FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077
Review of Actions Taken
in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 2nd, 2004
THE BOARD ATTENDED THE 2004 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AT THE
BREAKFAST HOUR.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
County Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker brought three
new employees to the Board for introductions. Tina Bowers moves
from Part-time to Full-time Shift Supervisor at 9-1-1 Fire/Rescue
Communications. Jesse Burcker has been hired as a Combination
Inspector III at Permits and Inspections. Norma Harne has taken
the position of Senior Office Associate at the State's Attorney's
Office.
PROCLAMATION: CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
Commissioner John Munson read the
proclamation honoring Frank Murray of Hagerstown as Citizen of
the Month. (Photo) Munson cited Murray, who served the City of
Hagerstown and Washington County for more than 20 years as a
volunteer Emergency Services Technician in Community Rescue Service,
and served 10 years as CRS Chief. Murray made a great impact
on the community by saving countless lives, lived with the challenges
that Multiple Sclerosis imposes, yet continued to serve the citizens
of his community. Murray put the safety and well being of his
community ahead of his family and himself and set an example
for all citizens of Washington County through his courage and
his dedication to Public Safety, Munson said. The proclamation
was presented to Murray at his home later in the day.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner John Munson reported on a meeting of the solid
Waste Advisory Committee last week. The permitting system recommendations
will come before the Commissioners next week, Munson said.
Commissioner Dori Nipps commented on recent meetings in Annapolis
to discuss pending Public School Facility bills that would reduce
the amount of state aid for school construction to Washington
County. The Subcommittee will take another look at that legislation,
as it did not take into account Counties that have imposed local
taxes in support of schools. Nipps said the subcommittee will
be asked to "hold harmless" those counties that have
taken steps on their own to improve funding for education.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the Maryland Association
of Counties' legislative committee, which agreed with the hold
harmless position as regards the school funding bills. The Devil's
Backbone restrooms will be able to continue operations, with
the addition of hand sanitizing systems. The sinks will be disabled,
to prevent drinking water which the Health Department has determined
as contaminated by groundwater, Wivell reported.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval told the Board that the Planning
Commission approved 5 small subdivision applications at its recent
meeting. Phase 4 of the South Pointe development was also approved,
Kercheval said. A meeting with state Department of Transportation
Secretary Flanagan, and representatives from the City and State
in Annapolis last week, engendered a formula for contributions
to road improvements in the U.S. 40 corridor, where feasible.
33% of the projects would be paid by each of the three participants.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reported that the Board
of Education is initiating a liaison program with other government
entities. Roxanne Ober is the County's liaison, Snook said. The
Board should take a look at House Bill 660, dealing with prevailing
wage in school construction, and make a recommendation to support
or not support. That request was made by the Association of Builders
and Contractors. The Chamber of Commerce search committee is
actively seeking applicants for President, Snook said, and the
Chamber will move to new offices in the Hays building downtown
Hagerstown soon. The City of Hagerstown will use Tischler Consultants
to study Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance fees for developments
to aid schools and roads, Snook reported.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther reported that the contract
for Detention Center food services, approved last week, should
be amended. Warden Van Evans convinced the supplier, Aramark,
to rescind its increase of 2 cents per inmate meal, which will
save about $7,500.00 per year. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson told the Board that
an opening exists in the Department of Water Quality due to a
transfer, and requested advertising the position, a Utility Worker
II, at Grade 6. The request was approved by unanimous vote.
PROPOSED PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Public Works (DPW) Director Gary Rohrer brought this discussion
of Commissioners' 2004 Goal #1, Development and Implementation
of a Highway Pavement Management Plan to the Board for discussion.
Rohrer said that many different ways of tracking highway infrastructure
have been investigated over the years, and that the RSMS pavement
management software seems to be a viable option. The current
state of the highway infrastructure across Washington County
is severe, and implementation
of the software will assist in assessing road conditions and
ranking sites for repair. The project would tag onto bids of
other Maryland Counties for maximum cost-effectiveness. Digital
images would be collected along all 830 miles of County roadways,
and a database developed. The software will suggest repair alternatives,
and could be used to track snow for most efficient plowing. About
$100,000 would be needed for the software, Rohrer said, although
some freeware would be utilized. The software ties into the existing
GIS database, and if approved, data could be retrieved in time
to be used in planning the Fiscal Year 2006 budget, Rohrer 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.
No one appeared to comment on this day.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop
brought a question regarding the amount of excise tax applied
to mobile homes. The homes has been taxed at the same rate as
multi-family dwellings, $1.00 per square foot. Shoop requested
amending policy to allow mobile homes top be taxed at 25 cents
per square foot, as single family homes are taxed, and funds
collected to date returned to those eligible. Commissioners'
President Snook suggested gathering information on definitions
of single family and multi-family structures and how those definitions
are applied.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET PRESENTATION
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian and Public Works Director
Gary Rohrer brought the Fiscal Year 2005-2010 Capital Improvement
Budget to the Board for a second review. Commissioners review
each line item based on need and efficiencies and when possible,
budget amounts are reduced. Bastian presented figures showing
changes in the CIP as requested by the Board. All of the projects
have been reviewed, and a level of borrowing was suggested at
$10 million, which would be $2 million below the debt affordability
level adopted by the Commissioners. The General Fund Contribution
to the Boonsboro Library remains at $100,000.00 Bastian said.
Minor text changes were made to the Ag Land Preservation and
Newgate Boulevard requests. The Edgewood Drive Project was amended
to reflect the 33% formula which the state has adopted. Major
changes in Program Open Space funding were described with all
but a few projects moved out until FY 2006. Remaining in the
FY '05 CIP budget were funds for design of the North County Park,
Activities Improvements at the Ag Center, Tennis Court rehabilitation,
and development of Tammany Community Park. Other projects include
a second Museum building at the Ag Center, which is a non-POS
project. Airport Construction costs in the FY '05 budget for
Terminal and Apron improvements were trimmed about $22,000.00.
Cost of borrowing was also discussed, with amounts to be borrowed
debated. Commissioner Dori Nipps said that an agreement needs
to be reached with the Board of education on Capital Improvement
Projects for the schools. Recommendations of the education task
force of several years ago could be used in reworking that phase
of the budget request, Nipps said. Emergency Services Director
Joe Kroboth explained the need for expansion of the 9-1-1 center
for both short-term and long-term approaches. The $350,000 requested
would include at least $55,000 from the state, and could consolidate
dispatchers from the City of Hagerstown and the Sheriff's Department
into one location.
COMMISSIONER JOHN MUNSON PRESENTED THE CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
HONOR FOR FEBRUARY 2004 TO FORMER COMMUNITY RESCUE SERVICE CHIEF
FRANK MURRAY AT THE NOON HOUR.
WASHINGTON COUNTY READING DAY
Kathleen O'Connell, of the Washington County Free Library brought
a request to the Board, to proclaim May 1, 2004 as Washington
County Reading day. Partners in Literacy is conducting activities
and encouraging all citizens, businesses and organizations to
celebrate reading by conducting an activity. This year an event
will be held at Hagerstown Community College on May 1 st inviting
authors, storytellers and entertainers to help Washington County
celebrate reading. There will be prizes and transportation assistance
for those in need, O'Connell said. WCFL requested $1,000 to help
offset costs of transportation and materials. The measure was
approved at up to $1,000.00 by unanimous vote.
FUNCTIONAL HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
County Chief Engineer Terry McGee brought this matter before
the Board for informational purposes. As population figures on
the County change, so do many of the Federal Highway Functional
Classifications for roads determined by the character of service
each provides. Washington County has adopted a functional classification
system in cooperation with the Maryland State Highway Administration
(SHA), which is part of the Comprehensive Plan. Roads are classified
by mobility provided. Due to travel characteristics, a slight
difference exists between classifications used in the urban versus
rural areas. Following each census, SHA works with the local
jurisdictions to update the functional classification system.
Changes may be associated with urban boundary expansion, new
roadways, proposed roadways or past errors. A revision to the
urban boundary was endorsed in 2000 as the result of census data.
County staff will meet with SHA this spring to address specific
road classification changes. Impact can occur on federal aid
eligibility, design standards and priorities for operations and
capital expenditures. McGee explained differences in arterials,
collectors, local roads, and Interstate arterials.
OVERVIEW OF TRIP GENERATION ESTIMATION FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT
Chief Engineer McGee brought this issue to the Board for informational
purposes. The County Engineering Department uses nationally accepted
procedures and documents to estimate future traffic that can
be expected from proposed development. Guidance comes from the
institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE), and is based on
nationwide statistics. The ITE trip generation manual contains
the statistical basis for estimating trips. Underestimating or
overestimating new traffic from development can cause problems
in terms of unacceptable traffic conditions or expenditures for
unnecessary road improvements, McGee said. Now that the County
has adopted APFO fees related to traffic, trip estimating has
direct financial implications on commercial and residential development.
BID AWARD: CITICORP/NORTH COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POND
McGee brought this request, to award the bid for the Citicorp/North
County Stormwater Management Pond to David H. Martin Excavating
of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in the amount of $352,042.28.
McGee explained that the bid was second lowest to Environmental
Construction Group, LLC, but that firm made an error in its bid.
The project involves reconstruction of an existing storm water
management pond along the east side of I-81 adjacent to Citicorp
Services. A 90-day calendar contract, notice to proceed could
be March 22, 2004 with anticipated completion date of June 21,
2004. The measure, including relieving the low bidder from that
commitment, was approved by unanimous vote.
CItizen of the Month - Frank Murray
