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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980127 January 27, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland TOUR & LUNCHEON - OF COLD WEATHER HOMELESS SHELTER The Commissioners met at Trinity Lutheran Church for lunch and to tour this area used as one of the sites for the Cold Weather Homeless Shelter program. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 1:00 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. REVIEW OF FY 1999 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Robert Arch, Director of Planning and Community Development, met with the Commissioners to present a draft of the fiscal year 1999 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget as proposed by the CIP Committee. Ms. Bastian stated that the draft CIP budget proposes the use of $6.5 million in general obligation bonds and a General Fund contribution of $2.5 million. The total CIP budget is $15,822,372 which includes a combination of bond funds, reserves transferred from last fiscal year, and federal and state grants. Mr. Arch stated that they are now in  the process of developing a plan for the out years to provide flexibility in addressing funding issues. Mr. Arch and Ms. Bastian reviewed each of the projects proposed for funding in fiscal year 1999 and the projected costs for each project. The Commissioners discussed the projects listed and considered trying to lower the amount of General Fund monies included in the CIP budget. Ms. Bastian stated that projects will have to be eliminated from the budget if they decide to lower the contribution. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Arch and Ms. Bastian for the presentation. Ms. Bastian informed the Commissioners that, due to savings in existing projects and increased revenues, she feels that the water and sewer projects can be completed using existing funding. This will eliminate the need to borrow bond funds for these projects in 1998. Commissioner Bowers arrived at the meeting at 2:35 p.m. JANUARY 27, 1998 PAGE TWO APPROVAL OF ROAD NAME - TERRA LANE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to designate as  Terra Lane, a previously unnamed lane located off of Cedar Ridge Road, as requested by the property owners. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Maryland Correctional Training Center has offered the County the use of two more work release crews. The Commissioners agreed to purchase two used vans for the work crews. Mr. Shoop stated that the joint meeting with the Mayor and Council of Hagerstown has been rescheduled for February 19. He informed the Commissioners that the weekly conference call with Delegate Donoghue on the status of legislation will begin in the next few weeks. Mr. Shoop read excerpts of letters from citizens complimenting County staff for their work.  He informed the Commissioners that the County received the United Ways Gold Award for participation in its 1998 campaign. AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE POSITION - PERMITS & INSPECTIONS Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to authorize advertising to fill the Office Associate III position in the Permits & Inspections Department. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to convene in closed session at 2:56 p.m. to consider personnel matters, consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to consider matters that concern the proposal for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, of Maryland, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in open session at 4:46 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on one (1) issue, considered one (1) item concerning a proposal for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and discussed one (1) personnel issue. EVENING SESSION - HANCOCK TOWN HALL The Evening Session of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at the Hancock Town Hall 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, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. Also present were Mayor Daniel Murphy and Council member Glorious Sagle from the Town of Hancock and Mayor Paul Hose and Council member Gary Grove from the Town of Clear Spring. 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. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Mayor Daniel Murphy shared concerns from citizens in Hancock regarding the lack of County Commuter service in the western sections of the County. JANUARY 27, 1998 PAGE THREE TAX REBATE PROGRAM - HANCOCK AND CLEAR SPRING Commissioner Shank stated that pursuant to Section 6-306 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commissioners are required to meet with each municipality annually to discuss the tax rebate program. He stated that the Town of Clear Spring will receive the minimum payment of $2,000. He stated that Hancock is projected to receive $37,692 for fiscal year 1998 and explained that the estimated amounts will be subject to an audit of expenditures. Commissioner Bowers suggested that the Commissioners consider increasing the minimum payment to the municipalities which receive the base amount. LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (LMB) - SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT The Commissioners discussed the request from the Local Management Board (LMB) that Sections 1-106.2(1) and (3) of the Code of Publlic Local Laws of Washington County (CPLL) governing sole source procurement be applied to the request for the Family Preservation, Return, and Division Programs. Kristin Grosh, Coordinator for the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, and Mike Hardy, Chairman of the LMB, explained that the LMB has received grant funding in the amount of $390,469 to contract for these services through June 30, 1998. The LMB felt that this time frame would not allow them to develop a request for proposals (RFP), and they would use this six-month period as a trial period. Ms. Grosh stated that this seemed to be the best alternative at this time. Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, stated that the LMB would like to contract with the Department of Social Services to expand its Family Preservation Program to include these services during the contract period. The LMB also requested permission to extend the contract with the Department of Social Services for six months in case the RFP is not completed during this period. The Commissioners asked for clarification on several issues and discussed the request. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to approve the request made by the Local Management Board to apply the sole source procurement provisions, as found in the Code of Public Local Laws of Washington County, Sections 1-106.2(a)(1) and (3), and award the contract for the Family Preservation, Return, and Diversion programs to the Washington County the Department of Social Services through June 30, 1998, at the cost of $390,469, which is grant funded through the State Department of Children and Youth. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF 1998 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE The Commissioners considered the legislative requests submitted by the County Attorney for presentation to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly for consideration in the 1998 session. After review, the Commissioners made minor revisions to the request. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to adopt the 1998 legislative requests for submission to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly. Unanimously approved. (A copy of the approved list of legislative requests is attached.) REQUEST TO CLOSE SERVICE ROAD - LICKING CREEK Beth Evans, Assistant County Attorney, presented a request from the Maryland Forest & Parks Service to close the service road at the west end of the bridge at Licking Creek due to chronic law enforcement and safety issues. Ms. Evans stated that the Park Service would install a gate on the service road and keys would be issued to the appropriate enforcement agencies. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to schedule a public hearing to hear public comment on this request. JANUARY 27, 1998 PAGE FOUR Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to authorize the Assistant County Attorney to advertise a public hearing with notice of intent to close the service road at the west end of Licking Creek. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF VISION STATEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers to adopt the following  Vision Statement for Washington County: Washington Countys vision is to provide exemplary public services by assisting citizens to: support and strengthen individual community self-reliance and responsibility; promote economic opportunities, public health, safety, and welfare; preserve the  dignity of the individual; and protect the environment we share. Unanimously approved.  GOVERNORS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Commissioner Snook commended the Washington County Water & Sewer Department and Greg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, for receiving the  Governors Award of Excellence for the Departments voluntary efforts to  meet the States reduced biological nutrient levels at the Conococheague and the Winebrenner plants. The State recognized the Water & Sewer Department for its efforts to meet the State goal for a 40 percent reduction in nutrients by the year 2000. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 13 & 20, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of January 13, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the January 20, 1998, as amended. Unanimously approved.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Downey reported on the Tri-County Council meeting. Commissioner Wade thanked the Commissioners for touring the cold weather homeless shelter at Trinity Lutheran Church and for providing passes for the County Commuter for individuals utilizing the shelter. Commissioner Shank reported on a complaint he received from a constituent regarding crop damage due to the large deer population. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk