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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.27.1987 January 27, 1987 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Rev. Larry Fisher of Christ's Reformed Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full Assemblage. ADDY AWARDS Barbara Wetzel, Community Coordinator, and Cathy Shinham, Tourism Coordinator, presented the two ADDY Awards won for County projects at the Cumberland Valley Ad Club Awards Dinner. The County won ADDY awards for the Black and White series "Discover Washington County Your Way" from Tourism and for the "Maryland Symphony Orchestra at Antietam" poster designed by Barbara Wetzel. The 210th Anniversary of Washington County logo, designed by Ralph DeVore, won a Certificate of Merit award. STATUS REPORTS PlanningDepartment - Jack Hawbaker, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, and Jack Byers, Chairman, presented the status report for the department. Included in the report were approximate time schedules for completion of Town Growth Area studies, the Highway Interchange study, the Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, the Antietam Battlefield study and the Rural Village Study, also included were the department's on-going programs and annual studies. Mr. Hawbaker stated that a MIHI research activity for park facilities for the mentally and physically handicapped is being planned by their Parks Planner. Parks & Recreation - Edith Sweigert, Parks Coordinator, and Robert Coble, Director, presented the status report for the Parks Department. Project descriptions were given for construction of restrooms at Doubs Woods Park, Halfway Park walkway widening, resurfacing of tennis courts, a back- stop at Woodland Way, construction of a picnic pavilion at Pen Mar Park, Camp Harding Park development #3, South County Park Development #1, con- struction of 50 picnic tables, roof replacement, development of a Parks Gifts Brochure and Halfway Park Development #5. Permits Department - Robert Coble, Director, presented the Permits Depart- ment status report which included a breakdown of all permits issued during l986 and the amount of permit fees collected. UTILITY STUDY COMMITTEE - BOONSBORO The Commissioners selected Lynn Palmer, Assistant Director, and William Ryan, of the Washington County Sanitary Commission to be the representatives on the Utility Study Committee for Boonsboro. TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to appoint Susan Rickett from Farmers & Merchant's bank and Edward Kemmett from Hagerstown Trust to the Tri- County Council Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Unanimously approved. RECREATION COMMISSION LINE ITEM TRANSFERS Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to approve of the following transfers in the Recreation Commission budget: $200 from Utilities (77- 4l6-000) to Household Supply (77-4ll-0l0); $400 from Utilities (77-4l6-000) to Office Supplies (77-4l3-000); $l000 from Facilities Rentals (77-423-020) to Advertising & Publicity (77-421-000); $500 from Gasoline & Diesel Fuel (77-450-0l0) to Advertising & Publicity (77-421-000); $400 from Program Equipment Purchase (77- 488-000) to Automobile Allowance (77-457-000); $400 from Program Equipment Purchase (77-488-000) to Office Furniture & Equipment (77-487-000); and $200 from Program Equipment Purchase (77-488-000) to Per Diem Allowance (77-429-000). Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 5 & 6, l987 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to approve of the Minutes of the Special Meeting on January 5, l987 and the Regular Meeting on January 6, l987, as submitted. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 27, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. OVERTIME BUDGET - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to approve of the transfer of up to $55,000 for additional overtime funds for the Sheriff's Department to be invoiced through the Accounting Department and funded as needed from the Commis- sioners Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. GRID NUMBERING SYSTEM STATUS REPORT Jack Hawbaker, Planning Department Director, Bernie Noe and Craig Combs, Grid Development Technicians, and Lt. Bittinger from the Maryland State Police, appeared before the Commissioners to update them on the progress of the grid numbering system. They informed the Commissioners that the Cascade area has been completed and they presented several roads to be considered for renaming from this area. PUBLIC HEARING - WATER & SEWERAGE AMENDMENT PLAN 1986 UPDATE Commissioner Bowers convened the meeting in public hearing at ll:00 a.m. in regard to the l986 Update of the Water & Sewerage Plan to provide input from the general public, to provide the Commissioners an opportunity to review any new items relating to the plan, and to fulfill the legal requirement for adoption of the Plan. Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, reviewed the amendments for the Water & Sewerage Plan. There being no one else present to speak for nor against the Plan, Commissioner Bowers announced that the record would remain open for ten days for additional comments to be submitted in writing. He closed the hearing at ll:35 a.m. and reconvened the meeting in Regular Session. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE RE: TEMPORARY SIGNS & ELECTION SIGNS Paul Prodonovich, Zoning Administrator, appeared before the Commissioners to present the requested amendments to the Zoning Ordinance dealing with election signs and temporary signs. After discussion and revision of the amendments, the Commissioners agreed to have the amendments taken to public hearing at the next rezoning hearing scheduled for March 9. METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION The Commissioners convened at l2:00 noon sitting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization to review the Washington County Private Enterprise Participation and Procedures plan which pertains to Section l8 of Maryland Policies and Procedures and the Washington County Transportation Improvements Annual Program element. Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter, presented the Transportation Improvement Program which has three sections regarding Section 9 Capital Grants, purchase of 2-3 vans for private, non-profit organizations and an operating assistance grant. Mr. Godwin stated that the purpose of this meeting was to determine if the Transportation Article is consistent with the goals of the County. BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS Barry Teach, County Administrator, reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding from Community Action Council regarding the Board on Homelessness and the list of Board members. Commissioner Irvin volunteered to serve on this Board as the Commissioner's representative and liaison. POLICY CHANGE - EMPLOYMENT CONTINUING BEYOND NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to formally adopt the policy for employment beyond the normal retirement age in compliance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act as amendment November l, l986, which will no longer maintain retirement at any particular age unless it is determined by an independent medical authority that the employee is no longer physically or mentally capable of performing the duties of the job. Unanimously approved. MARYLAND CONSERVATION CORPS Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Roulette to submit an application to the Maryland Conservation Corps Program for summer workers, through the Western Maryland Consortium. Unanimously approved. PURCHASING POLICY CHANGES Motion made by Commissioner Downey,seconded by Irvin to amend the Purchasing Policy by raising the petty cash limit for one purchase from $20 to $30 and to amend the Policy to separate the positions of County Clerk and General Purchasing Agent, to read as follows: All authority not specifically delegated as conferred upon the General Purchasing Agent. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 27, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. BID AWARD - COURT HOUSE EXTERIOR LIGHTING Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to award the bid for exterior floodlighting of the Court House to the low bidder meeting specifications, Ellsworth Electric in the amount of $7250, and to waive the performance bond. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to award the bid for communications equipment to Motorola, the only bidder for: 11 mobile radios - $648 per unit, total price for ll units - $7,l28; local control control station - $895 per unit, total price for 2 units - $1790; remote control control station - $4,780 per unit, total price for 2 units - $9560; desk top handset type remote controllers - $340 per unit, total price for 4 units - $l360; supervisory type desk top remote controller, price for one unit - $l0l0. Unanimously approved. MARYLAND VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to endorse the naming of the section of I-8l from the West Virginia to the Pennsylvania line, Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway, in response to the letter from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation. Unanimously approved. SANITARY DISTRICT - 201 FEASIBILITY STUDY Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to approve of the Sanitary Commission performing a 20l Feasibiilty Study to provide water and sewer service for the Sandy Hook area which will cost approximately $12,868 with payments to be made through the l982 Block Grant monies if this project is considered eligible. Unanimously approved. NAMING OF ACCESS ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to name the access road to the Industrial Park, Breeze Hill Drive in accordance with CHIEF's request. Unanimously approved. SUGGESTIONS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS The Commissioners made suggestions as to possible Capital Improvements Projects for the l988 fiscal year: an access road from Bower Avenue through Halfway Park, extension of sewer service at the I-70/Rt. 65 interchange, acquisition of airport property, HJC athletic/recreation center and education technology center, a new sewer plant, renovations at the Museum of Fine Arts, an Industrial Park road/bridge, land acquisition for landfill, land acquisition for the proposed sewage treatment plant and school board requests. SEWER SERVICE - I-70/RT. 65 INTERCHANGE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to request that the Sanitary District proceed with a 20l study for sewer service to include the I- 70/Rt. 65 interchange and the three State facilities at that location which would also include access for any undeveloped properties in that area. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to convene in Executive Session at 2:l0 p.m. in regard to personnel and property matters in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at 2:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOYMENT - I-81 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to employ Crystal Bennett at the I-8l Tourist Information Center for l6 hours per week to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY PART-TIME TECHNICIAN - FIRE & RESCUE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to employ Donald Bolyard as a Part-time Technician at Fire & Rescue Communications to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. JANUARY 27, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. PENALTY CODE CHANGE - ROADS DEPARTMENT WORK RULES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to change the Roads Department Work Rules for Abuse of Sick Leave from a Penalty Code #1 to a Penalty Code #3. Unanimously approved. PROMOTE EMPLOYEE - COUNTY COMMUTER Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to promote Sherry Strawderman to Full-time Bus Driver at the County Commuter to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. CLASSIFICATION CHANGE - PERMANENT PART-TIME Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to change the permanent, part-time definition to a person who normally works more than 25 hours per week but fewer than 35 hours per week. Unanimously approved. MCMULLEN-GRAVES PROPOSED SUBDIVISION The Commissioners agreed to approve the McMullen-Graves subdivision on Independence Road if Mr. McMullen would agree to deed the right-of-way to the County and would comply with making any minor improvements the County Engineer feels necessary to improve the site distance. RECESS The meeting was recessed at 3:05 p.m. and will reconvene at 7:00 p.m. in the Clear Spring Town Hall. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Clear Spring Town Hall by the President, Ronald L. Bowers, with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. Also present were Clear Spring Mayor Paul Hose, Councilmen Carl Brown, Steward Brennan and Gary Grove, and Town Clerk Nancy Keefer. Barry Teach, County Administrator, explained to Town officials that there would be no payment in lieu of services for the past year due to the fact that their were no expenditures for a municipal police force or municipal park on which the payment is based. The Commissioners discussed the County police protection, sewer and water service and the County park in Clear Spring. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Roulette, seconded by Snook to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk