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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980331 March 31, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 10:00 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 CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 10:03 a.m. to consider personnel issues, 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 Shank, seconded by Bowers, to reconvene in open session at 11:37 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered one (1) personnel issue, considered two (2) proposals for business or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and discussed one (1) issue regarding the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:38 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by the President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. MARCH 31, 1998 PAGE TWO Shank, and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. Commissioner Snook was excused from the meeting at this time, and Vice- President Shank assumed the Chair. BUDGET REVIEW - REGIONAL AIRPORT, BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE, AND HAGERSTOWN JUNIOR COLLEGE Regional Airport - Carolyn Motz, Airport Manager, and Brandon Taksa, Operations Manager, presented the budget request for the Washington County Regional Airport for FY 1998-99 in the amount of $865,676. Black Rock Golf Course - Darrell Whittington, Golf Course Superintendent, and John Kain, Grounds Superintendent, presented the budget request for Black Rock Golf Course for FY 1999 in the amount of $1,079,658. Dr. Norman Shea, President of Hagerstown Junior College (HJC), and Wayne Alter, Chairman of the HJC Board of Trustees, met with the Commissioners to present the Fiscal Year 1999 budget request for a County appropriation of $4,202,760. NATIONAL PIKE FESTIVAL - INSURANCE PROVISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to designate Washington County as the official sponsor of the National Pike Festival for insurance and permitting purposes. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the Convention and Visitors Bureau elected not to sponsor the Maryland, You Are Beautiful Program and that he is attempting to find volunteers to coordinate the program this year. The Commissioners agreed to meet with the PenMar Development Corporation this month for an update on activities at Fort Ritchie. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT APPLICATION - COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to approve the submission of the FY 1998 Emergency Shelter Grant application in the amount of $70,000, as presented. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Snook returned at 3:01 p.m. and assumed the Chair. CONTRACT RENEWALS - VARIOUS MAINTENANCE SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to renew the following maintenance service contracts: Elevator Maintenance Service - to renew the contract with Eastern Elevator Service & Sales Co. for the total annual bid price of $13,140 for eight locations with service rates of $60.50 per hour for regular time and $84.70 per hour for overtime; Electrical Maintenance Services - to renew the contract with Kube Electric Company, Inc. for the following labor rates for service: Regular Working Hours - Electrician $16.50/hour, Helper $10.50/hour, Evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, Emergency - Electrician $25.00/hour, Helper $16.00/hour; Plumbing & Heating Maintenance Service - Beaver Mechanical Contractors at the following labor rates for service: Regular Working Hours - Plumber $23.50, Helper $18.00/hour; Evenings, Saturdays, Emergency - Plumber $35.25/hour, Helper $27.00/hour; Sundays & Holidays, Emergency - Plumber $47.00/hour, Helper $36.00/hour; HVAC & Automatic Temperature Controls - Zeigler Service, to renew at the following rates as originally bid in 1996: Total bid for specific services - $76,200, Regular Labor Rates for Service: Technician $38.00/hour, Helper $30.00/hour, Evenings and Saturdays, emergency - Technician $57.00/hour, Helper $45.00/hour, Sundays and Holidays, emergency - Technician $57.00/hour, Helper $45.00/hour; Locksmith Maintenance Service - to renew the contract at the same rates as originally bid in 1996 with Locks Unlimited, Regular Labor Rates - Locksmith $18.00/hour, Helper $9.00/hour, Evenings and Saturdays - Locksmith $18.00/hour, Helper $9.00/hour, Sundays and holidays - Locksmith $27.00/hour, Helper $13.50/hour. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT - ROADS DEPARTMENT AND RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to award the contract to MARCH 31, 1998 PAGE THREE Baltimore Freightliner which submitted the low bid for three (3) single axle dump trucks for the total amount of $208,791 plus $158 each for Alternate No. 8 and a tandem axle tractor truck for $65,936. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - CHEMICALS FOR BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to award the contracts for chemicals at Black Rock Golf Course to the low, responsive bidders for each item as follows: York Distributors - Item No. 12; United Horticultural Supply - Item Nos. 4,7,10,14,15, and 19; Carso, Inc. - Item Nos. 16,17, and 20; Wetsel, Inc. - Item Nos. 1,2,3,5,8,13, and 18; and Lesco, Inc. - Item Nos. 6 and 11. At this time the Commissioners drew lots between York Distributors and United Horticultural Supply which submitted tie bids for Item No. 9 pursuant to the policy for a tie bid. Item No. 9 was then awarded to United Horticultural Supply. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - CRAWLER BULLDOZER FOR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for the crawler bulldozer for the Solid Waste Department to Standard Equipment Company with the trade-in allowance for the net amount of $142,000 plus a performance/payment bond at an additional cost of $2,400. Unanimously approved. ROWE ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT - BID AWARD Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to award the contract for the Rowe Road Bridge replacement project to Haverhill Contracting Co., Inc. which submitted the low responsive bid of $136,766.60. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - SANDY HOOK ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to award the contract for repair of a slope and construction of a gabion retaining wall on Sandy Hook Road to Building Systems, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $37,990 with funds to be taken from the highway maintenance budget. Unanimously approved. TABLE DECISION - PLAN TO ACCOMMODATE PARACHUTE LANDING OPERATIONS Carolyn Motz, Airport Manager; Brandon Taksa, Operations Manager; and Beth Evans, Assistant County Attorney, met with the Commissioners to review the Plan to Accommodate Parachute Landing Operations which was discussed at last  weeks meeting. Ms. Motz reviewed the second set of revisions made to the Plan which were requested by the FAA. She stated that they may not receive final, unconditional FAA approval until the trial period is over. Ms. Evans also recommended that the County obtain written approval from the FAA so that the Airport would not be found liable if a parachutist violates Part 107 Security as oulined in the original document, as opposed to the recommended FAA changes. The Commissioners asked if the drop zone could be changed if development were to occur near the zone currently designated as the drop zone. After discussion, the Board directed that staff follow up on  the questions of (1) the Countys ability to proceed with any future development in the designated drop zone area without waiting to provide another drop zone site and (2) whether the County would face fines and other sanctions from the FAA if a parchutist violest the plan when a Part 121 or 135 aircraft is on the terminal or east apron. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to table a decision on the Plan to Accommodate Parachute Landing Operations at the Washington County Regional Airport until the April 7 meeting. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR WAGE ADJUSTMENTS - SEASONAL EMPLOYEES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the request to adjust wages for the following returning seasonal employees at Black Rock Golf Course: Marvin Stouffer - $8.00/hour; Dean Hamburg - $6.50/hour; and Norman Myers - $7.00/hour. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the following wage adjustments for the seasonal employees in the Weed Control Program: Polly Schofield - $8.50; Phil Pannil - $8.50; Joe Ralls - $7.50; and Henry Lebo - $8.00. Unanimously approved. MARCH 31, 1998 PAGE FOUR CONTRACT OF SALE - BARNES PROPERTY Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the purchase of 55 acres of land on Landis Road from Joyce Barnes, as a sole source procurement under Section 1-106.2(a)(1) of the Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington County, for the purchase price of $525,000 with $80,000 to be taken from Program Open Space funds and the remainder from the John Howard Trust. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT -SUBSTANCE ABUSE & MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to appoint Pamela Hinkle to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Advisory Council for a three- year term. Unanimously approved. GAMING COMMISSION - APPOINTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to appoint Curt Dudda to the Gaming Commission to fill the unexpired term of Sue Tuckwell and to appoint Betty Meyers to a two-year term to become effective July 1, 1998. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 3:58 p.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to consider matters that concern the proposals for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, 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 Shank, to reconvene in open session at 4:08 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered one (1) personnel issue, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on one (1) issue, and considered one (1) item concerning a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State. REAPPOINTMENT - PENMAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to reappoint Terry Randall and Herman Hartmann, who were removed from the Board for missing three consecutive meetings, to the PenMar Development Corporation to serve the remainder of their original terms. Unanimously approved. CORRECTIONS TO MARCH 17, 1998 MINUTES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to amend the minutes of March 17, 1998, to reflect the correct hourly wage for Construction Inspector to $22.44 for straight time and $21.20 for Overtime under the contract award to Professional Consulting Services, Inc. for construction inspection services and to amend the amount of the budget transfer for the Paradise Church Road bridge project to $52,000. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 4:10 p.m. EVENING SESSION - TOWN OF BOONSBORO The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Boonsboro Town Hall by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey, and James R. Wade. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 19 AND 24, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of March 19, as submitted, and March 24, 1998, as amended. Unanimously approved. MARCH 31, 1998 PAGE FIVE INTRODUCTION OF MISS WASHINGTON COUNTY 1998 - AMANDA KLUGH Christy Smoot, representing the Miss Washington County/Miss Western Maryland Scholarship Foundation, introduced Amanda Klugh, the reigning Miss Washington County. Miss Klugh informed the Commissioners that her platform is to help and support needy children through mentoring programs. She stated that she will be meeting with the youth in area schools. The Commissioners wished her success in the upcoming Miss Maryland pageant. TAX REBATE PROGRAM - BOONSBORO Commissioner Snook 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 differential or payment-in-lieu of services program. Commissioner Snook stated that for Fiscal Year 1998 is estimated to receive $47,849 although the payment is capped at $43,000 for repayment of admissions and amusement taxes. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Joan Mandary expressed her objections to the several sections of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. Joe Swope, representing the Catoctin Chapter of the Sierra Club, informed the Commissioners of activities which will be held to commemorate Earth Day. He also expressed his viewpoint on the Forest Conservation Act, the need for public transportation to the southern part of the County, and budget issues.  Charles Skip Kauffman, Mayor of Boonsboro, asked the Commissioners to place $53,000 the Town was scheduled to receive in Program Open Space monies, in escrow for purchase of land contiguous to Shafer Park. They asked for a five-year funding commitment for this project. He also expressed the need to restore bus service to the Boonsboro area. Commissioner Shank arrived at the meeting at 6:35 p.m.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Downey reported on the Western Maryland Consortium meeting. Commissioner Bowers reported on the base closure schedule at Fort Ritchie. Commissioner Shank stated that he attended the Home Builders Association Home Show and the Weed Control Committee meeting. Commissioner Wade stated  that the Countys Transportation Department is in the process of developing marketing analysis to determine the need for bus routes in various areas and of the County. PRESENTATION - REQUEST TO REINSTATE THE ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM Lenora Barnhart presented a slide presentation on the need to reinstate the elementary music program. Rob Hovermale presented information and research findings regarding the benefits of instrumental music programs to elementary students and to the County. Shawn Long explained why this program was cut from the curriculum. Amanda Feeser presented recommendations and a game plan to hire eight new teachers for instrumental music. She stated that it would cost $295,200 to hire teachers for the program. Debbie Pryor and Howard Long also spoke in favor of reinstating instrumental music programs in the elementary schools. JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING AMENDMENTS CP-98-01, CP-98-02, RZ-98-07 AND RZ-98-09 A Joint Public Hearing of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and the Washington County Planning Commission was convened at 7:15 p.m. to hear testimony and receive evidence regarding rezoning cases CP-98- 01, CP-98-02, RZ-98-07, and RZ-98-09. Presiding at the hearing were County Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook and Planning Commission Chairman Bertrand Iseminger. Also present at the hearing were Planning Commission members Donald Ardinger, Paula Lampton, Bernard Moser, and Ben Clopper. Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, and James Brittian, Associate Planner, presented staff reports on the rezoning cases. After presentations and testimony for each case was heard, it was announced that the record will remain open for ten (l0) days to allow additional testimony to be submitted in writing. The hearing was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. MARCH 31, 1998 PAGE SIX ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk