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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980901 September 1, 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, 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 - AUGUST 25, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to approve the minutes of August 25, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that he received correspondence from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) reporting that the Pangborn Corporation has applied for an Air Quality Permit and that any comments regarding this request should be made to MDE in the next 20 days. He stated that he received a copy of a letter from the Maugansville Ruritan Club requesting that a traffic impact study be required from those developing projects along the I-81/Maugansville Avenue interchange area. Commissioner Snook also reported that he attended  Everybodys Day at Pen Mar Park. He requested that the Parks Department consider making improvements at one of the parking areas and pave the path behind the pavilion. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that he received correspondence from the Department of Natural Resources that the Albert Powell Fish Hatchery has applied for an increase in its water appropriation permit. Commissioner Shank informed the Commissioners that he will be spending additional time at the Agricultural Education Center until the Agricultural Center Coordinator position is filled. Commissioner Wade expressed his appreciation to the staff at the Water & Sewer Department for their efforts on several recent matters. Commissioner Downey reported on the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting. He also asked that the Eastern Boulevard/Jefferson Boulevard intersection be included for discussion at the Annual Transportation Meeting with the Maryland Department of Transportation.  1998 HOUSING BOND AUTHORIZATION - ON BEHALF OF PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to assign Washington  Countys 1998 housing bond allocation in the amount of $2,237,655 to the Community Development Administration for use in the On Behalf Of (OBO) Program for use in the Maryland Mortgage Program. Unanimously approved. LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - PRESENTATION OF 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Kristin Grosh, Coordinator for the Office of Children & Youth; John Budesky, Family Services Coordinator; and Marcia Mackley, Project Coordinator, met  with the Commissioners to present the Local Management Boards (LMB) 1998 Annual Report. Ms. Grosh provided an overview of the projects undertaken by the LMB in its first year. She indicated that the LMB hopes to provide better accountability for the services provided and identify where gaps exist in services. John Budesky provided information on the Return and Diversion programs. He stated that the program was developed at the State level and mandates that local jurisdictions respond to the needs of children in out-of-State placement to return them back to the State of Maryland. Mr. Budesky indicated that programs have also been developed to keep children from going into out-of-state placement. He noted that 12 of the 15 children in out-of- state placement have been returned to Washington County and working with resources in the community to meet their needs. Mr. Budesky stated that local providers have developed programs to meet the needs of these children. He reported on the positive results that the LMB has seen, including decreases in hospitalization and physical restraint needed and an increase in school attendance and parent involvement, due to this program. Marcia Mackley reported on the Interagency Family Preservation program. She stated that this program was mandated to provide services to families to avoid out-of-state placements. Ms. Mackley stated that the program has been very successful and she has worked closely with the Mental Health Authority, Department of Juvenile Services, the Department of Social Services, the Health Department, and the Board of Education. She informed the Commissioners that the LMB has purchased a data base system to evaluate the programs, as well as a statistical program to evaluate trends. Ms. Mackley SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 PAGE TWO noted that they have been able to create and contract with 18 different vendors to service areas of the County which had not previously been served. Mike Hardy, Chairperson of the LMB, informed the Commissioners that these programs have saved approximately $68,000 to date and that the surplus funds can be retained locally and directed back into services which have been identified as problem areas. PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENT - FORT RITCHIE Robert Arch, Director of Planning and Community Development, appeared before the Commissioners to discuss a proposed zoning classification and designation of the former Fort Ritchie Military Facility. Mr. Arch proposed that the Commissioners authorize and endorse taking to public hearing a  proposed text amendment to add Article 19C Special Economic Development  District and a map amendment which would apply this new designation to Fort Ritchie when it is transferred to the County by the U.S. Army. He stated that the current zoning of the area is Conservation which is not appropriate with the development which has taken place. Robert Sweeney, Executive Director of PenMar Development Corporation (PMDC), and James LaFleur, Assistant Director, informed the Commissioners that the PMDC Executive Committee has endorsed this application. They also provided an update on activities at Fort Ritchie regarding fire service for the area. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to endorse the  proposed text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance creating a Special  Economic Development District and a map amendment to apply this new designation to the Fort Ritchie Military Facility and to authorize advertising to place these items on the schedule to be heard at the Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AMENDMENT - SERVICE LINKED HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM Mr. Arch requested that the Commissioners approve the contract amendment between the Community Service Administration for the Service Linked Housing Service Program which is administered by the Community Action Council (CAC). He stated that an additional $15,577 has been allocated for the program which provides resident advocacy to connect residents of low income housing with services to facilitate integration with the surrounding community. After discussion, the Commissioners took this matter under consideration until additional information could be obtained from CAC. FISCAL ANALYSIS STUDY - APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON COMMITTEE Mr. Arch informed the Commissioners that, in accordance with the Fiscal Analysis Study, a Liaison Committee is to be appointed to review technical information and methodology associated with the section of the fiscal analysis study which deals with impact generated calculations. He recommended that the Commissioners utilize the Land Use Council of the Associated Builders and Contractors to serve as the Liaison Committee. Mr. Arch stated that this group would provide a good cross-representation, and the Commissioners could include other interested individuals if they wished. The Commissioners agreed with this recommendation and asked that a County Commissioner also be included on the Committee.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that the meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners has been changed to October 2. He reported that he will be meeting with the steering committee involved with the search for a location for a veterans home on September 10. Mr. Shoop reminded the Commissioners that the Annual Department of Transportation meeting will be held on September 17. Commissioner Downey asked that the intersection of Eastern Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard be included on the agenda. CONTRACT AWARD - GAS MONITORING PLAN FOR RESH II SANITARY LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to award the contract for the gas monitoring plan for the Resh II Sanitary Landfill to Century Engineering, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $78,998.44 for Part I (Survey & Permit Acquisition) and Part II (Gas Monitoring and Reporting). Unanimously approved. GYPSY MOTH PROGRAM FUNDING - BUDGET TRANSFER Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the Contingency Fund for the Gypsy Moth Program to provide additional funding for spraying in the eastern section of Washington SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 PAGE THREE County. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Wade, to appoint Fran Shaffer to the Mental Health Advisory Committee for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT AMENDMENT - SERVICE LINKED HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM Glenda Helman, representing the Community Action Council, met with the Commissioners to explain the need for the contract amendment for additional funding for the Service Linked Housing Services Program. Ms. Helman explained that the case management for After Care Services for the program were previously funded through HUD. They were informed that the HUD funding will not be continued, and CAC then applied to the Department of Human Resources to provide the additional funding needed. She stated that this funding is for the continuation of existing services. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve the contract amendment with the Department of Human Resources for an additional $15,577 for the Service Linked Housing Services Program, as administered by the Community Action Council (CAC), and to authorize CAC to apply for this funding for FY 2000. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION  Ed Miller, Washington Countys representative on the C & O Canal National Park Advisory Commission, reviewed the activities taking place along the Canal. He also expressed concerns about the impassable area on the Canal in  the Big Slackwater area and the dangerous detour around the area. The Commissioners agreed to send a letter to the Superintendent of the C & O Canal Park with copies to be sent to Senators Mikulski and Sarbanes and Congressman Bartlett urging that this section of the Canal be upgraded. Donald Allensworth expressed his views on several campaign issues facing gubernatorial candidates. Carol Bailey spoke in favor of displaying the Ten Commandments at the Court House and for holding a public hearing on this subject. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Wade, to convene in closed session at 10:55 a.m. to consider personnel issues and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners recessed at 11:15 a.m. to attend a luncheon at the Commission on Aging and reconvened in Closed Session at 12:37 p.m. Commissioner Wade was excused from the meeting at this time. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in open session at 2:26 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed three (3) items regarding personnel hiring and upgrades and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advise on four (4) legal matters. EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to employ the following individuals: Plant Operator Trainee - Water & Sewer Department - to employ Victor Hurd, Sr. as Plant Operator Trainee, Grade 5, to fill an existing vacancy; Buyer - Purchasing Department - to upgrade Victoria McKenzie to Buyer, Grade 10, in the Purchasing Department; Electronics Technician I - Water & Sewer Department - to employ Edward Evans as Electronics Technician I, Grade 10 at the Water & Sewer Department. Unanimously approved. APPROVE OPTION AGREEMENT - A.C.&T., CO., INC. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve and exercise the option agreement with A.C.&T. Co., Inc. as outlined by the County Attorney for the Hopewell Road/Halfway Boulevard interchange improvement project. Unanimously approved. SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 PAGE FOUR ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 2:27 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk