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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980203 February 3, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners participated in the State of the County forum sponsored by the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce at 7:00 a.m. The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:30 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. GAMING COMMISSION - DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS Kathy Sterling, Coordinator for the Gaming Commission, and Fred Rohrer, Chairman, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on the distributions made by the Gaming Commission and the projected distributions for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. Ms. Sterling stated that the Gaming Commission distributed a total of $931,250 in the January disbursement with $571,942 being distributed among 67 charitable organizations and $381,296 allocated to the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She provided a list of the charitable organizations which have received funding from the Gaming Commission. Ms. Sterling also provided information on administrative costs, including salaries, equipment, contractual services, and printing. She informed the Commissioners that 5 percent of the budget is used for general operations, 3 percent is used for contractual services, and 92 percent is distributed to the charitable organizations and fire and rescue companies. Ms. Sterling stated that legislation is proposed which would change the contributions from the clubs to a flat 15 percent. She explained that the Gaming Commission anticipates that this will increase the amount given to the non-profit organizations to $2.45 million and will also eliminate the paperwork submitted quarterly by the clubs for in-kind contributions and decrease the contractual services budget by $15,000. Mr. Rohrer requested that the Commissioners fill the two appointments on the Gaming Commission as soon as possible. UPDATE - VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Bob Cumberland, Administrative Planner for the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, presented an update on the activities of the Association. He reviewed the proposed Standards for Vehicle Equipment which were approved by the Association. Commissioner Bowers suggested that the standards for vehicle equipment and training be heard at public hearing before adoption. Jay Grimes, President of the Association, stated that it will be approximately three months before all of the standards will be completed and suggested that the Commissioners wait until that time and hold one public hearing for all the fire and rescue standards. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to accept the Standards for Vehicles, as presented by the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, and to schedule a public hearing to consider all the fire and rescue standards when completed. Unanimously approved. Mr. Cumberland informed the Commissioners that the Hazardous Incident Response Team has mutual aid agreements with all neighboring counties except Fulton County, Pennsylvania. He explained that during a recent incident on the FEBRUARY 3, 1998 PAGE TWO interstate, the HIRT team could not respond because it had no agreement in effect with Fulton County. Commissioner Snook stated that any agreement negotiated should include the provisions for the jurisdiction involved to be responsible for all liabilities and costs. Mr. Cumberland agreed to try to negotiate a tentative agreement which would be reviewed by the County Attorney prior to its adoption. The Commissioners also agreed to have the County Attorney review the Memorandum of Understanding from MIEMSS and provide an opinion to the Association. FY 1999 BUDGET REQUEST - WASHINGTON COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Jay Grimes and Rick Hemphill, representing the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, presented their FY 1999 budget request. Mr. Grimes explained that 15 percent of the funding needed for volunteer fire and rescue companies is provided by the County and State, 15 percent is provided through gaming funds, and 70 percent is raised through fund raising and private donations. Mr. Grimes stated that the total request for FY 1999 is $2,352,123. He noted that he feels the study on emergency services in the County will show the need for full-time paid personnel. Mr. Grimes stated that the Association has had discussions with officials from Hagerstown Junior College (HJC) regarding placement of a training center at HJC. He indicated that they will be applying for available grant funds for this project. The Commissioners discussed the possibility of funding the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) for qualified members. Commissioner Downey stated that he feels the Commissioners support implementation of the LOSAP program; however, he expressed concerns regarding the initial $275,000 funding needed for the first year. He asked if the Association would consider using one- third of its gaming funds toward the LOSAP program if the County provided two-thirds of the funding the first year and suggested that the program be phased in over a three-year period. He requested that the Association consider some type of scenario which could be used to help finance the program. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth expressed his views on infrastructure funding and methods used to fund costs associated with development. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 26 & 27, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of January 26 and 27, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the joint meeting with the City of Hagerstown to review the water and sewer models has been changed from February 11 to February 25. He also informed the Commissioners that the telephone system from the Convention & Visitors Bureau has been transferred to Company 28. Mr. Shoop stated that moving this system instead of purchasing a new system has resulted in a $3,500 savings. BUDGET TRANSFER - BOARD OF EDUCATION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to transfer $69,804 from the E. Russell Hicks chiller project (40-5-1720-582-164) to the Clear Spring High science laboratory project (40-5-1720-581-046) as requested by the Board of Education. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve the request to transfer $15,200 from the Winebrenner plant - connection project (40-5-1303-580-016) and $19,600 from the Replacement of Underground Tanks (40-5- FEBRUARY 3, 1998 PAGE THREE 1303-580 020) to Halfway force main - installation of valves and box replacement project (40-5-1303-682-030), as requested by the Water & Sewer Department. Unanimously approved. BUDGET INCREASE - GRANT FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to accept a grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development in the amount of $100,000 for the update of the Comprehensive Plan (01-5-1062-525-320) and to increase the budget line item by this amount. Unanimously approved. ADDENDUM TO GROUND LEASE - AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the addendum to the Ground Lease Agreement with the University of Maryland for the Agricultural Education Center to expand the uses originally permitted in the original Ground Lease Agreement. Unanimously approved. CONSENT FOR STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENTS - TOWN OF HANCOCK Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the request made by the Town of Hancock to grant the State Highway Administration permission to make improvements to sidewalks and curbs on County-owned property within the Town of Hancock. Unanimously approved. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (LMB) Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the Local Management Board Memorandum of Understanding for FY 1998 to send to the  Governors Office for Children, Youth and Families and to attach a cover letter requesting provisions and clarifications to the FY 1999 Memorandum of Understanding. Unanimously approved.  PARK N RIDE LEASE AGREEMENT - MARTIN L. SNOOK MEMORIAL PARK Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the lease agreement with the State Highway Administration to allow the parking lot at  the Martin L. Snook Memorial Park to be used as a park n ride lot as proposed in connection with the new interchange at Interstate 70 and Maryland Route 632, as presented by the Assistant County Attorney. Unanimously approved.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS  Commissioner Wade asked that the stadium issue be scheduled on next weeks agenda. He stated that the Commissioners need to decide if they are going to provide funding for this project. He also quoted from an article in the Calvert News written by Delegate Bruce Poole. Commissioner Bowers reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission meeting. Commissioner Downey reported on the Maugansville Volunteer Fire Company banquet. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 11:07 a.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, to consider matters that concern the proposal for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, and to consider issues relating to collective bargaining, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. (Commissioner Snook was excused from the meeting from 11:07 a.m. to 11:41 a.m. and Vice President Shank assumed the chair.) FEBRUARY 3, 1998 PAGE FOUR The Commissioners recessed from 12:11 p.m. to 1:11 p.m. for lunch. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to reconvene in open session at 3:36 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on six (6) issues, considered one (1) item concerning a proposal for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, discussed one (1) issue regarding the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, and discussed collective bargaining issues. GODS AND GENERALS - GUARANTY AGREEMENT Commissioner Snook outlined the status of the transaction for the financing  for predevelopment costs for Gods and Generals and the changes made to the document. He stated that the Hagerstown Mayor and Council approved the agreement at its meeting last week. The documents provide that the County reimburse any amount required to be paid by CHIEF on the guaranty up to $250,000 in the form of an industrial development grant or similar vehicle if the guaranty is needed. The agreement also provides that 70 percent of the movie will be filmed in Washington County. Motion made by Commissioner Downey to approve the guaranty agreement as presented and previously approved by the City of Hagerstown for the  financing of predevelopment costs for the movie Gods and Generals. Motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Wade expressed his opposition to the agreement and stated that he does not feel it is appropriate to use tax dollars as a guaranty for a private venture. At this time President Snook passed the chair to Vice President Shank. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey, to approve the guaranty agreement as presented and previously approved by the City of  Hagerstown for the financing of predevelopment costs for the movie Gods  and Generals. Motion carried with Commissioners Snook, Downey, Bowers, and  Shank voting AYE and Commissioner Wade voting NO. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 3:57 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk