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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.10.1987 February 10, 1987 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, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Bowers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full Assemblage. OPTION AGREEMENT Jim Brittain of the County Engineering Department appeared before the Commissioners to request that the Commissioners approve an Option Agreement and purchase of three acres of land lying between U.S. 40 and Beaver Creek Road to reroute Beaver Creek Road by connecting it to Route 40 and closing the bridge at this location. Mr. Brittain stated that he had spoken to property owners in the area and this solution was satisfactory to them. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to approve of the Option agreement and purchase of 3 acres of land lying between U.S. 40 and Beaver Creek Road for the sum of $25,000 to reroute Beaver Creek Road by connecting it to U.S. 40 and closing the bridge currently on Beaver Creek Road. Unanimously approved. STATUS REPORTS Transportation - Keith Godwin, Manager of the County Commuter, presented the status report for the Transportation Commission. Projects included preparation of grants for operating assistance and capital assistance for FY 87, water line repair, the purchase of shop equipment, the Consultant Study, purchase of a computer and maintainence equipment. Tourism - Robert O'Connor, Tourism Director, presented his status report for FY 86-87 and statistical report for l986. Projects for l986 were the Welcome Canadians program and trip, the l986 statistical report, bids for the Information Centers, a long-range report, planning of the l25th Anni- versary of Antietam, the cooperative advertising program and the planning of a Tourism Week Seminar in May. Also discussed was the construction of a convention and visitors bureau by Tourism, Inc., to be located in Washington County for coordination of conventions in the County, with the Bureau to generate its own funding. Landfill - Robert Davenport, Director of Landfills, reported that the major operations of this department are the continuing type with land clearing, major excavation, drainage systems, liners, placement of refuse in compacted layers with daily cover, final covering and grading, seeding and stabilization. Mr. Davenport also suggested that a site for a new landfill be researched because of the time frame required to locate an acceptable geological site. Buildings & Grounds - Robert Coble, Director of Buildings & Grounds, gave his status report for County buildings and grounds and expected completion dates for these projects. Approval was given by the Commissioners for repair of the roof cornice and guttering at the County Office Building for the base price plus $3,000 to cover the unanticipated repairs, to be taken from the Capital Contingency fund. Recreation Commission - Ronald Kidd, Recreation Director, reported on programs for school community centers, summer playground programs, scheduling all school recreation facilities, scheduling County parks softball and multi-purpose fields and tennis courts and development and evaluation of recreation programs. PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE - HEALTH DEPARTMENT The President convened the meeting in Public Hearing at ll:00 a.m. with the Commissioners sitting as the Board of Health in accordance with the provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 202(c) of the Health-General Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for the purpose of considering a proposed ordinance to establish fees for certain services provided by the Health Department. Proposed permits and fees as as advertised are: Septic system installation - $20, Well Permit - $40, Permanent Food Facilities - $20, Temporary food facilities - $10, Swimming Pool - $20, FEBRUARY 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. Campgrounds - $20 and Trailer Park - $20; inspection fees - $40 and Water Samples - $l0. Stan Bond, Director of the Health Department and Rod MacRae, Assistant Director were present to answer any questions regarding the proposed fees. Keith Keener, President of the Washington County Homebuilders Association, questioned how the funds generated by the fees would be used. Mr. Bond explained that the revenues would be used to employ additional staff to make it possible for testing to be done and permits issued more quickly than is now possible with the current number of staff members. Taylor Oliver and Mrs. Noel, representing the John R. Oliver, Co., stated that the proposed fee for percolation testing might be too expensive for first-time homebuyers. There being no one else present to testify for nor against the proposed ordinance, the President announced that the record would remain open for ten (10) days for comments to be submitted in writing. He closed the hearing at ll:50 a.m. and reconvened the Meeting in Regular Meeting. BOARD OF EDUCATION - REVISED OPERATING BUDGET Wayne Stouffer, Director of Fiscal Management at the Board of Education, presented the revised operating budget for the remainder of this fiscal year to the County Commissioners. He stated that they are not asking for any additional funding from the County but the budget total did increase by approximately $l3,000 with the increase coming from the transportation division where a higher increase in the cost of vehicle insurance was realized. The major change was the addition of six additional positions which were not in the budget. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l2:l0 for lunch with the Board of Education at Hickory Elementary School. Topics discussed with the Board of Education were as follows: l. Enrollment Patterns - the three priority projects are Boonsboro Elementary School which is over capacity now, Potomac Heights Elementary School at maximum capacity and Pleasant Valley Elementary School which is near capacity. Possible solutions for the future are: relocatable classrooms, requesting building additions, redistricting, different grade organization, different utilization of present schools or new buildings. 2. Status Reports - Ed Kercheval gave a status report for Bester Elementary in which the final drawings will be submitted by Saturday to the InterAgency Committee with an estimated construction date of July l. The price for this work will be approximately $2,290,000. The Clear Spring Vocational/Agriculture Addition needs approval from the IAC and will then be put out to bid. 3. Projected Salary Costs - The Board of Education is projecting $3.5 - $3.7 million in additional funds will be needed for salaries and benefits for next year. AFTERNOON SESSION The Afternoon Session was convened at 2:00 p.m. by President Bowers with the following members present: Vice President Richard E. Roulette, and CommissionersR. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. ANNUAL MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN BEVERLY BYRON U.S. Representative, Beverly Byron, 6th Congressional District, made her annual visit with the Commissioners and discussed the following issues with them: proposed budget program cuts, welfare reform retraining and youth training programs, federal funds for transportation programs, and the status of the T-46 aircraft. At this time President Bowers was excused from the Meeting and Vice President Roulette assumed the Chair GREENSIDE DEVELOPMENT John Schuster and County Engineer Glenn Dull, appeared before the Commissioners to ask for a determination of who would be responsible for constructing facilities through the Greenside Development to adequately handle surface drainage from off the site. Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey for the County to pay for construction of an open swale behind properties parallel to Main Street in Maugansville with Mr. Schuster, developer of Greenside Apartments, to pay all other costs associated with installing the system to County standards, with the County portion to be taken from the Capital Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 10, 1987 MINUTES CONT'D. REZONING CASES - RZ-349 Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to APPROVE of the application of Charles T. Shifler for the reclassification of a 2l.7 acres of land located at the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Catawba & Barnes Road in Election District No. 6 from Industrial Mineral (IM) to Agriculture (A), on the basis of there being a mistake in the original zoning and to adopt the findings of fact of the Planning Commission in this case as the findings of fact of this Board. Unanimously approved. RZ-351 Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to APPROVE of the application of the Planning Commission for a Text Amendment to create a new article for a Business, Transitional (BT) District to provide for low intensity commercial uses as a transition between residential and non-residential zoning districts and to adopt the findings of fact of the Planning Commission in this case as the findings of fact of this Board. Unanimously approved. SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT S-3 Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to APPROVE of the application of the Planning Commission to remove the 600 foot length limitation for a cul-de- sac currently in Zoning Ordinance Section No. 405.5 and to allow a cul-de-sac of any length so long as it is consistent with standards for life safety and to adopt the findings of fact of the Planning Commission in this case as the findings of fact of this Board. Unanimously approved PURCHASE OF VEHICLES - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to authorize the purchase of eight (8) new vehicles at a cost of $92,318.29 as replacements for the Sheriff's Department under the State Vehicle procurement bid, with the condition that delivery of the vehicles would not occur prior to July l, l987, with the expenditure charged to the budget for Fiscal Year. l987-88. Unanimously approved. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to adopt the Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Hagerstown to provide liability insurance coverage for city police officers working outside the city limits or for County police officials working inside the City limits while assisting in emergency situations. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 20, l987 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to approve of the Minutes of January 20, l987 as submitted. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENT TO PARKS BOARD Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to reappoint David Emmert to the Parks & Recreation Board for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. WATER/SEWER PLAN AMENDMENT Having received no adverse comments from the Public Hearing held on January 27, l987, a Motion was made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to adopt the Water & Sewerage Amendment Plan l986 Update Amendment and to forward it onto the State for final approval. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF SALE OF LAND Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to approve of the sale of a 0.72l acre lot on the south marginal line of West Washington Street, as specified in the deed, from John H. and Vickie L. Merrbaugh to Daniel Staley. Unanimously approved. ADVERTISE FOR SECRETARY II POSITION The Commissioners gave their approval to advertise the position of Secretary II for the Planning Commission office to fill an existing vacancy. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at 3:55 p.m. and will reconvene at 7:00 p.m. at the Sharpsburg Town Hall. FEBRUARY 10, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session was convened at 7:00 p.m. at the Sharpsburg Town Hall by the President Ronald L.Bowers, with the following members present: Commissioners R. Lee Downey, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. Also present were Sharpsburg Mayor Gerard Quinn, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Saylor, and Councilmen George Kessler, Richard Bean, Ralph Hammond, Edwin Palmer and Mayor Ralph Taylor from the Town of Keedysville and Councilman Harold Lowe. Barry Teach, County Administrator, explained that the Payment in Lieu of Services would be approximately $2,592 for the Town of Sharpsburg and $l7ll for the Town of Keedysville but that actual payment amount would not be available until the FY l986 audit is complete. Robert Tonetti, representing the Citizens Against the Tower, spoke against the decision of the Zoning Appeals Board to allow G. S. Communications to allow a communications tower and satellite dish to be placed on Red Hill. Mr. Tonetti felt that the planning was not carefully considered and that no alternatives were suggested or considered by the Zoning Appeals Board given the historic and scenic values of this area. Mr. Teach explained the legal requirements for notification of adjacent and confronting property owners, posting of the property and the publication l5 days prior to the Appeals Board Hearing. Also discussed was the proposed buffer zone surrounding historic sites and how it would affect the area and problems with Snyders Landing Road. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Downey to adjourn at 8:l5 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk