Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout960423 April 23, 1996 Hagerstown, Maryland Breakfast was provided to the Commissioners courtesy of the Valley Grace Brethren Church Youth Group in conjunction with World Day of Prayer to be observed on May 2, 1996. 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 Rebekah Brunner, member of the Valley Grace Brethren Church Youth Group, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 16, 1996 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of April 16, 1996, as corrected. Unanimously approved. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, presented a proclamation to Charles Strong, Deputy State's Attorney, and Jill Ritter, Victim/Witness Coordinator, proclaiming the week of April 21-27, 1996, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Washington County and reaffirming a commitment to address victims' rights and criminal justice issues throughout the year. Mr. Strong and Ms. Ritter thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and noted the activities planned to educate the public and encourage support for victim's rights and services. BID AWARD - HAULING OF SCRAP TIRES FOR RECYCLING Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the bid for hauling of scrap tires for recycling to Browning-Ferris, Inc. who submitted the low total cost proposal of $28,777/year based upon estimated annual quantities. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD & TRANSFER OF FUNDS - HVAC REPLACEMENT AT WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE & ANNEX Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for HVAC replacement at the Washington County Court House and Annex to M.S. Johnston Co., Inc., which submitted the low lump sum base bid of $119,987. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the transfer of $5,000 for the Emergency Management System project to the HVAC replacement project. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT RENEWAL - TRANSPORTATION OF INDIGENT PATIENTS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the contract renewal with County Medical Transport, Inc. for the transportation of indigent patients for an additional one-year period, at the present rates. Unanimously approved. BUDGET WORKSHOP Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance, distributed a summary of the budget adjustments made during last week's meeting to balance the projected shortfall in the General Fund Budget of $1,458,919. She stated that she is estimating $700,000 in additional revenues from the administrative change in the tax collection process, $310,000 from an increase in recordation fees of 50 cents, and a State Police Grant of $150,000. Ms. Bastian reviewed the following reductions made in Draft #2 of the budget: $50,000 reduction to HJC, $100,000 in retirement incentives, $90,000 in phase- out of the contribution to Housing & Community Development over two years, $81 in miscellaneous FICA adjustments, and $59,000 in consolidation of positions. She stated that if these proposed adjustments are made, the budget will be balanced. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to advertise the current tax rate of $2.21 per $100 of assessed valuation as the proposed tax rate to be considered at the public hearing on May 7, 1996. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to retain the income tax rate at 50%. Unanimously approved. APRIL 23, 1996 PAGE TWO The Commissioners discussed the interest rate projections used for Fiscal Year 1997 and the estimated revenues on investments. Also reviewed were the reductions suggested for non-profit agencies and the amount of the reduction proposed to Department of Social Services. Ms. Bastian stated that $3.3 million is mandated for contribution to non-profit agencies in the recent gaming legislation approved by the General Assembly. Motion made by Commissioner Wade to eliminate the entire County contribution to the Department of Social Services in the FY 1997 budget. Motion died for lack of a second. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to provide $250,000 toward technology in schools from the funding appropriated for non-profit agencies. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners asked Ms. Bastian to make recommendations on $250,000 in reductions which could be made to allow them to appropriate that amount to be used for technology needs for education. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth voiced his disappointment that the State legislative delegation failed to obtain money to help with the County's water and sewer problems. John Himes, Jr., expressed complaints regarding 5 unlicensed automobiles parked on his neighbor's property, equipment put on County right-of-way, and other problems he has had with residents in his neighborhood. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS Mr. Shoop reminded the Commissioners of the Western Maryland Commissioners Meeting scheduled for April 26, the ground breaking and reception for Purina Mills on April 30, and the water and sewer workshop on May 1. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that Bill Feuerstein's term on the Gaming Commission expires on June 30. CHANGE ORDER - AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING VEHICLE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the change order to decrease the funding for an Index A Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicle for the Regional Airport by $7,604 due to the elimination of FAA- ineligible items. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF LANDFILL FEES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to deny the request for a waiver of landfill fees on May 17 and 18 made by the Cedar Ridge Women's Auxiliary. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - PLANNING COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to appoint Donald Ardinger and Benjamin Clopper to the Planning Commission for five year terms. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST - SMITHSBURG/LEITERSBURG ROAD PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to approve the transfer of $10,014.17 from the Leitersburg Intersection Project 40-5-1310-585-064 to the Leitersburg/Smithsburg Road Project 40-5-1310-585-040, to cover the recent invoice from the Potomac Edison Company for this project. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - PUBLIC GOLF CORPORATION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to appoint Robert "Lindy" McNamee to the Public Golf Corporation for a three year term. Unanimously approved. BUDGET WORKSHOP - PROPOSAL TO REDUCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Commissioners reviewed Ms. Bastian's recommendations for proposed allocations to non-profit organizations in the FY 1997 budget. After making adjustments to this proposal, the Commissioners ascertained that $211,000 of this funding could be allocated to the Parent Teachers Association to provide for upgrades in technology in the public school system. APRIL 23, 1996 PAGE THREE RECESS - RIBBON CUTTING & LUNCHEON - INDEPENDENT CEMENT COMPANY The Commissioners recessed at 11:38 a.m. in order to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony and luncheon at the Independent Cement Company. Commissioner Snook was excused from the Meeting prior to the Afternoon Session and Vice President Shank assumed the Chair. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 1:35 p.m. by the Vice President, John S. Shank with the following members present: Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. BUDGET TRANSFER FOR ADDITIONAL CONSULTING WORK - BLACK & VEATCH Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to set aside an allowance of $5,000 to be drawn on an "as needed" basis from the Commissioners Contingency Fund for additional consulting work and presentations the County has requested of Black & Veatch which are outside their original Scope of Work. Unanimously approved. SECOND AMENDED RESOLUTION - ROHR INDUSTRIES Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the Second Amended Resolution for Rohr Industries which corrects the period of time for real property tax abatements from 10 years to 5 years, in compliance with Maryland Code Tax-Property Article, Section 9-323(d)(2), as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 2:04 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. Commissioner Snook returned to the Meeting at 2:13 p.m. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the Meeting at 3:50 p.m. Commissioner Wade was excused from the Meeting at 4:10 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed nine (9) personnel matters, four (4) legal matters, and three (3) economic development matters. EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to employ the following individuals to fill existing vacancies: Parks Department - Maintenance Man I - to hire Keith Griffith and to withdraw the offer of employment to Kenneth Hose due to his failure to satisfactorily complete the pre-employment physical; Part-time, As Needed Bus Driver - William Routzahn; Park Attendants - Raymond Kitchen and Gary Brown, and to hire Robert Boone as a Ballfield Attendant; County Commuter - Safety & Training Coordinator - Linda Kerns; Administrative Secretary - Promote Regina Paylor from Secretary I to Administrative Secretary in the Department of Human Resources and to designate Jean Selby as Administrative Secretary/Floater; Lifeguard Position - Marty Snook Pool - Shawn Oswald; Temporary Contractual Inspector - Eldridge Henry. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 4:23 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk