Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout970513 May 13, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 8:00 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 Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. WATER & SEWER RATES - FY 1998 Greg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, Dawn Barnes, Assistant Director of Finance - Water & Sewer, and Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners to continue discussions on the proposed sewer rates for residential customers for Fiscal Year 1998 budget. Also present were Water & Sewer Advisory Commission members Clarence Scheer, Mike Armel, Gordon Crabb, and Ed Renn. Mr. Scheer informed the Commissioners that the Advisory Commission does not feel it has had sufficient time to review the budget and reach a conclusion and, therefore, will not make a recommendation to the Commissioners this year on the rate increases. Ms. Barnes and Mr. Murray  answered the Commissioners questions regarding the six funding scenarios they have presented and the manner which each of the various scenarios would affect future rates. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to implement Scenario 6 which would increase rates for residential customers by five (5) percent and increase rates for Commercial II customers by 8.3%. Unanimously approved. MAY 1997 YOUTH OF THE MONTH - SARAH DAWN KELLY Commissioner Wade presented a Certificate of Merit to Sarah Kelly in recognition of her selection as the Youth of the Month for May 1997 by the  Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Wade listed Sarahs activities and accomplishments and commended her for being a superior role model for all our youth. Norman Bassett, Coordinator of the Office of Disability Issues, presented Sarah with a certificate honoring her as a recipient of the 1997 Youth With A Disability Award from the Maryland  Governors Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Ms. Kelly thanked the Commissioners for the awards and spoke briefly about her plans for the future. JUNE 1997 YOUTH OF THE MONTH - BRADLEY INGRAM Commissioner Shank presented a Certificate of Merit to Bradley Ingram in recognition of his selection as the Youth of the Month for June 1997 by the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Shank commended Bradley for his academic, leadership and extra-curricular activities and accomplishments. Mr. Ingram thanked the Commissioners for the awards and introduced his family. He informed the Commissioners of his plans for college. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL NURSING HOME WEEK Commissioner Downey read and presented a proclamation to local representatives of the Nursing Home Administrators Association of Maryland naming the week of May 11 - 17 as National Nursing Home Week in Washington County and to acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions made by our senior citizens. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK Commissioner Bowers presented a proclamation to Gayle Mongan, Commander of the Hagerstown Power Squadron, naming the week of May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week in Washington County and commending the Hagerstown Power Squadron MAY 13, 1997 PAGE TWO for their important and active role in promoting Safe Boating Week and encouraging all citizens who use the waterways to acquire safe boating skills for their safety and the safety of others. Mr. Mongan thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and presented them with a certificate of appreciation for their contribution to the success of the 1996 National Safe Boating Week campaign. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reported on the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting. He stated that he received a request from a citizen to close the entrance at Old Nursery Road and Lakeside Drive and asked the County Attorney to see if it is a dedicated right-of-way. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to request that the Department of the Environment hold a public information meeting on the sewage sludge application permit for the Carr farm. Commissioner Bowers informed the Commissioners that he met the new commander for Fort Ritchie. Commissioner Downey reported on the 100th anniversary celebration held by Brethren Mutual Insurance Company. EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS - PRESENTATIONS John Shank, II, Chairman of the Washington County Soil Conservation District Board, and Joni Kline, District Secretary, appeared before the Commissioners to present the Earth Day Poster Contest winners with their prizes. Mr. Shank introduced the first and second place winners and displayed their art work for the following categories: Kindergarten & 1st Grade - 1st - Gabriella Yacyk, 2nd - Sophia Zhou; 2nd-3rd Grade - 1st - Katie Gondor, 2nd - Melissa Jarrett; 4th-6th Grade - 1st - Jessica Gonder, 2nd - Tyler Pangborn; 7th-9th Grade - 1st - Derek Jones, 2nd - William Mumma; 10th-12th Grade - 1st - Royann Hall, 2nd - Janet Richmond. The Commissioners thanked the Soil Conservation Service for its efforts and congratulated the winners and wished them good luck in the State competition. BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST - ELECTION BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the transfer of $1,090 from Account 01-5-0121-687-000 to Account 01-5-0121-513-000, as requested by the Election Board, to purchase office furniture. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - ROOFING MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR COUNTY FACILITIES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for roofing maintenance services for County facilities to Bonded Applications of Maryland, Inc., which submitted the low total base bid of $22,425 and the following labor rates for services: Regular Working Hours - Roofing Inspector $0.00/hour, Roofer $22.36 per hour, and Helper $19.35 per hour; Evenings and Saturdays - Roofer $33.54 per hour, Helper $29.03 per hour; Sundays and Holidays - Roofer $33.54 per hour, Helper $29.03 per hour; and Major Repair/Replacement Design Fee - $50.00 per hour. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners of the next meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners scheduled for May 23rd. He stated that the budget hearing will be held on May 14th at the Atlee Kepler Theater. Mr. Shoop indicated that a joint meeting has been tentatively scheduled to discuss consolidation of sewer agreements with the staff and elected officials from the City of Hagerstown. REAPPOINTMENTS - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to reappoint William Zepp, William Poffenberger, and Garnet Gehr to the Agricultural Education MAY 13, 1997 PAGE THREE Center Board of Directors for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS - ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to reappoint Ronald Pike and Sarah Ann Godwin to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. LETTER OF CREDIT SAMPLES MANOR DRIVE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve the letter of credit from Roger and Rose Otzelberger for roadway and drainage work for Phase I, of Samples Manor Drive. Unanimously approved. DEEDS OF EASEMENT - ROBINWOOD CORRIDOR PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve a deed of easement for no monetary consideration with the Washington County Endowment Development Company, Inc. and the Washington County Hospital Endowment Fund, Inc., needed for the Robinwood corridor project. Unanimously approved. SHAWLEY DRIVE RAILROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - OPTION AGREEMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve option agreements with the following individuals for the Shawley Drive Railroad Crossing Improvement Project: Dale and Cathy Holmes - $4,900, Joseph and Eleanor Martin - $1,225, and Charles and Ester Martin - $1,625. Unanimously approved. LETTER SENT BY ELECTED BOARD OF EDUCATION Commissioner Shank stated that a letter signed by the elected Board of Education was distributed to all school children to take home to their parents  regarding the Countys Fiscal Year 1998 budget appropriation. He stated that he feels it is inappropriate to use children to carry political messages and that the money for the letter could have been put to better use in the classroom. CONCERNS - CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Commissioner Bowers expressed concerns regarding the recent letter from the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) that it would not assist the municipalities with promotion of their events. Commissioner Snook stated that the CVB wants to use the hotel rental tax monies strictly to promote the community through bus tours. GRANT APPLICATION - VICTIM OF CRIMES ACT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the submission of an application for grant funds in the amount of $35,114 to the Maryland  Victims of Crime Act for secretarial support in the States Attorneys Office. Unanimously approved.  AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE POSITION - ASSISTANT STATES ATTORNEY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to proceed with  advertising of the additional Assistant States Attorney II position approved for the Fiscal Year 1998 budget. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CONTRIBUTE FUNDS The Commissioners convened the public hearing at 10:00 a.m. to hear any comments regarding the request of the following organizations to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds, pursuant to Section 1-108(b), Code of Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland: Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, Inc., MAY 13, 1997 PAGE FOUR  Washington County Fire & Rescue Association, Childrens Village of Washington County, Inc., Washington County Commission on Aging, Inc., Washington County Community Action Council, Inc., Food Resources, Inc., Washington County Arts Council, Memorial Recreation Center, Inc., and Western Maryland Child Care Resource Center, Inc. Commissioner Snook then opened the meeting for public comments. After hearing all public testimony, the hearing was closed. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to add the above named agencies to the list of nonprofit organizations to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds, pursuant to Section 1-108(b), Code of Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland: Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, Inc., Washington County Fire & Rescue Association,  Childrens Village of Washington County, Inc., Washington County Commission on Aging, Inc., Washington County Community Action Council, Inc., Food Resources, Inc., Washington County Arts Council, Memorial Recreation Center, Inc., and Western Maryland Child Care Resource Center, Inc. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Commissioner Snook welcomed students from the Hillside Mennonite School. Pat Holland, Town Clerk from the Town of Sharpsburg, asked the Commissioners to consider her request for the use of County Commuter buses for the Sharpsburg Heritage Day event. She also asked for the Commissioners support  the continuance of the 1-800" number for tourism in Washington County.  Bob Darby expressed his concerns about real estate open house signs being removed by Permits & Inspections personnel and stated that he feels this is discriminatory. He also spoke about enforcement of house numbering signs.  Donald Allensworth spoke about the Smart Growth bill which was passed by the General Assembly. Bill Feurenstein informed the Commissioners of recent revisions to COMAR regulations and the effect on project homes. The Commissioners agreed to ask the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health to review this issue. Dr. Fred Otto of the Commission on Aging and John Kenney from the Department of Social Services also spoke in opposition to the new regulations. Jim Elliott stated that a portion of his license renewal fee at the Department of Motor Vehicles was dedicated for emergency services. He asked if Washington County receives a portion of these funds from the State. 1996 HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD Commissioner Snook presented the 1996 Historic Preservation Award to Pat Schooley, Chairperson of the Codes Project Committee of the Washington County Historical Society, in recognition of the contribution made to historic preservation in Washington County. Ms. Schooley recognized Jane Hershey, Dorothy McElvoy, Joyce Dunn, Norman Heaton and Paula Worthington, who also participated in the project. Commissioner Snook thanked the volunteers for  the time and labor involved in entering data on Washington Countys historical  sites into the Countys computer system. UPDATE - WEED CONTROL PROGRAM Lane Heimer, Weed Control Coordinator, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on the Weed Control Program. Mr. Heimer distributed information on the cost of the program and explained the benefits to the County. He also informed them of the revenues this program generates through spraying fees. MAY 13, 1997 PAGE FIVE Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve hiring a part-time Spray Technician for the Weed Control Program. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 11:25 a.m. consider personnel issues, to consult with the legal counsel regarding legal issues and pending litigation, and to consider a matter concerning the proposal for a business to expand or remain in the State, 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 12:17 p.m. Unanimously approved. In Closed Session the Commissioners considered one (1) matter relating to a proposal for a business to expand or remain in the State and one (1) legal issue regarding pending litigation. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 12:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. TOUR OF CLEAR SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Commissioners left at this time to tour the Clear Spring Elementary School. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk