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May 15, 2007
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: Ted Wolford, Phillip Williams, Guy
Knepper, Rodney Unger, William Vantz, Ann Snyder, Betty
Taylor, Suzette Hartmann, Charles Mades, Kevin Morgan,
Michael Borsos, Linda Reid, Richard Douglas, and Terry
Masters. Commissioner Barr thanked the employees on behalf
of all the Commissioners for their hard work and dedication
to County government.
The regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of
Washington County, Maryland was called to order at 9:30
a.m. by President John F. Barr with the following members
present: Commissioners Kristin B. Aleshire, James F.
Kercheval, and William J. Wivell.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Barr, followed
by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full
assemblage.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 8, 2007
Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Aleshire,
to approve the minutes of May 8, 2007. Unanimously
approved.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Wivell reported on the meetings of the PenMar
Development Corporation and Water Quality Advisory
Commission.
Commissioner Kercheval reported on the Board of Education
2+2 Committee meeting. He thanked Secretary Colmers of the
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene for the
appointment of Earl Stoner as Washington County’s Health
Officer.
Commissioner Aleshire informed the Commissioners that he
met with the Board of Education staff regarding questions
he had regarding their FY 2008 budget request.
Commissioner Barr stated that he attended the True Grit
Awards sponsored by the YMCA and also attended the funeral
of Jerry Hoak who had been a member of the Economic
Development Commission and other County boards.
BID AWARD – UNIFORMS FOR SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by
Aleshire, to award the contract for uniforms for the
Sheriff’s Department Officers to Red the Uniform Taylor,
Inc., which submitted the sole bid of $128,204.50 based on
estimated quantities. Funding will be taken from FY 2007
and FY 2008 funds. Unanimously approved.
CONTRACT RENEWAL – CONTRACT SERVICES AT TRANSFER STATIONS
AND ON-SITE AT FORTY WEST LANDFILL
Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by
Kercheval, to renew the contract for Contract Services at
Transfer Stations and On-Site at the Forty-West Landfill to
Peck’s Refuse Disposal, LLC, for a one-year period based on
the rates proposed and cardboard transport: Greensburg -
$134, Kaetzel - $138, Dargan - $136, Hancock - $130, Forty-
West - $28/box and cardboard - $95/box. Unanimously
approved.
CONTRACT AWARD – PHYSICAL EXAMINATION SERVICES
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by
Aleshire, to award the contract for physical examination
services to Health@Work, the sole proposer, for its total
base proposal of $61,535 per year based upon estimated
quantities for the specified services. Unanimously
approved.
REAPPOINTMENT – DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by
Aleshire, to reappoint Gary Swartz to the Disability
Advisory Committee for a three-year term retroactive to
November 2006 and extending to November 31, 2009.
MAY 15, 2007
PAGE TWO
Unanimously approved.
REAPPOINTMENTS – BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Aleshire,
to appoint David Pool to the Board of Social Services for a
three-year term and to reappoint Ellen Hayes and Roland
Smith for three-year terms. Unanimously approved.
REAPPOINTMENTS – ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Aleshire,
to waive the two-term policy limit and reappoint Ann
Corcoran, Jan Wetterer, and John Schildt on the Antietam
Battlefield Advisory Committee for three-year terms.
Unanimously approved.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS
Greg Murray, County Administrator, reminded the
Commissioners that the budget hearing is scheduled for May
22 at Hagerstown Community College. Mr. Murray reviewed
the health care changes to employees effective July 1, 2007
due to a new insurance carrier. He indicated that most
would increase by 2.1 percent; however, the vision care
costs would be less than 2.1%. He discussed a request for
a commercial sewer allocation in the North End of
Hagerstown. Mr. Murray stated that the request would be
for 23 EDUs. He proposed providing three this fiscal year,
ten EDUs after July 1, and ten after January 1. After
discussion, it was the consensus of the Commissioners to
approve proceeding to fill the request in this manner.
CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
There was no one present who wished to comment.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Terry McGee, Chief Engineer, provided an update on the
Maugans Avenue project and the sinkhole that developed at
that location. Mr. McGee related the measures taken to
stabilize the area and commended County employees from the
Highways and Engineering Departments, as well as the
contractors, who worked to correct the situation. He
stated that it was a testament to the way the public and
private sectors can work together. Mr. McGee stated that
they may find more sinkholes during the project and that
they would be doing geophysical testing in the area.
Norm Bassett, Public Information Officer, informed the
Commissioners that the public hearing on the FY 2008 budget
and tax rate would be broadcast on Antietam Cable
television from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
APPROVAL TO FILL POSITION
Motion made by Commissioner Wivell, seconded by Aleshire,
to approve advertising to fill the Sign Mechanic position
at the Highways Department. Unanimously approved.
CONTRACT RENEWAL – HEATING, VENTILATING, AIR CONDITIONING
AND AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLS MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by Wivell,
to renew the contract for heating, ventilating, air
conditioning and automatic temperature controls maintenance
service to Miller & Anderson, Inc. at the requested
increase to the current contract of 2.3 percent ($32,500)
for a one-year period. Unanimously approved.
REZONING MAP AMENDMENT RZ-06-017 – BOWMAN CAVETOWN, LLC
Kirk Downey, Assistant County Attorney, informed the
Commissioners that rezoning map amendment RZ-06-017 has
been withdrawn by the applicant.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by
Kercheval, to convene in closed session at 11:10 a.m. to
discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, or
compensation of appointees, employees, or officials over
whom it has jurisdiction; to discuss any other personnel
matter that affects one or more specific individuals; and
consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, in accordance
with Section 10-508 of the State
MAY 15, 2007
PAGE THREE
Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Unanimously approved.
(Commissioner Baker arrived at the meeting at 11:20 a.m.)
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by Wivell,
to reconvene in open session at 11:55 a.m. Unanimously
approved.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the
appointment, employment, assignment, or compensation of
appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has
jurisdiction and discussed personnel matter that affect one
or more specific individuals.
Present during closed session were Commissioners John F.
Barr, Terry L. Baker, Kristin B. Aleshire, James F.
Kercheval, and William J. Wivell. Also present at various
times were Greg Murray, County Administrator; John
Martirano, County Attorney; Kirk Downey, Assistant County
Attorney; and Andrew Wilkinson, Assistant County Attorney.
RECESS - LUNCH
The Commissioners recessed at 11:55 a.m. for lunch.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The afternoon session was called to order at 1:16 p.m. by
President John F. Barr, with the following members present:
Vice President Terry L. Baker, and Commissioners Kristin B.
Aleshire, James F. Kercheval, and William J. Wivell.
FY 2008 GENERAL FUND BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
Debra Murray, Director of Finance, and Kim Edlund,
Assistant Director, met with the Commissioners to continue
the review of FY 2008 General Fund budget requests.
Ms. Murray reviewed the changes made to date in the Capital
Improvements Program (CIP) budget. The Commissioners
agreed to place $8,128,530 in a reserve restricted fund for
a use to be determined at a later date. Ms. Murray
outlined several projects for which these funds could be
utilized.
The Commissioners discussed the Barbara Ingram School for
the Arts. Ms. Murray indicated that she received an e-mail
message from the Board of Education’s Financial Advisor
recommending that the MEDCO option be utilized to fund the
project. She stated that this is a different track than
was discussed at last week’s meeting. Ms. Murray informed
the Commissioners that there is a question as to whether
the tax credit could be utilized if the funding does not go
through MEDCO and that their attorney is revisiting this
issue. After discussion, the Commissioners agreed to wait
for the opinion of the Board of Education’s attorney
regarding the tax credit. They agreed that, if the project
is to move forward, their intention is to use the most
cost-effective option and indicated that they still have
questions regarding the project.
The Commissioners reviewed the General Fund budget and
revisited specific unresolved items. Vicki Sadehvandi,
Executive Director of CASA, appeared before the
Commissioners and explained that this is the second year of
a two-year program to raise the salaries of employees to a
position where they would not continue to lose trained
staff. After discussion, it was the consensus to include
the funding for salaries in the FY 2008 budget as requested
for CASA. Ms. Sadehvandi indicated that they would not
request more than a three percent increase in FY 2009.
It was the consensus of the Commissioners to provide
$14,800 to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition using
the Community Action Council (CAC) as a conduit and to
place the remaining balance of the funds earmarked for this
program into the Local Management Board’s budget. It was
the consensus of the Commissioners to fund the request made
by C-Safe for $45,000 as a one-time cost from the FY 2007
Commissioners Contingency Fund. A majority of the
Commissioners also agreed to approve the request
MAY 15, 2007
PAGE FOUR
from Leadership Washington County for $10,000. The
Commissioners denied the request from the Maryland Theatre
for $25,000.
The Commissioners denied the request to provide a
supplement for the Health Officer in FY 2008 and reconsider
the request after the probationary period has ended. The
Commissioners denied the request from the Department of
Social Services to reinstate funds that had previously been
cut and the additional supplement to the Director’s State
salary.
It was the consensus of the Commissioners to fund the
request from Hagerstown Community College at $7,942,380.
The Commissioners discussed the funding for the Smithsburg
and Boonsboro branch libraries and asked about the status
of the maintenance agreements. It was the consensus to
approve the Library’s funding request.
It was the consensus of the Commissioners to adjust the
salary of the Director of Buildings, Grounds, and Parks by
$5,000 for assuming the responsibility for Black Rock Golf
Course, to increase the Director of Transportation from
Grade 15 to Grade 16 with a $4,000 adjustment, and the
Director of Emergency Services by $5,000.
The issues discussed above were approved for inclusion in
the FY 2008 budget to be heard at public hearing on May 22,
2007.
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Baker,
to place Washington County Leadership Development Program,
Inc. on the 1-108 list of non-profit agencies to which the
Commissioners may contribute funds. Motion carried with
Commissioners Kercheval, Baker, and Barr voting “AYE” and
Commissioners Aleshire and Wivell voting “NO.”
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by
Aleshire, to take the Fiscal Year 2008 General Fund budget
to public hearing at the current property tax rate of $.948
per $100 of assessed full value on May 22, 2007 as proposed
by staff with the adjustments made to date. Unanimously
approved.
YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARDS – MAY 2007
The Commissioners presented a certificate of merit to
Alexandra Bates (Clear Spring Middle School) and Ashley
Hill (North Hagerstown High School) in recognition of their
selection as the Youth of the Month by the Washington
County Community Partnership for Children & Families
(“WCCP”) for May 2007. The Commissioners commended them
for their leadership, academic and extra-curricular
activities. Commissioner Barr stated that they would also
receive $100 savings bonds from the WCCP.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Aleshire, seconded by Baker, to
convene in closed session at 3:21 p.m. to discuss the
appointment, employment, assignment, or compensation, of
appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has
jurisdiction; to discuss any other personnel matter that
affects one or more specific individuals; and 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 Aleshire, seconded by Baker, to
reconvene in open session at 3:46 p.m. Unanimously
approved.
In closed session, the Commissioners discussed the
appointment, employment, assignment, or compensation of
appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has
jurisdiction; discussed personnel matters that affect one
or more specific individuals; and consulted with counsel to
obtain legal advice on a legal matter.
Present during closed session were Commissioners John F.
Barr, Terry L. Baker, Kristin B. Aleshire, James F.
Kercheval, and William J. Wivell. Also present at various
times were Greg Murray, County Administrator;
MAY 17, 2007
PAGE FIVE
John Martirano, County Attorney; Joni Bittner, County
Clerk; Mike Thompson, Director of Planning & Community
Development; and Stephen Goodrich, Chief Planner.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Commissioner Kercheval, seconded by Wivell,
to adjourn at 3:46 p.m. Unanimously approved.
,
County Administrator
,
County Attorney
___________________________,
County Clerk