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HomeMy WebLinkAbout981027 October 27, 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. WASHINGTON COUNTY AUDIT REPORT Mike Manspeaker, representing Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, appeared before the Commissioners to present the County's Fiscal Year 1998 audit  report. Mr. Manspeaker reported that the County has a clean, unqualified financial report again this year. Mr. Manspeaker provided a detailed review of the audit report, including the General Fund, Highway Fund and Capital Improvements Projects. He indicated that the County is in good financial condition, and reported that the Fund Balance total is $11,225,796. Mr. Manspeaker emphasized that the General Fund ended with a surplus of $2.6 million and stated that this is primarily due to an increase in revenues from property and income taxes. Mr. Manspeaker reviewed the changes in the defined benefit pension plan. He indicated that this is the first year that this has been included in the audit report due to a new accounting pronouncement. Significant growth in this fund came from investments. He then responded to questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Snook stated that County department heads should be congratulated on successful budget management. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Downey, seconded by Shank, to convene in closed session at 4:05 p.m. to discuss 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. (Commissioner Bowers was excused from the meeting at 4:10 p.m.) RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Downey, seconded by Shank, to reconvene in open session at 5:14 p.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session the Commissioners discussed five (5) personnel issues and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on three (3) matters involving negotiating strategy as to pending agreements and agreements regarding the designation of emergency fire and police services. PERSONNEL & EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Shank, to employ the following individuals: Acting Chief Plant Operator - Water & Sewer Department - to upgrade Terry L. Wray to Acting Chief Plant Operator, Grade 11, at the Water & Sewer Department to fill an existing vacancy. Mr. Wray  will be on one years probation and, upon successful completion, will be promoted to Chief Plant Operator, Grade 12. Federal Family Preservation Coordinator - Local Management Board (LMB) - to employ Donna Rishell as Federal Family Preservation Coordinator, Grade 11, for the LMB in a grant- funded position. Fiscal Specialist - LMB - to employ Lisa Kalkbrenner as Fiscal Specialist, Grade 9, for the LMB to fill an existing vacancy. Maintenance Equipment Operator II - Roads Department - to upgrade Doug Eckart to Maintenance Equipment Operator II at the Roads Department at $13.05 per hour to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 5:15 p.m. EVENING SESSION  The evening session was convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners meeting room 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. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 20, 1998 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Bowers, to approve the minutes of October 20, 1998 as submitted. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Downey, to amend the OCTOBER 27, 1998 PAGE TWO previous motion to provide clarification to the minutes of October 20, 1998, regarding the tax setoff program. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD - WATER/WASTE WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Wade, to award the contracts to the low responsive bidders as recommended by staff for the purchase of water/waste water treatment chemicals, which was bid jointly with the City of Hagerstown. Unanimously approved.  BUDGET INCREASE - SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT  Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Wade, to increase the Sheriffs Department budget in the amount of $82,360 due to the grant from the United States Army to provide public safety services to Fort Ritchie for a one-year period. The Commissioners directed that the grant funds be placed in a  separate line item in the Sheriffs Department budget due to their temporary nature. Unanimously approved.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, reminded the Commissioners that the Western Maryland Leadership Prayer Breakfast will be held on October 30. He also informed the Commissioners that he will be accompanying Hugh  Brandenburg, winner of the 1998 Washington Countys Most Wonderful Citizen award, to the State awards presentation tomorrow. Mr. Shoop stated that the deadline to receive requests for new legislation will be extended until December if they wish to include any additional items. APPOINTMENT - CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Downey, to appoint Dennis Miller as the  Countys representative on the Board of Directors of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, contingent on review of the bylaws to determine whether the County has the authority to make the appointment. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENTS - SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Motion made by Bowers, seconded by Shank, to appoint Michael Hoehn to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee to fill the unexpired term of Robert Barnhart extending to July 1, 1999, and to appoint Kenneth Conway to fill the unexpired term of Frank Downey extending to May 31, 2000. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT - MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY Motion made by Shank, seconded by Bowers, to reappoint Edson Dayton to the Mental Health Authority for a three-year term. Unanimously approved.  CITIZENS PARTICIPATION Delmas Knight presented a petition signed by property owners along Mt. Lock Hill Road agreeing to provide right-of-way to the County in order to widen the roadway.  Jim Devine asked for additional information on Countys contribution to the development of the Fairgrounds. UPDATE ON MISS ANTIETAM PROGRAM Samantha Spates, Miss Antietam 1998, appeared before the Commissioners to provide an update on the Miss Antietam Scholarship Pageant. She discussed the needs of the program and requested financial support for the pageant to provide additional scholarship monies. Miss Spates thanked the Commissioners for their support and provided an update on her activities.  COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Snook read a letter from Washington County Crime Solvers requesting that the Commissioners display the Crime Solvers poster in appropriate spaces in the County. Commissioner Shank reported on the Farm  Bureaus annual meeting, the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum, and the Y-Me Fitness Fest. Commissioner Downey reported on the Tri-County  Councils Revolving Loan Fund Committee meeting. Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, furnished information on EDA and ARC grants. Commissioner Downey also indicated that he attended the Commission  on Agings general membership meeting. Commissioner Bowers also reported on the Tri-County Council meeting. He asked that the County Administrator look into the cost of rebuilding the pavilion in the Beaver Creek area. The Commissioners authorized the Roads Superintendent to proceed to overlay the  Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Companys new parking lot if he has the necessary funding for the project in his budget. OCTOBER 27, 1998 PAGE THREE HOPEWELL VALLEY LINEAR PARK Robert Arch, Director of Planning & Community Development, met with the Commissioners to discuss the creation of a linear park in the Hopewell Valley Industrial Park. Mr. Arch stated that the linear park is included in the development plan for Hopewell Valley along the flood plain area from I- 70 to Hopewell Road. He indicated that the park would be primarily used for a walking trail with some picnic tables and benches along it. Mr. Arch informed the Commissioners that TruServ has offered to dedicate 37.5 acres, which represents the portion of the proposed park on their property, for development of the trail. He recommended that the Commissioners accept the offer as the basis for creation of the park. Mr. Arch indicated that the park could also be used for forest conservation mitigation and may qualify  for the States incentive on wetlands. He informed the Commissioners that there is an historic structure located on the property which could be utilized in a variety of ways. Commissioner Shank expressed concerns about maintaining the area. After discussion, the Commissioners asked Mr. Arch to review the information with the Planning Commission and Recreation & Parks Board for their consideration. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Wade, seconded by Downey, to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk