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HomeMy WebLinkAbout980929 September 29, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland The Commissioners attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Regional Park in honor of the newly-constructed pavilion. At 2:30 they attended a ground breaking ceremony for the new MiHi pavilion at the Agricultural Education Center. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 2:30 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. FEDERAL FY 1998 CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBGRANT CONTRACT Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner met with the Commissioners to request their approval of the Federal FY 1998 Certified Local Government (CLG) Subgrant Contract for Phase II of the Rural Community Survey project. Mr. Goodrich stated that the Historic District Commission hopes to continue use of the matching funds to complete additional historic site surveys. He stated that surveys have been completed for Maugansville, Rohrersville and Funkstown and they hope to use the FY 1998 funds to survey the Pen Mar/Cascade/Highfield and Fairplay/Tilghmanton areas. Mr. Goodrich informed the Commissioners  that the Countys share of the matching funds would be 40 percent of the contract or $4,940 and in-kind services with a value of $3,500. Motion made by Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the Federal FY 1998 Certified Local Government Subgrant Contract through the Maryland Historic Trust to be used for the Rural Community Survey Phase II and to appoint Stephen Goodrich as the Project Administrator. Unanimously approved. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION - MARGARET COMSTOCK Commissioner Snook presented a Certification of Appreciation to Margaret Comstock on the occasion of her 90th birthday. The Commissioners wished Mrs. Comstock a happy birthday and commended her for founding the County chapter of the League of Women Voters and for being a pioneer in County recycling efforts. Mrs. Comstock thanked the Commissioners for the Certificate and commented on the on-going recycling efforts in the County. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Shank, seconded by Downey, to convene in Closed Session at 2:51 p.m. to discuss 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. (Commissioner Wade arrived at the meeting at 4:00 p.m.) RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in open session at 5:08 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed seven (7) personnel issues, one (1) item concerning a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State, and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on three (3) matters regarding a possible acquisition of property for a public purpose and agreements regarding the designation of emergency fire and police services. PERSONNEL & EMPLOYMENT ISSUES Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to terminate the employment of Part-time Bus Operators Linda Mahone and James Mitchell and to terminate the employment of Greg McCusker, Skilled Tradesman I, due to inability to report to work, with the understanding that they remain eligible for re-employment. Motion carried with Commissioners Downey,  Bower, Shank and Snook voting AYE and Commissioner Wade ABSTAINING. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:10 p.m. DEMONSTRATION OF SAFETY TRAILER - VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Douglas Dehaven, Deputy Chief of the Halfway Fire Department, demonstrated  the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Associations new safety trailer to the Commissioners and interested citizens in the parking lot of the Old Keedysville School property. SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 PAGE TWO EVENING SESSION - OLD KEEDYSVILLE SCHOOL The evening session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Keedysville School 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 - SEPTEMBER 21 & 22, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of September 22, as clarified. Unanimously approved.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Yvonne Hope asked if the Commissioners were aware that the Ditto house, scheduled for demolition, is on the National Historic Register and asked to discuss the possibility of a curatorship of the house with the Commissioners in the future. Lee Brandenberg, Mayor of Keedysville, requested that the Commissioners consider assisting with funding for a water storage facility in Keedysville. Commissioner Snook suggested that he discuss this topic with the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee. Antonio Amato asked about discussions concerning the construction of housing for senior citizens at the site of the medical center. Sue Gemeny expressed concerns about the repair of the bridge on Main Street in Keedysville, which is a state road, and asked that the Commissioners contact representatives of the State Highway Administration to request that they begin the project. James Kerns, Town Councilman, indicated that the State is researching the project now and will be getting back to the Town with an answer. Lonzo Knight asked that the County Commissioners consider having the Roads Department widen Lock Hill Road and have guardrails installed. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN - BOARD OF EDUCATION Dennis McGee, Director of Facilities Management, presented the Board of  Educations FY 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Plan. He stated that the plan includes funding for Clear Spring Elementary School, South Hagerstown High School, and systemic projects at North Hagerstown High School, Northern Middle, Hancock Elementary and Potomac Heights Elementary. He requested that the FY 2000 capital funds be increased to $4,000,000 from the planned $2,500,000 to cover the South Hagerstown High School bid shortfall and to perform maintenance projects listed in the Facilities Master Plan. Mr. McGee informed the Commissioners that an additional $539,000 is needed to award the South Hagerstown High School contract with the alternates they hope to include. Mr. McGee stated that they need a funding commitment from the County to get approval from the IAC to award the contract for construction of South Hagerstown High. The Commissioners asked to see the alternates and estimated costs and asked if the funding can be spread out over the next two years during the construction season. After discussion, the Commissioners took this matter under consideration. They agreed to place this item on the agenda for the October 6 meeting and requested that staff members meet tomorrow to discuss the additional funding needed. TRANSFER OF OLD KEEDYSVILLE SCHOOL PROPERTY TO THE SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, stated that the Southeastern Washington  County Health and Community Services Corporation (the Corporation) has asked that the property on which the Old Keedysville School is located be transferred to the Corporation. The Corporation would also like to sell a portion of the adjacent parcel of land on which the Keedysville Medical Center is located to the physician now using the facility and apply the proceeds to improvements and to development of the remaining land into a housing complex for senior citizens. Mr. Shoop stated that the deed will  require that the property be used for the communitys benefit or it will revert to the County. Commissioner Snook then opened the meeting for questions regarding the proposal. Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to approve the SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 PAGE THREE transfer of the Old Keedysville School property to the Southeastern Washington County Health and Community Services Corporation under the terms discussed. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the sale of a portion of the parcels on which the medical center is located with the proceeds to be used for improvement of the properties and development of housing for senior citizens. Unanimously Approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rod Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that Washington County will receive FY 1999 Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds from the FAA in the amount of $954,420 for rehabilitation and reconstruction of  Taxiway Charlie at the Washington County Regional Airport. He stated that the Commissioners are invited to the Teacher of the Year gala on  October 16 at Martins West in Baltimore. Mr. Shoop reminded the Commissioners of the meeting of the Western Maryland County Commissioners on October 2 and reviewed agenda items for that meeting. BUDGET TRANSFER - FAMILY LAW DIVISION Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the budget increase of $241,670 for the Family Law Division in Circuit Court from new grant funding from the State. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT - SECOND ALTERNATE -BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Motion, made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Shank to appoint Clint Wiley to the Board of Zoning Appeals as an alternate for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. FORT RITCHIE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS & PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES AGREEMENT Motion made by Wade, seconded by Bowers , to approve the following agreements: 1) an agreement with the United States Army for Washington County to provide fire and emergency medical services and fire prevention and inspection services at Fort Ritchie for a one-year period, 2) an agreement subcontracting with the Smithsburg Community Volunteer Fire Company to staff and equip the substation at Fort Ritchie to provide primary response for fire services to Fort Ritchie; 3) an agreement with the Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Company Number One to provide secondary response fire services and the Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Ambulance Service to provide emergency medical service to Fort Ritchie; and 4) an agreement with the United States Army for law enforcement, crime prevention and other public safety services to Fort Ritchie through the Washington  County Sheriffs Department. All agreements are for a one-year period. Unanimously approved. UPDATE - WASHINGTON COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE ASSOCIATION Jay Grimes, President of the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, informed the Commissioners that Association members have met with representatives of Carroll Burracker & Associates to discuss the emergency services study and the concerns they have with the report. They asked that the Commissioners consider extending the timetable for a response from Carroll Burracker & Associates for a 30-day period. The Commissioners agreed to this recommendation.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Wade commended the citizens of Keedysville for having such a  good turnout at tonights meeting and thanked them for providing refreshments. Commissioner Downey stated that he received a petition submitted by Halfway area residents asking that consideration be given to placing a four-way stop sign at Bower Ave. Commissioner Bowers stated that the Fort Ritchie military base will be transferred to the County on October 1 and will be known as the Lakeside Corporate Center at PenMar. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that a survey was taken at a softball tournament held recently at Pinesburg Park The Recreation & Parks Department has determined from the survey that this event provided $100,000 in revenue to the County. He stated that statistics from Chautauqua Airlines for the period July 1997 - July 1998 show an increase in the number of passengers at the Washington County Regional Airport. Commissioner Snook  indicated that he received a letter stating that the insurance industrys ISO rating of the Potomac Valley area was raised due to the new water lines recently installed. SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 PAGE FOUR ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 8:10 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk