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 NEWS
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Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
January 20, 2004

INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES

Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker brought three new employees to the Board for introductions. Vijay Kapoor was recently hired as Project Manager in the Engineering Department. Henry Renner has taken the position of Inspector in Engineering. William Thomas Mills has been employed as a Detention Officer in the Sheriff's Department.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS

Commissioner John Munson reported that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) continues discussion on recommendations to bring before the Board regarding permitting plans for Solid Waste. The SWAC will meet again this Thursday, Munson said.

Commissioner Dori Nipps told the Board that the Library held a reception for the Boonsboro Library Committee in honor of the recent $325,000 Byrd Foundation donation. The Airport Advisory Commission met last week to discuss progress on the runway extension project. The project bid will go out today, with the pre-bid conference set for January 29 th , Nipps said. Recent increases in rain have caused additional problems for the storm water management pond near the airport and its waterfowl population, Nipps said. The Local Management Board/Washington County Community Partnership all day retreat set strategies, goals and priorities. With cuts in state funding expected, the group is looking at outcome-based priority funding areas.

Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported that project CSAFE is expected to lose $100,000 in state funding. The Hotspots area programs are searching for alternate funding sources with respect to the police-based initiatives. The Mental Health Advisory Committee voted 6-5 to support retention of the Washington County Mental Health Authority (MHA) as an independent organization, Kercheval said, in its meeting last week. There is talk at the state level of regionalizing the mental health Core Service Agencies to include other counties. The Martin Luther King event held at Hagerstown Community College drew a large crowd, and the program was impressive, Kercheval said. Commissioner Wivell provided brief remarks to the assembly. The Black Rock Golf Course Board will meet this week, and discuss ways to cut $150,000.00 from its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005, Kercheval said.

Commissioner Bill Wivell discussed the State's proposed Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) Program. At issue is the County's Water and Sewer Plan. The copy that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has on file has not been updated since 1994. County Administrator Rod Shoop will check on the status of the plan update, but MDE appears unwilling to accept a revised Water & Sewer plan. Failure by MDE to accept such revisions could accelerate the County's mandated compliance with the plan had MDE allowed for such an update for growth and plant capacity issues. Compliance costs with the ENR program could reach $7 million locally.

Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that Hancock Mayor Dan Murphy does nsot wish to serve another term on the Animal Control Board. Murphy is a Veterinarian. Due to the small number of Vets in Washington County, Snook asked the Board to look at a Vet Technician or other qualified professional serving in place of a DVM. New Board members were installed at the Commission on Aging last week, Snook said. The COA has 425 volunteers over 55 who contributed 72,000 hours of service last year, Snook said. The annual Senior Fair is set for May 20 th at the Clarion Hotel in Hagerstown. The Williamsport Fire Company answered 581 fire calls last year, Snook reported, and its current project involves household smoke detectors. That company also has 25 members in its Junior Firefighters program. Average price for a new home in Washington County is $180,000.00, Snook said, based on information from Maryland Realtor magazine.

REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF

Budget and Finance Director Deb Bastian told the Board that Maryland Water Quality bond refinancing of loans will be finalized soon.

Department of Emergency Services Director Joe Kroboth reported plans to write a cooperative grant with the Washington County Health System for $250,000.00 for an enhanced communication system between units in the field and the hospital. The Department collects and analyzes data on emergencies annually, Kroboth said, and in 2003, there were 29 fire-related casualties in Washington County, including 5 deaths. In addition there were 26 vehicle-related deaths in the County.

Dave Hankinson, Director of Human Resources, requested approval to fill three vacant positions in County government. One Motor Equipment Operator Three position at Highways is open due to a retirement, an Engineering Project Manager position is vacant due to resignation and promotion from within has resulted in the Office Manager position being vacant in the Department of Permits and Inspections. Commissioners' President Snook requested more information on the Highways position. The Engineering and Permits positions were approved as requested.

REVIEW OF 2003 COUNTY GOALS AND PROPOSED 2004 GOALS

On January 13 th County Administrator Rod Shoop and staff discussed progress made on the 2003 Goals to further Commissioners Initiatives in support of the County Vision and Mission. In 2003 nine goals were set, dealing with employee recruitment, the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, Public Information and Information Technology, Emergency Services planning, an Organizational Study of Government services, business plans for Water Quality facilities, EDC funding and privatization, cost analyses of Solid Waste and Airport operations, and policies to increase urban tax bases in Washington County. In the January 13 th meeting the first five of the Goals were discussed. Under development of Business plan for Water Quality Facilities, both the Conococheague Industrial Pretreatment Facility and the Nicodemus Wastewater Treatment Plant have been evaluated and negotiations on Nicodemus have taken place. Regarding funding and privatization of EDC, the Commission office is now fully funded through Hotel/Motel taxes. Full Cost Analysis for the Solid Waste Department was completed and presented, and a similar study of the Airport is underway. Urban Tax base policy activities saw EDC reauthorization of the Enterprise Zone in the County, which includes the City of Hagerstown, consideration of requests for Capital Improvement Funding in the Arts and Entertainment District downtown, and discussion of property tax credits for the downtown. Discussion took place on one of the proposed goals for the calendar year 2004. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer presented Development and Implementation of a Highway Pavement Management Plan as Goal #1. Rohrer told the Board that the plan would deal with repair and maintenance of the existing highway system in the County. Commissioners' President Snook requested that the remaining proposals be discussed at next week's meeting, due to time constraints.

DISABILITY COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY

Office on Disability Issues Administrator Norman Bassett and Peggy Martin Chair of the Washington County Disability Advisory Committee (DAC), presented this report to the Board. The DAC's Bylaws provide for assessment of community needs regarding people who have disabilities, and reporting these findings to the Board of County Commissioners. With BOCC approval, the Committee developed and disseminated an assessment tool/survey form in late 2002. Some 7,000 of these surveys were distributed to the public, and about 500 were returned. There had never been a community-wide assessment of this nature in Washington County, and all personal information was kept strictly confidential. Minimal cost was incurred, through printing assistance from the Maryland Correctional Training Center and the Board of Education. Dissemination was through no-cost volunteer methods. Results were tabulated and reviewed, and recommendations were developed. The report looked at Transportation, Housing, Employment and Service Needs. On review of the findings, the DAC developed recommendations of areas where support was needed from the Commissioners. Under Transportation, public awareness about all of the differing systems in the county is needed, as is continued interaction with agencies on consolidation of transportation resources, support for financial enhancement for Paratransit and other accessible transportation, and support for improvement of all public and private transportation systems. Employment recommendations included increased public awareness on hiring people with disabilities, and encouragement of the business community to hire individuals who have disabilities. The Board was encouraged to continue to support housing programs in County, that are developing accessible homes. Delivery of Services to people with disabilities was the final section in the report, and recommendations to the Board included support for a single point-of-entry approach for information, referral and service provision. In addition the DAC recommended that the Board continue to support affordable and accessible health care for all County citizens.

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 comment on this day.

OTHER BUSINESS

County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop told the Board that the annual trip to Annapolis to meet with the Local Delegation to the General Assembly is set for February 4 th . Applications are being taken from persons wishing to serve on the County-wide task force to review comprehensive rezoning and a discussion on that board's makeup will be held next week. Employee Casual Day is set for January 23 rd , to benefit Dreams Come True, Shoop said.

The Board approved hiring Terry Shoemaker-Kreit as Accounting Supervisor in the Department of Budget and Finance.

FINANCIAL POLICY REVIEW AND UPDATES

Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian brought three policy revisions before the Board. In a continuing effort to improve department efficiencies and operations, the Department performs annual review and update of fiscal policies and procedures. The three updated policies included Petty Cash, Business Expense, and Investment Policies. Minor revisions were made to all three. The Petty Cash policy would restrict employee meal and travel expenses, personal or third party check cashing. Petty cash is not intended to take the place of the employee expense report required for any travel. Wording was changed in the Business expense policy to tighten controls on travel or entertainment expenses on behalf of the County. Minor revisions to the Investment policies were made for clarification purposes . Questions arose about reimbursement for employee health emergencies while traveling on business, and on insurance for employees while using personal vehicles on County business. The Petty Cash and Investment policies were approved as outlined with changes, by unanimous vote.

ENGINEERING POSITION CHANGES

Department of Public Works Director Gary Rohrer and County Chief Engineer Terry McGee brought this issue before the Board. An Engineering Tech IV (ET-IV) position has been vacant, and the recommendation is to replace that position with a Civil Engineer. The ET-IV is a lead design position, and there has been difficulty in recruiting and retention for that position due to market conditions. The CE position requires a Bachelor's degree, and the best chance to fill the position is to hire at that level, about $7,000 above the current starting salary. McGee told the Board that the Engineering Department's budget can absorb the added cost, due to the length of time that the ET-IV position has been vacant, and that the proposed position would devote full time to design of roadways. The measure was approved as recommended by unanimous vote.

WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORT

Washington County Community Partnership (WCCP) Director Stephanie Stone brought the department's Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2003 to the Board. The WCCP had not produced an annual report since 2001. Stone told the Commissioners that in 2003, with an operational budget exceeding 3.9 million dollars, the Partnership funded more than 40 programs across the County. More than 50 full and part-time employment opportunities were funded in Washington County as a result. Those vendors receiving funds provided services to over 10,100 participants in during that year. The Maryland Partnerships for Children, Youth and Families defined the Community Partnership as the local jurisdiction's efforts to implement a full continuum of integrated services to children and families throughout Washington County. Local partnerships are also created to implement service delivery strategies that reflect principles of a pro-family system of human services in every jurisdiction in which they are needed. Stone told the Board that the WCCP conducts needs assessments in the Community, provides a Comprehensive Continuum of Care for Children and Families through local grant-in-aid activities, and forms Community Collaborations including the Child Advocacy Center-Safe Place; the Maryland After School Opportunity Fund Programs -Clubz Up for Teens; the Interagency Committee on Adolescent Pregnancy and Prevention; the Developmental Disability Administration-After School/Summer programs for children and youth; and the School Based Wellness Center at Western Heights Middle School. Stone told the Board that over 1,000 youth have been served through after-school programs over the past three years. Commissioners' President Greg Snook congratulated Stone for the program's consistent ranking as one of the top 5 in the state. Snook said the WCCP/LMB Boards members have done a good job and are setting an example for the rest of Maryland.