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.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker brought David Potter, a recently hired Collection Distribution Trainee in the Department of Water Quality before the Board for introductions.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a citizens’ meeting with Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Lewis Riley. The meeting gathered input from farmers and others on Ag issues to be used in formulating a long-term Agriculture Plan for the state.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on Monday’s meeting of the PenMar Development Corporation Board of Directors. A meeting with developer COPT, that has an option to purchase the former Fort Ritchie Army post has been set for August 22 nd. A letter from COPT to PMDC exercised the developer’s right to extend the existing agreement.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on the meeting with Secretary Riley at the Ag center. He also noted that he received several calls regarding safety issues of employees walking to the neighboring parking deck and asked that the County investigate putting a camera in that area and hooking into the City's monitoring system. A planning commission workshop heard Water Quality Department Director Greg Murray discuss sewer issues as well as the process for handling demolition permits. A meeting with Delegate Chris Shank last week focused on Hagerstown's East End revitalization project, grants, and other State assistance available for that project. The City/County 2+2 committee met last week to discuss issues regarding sewer allocation for the hospital relocation. Kercheval also noted that the City Council voted to approve sewer allocation to an Economic Development project of benefit to the City and County. That allocation would come from the City's special reserve portion, Kercheval said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reminded the Commissioners that the United Way drive has begun, and pledge forms should be filled out soon. Augustoberfest will take place this weekend in Downtown Hagerstown. The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting last week discussed the electricity-buying cooperative being sponsored by that organization. A “Dog Days of Summer” event held in Downtown Frederick last weekend was a successful fundraiser for the Frederick County Humane Society, Snook said. The Quad-State Business Journal has reported that Washington County had a 52.1% rate of college entry among high-school graduating seniors this year. Frederick County has 57 schools serving 40,000 students. Washington County has 45 schools serving 20,000 students, Snook reported.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer introduced Bob Fisher, the incoming District 6 Engineer for the State Highway Administration. Fisher, formerly of Frederick County, told the Board that the ongoing improvements to I-70 in that county were planned beginning in 1986. Improvements to the I-81 corridor could also be some years away, Fisher said.
Gaming Office Director Jim Hovis told the Board that this year’s August gaming distribution at $3,001,848.25 is the largest yet, providing Fire and Rescue companies with $840,080.96 and 106 non-profit charitable agencies in the County with $1,500,924.13. In January the WCVFRA received $660,843.16. With this announcement, an additional $840,080.96 is distributed bringing the yearly total for Fire and Rescue to $1,500,924.12. Since the Gaming Commission began its operations in 1995, some $28 million has been distributed locally. The official distribution of those funds will take place on Wednesday, August 9 10h at 4:00 p.m. in the Washington County Community Partnership conference room on the second floor of the County Office Building. There is still interest by the state on controlling tip jar regulation in Washington County, Hovis reported, and the Maryland Lottery Commission could be involved. A move by the state to take over the successful County program was avoided last spring.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee that Shirley Chirgott be reappointed for a three-year term, after having served two full terms. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop told the Board that Thursday night was County Employee night at the Hagerstown Suns’ Baseball game. 84 tickets were sold. Shoop told the Board that Human Resources Director David Hankinson will provide additional opportunities of this nature to employees. Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) will hold its summer meeting next week in Ocean City. There will be no meeting of the County Commissioners that week. United Way campaign for County Employees kicks off this week. Last year employee giving was up 20%. The goal is to raise that bar this year, Shoop said.
REVIEW OF 2005 GOALS
On February 8th, 2005 the Commissioners adopted 7 goals for the year. Staff members assigned to facilitate those Goals reviewed and discussed the status of each.
Goal #1 is to adopt the Rural Area Zoning after consideration of equity and land preservation; begin implementation of the Urban and Town Growth Area Zoning. Planning Director Mike Thompson, County Administrator Rod Shoop and the Commissioners were assigned to the project. The Board formally adopted the plan at the August 2 nd meeting. Thompson told the Board the Department is at work on the Urban Area plan. A public Information gathering process is being developed, and will begin this fall. Meetings will be held with representatives of all the municipalities to discuss what rezoning of the individual growth areas will mean to each town. Review of all pertinent ordinances will be conducted and a report will be made to the Commissioners next summer. The two new positions approved in the Planning Department will play pivotal roles in this process. The process will begin with the City of Hagerstown. Policies may need to be developed for each area, Thompson said. Commissioners’ President Snook said that standardization of information gathering, reporting and dissemination is paramount in the process and that the County website should be utilized as a clearinghouse for this information.
Goal #2 is to work with municipalities to develop residential and business tax incentive programs in designated areas. Tim Troxell and the Economic Development Commission were assigned to facilitate this Goal. John Schnebly, chair of the EDC Intra-governmental Committee, reported that actions on the goal involve the creation of property tax relief programs for businesses and residential rehabilitation in the City of Hagerstown’s Community Legacy Area. Schnebly stated the committee and City of Hagerstown staff have held discussions on the programs, as well as the Arts and Entertainment District tax incentive program. Relief for property owners located outside the Community Legacy Area will need to be addressed by the Board. Schnebly also thanked the Board for taking these areas into account when it instituted the Excise Tax.
Goal #3 is the appointment of a task force to develop recommendations to address affordable housing, with County Administrator Shoop and the Commissioners as facilitators. That task force was appointed in July, 2005 and is working on the Goal. Richard Willson, Chair of that task force reported that the 17 member Board is two months into the process. The Commissioners have a September 30 th deadline to report to the Local Delegation on the issue, and Willson said that presentation should be ready by the September 27 th Commissioners' meeting. Topics to be discussed in the remaining time include eligibility criteria, voluntary or mandatory compliance by developers for inclusion of affordable housing in developments, and a need for further study of the issue by a consultant.
Goal #4, Improve the planning process for construction and renovation of school facilities; develop policies to manage growth as it relates to school capacity was assigned to Planning Director Thompson and Department of Public Works Director Gary Rohrer in cooperation with School Board staff. A school construction review committee is being formulated, and existing facilities are being analyzed. The review committee was scheduled for further discussion later in the meeting.
Goal #5 is to develop a long-range plan for the future use of the 40-West landfill, and was assigned to Department of Solid Waste Director Bob Davenport. Review of existing capacities is ongoing. Plans for reactivating the Rubble Landfill have been discussed, with reopening of 2 cells at Rubble to tie into closing of the Resh landfill. Soil from Resh would be utilized at the Rubblefill, Davenport said. Waste reduction and recycling strategies have been developed, maximum landfill capacity is being measured, and operational reviews are being conducted. Bailing operations have been discussed but do not seem to be economically feasible, Davenport said.
Goal #6 involves development of policies and procedures to implement the Emergency Services Master Plan. Joe Kroboth, Director of the Division of Fire and Emergency Services has developed that plan with input from the Fire and Rescue Association, and the Emergency Services Council. Work on the plan is nearly complete, and will be presented to the Commissioners in report form soon.
Goal #7 is evaluation of all plans, policies, procedures and ordinances relating to growth management. DPW Director Rohrer, Planning Director Thompson, the Departments of Engineering, Water Quality and Permits and Inspections are involved in the analysis. Priorities have been established and a subcommittee established to facilitate further review. Rohrer told the Board that a number of action items have been completed. The subdivision ordinance should be reviewed, and a sidewalk ordinance developed, Rohrer said.
FOREST CONSERVATION CANDIDATE SITE
Soil Conservation District Manager Elmer Weibley brought this request, approval of a Forest Conservation Site on property owned by Donald and Linda Grove, before the Board. The project involves creating permanent easement on approximately 62 acres of existing forest and planting 13 acres of new forest at the property, located at 15717 Spade Road and has been approved for forest conservation by the Planning Commission. Costs are estimated to be
$ 113,000.00 and would be drawn from the Forest Conservation Fund.
The 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.
Faye Cohen of the Cascade area commented on water and sewer issues and the development plan for Fort Ritchie.
RIGHT OF WAY PURCHASE FOR MAUGANS AVENUE PROJECT
Real Property Administrator Joe Kuhna brought this request, for purchase of Right-of-Way (ROW) fee simple and easements for Maugans Avenue project before the Board for approval. Kuhna told the Board that additional ROW and supporting easements are needed for the construction of the Maugans Avenue project. The acquisition consists of fee simple, 1,641 square feet; slope/grading easement, 1,097 sq. ft., and temporary construction 556 sq. ft. Total cost for the acquisition would be $44,400.00. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
COMMISSION ON AGING RELOCATION REQUEST
Washington County Commission on Aging (COA) Executive Director Susan MacDonald brought the continuation of that agency's request to relocate to Aspire to Serve Facility to the Board for discussion. After hearing a presentation on July 12, 2005 regarding space needs and funding for the COA, the Commissioners toured the Aspire to Serve facility on July 19. COA had requested additional funding based on accessibility issues faced by seniors who have disabilities. After that presentation, COA was notified of new lease terms that will begin October 1st. The proposed lease would increase the rental cost by $19,800 per year and the fuel cost share by approximately $13,000 for an overall cost increase of $68,000. Current annual costs are $36,000. MacDonald told the Board that the annual rent for the Aspire to Serve (ATS) space would be $86,000 at the quoted rate of $11 per square foot. If renovation costs were provided, the rental cost would be reduced to $8.50 per square foot. Commissioners' President Greg Snook said the Tri-County Council could be a source for funds for the build-out, and will contact that agency. The Board reached consensus to allow the COA to lease the space at $8.50 per square foot, but asked that any firm action be delayed until funding questions could be answered. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Munson voting "no".
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CODE HOME RULE DISCUSSION
Monda Sagalkin of the League of Women Voters brought this discussion before the Board, with a recommendation that the Commissioners hold a joint meeting with the Local Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly to discuss Code Home Rule. Sagalkin told the Board that meetings had been held with members of the Local Delegation, and that some members of the Delegation supported the move. The LWV says that citizens want a change in the way County Commissioners make laws governing Washington County. In the current form of government, some issues must be approved by the General Assembly Delegation and Courtesy Bills approved, before the actions can be taken locally. In recent years items such as enforcement of animal control and noxious weed control have needed legislative approval. If Code Home Rule were passed, a process that would require inclusion on the general election ballot and a vote by the citizens, The County Commissioners could keep the same governmental structure, or change certain aspects of government activities. A motion to take the issue to a discussion with members of the Delegation died for lack of a second. Commissioners' President Snook asked Sagalkin to put together a list of pros and cons, with an eye toward appointment of a task force to deal with the issue.
WATER AND SEWER PLAN MAP AMENDMENT APPLICATION
Senior Planner Tim Lung brought this request from the applicant Rehoboth United Methodist Church for an amendment to the Water and Sewer Plan. The subject property consists of 105.04 acres of undeveloped property located in the southwest corner of Lappans Road and Downsville Pike The Property is currently zoned Agricultural and is located in the "Rural Area" according to the 2002 Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Washington County. The Applicant is requesting that the Property be designated as a "Restricted Use" water and sewerage service area with water and sewer service priority designations of W-5 and S-5, "Planned Service." The Applicant's consultant testified at the public hearing held on June 13, 2005, that Rehoboth currently holds an active wastewater discharge permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment that would allow the construction of a package treatment plant with a capacity of 1,500 gallons per day flow on the Property. The Planning Staff has reviewed the policies established in the Water and Sewerage Plan and it appears that the Applicant may construct a package treatment plant on the Property and develop the Property utilizing the package plant without obtaining an amendment to the Water and Sewerage Plan. Such use, however, would be limited to development on a single lot with the use utilizing a sewerage flow not exceeding 5,000 gpd. The Applicant's representative also testified at the public hearing that Rehoboth would be willing to transfer the 1,500 gpd flow associated with the discharge permit to Washington County if they are permitted to connect to the County system. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the map amendment. Commissioners' President Snook said that the church has attempted to do the right thing, working with the County on capacity issues. County Attorney John Martirano advised that the package plant could be constructed without an amendment. A motion to allow the request was approved by unanimous vote.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDER ENTRY AND SERVICE GRANT
Sheriff Charles Mades brought this request, for continuation of the Domestic Violence Order Entry and Service grant, awarded July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006 in the amount of $21,450.00 so that the Finance Department can continue the line item for disbursement purposes. Mades told the Board that the program has been designed to offer local law enforcement agencies the resources necessary to enhance existing service efforts and meet the District and Circuit Courts' guidelines for efficiency and promptness in dealing with domestic violence cases. The goal of the program is to reduce the time, or keep minimized time between the issuance of ex-partes and protective orders and their entry into the MILES/NCIC database. The grant total of $21,450.00 consists of $17,160.00 in grant funds, and $4,290.00 in matching funds to come from the Overtime Line Item. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
ADVISORY SCHOOL DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
County Administrator Rod Shoop brought this matter before the Board for discussion on August 2nd. The Building Excise Tax Ordinance requires the Commissioners to appoint theAdvisory School Design Review Committee to review construction plans for school capital improvement projects that exceed $2M. Eight Committee Categories were considered for the make up of the committee. Shoop recommended that the categories include the County Director of Public Works or his designate , 2 Citizens-at-Large, the Board of Education Director of Facilities, a Mechanical Contractor, an Electrical Contractor, a General Contractor, one Educator, and the BOE Facilities Manager, to bring the total on the committee to 9. A number of candidates for the positions were discussed. One of the Citizen at Large Positions was recommended to be filled by the Board of Education's County Citizen Advisory Committee chairperson. The School System would also make an appointment to fill the educator's position. Formal appointment was delayed until all candidates have been contacted and have expressed a desire to serve. The matter will be discussed at a future meeting.
MARYLAND DAIRY SHRINE
Dr. Matthew Iager, of the Maryland Dairy Shrine, Inc. and Jerry Poffenberger of the Agricultural Education Center Advisory Board brought this request before the Commissioners, that approval be granted to build the Maryland Dairy Shrine and Museum at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center. The Maryland Dairy Shrine, Inc. (MDS) was formed to recognize and honor Maryland’s dairy leaders, pioneers and breeders who have made important contributions to the dairy industry. MDS proposes to construct, operate and maintain a permanent home and conference center, with an educational and historical dairy museum, that will support and showcase the important contributions of the dairy industry in Maryland. The Maryland Dairy Shrine expects to attract up to 1000 visitors per year to their facility, which would compliment and increase attendance at the Rural Heritage Museum and Village. The Washington County Agricultural Education Center Board of Directors and the Washington County Recreation and Parks Board have concurred with the request. Plans would include a Visitor's Center, a large conference center. Construction, operation and maintenance funds would be provided through private donors and contributions. The museum would be proposed to be of a similar size as the Agricultural Heritage Museum, approximately 76200 square feet. Several of the Commissioners expressed a need for a business plan from the group, and detail of commitment of funding from prospective donors. The Board came to consensus on the concept, pending presentation of a business plan from the Maryland Dairy Shrine, Inc. and the measure was approved by unanimous vote.
ZONING ORDINANCE TRANSITION POLICY
County Attorney Richard Douglas and Planning Director Mike Thompson brought this request, to Adopt the Zoning Ordinance Transition Policy, or a variation, before the Board. On April 27th, 2004, the Board adopted a transition policy for the new amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, which was included in the minutes of the meeting in general terms. After the amendments became effective, a more formal policy was requested. The policy stated that for 90 days after adoption of the Zoning applicants could revert to the previous policy on densities. That measure was to be in effect until October 10 th. The Board directed Douglas to change the densities to conform to the new Zoning ordinance and return next meeting for review and adoption.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT
Joe Kroboth, Director of the Division of Fire and Rescue and Emergency Management, was approved to fill the post as Deputy Director of the Division of Public Works, by the Board. Kroboth has been employed by the County since 1990, and was Deputy Chief Engineer, prior to being named Emergency Services head on September 11 th, 2001. A Professional Engineer, Kroboth was responsible for reorganization of the Fire and Rescue 9-1-1 Dispatch Center and implementation of County emergency plans following 9/11. County Administrator Rod Shoop said, "Joe's appointment will enable Washington County to more aggressively pursue infrastructure management and service development programs to ensure usability of County roads, bridges, utilities and parks by our citizens." The Division of Public Works is directed by Gary Rohrer and includes the Departments of Engineering, Highways, Transportation, Buildings Grounds and Parks, Solid Waste, Water Quality, Communications Maintenance, and Real Property Administration.