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HomeMy WebLinkAbout971125 November 25, 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. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 3:09 p.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, to consider issues relating to collective bargaining, 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 Shank, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in open session at 4:43 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners consulted with legal counsel to obtain legal advice on four (4) issues, considered five (5) personnel matters, considered one (1) issue regarding the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, and discussed negotiations relating to collective bargaining. PERSONNEL DECISIONS - ENGINEERING AND COUNTY COMMUTER Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to employ Karen Nicol and James Loveless as Part-time Bus Operators at the County Commuter at $9.09 per hour to fill existing vacancies and to employ Azmat Hussain as Project Manager in the Engineering Department for $32,000 annually. Unanimously approved. AMENDMENT TO LEASE PROVISIONS - TRI-STATE ELECTRIC Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the amendment to the lease provisions with Tri-State Electric to provide that they will continue to operate the underground fuel tank at the Regional Airport. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:05 p.m. EVENING SESSION - MT. AETNA FIRE HALL The evening session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Mt. Aetna Fire Hall 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. 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 18 AND 20, 1997 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of November 18 and 20, 1997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Van Conway welcomed the Commissioners to the Mt. Aetna Fire Hall and thanked them for utilizing the station for the meeting. Joe Swope expressed concerns regarding the public hearing held on the medical NOVEMBER 25, 1997 PAGE TWO waste treatment facility and the proposal for land application of sludge. Mr. Swope also spoke about parks and recreation issues, legislative requests regarding the Forest Conservation law, the Comprehensive Plan, the need for public transportation to the southern and western sections of the County, the Woodmont property.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Downey informed the Commissioners that he attended the welfare reform breakfast held by the Department of Social Services. He also reported on the Local Management Board meeting. Commissioner Shank reported on the Associated Builders and Contractors meeting and the Chamber of Commerce meeting at Hagerstown Junior College. Commissioner Wade reported on the  Municipal League meeting and the Grate American Sleep-out. Commissioner Snook reported on the Airport Commission meeting. RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT Sheriff Charles Mades met with the Commissioners to respond to the report made by the Grand Jury in its March/September 1997 session following its tour of the Washington County Detention Center. Sheriff Mades addressed the concerns outlined in the report that the Detention Center is understaffed. He indicated in his report that the Commissioners authorized the hiring of 12 new deputies for fiscal year 1998 and that this will permit the posts to be properly staffed. Sheriff Mades stated that he would probably request an  additional four employees in next years budget. Sheriff Mades stated that the Grand Jury report recommended mandatory AIDS testing for all inmates. However, mandatory testing would violate the  inmates civil rights under current law. He informed the Commissioners that mandatory training on AIDS is given to the inmates by the Health Department shortly after their intake into the Detention Center. The Health Department also provides voluntary AIDS testing for the inmates. The Grand Jury also recommended the increased use of home detention and work release. Sheriff Mades responded that the Commissioners granted a request for capital improvement program funds which allowed the purchase of additional home detention equipment. He stated that they currently have 30 inmates on home detention and the work release program is also at capacity.  Kenneth Long, States Attorney, also addressed the Grand Jurys concerns with inadequate staffing at the Detention Center. CONTRACT APPROVAL - THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to award the contract to  serve as Workers Compensation Third Party Administrator to Crawford & Company which submitted the low bid of $14,750 for Option One, for a one-year contract with the option to renew at this amount for up to two additional consecutive one-year periods. Unanimously approved. UPDATE - WASHINGTON COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Robert Cumberland, Administrative Planner for the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, met with the Commissioners to provide a monthly  update of the Associations activities. Mr. Cumberland informed the Commissioners that the application to EPA for reimbursement of costs from the tire fire has been completed and is ready for review. He asked the Commissioners to consider establishing a fund to deal with similar incidents which may occur in the future. The Commissioners suggested that the Fire & Rescue Advisory Board review this recommendation. Mr. Cumberland informed the Commissioners that he is working on mutual aid agreements with neighboring NOVEMBER 25, 1997 PAGE THREE counties and states. He suggested that the Commissioners consider including the sufficiency of fire and rescue operations in the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to assure that appropriate staffing is available. Commissioner Wade indicated that the Planning Department staff currently checks fire and rescue departments when plans are submitted for review. Jay Grimes, President of the Fire & Rescue Association, reported on the legislative requests that the Association will be submitting to the Delegation as well as those of the State Association. Mr. Grimes also reported on the mock disaster drill which was held last week. PERPETUAL EASEMENT - WATER LINE TO LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to approve the following easements needed for the project to construct a water line to the Resh Landfill: 1) an easement of 11,981 square feet and an easement of 13, 661 square feet from Thomas and Mildred Gargana for the amount of $2,785 and 2) 2,715 square feet from Donald Wolford for the amount of $1,785. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the next meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners has been set for January 9 in Frederick County. He also informed the Commissioners that the Leadership Odyssey training has been completed. REAPPOINTMENT - AREA AGENCY ON AGING ADVISORY COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reappoint Wanda Allenback, Thelma Coffman, and Wuanita Martin, to the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE - PART-TIME SNOW REMOVAL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to authorize advertising for Part-time Motor Equipment Operators to be used for as-needed snow removal duties. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk