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HomeMy WebLinkAbout051108 November 8, 2005 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: Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by County Commissioner Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. WORKSHOP – DISCUSSION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT The Commissioners met with members of the Workforce Housing Task Force to discuss the recommendations that were made in their report as presented on October 25, 2005. Commissioner Snook stated that they hope to decide which recommendations can be adopted initially to promote incentives for workforce housing. Discussion items included development of a new definition for manufactured housing, the possibility of utilizing a sliding scale for excise tax, and initiation of a County homeowners’ tax credit program to supplement the State Homeowners Tax Credit Program. The Commissioners discussed whether changes in the Excise Tax Ordinance would require legislative adjustments. Commissioner Nipps suggested that they provide a tax relief program for existing homes for those who qualify based on income. Mr. Willson stated that six counties in Maryland have tax credit programs to supplement the State program. They discussed the impact that this would this have on revenues and whether the municipalities would adopt similar programs. Commissioner Kercheval suggested that the County staff review policies to consider including incentives for workforce housing or credits to redevelop older buildings in the downtown area. Tamar Osterman, Government Affairs Director for the PenMar Association of Realtors, cited the gap between housing prices and wages. She suggested that the Commissioners consider lowering closing costs for first time homebuyers. Ms. Osterman agreed that there is no one solution to the problem of affordable housing, but that the County would need several “tools.” The Commissioners discussed the possibility of using existing programs and extending them to include criteria for workforce housing. Larry Bayer, Director of the Community Development Department of the City of Hagerstown, stated that this would require county funding because the individuals would not qualify for state or federal programs. He indicated that a program could be developed if start-up funds were available using a revolving-loan type program to rehabilitate and sell workforce housing. The Commissioners then discussed Montgomery County’s affordable housing program. Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, stated that this is the first of many workshops on this topic. He summarized the following four items that would initially be considered: 1) Develop a new definition of manufactured housing and a set of design standards for inclusion in pre-determined developments. The Planning staff and Planning Commission would work on this item. 2) Consider implementing a County homeowners’ tax credit program to piggyback on the State program. They asked Larry Bayer and Dave Jordan to assemble a small subcommittee to research this issue and come back to the Commissioners with recommendations in 40-65 days, to include rental tax credits and a program to incorporate a rehab program for those with income levels associated with workforce housing. 3) Specific recommendations on ways to lower closing costs for workforce housing. 4) Recommendations from the Planning Department staff on inclusionary zoning for workforce housing. The Commissioners discussed possible funding for some of the programs and whether a consultant should be hired to develop an affordable housing program similar to the one used in Montgomery County. BUDGET TRANSFER - RECOMMENDATION TO UPGRADE THE PEOPLE TOOLS PLATFORM Ronald Whitt, Director of Information Technologies, introduced the following members of the PeopleSoft Task Team: Angie Poffenberger, Jennifer Landman, and Paul Armstrong. Mr. Whitt explained that the focus of the Task Team is to understand PeopleSoft’s functionality, address NOVEMBER 8, 2005 PAGE TWO system operational issues, identify training and operational requirements, and plan for upgrades and enhancements. The Task Team requested a budget transfer of $75,000 from the 2006 CIP Technology Development and Upgrade Account to a People Tools Upgrade Project Account to allow the platform to be upgraded. Mr. Armstrong stated that in order to upgrade PeopleSoft applications to the latest revisions and maintain technical support from Oracle, the platform must be upgraded. He explained that the upgrade would provide for on-site technical consulting, training and instruction for IT staff members on how to upgrade and maintain the PeopleSoft platform. Mr. Whitt noted that the budget transfer would provide the funding to allow the IT staff to get specialized training on site to upgrade to the next tool set. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Munson, to approve the request to transfer $75,000 from Technology Development & Upgrade to People Tools Project to allow the People Soft platform to be upgraded and provide specialized training for appropriate staff. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER – PENMAR WATER PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the funding adjustment as requested by the Water Quality Department budget to reflect the final USDA and MDE grant/loan amounts for the PenMar Water Project as follows: USDA Grant - $1,014,908, USDA loan - $125,000, MDE grant - $1,457,835, and the transfer of $250,000 from the Mt. Aetna New Water Source Project and $200,000 from the Mt. Aetna Water System – Replacement of Existing Reservoir Project to cover actual expenses for the bid award. Unanimously approved. BUDGET TRANSFER – CONOCOCHEAGUE SEWER LINE INTERCEPTOR Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the changes in project funding for the Conococheague Sewer Line Interceptor Project to reflect the actual State and Federal grant/loan amounts and an increase the local share to cover the expenses of the actual bid amount: Increase in Conococheague Sewer Line Interceptor project – $176,000 from Federal loan - $60,005 and CIP Sewer Fund Transfer - $125,000 and decrease Federal Grant - $8,407. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to convene in closed session at 10:44 a.m. to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter, consult with staff about pending or potential litigation, and consider a matter that concerns a proposal for a business or industrial organization 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. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to reconvene in open session at 11:35 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter, consulted with staff about pending or potential litigation, and considered a matter that concerns a proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand or remain in the State. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, James F. Kercheval, Doris J. Nipps, and John C. Munson. Also present at various times were Rodney M. Shoop, County Administrator; John Martirano, County Attorney; Kirk Downey, Assistant County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works; and Michael Thompson, Director of Planning. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Munson, to adjourn at 11:35 a.m. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator NOVEMBER 8, 2005 PAGE THREE , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk