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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970708 July 8, 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. 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 24, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of June 24, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. TRANSFER OF PENSION TIME & BENEFITS Commissioner Bowers suggested that a letter be sent to the eight deputies at the Sheriff Department who previously worked for other municipalities and had questions about the transfer of credited time for pension benefits, as discussed at the June 17 meeting. Mr. Shoop agreed to send a letter to determine if any of the individuals were in pension systems which qualified to  for transfer to the Countys system. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Downey informed the Commissioners that a meeting of the Tri- County Council will be held on Thursday. He asked that the County Administrator check into the complaints about maintenance at PenMar Park. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that Ray Linebaugh has resigned from the Emergency Services Council. He asked that the Commissioners keep Garrett County Commissioner Roger Glotfelty in their prayers as he was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Commissioner Snook stated that he received a letter from the Board of Public Works that Washington County will receive $2.3 million for school construction projects. He also stated that a letter was received from Secretary Nishida congratulating the County on its 23% recycling rate. Commissioner Wade reported on the Salute to Independence at Antietam National Battlefield. Commissioner Shank reported on the Tri-County Council loan committee meeting. Commissioner Bowers asked if additional legislation is needed to better enforce laws regarding yard sales. CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION - AMANDA SHIFLER AND RYAN REID Commissioner Wade presented a Certificate of Merit to Amanda Shifler in honor  of being inducted into the Childrens Village Life Safety Hall of Fame. Commissioner Wade stated that she correctly dialed 911 and restrained her father when he lapsed into a coma from a serious blood condition. Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Merit to Ryan Reid, who was also  inducted into the Childrens Village Life Safety Hall of Fame, for his actions when his father suffered an epileptic seizure. Both of the children learned how to correctly handle emergency situations from their attendance at  Childrens Village.  WASHINGTON COUNTYS PILOT CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, and Nona Houpt, Contract Procurement Specialist for the Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens  (WCARC), met with the Commissioners to discuss the Countys curbside recycling program. Mr. Hoch stated that the WCARC would like to continue the pilot curbside program that the County has been providing in the Tammany/Van Lear and St. James areas when the County discontinues the service. Ms. Houpt  explained that they are requesting the use or donation of the Countys recycling trailer if they assume this program. She provided information on  ARCs current recycling program and its goal to assume the curbside program JULY 8, 1997 PAGE TWO for a specified period of time. Ms. Houpt also indicated that ARC would consider expanding the program to other residential areas of the County in the future. Mr. Hoch proposed that the County either donate the recycling trailer to ARC or lend it for recycling purposes. After discussion and questions from the Commissioners, it was the decision to lend the trailer to ARC for one year. They asked that ARC develop a plan for the possible expansion of the program throughout the County within six months and present it to them. They stated that they will make a final determination on whether to extend the authorization for longer than the one-year period at that time. The Commissioners also asked that any questions of liability be addressed prior to ARC assuming the program. AUTHORIZATION TO WRITE-OFF UNCOLLECTIBLE TAXES - CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS & ENTERPRISE ZONES Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey to approve the abatement of personal property taxes for companies who make a payment in lieu of taxes and for the listed Ruritan clubs and civic organizations, in accordance with Tax-Property Article, Section 4-401 and Section 7-204, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and submitted by the County Treasurer. Motion  carried with Commissioners Bowers, Downey, Shank, and Wade voting AYE and  Commissioner Snook ABSTAINING. (Copy of list attached.)  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners that the County picnic will be held on September 27 at Antietam Recreation. He informed them that Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, and Gary  Rohrer, Director of Public Works, will be on Valley View on Sunday to discuss the new landfill site. Mr. Shoop stated that Dr. Johns, Chairman of the Emergency Services Council, will recommend individuals to fill vacancies on the Council. MARKETING STRATEGY & SERVICES FOR CONOCOCHEAGUE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PRETREATMENT FACILITY Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, and Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, met with the Commissioners regarding the proposals received for the Marketing & Strategy and Services for the Conococheague Industrial Waste Pretreatment Facility project. Ms. Luther stated that only two firms submitted proposals for this project. The Coordinating Committee reviewed the qualifications and experience proposals and agreed to proceed with the review of the Technical Proposal and Price Proposal of West & Brady, Inc. Ms. Luther advised the Commissioners that the Water & Sewer Department is recommending that the proposal be formally rejected by the Commissioners based on excessive cost and the manner in which it was proposed. Sharon Disque, Economic Development Coordinator, recommended that a contract employee be hired to market the facility. The Commissioners discussed the recommendation and asked that a meeting be scheduled with the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission to discuss alternate proposals. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to reject the Technical Proposal and Price Proposal of West & Brady, Inc., for the Marketing Strategy and Services for Conococheague Industrial Waste Pretreatment Facility project, contingent upon scheduling a meeting with the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission within 30 days to discuss alternative proposals to market the facility. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners agreed to schedule a meeting with the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission for July 31 at 7:30 a.m. JULY 8, 1997 PAGE THREE WASHINGTON COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION ISSUES Jay Grimes, President of the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, met with the Commissioners to discuss several topics of interest to the Association. Mr. Grimes requested that the Commissioners consider donating land near the rubble landfill to the Association to allow them to construct an office on the site. He stated that they want to use a modular building which could be moved if a training center is established in the County. Commissioner Shank expressed concerns about the location due to objections which were raised by the residents of that area regarding additional development near the rubble landfill site. After discussion of possible locations, it was the consensus of the Commissioners to have the Administrative Engineer, Dean Lowry, review available lands owned by the  County and select an appropriate site to meet the Associations needs and allow it to proceed with an application for grant funding. Mr. Grimes asked if an internal memorandum written by the Fire & Rescue Coordinator in July 1995 proposing that the Air Unit, HIRT Team, and Emergency Rehab unit be placed under the control of the Board of County Commissioners was approved by the Commissioners. He stated that, if this was the case, then these groups would not be considered as a subcommittee in the Association and, therefore, not eligible for the tax modification credit. The Commissioners stated that they were not aware of the memorandum and agreed that the groups in question are a sub-committee of the Fire & Rescue Association. They suggested that the Air Unit, HIRT Team, and Rehab Unit take steps in the  future to formalize their procedures and become companies rather than retain only a sub-committee status. They asked that the County Attorney review this matter. The Commissioners reviewed the job description submitted by Mr. Grimes for an Administrative Assistant position for the Association. Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, requested that the Commissioners define the chain of command for the Administrative Assistant position. He stated that if the lines of authority were blurred that the position would not succeed. After discussion, the Commissioners decided to allocate the amount of $29,991 budgeted in Fiscal Year to the Association to fund this position, as an employee of the Association rather than as an employee of the County government. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to appropriate the amount of $29,991, the amount budgeted in Fiscal Year 1998, to the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association for employment of an Administrative Assistant. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION James Devine had several questions regarding the tax abatement program. He  also complained that the Sheriff and States Attorney did not take action regarding the alleged theft of his property from a storage unit. Commissioner Snook explained that Mr. Devine has taken the correct action to deal with this situation through the court system. 60/40 MATCH EASEMENT FUNDING -AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION  Eric Seifarth, Associate Planner - Agriculture, briefly reviewed the States 60/40 Match Program and recommended that the County continue to participate in this program. The Commissioners advised Mr. Seifarth to renew participation in this program annually. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to participate in the State 60/40 Matching Program for Agricultural Land Preservation and to JULY 8, 1997 PAGE FOUR contribute the 40% matching funds for the next easement cycle. Motion carried  with Commissioners Bowers, Downey, Shank, and Snook voting AYE and  Commissioner Wade ABSTAINING. REAPPOINTMENT - WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to reappoint Richard Kittle to the Washington County Housing Authority for a five-year term. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to convene in closed session at 11:03 a.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, and to consider issues relating to collective bargaining issues, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in open session at 12:21 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered five (5) personnel issues, consulted with counsel on three (3) matters, and discussed negotiations relating to collective bargaining. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 12:22 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk