FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington
County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
July 13, 2004
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner John Munson reported on use of the landfill without
a permit, and suggested that a booth be erected at the entrance
to scan vehicles for permit stickers. Public Works Director Gay
Rohrer said the use issue will be investigated.
Commissioner Dori Nipps commented on the Airport Commission
Meeting recently, and reminded the Board that the Commission
is hosting an engineer's report on the runway project at noon.
Nipps thanked those County staff that volunteered to assist in
the Exchange Clubs' Healing Fields event at Antietam National
Battlefield.
Commissioner Bill Wivell reported on a meeting of the Water
Quality Advisory Commission. The new wireless monitoring system
connecting pumping stations to the Water Quality Department will
save $70,000 in capital costs. The PenMar Development Corporation
Board met this week. The Department of Education ruled that Role
Models America was not a qualified entity to apply for reuse
of the Fort Ritchie facility.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval commented on last night's meeting
of the Planning Commission. The Commission recommended that the
county issue a demolition permit to property owner Todd Easterday
for a stone house in Boonsboro, on the basis of the condition
of the structure. The Commission does not have the power to deny
such a demolition permit. An issue on length of cul-de-sacs in
subdivisions, raised by the Department of Emergency Services
due to fire fighting criteria, will be reviewed. Green Fees at
Black Rock Golf Course are up by $60,000 this year due to weather
conditions. Estimates are being gathered for repair to a wall
of one of the Barns at BRGC. Additional discussion with developers
and community leaders on the Adequate Public Facility Ordinance
fees is taking place, Kercheval said. The Mental Health Advisory
Committee has placed a community needs assessment survey on the
County Website, and anyone may participate. A question was raised
regarding possibility of using County Commuter buses to transport
citizens to events such as the recent Hagerstown fireworks exhibition.
County Administrator Rod Shoop advised that the use of fixed-route
buses for such events is not a supported activity under state
and federal transportation law unless specifically included as
part of annual grant applications .
Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board That the
Board needs to make three nominations to the State Water/Sewer
task force that will be formed soon. Assistant Director of Buildings,
Grounds and Parks Bob Graff has been asked to assess repair costs
for a property the County owns near Funkstown that would be in
the path of a proposed bypass. The County has rented out the
property in the past, but deterioration has taken place to the
point that it may cost more to repair than the property is worth.
A letter from the State Board of Public Works has advised the
County of the allocation of $300,000.00 to Washington County
for Rural Legacy conservation easements. A letter from the State
Highway Administration has announced future repair work to the
U.S. 11 bridge over the Potomac River. Some minor lane closures
could be possible. A letter from the Department of Social Services
has requested an additional $25,000 in support for the Senior
Living Alternatives program. A letter from the State Comptroller
has announced that the County will receive $254,000 in state
withholding taxes due to a recalculation. The Board of Public
Works has announced Program Open Space fund allotments of $31,000
for lighting at the Agricultural Education Center and $109,000
for tennis court rehabilitation. Real estate averages for the
month of April were recently released, Snook said, with the Washington
County average sale at $220,000. Frederick County's average was
$270,000 for the same period.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer reported to the Board on
the incident last weekend involving a truck colliding with the
Halfway Boulevard bridge at Overpass Way.
causing significant damage. One lane of Eastbound Halfway Boulevard
has been closed while repairs are underway. State and Federal
funds will assist in the repair, Rohrer said. Progress is being
made on the Greensburg Bridge repair. That structure was damaged
in a recent storm while undergoing rehabilitation. Response time
for the Broadfording Road Bridge bid has been extended, Rohrer
said. The current favorable construction climate is a factor
in receiving few bids for that project. Pavement Overlay project
bids will be in next week, Rohrer reported.
Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson told
the Board that final task force recommendations on rural zoning
issues will be presented at next week's Board meeting. A moratorium
on new construction has taken place in Middletown, due to a Maryland
Department of the Environment report on the availability of adequate
water supplies in that area.
Emergency Services Director Joe Kroboth requested permission
to advertise a full-time 9-1-1 Communications Dispatcher position
following a promotion within that department. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote. The County will receive a Law Enforcement
Terrorism Prevention Grant of $212,000 that will assist with
the Public Safety Communications project, Kroboth said.
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian said that although
the June Income Tax distribution was 12% above average, the state
is prorating some of the funds it would normally distribute in
July, August and September. Clarification on the issue is underway
with the state.
KAIZEN STUDY FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
On
June 22nd, Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson and members
of the "Kaizen" performance improvement study team
brought a report on the recent event held in the Permits and
Inspections (P&I) Department before the Board. 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. The report concluded that P&I has experienced
increase in workload with little increase in personnel. The team
found problems involving workload assignments, number of employees
versus number of permits processed, poor quality or incomplete
applications, lack of public knowledge of the permitting process,
and number of outside agencies that review permits, which causes
delay. Hankinson presented final recommendations of the team
in several areas. On the matter of Engineer or Architect's Seals
on plans submitted for review, the team felt that the issue should
be discussed and resolved between the Permits and Inspections
Department and the building community. An educational effort
would be made to help citizens of Washington County understand
the permitting requirements prior to undertaking any major effort
to issue citations for construction without proper permits. Team
consensus on Commercial Inspections is to increase fees to accurately
reflect time required by the department. Use of third party inspectors
could be an option. The team continued to recommend an increase
of $10 in permit fees to pay for additional personnel, and fund
technology increases required for field inspectors. An additional
Electrical Inspector position was requested, but if not approved
the increase could be held to $5. All fees would be reviewed
and further recommendations made. Cross training of inspectors
at a level to handle minor violations in the field was also recommended
by the team, but lack of time for that cross-training, and additional
time needed for inspections due to the increase in size of houses
being built were seen as issues. A motion to approve the recommendations,
with additional information to be supplied on cross training,
fees, impact of technology and 3 rd party inspections was approved
by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Munson and Wivell voting "no".
Wivell was opposed to adding additional personnel and Munson
supported contracting-out all inspections. A similar assessment
event will take place in the Planning Department soon, County
Administrator Rod Shoop 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.
Bob Harsh of Williamsport raised an issue regarding bid procedures
by the state and the Health Department.
Brad Fulton presented additional information supporting a request
for land near the airport to be included in the Urban Growth
area. Developers want to build a truck distribution center off
State Line Road. Commissioner Nipps said that there is concern
by the Airport Commission about the proximity of the land to
the FAA-mandated runway protection zone.
Mylon Horst of Maugansville commented on long-term impact of
zoning on land values.
Nelson Turner of the Maugansville area commented on the appraisal
process on property he owns near the airport. Commissioner Jim
Kercheval said that the FAA not only pays fair market price for
property in that protected area, but an allotment for differential
between selling price and replacement cost for such properties.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner
requested approval of several appointments to advisory Boards
and Commissions.
The Mental Health Authority Board requested reappointment of
Mervin Yoder to an additional three-year term and appointment
of Connie Pauley to fill a vacant position. The measures were
approved by unanimous vote.
The Mental Health Advisory Committee recommended appointment
of Mindy Propst, Harry Brown, Dennis Davis and Mike Shea and
the reappointment of Dianne Rivera. The measures were approved
by unanimous vote.
The Rehabilitation Loan Committee recommended the appointment
of Greg Hannigan to fill a vacant position. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
The
Board presented a Certificate of Merit to Mark Bradshaw (Photo) of the Engineering Department in recognition of having passing
the Maryland State examination for Professional Engineer. In
making the presentation, Commissioners' President Snook read
the citation, saying "This
is a notable achievement requiring hard work and perseverance
which will assist you in being of service to the citizens of
Washington County and the State of Maryland. We, the Board
of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, hereby
offer our congratulations on this accomplishment."
CONTRACT RENEWAL: JUVENILE SERVICES
James Manuel, Director of Washington County Juvenile Services,
brought this request before the Board, to approve extension of
two contracts between the County and the Department of Juvenile
Services. The contracts, totaling $105,441.00, provide community
service/informal supervision plus night intake services for the
current fiscal year. Approximately 600 youth are served each
year by Juvenile Court services in the County, Manuel said. The
Community Service/Informal Supervision program places offenders
at one of nearly 70 non-profit organizations to perform a specified
hours of community service. Night Intake service funds provide
for two part-time after hours counselors on call to perform emergency
services for children referred by police and other agencies.
There is no impact on the county General Fund. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: ALARM MONITORING DEVICE
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther, Emergency Services Director
Joe Kroboth and Communications Maintenance Manager Pete Lowenheim
brought this request, to award the low bid for an Alarm Monitoring
Device for the 911 Center to Great Valley Systems Corporation
of Uwchland, Pennsylvania in the amount of $30,780.60. A previous
bid on the equipment was rejected by the Commissioners due to
being $45,000 over approved budgetary figures. The system is
a digitized alarm decoder, and the bid includes technical services,
equipment, programming, testing, and training. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote.
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT APPLICATION
Sherry
Neil , Director of Case management for the Community Action
Council requested approval of the submittal of the annual Emergency
Shelter Grant (ESG) application to the State Department of
Housing and Community Development. ESG funds help prevent homelessness
and improve the quality of existing shelter programs. CAC,
CASA, St. John’s Shelter and REACH all benefit from
the grant. The total requested is $50,000.00, with $25,000 to
CAC, $10,000 each to CASA and St. John’s Family Shelter,
and $5,000 to REACH. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
THE BOARD ATTENDED A PRESENTATION ON THE HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL
AIRPORT RUNWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BY CONSULTANT FIRM URS ENGINEERS
AT THE NOON HOUR
PUBLIC HEARING: TAX EXEMPT VARIABLE INTEREST BONDS
Bond Counsel Timmy Ruppersberger, of the firm of Venable, Baetjer
and Howard, LLP, brought this request, to approve issuance of $3
million in variable interest tax-exempt bonds to Public Hearing.
Proceeds from the sale of the Bonds would be used to finance equipping
and development of a manufacturing and metals recycling facility
by Conservit, Inc. of Hagerstown. The County acts as a conduit
for issuance of the bonds, and a loan will be made to the company
by the bond purchaser. There will be no fiscal impact on the County's
General Fund as the County will not be liable for the payments,
and Conservit will pay all costs associated with the issuance.
Jack Metzner, representing Conservit told the Board that the equipment
to be purchased will reduce a scrapped vehicle to pieces smaller
than a person's fist in 60 seconds. No one appeared to testify
either for or against the measure and the record did not need to
remain open for public comment. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook presents a Certificate of
Merit to Mark Bradshaw on completion of the Maryland State examination
for Professional Engineer on July 13th.
Back to Story
