FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington
County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
June 15th, 2004
KAIZEN EVENT REVIEW
Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson,
Permits and Inspections Deputy Director Angie Smith and members
of the "Kaizen" team
brought this issue before the Board for informational purposes.
A Kaizen event is a short-term intense effort with a bias for
action, performed by a multi-functional or multi-level team,
designed to help achieve organizational goals. In May, such an
event was held in the Department of Permits and Inspections,
which has been stressed due to a 36% increase in workload with
little increase in personnel to handle that load. Team members
included Debi Turpin, Washington County Home Builders Association,
Greg Murray, Department of Water Quality, Jack Reynard, Highways
Department, Smith, and Hankinson. One of the objectives of the
team was to develop a Mission Statement for the Permits and Inspections
Department that reads: "Protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the citizens of Washington County by providing exemplary
customer service in the administration and enforcement of adopted
building related codes and ordinances." The team found problems
involving workload assignments, number of employees versus number
of permits processed, poor quality or incomplete applications
and lack of public knowledge of the permitting process, and number
of outside agencies that may have to review permits, which could
cause delays. Recommendations for improvement include ability
to purchase plumbing and electrical permits on-line using credit
cards, addition of one Permits Technician position, hiring a
temporary Office Associate to assist in peak months, change of
hours for accepting permits to end at 3 pm to allow for processing
and paperwork, customer education about the process with an application
checklist, immediate assistance to phoned-in questions, additional
fees for re-review if changes in permits plans occur, and development
of a procedure to allow drop-off of plan packages. Inspectors
would be fully cross-trained, procedures put into place to ensure
receipt of complete plan packages for review, commercial inspection
fees would be revised to reflect the extent of services performed,
3 rd party inspections for all buildings covered by the International
Building Code would be required, and code enforcement would be
tightened and include citations for construction work performed
without permits. Improvement of efficiency of Inspectors' time
would include improvements in available technology, removal of
some enforcement duties, implementation of flexible working hours,
and changes in electrical inspection fees. Revenue stream enhancements
would include the citations for no-permit construction, fees
imposed for permits that have expired or need to be renewed,
and increasing the commercial permit fees. A $10 increase in
all permit application fees would provide the funding necessary
for additional personnel. All of the recommendations would aid
in better meeting customer needs and savings to customers, the
report concluded. The information will be discussed further at
next week's meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING: ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY
Deputy County Attorney John Martirano brought this matter to
Public Hearing. The County wants to purchase unimproved parcels
of land from Richard and Robin Daughteridge. One parcel, 2.16
acres, lies on the south side of Jefferson Boulevard 250 feet
east of the intersection with Greenhill Drive. A second parcel,
0.29 acres, lies west of Partridge Trail at its intersection
with Meadowlark Avenue in that same area. Cost of the land is
$107,000.00. Additional land would be acquired from Hagerstown
Community College. The land would be used for a connector road
from Maryland Route 64 to Robinwood Drive. 8 persons testified
at the hearing, the majority against development of the roadway.
Commissioner's President Greg Snook explained that the purchase
has not been finalized, and that the roadway's costs would come
from developers' fees. If alternate routes, such as Robinwood
Drive to Eastern Boulevard were developed, they would also be
based on APFO fees assessed on new subdivisions.
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 make comment on this day.
STAFF REPORTS
Petra Stambaugh, Budget and Finance Department
Project Manager for the PeopleSoft software upgrade, reported
that the update is progressing well, is within budget, and
is expected to "Go-Live" by
June 28 th. The first bi-weekly employee paychecks will be issued
June 25 th. 165 employees signed up for a $400 loan to bridge
the gap in paychecks starting this week. The loan will be reimbursed
over a 10 week period through payroll deduction, Stambaugh said.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner
brought a request from the Board of Social Services to appoint
Ellen Hayes and Roland Smith to fill vacancies on that board,
and for reappointment of Nettie Anderson-Simmons to an additional
three-year term. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments:
County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Board that the County
Rural Rezoning Task Force public presentation is set for June
22th at 7pm at the Kepler Theater on the Hagerstown Community
College campus. Planning Director Mike Thompson stressed that
the meeting is for presentation of the plan by the task force
to the Commissioners, and that there will not be an opportunity
for public comment.
APPLICATION FOR REZONING
County Attorney Richard Douglas brought Rezoning Case RZ-03-004
before the Board. John and Hilkka Brucksh have applied for rezoning
of their property at 11212 Mapleville Road and the corner of
Maryland Route 66 and Chewsville Road. The 4.83 acres are currently
zoned as Agricultural, and a classification of A/HP--Agricultural
with Historic Preservation Overlay is being sought. The Planning
Commission has recommended granting the overlay as logical, appropriate
and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The property is on
the list for inclusion in the Maryland Historic Trust. The Overlay
would give the owners tax incentives for further historic preservation.
The rezoning was granted by unanimous vote.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD FLEX FUNDS
Local Management Board/Community Partnership
(LMB/WCCP) Director Stephanie Stone brought this matter before
the Board, to approve the award of Flex Funds for 2004. $51,732.00
is available in Flex Funds, intended to sustain, support and
enhance programs currently funded by the LMB. The funds come
from reinvestment of funds not used in other projects. 5 Board
members and one staff person made up the review panel, Stone
said. The Washington County Department of Social Services will
receive $24,999.00 to provide a Family Support Worker on site
at Northern Middle School. The Family Support Worker provides
individual and school wide intervention strategies to assist
families and the school in working together to promote children
successful in school. Components of the program include parent
involvement, classroom based solutions, school wide solutions
and community connections. The Washington County Family Center
will receive $10,867 for a full-time contractual position as
a Child Development Assistant to provide childcare services
at the center. The Family Center’s
core services include on-site childcare for parents who are completing
the requirements for a high school diploma. The role of the Child
Development Assistant is multi-faceted. The Assistant will not
only provide childcare from 9 am – 3 pm but he/she will
also act as the van driver, transporting participants to and
from the Center as well as to other community agencies when needed.
The Hancock Police Department will receive $5,000.00 for the
Substance Abuse and Violence Eradication IV (S.A.V.E. IV) program,
designed to provide the youth of the Hancock community with a
safe haven, a structured adult supervised environment with mentors
from the school and community, and an alternative to destructive
behaviors during after school hours. S.A.V.E. IV will provide
high and middle school youth a place to go after school and to
interact with staff members from the school, coaches, and police
officers. This interaction with respected members of the community
will provide mentoring to youth who are at risk to commit delinquent
acts with the goal of reducing criminal offenses that occur during
after school hours. CSAFE will receive funds for After School
Programs at Bester or Winter Street schools. The recommended
award of $10,866.00 would be used to provide structured, supervised
activities that enhance academic performance and build healthy
life and social skills. The program builds on protective factors
and targets risk factors that will educate students of the importance
of drug and alcohol free lifestyles as well. Program components
include: completion of homework assignments, computer lab opportunities,
supervised recreation, snack time and character building activities.
The programs are school-based and will take place each week on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, during the period from October
2004 to May 2005. Fourth and fifth graders are targeted for participation.
Stone told the Board that about $87,000 in additional after-school
programming funds is being sought by the LMB. The requests were
approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CHEMICALS
County Buyer Vicky McKenzie brought this request, to accept
the low bid for a variety of chemicals used in grounds maintenance
for various departments in County Government and City of Hagerstown
Departments. 6 vendors from Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey
were selected as low bidders to provide 35 items used by the
Black Rock Golf Course, the Highways Department and the Department
of Water Quality. The contracts are for one year, to begin on
July 1. Four tie bids were resolved through the draw of lots.
The bids were approved by unanimous vote.
BUDGET TRANSFER: SOLID WASTE
Solid Waste department Director Bob Davenport requested transfer
of funds within departmental budgets to cover a shortfall amount
created by excessive rainfall. Excess leacheate has been generated
by over 70 inches of rainfall this fiscal year, double the normal
amount for the area. This condition has led to increased hauling
and treatment costs. Budgeted amounts for seven and a half million
gallons were based on average rainfall, with $431,000.00 earmarked.
Davenport told the Board that leacheate estimates for the year
are at 27 million gallons, with costs at $1.44 million. Costs
for treatment have increased, and hauling costs have increased
due to the volume. Davenport asked for permission to use line
item savings, revenue overages and contingency reserves to offset
the cost increase. The request was approved by unanimous vote.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner John Munson commented on an inspection of East
Oak Ridge Drive at the Funkstown Bridge, and requested $800,000
be transferred from possible surplus funds or from existing reserves
to pay for road repairs. $300,000 would go towards Oak Ridge
Drive while $500,000 could be used to make repairs to Maugansville
Road. Commissioners President Greg Snook said the request will
be evaluated when end of the year budget numbers are known.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on the recent meeting held
by the City. Planner David Rusk discussed mixing affordable housing
into mixed-income planned developments at that event, Nipps said.
The status of the billboard moratorium was discussed at the Historic
District Advisory Commission meeting last week, and the PenMar
Development Corporation board heard a presentation from a potential
developer, Nipps said.
Commissioner Bill Wivell reported on a meeting of the Water
Quality Advisory Commission, which heard that, with 92% of the
budget year complete, pretreatment revenues are 151% of budget,
due mainly to increased rainfall, and that the sewer revenues
are 102% of the budgeted level. Year-to-date PenMar Development
Corporation revenues are $1.274 million and expenses are $1.257
million. The PMDC budget for fiscal year '05 was adopted at basically
a break-even level. The Deputy Director position was eliminated
from that budget. Movement of housing tenants at the former Fort
Ritchie will begin soon, as the Army looks to mitigate the last
of the unexploded ordnance areas, Wivell reported.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval also reported on the presentation
by David Rusk, and said that the affordable housing mix idea
has been discussed by County Planners in the past, and merits
further discussion.. The Economic Development Commission annual
strategic planning session is set for June 21 st at Lakeside
Hall at Fort Ritchie. A report by the City that a new Bakery
and Coffee Shop will go into the former Twilights location downtown
was heard at that meeting. The Tri-County Council will make application
for grants of $300,000 to fund upgrades to sewer lines in the
Hopewell Valley business park and $400,000 for extension of Newgate
Boulevard from Halfway Boulevard to U.S. 40. Those funds would
come from the Appalachian Regional Commission. EDC also heard
a report on sewer capacities from Hagerstown Water and Sewer
Manager David Shindle that the City and County will work together
to lobby the Maryland Department of the Environment for recalculation
of sewer capacity formulas, Kercheval said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that a letter
to the Board from the Fort Frederick civic organization requested
ownership of the Big Pool school be transferred to the Ruritan
Club in that area. State's Attorney Ken Long was selected as
the new Washington County District Judge, Snook reported. Long
will replace Judge Noel Spence, who retired in December. Snook
also reported on a presentation for Clear Spring Teacher of the
Year at a meeting of the Civil War Roundtable.
YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD
Commissioners Dori Nipps presented
the Youth Meritorious Award for the month of May, 2004 to Jamie
Bingaman (Photo). Daughter of David & Sherry
Bingaman of Boonsboro, Jamie is an eighth-grade student at Boonsboro
Middle School and was nominated by Counselor Joy Storms. Jamie
has received many scholastic honors in Middle School, has been
on the Distinguished Honor Roll every marking period, and has
also been nominated for the S.T.A.R.S. program every year. In
the sixth grade, she was nominated for the Character Counts Program.
Jamie has had perfect attendance in the sixth and seventh grades.
Involved in the Craft Club at the school, and a member of the
Boonsboro Area Soccer Team, Jamie plays basketball for Boonsboro
Middle School. Jamie has many leadership qualities, is responsible
and trustworthy and gets along well with her teammates. Jamie
and her family participate annually in her church’s Christmas
plays. Jamie has also participated in the canned food drive at
Boonsboro Middle School. The Washington County Community Partnership
presents the Youth of the Month with a certificate of merit,
and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.
REAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION
The Board confirmed Joseph F. Kuhna as Real Property Administrator,
replacing Dean Lowry who will retire July 1 st after 31 years service
to Washington County. Kuhna has served as Community Development
Coordinator for the County since December, 1994. The confirmation
was approved by unanimous vote.
Washington County Commissioner Dori Nipps presents
Youth of the Month honors for May, 2004 to Jamie Bingaman of
Boonsboro.
