FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington
County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
May
25th, 2004
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker brought two new
employees before the Board for introduction. Michael Thompson
is the new Director of the Department of Planning and Community
Development and Terry Golden was recently hired as a maintenance
worker in the Department of Buildings, Grounds and Parks.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the Senior Fair, and
a meeting with City of Hagerstown officials on sewer allocations.
Wivell said he looks forward to cooperation on the matter in
the future.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval also reported on the Senior Fair,
and on last week's meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
A Public Hearing on the long-range Transportation Plan is set
for June 17 th at 7 p.m. at the Frostburg Center. A meeting of
the Mental Health Advisory Board reflected the need for development
of goals for that organization as a result of the Strategic Planning
meeting held on May 10 th.
Commissioner John Munson commented on the Senior Fair, and
on a meeting of the Agricultural Education Center Advisory Board.
Ellsworth Electric has donated poles for the Center's lighting
project, Munson reported.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a meeting with the Beaver
Creek Watershed Association that discussed application for federal
funding for a watershed study. The Hagerstown Regional Airport
(HGR) Commission heard a progress report from consultant firm
URS. Soil movement from the landfill to the Airport is progressing
well, but is only able to operate 5 days per week due to crowded
conditions at the landfill on Saturdays. The Airport carrier
will change soon to another of the airlines operated by U.S.
Airways, due to restructuring of the parent corporation, Nipps
said. Bids for work at the HGR Terminal Building and Apron came
in too high and will be rebid, Nipps reported. The Local Management
Board meeting Friday resulted in the election of officers and
a discussion on grant projects, Nipps said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that the
MPO meeting discussed a number of projects in the three-state
region. West Virginia will receive about twice the funding that
will go to Maryland, Snook said. A memorandum from the State
Highway Administration has mentioned the concept of a truck weigh
scale that would be located on I-81 in the County. The Convention
and Visitors' Bureau has reported that D.H. Web and Company of
Hagerstown is among the top three candidates for the Business
Incubator 2004 award. The Traffic Advisory Committee discussed
the State Highway Department's realignment of timing and sequence
of stop lights on Franklin and Washington Streets. It is now
possible to drive through Hagerstown without stopping. These
changes were related to the 8-hour Ozone regulations, and reduce
the amount of automobile emissions due to starting and stopping
of traffic.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Division of Public Works Director Gary Rohrer reported on a
meeting with the communications consultant on the analysis of
the county-wide radio system. County Administrator Rod Shoop
commented that several hundred thousand dollars in federal funding
may be available to assist with the project through Homeland
Security and other sources. Yard sale traffic in the area near
the 40-West Landfill has caused further problems for vehicles
leaving that facility. Public Works is working with the State
Highway Administration on the problem.
CABLE FRANCHISE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Information Technologies
Director Ron Whitt and members of the Washington County Public
Network (WCPN) brought information to the Board relating to
the first step in a county cable franchise. The group requested
that the Commissioners fund a study of the future cable-related
needs and interests of the community and a review of the technical
capacity of the operators to meet those needs. $25,000 could
come from the Commissioners Contingency Fund for the purpose
of hiring a consultant to conduct the study, in Fiscal Year
2005. A Request for Quotation (RFQ) has been developed at Commissioners'
request. Franchises are agreements with local cable operators
for granting of public right of way, and allow local jurisdictions
to set acceptable standards of service. Whitt said the study
would take three to four months to complete, and would create
a "report card" on service to County residents
by Antietam, Comcast and Adelphia cable systems and measure the
potential for use of the systems by local governments and community
organizations. Discussion centered on potential for a future "franchise
tax". The measure was approved by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners
Wivell and Munson voting "no".
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR TIRE AMNESTY DAY
Recycling Coordinator Harvey Hoch brought this request, that
the Board participate in an intergovernmental Tire Amnesty Day,
for approval. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
plans to sponsor a Scrap Tire Amnesty Day event this fall, to
be organized by the Maryland Environmental Service (MES). Residents
would benefit from a free, responsible option for disposal of
a small number of scrap tires. Funding would come from tire tax
charges in the state. Transportation and disposal would be guaranteed
for 75 tons of tires, Hoch said, and the County might have to
make up any difference if more than the 75 tons were collected.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote, with a provision
that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee make a recommendation
on the number and size of tires to be accepted.
RECOMMENDATION TO UPGRADE POSITION: DIRECTOR OF PERMITS AND
INSPECTIONS
Human Resources Director
Dave Hankinson brought this request to the Board, to upgrade
the Permits and Inspections Director position from Grade 16
to Grade 17. A review of the classification for that position
was conducted recently by the Salary Review Committee, using
a revised job Description provided by Public Works Division
Director Gary Rohrer. The Committee agreed that the salary
grade should be raised based on that job description, which
now includes the requirement for a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
or Architecture and raising the experience level from 2 to
5 years. Discussion involved the need to upgrade the position
versus hiring at mid-grade or above in the current grade. A
motion was made to advertise the position at the current grade
with salary advertised as "up to" the maximum in the
salary range. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner
Kercheval voting "no".
RECOMMENDATION TO UPGRADE POSITION: HIGHWAYS ASSISTANT SECTION
SUPERVISOR
Hankinson also brought a request to increase the salary grade
for the Assistant Section Supervisor positions in the Highways
Department from Grade 10 to Grade 11. Personnel in the positions
stated that the Salary Study had not taken into account all aspects
of the jobs performed. The Salary Review Committee recommended
the increase after review of duties performed with regard to
level of supervisory work and working in adverse weather conditions.
Section Supervisors in Highways are at Grade 13 level, two grades
above the Assistant positions. The change would be consistent
with that structure. Commissioner Kercheval commented that the
reviews should be done at regular intervals and that the recent
salary study should have looked at the issue. A motion to deny
the upgrade 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.
Alice Hessler of the Greenmount area raised liveability issues
dealing with weeds and trash in her neighborhood. Commissioners
President Snook said that the enforcement of codes will be enhanced
through the recent hiring of a Zoning Inspector by the Department
of Permits and Inspections.
OTHER BUSINESS:
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop
commented on a meeting of the Maryland Municipal League in Boonsboro.
Information was presented on a possible change in the State Teacher
Retirement System that could have adverse impact on Counties
and Municipal Governments in Maryland Shoop said.
PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED ADOPTION OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MORATORIUM
ORDINANCE
County Attorney Richard
Douglas brought this issue to public hearing to permit any
resident of Washington County to appear and testify concerning
the proposed adoption of an ordinance titled “Outdoor Advertising Moratorium Ordinance for Washington
County, Maryland." The Ordinance, if adopted, would establish
a moratorium on the construction of new billboards for a 90-day
period, pending the development of amendments to the existing
outdoor advertising regulations in the Zoning Ordinance. 12 citizens
testified in favor of the measure and no one testified in opposition
to the moratorium. The public record will be held open for ten
working days, to allow for written comment.
The Board attended the Youth Meritorious Awards Luncheon at
the noon hour.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF HUD-FUNDED HOUSING
Attorney Douglas
and Richard Willson, Director of the Housing Authority of Washington
County (HAWC) brought this request before the Board. The Washington
County Housing Authority has two elderly housing sites located
in Smithsburg and Williamsport that, because of federal funding
through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), require a yearly environmental review. Previously, the
Army Corps of Engineers conducted these reviews. New HUD regulations
require that the local government conduct these reviews or
the Housing Authority hire a consultant at considerable expense.
HAWC requested approval for the Department of Planning & Community
Development to perform the environmental reviews. The County
would incur liability for any environmental consequences that
result from major repairs at these sites. The only possibilities
for environmental impact foreseen at this time would be the disposal
of old shingles or concrete to the Landfill, but that possibility
is remote, Willson said. There are no lead, asbestos or radon
issues at the sites, and because they are built on former school
grounds any buried chemicals or petroleum products would already
be the responsibility of the County. Joe Kuhna, of the County’s
Planning Department, is qualified and has the necessary time
to do the reviews. The Housing Authority will prepare the paperwork.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
BUS ADVERTISING SERVICES FOR COUNTY COMMUTER
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Transportation Department
Director Kevin Cerrone brought this request, to award the contract
for sale of exterior and interior advertising on buses to the
highest responsive, responsible proposer, Keystone Media, Inc.
of Allentown, Pennsylvania, based on 50% of the Projected Estimated
Annual NET Revenue of $40,000.00, for a total of $20,000.00 with
no guarantee. The contract is just the opposite of the usual
process, in that it is awarded to the highest, rather than the
lowest bidder because it produces revenue for the County. The
contract is for a three-year period with the option to renew
for two additional consecutive one-year periods. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
MAILROOM AND POSTAGE SERVICES TO NONPROFIT AGENCIES
County Administrator Rod Shoop brought this issue before the
Board. In April, the Commissioners reached consensus to phase
out the use of the County Copy and Mailroom services by private
non-profit agencies. Community Action Council and CASA could
request adjustments to their budgets if the elimination of these
services posed a problem. CAC used about $4,850 in postage each
year, and made 70,000 copies while CASA spent $7,063 in postage
and made 41,000 copies each year. Both groups appealed the Commissioners
decision. The Hagerstown Home Store, the Washington County Arts
Council, Food Resources and the Humane Society are also affected
by the change, but were not given the option to appeal. A motion
to deny the appeal was defeated by a 3-2 vote. A motion to allow
the appeal, with a cap of 50,000 copies per year was approved
by unanimous vote.
AMENDMENTS TO THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITY ORDINANCE
County Attorney Richard
Douglas brought this matter to the Board for approval. A public
hearing was held on April 27, 2004 for the purpose of considering
amendments to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. The
amendments deal with the two major issues the Commissioners
directed staff to address in these amendments, and some others
that arose in the review and revision process, including “fine tuning” formulas for computing monetary
compensation to address school inadequacy on a school-by-school
basis. Clarifying the authority of the County to control the
pace of development as necessary to ensure the adequacy of public
facilities, not only at the building permit stage, but at the
subdivision and site plan approval stage as well was addressed.
Other non-substantive, legalistic, “clean-up” amendments
were made to other sections of the Ordinance. A request was made
that a sentence stating that the County would not accept portable
classrooms in the computation of "capacity" be added.
Changes to the formula for developer contributions based on a
projected square foot cost per student were rejected. Other changes
dealt with “mitigation programs” that could be entered
into with developers to ensure adequacy, regulations for any
deferred payment of fees, and security that developers must provide.
The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
OPTION TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AT HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT
Hagerstown Regional Airport Fire Chief Phil Ridenour and Real
Property Administrator Dean Lowry brought this request, to approve
an option agreement and replacement housing differential on property
needed for the Runway 9 Land Acquisition Project, before the
Board. The property, owned by Jerry and Jean Keplinger is located
at 17930 Reiff Church Road near Maugansville. Purchase price
is $155,000, and cost of comparable housing is $169,800 leaving
a differential of $14,800.00. The Federal Aviation Administration
and State of Maryland pay 95% of the costs. The County share
is 5% or $8,490.00. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
