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
January 27, 2004

THE BOARD CONVENED AT 10:30 A.M. DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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.

Patrick Bowers of Hagerstown attended the meeting as part of requirements for a Scouting merit badge. Bowers is seeking advancement to the rank of Eagle Scout.

POLICY REVIEW EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE

Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson brought this updated policy before the Board. The policy would formalize standards for appropriate attire in the workplace and provide for every Friday to be a "Business Casual" attire day. The policy calls for attire appropriate to the employee's job, defines Business Casual, and lists a number of clothing styles that would be inappropriate for County Employees. Revealing, provocative, excessively short clothing, tank tops, pants worn below the waistline, bare midriffs, clothing with suggestive slogans or drawings and the like would be prohibited. The Business Casual Fridays would occur each week, with additional "dress down" casual days to benefit charitable organizations allowed. Business Casual attire would be defined as clothing that allows a more relaxed, yet professional atmosphere in the workplace. Managers would have the discretion to determine appropriateness of appearance. Field personnel would have appropriate standards for particular jobs. The policy was approved by unanimous vote.

OTHER BUSINESS

County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop requested a budget transfer of $712,727 to the Capital Improvement Projects budget from the Metropolitan Planning Organization, to pay for a number of highway related projects. Those funds were included in the FY '04 budget and did not constitute an increase to the CIP. The measure was approved by unanimous vote. A Change order to the Airport Runway 220 Rehabilitation project budget was requested. A decrease in the total project cost of $180,962 was seen due to overestimate of construction materials needed. The County's portion of that savings is around $9,000. That measure was approved by unanimous vote.

CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT: FIRST STEP

Ron Whitt, Director of Information Technologies, City of Hagerstown Finance Director Al Martin and members of the Washington County Public Network (WCPN) brought this issue to the Board for discussion. On January 13 th WCPN recommended that the County Commissioners negotiate a franchise agreement with local cable companies to set standards for service, provide needed communications infrastructure, and needed revenue to meet government and education technology needs. The WCPN requested that the Commissioners conduct a needs assessment study on a possible agreement with the cable systems serving the County, institute a County-wide Technology Plan, network with other Counties in Maryland to get a feel for how the process is conducted elsewhere, and implement a Franchise Agreement with cable providers in the county to include public, educational, governmental and institutional networking services. Fiscal impact to the County would be $20,000.00, with the Recordation Tax touted as a possible source of revenue for the study. A time frame of around 6 months was discussed. Cost would be $20,000.00. Commissioners Wivell and Munson questioned need for the agreement, Munson citing an increase in Cable bills for consumers living outside the Hagerstown City Limits. That increase could be as much as $5.00 per month. The measure was approved by a 3-2 vote, with Munson and Wivell voting "no.

Small Urban Area Public Transportation Operating Grant Agreement

Washington County Transportation Department Manager Kevin Cerrone brought this request, for approval of the Fiscal Year 2003 Small Urban Area Public Transportation Operating Grant Agreement between the State of Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration ("MTA") and Washington County. MTA provides an annual grant to Washington County to assist in providing public transportation services under MTA's program for Maryland's small urbanized areas. The County applied to MTA for financial assistance for the eligible net cost of the project, funded jointly by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The estimated net project cost is $776,500. The combined federal and state shares may not exceed 75% of the actual net project cost or $490,000, whichever is less. The federal share may not exceed $388,250, and the state share may not exceed $101,750. The County's share is approximately $286,500 and these funds are part of the Transportation Department's budget previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Cerrone explained the nature of the federal process that reimburses the County for operations as much as a year and a half after the fact. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Assistance Grant Agreement: Fiscal Year 2004

Cerrone also brought the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Paratransit Assistance Grant Agreement between the State of Maryland, Maryland Transit Administration and Washington County for approval. MTA, under the ADA Program has agreed to provide a grant to Washington County to assist the County in providing transportation services to persons with disabilities. The County applied to MTA for assistance in financing the eligible net cost of the Project. The estimated net project cost is $209,000. The State share may not exceed the approved net project cost or $188,100 whichever is less. The County will be required to provide local public funds from sources other than revenue from the Project in an amount sufficient, together with the Operating Assistance, to assure payment of the actual net project cost. Impact on local funds is $20,900 and these funds are part of the Transportation Department's budget previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

Statewide Special Transportation Assistance Program Operating Assistance for Fiscal Year 2004

Transportation Manager Cerrone also brought the Statewide Special Transportation Assistance Program (SSTAP) Operating Assistance Grant Agreement between MTA and Washington County to the Board for approval. MTA, through the SSTAP has agreed to provide a grant to Washington County to assist in providing transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilitie. The estimated net project cost is $209,028. The State share may not exceed 75% of the approved net project cost or $156,771, whichever is less. The County will be required to provide local public funds from sources other than revenue from the Project in an amount sufficient, together with the Operating Assistance, to assure payment of the actual net project cost. The local public funds of $52,257 would be in the form of in-kind services. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

TRANSPORTATION Capital Grant Agreement

Cerrone requested approval of the Capital Grant Agreement by and between MTA and Washington County. MTA has agreed to provide a grant to Washington County to assist the County in the purchase of two small buses with lifts, miscellaneous shop equipment, ADP hardware, farebox upgrade and facility wiring rehabilitation. The Project is funded jointly by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, with an estimated net project cost of $196,700. The combined federal and state shares may not exceed 90% of the actual net project. The federal share may not exceed $157,360, and the state share may not exceed $19,670. The County's share is $19,670 and the funds are part of the Transportation Department's budget previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The measure was approved pending review by the legal department due to an error in the agenda.

COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS

Commissioner Dori Nipps reviewed a state educational task force report with the Board. That report was presented to the Maryland Association of Counties Enrollment Committee. A proposed bill would change the method in which Counties receive school construction funding. Those Counties with the highest bond indebtedness for school construction would receive less funding from the state. Under the Plan Washington County would see a reduction from 65% to 59% in state funding levels. Washington County School District Administrator Bill Blum said that the Board of Education would not support such a change. Commissioners President Greg Snook asked that the School District research the issue and confer with the local Delegation to the General Assembly. Nipps also reported on the Community Action Council's recent Board meeting. The annual CAC audit was "clean" Nipps reported. Interviews for head of the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau have been completed, Nipps said.

Commissioner John Munson reported that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee review of landfill permit fees has been concluded, and that findings will be presented to the Board soon.

Commissioner Bill Wivell reported on the annual awards event for the Clear Spring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. Wivell asked the Commissioners if they would be willing to support legislative changes that would allow for rezoning issues to be taken to public referendum. A bill to that effect filed by Frederick County was passed in the legislature but vetoed by former Governor Parris Glendenning. The County Attorney will circulate that legislation to the other Commissioners for review. The Governor's proposed "Flush Fee" of $2.50 per month would also affect sewer rates for commercial and government users, Wivell said. Although the state has proposed to give the County about $2 million for water quality upgrades, that would be a one-time stipend. The flush rate , as currently proposed, would be an annual expense of about $1.6 million for homeowners, businesses and government agencies served by the County.

Commissioner Jim Kercheval told the Board that the Black Rock Golf Course budget review is continuing, and asked that the County's insurance policy covering storm damage to buildings be reviewed. Kercheval said that the low bids on repair of roofs on Black Rock Golf Course buildings that were damaged in September's hurricane are far above the current insurance company's estimate for repayment.

Commissioners' President Greg Snook commented on an interview of Economic Development Commission Director Tim Troxell in the latest Banner-Herald business pullout section. The Town of Clear Spring has requested waiver of County permit fees for two major water projects totaling $1.5 million. Information on cost of those permits will be brought to the Board at a later date for possible action. The Traffic Advisory Committee discussed a planned state study of the Highway 40 corridor. The Edgewood Drive and U.S. 40 intersection would be part of that review, Snook said. A letter from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has announced placement of the Leitersburg Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, Snook reported.

WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS RURAL AREA ZONING TASK FORCE

On December 9 th , the Board voted to establish a task force to review several comprehensive rural area zoning issues identified at public hearings held in September and October of 2003. The Commissioners determined a group of organizations to provide nominations to that work group. A 13-member task force, with each Commissioner having one appointment, and the remaining 8 appointed by consensus, was approved. The task force would review and make recommendations on equity issues and programs dealing with the issues, including transferable development rights programs, installment purchase agreements, and other bonus-type programs. The group would make recommendations on permitted uses, small parcels and lot exemptions as well. Interested organizations were to submit three names for consideration. Commissioners' Consensus appointments were Dave Herbst, representing the Agricultural Land Preservation Committee; Tom Newcomer representing the Hagerstown/Washington County Chamber of Commerce; Chuck Ernst, representing Citizens to Protect Rights; Jason Divelbiss, choice of the Greater Hagerstown Committee; Debbie Turpin, representing the Home Builders Association of Washington County; Steve O'Farrell, representing Real Estate Appraisers; Dick Hopkins, representing Realtors; and Don Schwartz, representing the Maryland Extension Service and the Farm Bureau. Commissioners' individual choices were Tom Firey, by Bill Wivell; Dick Cushwa, by Dori Nipps; Harold Phillips, by John Munson; Bob Ernst, by Jim Kercheval; and Fred Fredericks, by Greg Snook. A date for the first meeting will be set in early February, with a report due in Early May.