Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout980908 September 8, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to convene in closed session at 7:30 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. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION In closed session, the Commissioners discussed five (5) personnel issues involving hiring, classification and transfer and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on one (1) legal matter involving potential litigation. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 8:52 a.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Commissioners John S. Shank, R. Lee Downey, Ronald L. Bowers, and James R. Wade. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Shank, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. 9-1-1 Day PROCLAMATION: Commissioner Downey presented a proclamation to Ron Karn, Fire & Rescue Chief, and Bardonna Woods, Emergency Medical Dispatch Coordinator, 9-1-1 Emergency Number Day. proclaiming Friday, September 11, 1998, as The 9-1-1 State of Maryland adopted the number for access to trained emergency personnel in 1979. Commissioner President Snook congratulated the Fire & Rescue staff on their hard work and dedication to the citizens of Washington County. PILOT CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM The Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens (WCARC) met recently with the Commissioners to provide an update on the Pilot Curbside Recycling Program which they have been operating for the County since July 1997. WCARC had requested donations of $20 per year from participating residents in the St. James and Tammany/Van Lear areas. Donations should have exceeded $4,000, but WCARC only received $690. The Commissioners requested that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee review the situation and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners concerning the proposal of WCARC to convert the program to a centralized pick-up service, with the County purchasing compartmentalized bins at an approximate cost of $1,400 each and to provide service fees to WCARC for servicing the bins in the Pilot Program areas. After review of the proposal, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the County Solid Waste Department advised the Commissioners not continue with the Program, as reported by Recycling Coordinator Harvey Hoch. The Commissioners discussed several alternatives to curbside service such as participation in recycling services offered by private haulers and setting up drop-off sites in the area of the Program which is more affordable than individual pickup. Commissioner President Gregory Snook noted the importance of developing a long-range plan for recycling with the help of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Nona Houpt of WCARC reported that the last day for the Program is Tuesday, September 15th. Residents were given a 30-day written notice of the termination of the Program. Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to discontinue the Pilot Curbside Recycling Program. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Bowers asked that the record reflect that churches in the Tammany/Van Lear area have been approached for establishment of drop-off sites. Ms. Houpt reported that a few churches work with WCARC, bringing recyclables to them. Some of them have agreed to have a container placed on church property. Ms. Houpt also noted that a good response was received from the community to the placement of recycling facilities for beverage containers in the parks during baseball season and suggested that this be considered for the future. RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD BID: PANGBORN AREA EAST SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to award the bid for the Pangborn Area East Sewage Collection System to Beka Industries, Inc., of Ellicott City, Maryland, for the total contract bid of $386,744.00 as presented by Karen Luther, Purchasing Agent. Construction is slated for completion in 240 calendar days after the notice to proceed is issued.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Commissioners of a meeting on SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 PAGE TWO Thursday, September 10th, with the Veterans Home Committee at 10:00 a.m. at the Western Maryland Center. On this same day, the Commissioners are invited to attend an appreciation luncheon for Fire & Rescue Communications from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. BUDGET TRANSFER REQUESTS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to approve additional funding for the LMB based upon receipt of the following grants: (a) LMB Sub- Cabinet Pass Through Program, $143,971 additional FY98-99 funding, and (b)Federal Family Preservation Grant for FY98-99, an additional $185,034. Unanimously approved. Mr. Shoop advised the Commissioners of a citizen complaint he had received concerning the quality of books for which book signings were being held at the Washington County Public Library. He reported that the complaint was referred to the Library Board and Mary Baykan, the Library Director. COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES  Richard Douglas, County Attorney, requested the Commissioners approval of a Jobs Agreement and a Subrecipient Agreement for TruServ Corporation. Part of the financing for the warehouse facility will be provided by CDBG funds of $1.5 million for property acquisition. The Subrecipient Agreement is between the Board of County Commissioners, the Tri-County Council and various entities controlled by TruServ. The purpose of the agreements is to assure that the funds will be properly applied. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Wade, to approve the Jobs Agreement. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to approve the Subrecipient Agreement. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the minutes of September 1, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Shank reported on the recent meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board. He also mentioned that the sound system for the Junior Football League games at Marty Snook Park had been turned down, and residents report a big improvement. However, residents have requested that the Commissioners purchase hoods for the lights. Commissioner Shank asked that Mr. Shoop contact Engineering to have the lights adjusted to focus on the center of the field as well as to investigate the purchase of hoods. Commissioner Snook suggested that the Parks Department look into a picnic that was held in the back of the Park. Residents reported that their speakers were louder than those at the football fields. Commissioner Bowers reported that he attended the Annual Labor Day Picnic held at Camp Harding Park in Pectonville. He noted that this event is held each year by members of the Revell family who originally owned the land. The family sold the land to the Parks Department with the provision that they be allowed to use it for Labor Day. Commissioner Snook commented on a press release from Chautauqua Airlines stating that service will be starting on Wednesday, September 9th, between Hagerstown and Newark International Airport serving the New York metropolitan area. (Commissioner Wade was excused from the meeting at 9:39 a.m.) WESTERN MARYLAND HOSPITAL CENTER DISABILITIES AWARENESS WEEK Norman Bassett, Office on Disability Issues Coordinator, and Linn  Hendershot, of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, provided information to the Commissioners concerning Western Maryland Disability Awareness Week, October 5-9, 1998. Mr. Hendershot requested the support of the County Commissioners on Barrier Awareness Day, Friday, October 9th, when business and political leaders from the tri-state area will participate in events which will enable them to experience first hand the many difficulties experienced by the disabled on a daily basis. Various events throughout the tri-state area during the week are sponsored by the Western Maryland  Hospital Center and the Hagerstown Veterans Outpatient Clinic in cooperation with the Paralyzed Veterans Administration. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to comment at this time. SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 PAGE THREE EMPLOYMENT - HOUSING, LANDFILL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Shank, to employ the following individuals: Housing Fiscal Technician - to hire Paula M. Hook to fill an existing vacancy; Office Associate I - Housing - to hire Kimberly A. Worrell to fill an existing vacancy; Landfill Attendant I - Kaetzel Transfer Station - to hire John D. Lum to fill an existing vacancy; Administrative Specialist - Economic Development - to hire Linda A. Spence to fill a new position due to the restructuring of the EDC; EDC Administrator - Economic Development - to hire Corey E. Stottlemyer to fill a new position again due to the restructuring of the EDC. GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY: BOONSBORO/KEEDYSVILLE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES At 10:24 a.m., the Commissioners departed for Shafer Park in Boonsboro to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new water treatment facility to serve the Boonsboro/Keedysville area. Following the ceremony, the Commissioners toured Hopewell Valley. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:37 p.m. by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, 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 1:37 p.m. to consider personnel issues, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, and to consider businesses relocating to Washington County in accordance with Section 10-508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed one personnel issue involving an application for disability retirement, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on settlement of potential litigation and on another issue involving negotiating strategy as to a pending agreement. (Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 2:00 p.m.) JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION AT SOUTH HAGERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL The Commissioners met with the Board of Education at South Hagerstown High School at 3:00 p.m. The following members of the Board of Education were present: Robert Kline, B. Marie Byers, Edwin Hayes, Andrew Humphries, and Dori Nipps. Also present were: Dr. Herman Bartlett, Superintendent of Schools; Dennis McGee, Director of Facilities Management; Christian South, Director of Budget & Finance; Theresa Flak, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee; Michael Callas, also Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee; and William McKinley, Executive Director of Support Services for Washington County Public Schools. FY2000 BUDGET CALENDAR/STRATEGIC PLANNING Chris South, BOE Director of Budget & Finance, requested that the BOE FY2000 budget/three-year plan presentation to the Commissioners be delayed from the end of March until the end of April 1999 to allow the Board to adequately incorporate the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Committee. The final recommendations of the Strategic Planning Committee will be presented to the Board of Education on October 20th. It is expected that the Strategic Plan will contain several points which will require significant changes to the BOE budget process and the budget collection documents. The release of the report will delay the budget cycle by nearly two months. Discussion on this request followed. The Commissioners explained the State requirements for advertising and legal notification of the anticipated tax rate to be taken to public hearing. The public hearing on the Washington County FY2000 budget is scheduled for April 27th, with adoption by the Board of County Commissioners on May 4th. The consensus of the Commissioners was to allow the staff to work out the details with the Board of Education. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Dennis McGee discussed with the Commissioners the Board of Education Capital Improvement Program (CIP) which is the document by which they prioritize and schedule maintenance projects over the next five years. The current CIP includes funding for Clear Spring Elementary renovations, technology upgrades for Northern Middle and North Hagerstown High, roof replacement for Hancock Elementary, and air-conditioning repairs for Potomac Heights Elementary. Future projects include the second phase of South High renovations as well as renovations to Williamsport Elementary and Salem SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 PAGE FOUR Avenue Elementary. Mr. McGee explained that they want to go into the second phase of the South High renovation to allow completion of the project all at one time. The BOE is requesting an additional $1 million in their FY2000 Capital Improvement Program, bringing the FY2000 total to $3.5 million, and $1 million for each subsequent year through 2004. They will be asking the State Board to approve this plan on October 15th when they meet concerning the School Construction Program. The BOE needs to meet with the Board of County Commissioners on or about September 29th for a decision on the CIP. As a routine matter, the Commissioners must provide a letter to the State Board in support of the Board of Education CIP. The bids for South High are due in next week (week of September 14th). If the bids come in high, the adjustment would be made in the FY2000 budget. REPORT ON OPENING OF 1998 SCHOOL YEAR Bill McKinley, Executive Director of Support Services, BOE, announced that the 1998 school year got off to a good start, and it is his feeling that  good beginnings spawn good endings. The following enrollment figures were reported: Pre-K - 457 Grade 2 - 1,601 Kindergarten - 1,511 Grade 3 - 1,574 Special Ed - 123 Grade 4 - 1,553 Grade 1 - 1,629 Grade 5 - 1,601 Total of K-5: 9,469 Grade 6 - 1,582 Grade 9 - 1,618 Grade 7 - 1,528 Grade 10 - 1,353 Grade 8 - 1,519 Grade 11 - 1,208 Grade 12 - 1,164 Total 6-12: 9,972 Total K-12: 19,564 It was also noted that every student, effective this year, has access to breakfast. The number of participants in the program varies from school to school. It was also reported that the BOE hired 125 new teachers representing 48 different colleges; 43 were new positions; 101 women vs. 24 men; 44 from Maryland colleges. NEXT JOINT MEETING The next joint meeting with the Board of Education will take place on October 13th at 3:00 p.m. at Salem Avenue Elementary School. PRESS CONFERENCE: PRESENTATION OF DRAFT BOARD OF EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN The Board of Education Draft Strategic Plan was presented at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of South Hagerstown High School by Dr. Herman Bartlett, Superintendent of Schools; and Co-Chairs of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Dr. Theresa Flak, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, and Mike Callas, President and CEO of Callas Construction Company. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. Unanimously approved. _____________________________ Rodney M. Shoop County Administrator _____________________________ Richard W. Douglas County Attorney ____________________________, Clerk Joni L. Bittner (Prepared by Joyce A. Wyckoff, Executive Office Associate)