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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970107January 7, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, 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 Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 16, 17, & 19, 1996 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of December 16 and 17, 1996, as presented, and December 19, 1996, as amended. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD - CATERING/CONCESSION SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for catering/concession services at the Agricultural Education Center to Martin=s Catering Service for a one-year period with two one-year options for renewal as outlined in the bid proposal. Unanimously approved. BRIEFING - FEDERAL FAMILY PRESERVATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES Kristin Grosh, Children & Youth Coordinator, informed the Commissioners that the Local Management Board (LMB) will be applying for a State planning grant of $50,000 which will allow them to hire a consultant to perform a community needs assessment for family and youth services. She explained that the needs assessment will take approximately six months to complete. Ms. Grosh stated that she will present the grant application for the Commissioners= approval when it has been completed. WATER & SEWER PURCHASING POSITION Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, met with the Commissioners to discuss the possibility of restructuring the duties of the Purchasing Agent at the Water & Sewer Department. Ms. Luther explained that Mike Kinslow has resigned from this position and they are recommending that the position be reclassified as a ABuyerE, Grade 5 on the Water and Sewer Department pay scale, at $22,872. Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, stated that the position will be advertised internally first and asked the Commissioners for permission to advertise externally if there are no applicants in-house for this position. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to this recommendation. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the recommendation to restructure the position of Purchasing Agent at the Water and Sewer Department and to reclassify it and advertise the position as ABuyer- at Grade 5 on the Water and Sewer Department pay scale. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL TO AMEND POLICY ON PURCHASE ORDERS Ms. Luther and Ms. Bastian requested that the Commissioners consider raising the dollar limit from $50 to $500 for the amount needed before a purchase order is required. Ms. Luther explained that it is not cost effective to require a purchase order for a $50 purchase due to the administrative steps and the paperwork involved in the process. The Commissioners discussed the recommendation and agreed to raise the limit to $500, but asked that the purchases be monitored closely to assure that the policy is not being abused. JANUARY 7, 1997 PAGE TWO RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCEPTANCE - WELLER ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to accept the dedication of two parcels from Ray and Izora Bivens, at no cost, which are needed for right-of-way for the Weller Road Bridge project. Unanimously approved. STREET ACCEPTANCE/RELEASE OF SECURITY - BLACK ROCK ESTATES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the release of three lots which the County held as security to cover the estimated financial obligation of the developer, Mansoor Shaool, with regard to installation of sanitary water and sewer lines to serve additional sections of Black Rock Estates, and one lot held to cover financial obligations for the construction of 3,610 linear feet of roadway in Section A, Block 2 of Black Rock Estates, and to accept these streets into the County system. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS= REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reminded the Commissioners that the State of the County Address is scheduled for February 4 and discussed how to structure the presentation. He also reported on the Women=s Commission Legislative meeting. Commissioner Shank reported on the Recreation and Parks Board meeting. Commissioner Wade commented on the synopsis of the Flood Task Force meeting submitted by the Director of Public Works. Commissioner Bowers questioned the billing procedures for advertisements of property for sale due to delinquent taxes. He also asked for clarification on the cost for apartments for hook- ups to the public sewer system. Commissioner Downey reported on the meeting of the Advisory Board of Health sub -committee. REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT - TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, distributed the final draft for the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for their review and input. Mr. Arch reviewed the document and explained how it was compiled. The Commissioners gave their authorization to advertise a public hearing on the Transportation Element. PUBLIC HEARING - MODIFICATION OF PRE-TREATMENT FACILITY CHARGES FOR THE TREATMENT OF EMULSIFIED OILY WASTES The Commissioners held a public hearing to consider the modification of the pretreatment facility charges for the treatment of emulsified oily wastes as recommended by the Water and Sewer Department. George Gross, Director of the Water and Sewer Department, explained that they wish to increase the cost of treatment for emulsified oily wastes from $.07 per gallon to $.20 per gallon to cover the costs of the treatment process. Commissioner Snook opened the meeting for public comments. Donald Allensworth spoke in opposition to the increase in charges. Commissioner Snook announced that the Commissioners would accept comments on this matter until January 10. The hearing was closed at 10:38 a.m. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth spoke in opposition to the State=s ASmart Growtho plan. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR=S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that a meeting is scheduled for January 16 with the LRA regarding governance of Fort Ritchie. He reminded the Commissioners of the organizational meeting of the Economic Development Commission which is scheduled for January 10 at 7:30 a.m. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that they have been invited to a public hearing being held by the Town of Boonsboro regarding curbside recycling. He JANUARY 7, 1996 PAGE THREE asked for one of the Commissioners to attend a third -step grievance hearing on January 16. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that $3,159 was collected by County employees for various non-profit organizations through participation in Casual Day and 1,035 pounds of food was distributed during the holiday food drive. BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST - LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve the transfer of $100,000 from the CIP Contingency Fund to the Landfill budget for emergency repairs necessary due to the erosion of slopes at the old City/County landfill. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF PENALTY CHARGES ON PROPERTY TAXES Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that Mr. and Mrs. Rudell Ahalt have submitted a letter requesting the waiver of interest charges in the amount of $22.01 on their personal property taxes. He stated the billing was mailed to the wrong address and was returned to the Treasurer=s Office as undeliverable. When Mrs. Ahalt called to find out about the tax bill, it had accumulated $22.01 in delinquent penalty charges. The Commissioners discussed this matter and asked that the County Treasurer develop a policy addressing these types of situations. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to waive the penalty charges of $22.01 owed by Rudell and Jo Ahalt for personal property taxes. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Shank, and Snook voting AAYEE and Commissioners Downey and Wade voting ANO.- TAX REBATE PROGRAM Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, distributed copies of the tax rebate booklets for the Commissioners. She reviewed the summary of the allocations to each municipality and the history of the program. Ms. Bastian also reviewed the method used to calculate the allocations. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in Closed Session at 11:17 a.m. to discuss personnel matters, to consult with counsel on legal matters, 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. The Commissioners recessed from 12:04 p.m. to 1:18 p.m. for lunch. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 2:50 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:28 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed eight (8) personnel issues, six (6) legal issues and eleven (11) economic development matters. EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS - FIRE & RESCUE, HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT AND CUSTODIAN Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the following personnel decisions: Fire & Rescue Technician Upgrade - to approve the upgrade of Robert Hoopengarder to Fire & Rescue Technician II, Grade 2, Step A; Accounting Clerk II - Housing & Community Development - to approve the employment of Emmaculata Smith as Accounting Clerk II in Housing & Community JANUARY 7, 1997 PAGE FOUR Development to fill an existing vacancy; Operator I - Water & Sewer Department- to approve hiring Timothy Rowland as Operator I, Grade 3, Step A, at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy; and Part-time Relief Custodian - to hire Nathan Gossard as Part-time Relief Custodian at $7.12 per hour to fill an existing vacancy. The Motion also authorized advertising the to fill the vacant positions of Maintenance Equipment Operator III in the Roads Department and Part-time Bus Attendant positions. Unanimously approved. LEASE FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to extend the lease for one year with Robert Droneburg for 23 acres of land located along Marble Quarry Road for $240 with the land to be used for agricultural purposes. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners asked that the staff look into the possibility of selling this property. AGREEMENT OF SETTLEMENT - MOSH Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the Agreement of Settlement with Maryland Occupational Safety & Health Department for Case No. F72530646. Unanimously approved. WAIVER OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERNS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to waive the conflict of interest and allow Russell Marks to handle a case against the Engineering Department even though he still represents the County on a number of unrelated water and sewer matters, after full disclosure. Unanimously approved. ACCEPTANCE OF ADA GRANT - COUNTY COMMUTER Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to accept an FY 1997 ADA grant from the Maryland Transit Authority in the amount of $200,000 for the Washington County Commuter. Unanimously approved. REVERTIBLE EASEMENT - JOHN YOUNG Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to accept a parcel of 2,711 square feet from John Young for no consideration needed for the stabilization of Robinwood Drive. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:32 p.m. EVENING SESSION - TAX REBATE MEETING WITH KEEDYSVILLE AND SHARPSBURG The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Keedysville Town Hall by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following Commissioners present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. TAX REBATE PROGRAM - SHARPSBURG AND KEEDYSVILLE Commissioner Snook stated that, pursuant to Section 6-306, of the Tax -Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax differential or payment -in -lieu of services program. Commissioner Snook stated that for Fiscal Year 1996 Sharpsburg is estimated to receive $3,632 and Keedysville, $2,498. However, the money for the two municipalities is applied toward the cost of a County deputy for 30 hours per week. He also explained that the estimated amounts will be subject to an audit of expenditures. The Commissioners offered assistance with Keedysville=s Program Open Space application. Mayor Taylor explained that some issues have to be resolved with JANUARY 7, 1997 PAGE FIVE the State before this project can proceed. Also discussed was the Sheriff=s Department response to complaints in the Keedysville area and the housing development proposed near the Town limits. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk