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HomeMy WebLinkAbout971028 October 28, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade. Commissioner Ronald Bowers participated in a seminar sponsored by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and was absent from the afternoon session. PROPOSED POLICY - BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, met with the Commissioners to review a proposed policy to formalize guidelines for appointment and compensation of various board and commissions which report to the Board of County Commissioners. After review of the policy, the Commissioners asked that it be returned to them with several minor revisions. Commissioner Snook suggested that the Commissioners reinstate the practice of sponsoring a reception to honor members of the boards and commissions. He asked Mr. Davis and Mr. Shoop to make recommendations for this endeavor. AMENDMENT TO WATER & SEWER PLAN - WS-97-1 Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey to approve application WS-97-1, submitted by the Water & Sewer Department, to amend the Washington  County Water & Sewerage Plan by expanding the adjacent Martins Crossroads Restricted Use water service area and changing the water service priority designation from NPS (No Planned Service) to W-5 (Planned Service) for the properties shown on an attached plat, to allow public water service to be provided to the Washington County Landfill on Resh Road. Unanimously approved. GRANT ACCEPTANCE - CONSOLIDATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to accept a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission in the amount of $40,000 to provide partial funding to retain a consultant to perform a fiscal analysis study. Unanimously approved. HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE COMPREHENSIVE REZONING STATUS REPORT Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, appeared before the Commissioners to provide a status report on the Highway Interchange comprehensive rezoning for two areas. Mr. Arch reviewed a map showing the  final configuration for the Clear Spring area being developed for the Boards consideration. He stated that this proposal would grant HI zoning for additional acreage to property owners Donald Bragunier and Vincent Groh. Mr. Arch indicated that the revisions outlined would constitute a significant change from the proposal made at the public hearing and would require that another hearing be held. Mr. Arch also reviewed a map outlining changes made to the zoning classifications originally proposed for the Maryland Rt. 58/Salem Avenue interchange. He indicated that comments made by property owners at the public hearing prompted the changes. He stated that the Planning Commission recommended that another public hearing be held due to the revisions being recommended. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to advertise the intent to conduct a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission regarding the revisions outlined to the rezoning classifications at the Clear Spring and MD Route 58 interchanges as a part of the Highway Interchange comprehensive rezoning. Unanimously approved. OCTOBER 28, 1997 PAGE TWO RECAP OF PUBLIC WORKS INFORMATIONAL MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSED REALIGNMENT OF ROBINWOOD DRIVE Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, and Terry McGee, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to give a summary of the public information meeting held on October 23 at Hagerstown Junior College regarding the realignment of Robinwood Drive, Phase IV. Mr. Rohrer presented a map showing the proposed realignment and how it affects the adjoining properties. He stated that he received many comments and suggestions and will be evaluating them. Mr. Rohrer reviewed several of the options proposed at the meeting and stated that real estate costs for these options could make them cost-prohibitive. He indicated that they would also affect more property owners than the alignment proposed. After discussion, the Commissioners asked Mr. Rohrer to provide them with cost estimates for the suggested alignments which use Kiefer Funk Road and Harp Road as well as traffic counts for this area. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 4:21 p.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, to consider matters that concern proposals for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and to consider personnel matters, 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 Wade, to reconvene in open session at 5:29 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners consulted with legal counsel to obtain legal advice on three (3) issues, considered two (2) issues related to the location, expansion or retention of businesses or industrial organizations in the State, and considered one (1) personnel matter. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:30 p.m. Commissioner Downey was excused from the meeting at this time. EVENING SESSION The evening session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers 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 - OCTOBER 21, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of October 21, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reported on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)  meeting and the Wings of Warmth program which will be organized at the Regional Airport by the aviation community. Commissioner Wade stated that he would like to have the options proposed for the realignment of Robinwood Drive placed on the agenda for discussion. Commissioner Shank reported on the annual meeting of the Farm Bureau. Commissioner Bowers reported that he attended the Y-Me fundraiser. He also asked if agreements exist for OCTOBER 28, 1997 PAGE THREE maintenance of railroad crossings in the County.  BUDGET ADJUSTMENT - SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT - HOME DETENTION MONITORING DEVICES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve a budget adjustment of $2,600 to increase Home Detention Fees (01-4-1221-371-032) by $1,300 and Machinery and Equipment (01-5-1221-682) by $1,300 to allow the  Sheriffs Department to purchase five additional home detention monitoring devices with costs to be repaid from revenues generated from the units. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER/ADJUSTMENT - AIRPORT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the following budget transfer/adjustment as requested by the Airport Manager to allow the lease of a John Deere loader: $9,000 from Other-Salaries (62-5-3107-407), $9,000 from Marketing (62-5-3107-525-027), and $5,000 from Gain on Sale of Fixed Assets (62-4-0000-376-001), to Equipment (62-5-3107-682). Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that Prime Retail has tentatively scheduled its groundbreaking ceremony for December 2. REAPPOINTMENT - PUBLIC GOLF CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to reappoint Ronald Pike to the Public Golf Corporation Board of Directors for a three-year term which expires on November 30, 2000. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to reappoint Steven Ernst to the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (LMB) Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to appoint Karen Post, Rhonda Lindenbaum, and Cathy Wesmiller, to the Local Management Board. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Tom Brewer asked that the Commissioners consider the route suggested by Dan Sheedy for the realignment of Robinwood Drive. He stated that the residents of Partridge Trail are opposed to the alignment presented at the public information meeting at Hagerstown Junior College. UPDATE - WASHINGTON COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Bob Cumberland, Administrative Planner for the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, met with the Commissioners to provide a monthly update on the  Associations activities. Mr. Cumberland informed the Commissioners that the Association has concluded that there is no way to recoup the money owed to the  Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company through the homeowners insurance company for the materials used at the tire fire last March. He stated that there may be up to $25,000 available through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reimbursement if the County will submit the application on behalf of the Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company. After discussion of various options, the Commissioners agreed to support this request. The Commissioners also offered  the assistance of the Countys legal staff if the fire company decides to file suit against the property owner. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to submit an application OCTOBER 28, 1997 PAGE FOUR to the Environmental Protection Agency for grant funding in the amount of $19,000 to pay for materials used by the Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company to suppress the tire fire which occurred in March 1997. Unanimously approved. Mr. Cumberland reported that the Association is considering mutual aid agreements with fire companies in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He informed the Commissioners that the National Fire Council will be holding an open forum to discuss fire and rescue standards on November 18. WASHINGTON COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 1997 AUDIT AND FINANCIAL REPORT Mike Manspeaker, representing Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, appeared before the Commissioners to present the County's Fiscal Year 1997 audit report. Mr.  Manspeaker reported that the County has a clean, unqualified financial report again this year. Mr. Manspeaker provided a detailed review of the audit report, including the General Fund, Highway Fund and Capital Improvements Projects. He indicated that the County is in a good financial condition, and reported that the Fund Balance total is $9.2 million for an increase of $2,427,954 over last year. Mr. Manspeaker emphasized that the General Fund ended with a surplus of $2.4 million and stated that this is primarily due to an increase in revenues from property and income taxes. He then responded to questions from the Commissioners. Mr. Shoop stated that County department heads should be congratulated on successful budget management. AWARDS TO FUNKSTOWN AND HALFWAY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES Commissioner Snook presented Certificates of Appreciation to representatives of the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company and the Halfway Volunteer Fire Company in recognition of services provided during the 135th commemorative re- enactment of the Battle of Antietam. He commended them for their public spirit and expressed the appreciation of the Commissioners for their efforts. BID AWARD - DESIGN SERVICES FOR MUSEUM & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AT THE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for design services for the museum and administrative offices at the Agricultural Education Center to Lakin & Moats Architects which submitted the low bid of $57,740, contingent upon approval of the State Board of Public Works. The Commissioners agreed to assume the risk of proceeding with the project prior to approval by the Board of Public Works. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - WATER/WASTE WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award contracts to the low, responsive bidders as recommended by staff for the purchase of water/waste water treatment chemicals, which was bid jointly with the City of Hagerstown. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AWARD - COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF EMERGENCY FIRE AND MEDICAL SERVICES DELIVERY Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, and Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, reviewed the proposals of the three firms interviewed by the Coordinating  Committee to perform a comprehensive study of Washington Countys emergency fire and medical services delivery systems. She stated that after the presentations and interviews, the majority of the committee recommended Carroll Buracker & Associates, Inc. even though this firm did not submit the low proposal. Ms. Luther and Mr. Davis stated that the Committee felt the firm was the most qualified, based on the number of hours the firm proposed to  devote to the project and the qualifications and experience of the firms employees. Dr. Laurence Johns, Jay Grimes, and Brigitte Heller, special OCTOBER 28, 1997 PAGE FIVE members of the Coordinating Committee for this project, also endorsed the acceptance of the proposal submitted by Carroll Buracker & Associates, Inc. Mr. Davis stated that, although only $50,000 was budgeted for this study, he hopes to make up the difference if the property and casualty insurance bids for the fire and rescue companies come in under the budgeted amount. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for a comprehensive study of the delivery of emergency fire and medical services in Washington County to Carroll Buracker & Associates, Inc. for the total lump sum fee of $89,850. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 9:11 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk