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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970429 April 29, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland Breakfast was provided to the Commissioners courtesy of the Valley Grace Brethren Church Youth Group in conjunction with World Day of Prayer which will be observed on May 1, 1997. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County 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 Chad Tucker, member of the Valley Grace Brethren Church Youth Group, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 22 & 23, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of April 22 and 23, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. PROCLAMATION - SOIL & WATER STEWARDSHIP WEEK Commissioner Shank presented a proclamation to Elmer Weibley, Director of the Soil Conservation Service, naming the week of April 27 - May 4, 1997, as Soil and Water Stewardship Week in appreciation of those who protect these natural resources. Mr. Weibley thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and for their support. He provided information on activities scheduled to promote this observance. APRIL 1997 YOUTH OF THE MONTH - BENJAMIN S. MOATS Commissioner Bowers presented a Certificate of Merit to Benjamin Moats in recognition of his selection as the Youth of the Month for April 1997 by the  Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Bowers listed Benjamins activities and accomplishments and commended him for being a superior role model for all our youth. Benjamin thanked the Commissioners for the award and spoke briefly about his plans for the future. RESOLUTION -CDBG APPLICATION FOR HANCOCK FLOOD DAMAGE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve a Resolution endorsing the submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for special funding for flood relief projects for the Town of Hancock in the amount of $35,000. Unanimously approved. JOINT RESOLUTION - PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FORMULA Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the submission of a Joint Resolution with the Board of Education in opposition to the proposed amendment to the Rules, Regulations, and Procedures for the Administration of the School Construction Program, as outlined in the April 8, 1997, memorandum from Dr. Yale Stenzler of the Interagency Committee. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the tour of Clear Spring Elementary School has been rescheduled for May 13th. He reminded the Commissioners that the meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners has been scheduled for May 23. BUDGET TRANSFER - RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the transfer of $1,771.43 from Account 01-5-1801-540-030 to Account 01-5-1801-687-000 as APRIL 29, 1997 PAGE TWO requested by the Recreation & Parks Department to fund a workstation for the receptionist. Unanimously approved. HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - BUDGET TRANSFER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the transfer of $12,725.05 from Account 01-5-0211-404-000 (salaries - other staff) to Account 01-5-021-524-000 (contracted services), as requested by Housing & Community Development, to fund the salaries of personnel hired through a temporary services agency. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER - BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to transfer $35,569.58 from Account 65-5-3503-580 to Account 65-5-3501-682 to purchase various machines and equipment as outlined for Black Rock Golf Course. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT RENEWAL - CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to extend the contracts for construction inspection services with KCI Technologies and EBA Engineering, Inc., to December 31, 1997, to allow for continuity of the construction projects, and to rebid these services at the expiration of the extended contracts. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD -LANDFILL COMPACTOR Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to award the contract for the landfill compactor to Alban Tractor Company which submitted the net bid of $257,932, and to waive the performance bond for this company. Unanimously approved. LEITERSBURG FIRE COMPANY - REVOLVING LOAN FUND REQUEST Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners as a representative of the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund Committee, to inform them that the Committee reviewed a request from Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company for a loan of $105,343 to purchase a new pumper truck. She stated that the Committee is recommending that a loan be made for $75,000, in accordance with the Guidelines of the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund. Ms. Edlund stated that the Company currently has an outstanding loan of $45,000 with the County and also has a large cash reserve fund. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve a loan of $75,000 from the Fire & Rescue Revolving Loan Fund to the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., toward purchase of a new pumper truck. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Shank was excused from the meeting at 9:00 a.m. COMPENSATION & CLASSIFICATION STUDY - HENDRICKS & ASSOCIATES Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, and Charles Hendricks, President of Hendricks & Associates, appeared before the Commissioners to review the findings of the compensation and classification study prepared for Washington County. Mr. Hendricks reviewed the changes suggested by the study and the scale recommended. He stated that the Sheriff feels there should be a  separate scale for uniformed employees of the Sheriffs Department. Mr. Hendricks explained how he arrived at the recommendation to provide a four percent increase in salaries. He stated that this would bring them up to prevailing wage rates. Mr. Davis indicated that adoption of the study is a two-step process. He stated that, if the Commissioners adopt the study in  principle, it would eliminate the current step system and enforce the merit APRIL 29, 1997 PAGE THREE performance system as described and recommended in the Hendricks study. The second step would be implementation of the recommendations. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Compensation and Classification Study as presented by Hendricks and Associates in principle and to continue discussions on the 40-hour week and percentage of salary adjustments as part of budget deliberations. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 17, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of April 17, 1997, as presented. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Shank returned to the meeting at 10:00 a.m. CONFIRMATORY DEED - MCRAND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the confirmatory deed for the conveyance of 13.002 acres in the Washington County Business Park, as described in the Final Plat, Lots 1-8, to McRand Limited Partnership, as originally approved by the Board of County Commissioners on November 1, 1988. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS (CONTINUED) Mr. Shoop stated that he received a letter from the State Highway Administration asking if the Commissioners wish to review the plans for the construction of the interchange of I-70 and Maryland Route 632. The Commissioners asked Mr. Shoop to inform the State Highway Administration that they are interested in reviewing these plans. Mr. Shoop asked the Commissioners to forward any legislative issues for the 1998 session to Richard Douglas, County Attorney. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Bowers asked for information on the turn-over rate of County employees broken into categories. He also reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting. Commissioner Downey reported on the reception held by the Association for Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) and the use of ISTEA funds to purchase lands in Maryland for preservation. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners of invitations to the Elks Lodge 100th anniversary celebration, the United Way Community Leaders Breakfast on May 16, and the tour of the Albert Powell Trout Hatchery for its 50th anniversary. He  also distributed an update on the Rail-to-Trail Program and a request for no  parking signs. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth spoke about the tax rate and increases proposed by other counties, water and sewer issues, and a study done on the cost of development. BUDGET WORKSHOP Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance, reviewed the changes made to the Fiscal Year 1998 budget at  yesterdays workshop meeting. Commissioner Snook welcomed members of the ninth grade class from Paradise Mennonite School who were in attendance and answered questions from the teachers and students regarding issues facing the local government. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION (CONTINUED) James Devine informed the Commissioners of an incident which occurred involving the rental of a storage bin and the laws governing this situation. APRIL 29, 1997 PAGE FOUR Joseph Walker voiced his opinions regarding the pre-treatment plant and his belief that taxpayers should not be responsible for these costs. BUDGET WORKSHOP (CONTINUED) The Commissioners continued budget deliberations at this time. Ms. Bastian  stated that $535,000 of the Sheriffs request of $578,000 has been funded which includes 16 new positions. Mr. Davis reviewed the new positions and reclassifications tentatively approved by the Commissioners earlier in the budget process. He stated that the estimated cost of wages and benefits is $495,977. The Commissioners directed Ms. Bastian and Mr. Shoop to review the budgets to try to identify any additional reductions which can be made to the  budget for their consideration at next weeks meeting. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 11:35 a.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with the County Attorney to obtain legal advice, and to consider economic development issues, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners recessed from 12:03 p.m. to 1:08 p.m. for lunch. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:26 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners discussed nine (9) personnel matters, three (3) legal matters, and one (1) economic development matter. PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the following personnel actions: Part-time Beverage Cart Attendants - Black Rock Golf Course - to hire Melanie Myers and Kimberly Parsons at $4.75 per hour; Operator Trainee - Water & Sewer Department - to employ John Kline at $9.13 per hour to fill an existing vacancy; Assistant Shop Supervisor - Roads Department - to employ Steven Bowders to fill the existing vacancy; and Mechanic II - Parks Department - to transfer Tim Rowland to fill the existing vacancy at $12.06 per hour. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to adjourn at 2:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk