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HomeMy WebLinkAbout981013 October 13, 1998 Hagerstown, Maryland The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank, and . Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, and R. Lee Downey 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 - SEPTEMBER 29 AND OCTOBER 6, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of September 29 and October 6, 1998, as submitted. Unanimously approved. SEPTEMBER 1998 YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD - KATY POWELL Commissioner Snook presented a Certificate of Merit to Katy Suzanne Powell in recognition of her selection as the Youth of the Month for September 1998 by the Washington County Children's Council. Commissioner Snook commended Katy for her leadership, her academic and extra-curricular activities and her considerable accomplishments. Glenda Helman, representing the  Childrens Council, informed the Commissioners that Katy will also receive a $50 savings bond, courtesy of the Council. Katy thanked the Commissioners for the award and introduced her family and her principal who were in attendance. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION John Howard, Executive Director of the Economic Development Commission (EDC), introduced Tim Troxell who was recently hired as Assistant Director of the EDC. Mr. Troxell thanked the Commissioners for their confidence in him and for giving him the opportunity to work as part of the EDC team. Mr. Howard also introduced Linda Spence, Administrative Assistant, to the Commissioners. She thanked the Commissioners and stated that she is proud to be working with EDC. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook distributed correspondence from the Director of the Department of Social Services requesting additional funding for the Adult Foster Care Program. He informed the Commissioners that the Antietam Illumination will be held on December 5. Commissioner Snook stated that the Town of Keedysville has sent formal notification that they wish to annex property into the Town limits. Commissioner Shank reported on the Y-Me  Survivors Day Party. He also provided information of the dedication of the recently renovated Jamieson Library at the Miller House. Commissioner Bowers reported on the dedication ceremony for the amphitheater at Hagerstown Community College. He stated that the Delegation has been asked to submit a request for State bond funding for this project. Commissioner Downey reported on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting. He also reported on the Community Housing Resource Board meeting. WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING AND UPDATE ON SELF-SUFFICIENCY Richard Willson, Director of Housing & Community Development, provided an update on the steps taken by the Housing Authority toward achieving independence from County government. He stated that the Authority adopted a resolution at its September meeting to direct staff to pursue self- sufficiency with a target date of September 1999. Mr. Willson indicated that they are developing policies with regard to pensions, health care, as well as an employee handbook. He reported that the Housing Authority has acquired financial software and is now able to pay its own bills rather than  billing through the Countys Finance Office. They are also generating reports to send to the agencies to which they must report. Mr. Willson discussed the resolution of the debt to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program from 1991 income. Mr. Willson stated that income from the CDBG program was used to purchase two of the scattered site homes being developed and, although $158,211.54 was utilized, only $70,000 was repaid to the County. He stated that under the terms of the HUD funding for the rehabilitation programs, these repayments could be used to support housing programs benefitting low and moderate income tenants. Mr. Willson recommended that these funds be classified as a grant on the Housing  Authoritys records. He indicated that this action would not affect the  Countys budget or the CDBG program since the funds under discussion have not been used in projections of potential OCTOBER 13, 1998 PAGE TWO program activity since 1992. He stated that if the money is repaid to the  County, it would hinder the Housing Authoritys ability to meet the target date to become self-sufficient. Mr. Willson outlined the accounting process used in 1991 to account for the CDBG programs. He stated that  administration of the CDBG program was transferred to the Countys Planning Department in 1997. The Commissioners then discussed the recommendation and took the matter under consideration. BID AWARD - INFLOW & INFILTRATION STUDY-HALFWAY WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Shank, to award the contract for the inflow and infiltration (I&I) study for the Halfway Waste Water Collection System to Gannett Fleming, the sole responsive firm, for the total lump sum proposal of $67,741. Unanimously approved. AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATION - RENTAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the submittal of the Rental Allowance Program (RAP) application for Fiscal Year 1999 to the Department of Community Development in the amount of $57,630. Unanimously approved. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to speak at this time. LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - APPROVAL OF MINI-GRANTS Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Downey, to approve the Local Management Board (LMB) mini-grant contracts through the Federal Family Preservation Program with the following agencies: I. Parenting Programs & Community Values - 1) Resources for Children & Families - $17,000; 2) Department of Social Services/Family Center - $15,500; 3) Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens - $13,230; 4) Mental Health Center - $13,603; 5) Parent Child Center - $16,000; 6) Boonsboro Elementary School - $3,270; 7) Smithsburg Middle School - $1,140; 8) Girls, Inc. - $18,750; 9) Hagerstown Community College - $16,940; 10) Washington County Health Department - $16,920; 11) Cascade Elementary School - $16,907 (Family Service Worker position); 12) Cascade Elementary School - $7,685 ; II. Child Care - Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens - $5,000; III. Family Services - 1) Cooperative Extension Service - $1,600; 2) Cascade Elementary School - $18,400; IV. Employer-Family Friendly Policies - 1) Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc. - $2,000; V. Transportation - Washington County Commuter - $5,000; and Family Services Information Data Base - United Way - $2,500. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL TO PURCHASE PAINT - HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Motion made by Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve a $4,100 expenditure for the purchase of paint for the resurfaced tennis court at Hagerstown Community College with funding to be taken from the Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. FISCAL YEAR 1999 FOREST CONSERVATION CANDIDATE SITES Stephen Goodrich, Senior Planner, and Elmer Weibley, Director of the Soil Conservation District, met with the Commissioners to review two candidate sites for the Fiscal Year 1999 Forest Conservation Program. Mr. Goodrich reviewed the program which uses Forest Conservation Funds to purchase easements from private property owners for the purpose of planting new forest or permanently protecting existing forests in priority areas. He recommended that funding be used to plant new forest on a 5.9 acre site owned by Charles Downs and a 22-acre site owned by Greg Pennington and that an easement be purchased on a 22.5 acre parcel of existing forest owned by Joseph Thomas. He estimated the cost of the plantings at approximately $88,582 and the easement purchase at $24,750. Mr. Weibley answered questions from the Commissioners. He stated that tree farmers would be eligible to participate in the program if they met the required guidelines. Motion made by Shank, seconded by Bowers, to approve the candidate sites recommended for the Fiscal Year 1999 Forest Conservation Program to plant new forest on the Charles Downs and Greg Pennington parcels and to provide advance approval for the acquisition of an easement over a parcel of existing forest owned by Joseph Thomas when funds are available. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Shank, seconded by Downey, to convene in closed session at 11:21 a.m. to discuss personnel issues, in accordance with Section 10-508 of OCTOBER 13, 1998 PAGE THREE the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Shank, seconded by Downey, to reconvene in open session at 11:43 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed six (6) personnel issues and and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on one( 1) matter regarding potential litigation. PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Shank, to employ the following individuals: Office Associate IV - Water & Sewer Department - to upgrade Jamie Callandrelle to the position of Office Associate IV, Grade 7, at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy; Maintenance Equipment Operator III - Roads Department - to upgrade Ralph Garnand, Jr. to the position of Maintenance Equipment Operator III, Grade 7, at the Roads Department to fill an existing vacancy; and Legal Secretary - County  Attorneys Office - to employ Vicki Lumm as Legal Secretary, Grade 7, in the  County Attorneys Office to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. BOARD AND COMMISSION RE/APPOINTMENTS Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Shank, to take action on the terms of the following boards and commissions: Airport Commission - to reappoint Richard  Phoebus and George Pete Warrenfeltz to the Airport Commission for three- year terms; Water & Sewer Advisory Commission - to reappoint Mike Armel to the Water & Sewer Advisory Commission for a three-year term; and Advisory Commission to the Board of Health - to reappoint Dorothy Boone, Sara Jane Hoyle, and Thomas Jimerfield to the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for three-year terms, and to appoint John Costopoulos, Sydney Machat, Robert L. Borngesser and Peter Perini, Sr. to the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:46 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 2:00 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. JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION - SOUTH HAGERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL The Commissioners met with the Board of Education at South Hagerstown High School at 2:00 p.m. The following members of the Board of Education were present: Robert Kline, B. Marie Byers, Edwin Hayes, and Andrew Humphreys. 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 William McKinley, Executive Director of Support Services. Review of South Hagerstown High School Project Dennis McGee reviewed the planned activities scheduled for the ground breaking ceremony for the South Hagerstown High School project later this afternoon. Mr. McGee then distributed a draft work sheet outlining the  Board of Educations proposed Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget through FY 2004. He reviewed the projects and thanked the Commissioners for approving the additional funding needed for the South High project. Mr. McGee stated that the Board of Education will be making a presentation to the State Interagency Committee (IAC) to formally request the balance of  State funding. The Commissioners reviewed the architects plans for the renovations and took a tour of the school. The Commissioners participated in the ground breaking ceremony for the South Hagerstown High School renovations. MEETING WITH CITY OF HAGERSTOWN The Commissioners met with Mayor Robert Bruchey, and Hagerstown City Council members Al Boyer, William Breichner, Wallace McClure, and Susan Saum- Wicklein at South Hagerstown High School. Mayor Bruchey provided an update on the project. He stated that CSX has rejected the offer made by the National Railroad Historic Association to purchase the property on behalf of the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum. Mayor Bruchey asked if the County would OCTOBER 13, 1998 PAGE FOUR consider a joint project with the City to purchase the property and lease it back to the Museum after the Department of the Environment completes its characterization study. The Commissioners expressed their concerns about the environmental clean-up of the property. The Commissioners requested additional information and took this matter under consideration. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to adjourn at 3:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk