polland, Director of Home Health Care from the Washington County Hospital, Sandra Natolly from HomeCall, and Bob Rowe, Director of Hospice, all expressed their opposition to the applications for CONs from Bay Area Health Care and VNA. Commissioner Snook asked that future applications first be reviewed by the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for their review and recommendation. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to send correspondence to the Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission in opposition to the application for Certificates of Need applied for by Bay Area Health Care and VNA of Maryland to provide home health care services. Unanimously approved. APRIL 2, 1996 PAGE THREE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth reported on his lobbying efforts on various legislation, his opposition to the request to increase in the hotel/motel tax, and his concern that no County officials met a well-known minister at the airport. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER PROPOSAL Jim Brown and Ronald Phillips, representing the Recreation & Parks Board, appeared before the Commissioners to present their recommendations regarding the agreement they reached with the Agricultural Education Center Board of Directors. Mr. Brown listed the following recommendations: 1) The Agricultural/Education Center facility becomes part of the Recreation & Parks system. 2) A representative of the Ag/Ed Center Board should be appointed by the Commissioners as a member of the Recreation & Parks Board. 3) A part-time Ag Center Coordinator be hired. Mr. Brown informed the Commissioners that John Staub, Chairman of the Ag/Ed Center Board, has agreed to donate up to $3,000 to pay the salary of a part-time Coordinator from April 1996 to June 30, 1996. 4) A part-time Ag Center Coordinator be hired July 1, 1996, for the salary of $10,400. 5) A Parks Maintenance Division position be placed at the Ag Center. 6) The Recreation and Parks budget for Fiscal Year 1997 will include $20,000 for maintenance and expenses at the Ag Center from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1996. (A portion of this sum has already been submitted in the FY 1997 Parks budget.) 7) The kitchen at the Ag Center should be completed in three months. A pavilion/restroom should be built at a cost of approximately $25,000. Both projects will utilize POS monies. 8) The Recreation & Parks Department and the Agricultural Education Center will work together to provide a temporary office located at the Ag Center. 9) Greg Larsen from the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Ben Clopper from the Agricultural Center Board will co-chair a Marketing Committee regarding events at the facility. 10) Requests from the use of the Ag Center will be submitted to the Coordinator for approval. The Agricultural/Education Center will be responsible for scheduling use of the facilities, with priority given to agricultural, educational, and recreational use. 11) All revenues generated from the facilities will be used to defray operating costs, with any excess going toward future capital improvements at the Ag/Ed Center. Donations will meet State Matching Fund requirements and be used for future capital improvements. The Commissioners then reviewed and discussed each of the recommendations. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to take the Motion from the Table regarding County funding of the Agricultural Education Center. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to adopt the recommendations presented by the Recreation & Parks Board, pursuant to its agreement with the Agricultural Education Center Board of Directors, regarding operation and funding of the Agricultural Education Center, and to approve the part-time Agricultural Education Center Coordinator position as of July 1, 1996, using County hiring procedures and appropriate grading classification of the position. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - BRIDGE REPAIRS BR1996A Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the bid for the repair of Unger Road Bridge, Hanging Rock Road Bridge, and Amos Reeder Road Bridge to Antietam Construction Company who submitted the low total bid of $147,000 which includes Add Alternate #1. Unanimously approved. TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODIFICATION - HALFWAY BOULEVARD/YORK ROAD Terry McGee, County Engineer, informed the Commissioners that the low bid for the traffic signal modifications at the Halfway Boulevard/York Road intersection was from Ellsworth Electric in the amount of $21,950, although a mistake was found in the bid sheet and it was not added correctly. Mr. McGee stated that they followed procedures and contacted Ellsworth Electric to question them regarding the bid irregularities. Ellsworth Electric realized its error and the bid sheets were corrected to read $30,195, which was still the low bid submitted for the project. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to award the bid for traffic signal modifications at Halfway Boulevard/York Road to Ellsworth Electric, Inc. for the low bid of $30,195, as corrected. Unanimously approved. CONSIDERATION OF NAMES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES COUNCIL Mr. Shoop advised the Commissioners of individuals who are interested in appointment to the Emergency Services Council. Those expressing interest are as APRIL 2, 1996 PAGE FOUR follows: Robert Harr, Jimmy Black, James Baker, Robert Cochran, Jill Kazora, Dan Schukraft, M.S. Johnston, Jamie Neikirk, John Hershey III, Bob Jeffers, John McElwee, Ray Linebaugh, Lawrence Johns, Les Adelsberger, Gerald Zimmerman, and Harold Boyer. Mr. Shoop also stated that names have been submitted from the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association. The Commissioners took this under consideration at this time and agreed to review this again at Thursday's meeting. ICC RIBBON CUTTING AND LUNCHEON Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that Independent Cement Corporation has invited them to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on April 23 for the opening of its tire burning facility. APPOINTMENTS - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to appoint Edith Sweigert and Johnette Valentine to the Agricultural Education Center Board of Directors for three year terms beginning June 1, 1996. Unanimously approved. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 11:47 a.m. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:54 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 Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 12:55 p.m., to consider personnel matters, to consult with counsel regarding legal issues, and to consider businesses relocating to 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 Wade, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:51 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed nine (9) personnel matters, eight (8) legal matters, and one (1) economic development matter. LABORER I - WATER & SEWER, MAINTENANCE MAN I POSITIONS - PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND PART-TIME COURT INVESTIGATOR POSITION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to employ Tom Barnhart as Laborer I at the Water & Sewer Department; to approve the request for a part-time Court Investigator position to be funded through the Department of Social Services; and to employ Davis Miller, Sr., Kevin House, Victor Michael Robinson and Steven Lee in Maintenance Man I positions with the Parks Department. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 2:54 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk