Note: This is a SUMMARY of the Commissioners Meeting for the purposes of a Press Release. These are not the actual minutes of the meeting.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2130

Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 18, 2003

The Board toured the Maryland Extension Service building and heard an update on the educational programs and activities at the facility, located on Sharpsburg Pike at the breakfast hour.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
Assistant Human Resources Director Dee Hawbaker introduced three new employees to the Board. Jason Kline was recently hired as a Plant Operator Trainee and Michael Kaiser has been employed as an Electrician I, both in the Water and Sewer Department. Karen P. Lucas is a new Project Manager in the Engineering Department.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported that the Board of Education selection committee had narrowed the applicants for Commissioner Nipps' replacement to three, and that those names have been submitted to the Governor. A Planning Commission workshop looked at the need to handle citizen input. A method will be introduced to gather written comments prior to meetings, Kercheval said. Hotspots Coordinator Carolyn Brooks believes the program may be in jeopardy and a joint meeting with City Council Member Carol Moller will be set, to discuss ways the City and County can help, Kercheval said. The Economic Development Commission is looking at target marketing analyses for the County. Industries targeted would be high-tech, have a growth rate of 4% or better and pay higher than average wages. Black Rock Golf Course is open for play as of last weekend, Kercheval reported.
Commissioner John Munson commented on a meeting of the Housing Authority of Washington County. Employee health insurance increases were discussed, Munson said.
Commissioner Dori Nipps commented on The Women's Commission Essay Contest. Additional time has been allocated for that event, through April 12th, Nipps said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that the State Highway Administration has announced repair work on I-70 and on Maryland Route 63 at Tom's Run, to begin soon. A latter from Harford County seeks information on the Washington County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and School capacity, Snook said. Hagerstown Community College will again play host to the Division II Women's Basketball Tournament, the weekend of March 22nd, at the ARCC. The HCC Alumni Society Flower Show drew over 3,000 visitors, Snook reported.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: UTILITIES
Greg Murray, Water and Sewer Department Director brought this proposal before the Board. Murray told the Commissioners that the Total Water and Sewer budget for FY 2004 is requested to be $14.256 million. Four funds make up that department budget, Murray said. The Utilities Fund Administration budget request shows an overall increase of 2.29%. The Water Fund is requesting an increase of $421,000 to handle Federal and State regulatory changes. Those funds would come from Cash Reserves, and no additional borrowing would take place on behalf of the fund. A Cash Reserve balance of 25% of total would remain in place, Murray told the Board. The Sewer Fund would drop by 1.03%, with operating costs declining by 2.09%. Capital outlay in that fund would drop by 10.66%, Murray reported. The fourth fund, the Pretreatment Fund would increase 1.74% in revenue, and expenditures would be balanced. The increase is due to the public-private partnership at the Plant. Temporary operations at the Nicodemus Plant are underway to assess revenue possibilities through sale of the assets, Murray said.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: PROPOSED UTILITY RATE SETTING
Murray and Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian presented proposed water and sewer rates to the Board for Fiscal Year 2004. A 3% revenue increase per year for both the Water and Sewer funds is projected through Fiscal Year 2012. Fixed costs in sewer operations account for the majority of the needed increase, Murray said. An increase in the average Sewer rate of 3.3% would see the average 12,000-gallon per quarter user's bill increase by $3.20 per quarter. An increase in the Water rate of 2.8% was recommended, costing the average 12,000 gallon per quarter customer $3 per quarter. County Administrator Rod Shoop told the Board that the City of Hagerstown modeled its recent consolidation of Water and Sewer Departments on the County operation. Murray requested endorsement by the Board to take the proposed rates to Public Hearing, and the measure was approved by unanimous vote.

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.
Carroll Earp of Hagerstown commented on the recent decision by the Commissioners to approve the PUD designation for the Emerald Pointe development, citing a need for more restrictive zoning in the new Comprehensive Plan.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Sheriff Charles Mades, Captain Doug Mullendore, Warden Van Evans and Lieutenant Randy Wilkerson presented the FY 2004 Budget request for the Sheriff Department's four divisions. The Patrol Division requests an increase of $670,000, the Detention Center is requesting $452,000 in additional funds and the Judicial Division is asking for $67,148 in new revenue. The Narcotics Task Force requested a $24,000 increase. Mades cited the challenges faced by public safety following 9/11/01, and said President Bush's speech to the nation on Monday showed the continuing need for security. A high-ticket item for Patrol and Judicial is purchase of replacement vehicles, but 66% of the two cruisers requested by Judicial would be reimbursed by a grant. For FY '04, the total budget request for the Department is $13.75 million, up $1.21 million, or 9.68% over FY '03. Mades said that employee salary and benefits are the largest categories in all of the budgets. Mades asked for approval of "forward funding" for vehicles, in order to take advantage of a statewide contract that will become effective on April 1. Bills would not come due until after the start of FY '04, but approval is needed in order to take advantage of the multi-jurisdictional contract price. Commissioners' President Snook said that the Board will discuss the matter and make a decision at a later date.

CONTRACT AWARD: FOOD SERVICES AT DETENTION CENTER
Sheriff Mades and County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther brought this recommendation before the Board, to award the contract for food services at the County Detention Center to Aramark Correctional Services, Inc. of Oakbrook Terrace, IL, for the total proposal amount of $390,124.97 based on estimated annual quantities of meals. $451,000.00 is requested in the budget line item for this purpose. Contracted food services offer advantages of cost savings in services, Human Resources will not have to deal with recruitment and retention of staff, guaranteed meal prices assist in annual budgeting and funds will not be tied up in inventory. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

PROCLAMATION: HOME CHEMICAL SAFETY WEEK/LEPC POSTER CONTEST
Director of Emergency Services Joe Kroboth and Verna Brown, Emergency Management Agency Coordinator brought these items before the Board. Each year the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), Emergency Management Agency and the County Special Operations Team host a poster contest about home chemical safety in the elementary schools. A curriculum is presented to students by Special Operations Team and Emergency Management Agency personnel. The program is supported by a number of local businesses, government agencies, the County Commissioners and the Mayor and Council of Hagerstown. LEPC members John Bentley and Bill Shawley accepted proclamations from the Commissioners' President Greg Snook and Mayor Bill Breichner of Hagerstown, designating the week of March 16-22, 2003 as Home Chemical Safety Week in Washington County. The County proclamation cited the LEPC for its contributions to the community through programs of emergency planning and notification, Community-Right -To-Know and toxic inventory reporting. The LEPC Educational committee has done an excellent job since 1996 in disseminating information to schools, businesses and citizens about chemical safety initiatives, the proclamation said. Poster contest semi-finalists from 11 elementary schools were presented with certificates and Silver Medals. Madeline Burker of Maugansville Elementary, Danielle Dayhoff of Salem Avenue Elementary, Megan Deckert of Boonsboro Elementary, Donald Rowe of Bester Elementary, Benjamin Weaver of Emma K. Doub Elementary, Kaitlyn Koby of Sharpsburg Elementary, Megan Micco of Clear Spring Elementary, Toni Ortiz of Hickory Elementary, Jennifer Kendle of Old Forge Elementary, Amber Byers of Lincolnshire Elementary and Erica Miranda of Winter Street Elementary were honored. Their posters are being exhibited in the second floor hallway of the County Administration Building at 100 West Washington Street throughout the week. The three top winners were announced, and received backpacks containing toys and educational items plus additional prizes, and a book bag for their teachers. Third Place Winner was Madeline Burker, who received a Gold Medal, a $50 gift certificate from Toys-R-Us, and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond. Danielle Dayhoff also won a Gold Medal, $50 Toys-R-Us gift certificate and $50 U.S. Bond. First Place went to Megan Deckert, who won a Gold medal, a $100 gift certificate from Circuit City, and a $100 Savings Bond. All finalists received lunch from a local McDonald's restaurant. Sponsors for the event were Synagro, Good Humor Ice Cream, Ewing Oil, Shawley's LP Gas, Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, the Washington County Public School System, the Leitersburg Ladies' Auxiliary and Washington County Ladies Auxiliary and the Washington County Special Operations Unit.

The Commissioners held a joint meeting with the Hagerstown Community College Board of Trustees at the noon hour, to hear the proposed HCC budget, and a report on the status of the College.

OTHER BUSINESS
County Attorney Issues: Assistant County Attorney John Martirano requested approval of an agreement between the County, the Sheriff's Department and the Town of Williamsport on a grant application under the C.O.P.S. program, to provide a resident Sheriff's Deputy for the town. The grant would pay 75% of the costs for the first three years, with the Town picking up the other 25%. In the fourth year, Williamsport would pay the entire cost. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
County Clerk Comments: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought the annual agreement with the Maryland Department of Agriculture for mosquito control before the Board for approval. Municipalities or localities split the cost of spraying with the State. There is no cost to the County, but the Commissioners are required to approve the proposed budget. During Calendar Year 2003, nine locations in the County have requested services by the program, and have agreed to pay one-half of the working budget of $6,150.00. The measure was approved by unanimous vote
County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Board that the next round of budget meetings will be held on Thursday, starting at 9:00 a.m. The Employee Casual Day for February benefited the Parent-Child Center and raised $290.00.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: SOLID WASTE
Solid Waste Department Director Bob Davenport and Budget Director Debra Bastian brought this presentation to the Board. The fund is being renamed "Environmental Service Fund", and is the first County budget to receive a Full Cost Analysis by the Budget and Finance Department. That method of accounting spreads cost over all areas covered by a department's budget, and gives a total, true cost of activities, Bastian said. The budget for the fund for FY 2004 is $6.29 million, up $1.71 million over the past fiscal year, with most of the increase due to costs for closure of Cells at 40-West landfill, Resh landfill, the Hancock landfill and the Rubble landfill. Although some closures have been completed, "post-closure" maintenance costs are still associated with the sites. Operating costs for the Landfill, Composting, Recycling and administration are essentially flat, Davenport said. Washington County is the first in the state to implement this type of cost-allocation. The Commissioners will review all departmental budgets again prior to taking the FY '04 funding plan to public hearing, in May.

BUDGET PRESENTATION: SOIL CONSERVATION
Elmer Weibley of the Washington County Soil Conservation District
presented that agency's FY '04 operating budget to the Board. The County allocation requested is $43,880.00, about 6.6% of the WCSCD overall budget. Soil Conservation is funded by a variety of Federal and State sources, and manages 14 employees. Only two of those positions are funded by the County, Weibley said. The total budget for the operation is $656,000.00, and the request is for a 3% increase in County funding. The measure was approved by unanimous vote. Weibley told the Board that in the future, the WCSCD would be interested in joining the County's employee health-care program.

BID AWARD: INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
County Buyer Vicky McKenzie brought this request, to award the low bid for a Dump Truck with snowplow and other related equipment from the Water and Sewer department to Hagerstown Ford, in the amount of $52,665.00 for one mini-Type Dump/Utility Body to replace a 1986 Dump Truck. Funds for this purchase are included in the current fiscal year budget for the W/S Maintenance Department, in the amount of $76,651.09. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

POSITION VACANCY: OFFICE ASSOCIATE II
Assistant Director of Human Resources Dee Hawbaker and Buildings, Grounds and Parks Director Jim Sterling brought this request before the Board, to refill the Office Associate II position at BG&P at Grade 4, with entry level salary of $18,000.00. The position supports the facilities portion of the department's operations, assists with 10 budgets, acts as receptionist, schedules Parks pavilions, collects fees, enters requisitions for facilities, and other duties as assigned. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

LEASE AGREEMENT: WESTERN MARYLAND CONSORTIUM
Sterling also requested approval of an increase in the per-square-foot lease charge to the Western Maryland Consortium, from $7.50 to $7.75 per square foot, effective 1 July 2003. Sterling told the Board that the last increase was in 2001, and that the County would ultimately like to charge around $8.75 per square foot, a figure in line with commercial rental properties in Hagerstown. The Consortium, a federally-funded job training program, is located on the fourth floor of the County Office Building at 33 West Washington Street. The agency has said it can absorb the 25-cent increase but may take a funding cut in the new Fiscal Year. Sterling proposed renegotiating the lease each year through 2005, so that the agency's budget would not be overburdened. The increase would bring the annual rent revenue to $75,000.00. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.