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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.03.1987 February 3, l987 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 The Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President, Ronald L. Bowers with the following members present: Vice President, Richard E. Roulette, and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and Linda C. Irvin. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Rev. Harold Barnett of First Brethren Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. HEART ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION Jill Fuhrman, Terry Marshall & Jeannette Lathan, representing the Washington County Heart Association, presented the Commissioners with jump ropes as a reminder of February l987 being National Heart Month. PROCLAMATION - BOY SCOUT WEEK Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to proclaim the week of February 8-14, 1987, as Boy Scout Week in Washington County and to urge all citizens to gratefully acknowledge the efforts of the volunteers who provide leadership and the notable accomplishments of Boy Scouts everywhere. Unanimously approved. FARM VEHICLES - CHANGE IN LEGISLATION Jim Harp, appeared before the Commissioners to request a change in legislation requiring weight limits for farm vehicles having more than one axle. He stated that current legislation provides for a l5% variance for single-axle vehicles with farm registration but that a problem exists during the harvest season when hauling crops with multi-axle vehicles. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to request amendment Transportation Article 24, Section l08 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to provide for a l5% weight variance for multi-axle vehicles having farm registration to be included with the list of Washington County's requests for legislation to the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly. Unanimously approved. At this time Commissioner Snook arrived at the Meeting. STATUS REPORTS Housing & Community Development - Neil Curran, Director, presented the status report on his Department's ongoing programs and table of organization. Community Development projects scheduled include Holly Place, a 24-hour shelter for low income frail elderly, Hancock Elderly Shelter, Funkstown Water Distribution System Rehabilitation, Highfield-Cascade and Martins Crossroads sewer hook-up program and the State Mortgage Purchase Program. Other Community Development Projects include providing technical assistance to the Town of Williamsport, the renovation of the Boonsboro Eagle Hotel, and Halfway Manor Apartment rehabilitation. Rental Housing assistance programs consist of the Boonsboro Elderly project new construction, and wrap-up of the construction phase of Parkview Knoll. Fire & Rescue/Communications/Civil Defense - Ron Karn, Chief of Fire & Rescue Communications and Civil Defense, presented his status report for Fire & Rescue Communications, Communications Maintenance and Civil Defense. Departments. The Civil Defense status report includes revision of the County Emergency Operations Plan and siren modification. Project descrip- tions for the 9ll Fire & Rescue Program include call transfer, cable diversification and modifications to the console, CAD modification and the alarm termination panel. Communications Maintenance projects include establishing a local government frequency, Sheriff's Department communica- tions and evaluation of System Service Analyzers. SIX-MONTH FINANCIAL REPORT - James Young James Young, Director of Finance, presented a six-month financial report of the County General Fund Budget for revenues, investments, debts and expenditures and a report on the Highway Fund. He stated that he sees no problems in meeting budgeted amounts, but that a more accurate account can be given after the second quarter income tax returns are received at the end of February. FEBRUARY 3, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF HAGERSTOWN & REQUEST FOR FUNDS TO PURCHASE VEHICLES Sheriff Mades and Lt. Ronald Norford appeared before the Commissioners to discuss the proposed Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Hagerstown which would provide that the County pay any liability costs incurred as a result of utilizing City police officers outside the Hagerstown City Limits in emergency situations. The matter was taken under advisement at this time. With regard to the purchase of new vehicles, the Commissioners requested that the Sheriff's Department make contact with local car dealers to see if they are interested in bidding for the seven vehicles and one four-wheel drive vehicle scheduled for replacement this year by the Sheriff's Department before proceeding with purchase from the State's authorized dealer. MINIMUM PAYMENT - PAYMENT IN LIEU OF SERVICES PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to provide a guaranteed annual rebate of $2,000 for the payment in lieu of services program to County municipalities. Unanimously approved. HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - REQUEST FOR VEHICLE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to provide authorization for Housing & Community Development to proceed with necessary purchasing procedures for a four-wheel drive vehicle to be used by the Maintenance Specialist to be paid for out of Public Housing funds if eligible, and to have their current vehicle, a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, transferred to a County department who has need for this vehicle. MINUTES - JANUARY 12 & 13, 1987 Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to approve of the Minutes of January l2 and l3, l997, as submitted. Unanimously approved. NUISANCE BIRD ORDINANCE The Commissioners reviewed a draft ordinance prepared by the Health Department in regard to the problems with nuisance birds in the County. Commissioner Bowers requested that the County Administrator contact appropriate State officials to schedule a tour for them to visit areas in the County where problems exist. OFFER TO DEDICATE RIGHT-OF-WAY - GILARDI ROAD The Commissioners discussed Wallace Yater's offer to donate additional land for County right-of-way on Gilardi Road which would be needed if improvements are made in the future. The Commissioners requested that the area be surveyed to be sure that there is sufficient right-of-way for future needs, with the surveying costs to be paid by Mr. Yater. REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION - Air Unit Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to authorize the Air Unit to proceed with replacement of the transmission on the l980 unit at an estimated cost of $l500, to be taken from the Operating Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT - JUDGE WRIGHT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to authorize the purchase of office equipment and funds needed for renovation of office space for the new Court Reporter. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:00 noon for lunch and a tour of St. Mary's School. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at l:00 p.m. with the following members present: President Ronald L. Bowers, Vice President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey Linda C. Irvin, and Martin L. Snook. CAPITAL PROJECTS The Commissioners reviewed Capital Improvements Projects which may be submitted for funding from the Fiscal Year l988 budget. The total local funding request for FY '88 is $l3,504.92. After reviewing all proposed projects, the Commissioners requested that Barry Teach, James Young, and Jack Hawbaker determine what projects should be funded this fiscal year. MOTION made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Downey to to seek $5 million additional bonding authority from the State Legislature for Capital Improvements Projects. Unanimously approved.l FEBRUARY 3, l987 MINUTES, CONT'D. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MFRI REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER Jay Grimes, Blaine Snyder, Kingsley Poole, and James Black, representing the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, appeared before the Commissioners to request their support for a proposed Fire & Rescue Regional Training Center to be utilized by Allegany, Garrett and Washington County Counties. Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to draft a resolution in support of the proposed Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute Regional Training Center to be located in Washington County. Unanimously approved. PENSION PLAN - VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES A committee consisting of representatives from the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly and the County Commissioners will be formed to study the feasibility of proposed legislation to provide for a pension plan for volunteer firefighters in Washington County and to determine funding sources for this pension plan. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convene in Executive Session at 2:25 p.m. in accordance with Section l0.508 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland in regard to property matters and possible litigation. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at 3:00 p.m. Unanimously approved. DEED ACCEPTANCE - MAR ROCK DRIVE Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Snook to conditionally accept the deed and maintenance bond for Mar Rock Drive, Rocky Spring Acres A-2, with the developer being responsible for maintenance of the street for one year, commensing with the date of the final inspection. Unanimously approved. RECLASSIFY POSITION - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to reclassify the position of Community Development Specialist in the Housing & Community Development Office to Grade 8 ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to adjourn at 3:05 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk