FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2130
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington
County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
May 11th, 2004
The Board attended the annual Employee Service Awards Event
at the Four Points Hotel at the Breakfast Hour (see attached
story).
PROCLAMATION: FOSTER PARENT MONTH
Richard
Snyder of the Department of Social Services and Foster Parent
Arnold Eby accepted this proclamation from Commissioner Bill
Wivell, designating May, 2004 as Foster Parent Appreciation
Month (See Photo). The proclamation said that the family is the
primary source of love, identity, self-esteem and support and
is the foundation of our community. 271 children and youth
are in foster care in Washington County, and are provided with
a safe, secure home along with the compassion and nurture of
a foster family. Foster Parents open their homes and hearts
to children whose families are in crisis and play a vital role
in helping families heal. Foster parents often adopt those
children placed in their care, and the need for foster families
increases as a result. The proclamation said that those who
work to increase public awareness of many foster parent programs
should be acknowledged, and to that end the Month of May, 2004
is to be designated Foster Parent Appreciation Month for 2004.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval commented on the mental Health Advisory
Committee strategic planning exercise held this week. That event
was a success, Kercheval said. A meeting with developers of the
Westfield subdivision, a large development planned off Maryland
Route 65 south of Hagerstown, discussed amenities the developer
will provide. One would be a possible site for future school
construction. Additional discussions are underway with residents
in the Robinwood Drive area about the planned road improvements
in the area Kercheval said. The Black Rock Golf Course Board
reports that the month of April saw good revenue levels. A part-time
employee's salary was also discussed, and a motion, to raise
the hourly wage for that position from $7.50 to $9.00 per hour
was approved by the Commissioners.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a meeting of the Historic
District Commission that discussed signage at Boonsboro Elementary
School. Approval was needed because the school lies within the
Antietam historic overlay. A demolition permit requested by Todd
Easterday for a structure in Boonsboro will be sent to the Planning
Commission, with the Historic Commission's recommendation for
denial. The Recreation and Parks Board, meeting last week, heard
the Board of Education's request to use $55,000 in Program Open
Space funds which had been earmarked for the North High Track,
at the Hancock track instead. The Career Technology Awards of
Excellence program honored high school students who have taken
college-level courses successfully, Nipps said.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on a meeting with the Homebuilders
Land-use Council that discussed the moratorium, the land-use
task force and permitting issues. Last week's land-use task force
meeting discussed Transfer of Development Rights and their application
in Maryland and elsewhere. TDR's have only a 5-10% success rate
nationwide, Wivell reported. The Water Quality Advisory Commission
heard a report on the DWQ budget this week, with revenues ahead
of forecasts in all areas, including the Pretreatment plant,
where revenues were 138% of the amount projected for this fiscal
year, at the end of April.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook represented the Board in
honoring Washington County Teenagers of the Year, presenting
proclamations at the Elks' Club last week. Snook also represented
the County at the Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Red Cross'
new building off Eastern Boulevard, and at the County Homemakers'
association annual meeting. There are 11 clubs, which provide
volunteer services to many agencies, under the homemakers' banner,
Snook said. The Advisory Council to the Commission on Aging heard
the announcement that Dr. Fred Otto, long-time COA director will
retire in September, after 15 years. Otto previously retired
from Hagerstown Community College.
Discussions are underway with potential bidders for the Allegheny
Energy office building, Snook said.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Department of Emergency Services (DES) Director Joe Kroboth
reported on a number of presentations to civic groups recently,
including the Appalachian Trail Chapter of the National Federation
of the Blind. Kroboth requested permission to advertise a vacant
Shift Supervisor position. That measure was approved by unanimous
vote. 200 Boy Scouts have been trained in the Citizen Emergency
Response Training program, Kroboth said, and the annual Citizens'
Preparedness Day will be held on September 11 th at Valley Mall.
The Maryland Emergency Management Administration has announced
the extension of the Homeland Security Grant to pay for the Emergency
Planner position in the DES for one year. A grant for equipment
will total more than $668,000.00, Kroboth said, and portions
of those funds could be used to support the County's new public
safety communications system.
ELECTION BOARD TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
In last week's meeting, the Board of Elections Supervisors
requested a new position for Fiscal Year 2005, to provide technology
support to the new electronic voting machines and other voter-related
activities. Questions were raised by the Commissioners about
the amount of work the position would have and position costs.
Ron Whitt, Director of Washington County Information Technology
(IT) proposed alternatives to hiring a full-time employee to
serve the one department. Whitt told the Board that support could
be provided by creating a new position within IT. That person
would provide the elections board needed support and be utilized
for technology support in other areas of County Government when
elections are not being held. The position would begin in January
of 2005, and be funded in the FY '05 budget at $22,750 for the
6 months of that fiscal year. Alternatives would include approving
and funding the Elections Systems Specialist as requested or
approve the funding in the '05 budget but defer the final decision
and responsibilities to a later date. The measure was to be decided
after a presentation by the State Board of Elections later in
the day.
OTHER BUSINESS:
County Attorney Issues: Assistant County Attorney John Martirano
brought a grant agreement from the Federal Aviation Administration
before the Board for approval. The grant, the second installment
of federal funds for the Runway 9-27 expansion project, totals
$8 million. This brings to $13 million the total provided by
the FAA to date. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
County Attorney Richard Douglas brought the moratorium on large
subdivision development before the Board for update. The moratorium
resolution says that the Board should review the moratorium after
6 months' passage. The last review was in October of last year.
Douglas asked if the review should wait until after the land-use
task force has completed its study and reported to the Board.
The Commissioners reached consensus to wait until that group
issues its report.
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner
brought a request from the Board of Examiners and Supervisors
for Electricians before the Board for approval. Both Charles
Shindle and James Elliott have served two or more terms on the
Electricians Board, and wish to be reappointed when their terms
expire on May 31 st. The Commissioners have the authority to
waive the two-term limit. The measures were approved by unanimous
vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop
requested authority to fill a Motor Equipment Operator (MEO)
I position at Highways-southern section, and an MEO II position
at Highways-central. The MEO II position coordinates the prisoner
crews that assist in roadside cleanup and other duties. Discussion
on the Highway User Revenue levels for the coming fiscal year
took place. The Board decided to advertise the MEO II but delay
the MEO I position, until more is known about that revenue stream.
That measure was approved by unanimous vote.
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.
Mike Baker of Smithsburg asked if the Landfill Fee discount
for Senior Citizens could be extended to other persons on fixed-incomes,
such as Social Security Disability. Commissioner Snook asked
Commissioner Munson to take the request before the Solid Waste
Advisory Committee for a recommendation, and said that should
be forthcoming within two weeks. The discount was originally
instituted with the thought that Seniors produce less solid waste
than persons with families.
ELECTIONS BOARD OFFICE TOUR
The
Commissioners toured the Election Board offices at 33 West
Washington Street and discussed the Information Systems Specialist
position requested by the Elections Board. Joe Torre and Pamela
Woodside from the Maryland Board of Elections explained reasoning
behind a request for a full-time position. Torre told the Commissioners
that the Touch-Screen Voting System, the Global Election Management
System and the forthcoming Voter Registration computer systems
would require that level of support. Discussion centered on the
need for full-time versus part-time assistance. If full time,
the position would be shared, with County Information Technology
providing the support needed, and duties assigned elsewhere during
voting "down time". The position would be part of the
budget review and adjustment later in the day. Elections Board
positions are state jobs, paid for by the Counties.
The Board toured the Convention and Visitors Bureau offices
on the square in Hagerstown, and presented a proclamation to
the CVB in honor of National Tourism Week, Maryland Tourism Week
and Hagerstown/Washington County tourism week at the lunch hour.
PROCLAMATION: COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval presented a proclamation designating May 10-16,
2004 as "Cover the Uninsured Week" to Kery
Hummel, Executive Director of the Western Maryland Area Health
Education Center (WMAHEC). The proclamation said that 44 million
Americans do not have health care coverage, and that 8 out of
ten uninsured people are from working families. Uninsured people
live with more sickness, and die younger than those with coverage.
People suffer needlessly because they go without the health care
they need. With costs climbing rapidly, employees and working
families in the community find it harder to afford coverage.
The proclamation recognized the urgency of seeking solutions
to the problem and called on all citizens to observe "Cover
the Uninsured Week".
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED FY '05 BUDGET
Washington
County's $212 million balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2005
as taken to Public Hearing last week, provides $88 million
in operating costs for public education, near full funding
for the Board of Education's requests for Operational funding
and full funding for BOE capital improvement projects. No negative
comments were made at the Public Hearing held on May 4 th. The
record was held open for 5 working days to allow for written
comments from the public, but none were received. Budget and
Finance Director Debra Bastian brought the proposed budget to
the Board for review. Each year minor adjustments are made after
the Public Hearing, and discussion took place on requested positions
as well as possible changes in revenue from fees, grants and
one-time appropriations. In the operations budget, a request
to eliminate a service charge attached to tax collections which
generates about $140,000 annually was not approved. The Animal
Control budget was increased by 3%, with the remaining requested
funds placed in reserve pending a full cost analysis of the operation.
Senate Bill 508, providing one-time revenue of $1.4 million was
appropriated to capital costs and cash reserves. The Sheriff's
Judicial Division will assume the Constable function for District
Court with a new cost center for that operation. Revenue would
be enhanced by $20,000.00 from the Constable functions. A Department
of Emergency Services position that had been tentatively approved
pending receipt of grant funds was denied because the grant was
not approved. The Board gave tentative approval for an Economic
Development Commission position pending the EDC Board's approval
later this week. The Information Technology position in support
of the Board of Elections Supervisors was supported, with the
provision that the position be under control of the County, serve
other departments such as the Treasurer, and perform other IT
duties as assigned. Adjustments to the $30.1 million Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) included a $70,000.00 decline in state
Program Open Space funds for parks. The Board adopted the Operational
budget for Fiscal Year 2005, as amended, by unanimous vote. The
Capital Improvement Program with a borrowing level of $10 million,
was approved by a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Wivell and Munson
voting "no".
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION FUNDING APPLICATIONS
Interim Planning Director Steve Goodrich brought this request,
to approve applications for grant funding from the Appalachian
Regional Commission (ARC). As part of the annual ARC program,
the Tri-County Council, administrator of the federal ARC funds,
requests that the County review and prioritize the projects to
be submitted. Program Goals and objectives are distributed to
the municipalities, the Board of Education and Hagerstown Community
College. This year there were three projects submitted and two
subcategories of funding. The County submitted a request for
$300,000.00 in the TEA 21 Access Road funding category for the
Newgate Boulevard Extension, to extend that road 3,517 feet to
U.S. 40. That road would provide access to the Newgate Industrial
Park. In the Area Development Projects category, Hagerstown Community
College's project on Increasing Enrollment in Post Secondary
Education Using a K-16 Counseling and Advisement Model was submitted,
requesting $35,000.00. the project would seek to reverse prevailing
area attitudes regarding higher education, and increase the numbers
of students planning to attend college. Washington County's project
under this category is the Newgate Pump Station and Force Main,
a request for $300,000.00 to build a pumping station and main
to serve the Hopewell Valley industrial area. ARC normally funds
30% of project costs. The applications were approved, with the
Area Development Projects ranked as presented, by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: PIPELINE INSPECTION EQUIPMENT
County Buyer Vicky McKenzie and Brian Brandt of the Department
of Water Quality brought this request before the Board, to award
the low bid for inspection equipment to Mid-Atlantic Waste Systems
of Clinton, Maryland in the amount of $47,368.00. The package
includes an LCD monitor, DVD recorder and Printer to assist in
video inspection of sewer lines in the County. DWQ does not currently
have its own equipment and relies on other utilities or contractors
for its emergency needs. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
BID REJECTION RECOMMENDATION
McKenzie and Communications Maintenance Manager Pete Lowenheim
recommended that the Board reject the sole bid for an Alarm Monitoring
Device for the 9-1-1 dispatch center submitted by RZS Solutions,
Inc. of Hawthorne, New York. Only two bidders attended the pre-bid
conference and the single bid received was $45,000 over the budgeted
amount. Interest exists among several bidders for this item,
and the recommendation is for re-advertising and rebidding the
item.
The Communications Maintenance and Emergency Services department
heads agree with this proposal. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
PUBLIC PETITION: BROADFORDING ROAD BRIDGE
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reminded the Board of the
petition of signatures from residents of the Broadfording Bridge
area, requesting temporary repairs be made to the bridge to allow
for car and light truck traffic, presented by James Socks of
Clear Spring in Citizens' Participation on April 27th. County
Chief Engineer Terry McGee had advised of the danger inherent
in reopening the bridge prior to adequate repairs being made.
The County experienced difficulties with the contractor performing
the work, and the project is being re-bid. The Board reached
a consensus to deny the request due to the threat to public safety
reopening the bridge would impose.
###
COUNTY RETIREES, EMPLOYEES HONORED
124 current and retired employees of Washington County Government,
including a former County Commissioner, were honored on Tuesday,
May 11 th by the Board of County Commissioners at the sixth annual
Employee Service Awards Breakfast, held at the Four Points Hotel
in Hagerstown.
Former Commissioner Ron Bowers was honored for his 20 years
service to the County. Other retirees so honored included Paul
Prodonovich, Permits and Inspections, 29 years and 10 months;
Roger Long, Highways, 29 years and 8 months; Randy Dick, Permits
and Inspections, 28 Years and 2 months; David Pheil, Emergency
Services, 27 years and 11 months; Nelson Lewis, Highways, 22
years and 6 months; Alan Davis, Human Resources, 21 years and
5 months; Lamont Burns, Buildings, Grounds and Parks, 19 years
and 5 months, and Constante Paz, Sheriff's Detention Division,
16 years and 2 months.
Three employees were presented with service pins marking 30
years service: Arnold Barr, Douglas Eccard and Paul Golden.
Those with 25 years service included Thomas Bikle, Denny Engle,
Ray Gladhill, Manford Hart, William Morgan and Andrea Wyand.
Presented with service pins marking 20 years employment were
Rocky Bishop, Terri Blair, Barbara Brown, Bob Davenport, Bill
Dean, Denny Embly, Larry Everhart, Bob Farmer, Orville Helser,
Larry Jessop, Terry Keefer, Kenneth Kitchen, Michael Knight,
Johnny Marshall, John Mellott, Kevin Morgan, Kelly Reynard, Jim
Sterling, Melvin Swope, Rodney Weicht, Terry Whittington, and
Steve Zies.
Honored for 15 years service were Sherry Alidoosti, Brian Banzhoff,
Robert Beckley, Keith Bowen, Kim Bowers, Douglas Divelbiss, John
Easterday, John Kain, Guy Knepper, Doug Levine, Terry McGee,
Janet Moats, Mark Mummert, Stephen Pryor, Jill Ritter, Jeff Shetron,
Krista Shipley, Angela Smith, Harry Strock, Charles Strong, Terri
Taylor, and Jeff Weller.
Those with 10 years service included Kenneth Barnhart, Debra
Bastian, Karen Dickie, Randy Ganoe, William Graham, George Lashley,
Marshall Maravelis, Sherry Marks, John Masters, Sharon Mellott,
Carol Milburn, Frank Palmer, Craig Reid, Linda Reid, Ellis Snyder,
Michael Ward, Christopher Weaver, Michael Wilkinson, Samuel Younker,
and Tracy Zamora.
5 year service pins were presented to Pamela Ambrose, Scott
Beckley, Alicia Bowers, Jennifer Bricker, Damian Broussard, Jamie
Burkett, Evelyn Burnett, Line Cessna, Allen Creek, Clarence Davis,
Jaime Dick, Pam Douglas-Grosh, Daniel Dwyer, Nancy Ecton, Craig
Elwood, Edward Evans, David Fortson, Darin Grim, Christopher
Howard, Joshua Jarrell, Christine Johns, Patricia Jones, Debra
Kline, Randall Kretzer, Douglas Layman, Eric Leather, John Lum,
Vicki Lumm, Kelly Mann, Laura Melville, Brian Merck, Michael
Palladino, Mark Price, Richard Shilling, David Smith, David Socks,
Linda Spence, Petra Stambaugh, Jeffrey Stanley, Tim Troxell,
Daniel Watson and Bill Wivell.
The Board of County Commissioners started the program in 1998
to reward dedication and longevity in service to the citizens
of Washington County.
Commissioner
Bill Wivell (L) presents Richard Snyder of the Department
of Social Services and Foster Parent Arnold Eby with a proclamation
designating May, 2004 as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.
