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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970304 March 4, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 7:30 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. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to convene in Closed Session at 7:31 a.m. regarding an issue relating to a business which is considering location in the 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 Shank, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in Regular Session at 8:22 a.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed one issue relating to a business which is considering location in the County. 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. FEBRUARY 1997 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - MALLORY MUFFLEY Commissioner Wade presented a Certificate of Merit to Mallory Muffley in recognition of being selected as the Youth of the Month for February 1997 by  the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Wade listed Mallorys many activities and accomplishments and commended her for being a superior role model for all our youth. Mallory thanked the Commissioners for the award and her parents and guidance counselor for their support. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS  Commissioner Bowers reported on the Governors summit on school size. He also discussed the Solid Waste Advisory Commission meeting. Commissioner Downey reported on the Local Management Board (LMB) meeting. He informed the Commissioners that Michael Hardy has agreed to serve as chairman for the LMB. Commissioner Wade reminded the Commissioners of the evening meetings which are scheduled in March. Commissioner Shank reported on the meeting with the Public Golf Corporation members. Commissioner Snook reported that he received a telephone call from an organization wishing to relocate to Fort Ritchie. The Commissioners directed that requests of this nature be made to the LRA. The Commissioners agreed to send a letter to the Delegation to the General Assembly in support of the request made by Community Rescue Service for financial assistance for a new facility. The Commissioners discussed the issues raised by Lois Myers from M. Y. Cleaning and asked the County Attorney to look into this matter. AWARD PRESENTATION - VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Jay Grimes, Van Conway, and Blaine Snyder, representing the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, presented Roads Department employees Ronald Ridenour, David Deneen, and Robert Hershman with Awards of Valor for preventing the drowning of two flood victims who were stranded in a vehicle. Mr. Conway read an account of the rescue and recognized their quick thinking and brave actions in the situation. The Commissioners congratulated Mr. Ridenour, Mr. Deneen, and Mr. Hershman for receiving this award. MARCH 4, 1997 PAGE TWO BUDGET TRANSFER - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to transfer $9,493 from Account 20-5-1371-683-000 to 40-5-1330-683-000 (Roads Department) to cover the costs of the overrun for purchase of a service truck. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER - SAFETY TRAINING EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to transfer $6,500 from Account 01-5-2600-598-010 to Account 01-5-0151-687-000 in order to purchase equipment for use in safety and training programs. Unanimously approved. REVISE POLICY T-1 - TRAVEL EXPENSE REGULATIONS Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to revise Travel Expense Policy T-1 to increase the mileage reimbursement rate from 24 cents per mile to 31.5 cents per mile, to comply with the rates set by the Internal Revenue Service for 1997. Unanimously approved. REVISION OF POLICY P-4 - INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the recommendation to revise Policy P-4 - Insurance Requirements for Independent Contractors, to adopt language to formalize the requirement that Washington County be named as an additional insured on certificates of insurance or addenda from independent contractors. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD (PUR-606) ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE SHARPSBURG WATER INTAKE FACILITY Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the recommendation of the Coordinating Committee to award the contract for engineering services for improvements to the Sharpsburg water intake facility to Buchart-Horn, Inc., which submitted the low proposal of $24,980. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD - RESH II SANITARY LANDFILL FINAL DESIGN SERVICES AND BUDGET TRANSFER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the recommendation of the Coordinating Committee to award the contract for services as outlined in the Resh II Sanitary Landfill - Final Design Services, to KCI/Gannet Fleming for the cost of $135,575.60. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the transfer of $40,000 from Account 40-5-1430-580-111 to Account 40-5-1430-580-110 to cover the shortfall for the Resh II Sanitary Landfill - Final Design Services project. Unanimously approved. LEASE RENEWAL - LANDIS ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to renew the lease with Scott Robinson for 15 acres of land on Landis Road to be used exclusively for agricultural purposes at the current rent and conditions. Unanimously approved. QUIT CLAIM DEEDS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve a quit claim to with Charles and Arbanna McGowan for property located on Third Avenue recorded in Liber 94, folio 686, and to approve a quit claim deed to Thomas and Sheri Caffarelli for property located on Third Avenue, described in Liber 94, folio 686. Unanimously approved. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT - COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the MARCH 4, 1997 PAGE THREE Emergency Shelter Grant from the State of Maryland in the amount of $27,500 to allow the Community Action Council to provide homeless services. Unanimously approved. OPTION AGREEMENT - PINESBURG SOFTBALL COMPLEX Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the power line easement agreement with The Potomac Edison Company for the Pinesburg Softball Complex. Unanimously approved. SHAWLEY DRIVE RAILROAD CROSSING EASEMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the option agreements with the following individuals for acquisition of easements needed for the Shawley Drive project: Dale and Kathy Holmes for 1,583 square feet in fee simple and 1,000 square feet in revertible easement for the price of $4,900; Charles and Esther Martin for 1,075 square feet for $1,625; and Joseph and Eleanor Martin for 1,175 square feet in fee simple and 370 square feet in revertible easement for the price of $1,225. Unanimously approved. MOORESVILLE ROAD BRIDGE ACQUISITION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve an option agreement for the Mooresville Road Bridge project with Harry and Jeannetta Mills for dedication of 1,748 square feet in fee simple, dedication of a second parcel of 198 square feet in fee simple, and a revertible easement of  472 square feet and an agreement with the Western Maryland Sportsmans Club for the dedication of 1,979 square feet in fee simple, 159 square feet in perpetual easement, and 449 square feet in revertible easement. Unanimously approved. NORTH VILLAGE SUBDIVISION - ROADS ACCEPTANCE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to accept a $31,000 letter of credit for maintenance for a two-year period from James Hinkle to accept the following roads in the North Village Subdivision: 1,166 linear feet of Halifax Drive, 750 linear feet of Sovereign Terrace, 223 linear feet of New Haven Drive, 799 linear feet of Pulaski Drive, and 184 linear feet of Essex Drive. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Shank requested that the Engineering Department staff make a presentation on current requirements for roads in subdivisions and whether this policy should be upgraded. WASHINGTON COUNTY SAFETY PROGRAM - UPDATE Brian Overcash, Safety Coordinator, appeared before the Commissioners to present an overview of the safety programs which have been initiated in the County. Mr. Overcash stated that safety training programs have been developed in areas such as CPR/First Aid, lifting/back injury, traffic safety, work zone traffic safety, and snow plow safety. He reported on the number of employees who have been trained to date. He introduced Mike Harshman, a consultant from Associated Environmental Services, who is working with the County in the assessment and development of safety programs. Mr. Harshman provided an assessment of the inspections completed and projections to achieve regulatory compliance for County departments. He stated that they hope to compile a safety manual for all employees. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Overcash for the presentation. INTRODUCTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY FARM QUEEN Laura Worthington, Washington County Farm Queen, met with the Commissioners to thank them for their support of the Agricultural Education Center. She then  shared an article on the importance of farming entitled The Farmers Creed MARCH 4, 1997 PAGE FOUR CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There were no individuals who wished to participate at this time. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BYLAWS Sharon Disque and Beverly Baccala, Economic Development Coordinators, met with the Commissioners to review the changes made by the Economic Development Commission (EDC) to the proposed By-Laws at its meeting on Wednesday. After reviewing each of the changes, the Commissioners discussed the requirement of a disclosure statement as outlined in Bylaw Seven. Commissioner Bowers stated that he feels the Commissioners should complete this statement also if it is required of EDC members and asked to review a copy of the statement. The  Commissioners contemplated including a sentence that would state In case of conflict, the Washington County Employee Handbook of Rules and Regulations in the current edition would supersede any other provisions in the By-Laws. Commissioner Downey asked that the County Attorney review the approved By- Laws. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the Economic Development Commission By-Laws as proposed with the revision to By-Law Seven,  adding the language: In case of conflict, the current edition of the Washington County Employee Handbook of Rules and Regulations will supersede any other provisions in the By-Laws. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANT - HOTSPOT COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE Charles Messmer, Director of the Jail Substance Abuse Program, met with the Commissioners to provide an overview of the HotSpot Communities Initiative  from the Governors office. Mr. Messmer explained that Washington County has been identified as an eligible area to pursue grant funding which will become available to help reduce crime in the County. He stated that the initiative hopes to bring together a variety of public and private agencies to look at ways of reducing crime. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Messmer for the update. BUDGET TRANSFER - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the request from the Water & Sewer Department to transfer $900 from the C.I.P. Pre- treatment Project to replace a computer board and a transfer of $12,000 from the Sewer Equipment Account to the Vehicle Equipment Account to purchase a backhoe. Unanimously approved. COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS - BOARD OF EDUCATION Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners regarding their meeting with employee groups from the Board of Education which will be held this week. The Commissioners asked Ms. Bastian to supply information regarding County funding to the Board of Education and a breakdown of the funds given. The Commissioners also asked for information on the amount of funding given over the maintenance of effort requirement and the percentage it bears to the total budget. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:35 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was called to order at 12:45 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. MARCH 4, 1997 PAGE FIVE CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 12:48 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice and consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, 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 Downey, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:16 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed six (6) legal matters, six (6) personnel issues, and four (4) property matters. AUTO SERVICES SPECIALIST - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to promote Bernie Bossler from the Parks Department to the Auto Services Specialist position at the Roads Department at $12.01 per hour, to fill an existing vacancy, and to approve advertising the vacancy in the Parks Department. Unanimously approved. PART-TIME SNACK BAR COUNTER PERSON - BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to hire Kami Hopkins as a seasonal, part-time Snack Bar Counter Person at Black Rock Golf Course. Unanimously approved. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to recognize the following appointments to the Economic Development Commission: Ronald Frey (City of Hagerstown representative), Douglas Wright and Suzanne Downey Hayes (Chamber of Commerce representatives), Betsy Martin (Municipal representative), and County representatives Philip Rohrer, Peggy Bushey, Vincent Dellaposta and Charles Shindle (appointed by the County on September 3, 1996). Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 3:21 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk