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
May 13, 2003

DEDICATION CEREMONY: SHERIFF'S PATROL BUILDING
The Board attended dedication ceremonies for the new Sheriff's Department Patrol Division building during the early morning hours. Sheriff Charles Mades told the gathering that the facility was first conceived in 1998 and funding was provided in 1999. Construction of the 13,300 square foot building began in September 2000, and was completed in December of last year. Sheriff Mades said that if not for the support and commitment of the County Commissioners, law enforcement would be unable to provide the quality of life that the citizens of Washington County have come to enjoy. Mades thanked former Commissioners John Schnebly, Paul Swartz and Bert Iseminger for funding the project as members of the previous Board. Commissioners' President Greg Snook presented the building to the Sheriff's Department and official ribbon-cutting ceremonies included Sheriff Mades and the Board of County Commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on a meeting of the Economic Development Commission that discussed the Allfirst/M&T Bank Merger and the closing of the Nicodemus bank branch downtown. A tour of the Ryder Air Center at Hagerstown Regional Airport showed an investment of $400,000.00 in the local economy, due to the proposed runway extension, Kercheval said. Governor Ehrlich has again been contacted by the Board of Education replacement committee, Kercheval said.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the Lincoln Day Dinner, and said a meeting with the PenMar Development Corporation Board discussed presentation of a piece of Fire apparatus to Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Company for use as an emergency vehicle.
Commissioner John Munson commented about a telephone call to the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House about funding for the Airport runway extension. Munson also circulated an idea for a multi-event center based on a visit to Gillette, Wyoming.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a meeting of the Historic District Commission that discussed a review of developments in the St. James area. Nipps told the Board that there are several historic buildings on the property and the historic preservation group recommended saving as many of the buildings as possible. Nipps also discussed the Senior Fair, and a meeting of the Commission on Aging last week.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reviewed the Foreign Trade Zone's progress, reporting that the local FTZ is ready to enter the next phase of development with activation of two sites. A letter from the State Highway Administration has alerted the Board to roadwork to be done on U.S. 40-Alternate in the Boonsboro area. A section of that highway from Clevelandtown Road to Moser Road will have to be closed at times and there will be resurfacing underway on Alt-40 beginning soon, Snook said. The Maryland Extension service will hold a meeting in June designed to get local youth involved in County advisory Boards and Commissions. The Emergency Services Council heard a report on approval of Standards for Officer Training for the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association as well as Staffing Standards. These are two large accomplishments, and changes will be monitored over the next several months. The Council also wants to look into Fire and Rescue Apparatus Safe Driving training, possibly sponsored by insurance companies, Snook said.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Commissioner Dori Nipps presented a Certificate of Merit to Cindy Eichelberger, Fiscal Technician with the Department of Budget and Finance. Eichelberger has completed requirements for the Associate's Degree in Accounting at Hagerstown Community College and will graduate May 17th. Eichelberger has been a County Employee for 10 years, and was voted Employee of the Year in 1997 for her work in design of a billing system for telephone charges. Nipps cited Eichelberger as a dedicated and loyal employee, and said the pursuit of a degree showed commitment to providing County Citizens with excellent customer service.

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.
Don Allensworth of Hagerstown commented on a forthcoming appeal of the City of Hagerstown's water approval for the Emerald Pointe subdivision, and commented against city-county consolidation.
Convention and Visitors' Bureau President Ben hart requested approval of the 6% tax on RV sites, tent sites and other lodging areas at campgrounds. A new law giving the Commissioners the right to enact such a tax was passed during the recent session of the Maryland legislature. Hart said that the tax will be divided between the County and the CVB on a 55-45% basis and would be configured along the lines of the Hotel-Motel tax. Two of the larger campground owners favor the tax, Hart said, and said that the law could go into effect on July 1st or thereafter. Commissioners' President Snook told Hart that the Board needs time to discuss this legislation, which was not a part of the Commissioners' legislative package. The previous Board did not support the tax, and the current Commissioners need time to evaluate the implications of such a law and to hold a public hearing on the issue. Snook said time needed for those actions would preclude enacting the law by July 1.

OTHER BUSINESS:
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Social Services Board to appoint John Miller of Hagerstown to fill a vacant position. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop requested approval of up to $900.00 from the Commissioners' Contingency Fund for overtime pay for Sheriff's Deputies assisting with the National Pike Festival, to be held this weekend from Clear Spring to Boonsboro. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
Casual Day for April raised $336.00 for the Maryland Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Association, Shoop said.

30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: JELLYSTONE PARK CAMPGROUND
The Board attended the 30th Anniversary of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground in Williamsport at the noon hour, and presented a proclamation to owners Ron and Vickie Vitkun. The facility has served the needs of campers since 1973, and will soon expand, adding employees. The Proclamation cited the Vitkuns for taking over a struggling business in the County and making it viable, adding new attractions and amenities. The Park is comprised of 90 acres with many recreational activities, 160 camping and RV sites, 31 cabins and 25 tent sites. 30 people are employed by the park and 55,000 visitors are expected this year. The proclamation said that expanding services and adding employees shows that Jellystone is "Smarter than the average park".

PART-TIME EMPLOYEE REQUEST
Highways Department Director Ted Wolford brought this request, to fill a part-time inmate guard vacancy at $10.50 per hour, before the Board. Guards are hired by the Highways Department to supervise workers on highways crews who are incarcerated at Maryland Correctional and Training Institute. Wolford told the Board that there are 8 such positions, filled by retired MCTC guards. Work schedules are 40 hours per week, every other week. Crews assist in maintaining roads and trash collection, at no cost to the County. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

EMPLOYEE REQUEST: PLANT OPERATOR III
County Administrator Rod Shoop brought this request, to fill a vacant Water and Sewer Department Plant Operator III position at Grade 9, or $27,770.00 per year, before the Board. The current employee will leave County service on May 16th and the position is essential to sustain efficient operations at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shoop said. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

PROGRAM OPEN SPACE UPDATE
Buildings, Grounds and Parks Director Jim Sterling, and Recreation and Parks Board Vice-Chair Dennis McGee brought this report to the Board, dealing with Program Open Space (POS) funds allocation for Fiscal Year 2004. Each year the Board is required to adopt a program in order to receive the state funds that are used to acquire land for parks and develop existing parklands. The total allocation for the coming Fiscal Year is $415,328.00 Sterling said. The Recreation and Parks Board hears requests from municipalities and County staff, then makes the recommendations for funding of individual projects. Boonsboro is requesting $50,000 for acquisition of land adjacent to Shafer Park This sum is one of a number of like payments the County has provided in assisting that town to reach the $800,000 figure for additions to that park. The City of Hagerstown would receive $135,000 for a Golf Course irrigation system, the Town of Hancock would receive $20,000.00 to upgrade playground equipment. Keedysville would receive $10,800 towards ballpark fencing, Smithsburg would receive $13,500 for roadway in Veteran's Park, but Williamsport would receive no allocation to its request of $66,500.00. The Washington County School District would receive $49,528 for maintenance of the existing North High School Track. County Parks projects would receive $31,500 for water and electric upgrades at the Agricultural Education Center Park. Tennis Court Rehabilitation at Snook Park and Regional Park would receive $54,000.00. Concession Stand equipment, bleachers and pathway paving at the new Kemp's Mill Park would receive $27,000.00, and $24,000.00 of a $150,000.00 request would be granted for 6 acres of land to be acquired for the proposed Tammany area Park. Requests totaled $5.34 million, Sterling said. The measures were approved by unanimous vote

FY '04 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Last Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners took a balanced budget of $138 million to Public Hearing. Several additional requests were made by the public at that time. The Board decided to have the Health Department deal with School Health Nurses' requests for additional funding, not to approve additional wages for part-time Election Board employees, and enter into future negotiations with the Washington County Free Library on Dental and Optical Care coverages for its employees. Concerns were raised over adoption of the final budget before the deadline for additional cuts to the Governor's Budget took place. Changes were made to the Board of Education request, which had pared down One-Time Costs, and requested transfer of $124,000.00 to maintenance of effort from the One-Time allocation. That transfer did not increase the total to the School Board. In addition, the Commissioners requested that the BOE average out the number of buses purchased each year, to allow for better long-term Planning. Commissioners' President Snook requested a change in the current policy that allowed for purchase of new school buses in lots of four in a particular year, but in lots of twelve in other years. Snook requested an average of nine buses be purchased each year. Commissioners were instructed to present any further budget questions to County Administrator Rod Shoop so that adoption of the FY '04 budget can take place on May 20th.

MORATORIUM DISCUSSION
Planning and Community Development Director Bob Arch brought this discussion before the Board. The 6-month moratorium placed on large scale developments in rural protected areas that was imposed by the previous Board of County Commissioners on October 29, 2002 must be reviewed at some point after the 180-day time period is over. Limits were placed on new major residential site development outside the Urban Growth Areas. Last week the Subdivision Ordinance Text Amendment SO-03-01 was discussed. This amendment would require subdivisions adhere to policy areas and densities in the revised Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the amendment. No action was taken at last week's meeting. Discussion centered on Transfer of Development Rights, Compensation for Loss of Value, and School Capacity issues. The Board reached consensus to take no action on the text amendment and leave the moratorium in effect until issues involving the number of pending residential developments can be sorted out. Arch was instructed to report to the Board on that issue on May 20th.

PROPOSED EXCISE AND TRANSFER TAX DISCUSSION
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian and Planning and Community Development Director Arch brought a discussion of rates for the Transfer and Excise Taxes to the Board. The Fiscal Year '04 budget proposes a transfer and excise tax at a rate consistent with providing $2.4 million in annual revenue. Funds from this revenue source are currently budgeted to support the capital improvement program for FY 2004-2009. A public hearing on these taxes is scheduled for June 10th. Tax rates are required to be set before the beginning of the new Fiscal Year. State law requires $400,000 from the revenue sources to fund Agricultural Preservation. Arch gave the Board a breakdown of building permits over the past 5 year period, with an average of 900 units consisting of single family homes, Townhomes, Semi-detached and Two-Family homes built in the County each year. Data presented also included an average of finished square footage for homes in Washington County, with the Single Family Home at 2466 square feet. Both number of units and square footage would figure into the amount of revenue generated through Transfer and Excise Taxes if implemented. 78% of the units built in the County are Single Family and Townhomes, Arch said. Data on the number, type and size of dwellings constructed and impact on school capacity will be discussed by the Board next week. Bastian presented the Board with definitions of both taxes from the annotated code of Maryland. Projected revenue gained from the taxes, based on Transfer Tax percentages and dollar value of Excise Taxes, will be reviewed and rates set at that time.

 

Back to the Summary Table
Back to the Home Page