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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980602 June 2, 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 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 - MAY 19 & 26, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the minutes of May 19 and 26, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook reminded the Commissioners that the Mason-Dixon Chapter of the Boy Scouts will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Camp Sinoquipe on June 20. Commissioner Shank agreed to present the proclamation at this event. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that he and several members of the Airport Commission met with officials from Chautauqua Airlines. He stated that Chautauqua is now doing a survey to determine the feasibility of initiating service to Newark or Philadelphia. Commissioner Snook indicated that a letter was received from the Department of General Services notifying the County of the potential acquisition of Sandy Bank Island by the Department of Natural Resources. The Commissioners requested additional information on the location of the island. He reported that he received a letter from the Department of Housing & Community Development that $2.2 million in home buyer mortgage funds are available for qualified low-income applicants in Washington County. Commissioner Snook read a letter of appreciation from the City of Hagerstown for allowing them to  participate in the Countys clean-up program. Commissioner Downey reported on the Planning Commission meeting. He asked that staff provide a status report in the near future on a schedule for implementation of the measures approved by the Commissioners for the Robinwood Drive area. Commissioner Downey also reported on the picnic he attended for participants in the Salem Avenue Elementary School mentoring program. Commissioner Shank reported that volunteers will begin installing the bleachers at the Agricultural Education Center this week. The Commissioners also asked for a further breakdown on the money appropriated to the Health Department for Fiscal Year 1999 which the Health Department designated for general funds. SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT CONTRACT EXTENSION - LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the extension of the sole source contract for the Family Preservation, Return, and Diversion Program with the Washington County Department of Social Services for the period July 1, 1998 through September 30, 1998, with the Local Management Board (LMB), contingent upon the final review of the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. BUDGET INCREASE - FAMILY PRESERVATION GRANT FUNDING FOR LMB Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to increase the budget for the Local Management Board (LMB) by $92,777 to provide for the additional funding provided to the LMB through the Federal Family Preservation Grant program. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - OLD FORGE ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for the Old Forge Road Bridge Replacement Project to Antietam Construction, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $208,834. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - HALFWAY BOULEVARD/HOPEWELL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to award the contract for the Halfway Boulevard/Hopewell Road improvement project to the Charles E. Brake Co., Inc. which submitted the low bid of $2,573,527.50. Unanimously approved. RECOMMENDATION TO ADJUST SHORT TERM DISABILITY Alan Davis, Human Resources Director, and Gina Paylor, Benefits Administrator, met with the Commissioners to review their recommendation that the short-term disability benefits for employees be adjusted. Mr. Davis explained the requirements for use of the short-term benefits program  and stated that the current benefit is set at 70% of the employees gross wage, not to exceed $330 per week for a maximum of 13 weeks. He indicated that the average actual gross wage of employees is approximately $565 and recommended that the short-term disability benefit be adjusted to 70% of the JUNE 2, 1998 PAGE TWO  employees gross wage, not to exceed $400 per week. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to approve the recommendation to increase the short-term disability benefits payable to 70% of gross wage, not to exceed $400 per week for a maximum of 13 weeks. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL TO HIRE TWO PART-TIME SEASONAL PRO-SHOP ATTENDANTS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the recommendation to hire Ian Elkin and Scott Doyle as part-time seasonal Pro- Shop Attendants at Black Rock Golf Course at $5.50 per hour. Unanimously approved. PLANT OPERATOR II - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to promote Robin Folmer from Operator I to Operator II (Grade 7) at the Water & Sewer Department contingent upon receiving a hard copy of his wastewater certification. Unanimously approved. REQUESTS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS CAN CONTRIBUTE FUNDS - GIRLS, INC. AND LEGAL AID BUREAU, INC. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to deny the request made by the Legal Aid Bureau to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds, pursuant to Section 1-108(b), Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners discussed the request made by Girls, Inc. to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds. They asked that additional budget information be provided  to them by Girls Incorporated of Washington County and its Foundation before they take action on the request. AMENDED RESOLUTION MODIFYING WATER & SEWER RATES Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adopt the Amended Resolution Modifying Water & Sewer Rates, as presented by the County Attorney, to include the category for unmetered services, based on 12,000 gallons per EDU, which was heard at public hearing on April 21, 1998, but which was not included in the attachment to the original resolution. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER - VARIOUS ITEMS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve a budget transfer request to record prefunding approved on March 10 and 24, 1998, as follows: 1) $17,000 to the Washington County Free Library for shelving (01- 5-1991-575-000); 2) $84,000 to the Health Department for vehicle purchase (01-5-1591-575-000); 3) $100,000 to PenMar Development Corporation (01-5- 0202-575-000); 4) $60,000 to the Air Unit (01-5-1217-682-000); and 5) $261,000 to Income Tax Revenues. Unanimously approved. BUDGET INCREASE - COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL GRANT FUNDING Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to increase the budget of the Community Action Council by $32,500 which is the amount of the Emergency Shelter Grant funds which they received. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS - SIX-MONTH MEETING SCHEDULE Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reviewed the proposed meeting schedule for the period July 1 - December 31, 1998, with the Commissioners. The Commissioners decided to amend the proposal by scheduling a meeting on December 22. They agreed not to hold a meeting on July 21. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adopt the proposed meeting schedule for the period July 1 - December 31, 1998, as amended. Unanimously approved. RE/APPOINTMENTS - BOARD OF EXAMINERS AND SUPERVISORS FOR ELECTRICIANS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to reappoint James Elliott and Charlie Shindle to the Board of Examiners and Supervisors for Electricians for three-year terms, and to appoint Brian Kephart to fill the unexpired term of John Barr extending to July 31, 1999. Unanimously approved. JUNE 2, 1998 PAGE THREE RE/APPOINTMENTS -COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to appoint Cassandra Latimer and Patricia Hanson to the Commission for Women for three-year terms, to reappoint Andrea Wyand, Charlotte Walsh, and Joan Fell for three- year terms, and to appoint Dr. Elizabeth Jacobsen for a two-year term. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 19:08 a.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to consider 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. (Commissioner Wade was excused from the meeting at 11:26 a.m.) RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in open session at 11:29 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed three (3) personnel issues, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on five (5) issues, and considered three (3) items concerning proposals for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State. ELECTRICIAN I - WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to employ Richard Shilling as Electrician I, Grade 7, at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. RE/APPOINTMENTS - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to appoint Gerald Hoak to the Economic Development Commission for a three-year term, to reappoint Suzanne Downey Hays and Thomas Newcomer to three-year terms, and to appoint Terry Hepburn to fill the unexpired term of Betsy Martin extending to June 30, 2000, as the representative from the Municipal League. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 11:30 a.m. Unanimously approved County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk