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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980714 July 14, 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 President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and . Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers and R. Lee Downey 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. INTRODUCTION OF JEFF BAILEY - BRIDGING THE GAP PROGRAM Norman Bassett, Coordinator for the Office of Disabilities and Training,  introduced Jeff Bailey who is participating in the Bridging the Gap Program through the Board of Education. Mr. Bailey is a teacher of government and psychology at Hancock High School and will spend the day  observing the County Commissioners meeting with Mr. Bassett.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS & COMMENTS Commissioner Bowers reported on the meeting of the PenMar Development Corporation and reminded the Commissioners of the open house that PMDC will be hosting on July 17. He also reported on the meeting held last week regarding the Hagerstown Roundhouse. Commissioner Downey reported on the Fire & Rescue Association banquet. Commissioner Snook then distributed plaques from the Fire & Rescue Association to the Commissioners and to Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, and Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources recognizing them for their work on the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP). Commissioner Snook reviewed correspondence from the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) in reference to Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL) testing. He stated that the MVA has agreed to provide testing on County facilities. Commissioner Snook reported on the Environmental Wastewater Contractors Association meeting held at the Conococheague  Pretreatment Plant. He noted the advertisement placed in the Location  USA magazine highlighting the Hopewell Valley and the article in the Quad- State Business Journal on the Washington County Regional Airport. RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE Alan Davis, Director of Human Resources, met with the Commissioners to present a revised policy on retiree health insurance. Mr. Davis outlined the policy he presented previously and stated that the revised policy proposes that the County pay 100% of costs for employees retiring at 60 years of age and 30 years or more of credited service, 75% of costs for employees retiring at 55 years of age and 25 years of service, and 50% of costs for all other retirement eligible employees who are at least 50 years of age with 15 years of service. Mr. Davis reviewed possible benefits of the program but expressed concerns about the possible financial impact to the County. He recommended that the Commissioners adopt the current proposal and review it in one year. He also asked that if the Board adopts the policy that they also offer it to the 11 eligible employees which retired recently. Mr. Davis then reviewed the policies of Hagerstown Community College and the Board of Education. Commissioner Downey suggested that the proposal be revised that the County would pay 90% of insurance costs for employees retiring at 60 years of age and 30 years or more of credited service and 70% of costs for employees retiring at 55 years of age and 25 years of service. Commissioner Snook requested additional financial information. The Commissioners took the policy under consideration.  INVESTMENT SERVICES FOR DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN - RECOMMENDATION TO RENEW CONTRACT Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent, met with the Commissioners to recommend the renewal of the contract with Invesco Capital Management, Inc. for the second year. Ms. Luther stated that the contract term was based on a one-year period with an option to renew for up to two consecutive one-year periods. She indicated that Invesco has confirmed its desire to renew the contract in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the bid for this renewal period. Commissioners Bowers and Shank expressed concerns regarding the fees and indicated that they would like to advertise for bids for investment services. Commissioner Downey stated that Invesco has done an excellent job for the County, and he feels the contract should be renewed. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, not to renew the contract with Invesco Capital Management, Inc., and to rebid the contract for investment services for the defined benefit retirement plan. Motion JULY 14, 1998 PAGE TWO  carried with Commissioners Bowers and Shank voting AYE, Commissioner  Downey voting NO, and Commissioner Snook ABSTAINING. COMPREHENSIVE REZONING RZ-96-4.1 (I-81 AND MD ROUTE 58) Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to adopt the Resolution approving comprehensive rezoning RZ-96-4.1 for the Interstate 81 and Maryland Route 58 interchange area as proposed at the public hearing on January 26, 1998, in accordance with the requirements contained in Section 3.05 of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and to adopt the findings of fact as presented by the County Attorney. Unanimously approved. REZONING CASE RZ-98-05 (MILLARD KRETZER) Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to table the consideration of rezoning map amendment RZ-98-05, submitted by Millard Kretzer, until the July 28, 1998 meeting. Unanimously approved. FOREST CONSERVATION PLANTING SUMMARY Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, and Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, met with the Commissioners to provide a summary on the planting program for 1998 using forest conservation funds. Mr. Arch stated that the funding is paid to the County by developers as a payment in lieu of the planting required by the Forest Conservation Ordinance and is used for planting trees in conjunction with the Soil Conservation District. Mr. Goodrich reviewed the program and indicated that a total of 131.79 acres were planted on three easement sites for the cost of $237,640.35. He noted that there will be $112,020.46 remaining in the program with funding still committed to plantings at the Antietam Battlefield. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to continue the Forest Conservation planting program as outlined for Fiscal Year 1999. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARING - LAND PRESERVATION & RECREATION PLAN The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 10:00 a.m. to hear any comments regarding the Land Preservation & Recreation Plan. Commissioner Snook noted that the Commissioners will hold another public hearing on this plan at the evening meeting on July 28. William Stachoviak, Park & Environmental Planner, reviewed the plan with the Commissioners. Mr. Stachoviak stated that the plan provides a long-range planning program for the next five years for parks and open space. He also noted that the draft plan has been available for public comment and that meetings were held in Sharpsburg, Clear Spring, and Hagerstown Community College during 1998 to inform the public of the content of the plan. Mr. Stachoviak outlined specific recommendations and priorities for the central, southern, eastern, and western planning areas of the County. He noted that the plan was recommended for adoption by the Recreation & Parks Board and the Planning Commission found it to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. At this time, the meeting was opened for public comments. There was no one present who wished to comment. Commissioner Snook stated that the hearing will be continued on July 28.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Donald Allensworth expressed his sympathy on the death of Deputy Richard Mummert. He then provided statistics regarding public opinion on stadium funding. Commissioner Snook welcomed Linda Irvin-Craig to the meeting. Ms. Irvin- Craig is a former County Commissioner and a candidate for County Commissioner in the 1998 election.  BUDGET TRANSFER - SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to transfer $69,700 from Security Guards (01-5-0114-524-220) to Wages-Part-time (01-5-0114-419-  000) in the Sheriffs Departments budget for FY 1999 as an administrative correction. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the  Hagerstown Suns are having an Im Not Running for County Commissioner  Night with half-price tickets. He stated that they will have a suggestion box there for comments from the citizens. Mr. Shoop noted that he participated in the MG convention which was held in Washington County last week and JULY 14, 1998 PAGE THREE informed them of the positive comments he received about Washington County. Commissioner Shank requested that Donald Schwartz from the Extension Service be scheduled on the agenda to discuss the impacts to Washington County with regard to the large number of companies which are requesting sludge application permits. Commissioner Bowers asked that the County Attorney check to see if the County can require licensing of out-of-State haulers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 30 AND JULY 7, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of June 30 and July 7, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 10:48 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. (The Commissioners recessed for lunch from 12:05 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.) RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to reconvene in open session at 1:51 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners considered four (4) personnel issues regarding employment, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on three (3) legal matters regarding pending litigation and a current agreement, discussed one (1) item regarding the acquisition of real property, and discussed one (1) item concerning a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State. EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to employ the following individuals: Public Safety Systems Manager - Computer Information Systems - to employ Charles Block as Public Safety Systems Manager, Grade 9;  Temporary Upgrade - Sheriffs Department - to upgrade Corporal Steven McCoy to Sergeant under the Temporary Upgrade Policy PR-10, to fill the temporary  vacancy of Sgt. Terry Whittington at the Sheriffs Department; Landfill Attendant I - the Commissioners authorized advertising to fill the Landfill Attendant I vacancy. Unanimously approved. MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION - SHARPSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Commissioners met with the Board of Education at Sharpsburg Elementary School at 2:30 p.m. The following members of the Board of Education were present: Robert Kline, B. Marie Byers, Dori Nipps, and Andrew Humphreys. Also present were Dr. Herman Bartlett, Superintendent of Schools; Dennis McGee, Director of Facilities Management; and Teresa Flak, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. Long-Range Strategic Plan - Update Theresa Flak provided an update on the long-range strategic plan and  distributed a capsule summary of the steering committees work plan. Ms. Flak stated that they expect to release the draft report to the public on September 8 and will hold three public hearings on the plan in September. She commended the committees involved for the time they have devoted to developing the plan. Dr. Bartlett spoke briefly on implementation of the plan. Commissioner Snook stated that the Board needs to assure that the draft report represents the process and findings without being too cumbersome for the public. Ms. Flak stated that they will publish an executive summary of the findings as well as the entire report. Introduction of Jeff Bailey Commissioner Snook introduced Jeff Bailey who was attending as part of the  Board of Educations Bridging the Gap program. Facilities Report Master Plan Dennis McGee distributed the master plan prepared by the Facilities Management Division which is to be used as a tool to evaluate the current facility resources, project future needs, and determine project priorities. Mr. McGee reviewed the types of capital projects which will be needed in the future and reported on the current facilities assessment of each of the  schools. He stated that he has been working with the Countys Planning JULY 14, 1998 PAGE FOUR Department on enrollment trends and outlined the areas which are experiencing growth. Mr. McGee stated that they feel construction of classroom additions would be more effective to handle the growth than purchasing portable classrooms. The Commissioners discussed the report and asked that the Board explore all options. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to adjourn at 3:35 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk