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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970211 February 11, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 8:03 a.m. to discuss property negotiations, 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 8:27 a.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed one property matter. CALL TO ORDER 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. JANUARY 1997 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - DEVON KETROW Commissioner Downey presented a Certificate of Merit to Devon Ketrow in recognition of being selected as the Youth of the Month for January 1997 by  the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Downey listed Devons many activities and accomplishments and commended her for being a superior role model for all our youth. Ms. Ketrow thanked the Commissioners for the award and introduced her parents and her godfather who were in attendance. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS  Commissioner Snook reported on President Clintons address to the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. Commissioner Shank reported on the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission meeting and on the Recreation & Parks Board meeting. Commissioner Wade informed the Commissioners that he attended the ground breaking for the new ice rink. The Commissioners agreed that they would like to see a concept plan for the Fairgrounds. Commissioner Wade also reported on the Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Bowers informed the Commissioners that the Town of Sharpsburg may be interested in utilizing the Antietam Railroad Station. He reported on the Fort Ritchie LRA Executive Committee meeting. Commissioner Downey informed the Commissioners that he attended the meeting of the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health. RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION - ROBINWOOD CORRIDOR PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the acquisition of 1,373 square feet of land needed for the Robinwood Corridor improvement project in revertible construction easement from Dr. Estep for $1,625. Unanimously approved. FORT RITCHIE - LEGISLATION FOR GOVERNANCE Robert Sweeney, Executive Director of Fort Ritchie LRA, met with the Commissioners to discuss the future of Fort Ritchie and governance legislation to establish the Penmar Development Corporation. Mr. Sweeney distributed a  copy of draft legislation for the Commissioners review. He stated that the legislation is similar to the legislation establishing the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). Mr. Sweeney noted that the County Commissioners would have the authority to appoint the Board of Directors for the Corporation. He asked the Commissioners to review the draft legislation FEBRUARY 11, 1997 PAGE TWO and present any comments and recommendations to him before the Delegation submits it for review. The Commissioners agreed that Richard Douglas, County Attorney, would be the clearinghouse for the recommendations. CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU - BUDGET APPROVAL Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the request made by the Convention & Visitors Bureau to lend $6,000 to the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites for promotion related to the 135th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, contingent upon documents being which executed which outline the conditions of the loan repayment. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Downey, Shank, and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade voting NO. APPOINTMENTS - LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve expansion of the Local Management Board (LMB) from 13 to 15 members and to appoint Robert Strausburg, Michael Hardy, Craig MacLean, and Gary Weaver to the Board. Unanimously approved. IDEA PROGRAM - APPROVAL Norman Bassett, Disability and Training Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners to ask for their approval of the Innovative Dedicated Employee  Awards (IDEA) Program which was presented at last weeks meeting. Mr. Bassett stated that the program would provide awards of merit to those employees whose ideas, actions or abilities produced significant savings of County tax dollars, personnel time, or whose actions were integral in saving lives. The Commissioners agreed to approve the IDEA Program and asked for a review of the program in six months. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the Innovative Dedicated Employee Awards (IDEA) Program as presented to the Commissioners on February 4, 1997. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Gaming Commission members would like to schedule a workshop with them. The Commissioners agreed and asked that the workshop be scheduled during a regular Tuesday session. PERMITS & INSPECTIONS UPDATE Paul Prodonovich, Director of Permits & Inspections, met with the Commissioners to provide a general overview of his Department. Mr.  Prodonovich stated that he would like to increase his departments hours from a 37.5-hour to a 40-hour work week. He reviewed the accomplishments of the Permits and Inspections Department and the increase in the work load which has occurred due to the additional regulations they are enforcing and the increased number of permits issued and inspections being conducted. Mr. Prodonovich listed the areas they are charged with permitting and requested that the Commissioners consider hiring an additional electrical inspector to assist with the backlog. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to Mr.  Prodonovichs recommendation to move the Permits Department to a 40-hour work week. Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, reviewed the costs associated with the additional hours and suggested that this take effect on March 1, 1997. Mr. Prodonovich informed the Commissioners of new technology which would allow inspectors to enter data at the site immediately following their inspection. The data would be transferred by telephone directly into the computer system FEBRUARY 11, 1997 PAGE THREE to provide up-to-date information on the status of permits to contractors at any time. He stated that they would like to consider implementing this technology in the near future. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to place the Permits and Inspections Department on a 40-hour work week beginning March 1, 1997. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Robert Rollans, representing the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum as well as several other railroad-related organizations, expressed interest in the Antietam Railroad Station located outside of Sharpsburg.  Donald Allensworth commented on President Clintons speech to the Maryland General Assembly regarding education. He also spoke regarding clustered housing and the Artz rezoning case. Larry Myers provided additional information regarding the Washington County Hospital soliciting doctors to providing cleaning services. He stated that his wife filed the low bid on several jobs and he does not feel it is fair for the Hospital, as a non-profit entity, to take business from the private sector. Jone Thurmond, President of Cheviot Farms, requested that the County agree to provide fill from the widening of Mt. Aetna Road to the border of the Cheviot Farms property and Board of Education property to correct grading problems at that location. The Commissioners requested that the Director of Public Works review this request and discuss it with the Board of Education. Joyce Dunn, representing the Maugansville Historical Society, requested that the Commissioners have an individual with appropriate credentials at the site when the Wilhide house is dismantled and given to the Society. WATER & SEWER AMENDMENT - WS-96-01  The Commissioners reviewed the Planning Commissions recommendation for Water and Sewer Amendment WS-96-01, as requested by Victor Peeke, to approve conditionally the request to amend the water and sewer designation from W-7,S- 7 (no planned service) to W-5, S-5 (planned service) on property located on the north side of Dogstreet Road in Keedysville. The proposed amendment was heard at a joint public hearing of the County Commissioners and Planning Commission on November 18, 1996. Also present were Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works; Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development; and Timothy Lung, Associate Planner. The Commissioners discussed the recommendation and had several questions for the staff regarding the letter from the Maryland Department of the Environment on this project. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve Water & Sewer Amendment WS-96-01 and to adopt the Resolution, as presented by the County Attorney, to expand the existing rural village water and sewer service area to include 65.3 acres of Parcel 45 on Tax Map 77, with this approval conditioned upon the applicant presenting legally sufficient evidence of permission to proceed with construction by the appropriate agency or agencies providing water and sewer service. Motion carried with Commissioners Downey, Bowers, Shank, and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade voting NO. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:07 p.m. for lunch. FEBRUARY 11, 1997 PAGE FOUR AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was called to order at 1:00 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 Bowers, seconded by Shank, to convene in Closed Session at 1:00 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with the County Attorney on legal issues and to consider issues relating to collective bargaining, 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 2:50 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:08 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed two (2)legal matters, six (6) personnel issues, three (3) collective bargaining issues, and three (3) real estate matters. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to employ Beth L. Evans as Assistant County Attorney, Grade 13, Step A. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION - BACKHOE/LOADER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the resolution for the lease/purchase of four John Deere Model 301E backhoe loaders with GEM Capital Corporation, as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:09 p.m. EVENING SESSION - TAX REBATE PROGRAM - TOWN OF HANCOCK The Evening Session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at the Hancock Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. by the President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President, John S. Shank, with the following members present: Commissioners R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade. Also present were Daniel Murphy, Mayor of Hancock, Council member Debra Wheeler, and Town Manager, Louis Close. TAX REBATE PROGRAM 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 $36,826 and $39,932 for Fiscal Year 1997. He also explained that the estimated amounts will be subject to an audit of expenditures. The Commissioners stated that they would have Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, contact them regarding their questions on the acreage calculated for parks land. At this time Commissioner Snook opened the meetings for any questions or comments from the citizens. FEBRUARY 11, 1997 PAGE FIVE Ed Burke expressed his concerns with trash being dumped along roadways in the Hancock area. He and several other citizens in attendance voiced their dissatisfaction with the amount of County deputies in the area. Chief Gossage of the Hancock Police Department also reported on the lack of deputies patrolling the Hancock area. He stated that the County has no routine patrols west of Clear Spring, and he feels they are being shortchanged. Frank Courtney asked the Commissioners to try to encourage economic development opportunities in the Hancock area. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk