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HomeMy WebLinkAbout060516 May 16, 2006 Hagerstown, Maryland EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS BREAKFAST The Commissioners met at 7:30 a.m. at the Four Points Hotel for the annual service/retirement awards program. Service pins were presented to County employees for their years of service to Washington County government, and the following retirees were honored: Edward Schlotterbeck, Clinton Rowland IV, James Kendle, Bobbie Frederick, Annajean McKnight, Deanna Garver, Thomas Bikle, Herbert Smith, Ann Marie Nave, and Douglas Eccard. Commissioner Snook thanked the employees on behalf of all the Commissioners for their hard work and dedication to County government. CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to convene in closed session at 9:16 a.m. to discuss personnel matters relating to the appointment, employment and/or promotion of individuals over whom the Commissioners have jurisdiction and any other personnel matters affecting one or more specific individuals 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. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Wivell, to reconvene in open session at 9:47 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed two (2) personnel matters relating to the employment or appointment of individuals over whom the Commissioners have jurisdiction and other personnel matters affecting one or more individuals and consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice. Present during closed session were Commissioners Gregory I. Snook, William J. Wivell, James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson and Doris J. Nipps. Also present at various times were John Martirano, County Attorney; Richard Douglas, County Attorney; Kirk Downey, Assistant County Attorney; Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; Joni Bittner, County Clerk; and David Hankinson, Director of Human Resources. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 9:56 a.m. by President Gregory I. Snook with the following members present: Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson and Doris J. Nipps. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Snook, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 9, 2006 Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the minutes of May 9, 2006. Unanimously approved. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Nipps informed the Commissioners that she attended the Senior Summit at Robinwood Medical Center and the presentation of the space needs study for the Washington County Free Library. The Commissioners discussed the study recommendations and the cost to fund the request. Commissioner Nipps showed the Commissioners the Fort Frederick commemorative plate that the Friends of Fort Frederick are selling as a th fundraiser for the 250 anniversary celebration. Commissioner Munson stated that he presented a proclamation on behalf of the Commissioners at the Senior Fair last week. Commissioner Wivell stated that he attended the space needs study presentation at the Library. Commissioner Kercheval asked the County Attorney to clarify the timeline for a decision on the appointment of a charter board. He also suggested that the Eastern Boulevard extension project be moved forward in the MAY 16, 2006 PAGE TWO Capital Improvements Program budget. Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, provided information on the project. Commissioner Snook asked for information on the public hearing to be held next week at Lakeside Hall in Cascade. He reminded the Commissioners of the Municipal League meeting that is scheduled for May 22 in Boonsboro. Commissioner Snook also distributed a copy of the State’s facility report on South Hagerstown High School and E. Russell Hicks Middle School. He stated that he has scheduled a meeting with Guy Altieri, President of Hagerstown Community College, regarding an outline and timeframe implementation of the wet laboratories program. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Kercheval, to authorize filling the Maintenance Equipment Operator I position at the Highway Department and the Project Coordinator position for the Washington County Community Partnership for Children and Youth. Unanimously approved. David Hankinson, Director of Human Resources, informed the Board that he met with a local individual who is interested in a summer internship with the County government. He stated that she is working on her Masters degree in Public Administration. The Commissioners discussed the request and agreed to provide $7.00 per hour for up to 300 hours for the internship to be taken from the Human Resources training fund account. Mr. Hankinson indicated that the Economic Development Commission, Department of Emergency Services, EDC and Airport would be developing programs for the intern to work on this summer. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to authorize the Human Resources Department to provide $7.00 per hour for up to 300 hours for a summer internship, with funds to be taken from the Human Resources training fund account. Unanimously approved. Debra Murray stated that the County would be receiving an additional allotment of $565,000 from the State as a capital appropriation for highways and asked them to think about how they want to apply the funds. Gary Rohrer, Director of Public Works, informed the Commissioners that the Smithsburg Branch Library project is almost complete. He stated that he was asked to speak at a seminar at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference regarding highway user revenues. Commissioner Snook asked for an update on the pavement maintenance program. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to comment. APPOINTMENT – GAMING COMMISSION Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to appoint Donna Long to the Gaming Commission for a two-year term. Unanimously approved. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, stated that the April Casual Day proceeds for Habitat for Humanity were $342. He stated that the FY 2007 budget is on the agenda for discussion next week. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to approve a budget transfer of $65,934 for the final change order with Callas Contractors for the relocation of the Commission on Aging office to the Aspiring to Serve Building, with funds to be taken from excess recordation tax fees. Unanimously approved. CONTRACT RENEWAL – CONTRACT SERVICES AT TRANSFER STATIONS AND ON-SITE AT FORTY-WEST LANDFILL Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to renew the contract for Contract Services at Transfer Stations and On-Site at the Forty-West Landfill (Option I) to Peck’s Refuse Disposal, LLC, for a one-year period with an option to renew for up to three additional consecutive one-year periods, based on the rates proposed in their letter MAY 16, 2006 PAGE THREE dated April 6, 2006 plus Alternate No. 1 for cardboard transports. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD – PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to award the bid for three Toshiba Pump Control System units for the Water Quality Department to Freemire and Associates, which submitted the low responsive, responsible bid of $21,702 unit price for a total lump sum of $65,106. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THIRD-PARTY INSPECTION PROGRAM Daniel DiVito, Director of Permits & Inspections, met with the Commissioners to recommend that minor changes be made to the Third Party Inspection Program. Mr. DiVito stated that only three projects have utilized the program since it was implemented and its effectiveness has been questionable. He recommended that the following revisions be made to the program to make it available for more projects: 1) Remove the mandatory requirement for projects over 100,000 sq. ft. and allow all program participation to be optional; 2) Allow partial participation; and 3) Reduce the fee on the building permit portion of the project for third-party inspection. The meeting was then opened for questions. Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Nipps to approve the changes as proposed for the Third Party Inspector program in the Department of Permits & Inspections. Unanimously approved. RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION – MAUGANS AVENUE PROJECT Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve the following: Parcel I - acquisition of 952 square feet in fee simple, 1,000 square feet in revertible easement, and 1,000 square feet in temporary construction easement from Wan Chuen Cho and Pin Chuen Cho-Chen for a total of $25,000; and Parcel II – acquisition of 966 square feet in fee simple, 1,250 square feet in revertible easement, 750 square feet in temporary construction easement from Michael and Cindy Jo Clements for a total of $28,000. Unanimously approved. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the purchase of four (4) properties/easements from AC&T for 14,000 square feet in fee simple, 4,000 square feet in slope easement, and 6,000 square feet in temporary construction easement, for the total cost of $112,000. Unanimously approved. Joe Kuhna, Real Property Administrator, and Dave Mason, Project Engineer, provided an update on the project and the acquisitions to be obtained. RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:08 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. PUBLIC HEARING – MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. in order to obtain views of citizens before submitting an application to the Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Kathy Saxman, Director of Housing for the Washington County Community Action Council (CAC), and Sonja Hoover, Fiscal/Research Specialist for the Economic Development Commission (EDC), stated that the grant application would be submitted to the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development in the amount of $15,000 for the purpose of funding support staff for CAC’s Affordable HOMES Program. Ms. Saxman informed the Commissioners that the Affordable HOMES Program is a partnership between CAC, the Department of Agriculture Rural Development and local lenders to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income households. Commissioner Snook then opened the meeting for public comment. There was no one present who wished to comment. The hearing was closed at 1:06 p.m. MAY 16, 2006 PAGE FOUR Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to approve a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $15,000 to be used for the Community Action Council’s Affordable HOMES Program. Unanimously approved. Ms. Saxman gave a briefing on the public hearing scheduled for May 23 at Fort Ritchie regarding submission of an application for grant/loans funds to assist low- and moderate-income households with hook-up costs for the water system. She stated that they hope to make it a revolving-type loan program. PUBLIC HEARING – MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 1:15 p.m. to hear public comment regarding the intent to submit an application to the Maryland Community Development Block Grant program for a grant in the amount of $100,000 to provide housing counseling. The grant would provide funding for the Hagerstown Home Store, which is operated by Hagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc. (HNDP). Sharon Disque, Executive Director of the HNDP, explained the services provided by the program and how the funds would be utilized. Commissioner Snook then opened the meeting for public comment. There was no one present who wished to comment. The public hearing was closed at 1:21 p.m. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Munson, to approve a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $100,000 to provide housing counseling. Unanimously approved. RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 1:23 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING – AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISTRICT The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 2:00 p.m. to consider applications AD-06-004, AD-02-001, AD-06-003, AD-06- 002, AD-01-001, and AD-05-001 for ten-year agricultural preservation districts. Eric Seifarth, Farmland Preservation Planner, reviewed the applications and provided information regarding the program. He stated that they have been approved by the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board and that the Planning Commission has found that granting the applications would be consistentwith the Comprehensive Plan. The hearing was then opened for public comment. Barbara Hovermill spoke in favor of the application AD-02-01. There was no one present who wished to speak. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Wivell, to approve applications AD-06-004 (submitted by Kriner Farms, LLC), AD-02-001 (submitted by Steven & Celia Palmer), AD-06-003 (submitted by Carolyn Barkdoll), AD-06-002 (submitted by Betty Jane Oller), and AD-05-001 (submitted by Constance Thomas), for 10-year agricultural land preservation districts as presented. Unanimously approved. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Wivell, to reappoint J. D. Rinehart for a one-year term to the Economic Development Commission, reappoint Noel Williams for a three-year term, and appoint Peter Madeo (City of Hagerstown representative) for a three-year term. Unanimously approved. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Kercheval, to adjourn at 2:06 p.m. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator MAY 16, 2006 PAGE FIVE , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk