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HomeMy WebLinkAbout061024 October 24, 2006 Hagerstown, MD 21740 The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, was called to order at 10:30 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. The meeting was held at the Department of Water Quality, 16232 Elliott Parkway due to elevator maintenance at the County Administration Building. 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. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION Jeff Cline, Williamsport Town Councilman, thanked the Commissioners for their support of the Town and its projects. He informed them that their recent financial audit showed a net asset gain of $118,000. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Nipps reported on the Airport Advisory Commission meeting. She stated that she attended the Gala in the Stacks fundraiser for the Washington County Free Library, Habitat for Humanity’s dedication ceremony for its twenty-third house, and the transfer ceremony of Fort Ritchie from PenMar Development Corporation to Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT.) Commissioner Munson stated that he also attended the Fort Ritchie transfer ceremony. He informed the Commissioners of a complaint he received regarding the policy at the landfill on rental trailers. The Commissioners asked that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee review the policy to see if they want to make a recommendation to change it. Commissioner Wivell stated that he received information regarding the Veteran’s Pride Initiative event. He reported on the Board of Social Services meeting and informed the Commissioners that the State has agreed to assist in the transportation study project to the Hunters Green Industrial Park. Commissioner Kercheval informed the Commissioners that he attended the Library’s Gala in the Stacks and the Fort Ritchie transfer ceremony. He reported on meetings of the Economic Development Commission (EDC), Local Management Board, and the Mental Health Advisory Committee. Commissioner Kercheval stated that he toured the vacant Allegheny Energy building with members of the EDC, the Greater Hagerstown Committee and Congressman Bartlett’s office to attempt to increase marketing of the facility. Commissioner Snook reminded the Commissioners that the Commission on Aging is holding a ceremony on November 1 honoring citizens who have reached the century mark. He stated that he received a letter from Secretary Scott that the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce Housing would be meeting tomorrow at the City Council Chambers. Commissioner Snook informed the Commissioners that the Disabled American Veterans hosted County veterans at a showing of the new movie “Flags of our Fathers.” He stated that he attended with his father-in-law who fought on Iwo Jima during World War II. Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Nipps, to fill the Project Manager and Senior Office Associate positions at the Community Partnership for Children and Families. Unanimously approved. FUNDING OPTIONS – CEDAR SPRINGS PUMPING STATION John Schnebly, Chair of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission (EDC), and Tim Troxell, Executive Director of the EDC, met with the Commissioners to discuss the Cedar Springs Pumping Station. Mr. Schnebly explained that the Cedar Springs Pumping Station is designed to serve the remaining lands in the Newgate Industrial Park that cannot be served by gravity lines. He stated that the station must be constructed in order to further develop the remaining 1,600 acres in the industrial park. OCTOBER 24,2006 PAGE TWO The construction estimate for the project is $1.9 million. Mr. Schnebly noted that the EDC has secured a grant of $300,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the project. However, the remaining $1.6 million would be funded from the County’s General Fund. Mr. Troxell indicated that the money could be appropriated as an economic development grant or could have a long-term payback requirement based on per acre ($1,000/acre) and/or per equivalent dwelling unit (edu) calculations (whichever is higher.) He provided various scenarios but stated that funding the project would result in a minimum 20-year payback. The Commissioners then opened the meeting for questions and discussion. Commissioner Snook stated that it might be possible to obtain additional ARC funding in 2009. The Commissioners discussed various options for payback. Debra Murray, Director of Finance, stated that funding has been targeted for this purpose, pending the Commissioners’ approval, by reallocation of baseline costs in the Fiscal Year 2007 budget that will not be fully required until FY 2008. She recommended using the savings from principal and interest that were set aside for the landfill capping project ($811,000) and taking the remainder from GASBY 45funds that were set aside. Mr. Troxell noted that a public hearing may be necessary to establish the necessary payback funding mechanism if the County forward-funds the project. Motion made by Commissioner Munson to approve the recommendation to forward-fund $1.6 million for the Cedar Springs pumping station project based on a per acre charge. Motion died for lack of a second. Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Nipps, to approve the recommendation to forward-fund $1.6 million to construct the Cedar Springs pumping station project to serve the remaining lands in the Newgate Industrial Park, with a long-term developer payback mechanism based on $1,000 per acre or $1,000 per EDU, whichever is greater, to allow County staff to proceed with the pumping station project. Unanimously approved. County staff was instructed to determine the proper procedure for establishing the above-referenced payback mechanism. A public hearing will be held to set the assessment fee. BID AWARD – UNIFORM RENTAL SERVICES Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Kercheval, to award the contract for uniform rental services to Coyne Textile Services, which submitted the lowest responsive, responsible bid of $43,131.66 for a one-year period beginning December 4, 2006 with an option by the County to renew the contract for up to four (4) additional consecutive one (1) year periods. Unanimously approved. RIGHT-OF-WAY PURCHASE – MAUGANS AVENUE Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve the purchase of right-of-way and easement acquisitions as follows: 7,867 square feet in fee simple and 15,918 square feet in temporary construction easements from McDonald’s Corp. in the amount of $210,000 as needed for the Maugans Avenue project. Unanimously approved. HUNTER’S GREEN TRANSPORTATION PROJECT David Engle, Director of the Department of Social Services, and Kevin Cerrone, Transportation Director, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on the Hunter’s Green Transportation Project. Mr. Engle stated that Secretary McCabe informed them that there has been a resolution relating to the funding of the project. He indicated that the State Office of Children & Youth has agreed to provide $166,000 for funding the first year of the study, and the State will provide funding for the second year based on the percentage of the ridership of Social Services’ clients (approximately 50%.) The State is asking if the County would fund the remaining $40,000 for the second year. Mr. Cerrone informed the Commissioners that he could apply for a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) grant for the last piece of the funding since he would have the OCTOBER 24,2006 PAGE THREE necessary ridership data at that time. The Commissioners asked if the employers in the Hunter’s Green Industrial Park would be willing to contribute toward the project. They authorized Mr. Cerrone to apply to MTA for grant funding for the second year of the project. RECESS – LUNCH The Commissioners recessed at 11:45 a.m. for lunch. AFTERNOON SESSION The afternoon session was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by President Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Commissioners James F. Kercheval, John C. Munson, and Doris J. Nipps. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, informed the Commissioners that he was going to schedule a half-day Board of Commissioners meeting on November 21. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve the recommendation to fill the Maintenance Equipment Operator I position in the Highway Department. Unanimously approved. FY 2006 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Kercheval, to authorize the Division of Fire & Emergency Services to accept a Homeland Security grant in the amount of $318,571.11 and to authorize the Director of Fire & Emergency Services to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for the grant as outlined. Unanimously approved. (Commissioner Wivell arrived at 1:20 p.m.) FIRE & RESCUE REVOLVING LOAN COMMITTEE John Latimer, IV, Director of Fire & Emergency Services, informed the Commissioners that the Fire and Rescue Revolving Loan Committee is recommending approval of the request made by the Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. for a loan of $97,377,50 for the purchase of a 2007 Pierce pumper/engine. Mr. Latimer stated that the Company is also applying for a hardship grant and a low-interest loan from the Maryland State Fireman’s Association. The County grant would cover the matching funds required for the State application. Motion made by Commissioner Munson, seconded by Nipps, to approve a loan of $97,377.50 from the Fire and Rescue Revolving Loan Fund to the Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. for the purchase of a 2007 Pierce pumper/engine. Unanimously approved. FY 2006 MARYLAND INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS (MIEMSS) GRANT Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Munson, to authorize the Division of Fire & Emergency Services to accept a MIEMSS grant in the amount of $2,230 to offset operating costs associated with the Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol program and to authorize the Director of Fire & Emergency Services to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with the agency. Unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 17, 2006 Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Munson, to approve the minutes of October 17, 2006. Unanimously approved. UPDATE – HEALTH OFFICER Mr. Shoop informed the Commissioners that the applications for Health Officer are in and that the interview process would begin on November 2. He stated that eight applicants will be interviewed. Mr. Shoop stated that he would serve on the interview team along with Diane Matusak, Director of the Community Health Administration; David Hankinson, Director of Human Resources; and Thomas Pianta, Chair of the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health. Mr. Shoop indicated that the team OCTOBER 24,2006 PAGE FOUR would narrow the list to two-to-three candidates for the Commissioners to interview. ADJOURNMENT – GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR NEW BOONSBORO LIBRARY Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Wivell, to adjourn at 1:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. The Commissioners then attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Boonsboro Library. , County Administrator , County Attorney ___________________________, County Clerk