Note: This is a SUMMARY of the Commissioners Meeting for the purposes of a Press Release. These are not the official minutes of the meeting.
The County Commissioners toured the Fleetwood Travel Trailers of Maryland, Inc. facility on Governor Lane Boulevard in Williamsport during the morning hours. The Board regularly tours local businesses to stay abreast of County business needs.
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 date.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Attorney Issues: An extension of the Moratorium Ordinance of up to 90 days was brought before the Board for consideration by Commissioners’ President Greg Snook. On October 26, 2004 the Board extended the Ordinance to Provide for a Moratorium on Major New Residential Developments Outside the Growth Areas for a period of 90 days or until January 26, 2005. The Commissioners have reviewed the status of the moratorium and the progress toward adopting amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance text and map since the extension. The staff of the Planning Department and the Planning Commission have completed their work, action has been taken on the individual requests for changes to the proposed amendments, and the principal task remaining is the formulation of some mechanism to compensate property owners for possible losses of property value due to downzoning. Although extensive discussions have been held and considerable progress has been made toward finalizing the amendments, it seems clear that additional time will be needed. The Ordinance delays new major developments outside the County’s growth areas pending implementation of the revised Comprehensive Plan adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2002. The Plan will be implemented through a comprehensive series of text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and significant amendments to other ordinances, as well as a comprehensive rezoning of the entire county. One of the purposes of the Moratorium Ordinance was to avoid speculative and poorly planned development that is motivated primarily by an attempt to avoid the effect of the revised Comprehensive Plan. The measure, to extend the current moratorium for up to 90 days, was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Munson voting “no”.
County Attiorney Richard Douglas brought a new legislative item dealing with Community-based corrections programs before the Board on behalf of Sheriff Mades. The proposal would allow more inmates into home detention and work release programs than are now permitted. The present language is too restrictive and eliminates many good candidates for home detention and work release because they have minor charges pending in this or other jurisdictions. By placing appropriate inmates in these programs, additional space at the Detention Center is made available, costs are decreased, income is received from work release participants who contribute to the cost of their confinement, and jobs are saved, providing alternatives to crime. Most other jurisdictions already allow inmates with charges pending to participate in programs of this sort, whether with or without the appropriate language in the statute. However, in view of the potential liability, we have declined to release inmates with charges pending in view of the plain language of the statute. The amended statute would retain existing prohibitions against release of those convicted of crimes of violence, child abuse, and escape. The inmate must also be recommended for the program by the court and meet established eligibility criteria. Amendments could add discretion in the Sheriff of his designees to deny admission to a program to any inappropriate candidate as an additional safeguard, as some other jurisdictions have done. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop gave the Board an update in the Mason-Dixon Road traffic signal project discussions. The project has been looked at for the last 10 years, with little progress because the request comes from Citicorp, a County business, and the stoplight would be on a Pennsylvania State Road. Shoop said that discussions with the Antrim Township Manager, Citicorp, County Public Works and the Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF) have made headway. Citicorp would put up to $100,000 into project costs and CHIEF, which owns property at that intersection, would manage the project. Talks with Antrim Township will be held on a regular basis, Shoop said, and a joint meeting of Antrim officials and the Board of County Commissioners will be held in the spring. The Township is looking into contracting with the County to provide maintenance on its traffic signals for cost-management purposes, Shoop said.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on a Meeting of the Black Rock Golf Course Board that discussed the budget request for fiscal year 2006. Kercheval said the Course budget is lean, and will be about $1.2 million. Some rate adjustments will need to be made for rounds of play, and a reduction in the number of telephone lines at the clubhouse may be possible, Kercheval said. The Economic Development Commission meeting discussed its ’06 budget, which will rise slightly due to mileage costs. A group of South County citizens called Boonsboro CAC met to discuss growth issues in that area. The group wants development of a Council of Governments, Kercheval reported. The County-City 2+2 Committee met last week The City/MDE consent order was discussed, Kercheval said.
Commissioner John Munson reported on a meeting of the Housing Authority of Washington County. HAWC’s revenues for the year exceeded expenses by about $39,000 Munson said.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on the Commission for Women meeting last week. Applications are still being accepted for the annual essay contest, Nipps said. The Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging heard proposals for changes affecting the Commission on Aging in its meeting last week. The COA is looking at new administrative space in the former Cannon Shoe Factory, and will request an increase in its budget to deal with rent. The COA has formed a strategic Planning group to look at goals and objectives for the coming fiscal year, and is looking for volunteers to assist in tax return preparation for individuals over 55 years of age with annual income of less than $40,000, Nipps said.
Commissioners’ President Greg Snook told the Board that a letter from the Town of Boonsboro has requested abatement of landfill fees for demolition of a bsarn on the Shaffer Park property. The Commissioners will discuss that issue with Boonsboro, as the County would have to pay the fee. The Williamsport Fire Company held 62 fund raising events in the past year, Snook reported. That company has hired a business manager to help manage its resources. The Boonsboro CAC group’s goals are for passage of APFO and Excise fees bsy the Town of Boonsboro, to help limit growth in South County, Snook said. A letter from the University System of Maryland-Hagerstown on marketing needs will be reviewed and discussed at a later date. Information from Loudon County indicates that 50 people per day are moving into the County, with the average mew home cost at $450,000.Property taxes there average $4,900 per year, an increase of $800 in one year, Snook reported. In 1994 there were 8,270 public school students in Loudon County and in 2004 there were 44,000 public school students. The number of public schools increased from 33 to 64 in that time span, Snook said.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Department of Emergency Services Director Joe Kroboth told the Board that planning will begin soon for a full-scale exercise to test the County Emergency Operations Plan. Also, training for all County employees will be held on emergency management as the result of a Presidential mandate, Kroboth said.
Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson reported on the Kaizen performance improvement event held last week in the Planning Division. Input from the private sector has indicated some processes within the Division are in better shape than originally thought, Thompson said.
MARYLAND WATER QUALITY REFINANCING--SOLID WASTE
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian brought this request for refinancing of certain loans for Solid Waste projects before the Board. The Maryland Water Quality Administration (MWQ) is considering allowing the County to refinance the Resh Landfill capping project for all eligible costs as a taxable loan. Part of the project was paid for with pay-as-you-go funds so a portion of the loan would be used to refinance bonds and the remaining portion would be used to fund the 2006 Capital Improvement Project budget for about $1.1 million in General Fund projects. The interest rate for the MWQ loan would be approximately 1.1%, providing the rate does not increase in February, plus an administration fee. The expected bond market rate for Fiscal Year '05 is 4.3%. The County could take advantage of lower interest rate money by increasing the MWQ loan for the pay-go funding portion of the loan eligible costs. Bastian said that of a total loan of $6,937,745.00, the taxable amount would be $2,309,490.00 under the plan. The County's Financial Advisory and Bond Counsel both concur with the plan. Savings of three percentage points could be seen, and the amount of General Fund borrowing for FY ’06 could be reduced. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
THIRD PARTY INSPECTION PROGRAM
Permits and Inspections Director Dan DiVito, Deputy P&I Director Angela Smith and Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson brought this discussion before the Board. The proposed program would allow commercial inspections normally performed by the Department of Permits & Inspections to be done by licensed, certified independent professional inspectors under certain circumstances. Third party inspectors employed by the contractor or developer would be required to meet certain minimum qualifications, file approved forms, be subject to random monitoring, and attend all training seminars held by the Department of Permits & Inspections. This is another in the series of recommendations that came from a continuous improvement Kaizen Event held to examine the work processes and flow in Permits and Inspections. A Third Party Inspection Certification Program is a program to allow certain permit holders to retain a certified professional engineer or architect to perform building inspections. The certified professional engineer or architect performs the inspections under the authority of the Building Official. The permit holder is responsible for the cost of retaining the professional. The certified professional would be responsible for performing inspections and filing all required forms with the Building Official. The Building Official must certify the professional engineer or architect. Use of this type of inspector will allow faster approval of permits, which would be subject to review by P&I. Discussion centered on mandatory use on projects over 100,000 square feet and optional use on smaller projects. Commissioner Kercheval commented on the need for proper checks and balances. Commissioners' President Snook commented on the need for evaluation of the plan by outside builder groups and follow-up information presented to the Board. The Commissioners reached consensus to allow the process to proceed, with further review and approval at a later date.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANT
Department of Emergency Services (DES) Director Joe Kroboth brought this request, to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for two Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants between the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and Washington County and accept a total of $12,000.50 in grant funding. This grant provides funding to train emergency responders in hazardous materials awareness and operations in the amount of $4,550.00 and provides $7,450 in funding to conduct a tabletop or full-scale exercise to test local emergency operations plan and hazardous materials response plan.The funding is subject to a 20% match. The County contribution would be $2,400.12 provided from existing approved budgets in Fire Department Special Operations. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH GRANT
DES Director Kroboth also brought a Memorandum of Understanding for an Emergency Medical Dispatch Training Grant before the Board. Kroboth asked that the Commissioners Authorize the DES to execute a MOU Between the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services (MIEMSS) and Washington County and accept a grant of $5,263.00 to provide funding for new certification and re-certification of emergency medical dispatchers. Training and certification is required under State law. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
APPLICATION FOR REZONING
County Attorney Richard Douglas brought Rezoning application RZ-04-002 before the Board. The applicants, Douglas Leazier, Joanne Leazier and Patricia Leazier requested that their property be rezoned from A – Agricultural to BG – Business General. The subject property consists of approximately 2.86 acres located on the east side of US Route 11, 13733 Pennsylvania Avenue. The applicants claimed the property has been subject to spot zoning, and is the last remaining privately owned parcel in the area that has not been zoned for business. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the zoning change. The Commissioners discussed the application last week and decided by consensus to grant the requested rezoning based on the determination that there had been a change in the character of the neighborhood,s that granting the request was logical and appropriate, and that it would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the County. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The Board held a workshop to discuss the Excise Tax during the afternoon.
During the evening, the Board met with the Mayor and Council of Williamsport at Town Hall to discuss the Tax Set-Off for the current year. Williamsport's share is $51,855, an increase of $458 over last year's amount. The nine municipalities will receive $1.2 million in tax setoff from the County. Increases over FY '04 were minimal. Tax setoffs reimburse the towns for services such as roads, parks and police, and is based on assessable tax base, taxable income and population.