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HomeMy WebLinkAbout060523 May 23 2006 Hagerstown, Maryland CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to convene in closed session at 9:38 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, to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, 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 Munson, seconded by Nipps, to reconvene in open session at 10:04 a.m. Unanimously approved. In closed session, the Commissioners discussed three (3) personnel matters relating to the employment or appointment of individuals over whom the Commissioners have jurisdiction and other personnel matters affecting one or more specific individuals, consulted with counsel to obtain legal advice, 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, William J. Wivell, James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson and Doris J. Nipps. Also present at various times were John Martirano, County Attorney; Kirk Downey, Assistant County Attorney; Rodney Shoop, County Administrator; and Joni Bittner, County Clerk. The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 10:00 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. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Munson stated that he participated in the National Pike Festival Parade in Clear Spring. Commissioner Nipps reported on the Airport Advisory Commission meeting. She stated that she attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Commission on Aging facility and the fundraiser for the Rural Heritage Museum. Commissioner Wivell stated that he attended the Greater Hagerstown Committee meeting regarding alternative school financing for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and also a meeting on the proposed central booking facility with City of Hagerstown representatives. He reported on the issues discussed at that meeting and stated that further clarification is needed on some of the issues. Commissioner Wivell indicated that he had received several telephone calls in opposition to Bittersweet Drive being connected as a through road. Commissioner Kercheval explained that he received an e-mail message from the Chief Engineer that the plans show that the road was originally designed to be a through road. Commissioner Kercheval reported on the Planning Commission workshop and the meetings of the Public Golf Corporation, Mental Health Advisory Committee, and Local Management Board. He informed the Commissioners that he spoke at the Hagerstown Community College commencement ceremony and attended the Commission on Aging open house. Commissioner Snook stated that he would be attending the Boonsboro Town Council meeting this evening regarding the library project. He reported MAY 23, 2006 PAGE TWO on the meeting of the University System of Maryland Advisory Board and stated that Towson University would be adding classes there in the near future. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that the staff is working on completion of a memorial garden in honor of Ruth Monroe. 2006 JOHN FRYE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD Commissioner Snook presented the 2006 Historic Preservation Awards to Douglas Bast representing the Boonsboro Museum of History and William Knode and Blaine Weaver, representing the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, in recognition of the contributions each has made to historic preservation in Washington County. Mr. Bast and Mr. Knode thanked the Commissioners for the award and provided information on the latest exhibits being displayed at the two museums. Mr. Knode thanked Carpenters Local 340 and Electricians Local 307 for the donated labor at the Roundhouse Museum. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION There was no one present who wished to participate. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to authorize filling the Maintenance Equipment Operator III vacancy at the Highways Department. Unanimously approved. REQUEST FOR VEHICLES – DEPARTMENT OF FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES John Latimer, Director of Emergency Services, appeared before the Commissioners to request authorization to purchase two vehicles using $52,000 in grant funds from the Maryland Emergency Medical Administration (MEMA) and the remainder of the funds from his Department’s FY 2006 budget. Mr. Latimer stated that an SUV would be purchased through a State contract for the Emergency Medical Services support program to provide advanced life support services and assist the Incident Safety Officer Program as recommended to reduce risk and liability insurance concerns. The second vehicle, a stake-body truck, would be used by the Special Operations Division to haul necessary equipment to incident sites. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Wivell, to authorize the Department of Fire & Emergency Services to purchase two vehicles through a State contract using MEMA grant funds and funds from the FY 2006 Department of Emergency Services budget as outlined. Unanimously approved. REAPPOINTMENTS – COMMISSION FOR WOMEN Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Wivell, to reappoint Rose Wolters and Barbara Downey to the Commission for Women for three-year terms. Unanimously approved. BOARD OF ZONING (BZA) – APPOINTMENTS Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to appoint Paula Lampton to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term and to appoint Matthew Harsh as an alternate member for a three-year term beginning August 1, 2006. Unanimously approved. PROPOSED NEW FEE SCHEDULE – FOR THE WASHINGTON COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND MODIFICATION AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE DEPARMENT OF PERMITS & INSPECTIONS Michael Thompson, Director of Planning, and Daniel DiVito, Director of Permits & Inspections, met with the Commissioners regarding the establishment of a new fee schedule for the Planning Department and modification and restructuring of fee schedules for the Department of Permits and Inspections, as presented at the public hearing on April 25, 2006. Mr. Thompson and Mr. DiVito reviewed the proposed schedules. The meeting was then opened for questions and discussion. The Commissioners discussed the fees being requested for variances and special exceptions to the Board of Zoning Appeals. MAY 23, 2006 PAGE THREE Motion made by Commissioner Munson to adopt the resolution establishing a fee schedule for the Planning Department and to adopt an ordinance amending the fee schedules for the department of Permits & Inspections, with the exception of fees for Board of Zoning Appeals cases. The motion died for lack of a second. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to approve an Ordinance amending the Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance to Adopt a Fee Schedule to Govern All Building Work Performed in Washington County, Maryland” for work performed by the Washington County Department of Permits and Inspections and to adopt a Resolution adopting a fee schedule for the Washington County Planning Department, with the new fee schedules to become effective July 1, 2006. Motion carried with Commissioners Kercheval, Nipps and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioners Munson and Wivell voting “NO.” (A copy of Ordinance ORD-06-06 and Resolution RS-06-21 can be found in the County Commissioners’ Office.) ADOPTION OF PROPOSED FY 2007 BUDGET The Commissioners discussed the proposed fiscal year 2007 budget and the testimony given at the public hearing on May 9, 2006. In answer to questions from the Commissioners, Debra Murray, Director of Finance, proposed that the following items be advance-funded from FY 2006 funds from Recordation Tax: Williamsport Library Roof - $100,000, Health Department HVAC - $110,000, Health Department (Vehicle) - $36,992, and Hagerstown Community College (HCC) Wet Lab - $250,000. The Commissioners agreed to the proposal. The Commissioners discussed the requests made by Potomac Case Management and Discovery Station. They agreed that they wanted to wait for a management plan from Discovery Station and may fund the request from contingency funds later in the year. Ms. Murray stated that a placeholder of $134,000 is included in the FY 2007 budget for teenage pregnancy prevention programs. William Christoffel, Health Officer, outlined how they propose to spend the funds. Commissioner Kercheval stated that funds should be set aside for the Eastern Boulevard extension project. Ms. Murray stated that they would include it as a future capital project and check on the status of land acquisition. They also agreed to include a placeholder for a physician to assist with emergency medical services. The meeting was opened for discussion. Commissioner Wivell stated that he takes exception to the new positions that were approved and the tax relief programs and feels that these funds should be used to reduce borrowing. He also stated that he feels the funds for teenage pregnancy prevention should remain as a placeholder. He proposed that $2.3 million from these projects be used to lower borrowing. Commissioner Munson stated that he would like to reduce the property tax rate to the constant yield rate or have the Commissioners consider a two-cent tax reduction. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to fund the request made by Potomac Case Management in the amount of $33,758 from the FY 2006 Commissioners’ Contingency Fund for a one-time capital project to fund the renovations for their relocation to a new facility. Unanimously approved. Commissioner Nipps requested that the operating budget and capital improvement program budget be voted on separately for adoption. Ms. Murray provided the following information on the current debt level. She stated that approximately 35% of the debt is self-supporting and paid by users of the system itself and not from tax dollars. Ms. Murray also added that $27 million of debt would be paid off within six years, which coincides with the plan for the utility system to become self-supporting. She explained that $44 million of the County’s debt has an average interest rate of .8% and the investment rate is 4.75%. Ms. Murray indicated that there are reasons why certain debts are paid off in certain years. MAY 23, 2006 PAGE FOUR Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Wivell, to reduce the County property tax rate by two cents. The Motion did not carry with Commissioners Munson and Wivell voting “AYE” and Commissioners Kercheval, Nipps, and Snook voting “NO.” Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, to approve the Capital Improvement Projects budget of $85,786,546, as amended. Motion died for lack of a second. Motion made by Wivell, seconded by Munson, to approve the FY 2007 CIP budget at a borrowing level of $10 million of General Fund monies by reducing the funding for school health nurses, teenage pregnancy prevention, new County positions, and the affordable housing and homeowners tax credit programs in the total amount of $2.3 million. Motion did not carry with Commissioners Wivell and Munson voting “AYE” and Commissioners Kercheval, Nipps, and Snook voting “NO.” Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the Fiscal Year 2007 operating budget, as amended, in the following amounts: General Fund budget of $177,991,490; the Special Revenue Funds (Highway Funds - $9,325,520 and Solid Waste Fund - $10,509,860); the Transit Fund - $2,142,410; Airport Fund - $1,538,845; Golf Course Fund - $1,267,980; Utility Administration Fund - $3,660,0090; Water Fund - $1,680,180; Sewer Fund - $9,984,110; Pretreatment Fund - $695,600; Foreign Trade Zone - $7,000; Agricultural Education Center Fund - $196,670; Community Partnership Fund - $153,410; and Inmate Welfare Fund - $530,080, for a total budget of $305,469,791; to maintain the current property tax rate of $.948 per $100 of full-assessed value and the interest rate of 1.65% for service charges associated with semi-annual property tax payments. Motion carried with Commissioners Nipps, Kercheval, and Snook voting “AYE” and Munson and Commissioner Wivell voting “NO.” RECESS - LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:45 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:06 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. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT – E-CYCLE EVENT Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, informed the Commissioners that the Maryland Environmental Service (“MES”) has contracted with Capitol Recycling Services, LLC to provide electronics recycling services for Washington County for a one-day event to be held in June. Mr. Hoch explained that the event would be free for residents and permit the collection of electronic items at the Forty West Landfill. Capitol Recycling Services would provide equipment and staff to receive and transport the collected materials to an authorized electronics recycler. Washington County would promote the event, provide the collection area, manage traffic, and assist residents. Mr. Hoch stated that the County would pay up to 26% of the program costs up to $3,000. After $3,000, the County would be responsible for paying $.06 per pound. The meeting was then opened for questions and discussion. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve an Intergovernmental agreement with the Maryland Environmental Services to provide electronic recycling services for a one-day event at the Forty West Landfill, as outlined. Unanimously approved. BID AWARD – RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTER SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Wivell, to award the contract for recycling drop-off center services to Allied Waste Services for Option B in the amount of $1,011,553.11 based upon a five (5) year contract and using a five percent (5%) annual increase to the number of estimated trips. Unanimously approved. MAY 23, 2006 PAGE FIVE REVISED BYLAWS – BOARD OF EXAMINERS & SUPERVISORS FOR ELECTRICIANS Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve the revisions to the bylaws for the Board of Examiners and Supervisors for Electricians as outlined. Unanimously approved. FY 2007 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS (CIP BUDGET) The Commissioners continued discussions on the FY 2007 CIP budget. Commissioner Munson stated that he wants the reserves used to lower debt. The Commissioners also discussed the funding for the North Hagerstown High School track and stadium. Motion made by Commissioner Nipps, seconded by Kercheval, to adopt the proposed FY 2007 CIP budget as amended. Motion carried with Commissioners Nipps, Kercheval, Munson and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioner Wivell voting “NO.” Commissioner Nipps stated for the record that she made the motion to approve the FY 2007 CIP budget, but retained her opposition to the adjustments made in the Program Open Space (POS) funding to provide additional monies to the North Hagerstown High School stadium project that did not follow Board of Education or County procedures as she perceived them. PROPOSAL TO FUND WET LABS FOR BUSINESS INCUBATOR AND HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Dr. Guy Altieri, President of Hagerstown Community College (HCC), met with the Commissioners to request their support of the financial plan for the Technology Development Corporation for Maryland (TEDCO), the Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), and Washington County government’s share the cost of funding wet labs at the HCC Technical Innovation Center. Dr. Altieri stated that the County’s share is expected to be $450,000. TEDCO will provide $450,000 toward the project and DBED $400,000. Commissioner Snook informed Dr. Altieri that earlier in today’s meeting the Commissioners approved appropriating $250,000 from the FY 2006 budget for this project. The meeting was then opened for questions and discussion. Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to commit a total of $450,000 to develop wet labs at the HCC Technical Innovation Center to match TEDCO funding. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 16, 2006 Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Kercheval, to approve the minutes of May 16, 2006. Motion carried with Commissioners Munson, Kercheval, Nipps, and Snook voting “AYE” and Commissioner Wivell “ABSTAINING.” RECESS The meeting was recessed at 2:01 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING – MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION – PENMAR WATER CONNECTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Commissioners convened a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. at Lakeside Hall at Fort Ritchie in order to hear public comments regarding the submission of an application for Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the Pen Mar Water Connection Assistance Program. Present were Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioners John C. Munson and Doris J. Nipps. Kathy Saxman, Director of Housing for the Community Action Council (CAC), stated that the application is in the amount of $400,000 and would provide no-interest grants/deferred loans to eligible low-income households in Cascade, Maryland, with connection fees, plumbing, and excavation costs associated with the new Pen Mar Water System. She explained that CAC would act as the sub-recipient for the grant. The meeting was then opened for public comment. After hearing all comments, the hearing was closed at 7:30 p.m. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to adopt a Resolution approving the submission of an application for Maryland MAY 23, 2006 PAGE SIX Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the Pen Mar Water Connection Assistance Program in the amount of $400,000 to provide no-interest grants/deferred loans to eligible low-income households in Cascade, Maryland, with connection fees, plumbing, and excavation costs associated with the new Pen Mar Water System, to be administered through Community Action Council. Unanimously approved. , County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk