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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970415 April 15, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 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 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 - MARCH 10, 11, 18, 25, 27, 31 AND APRIL 1, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of March 10, 11, 18, 25, 27, 31 and April 1, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook provided statistics on the Hagerstown campus of Frostburg State University. He asked if the Commissioners wished to request that the Department of the Environment hold a public information meeting on a sewage sludge application on Jerome Road in Hancock. It was the consensus of the Commissioners not to request the State to hold a public meeting on the application but to request that they notify adjoining property owners. The Commissioners agreed to submit the names of Dr. Ray Johns and Victoria Nelson, along with that of current member Roscoe Corderman, to the State for consideration for appointment to the Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board. Commissioner Downey reported on the Advisory Board of Health meeting. Commissioner Shank reported on the grand opening ceremony at Blue Seal Feeds and that he attended the MiHi craft show at the Agricultural Education Center.  PROCLAMATION - VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK  Commissioner Wade presented Jill Ritter, Victims Rights Coordinator, with a  proclamation naming the week of April 13-19, 1997 as Victims Rights Week in Washington County and commended this observance to all citizens. CONTRACT RENEWALS - TRANSPORTATION OF INDIGENT PATIENTS AND TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL/SECURITY SERVICES AT THE SANITARY LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to renew the contract for the transportation of indigent patients with County Medical Transport, Inc., for Fiscal Year 1998 at the same rates as originally bid and awarded in 1995. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to renew the contract for temporary traffic control/security services for the Washington County Solid Waste Department with St. Moritz Security Services, Inc. at the same quoted rate of $8.39 per hour or an annual total cost of $22,686.56. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners of the grand opening at Staples on Friday, April 18. He discussed the March 6 minutes of the Recreation & Parks Department which recommends that the County establish a revolving loan fund for the municipalities to utilize for the purchase of recreation and parks equipment. After discussion, the Commissioners took this under advisement. The Commissioners also discussed whether to make County Parks Department personnel available to the municipalities for work on park improvements within the town limits. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to try to assist APRIL 15, 1997 PAGE TWO the municipalities if possible but agreed that the Parks Department cannot handle the additional duties. The Commissioners suggested alternatives for assistance, such as the Career Studies Center or the masonry institute at Fort Ritchie. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to deny the request to have Parks Department personnel provide services to County municipalities for their parks improvement projects. Unanimously approved. COST-SHARING REQUEST - DORMAYNE DRIVE Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, informed the Commissioners that he received a request from Romayne and Doris Miller for the County to participate in a 50/50 cost share to upgrade approximately 410' of Dormayne Drive to County standards and then accept the roadway into the County system for  maintenance. Mr. Rohrer estimated that the Countys share for this improvement would be $8,500. After discussion, the Commissioners directed Mr. Rohrer to give this request to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendation and to assure that there are no plans to develop the lands at the rear of this property.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS (CONTINUED) Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that the next meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners is tentatively scheduled for May 16 in Carroll County. He stated that he is attempting to schedule a three-inning ball game between the Commissioners and the City of Hagerstown officials prior to a Suns baseball game. The game is tentatively scheduled for August 4th. Mr. Shoop also provided a summary of emergency funds used by Community Action Council in the amount of $18,613. He informed the Commissioners that a tour of Clear Spring Elementary School has been scheduled for April 29. Mr. Shoop also informed the Commissioners that a flag ceremony will be held on May 30 at 12:00 noon at Marty Snook Park. STREET ACCEPTANCE - WINTERGREEN SUBDIVISION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to accept 550 linear feet of Green Mountain Drive, located in the Wintergreen subdivision, with a two-year maintenance bond of $5,500, with the stipulation that the project meet drainage requirements. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF QUITCLAIM DEEDS - FOUNTAINHEAD HEIGHTS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve quitclaim deeds to Lois and Richard Harrison and Toni Snyder, personal representative of the Estate of Howard Dull, for parcels 264 and 265 as described on Property Map 37, located in Fountainhead Heights. Motion carried with Commissioners  Shank, Downey, and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade ABSTAINING. ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE (APFO) - SIX MONTH REPORT Robert Arch, Planning Director, presented a periodic report indicating whether there is a continuing need for the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) as required by Article XI of the Ordinance. Mr. Arch indicated that at the Planning Commission meeting on April 7, 1997, the Commission voted to recommend that there is a continuing need to retain the APFO. Mr. Arch reviewed the activity for the period July 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996. He noted that a total of 85 lots was approved during this reporting period. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to adopt the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Report for the period July 1 - June 30, 1997, and APRIL 15, 1997 PAGE THREE to acknowledge that there is a continuing need for the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. Unanimously approved. LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY Richard Douglas, County Attorney, reviewed the status of legislation which was submitted by the Washington County Delegation during the 1997 session of the Maryland General Assembly. BUDGET OPTIONS - FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance, presented five options to increase revenue for the Commissioners to review and the additional revenue that each option would provide. The Commissioners also reviewed the recommendation to the Board of Education for the distribution of the surplus self-insurance fund monies and its request for additional funding for technology. Ms. Bastian stated that the request for $350,000 for technology would have to be included in the maintenance of effort calculation. The Commissioners also discussed the recent legislation which will give an additional $800,000 to the Board of Education, $185,000 to Hagerstown Junior College, $185,000, all in restricted funding for FY 1998. The Commissioners took the options under consideration at this time. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Commissioner Snook welcomed students from the government class of Grace Academy and their principal, George Michael. The Commissioners then answered questions from the students.  SENATE BILL 190 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - LOANS GUARANTEED BY POLITICAL  SUBDIVISIONS Sharon Disque, Economic Development Coordinator, appeared before the  Commissioners to review Senate Bill 190 Economic Development - Loans  Guaranteed by Political Subdivisions. Ms. Disque reviewed the changes this legislation will have on the application for State MILA and MICRF loans. She stated that the new law will allow a private entity to make application to the State for loan funds. The loan could then be made directly to the applicant rather than pass through the County. Ms. Disque stated that the legislation allows a 40% cash match instead of a guarantee on approved MICRF loans under $100,000. The Commissioners discussed the changes and how the legislation will affect Washington County. RECREATION & PARKS POLICY The Commissioners discussed the policy of the Recreation & Parks Board regarding the scheduling of athletic facilities and whether a preference  should be given to the sport considered to be in season. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to convene in Closed Session at 11:09 a.m. to consult with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, to consider personnel 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. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 12:27 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed four (4) legal matters, seven (7) personnel matters, and eleven (11) businesses considering relocation to Washington County. APRIL 15, 1997 PAGE FOUR RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:27 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was called to order at 1:10 p.m. by the President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade. PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the following personnel actions: Part-time Counter Person - Black Rock Golf Course - to hire Mary Weaver at $4.75 per hour; Operator IV - Water & Sewer Department - to employ Roy Smith at $12.53 per hour to fill an existing vacancy; and Maintenance Person III - Airport - to employ Darrell Buchanan at $11.88 per hour to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. BUDGET PRESENTATION - SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT Steven Zies, Acting Director of Solid Waste Management, and Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, presented the budget request for the Solid Waste Department for FY 1997-98 in the amount of $3,515,000. BUDGET PRESENTATION - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Gregg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, and Dawn Barnes, Assistant Director of Finance - Water & Sewer, presented the Commissioners with the budget request for FY 1998. Ms. Barnes presented the General Service Fund Budget and Capital Outlay request in the amount of $2,951,843. The Water Fund operating budget request is $1,132,070 which includes the recommendation for a 2.4% rate increase to the average customer. Ms. Barnes stated that the request for the sewer fund operating budget is $7,217,790 which includes a recommendation for an 11.3% increase to the average customer. The pretreatment operating budget is $1,260,355. Ms. Barnes explained that $888,335 is needed to balance this budget. The Commissioners asked that this budget be presented to the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission for its review  and recommendation before next weeks meeting. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 3:13 p.m. EVENING SESSION - TAX REBATE PROGRAM - TOWN OF WILLIAM SPORT The Evening Session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at the William sport 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 John Slayman, Mayor of William sport, Assistant Mayor James Black, and Council members Walter Tracy, Earle Pereschuk, James Kalbfleisch, Gloria Bitner, and Roxann Long. 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 William sport is estimated to receive $43,317. He reviewed the formula and explained that the estimated amount will be subject to an audit of expenditures. At this time Commissioner Snook opened the meetings for any questions or comments from the Council members. APRIL 15, 1997 PAGE FIVE Mayor Slayman asked if the Commissioners were planning to fund the extension of Church Street. Commissioner Snook informed him that the Housing Authority submitted an application for expansion of the senior housing in William sport and he hopes the road extension would be approved as part of this project. Edward Kuczynski, Attorney for the Town of William sport, cited a previous agreement with the County regarding this project. The Commissioners stated that they would get an estimate from the CIP Committee on the cost to extend Church Street and stated that they may consider funding the project over two fiscal years. Commissioner Shank stated that he feels the County is obligated by the previous Board to fund this improvement. James Black, Assistant Mayor, reviewed the Pilot Curbside Recyclable Collection Agreement between the County and the Town of William sport. He asked if the Commissioners would continue to fund this project after the expiration of the agreement in December 1997. Commissioner Snook stated that due to budget constraints that the County will not continue this funding. He agreed to get information on the cost of the cardboard drop-off program and will consider continuing the funding for this portion of the program. Mr. Black asked the Commissioners if they would allow the Town of William sport to use the trailer used in collection of recyclables when the Tammany Van Lear curbside recycling project ends in June. The Commissioners took this request under consideration.  The Commissioners discussed the Countys bidding process and encouraged Town officials to piggy-back with its bidding on items they wish to purchase. The Commissioners discussed the application for Program Open Space funds submitted by the Town of William sport for purchase of a six-acre parcel. Mr. Anderson informed the Commissioners of drainage problems and a sink hole on Grove Avenue near Greenlawn Cemetery. The Commissioners agreed to have Roads Department personnel look into this matter. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk