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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970218 February 18, 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 - FEBRUARY 4, 6 AND 11, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of February 4, 1997, as amended, and to approve the minutes of February 6 and 11, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK Commissioner Bowers presented a proclamation to Terry McGee, County Engineer, naming the week of February 16 - 22, 1997, as National Engineers Week in Washington County and encouraging all Americans to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the engineering profession and the contributions made by engineers to the quality of our lives. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that he received a letter from the Department of the Environment asking if the County wants to request a  public informational meeting in reference to Maryland Paper Companys application for a natural gas-fired boiler. The Commissioner had no comments on this application and did not request an informational meeting. Commissioner Snook stated that there will be a meeting on Wednesday by a group wishing to establish an equestrian center at the Fairgrounds. He also stated that he informed Mr. DeVinney of the Southwest Metropolitan Civic Association that the Commissioners will not be attending the meeting this week but will attend the next one.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, will attend the exit conference for the audit of the Mental Health Authority. The Commissioners asked that Ms. Bastian convey their comments regarding the audit. CONTRACT RENEWAL - COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the renewal of the contract for a two-year period with Ford Communications for Motorola MT 1000 Low Band radios at the same unit price of $554 as originally bid. Unanimously approved.  UNIFORM BID RENEWAL - SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to renew the contract  with Hoffman Clothiers, Inc. for a one-year period for Sheriffs Department  Deputies uniforms at the original bid price. Unanimously approved. CAVETOWN SEWER CONNECTION FEE George Gross, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, met with the  Commissioners regarding the staffs recommendation to establish a uniform allocation fee of $2,750 for sewer connections in the Cavetown area, which would include the cost of grinder pumps. He recommended that a penalty of $1,000 be established for those who do not hook onto the system within an established period of time. Mr. Gross stated that the residents were originally told that the connection fee would be $3,750. Gary Rohrer, FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE TWO Director of Public Works, stated that this project was caught in the transition period for the rate restructuring, however, the costs of the grinder pumps were factored into the budget for the project. The Commissioners discussed the recommendation and agreed to the $2,750 rate. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to accept the recommendation of the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission and establish a connection fee of $2,750 for the Cavetown sewer project. Motion carried with Commissioners Bowers, Shank, Wade and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Downey voting NO. Commissioner Snook commended Mr. Gross for his work with the Water & Sewer Department. Mr. Gross, who will be resigning effective February 21, thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity and complimented the employees at the Water & Sewer Department. UPDATE - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Lori Taylor, Agricultural Education Center Coordinator, and Ronald Kidd, Director of the Recreation & Parks Department, met with the Commissioners to give an update on the Agricultural Education Center. Ms. Taylor stated that the events held at the Ag Center have increased by 63%, and the number of groups using the facilities has increased by 100%. Ms. Taylor also distributed copies of the most recent budget and the proposed plans for future development of the Center. She stated that they are requesting $81,000 in Program Open Space funds for construction of another barn and are requesting a two-year extension of the matching grant from the State. Commissioner Bowers suggested that additional signage is needed to identify the buildings. The Commissioners thanked Ms. Taylor and Mr. Kidd for the update. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF 1997 Timmy Ruppersberger, Bond Counsel, and Paul Heid, County Financial Advisor, appeared before the Commissioners to review the Resolution for the Capital Improvement Bonds of 1997 in the amount of $7,500,000. Ms. Ruppersberger listed the approved CIP projects for which the bond funds will be used. Commissioner Wade noted that the Commissioners have established a long-range debt reduction plan for the County and will continue to follow that plan. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Resolution authorizing and empowering the County Commissioners of Washington County to issue and sell at public sale, upon its full faith and credit, its General Obligation Serial Maturity Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of  $7,500,000 to be known as Washington County, Maryland, Public Improvement  Bonds of 1997, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Maryland of 1995, as amended, for the public purposes of financing the cost of general public improvements in Washington County. Unanimously approved. (Copy of Resolution attached.) BOND COVENANTS - DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, along with Ms. Ruppersberger and Mr. Heid, met with the Commissioners to provide information on how the bond covenants for both the pre-treatment and treatment plant will affect the options being considered for these facilities. Commissioner Snook stated that the Commissioners are considering privatizing the pre-treatment plant or leasing the facility. Ms. Ruppersberger stated that the project was financed using Maryland Water Quality Administration bonds and that the bonds can only be pre-paid with its consent. She indicated that they would probably require the County to fund a tax analysis to see if this would be allowed. Ms. Ruppersberger introduced Jim Cumbie, an attorney in her firm who has worked FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE THREE with these regulations. Mr. Cumbie explained the new Federal tax regulations which go into effect in May and how they may affect the sale or lease of the pre-treatment facility. The Commissioners discussed the various options and of marketing, leasing, selling, or managing the plant. They agreed to proceed with a proposal for additional marketing of the pre-treatment plant. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to direct staff to develop a request for proposal (RFP) for additional marketing of the Conococheague pre-treatment plant. Unanimously approved. ANTIETAM COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE PRESENTATION Dennis Frye and Susan Saum-Wicklein, representing the Antietam Commemorative Committee, appeared before the Commissioners to give an update on the events scheduled for 1997 and on the 135th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Antietam which will be held at the Artz farm. Mr. Frye informed the Commissioners that the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) will hold its annual convention in Hagerstown in April and the Stars of Gettysburg event at the Maryland Theatre. He stated that the reenactment of the Battle of Antietam in September will be the largest Civil War reenactment in the United States in 1997. Mr. Frye indicated that the revenues generated from this event will be given to the Western Maryland Room of the Washington County Free Library, the Historical Society, the Save Historic Antietam Foundation (SHAF), the Antietam Illumination Committee, APCWS, and the Hagerstown/Washington County Civil War Committee. Mr. Frye requested that the Commissioners provide support for the project as follows: 1) Planning Department - technical support, 2)Convention and Visitors Bureau - promotion and information dissemination; 3) County Commuter - five vehicles for Saturday and Sunday to transport visitors to the site and back to the parking area; 4) Transportation Department - to facilitate the closing of Rench Road to through traffic and to facilitate Rench Road for the  reenactment; 5) Sheriffs Department - assist with traffic control, crowd control, etc.; and 6) A one-time cash contribution of $10,000. The Commissioners took this request under consideration at this time. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth requested that the Commissioners deny the text amendment dealing with senior assisted living homes. GRANT AMENDMENT - FORT RITCHIE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the requested modification to the existing contract with Sasaki Associates for additional planning work which will be funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant and the State of Maryland. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR REVISION OF WATER & SEWER AMENDMENT WS-96-01 Richard Douglas, County Attorney, proposed a revision in the language of the Resolution approving Water & Sewer Amendment WS-96-01. He recommended  substituting language to make the resolution effective upon submission of  legally sufficient evidence, as referenced herein, to proceed rather than upon the date of its passage. After discussion, Mr. Douglas decided to withdraw the proposed revision and, after additional research, will present modified language at a later date.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that a workshop is scheduled for next Tuesday with the Gaming Commission. FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE FOUR REAPPOINTMENT - HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to reappoint Jane Hershey to the Historic District Commission for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. ALLEGHENY POWER COMPANY - PRESENTATION ON AES WARRIOR RUN PROJECT James Latimer, Vice President of Allegheny Power Company, and Michael Morrell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, met with the Commissioners to present information on the AES Warrior Run Project and how they feel it will adversely affect County residents. Mr. Morrell stated that Allegheny Power Company entered into a contract in 1988 to purchase power from the AES/Warrior Run project, a 180 megawatt coal plant which will be on-line in 1999. He explained that through an interpretation of the Federal PURPA law, only Maryland residents will pay for the cost of the project since the plant was built in Maryland. Mr. Morrell stated that Allegheny Power feels that this project is no longer a competitive energy option for Western Maryland and will cost customers more than if the power were generated by Allegheny Power or obtained from other sources. He estimated that residential electric customers will have an increase of 13% in their electric bills. Mr. Morrell and Mr. Latimer than answered questions from the Commissioners regarding the data in the presentation. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:42 a.m. for lunch. 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. WILLIAMSPORT AMBULANCE SERVICE - REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, and Jerry Reed, Fire & Rescue Coordinator, met with the Commissioners to present information on the fundraising analysis submitted by Williamsport Ambulance Service in their request for reimbursement. Jay Grimes, President of the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, and Dave Hayes, Chief of the Williamsport Ambulance Service, were also in attendance. Mr. Davis stated that Williamsport Ambulance has requested that the Commissioners reimburse them for the loss of revenue they experienced when the Halfway Ambulance Company was placed in service and the subsequent loss of territory. Mr. Davis indicated that it is  hard to determine the loss after only one years data. Mr. Reed recommended a one-time settlement of $17,164. Mr. Grimes stated that the criteria have been set for a three-year reimbursement. The Commissioners discussed various methods of reimbursement and agreed to seek a recommendation from the Director of Finance. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the reimbursement of $17,164 per year for three years to the Williamsport Ambulance Service to compensate them for the loss in fund raising they have experienced due to the boundary adjustments when the Halfway Ambulance Company was placed in service. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to appoint Rev. Terence Foor to the Community Action Council Board of Directors as Commissioner  Shanks representative. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE FIVE BUDGET TRANSFER - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the budget transfer requests as presented by the Director of Water & Sewer Department. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 1:50 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with the County Attorney on legal issues and to discuss businesses considering relocation to Washington County and property matters, 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 3:40 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at 4:02 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed five (5) legal matters, seven (7) personnel issues, twelve (12) economic development and property matters. MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR III - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to employ James Kendle and Shawn Jernigan as Maintenance Equipment Operators III at the Roads Department to fill existing vacancies. Unanimously approved. LEGISLATION - HEARING SCHEDULE Richard Douglas, County Attorney, informed the Commissioners of the hearing dates for several legislative requests. HOUSING UPDATE - CLEAR SPRING Commissioner Shank informed the Commissioners of recent developments regarding a proposed site for the Clear Spring senior housing project. The Commissioners stated that they want to have the support of the Clear Spring Town Council on a site before they proceed and asked that this be conveyed to them. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 4:09 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk