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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077

Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County

Board of County Commissioners Meeting

December 9, 2003

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS

Commissioner John Munson reported on attending the Open House at the new Kitchen Center on Longmeadow Road.

Commissioner Dori Nipps thanked Highways Department Crews for the job well done during the recent snow event. Nipps reported on the recent Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues meeting where Interim Planning Director Steve Goodrich made a presentation on Comprehensive Rezoning. The Recreation and Parks Board met last week, and discussed Program Open Space allocations for the coming fiscal year, including the North High School stadium project. That request will be reviewed by staff and presented to the Board at a later date.

Commissioner Bill Wivell requested that County land sale procedures include advertisement in local newspapers as well as placement of signs on the property. The re-interment of persons buried in a cemetery at the 40-West landfill has been completed, Wivell said, with all family wishes respected. PenMar Development Corporation hosted a Tour and presentation to the local Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, Wivell reported. A fundraiser for the Smithsburg Library was successful, Wivell said.

Commissioner Jim Kercheval discussed attending the Eggs and Issues presentation on zoning, making a presentation to a government class at Hagerstown Community College, and attending a Greater Hagerstown Committee meeting last week.

Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that the Interfaith Housing group will hold groundbreaking for the second phase of the Francis Murphy apartments on December 18 th . The Commission on Aging Nutrition Sites serve 250 meals per day to elders and will seek funding for two additional sites, Snook said.

2003 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

Department of Emergency Services (DES) Director Joe Kroboth brought this request before the Board, for acceptance of a grant from the Emergency Management Agency for $56,193.00. DES applied for this competitive grant to obtain fire fighting and rescue personal protective equipment (PPE). The grant will purchase 25 sets of structural fire fighting and 25 sets of urban search and rescue PPE. Kroboth told the Board that the funding is 70% federal with 30% County match and that the $24,082.00 in matching funds was included in this year's budget. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT AWARD: FIRE DISPATCH SYSTEM

County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and DES Director Kroboth brought this request to the Board, for purchase of an Emergency Fire Dispatch System from Priority Dispatch Corporation of Salt Lake City, Utah in the amount of $38,136.00 and approve a budget transfer request in the amount of $3,636.00 from a DES line item. The vendor meets the requirements for sole source purchase, Luther said. The purchase consists of software to improve the County CAD system, which assists in tracking dispatch of fire and rescue services in the County. In addition, the request calls for procurement of development, testing and implementation services from Keystone Information Systems at a cost of $5,500.00 Total cost for the project is $43,636.00. Kroboth told the Board that the County currently uses the firm's software for Emergency Medical Services and that there is no other Fire Dispatch software that will interface with the existing program. Payment within 30 days would reduce the total cost by almost the amount requested in the budget transfer.The measure, to purchase the system without the budget transfer, was approved by unanimous vote.

AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Agricultural Preservation Administrator Eric Seifarth brought this matter before the Board. The Board adopted the Right to Farm Ordinance in October to become effective January 1, 2004. The Ordinance specifies that a Board will be appointed to reconcile disputes regarding Agricultural activities. Seifarth requested that Donald Harding be appointed as the Farm Bureau representative, Don Schwartz representing Maryland Extension Service, with Terry Karn and Jim Coffman as Citizens at Large. An Attorney will be appointed at a later date. Discussion centered on staggered terms, on the lack of individuals willing to serve on the Board and need for a person not affiliated with farming to serve. The consensus was to publicize the Board openings through a news story and a newspaper ad, in order to get additional names for potential members.

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.

No one appeared to make comment on this day.

OTHER BUSINESS

Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner reported that the Area Agency on Aging recommends that Nancy Ingram, Cynthia Earle and Thelma Myers be reappointed for additional three-year terms. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.

Reappointments of John Latimer and Laurence Johns and appointment of Jason Baer to the Emergency Services Advisory Council were also requested. Those measures were approved by unanimous vote.

County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop requested a Change Order for the Broadfording Road bridge repair contract in the amount of $44, 663.00. Storm damage caused stones to fall from bridge piers into the creekbed. Retrieving and reusing the stones is more cost effective than recreating them. The expense is reimbursable at 80% under a federal highway program. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Munson voting "no".

Shoop reported that the Employee Casual Day for November netted $295.00 and 1,179 pounds of food for Food Resources. October's Casual Day benefited Breast Cancer Awareness of the Cumberland Valley, and employees donated $491.00 to that worthy cause.

DISCUSSION OF TASK FORCE/COMMITTEE TO REVIEW RURAL AREA ZONING

County Administrator Rod Shoop brought this discussion before the Board. During public meetings on comprehensive rezoning of rural areas of Washington County, Citizens have put forth the idea to have a Task Force or Committee review rezoning issues. The Board came to a consensus that a Task Force or Review Committee would be formed, discussed the potential makeup of that group, and its role in decision making. A number of community groups and individuals have requested participation on the committee. The Board decided on 13-members, with one appointed by each Commissioner, and the remaining eight appointed by consensus of the Commissioners. Interested groups would be invited to submit two names for membership. The Board will look at group representation at its meeting on December 16 th . Role of the Committee would include analyzing equity issues, through Transfer of Development Rights, Installment Purchase Arrangements or similar method. The committee would look at the issue of Lot Exemptions. A Small Parcel program would be investigated. Finally the Task Force/Committee would look at Permitted Uses in zoning classifications. A vote on further review of density issues was defeated 3-2, with Commissioners Wivell and Munson voting for the review.

MAUGANS AVENUE/LONGMEADOW ROAD APFO TRANSPORTATION FEE

Public Works Director Gary Rohrer brought this request, to convert previously adopted Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance fee assessment from "permit" basis to "P.M. Peak-Hour Trip" (PMPHT) assessment. The Commissioners had approved an assessment of $5,600 per dwelling unit for new residential development affecting the Maugans Avenue/Longmeadow Road corridor. In the PMPHT analysis, the fee becomes $6,420.91. Rohrer said that 5 different types of dwelling units contained in the analysis do not all generate the same amount of peak hour traffic. Rounding off the fee to $6,000.00 anticipates businesses and other developers providing additional revenue in the area. Commissioner Dori Nipps made a motion that the Maugans/Longmeadow area APFO fees be calculated in a manner similar to other areas of the County. Commissioner Kercheval requested a review of the program in 6 months. The measure was approved by a 3-1-1 vote, with Commissioner Wivell voting "no" and Commissioner Munson abstaining.

The Board toured the Safeplace, Child Advocacy Center with Staff and Board members of that Center at the noon hour.

ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE-SCHOOLS

Public Works Director Rohrer brought the most recent draft of Article V of the Adequate Pubic Facilities Ordinance, dealing with school capacity issues, before the Board for approval. Several changes were made to the draft following a November 25 th work session by the Commissioners. Primary revisions included use of a multiplier of 0.9 added to the method used to derive the Developer Contribution, added language to the definition of developer expiration to protect capacity from becoming a "commodity", and restored and revised language to give the Board of County Commissioners specific provisions for limiting issue of building permits. The definition of Elementary School adequacy was amended to reflect the target of 21 pupils per classroom, or 85% of state adequacy measurements. The issue of portable classrooms affecting capacity was discussed. Magnet schools were also an issue, as were square footage per student ratios, and ultimate vesting of building permit approval with the Board of County Commissioners. A number of changes were made in the existing draft, and the Board wanted time for review. A final draft will be presented at next week's Commissioners' meeting.

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