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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970520 May 20, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland 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, and R. Lee Downey. 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. CONTRACT RENEWAL - CONTRACT SERVICES AT LANDFILL TRANSFER STATIONS Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, and Robert Davenport, Director of Solid Waste Management, met with the Commissioners regarding the renewal of the contract for services at the transfer stations. She stated that Waste Management of Shenandoah Valley had requested a 30% increase over their FY 1997 contract rates for the third year of its three-year contract with the County. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee advised Mr. Davenport to meet with representatives of Waste Management to discuss each individual site. As a result of this meeting, Waste Management has revised its increase request, and the overall average increase to the pull costs is now 10%. Ms. Luther stated that she recommends approval of this contract. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the renewal of the contract with Waste Management of the Shenandoah Valley for contract services at the transfer stations at the requested revised cost increase/decrease per pull for a total annual projected cost for FY 1998 of $143,632.71, a decrease of $26,027.94 from the initial renewal request. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - HAULING OF SCRAP TIRES FROM LANDFILL FOR RECYCLING Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to award the contract for hauling of scrap tires from the landfill for recycling to The Dirt Express which submitted the low bid for Option A of $20,625 based on estimated annual quantities. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners asked Mr. Davenport to consider ways to alleviate the back- up of traffic at the scales at the rubble landfill. Commissioner Wade arrived at the meeting at 8:56 a.m. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Wade reported on the Municipal League meeting. Commissioner Bowers expressed concerns about the letter the Commissioners received from the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Transition Team on how they intend to use the monies from room tax. After discussion, the Commissioners asked that a meeting be scheduled with the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly on this issue. Commissioner Downey stated that he represented the County at the graduation ceremonies at Hagerstown Junior College. Commissioner Snook distributed a copy of a letter from an individual appealing a decision of the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission on a water bill and asked the Commissioners to review it. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 6, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of May 6, 1997, as amended. Unanimously approved. PROGRAM OPEN SPACE - FY 1998 ANNUAL PROGRAM Ronald Kidd, Director of Recreation & Parks, reviewed the revised Program Open Space FY 1998 Annual Program for Acquisition and Development with the MAY 20, 1997 PAGE TWO Commissioners. Mr. Kidd informed the Commissioners that the funding for FY 1998 will be $46,879 less than the County received in FY 1997. He stated that the Recreation & Parks Board has, therefore, recommended that the remaining $53,775 of acquisition funds be used for the Shaefer Park acquisition in Boonsboro. The Board also recommended that the development funds for the listed projects be reduced by these amounts: Ag Center Pavilion and Parking - $2,503, Regional Park - $7,172, and South County Park - $25,000. The Commissioners discussed the revisions. They asked that the Recreation & Parks Board consider establishing a pathway for pedestrian use from Fairway Meadows into the Regional Park. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade to approve the Program Open Space Annual Program for Development and Acquisition for Fiscal Year 1998, as revised, for submission to the State. Unanimously approved. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - NOMINATION OF HOFFMAN FARM Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, reviewed an application for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. Goodrich also reviewed the criteria to qualify for submission to the National Register. He stated that the application was submitted by the Hollyday Family Limited Partnership for the Hoffman Farm on Keedysville Road. Mr. Goodrich indicated that this application has been recommended for approval by the Historic District Commission and has met the criteria for this designation. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the application of the Hoffman Farm for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and to concur with the recommendation of the Historic District Commission to submit it to the Maryland Historical Trust. Unanimously approved. DEED OF EASEMENT - ROBINWOOD CORRIDOR Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to accept the revised deed of easement from the Washington County Endowment Development Co., Inc. for an area of 9,781 square feet, at no cost to the County, for the Robinwood Corridor improvement project. Unanimously approved. OPTION AGREEMENTS - MOORESVILLE ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the following option agreements for the Mooresville Road Bridge Project: from the western  Maryland Sportsmens Club, Inc. - 1,979 square feet in fee simple, 159 square feet in perpetual easement and 449 square feet in revertible easement; and from Harry and Jenetta Mills - 1,748 square feet in fee simple, 198 square feet of perpetual easement, and 472 square feet in revertible easement. Unanimously approved. UPDATE - COUNTY PROPERTY Dean Lowry, Administrative Engineer, informed the Commissioners that the barn and farm house on Landis Road, which are owned by the County, are planned for demolition. Commissioner Shank stated that he felt the Commissioners should have been involved in making this decision. Mr. Lowry related the background information on the property and how County officials arrived at the decision to demolish the two buildings. Mr. Lowry provided an update on County property which has been sold or transferred. PUBLIC HEARING - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISTRICT APPLICATIONS The Commissioners convened a public hearing to consider application numbers MAY 20, 1997 PAGE THREE AD-97-03, AD-97-04, AD-97-05 for the establishment of Agricultural Land Preservation Districts. Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, reviewed the applications and stated that they have been approved by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board and that the Planning Commission found the applications to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. No one was present to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed applications. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve application number AD-97-03, submitted by Ray L.E. Clark; AD-97-04 submitted by Dianna and Anthony Arena; and AD-97-05 submitted by Everett and Frances Norris, for establishment of Agricultural Land Preservation Districts as presented. Motion carried with Commissioners Wade, Bowers, Downey, and Snook voting  AYE and Commissioner Shank ABSTAINING.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners of the meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners in Carroll County on May 23. He reviewed the meeting schedule for July - December. The Commissioners agreed not to schedule a Commissioners meeting on July 22. The Commissioners also decided to schedule the public hearing for water and sewer rates for June 4th at 7:00 p.m. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth spoke about plans to construct the western bypass in Virginia. John Kleppinger voiced concerns that the State Highway Administration is removing the traffic signal at Longmeadow Road and Pennsylvania Avenue and asked the Commissioners to contact the State to support him in opposing the removal. BID AWARD - SALE OF HARWOOD ROAD LOT 186 The Commissioners opened the one sealed bid which was received from the  advertisement of the Countys intention to sell Lot 186 on Harwood Road. The bid submitted was from Brian S. Holmes in the amount of $16,000. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the sale of Lot 186 on Harwood Road to Brian S. Holmes for the bid of $16,000. Unanimously approved. APPEAL OF WATER & SEWER BILL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to affirm the decision of the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission and deny the appeal made by Chanene Stockman regarding a water bill and to request that the Water & Sewer Department arrange a payment schedule for Ms. Stockman. Unanimously approved. REQUEST TO SCHEDULE TIME FOR DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS TOPICS  Commissioner Wade requested that time be scheduled on the Commissioners agenda to discuss the Artz farm rezoning request with the Planning Department staff. He stated that this is a complicated case, and he would like to meet with staff to have questions answered prior to making a decision. Commissioner Wade also suggested that time be scheduled next week to discuss concerns raised at the budget hearing. He stated that he feels there needs to be a fundamental change in the system which would allow the County Commissioners, as the funding agency, to have input and be involved in the development of the Board of Education budget. Commissioner Wade indicated MAY 20, 1997 PAGE FOUR that this would also allow the Board of Education staff more of an opportunity to explain the funding needed for various programs. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 10:57 a.m. consider personnel issues and to consult with counsel regarding legal issues, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners recessed from 12:02 p.m. to 2:19 p.m. to attend the annual  elected officials luncheon at the Career Studies Center. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 2:43 p.m. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:02 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered eight (8) personnel issues and consulted with counsel on three (3) legal issues. Commissioner Snook was excused from the meeting at 3:02 p.m. and Vice President Shank assumed the Chair. TRANSFER - MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR I - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the transfer of Guy Sentz from the Water & Sewer Department to the Maintenance Equipment Operator I position at the Roads Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the transfer of $1,800 from Account 006-711-71400-271 (Mt. Aetna Road Improvements) to Account 006-711-71400-264 (Sharpsburg Water Treatment Plant Road Improvements) as requested by the Water & Sewer Department, to cover a cost over-run for road improvements. Unanimously approved. EXTENSION OF TERM - BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to extend the term of Harold Boyer on the Board of Zoning Appeals until such time as the Clean Rock case is resolved. Unanimously approved. MEETING WITH GREATER HAGERSTOWN The Commissioners met with members of the Greater Hagerstown Committee (GHC) (GHC) to discuss various topics. Dr. Robert Cirincione, Chairman, and Herb Meininger, Director of GHC, were present as well as members Donald Bowman, Tom Newcomer, Michael Callas, and Jack Garrott. GHC 1997-98 Work Plan Mr. Meininger reviewed the 1997-98 Work Plan for GHC and the mission for each task force. Regional Community Vision Task Force - Mr. Meininger stated that the  mission of this Task Force functions as a think tank to help formulate a long-range vision of the region. Its current project list includes: Heritage Preservation as Related to Tourism, Waste Management/Landfill Issues, Drug Usage and Trafficking, Boardmanship, Tourism - Civil War, Convention Center, Arts & Culture, Homeownership, and Medical Care. MAY 20, 1997 PAGE FIVE Downtown Parking - Jack Garrott provided an update on the downtown parking project. He stated that they hope to see the downtown area provide accessible, adequate, attractive and ample parking. Mr. Garrott indicated that the project at the northeast quadrant of the square is partially finished. Urban Renewal & Historic Preservation - Mr. Meininger stated that ten organizations are represented on this committee. Mr. Newcomer reported on  fundraising plans for additional areas for sidewalk repair and the gateway. He also stated that they have applied for several state grants for this project. Consolidation/Privatization of Government Services - Mr. Meininger reviewed the status of the Consolidation/Privatization of Government Services Task Force. He stated that the group is considering the cost and availability of services, duplication of social services, taxation/funding, coordination between City/County/State agencies, and cost control. Commissioner Wade suggested that this task force also consider the possibility of implementing a single, unified water and sewer district. Transportation Planning - Donald Bowman gave an update on the Transportation Planning Task Force. He stated that they have reviewed the City, County, and State transportation plans and are supporting their implementation. Education - Mr. Meininger distributed information on issues being addressed by the Education Task Force. He stated that they are trying to review the key issues which need to be acted upon. Commissioner Wade stated that County Commissioners should be more involved in the formulation of the  Board of Educations budget and feels the entire process should be reviewed. Update - Economic Development Commission Commissioner Shank gave an update on the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and the status of its search for an EDC director. He stated that they had interviewed a candidate for this position but the individual was not willing to relocate to Washington County. Commissioner Shank indicated that the County will be re-advertising this position. Mr. Shoop stated that the EDC is reviewing the job description for the EDC Director and the County hopes to have this position filled in the next three to four months. Mr. Meininger invited the Commissioners to the New Educators Reception they will be sponsoring. He also informed them that the Quad-State Conference is scheduled for July 10 in Winchester, Virginia. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 4:26 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk