Washington County Commissioners Meeting Summary

SOUND SYSTEM REPLACEMENT
    Director of Public Works Gary Rohrer brought this proposal before the Board. The existing microphone and recording system in the Commissioners’ meeting room is aging, and components do not reflect state-of-the-art technology. State law requires minutes of each Commissioners’ meeting be recorded and transcribed for public information as well as legal use. In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires an Assistive Listening System (ALS) be available in public meeting places. The County has an ALS loop installed, but it is not well integrated with the existing system. Upgrading the system to digital technology would also allow the County minutes to be stored on rewritable CD, rather than on cassette tape, as is currently the practice. Cassette tapes have a usable life span of about 20 years. The usable life span of an optical CD is estimated to be limitless, given proper storage and handling. New desk mounted microphones, digital recorder and computer interface, as well as gallery microphones would be installed. Digital processors would control extraneous noise. The proposed package would cost $16,000.00, Rohrer said. The City of Hagerstown recently installed a similar system at a cost of $25,000.00.
The measure was approved and will go to bid.

ADJUSTMENTS TO WORKSHOP MEETING AREA
    Rohrer also requested removal of the existing partition between the Workshop Meeting Area and the existing Conference Room on the second floor of the Administration Building. The workshop area was designed for joint meetings with the Hagerstown Mayor and Council or the Board of Education. The room configuration does not allow for gallery seating. Rohrer told the Board that removal of the partition would enhance these meetings, and a sound proof accordion curtain would be installed to allow for continued use of smaller conference rooms. Cost of the project would be $6,082.00 with labor performed by Buildings, Grounds and Parks Department personnel. The measure was approved.

PROPOSED 2003 GOALS AND INMITIATIVES
    Human Resources Director Alan Davis and County Administrator Rod Shoop brought this discussion before the Board, to discuss possible Commissioners’ Initiatives for the next 4 years, and Goals in support of those initiatives. Suggested Initiatives include: Operational Efficiencies—working with other governmental and private entities to assure that public funds are being used effectively and efficiently. Financial Planning—assures that best financial practices be implemented. Economic Development—would investigate the possibility of privatization of the EDC, promote reuse of the Fort Ritchie property and partnering with municipalities for urban revitalization. Education—encourages partnerships between the County and the Board of Education, Hagerstown Community College, Frostburg State University and the University Systems of Maryland and the private sector. Planning—revises the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), the zoning ordinance and other regulations to complement and/or support the Comprehensive Plan while working with the municipalities to develop a County-wide APFO. Water and Sewer—would be an initiative to develop formal business plans for the Conococheague Industrial Pretreatment Facility and the Nicodemus Wastewater Treatment Facility and resolve City/County water/wastewater issues. Miscellaneous—a general Initiative for promotion of joint initiatives with other entities to include central booking and systems consolidation. Adoption of policies for ownership and maintenance of Stormwater Management Ponds, and promotion of interactive E-government would be included in this initiative. 10 Proposed Goals would support activities of the Board in completing the initiatives over the 4-year period. The initiatives and goals were discussed and refined and will be presented for adoption on February 4th.

EXCISE/TRANSFER TAX PROPOSAL
    The Board discussed a proposal made by Delegate Chris Shank regarding taxes to be imposed on construction in Washington County. Shank’s measure would provide funds for agricultural preservation through imposition of an excise tax on new residential or commercial construction. A half-percent tax could generate $3.5 million in needed revenue. A tax on the transfer of property could also be put into place. The Board approved supporting the Delegate’s plan by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners’ Wivell and Munson voting “no”. The Board meets with the Delegation again on January 29th in Annapolis.

Once each month, the Board holds an evening meeting in one of the 9 County municipalities in order to give citizens increased opportunity to interact with local government. This month, the meeting was held at the Funkstown Town Hall.
 

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
    Emergency Services Department Director Joe Kroboth brought Emergency Communications Specialist Bill King before the Board for recognition of his contributions toward saving a human life. On November 20 of last year, King answered a 9-1-1 call for assistance from a mother reporting that her son was choking. King provided life saving instructions to calm the mother and help her apply interventions that saved the child’s life. Kroboth said that King’s quick thinking and specialized training made a significant difference in the lives of the Szakac family. Kroboth presented king with the “2002 Lifesaver” award. Commissioner’s President Greg Snook presented a County Certificate of Merit to King, citing efforts as a sincere appreciation for making a difference in the lives of the citizens of Washington County.

 
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
    Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the coming Union negotiation and asked if the County’s negotiating team had been selected. County Administrator Rod Shoop said that Human Resources Director Alan Davis, Assistant County Attorney John Martirano and Highways Department Director Ted Wolford will act on behalf of the County in those talks. Wivell commented on a tour of the Fort Ritchie Gymnasium, and on a meeting with the Department of Social Services. DSS is under a state hiring freeze and personnel ranks are down by 20, In addition, $189,000.00 has been cut from the budget for services, Wivell reported.
    Commissioner John Munson reported on a recent meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Landfill fees and County-wide trash pickup were discussed. Revenues were up by 14% during the first 6 months of the Fiscal Year at the Solid Waste Department, Munson said.
    Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a meeting with Hagerstown Community College President Guy Altieri, faculty and staff about the College’s funding needs. New curricula have been added to the Course Catalog, Nipps said.     
    Commissioner Jim Kercheval also reported on that HCC meeting, adding that the College revenues have dropped due to state cuts, and that HCC misses out on about $800,000.00 in state revenue each year due to the number of out of state students. Almost 25% of the student body lives outside Maryland, Kercheval said.  
    Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that the Emergency Services Council meeting discussed the Fire/Rescue letter of authority, and was unanimous in its consensus that Emergency Services Director Joe Kroboth and Washington County Volunteer Fire/Rescue Association President Jason Baer continue to work on the issue. Protocols for dispatch and standards for Officers are being developed, and community volunteers are being trained to assist in communications should the County face a major disaster, Snook said.

REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
    Emergency Services Department Director Joe Kroboth told the Board that the Local Emergency Planning Committee elected Bill Shawley of Hagerstown as its co-chair, in a recent meeting. John Bentley of the County Special Operations Unit will continue to serve as the other co-chair of that Committee. The County Fire/Rescue Association budget request for the coming fiscal year has been completed and submitted to Budget and Finance ahead of the deadline, Kroboth said. The Emergency Services Department continues meetings with the state prison system on a forthcoming tabletop disaster drill, Kroboth reported.

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
    Each week the Board of County Commissioners sets aside time to hear from the Citizens of Washington County on matters of community interest.
    Lindon Moser of Funkstown commented on the need for traffic signals on U.S, Alternate-40, and on street lighting issues in the Town.
    Don Allensworth of Hagerstown commented on water and sewer issues in Hagerstown’s North End.
    Gayle Mongan of Funkstown requested information on the bypass projects. Commissioners’ President Snook said that Congressman Bartlett is being asked about availability of federal funding for the two proposed bypass projects that would alleviate traffic congestion in the town. The Metropolitan Planning Organization is working on securing federal funds for the bypass on Funkstown’s eastern perimeter.
    Doug Stone of Funkstown also commented on the Bypass issue, citing the lack of adequate traffic infrastructure in the Town. Commissioner Snook said that the issues are still part of the Commissioners’ focus, and reminded the gathering that 46% of the County highway user fund has been diverted to other projects by the State as part of the current budget cuts.
      
OTHER BUSINESS    
    County Attorney Issues: Assistant County Attorney John Martirano told the Board that Union negotiations will start soon, and that the County only received a letter of intent from the Union in Mid-January. The right to Farm issue is still in the working stages, Martirano said, and a recent conversation with Delegate Chris Shank cleared up misconceptions about the Animal Control legislation the County has proposed.
    Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Advisory Commission to the Board of Health for reappointments of Ron Frew, Robert Griffith and Bryan Kenworthy. That board also requested waiver of the two-term policy to allow Marion Miller to be reappointed. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
    County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reported that April 29th will be the 6-month anniversary of the moratorium on development outside the Urban Growth Area, and that review of the issue will take place at that time. Commissioners will meet with the Board of Education and the Washington County Health System in the coming weeks. The state has reported that the fiber-optic backbone will be “lit” to Hagerstown by the end of the Fiscal Year, Shoop reported.
    
MAYOR AND COUNCIL ISSUES
    Funkstown Mayor Robert Kline told the Board that the Town must find $1.5 million to repair its wastewater treatment lagoons. Environmental officials have advised the Town that the lagoons are leaking, but have not detected any runoff in Antietam Creek. The facilities need relining and a regular maintenance program. Commissioners’ President Snook told Mayor Kline and the Council members that representatives of the County Water and Sewer Department will assist the Town in meeting those mandates.

TAX SETOFF MEETING FOR FUNKSTOWN
    Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Mayor and members of the Funkstown Council that the tax setoff for 2003 decreased by 0.7% due to several factors. Funkstown received $5,239.00 derived from the Parks fund. The funding level is based on a population figure of 983 persons living in the town limits. Mayor Kline said the Town estimates 1044 persons live there, but official census figures have not been made available by the Federal Government.