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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980825 August 25, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by the President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers and R. Lee Downey. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 3:32 p.m. to consider personnel issues, 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 arrived at the meeting at 4:02 p.m. Commissioner Snook was excused from the meeting at 4:46 p.m. and Commissioner Shank assumed the Chair. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in open session at 5:56 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed seven (7) items regarding personnel hiring and upgrades, two (2) items concerning proposals for businesses or industrial organizations to locate, expand, or remain in the State, considered one (1) item regarding the acquisition of real property and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advise regarding two (2) matters regarding ligation. EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to employ the following individuals: Plant Operator Trainee - Water & Sewer Department - to employ Vincent McKenzie as Plant Operator Trainee, Grade 5, to fill an existing vacancy; Industrial Pre-treatment Operator I - Water & Sewer Department - to employ Kurt Bitikofer as Industrial Pre-treatment Operator I, Grade 6, to fill an existing vacancy; Assistant Chief of Maintenance - Water & Sewer Department - to upgrade Dennis Engle to the position of Assistant Chief of Maintenance, Grade 11, at the Water & Sewer Department, to take effect September 1, 1998. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:56 p.m. for dinner. EVENING SESSION - WILSON RURITAN CLUB The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Wilson Ruritan Club 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. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - AUGUST 18, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the minutes of August 18, 1998, as amended. Unanimously approved. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION - PHILIP ROHRER Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Merit to Philip Rohrer in recognition of 16 years of dedicated service on the Economic Development Commission, most recently serving as President of the Commission during 1997-98. Commissioner Snook noted the numerous other community organizations on which Mr. Rohrer has served. He commended Mr. Rohrer for  his efforts on the Countys behalf and thanked him for his time and dedication. Mr. Rohrer thanked the Commissioners for the Certificate and stated that it has been a pleasure to serve the community. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Helen Willis spoke in favor of the request to place a plaque containing the Ten Commandments in front of the Court House. Commissioner Snook thanked the Wilson Ruritan members for opening the facility for the Commissioners to hold their meeting. AUGUST 25, 1998 PAGE TWO BID AWARD - RIGHT-TURN LANE AT HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award the contract for construction of a right-turn lane on Robinwood Drive at Hagerstown Community College to C. William Hetzer, Inc. which submitted the low bid of  $49,001 and to review the plans for the stacking lane with the Director of Public Works and Chief Engineer to assure that it is adequate. Unanimously approved. VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION - BUDGET TRANSFER Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the transfer of $10,000 as requested by the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association to be taken from the Vocational Technical Education Program to purchase computer software and hardware to allow them to obtain a fire incident reporting system, to standardize budgeting and auditing procedures for all companies, and to purchase a modem, contingent upon all companies using the standardized budget and audit reporting system. Unanimously approved. WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to appoint Paul Beck to the Washington County Housing Authority to fill the unexpired term of Tom Kloc which extends to August 1, 1999. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that there are currently 516 employees signed up for the County picnic. He reminded them that the joint meeting with the Board of Education will be held on September 8 and asked them to submit any items they may wish to place on the agenda. Commissioner Downey asked that the Board provide general information on the start of the school year. Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that a tour of the new construction at Hagerstown Community College has been scheduled for September 15. Commissioner Downey recommended that a meeting not be scheduled for November 3 which is the day of the General Election. GODS AND GENERALS APPROVAL OF HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT - Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the hold harmless agreement with Antietam Filmworks, LLC, as presented by the County Attorney, which clarifies the previous agreements and releases the City of Hagerstown, Washington County and the Hagerstown/Washington County Industrial Foundation, Inc., from any and all claims against them to include any claims that the parties may have failed to fulfill an obligation to assist in financing of the preproduction costs for the movie based on the Gods and Generals. novel Motion carried with Commissioners Downey, Shank,  Bowers, and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade voting NO. RENEWAL OF JOINT USE AGREEMENT - BOARD OF EDUCATION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to renew the Joint Use Agreement with the Board of Education as presented. The joint use agreement makes the tennis courts at North Hagerstown High School, South Hagerstown High School, Williamsport High School, Smithsburg High School, and Hancock High School available to the public for a 25-year period, and requires the County Recreation & Parks Department to maintain the courts. Unanimously approved. DISCUSSION OF REQUEST TO PLACE TEN COMMANDMENTS PLAQUE AT COURT HOUSE The Commissioners discussed the request made by Mrs. Irvine Rutledge to place a plaque containing the Ten Commandments in front of the Court House. Beth Evans, Assistant County Attorney, stated that this request has come up in the past and that Ralph France, former County Attorney, recommended that the request be denied at that time. Ms. Evans stated that there has been no Constitutional amendment which would allow the County to place a religious monument on public property. She informed the Commissioners that holding a public hearing would not provide the authority for a local government to undertake this type of action. Ms. Evans recommended that they not hold a public hearing as a discussion on the merits would still not enable the them to grant the request. Ms. Evans stated that the American Civil Liberties Union has been made aware of the request and has indicated that a suit would be filed. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to rescind the original motion to hold a public hearing on the request to place the Ten Commandments in front of the Court House, based on the additional information provided by legal counsel and letters of correspondence received AUGUST 25, 1998 PAGE THREE from the public. Unanimously approved. STATE OF MARYLAND SPECIAL LOAN PROGRAM - 1999 LETTER OF INTENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to authorize sending a  letter of intent to participate in the State of Marylands 1999 Special Loan Program. Unanimously approved.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS  Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that the Governors Solid Waste Management Task Force will be holding meetings statewide. The meeting for the Western Maryland region will be held at South Hagerstown High School on October 5 at 7 p.m. He also reminded the Commissioners that the Anita Lynne Home has scheduled the grand opening of its therapeutic equestrian center for September 12. Commissioner Shank reported on the reception held for newly hired teachers. He also met with a group of residents whose properties adjoin the Marty Snook Park and representatives of the Junior Football League regarding complaints about the volume of the loudspeakers at the football games. Commissioner Shank indicted that the Junior Football League has agreed to try to keep the loudspeakers at an appropriate level. The Board requested that Pete Loewenheim of the Communications Maintenance Department review the facility to determine whether the volume could be positioned at a permanent setting to ensure that the neighbors would not be disturbed. Commissioner Bowers discussed the possibility of having underground wiring run to provide adequate electricity to the pavilion at Camp Harding Park for their annual picnic. Commissioner Downey reported on the workshop held by the Planning Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan and on the Local Management Board meeting. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk