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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.24.1987 February 24, 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, Linda C. Irvin and Martin L. Snook. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Reverend R. Thomas Fralin, Jr., of Brownsville Church of the Brethren, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full Assemblage. CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS - KRETSINGER ROAD Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to accept the Construction and Maintenance Agreements from Glenn S. Bachtell, and Glenn S. and Joann L. Bachtell and Lewis W. and Debra S. Persons for right-of-way needed for construction and maintenance of Kretsinger Road Bridge with Mr. Bachtell to receive $1100 as compensation and Glenn S. and Joann L. Bachtell and Lewis W. and Debra S. Persons to receive $2,275 for as compensation, and to proceed with advertisement of the project. Unanimously approved. MCMULLAN-GRAVES SUBDIVISION - ACCEPTANCE OF SURETY Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to accept a $l5,000 certified check from Mr. Henry W. McMullan, property owner/developer, as surety for work he is required to perform as set forth by the County Engineer in order to make improvements along Independence Road. Unanimously approved. APPOINTMENT TO CHILDREN'S COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to appoint Barbara Donaldson to the Children's Council for a term of three years. Unanimously approved. ACCEPT RESIGNATION - TOURISM ADVISORY COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to accept the resignation of Mim Reisburg from the Tourism Advisory Commission and to convey a letter of thanks for her early participation on the commission. Unanimously approved. HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULE After due consideration of matters and facts adduced at the public hearing held on February l0, l987, regarding an ordinance to establish fees for certain services provided by the Health Department and to correspondence which was received during the ten-day period, the Commissioners made several amendments to the proposed fee schedule: l. Percolation Tests - $40 charge for the first lot and a $25 charge for any additional lot in the same subdivision being tested at the same time; 2. Septic system testing for a lending institution - $l0; and 3. Testing water samples from a new well - $l0, testing from an existing well will be free of charge if tested no more than once a year. The Commissioners agreed to have the Health Department and the County Attorney review the amendments before approving the proposed Ordinance. INTERNATIONAL MOBILIZATION FOR SOVIET JEWRY - Sydney Machat Syd Machat, Chairman of the Social Action Committee of B'nai Abraham, appeared before the Commissioners to request that on February 26 they join in symbolically reading from a listing of names of Soviet Jews who have been denied permission to emigrate from that Country. The Commissioners agreed to participate and to allow the use of the front steps of the Court House for this activity. ROOF REPAIR - CHEWSVILLE CENTER Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to repair the roof at the Chewsville Community Center, which is used by the Association for Retarded Citizens, at an estimated cost of $27,000 to be taken from the Capital Contingency Fund. Unanimously approved. MINUTES - FEBRUARY 3, 1987 Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to approve the Minutes of February 3, l987 as amended. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR LEASE - DITTO FARM Motion made by Commissioner Irvin, seconded by Downey to lease two parcels which equal 56+/- acres at Ditto Farms Park to Donald Martin for the purpose of farming the land at a price of $30 per acre, for a term to expire December l, l987. Unanimously approved. FEBRUARY 24, l987 MINUTES, CONT'D. BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES - TOWN OF WILLIAMSPORT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to provide County building inspectors to perform building inspections within the Town of Williamsport, as requested by the Mayor and Council of Williamsport, with the agreement that the Town take applications and collect fees, that the County be responsible for routing and performing the inspections, and that the inspection fees collected be shared, with the County receiving 75% and the Town receiving 25%. Unanimously approved. COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING ROOF REPAIRS Motion made by Commissioner Bowers, seconded by Irvin to appropriate up to $4800 from the Commissioners' Contingency Fund to pay for roof repairs at the County Office Building and to perform painting of the sections repaired. Unanimously approved. This project had been in last year's budget but funding lapsed since the work was not performed. BID AWARD - BUSINESS PARK SIGN Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to award the bid for the Business Park Sign Improvement Project to W. J. Strickler Sign, Inc., who submitted the low bid of $4856.25 and to waive the requirement of a bond since the price is under $l0,000. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED RAILROAD CROSSING AGREEMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to authorize Ronald L. Bowers as President of the Board of County Commissioners to enter into an agreement with the B & O Railroad regarding the Northern Avenue crossing, which is necessary for signalization at the Fountainhead Road intersection to be coordinated with the crossing guards and lights. Unanimously approved. BOARD OF EDUCATION - GUARANTEE AMOUNT FOR TEXTBOOKS Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Irvin to commit and guarantee $719,609, the current amount budgeted for FY l987, to the Board of Education to allow them to order textbooks and materials of instruction for the l987-88 school year to guarantee their arrival time. Unanimously approved. ACTUARIAL REPORT James Myron, Account Representative for Aetna Insurance Company, and Edward Cochran, appeared before the Commissioners to give a brief actuarial valuation of the County's life insurance plan as of July l, l986. He stated that the present value of the benefits totals $l4,443,l9l, with assets of $7,533,526 (52%) and the present value of future contributions is $6,909,665 (48%). Mr. Myron further explained that the unfunded accrued liability is $790,468 or 5% of the total which is an extremely good percentage since most private industries have a 25-30% liability. BID OPENING - PERFORMING ARTS PAVILION - DOUBS WOODS PARK Bids for the performing arts pavilion at Doubs Woods Park were publicly opened and read aloud. Firm participaing in the bidding and their proposals are as follows: Bronka Construction - base bid - $48,600; Milcar Construction Corporation - base bid - $35,390; and Mid-East Builders - base bid - $37,400. All bids will be reviewed by appropriate officials prior to a decision being rendered. HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to authorize the execution and delivery of the agreement for participation in the Housing Preservation Grant Program and authorizing and directing Ronald L. Bowers as President of the Board of County Commissioners to execute the agreement for Washington County. Unanimously approved. ROAD NAME - FRITZ LANE Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to rename that portion of Maryland State Road 804, Fritz Lane, as requested by the property owners living on this road. Unanimously approved. ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE - FINAL AMENDMENTS After reviewing the Animal Control Ordinance, the County Attorney recommended that the Ordinance be amended to provide that all fines should be made payable to the Animal Control Authority by check and any payment not made by check should be paid at the office of the Animal Control Authority. Also recommended was a $l0 penalty for a check which is returned for insufficient funds and that an audit of funds be performed annually. FEBRUARY 24, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. WASHINGTON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to certify that the Washington County Arts Council, Inc., is the recognized agency to which the County Commissioners may contribute funds. Unanimously approved. CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to convene in Executive Session at ll:25 a.m. in regard to property and personnel matters in accordance with State Government Article l0.508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Irvin to reconvene in Regular Session at l2:35 p.m. to have the official portrait taken of the County Commissioners. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to reconvene in Executive Session at l2:45 p.m. in regard to property and personnel matters in accordance with State Government Article l0.508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Unanimously approved. RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to convene in Regular Session at l:25 p.m. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY HALFWAY POOL SUMMER STAFF Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Irvin to employ Jean Jacques as Head Life Guard; Benjamin Sager, Stacey Butler, Lisa Lochbaum, Amy Plume, Valerie Reedy, Kristen Ogelvie, Kathy Ogelvie, Stephen Harp, Christopher Laye, Jennifer Gerstner, and Scott Borssler as Life Guards; and Dawn Raynor and Tracey Teach as Cashiers. Unanimously approved. SCHOOL RECREATION PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to employ Allen Haines as Aide part-time and Robert Simmers as Director at Clear Spring High School; Earl Meagher as Director and John Bell as Aide at Northern Middle School; and Gregory Rouse as Director and Diana Smith as Aide at Western Heights Middle School for the School Community Centers Program which runs from March l6 to July 30, l987. Unanimously approved. EMPLOY MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR II - ROADS DEPARTMENT Motion made by Commissioner Roulette, seconded by Snook to employ Richard Higgins as Motor Equipment Operator II at the Western Section of the Roads Department to fill an existing vacancy. Unanimously approved. AGREEMENT WITH C & P TELEPHONE Motion made by Commissioner Snook, seconded by Roulette to enter into a Deed of Easement with the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of Maryland in consideration of the sum of $25,000 for a 20-year period for construction of an above-ground structure being on the northern right-of-way of Henson Boulevard; payments are to be made for $2,500 for the first ten-year period and $3,000 for the second ten-year period plus an annual payment in lieu of taxes in such amount as may be determined by multiplying the assessment established by the State Assessment office for said land and improvements by the ten current Washington County tax rate. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Meeting was recessed at l:30 p.m. and will reconvene in Annapolis for a meeting with the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly. EVENING SESSION The Evening Session convened at 5:l5 p.m. in the Lowe House Office Building in Annapolis for a meeting with the Washington County Delegation to the General Assembly. The following members were present: President Ronald L. Bowers, Vice FEBRUARY 24, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. President Richard E. Roulette and Commissioners R. Lee Downey and Linda C. Irvin. Delegation members present were Peter G. Callas, James McClellan and Donald Munson. The Commissioners asked that the status of the following bills be reviewed: H.B. 232 - Program Open Space - Delegate Callas informed the Commissioners that testimony had been given on the Bill and that it had been amended. The Appropriations Committee will hear the companion bill. The Department of Natural Resources recomends study of the bill before final approval since federal guidelines are involved. H.B.1 - has received an unfavorable review from the Ways & Means Committee. H.B. 352 (S.B. l39) - Technology/Athletic Center at Hagerstown Junior College - has been assigned to the Appropriations Committee but has not been heard at this time. Financing alternatives for the project were also discussed. H.B. 396 - Museum of Fine Arts Renovations - Same status as H.B. 352. H.B. 655 - Expanding Duties of the Fire Police - was voted on as written and received a favorable response. H.B. 677 - Change in Sanitary District law - Delegate Callas and Palmer Dawson, Executive Director of the Washington County Sanitary District, testified in favor of the Bill which was heard by the Environmental Matters Committee. Questions were raised at that time regarding eminent domain and work which would have to go though neighboring counties. Delegate Callas stated that the Bill will probably need amendments. H.B. ll07 - The Washington County Delegation is in support of the Bill for funding for the technology center and/or the athletic center at Hagerstown Junior College. The bill will be heard by the Appropriations Committee. H.B.1108 - Commission for Women - is scheduled to be voted on Thursday but was rewritten to include l5 members. Delegate Callas informed the Commissioners that there was some discussion regarding the language "necessary expenditures" which the Committee felt was too open ended. H.B. l3l3/S.B. 786 - Bonding Authority for Public Facilites - will be heard by the Appropriations Committee. Any changes in language should be given to Delegate Callas. S.B. 213 - Ordinance Governing Smoking - passed with amendments to language changing "governing" to "regulating" and may have to also be amended to designate smoking areas for public use. S.B. 8l9 - reducing advertising time for industrial and commercial land has been introduced. S.B. 104 - Tourist Information Centers - has been introduced and is scheduled for hearing in the Con Ad Law Committee though it has been defeated in the Senate. The Commissioners also discussed several matters with the Delegates including an invoice which was received from the Department of Human Resources for an unpaid balance of $60,000 for overpayment to the County for the period l967-l970. This invoice has now been turned over to the Central Collection Agency. The Commissioners requested the Delegation's help in resolving this matter. The ratio between the number of Sheriff's Deputies and State Troopers assigned to Barrack "O" in Hagerstown was also discussed. Commissioner Bowers stated that as the number of County Sheriff's Department deputies increases, the number of troopers assigned to State Police Barrack "O" decreases. Delegate Callas informed the Commissioners that he had received a letter from Capt. Booker of the State Police which agreed that the Hagerstown Barracks is not at the projected staffing level. Delegate Callas agreed to follow through with another letter to Capt. Booker. FEBRUARY 24, 1987 MINUTES, CONT'D. Other matters which the Commissioners were concerned with included a possible hunting season for crows and, in regard to State prison in-mates who have served their sentence and are being released, Commissioner Bowers expressed his concern that when taken to the bus depot they are not departing but remaining in the area. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Downey, seconded by Roulette to adjourn at 6:l5 p.m. Unanimously approved. County Attorney , Clerk