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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980317 March 17, 1998 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 3 AND 5, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of March 3, 1998, as amended. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of March 5, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 1998 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - JEREMIAH SHUMAKER Commissioner Wade presented a Certificate of Merit to Jeremiah Shumaker in recognition of his selection as the Youth of the Month for February 1998 by the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Wade commended Jeremiah for his leadership, his academic and extra-curricular activities and his considerable accomplishments. Glenda Helman, representing the  Childrens Council, informed the Commissioners that Jeremiah will also receive a $50 savings bond, courtesy of Washington County Head Start Policy Council. Jeremiah thanked the Commissioners for the award and introduced his father and his teacher, William Staley. MARCH 17, 1998 PAGE TWO PROCLAMATION - RAPE CRISIS AWARENESS MONTH Commissioner Downey presented a proclamation to Martha Cornwell, President of the CASA Board of Directors, designating the month of April 1998 as Rape Crisis Awareness Month in Washington County and encouraging all citizens to assist in breaking down the barriers by promoting the goals established by CASA. Ms. Cromwell thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and  informed them that CASAs theme for the month is Stop the Silence - Let  the Healing Begin. PROCLAMATION - TALL CEDARS OF LEBANON WEEK Commissioner Bowers presented a proclamation to Bob Lochbaum, Grand Tall Cedar of the Hagerstown Forest, naming the week of March 15-21, 1998, as Tall Cedars of Lebanon Week and commending this observance to all citizens. Mr. Lochbaum thanked the Commissioners for the proclamation and advised the Commissioners of activities of the Tall Cedars to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Shank reported that 15 volunteers from the Agricultural Education Center toured the Carroll County Agricultural Museum. Commissioner Bowers asked for additional information on the insurance requirements for individuals playing in sporting events at the County parks. Richard Douglas, County Attorney, confirmed that individuals are being asked to sign a waiver form with assumption of risk and other provisions as a condition of using the parks. Commissioner Snook asked that time be scheduled on the agenda to discuss this issue in more detail. Commissioner Downey reported on the annual CASA dinner meeting. CONTINUATION OF BUDGET REVIEW - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Greg Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department, met with the Commissioners to continue discussions on the FY 1999 budget for the Water & Sewer Department. The Commissioners discussed the scheduling for the Pangborn East, Holiday Acres, and Beaverbrook projects. The Commissioners agreed to place the Pangborn East project back into the original construction sequence, as recommended by the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission, and to begin construction of the project using existing funds. Mr. Murray explained that an evaluation of the project indicates that grinder pumps will have to be utilized. Commissioner Wade stated that he realizes that the project is needed but expressed concern that it will not pay for itself. He urged that they wait until State funding can be found to begin construction. The Commissioners also agreed not to borrow funds to construct the Holiday Acres and Beaverbrook projects but to wait until grant funding can be secured. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to hold a separate hearing on the water and sewer rates instead of including it with the County budget hearing on April 28. Commissioner Wade suggested that they allow time to get a response from the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission prior to the rate hearing. The Commissioners decided to schedule the rate hearing for April 21 and to meet with the Advisory Commission on April 2. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to place the Pangborn East project back in the original construction sequence and to proceed with the project using existing funding. Motion carried with Commissioners  Shank, Downey, Bowers, and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade voting  NO. Commissioner Downey suggested that the Water and Sewer Department continue  to seek as much grant funding as possible but stated that he doesnt feel there MARCH 17, 1998 PAGE THREE will be sufficient grant money to do the entire project. He suggested that the Commissioners establish a policy on the percentage of a project the County will fund. Mr. Murray agreed that there is no question of the need for the sewer projects but it will be difficult to develop a method by which to fund new projects without impacting the current users of the system. Commissioner Downey asked the staff to provide information on the amount of money per EDU the County contributed to the Pangborn West project. The Commissioners also suggested that the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission appoint a committee to consider ways to finance construction of future water and sewer projects in existing communities. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to remove the funding planned in the Capital Improvements Program budget for future borrowing for construction of the Holiday Acres and Beaverbrook sewer projects until grant funding is available from the State. Unanimously approved. BUDGET WORKSHOP - FY 1998-99 Debra Bastian, Director of Finance, and Kim Edlund, Assistant Director of Finance, met with the Commissioners for a budget workshop session to review the budget for fiscal year 1999 requests and make reductions to balance the budget.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Ray Horst, President of the Southwest Metropolitan Area Civic Association, presented the Commissioners with a petition in opposition to rezoning case RZ-98-04.  Don Allensworth stated that his sons school report was on the water and sewer issue. He also spoke in regard to House Bill 12. Sue DeVall expressed concerns about the sewer problems on Hickory School Road. Mike Armel, Vice President of the Southwest Metropolitan Area Civic Association, read a memorandum from the Association regarding water and sewer rate fairness and CIP funding for the Pangborn East, Holiday Acres, and Beaverbrook projects. BUDGET WORKSHOP (CONTINUED) - FY 1999 The Commissioners continued the budget workshop. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:45 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:55 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. CONTRACT OF SALE & SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT - NOLAND PROPERTY Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the contract of sale in the amount of $155,000 for the purchase of the James Noland property, located at 2025 Londontowne Drive, which is needed for a drainage project, and to consider this purchase as a sole source procurement pursuant to Section 1-106.2(a)(1) of the Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington County. Unanimously approved. RENEWAL OF AGRICULTURAL LEASE - SCOTT ROBINSON Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to renew the lease with MARCH 17, 1998 PAGE FOUR Scott Robinson for 15 acres of land on Landis Road to be used exclusively for agricultural purposes on the terms and conditions set forth in the existing lease. Unanimously approved. RESOLUTION - ANTIETAM STREET PARKING LOT AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF HAGERSTOWN Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the resolution, as presented, to transfer the Antietam Street parking lot to the City of Hagerstown in fee simple in exchange for the provision of 55 parking spaces in the Rochester and Market lots for a 20-year period and the  possible rental of 10 additional spaces at the Citys current rates with the option to continue after that time. Unanimously approved. INTENT TO CONVEY PROPERTY - MONTEREY HOUSE & SPRINGFIELD MANOR ELDERLY HOUSING PROJECTS TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to authorize advertising their intent to convey to the Washington County Housing Authority the property within the Town of Williamsport for the expansion of the existing elderly housing project to be known as Springfield Manor, and property within the Town of Hancock for construction of an elderly housing project to be known as the Monterey House. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners of the breakfast meeting on March 26 with the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association. He informed them that the next meeting with the Board of Education is scheduled for April 14. The Commissioners asked that this meeting be held at Funkstown Elementary School. Mr. Shoop stated that the County employees donated $380 to Food Resources for the Match-a-Meal Program from the proceeds from the February Casual Day. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners  that Maestro Barry Tuckwells final concert performances will be March 21 and 22 at the Maryland Theatre.  BUDGET TRANSFER - SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the concept of transferring $92,000 from the Detention Center Roof Project and $8,000 from the CIP Contingency to fund the purchase of video equipment for bail reviews. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to appoint Donald Spickler to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term, to become effective May 1, 1998. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - RECONSTRUCTION OF WESTERN MARYLAND PARKWAY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POND Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to award the contract for the reconstruction of the Western Maryland Parkway stormwater management pond to W. F. Delauter & Son, Inc. which submitted the low bid of $301,648. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD AND APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFER - PARADISE CHURCH ROAD BRIDGE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to award the bid for the Paradise Road Bridge project to Building Systems, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $127,404 and to authorize a budget transfer to reallocate $52,000 from another project to cover the balance. Unanimously approved. *amended 3/3l/98) CONTRACT AWARD - CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to award the contract MARCH 17, 1998 PAGE FIVE for construction inspection services for a one-year period to Professional Consulting Services, Inc., which submitted the following low bid meeting specifications: Construction Inspector - Straight time $20.40/hr., Overtime $21.40/hr. and Sr. Construction Inspector - Straight time $28.05/hr., Overtime $26.73/hr. Unanimously approved. *Minutes amended 3/31/98 to reflect the hourly wage for Construction Inspector to $22.44 for straight time and $21.20 for Overtime. REAPPOINTMENTS - SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to reappoint Diane Rudisill and Christina Trenton to the Substance Abuse/Mental Health Advisory Council for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 2:42 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, to consider matters that concern the proposals for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, 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 Downey, to reconvene in open session at 5:16 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered five (5) personnel issues, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on four (4) issues, considered one (1) item concerning a proposal for business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and discussed two (2) issues regarding the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS - BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE, , AND WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to employ the following individuals: Black Rock Golf Course - Seasonal Grounds Worker - to employ Kevin Reynolds as a Seasonal Grounds Worker at the Black Rock Golf Course at $6.50 per hour; Local Management Board - Project Coordinator - to employ Marcia Hoffman as Project Coordinator, Grade 11, a grant-funded position through the Local Management Board; Local Management Board - Fiscal Specialist - to employ Clark Catlett as Fiscal Specialist, Grade 9, a grant- funded position through the Local Management Board; and Reclassification - Plant Operator I - Water & Sewer Department - to reclassify Mike Folmer to Plant Operator I, Grade 6, at the Water & Sewer Department. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 5:17 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk