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
July 15, 2003.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
During the approval of the Board of
County Commissioners' Minutes for the
July 8 meeting, Commissioners' President
Greg Snook reiterated that the intent
of the HotSpots grant was to provide
$45,000 for one year, regardless of
any actions the City of Hagerstown government
might take. The Minutes for that meeting
will be amended to reflect that intent.
FULL
COST ACCOUNTING REPORT-MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE SERVICES WORKSHOP
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian
brought this report to the Board. Earlier
this year, a Full Cost Analysis (FCA)
was performed on all activities of the
Solid Waste Department.
Bastian told the Board that Washington
County has historically treated solid
waste as one operation with no differentiation
between the activities or programs which
it oversees. As with most governmental
entities service expectations increase
as population increases. Local governments
face challenges to maintain, and even
expand solid waste activities. As this
has occurred, Washington County has
examined long-range forecasts within
its solid waste operations and found
issues that needed to be resolved. The
county determined that it needed a full
cost accounting of all solid waste operations.
When it had full knowledge of the County's
financial position an informed decision
regarding current and future financing
decisions affecting solid waste activities
could then be made. Making cost-effective
and informed decisions about solid waste
services and programs requires access
to information including, but not limited
to, budgets and engineering estimates.
Government Officials need to know the
true cost of solid waste processing.
FCA provides an approach to identifying
and assessing the cost of managing solid
waste operations. If offers a framework
to aid decision-makers with short and
long-term program planning and it can
help identify measures for streamlining
and improving operations. Bastian explained
the financial structure now in use,
with funding from landfill revenues
and debt issues. Debt issues consist
of revenue bonds secured by a specific
revenue source and general obligation
debt originally secured by tax revenue.
With the implementation of the County's
FCA model all solid waste fund debt
can now be supported by the revenues
generated under the cost of service
plan. Some of more recent debt has been
issued through Maryland Water Quality
at below market rates. Total debt included
for all municipal waste programs and
activities for the budget year 2004
is projected to be $18,711,786. Of this
amount 86% or $16,091,135 is attributable
to self-supported activities at the
40-West landfill and transfer sites,
associated with landfilling, permits,
and composting. The remaining 14% of
the debt, or $2,619,651 is associated
with closed sites that are no longer
in operation and or involve mandated
environmental activities other than
landfilling. In evaluating the County's
municipal solid operations, it was learned
that a large portion of the cost was
unrelated to current operations, including
debt. This combined with growing cost,
increased federal and state regulations
on landfills, and the projected long-range
shortfalls prompted Washington County
Officials to take a proactive approach
to assure sound fiscal management for
the future of solid waste operations
within Washington County, Bastian said.
Revenue generated by landfill permits
does not cover the cost of the program,
and Senior Citizen subsidies play a
part in the shortfall, Bastian said.
Some users of the landfill now pay a
per-visit charge based on scale fees,
with a minimum charge of $5.00. Those
fees are based on type and amount of
trash weighed. The ultimate system for
landfill fees would be a charge card
that would be swiped with each visit
or a credit/debit card, Bastian said.
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.
Barbara Hovermale of the Citizens for
the Protection of Washington County
commented on trash dumping along roadways.
SAFETY
PROGRAM UPDATE
Safety and Risk Management Administrator
Brian Overcash and County Third Party
Claims Administrator Debbie Elliot of
Crawford and Company, brought this update
before the Board. Overcash traced the
history of the formalized Safety training
program from its beginning in 1996 and
how the program has functioned for the
benefit of all employees and the citizens
of Washington County. Overcash defined
mandatory and non mandatory safety trainings
presented each year, presented an overview
of the County Safety Committee activities,
and discussed future programs and activities
the department will undertake. Automatic
External Defibrillators, which save
lives of victims of heart attacks have
been placed in several County buildings
and additional units will be put into
use in the future. Employee safety has
become the #1 priority in the County
over the 7 years, Overcash said. Elliot
told the Board that the County's program
is among the best in the State, and
a model for other governmental entities
to follow. Less than 10% of the Workman's
Compensation claims each year result
in time lost, Elliot said. Overcash
said that institution of a light-duty
program in the County has helped cut
those losses.
UPGRADED
TELEPHONE SYSTEM REPORT
Information Technologies Director Ron
Whitt presented this update on the County
digital integrated telephone system
to the Board. The County Commissioners
awarded a $500,000 contract to Verizon
in 2001 to design, install and test
a new telecommunications network. The
process began in November of that year,
and the final portion was accepted on
April 1st of 2003. Through aggressive
management techniques, $121,000 in credits
and adjustments benefited the County,
Whitt said. The system provides better,
leaner and faster communications with
improved voice quality, unified desktop
messaging and digital convergence. This
means that employees are able to answer
and respond to voice-mail messages from
their computer work stations, along
with internet and intra-net emails.
The new system reduces recurring costs,
resulting in a first year net savings
of $34,458.00. There is still work to
be done on the system, Whitt said, with
accounting procedures and addition of
locations to the system. Some remote
agencies, such as the Ag Center do not
have digital convergence as yet, but
will be added in the future, Whitt reported.
WASHINGTON
COUNTY PUBLIC NETWORK MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
Whitt also brought a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOU) between the County, the City of
Hagerstown, and the Washington County
Free Library before the Board for approval.
The original partners have expanded
collaboration to the Board of Education
through sharing of ideas, information,
resources and cooperative endeavors.
The mission of the group, known as the
Washington County Public Network (WCPN)
is to provide information access and
close the "digital divide"
for Washington County citizens. The
MOU establishes a framework for cooperation
between the partners. The original partnership
established a high-speed fiber optic
data network in the downtown area. The
agreement does not impose funding obligations
but will establish an interagency committee
for enhanced project coordination. City
of Hagerstown Finance Director Al Martin
told the Board that the network will
be expanded in the downtown area due
to revenue raised from the City Franchise
agreement with Antietam Cable. A result
will be to link the City Police Department
with the Sheriff's Department Detention
Center through fiber-optic cable, providing
for better communication between the
agencies. The Hagerstown Mayor and Council,
the Board of Education, and the Library
are in concurrence with the memorandum.
The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
ENGINEERING
REVIEW FEES
Department of public Works Director
Gary Rohrer and County Chief Engineer
Terry McGee brought to the Board a recommendation
for adoption of revised Engineering
Review Fees, as proposed to cover actual
costs of services provided for growth
and development.. On June 17th, the
Board approved the addition of two new
positions in the Engineering Department
to address the significant increase
in workload attributed to residential
growth and development. The positions
were approved for advertisement with
the understanding that the Director
of Public Works would return with a
revised Engineering Review Fee structure
to support these costs. The proposed
revision to the review fee structure
supports all growth related to operating
expenses within the Engineering Department,
Rohrer said. The Board approved adding
a second Plan Reviewer position that
would primarily focus on traffic impact
analysis while providing support to
the overall review process, as well
as acting as a third field inspector.
The latter position has been critically
needed to handle the significant workload
generated by growth-related issues throughout
the County. The new fee structure covers
salary and benefits, straight-line depreciation
for vehicle replacements, fuel, and
vehicle maintenance costs. The new fee
structure, if applied to actual growth
and development data for June 2002 through
May 2003, produces a "break-even"
revenue total, Rohrer said. Fees proposed
include $120 plus $50 per lot for a
preliminary plat; Preliminary Site Plan
and Site Plan fees of $120.00 plus amounts
varying from $75 to $275 per acre, based
on number of disturbed acres; $120 plus
amounts varying from $50 to $200 per
lot based on road construction and acreage;
$125.00 per Simplified Plat; $250 per
intersection studied for Traffic Impact,
$125.00 plus $25 per acre for Grading
Plans; $100 for each Storm Water Management
Exemption and $125.00 for a Simplified
Storm Water Management Plan. Washington
County Homebuilders' Association representative
Debbie Turpin commented that her group
needed time to review the proposed fee
structure. Commissioner Bill Wivell
requested an analysis of all fees related
to building a house in Washington County
prior to action being taken. Staff will
develop additional information and make
a report at next week's meeting.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT: STATE DOMESTIC
PREPAREDNESS EQUIPMENT GRANT
Department of Emergency Services (DES)
Director Joe Kroboth requested authorization
of a Memorandum, of Agreement (MOU)
between the County and the Maryland
Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to
accept $117,927.42 in grant funding.
Each year MEMA provides funding to increase
safety and the capabilities of first
responders across Maryland. In order
to receive this year's funds, an MOU
must be executed. A committee that includes
law enforcement agencies, the Washington
County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association
and DES reviews the list of equipment
available through the program, and has
recommended purchase of personal protective
clothing, detection gear and rescue
equipment as authorized by the grant.
The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT AND ONE-TIME
SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT FUNDING
Kroboth also requested execution of
a Memorandum of Agreement between the
County and MEMA to accept $41,265 in
grant funding from the state Emergency
Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
and an additional one-time supplemental
grant. The EMPG is an annual grant from
MEMA to the County. This year $20,000.00
in additional funding is available for
interoperability radio equipment. The
devices to be purchased link radios
of different frequencies to serve as
a short term stop-gap to relieve a problem
in the radio communication system. 50%
matching funds would come from existing
department budgets in the Emergency
Management Department and the Fire Department
Special Operations line item. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
COMMISSIONERS'
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval told the
Board that last week at a civic meeting,
the issue of Pre-Kindergarten was discussed.
Pre-K is mandated in Title I schools.
Kercheval requested revisiting a decision
regarding Pre-K classes and the Adequate
Public Facilities Ordinance that was
made in last week's Board meeting. The
Economic Development Commission meeting
last week discussed the ribbon cutting
ceremony for the Intelsat facility at
Allegheny Energy business park, that
event has been set for September 24th,
Kercheval said. The building that had
been planned as the home for the Discovery
Station is now back in City of Hagerstown
hands, Kercheval said. The Discovery
Station group is looking for a larger
facility to meet its needs.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on
last week's Maryland Association of
Counties' Legislative Committee meeting.
The state is still looking at a $1.5
billion shortfall and additional budget
cuts could be made. The Water Quality
Advisory Committee issued a statement
against support of the proposed City/County
settlement on Water and Sewer issues
if annexation is to be a part of that
settlement. The Conococheague Pretreatment
Facility showed a profit for the first
time, due to the increased amount of
leacheate treated during the recent
period of heavy rain, Wivell reported.
Wivell asked for an update on the Police
Athletic League issue. County Administrator
Rod Shoop stated that Washington County
Community Partnership Director Stephanie
Stone will attend tonight's City Council
meeting, and bring an update on the
matter before the Commissioners next
week. The WCCP will implement a revised
review process for such instances, Shoop
said.
Commissioner John Munson requested legal
research into renting space at the Agricultural
Education Center to recreational vehicle
owners for parking in the winter months.
Munson said he was told that private
vehicles could not park under the pole
barns at that facility because of liability
issues.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook
commented on the retirement ceremony
for Pastor R. Edward Hampton of Emmanuel
Baptist Temple after 34 years of service
to the community. A letter from the
Maryland Department of the Environment
was received, dealing with a sewage
sludge reapplication at the Robert Carr
farm on Kemp's Mill Road. It is a usual
procedure for MDE to ask Counties if
public hearings should be held on the
issue. The Board did not express interest
in such a hearing.
REQUEST
TO FILL VACANCY: HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT
Highways Department Maintenance Director
Jack Reynard brought a request to fill
an existing Office Associate III position
before the Board. Reynard told the Commissioners
that the open Grade 6 position is critical
to the Highways Department operations
because it handles fuel billing operations
for 28 agencies and prepares quarterly
tax reports. Annual salary is $22,044
to $35,271, and the Department is using
a part-time Office Associate to fill
in. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
TRANSFER
TAX AND AMENDED EXCISE TAX ORDINANCES
County Attorney Richard Douglas brought
these items before the Board for approval.
Public Hearings were held on June 10th,
2003 on the Ordinances. Public Hearings
on the Ordinances were held on June
10th, and Douglas said that information
on the tax and its start date has been
sent to all members of the County Bar
Association as well as local and state
government agencies that deal with tax
collections. The Transfer tax imposes
a .5% tax on total gross transfers of
properties with several exceptions.
First-time Washington County home buyers
would be exempt, and the first $50,000.00
of the transaction would be exempt.
Exemptions would also be applicable
to state transfer tax and the transfers
would be subject to the agricultural
transfer tax. At least $400,000.00 of
the revenue generated annually would
be used for agricultural land preservation
and other measures to enhance viability
of agriculture in the county. Remaining
revenue would be used only for school
renovation and construction, for public
safety including loans and grants to
volunteer fire and rescue companies
for capital expenditures, for transportation
projects and for debt reduction. Adoption
of an Amended Building Excise Tax Ordinance
will be delayed until the meeting on
July 22nd, due to a revision in the
text.
OTHER
BUSINESS
County Administrator's Comments: County
Administrator Rod Shoop requested approval
of Planning and Community Development
Director Bob Arch as Zoning Enforcement
Official for Washington County. Permits
and Inspections Director Paul Prodonovich,
who had held that designation, retired
recently. Arch told the Board that the
move was part of reorganization of the
Planning Department, which oversees
Permits and Inspections. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote. Shoop
also polled the Board as to its wishes
on having a meeting on July 29. The
date had been scheduled as vacation
for the Commissioners. The Board reached
consensus to meet on that date.
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