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HomeMy WebLinkAbout970715 July 15, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland 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 Ronald L. Bowers, 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. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Shank reported on the meeting of the Farm Museum Committee. Commissioner Bowers asked about the policy for locking the gates at County parks and cited the vandalism which has occurred recently at the Marty Snook Park. He also reported that the loan for International Masonry Institute has been approved for the Brice House, and they will begin operations at Ft. Ritchie in the near future. Commissioner Downey reported on the Western Maryland Consortium Executive Committee meeting and the Tri-County Council quarterly meeting. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that the next meeting of the Mayors of the Municipalities will be held on July 17. He also reminded the Commissioners of the workshop scheduled for July 19 at the Bethel Gardens Community Building.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners that the County picnic will be held on September 27. He recommended Jim LaFleur to fill the vacancy on the Emergency Services Council. The Commissioners discussed the joint meeting to be held with the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission on July 31. They asked Mr. Shoop to prepare an agenda for the meeting and to schedule the meeting for two hours. APPOINTMENT - EMERGENCY SERVICES COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to appoint James LaFleur to the Emergency Services Council. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION - HAZMAT/COMPANY 28/REHAB UNIT/AIR UNIT Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, met with the Commissioners to discuss the proposal to consolidate the Hazardous Incident Response Team, Civil Defense Company 28, the Rehab Unit, and the Air Unit into one entity to be known as the Washington County Emergency Services Office of Specialty Operations. Mr. Davis reviewed the concerns expressed by Company 28 at the meeting and indicated that if they wish to continue performing duties such as filling sandbags and pumping basements, this would be acceptable to the Emergency Services Council. He suggested that the Commissioners approve moving the scattered units of equipment being stored by the HIRT Team into the Company 28 facility on Frederick Street and moving the Rehab Unit equipment to the York Road site utilized by the Air Unit. Mr. Davis stated that the specialty units would be at two locations - York Road and Frederick Street. Also discussed was the issue regarding the administrative chain of command. Mr. Davis stated that it may be more appropriate for the chiefs of the specialty service units to report to Phil Ridenour, Chief of Fire Operations at the Airport, as their contact person in County government. After discussion and questions regarding the operations and reporting procedures, the Commissioners asked that the changes in the consolidation plan discussed  today be put in writing, to include Mr. Ridenours duties, before they give their final approval to the proposal for consolidation. JULY 15, 1997 PAGE TWO PROPOSAL FOR SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE VARIANCE FEE Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, presented a proposal endorsed by the Planning Commission to charge a fee for Subdivision Ordinance variance requests. He stated that the fee recommended was $100 per case. Mr. Arch outlined the types of requests the Planning staff receives and the amount of staff time these variances can require. The Commissioners discussed the proposal and asked the Assistant County Attorney to determine whether a public hearing is required before a new fee is established. HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE STUDY GROUPS III AND V - RZ-96-4.2, RZ-96-5.1, RZ-96-5.2 AND RZ-96-5.3 Mr. Arch reviewed the interchanges contained in Groups 3 and 5 of the comprehensive rezoning and the recommendations made by the Planning Commission at its April 7, 1997 meeting. RZ-96-4.1 (Maugansville Road/I-81/MD Rt. 58) Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to accept the Planning  Commissions recommendations that RZ-96-4.1 Comprehensive Rezoning for the I- 81 & Maryland 58/Maugansville Road interchange be reheard at public hearing based on the substantial changes being recommended by the Planning Commission. Unanimously approved. RZ-96-4.2 (I-81 and U.S. 40 Highway Interchange Area) Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve RZ-96-4.2 and the findings cited in the Ordinance Adopting a Comprehensive Rezoning Map for that portion of Highway Interchange Group III consisting of I-81 and U.S. 40 Highway Interchange Area as recommended by the Planning Commission. Unanimously approved. RZ-96-5.1 (I-70 and MD 68) Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to deny the comprehensive rezoning of RZ-96-5.1 for the interchange at I-70 and MD 68, with the changes recommended by the Planning Commission. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to table any action on RZ-96-5.1 until the July 29, 1997, to obtain additional information. Unanimously approved. RZ-96-5.2 (I-70 and MD 56) Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve RZ-96-5.2 and the findings cited in the Ordinance Adopting a Comprehensive Rezoning Map for that portion of Highway Interchange Group V consisting of the I-70 and MD 56 Highway Interchange Area, as recommended by the Planning Commission. Motion carried. Motion carried with Commissioners Wade, Bowers, and Downey voting  AYE and Commissioners Shank and Snook voting NO. RZ-96-5.3 (I-70/I-68/U.S. 522) Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve RZ-96-4.2 and the findings cited in the Ordinance Adopting a Comprehensive Rezoning Map for that portion of Highway Interchange Group V consisting of I-70 at I-68 and U.S. 522, Highway Interchange Area as recommended by the Planning Commission. Unanimously approved.  GRANT ACCEPTANCE - STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to accept a one-year  grant in the amount of $25,388, awarded by the Governors Office of Crime  Control and Prevention, to the States Attorneys Office to fund the position of Secretarial Assistant in the Victim/Witness Unit. Unanimously approved. JULY 15, 1997 PAGE THREE CONTRACT AWARD - ENGINEERING & DESIGN SERVICES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ELK RIDGE WATER SUPPLY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to accept the contract for engineering and design services for improvements to the Elk Ridge Water Supply to John E. Harms, Jr. & Associates, Inc., which submitted the low proposal of $30,950. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION  Jim Devine asked the Commissioners to require the States Attorneys Office to maintain an investigative unit and the Sheriff to pursue allegations he has  made. Commissioner Snook responded that the Sheriff and States Attorney are elected officials who are responsible for the operations of their departments.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS - CONTINUED Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that the members of the Convention & Visitors Bureau Board have decided that they do not have a use for the trailer used in Williamsport as an information center or the equipment located at the Breezewood information center. He stated that the County will be removing these items in the near future. The Commissioners asked Mr. Shoop to contact the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association to see if they want to use the trailer. APPOINTMENTS - MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to appoint Sharon Smith and Connie Pauley to the Mental Health Advisory Committee for three-year terms. 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 Wade, seconded by Bowers, to reconvene in open session at 12:21 p.m. Unanimously approved. In the Commissioners considered twelve (12) personnel issues. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 12:22 p.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was called to order at 12:58 p.m. by the Vice President John Shank, with the following members present: Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (LMB) WORKSHOP Kristin Grosh, Coordinator for the Office of Children & Youth, and Mike Hardy, Chairman of the Local Management Board (LMB), met with the Commissioners to discuss various items of interest to the LMB. Mr. Hardy introduced the Board members who were in attendance. Ms. Grosh provided an update on the Systems Reform Initiative on the State and local levels which begins October 1 in Washington County. Ethel Nemcek, LMB Board, presented an overview of the proposed bylaws. She stated that they are recommending that the Board be increased from 15 to 19 JULY 15, 1997 PAGE FOUR members to include an 18 year old youth with past experience as a consumer of services, a clergy member, the Executive Director of the Washington County Core Services Agency, and the Regional Director of the Western Region Developmental Disabilities Administration. The Commissioners reviewed the proposed by-laws and suggested several minor changes to the document. The Commissioners asked that additional language be added to address issues regarding possible conflicts of interest and the appeals process. Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, reported on the financial structure and the process by which the State grant funding will be distributed to the County. She stated that the County will issue checks to the agencies upon receipt of written authorization from the LMB. The Commissioners had several questions regarding the funding. The Commissioners discussed the return diversion program initiative and asked if the LMB members if they are considering the consolidation of services.  Commissioner Bowers stated that the LMB should be able to free up money by consolidating services and provide more funds to the children being served. Mr. Hardy indicated that they do not have enough data at this time but the Board will be looking at the possibility of consolidation. Kathy Hall, LMB member, stated that they need direction from the Commissioners to clarify goals beyond the minimum standards mandated by the State. After discussion, the Commissioners asked the Board to provide some recommendations for their review. APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE POSITION - FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to authorize advertising the position of Family Services Coordinator. Unanimously approved. ASSISTANT SECTION SUPERVISOR - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the transfer John Pennesi to fill the position of Assistant Section Supervisor at the Roads Department at $28,914 and, if he does not accept the position, that it be offered to the next recommendation for the position. Unanimously approved. AIRPORT - CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to employ Edward Rakowski as a contractual employee at $12 per hour to fill the Operations Manager vacancy at the Regional Airport. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to convene in closed session at 2:21 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, 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. Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 3:10 p.m. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in open session at 3:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. In the Commissioners considered one (1) personnel issue, consulted with counsel on two (2) matters, considered one (1) issue regarding JULY 15, 1997 PAGE FIVE the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto and discussed negotiations relating to collective bargaining. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 2:22 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk