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 BOARD ATTENDED THE GREATER HAGERSTOWN COMMITTEE Educational Forum with Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Maryland Superintendent of Schools, AT THE ROBINWOOD MEDICAL CENTER
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.
Emergency funding request: museum of fine arts
Washington
County Museum of Fine Arts Director Dr. Joseph Ruzicka brought this request
before the Board. In its FY 2005-06 budget, the Washington County Museum of
Fine Arts requested $16,000 from the Gaming Commission to install twelve cameras
in the galleries and two vaults of the Museum, as well as an additional $12,000
to replace the video tape recorder with a larger, state-of-the-art digital
video recorder (DVR) to support that camera system. Funding was granted
only for the purchase and installation of the cameras, but not for the DVR.
Glessner Protective Services is installing the cameras and proposed adding
a Honeywell Fusion DVR with the capacity to handle up to 32 cameras. An
important part of the Museum’s service to the Washington County community
is to safeguard the valuable fine art collection held in trust for the public,
and to provide a safe and secure environment for the public. Art theft
is a major concern for every museum and institutions are always looking for
ways to improve the safety of their premises, Ruzicka said.. The camera
installation is part of a multi-year plan to upgrade the security conditions. Guards
have been trained at the National Gallery in Washington D.C., and new security
measures are in place. The measure was approved by unanimous vote with the
amount to come from the Commissioners' Contingency fund.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner told the Board that the
Emergency Services Advisory Council is requesting that Mary Kalin and Jay Grimes
be reappointed to the Council for their second three-year terms. Their
terms expire on January 31, 2006. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
A letter
from the Disability Advisory Committee has requested waiver of the two-term
policy and reappointment of Bill Beard and Ed Branthaver. The DAC is requesting
appointment of two new members, Robin Schneider and Barbara Anderson as Parent
and Consumer representative, and reappointment of Linn Hendershot, former City
ex-officio to a new three-year term. The measures were approved by unanimous
vote.
County Administrator's
Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop brought an oversight to the Board's
attention. In last week's report on the Toys for Tots campaign, Shoop inadvertently
left out a fundraiser at the Highways Department that took in over $300.00.
Shoop cited Rusty Baker for his efforts on the County's behalf.
Snook also
commended Public Works Administrative Assistant Tina Rupert and Public Information
Officer Norman Bassett for the news release detailing County Employees' donations
of $10,000+ in cash and goods to various charitable causes through Casual Day
events during 2005.
Shoop reminded
the Board that budget preparation would begin when the holidays have ended.
The next Commissioners' meeting will be January 10th.
APPROPRIATION FOR NORTH HAGERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM
John Williamson,
Member of the Stadium Committee of the North Hagerstown High School Boosters
and Rick Hill, Chair of the Stadium Committee, brought the remaining request
for Appropriation for the North Hagerstown High School Stadium Project to the
Board of $2,787,645.00. In July, the Stadium Committee made a presentation
to the Board, and proposed that the County act as financial agent for the $3.5
million project, but that requwest was not voted upon. Williamson stated the
Committee did not anticipate requesting any additional funds. The County has
already committed about $500,000 in Program Open Space and with matching funds.
Commissioners' Vice-President Bill Wivell submitted a list of questions that
the Committee was requested to answer. Board of Education Chief Operating Officer
Bill Blum said that Bids for construction would go out in January and February,
and when final bid amounts are tabulated, the project will go forward if under
budgeted amounts, or be scaled back if over budget. There would be alternates
within the bids that could be eliminated to save costs, Blum said. Fund raising
efforts to this point have resulted in $3.1 million in contributions, government
assistance and pledges, and an Alumni pledge drive is slated to begin in January,
Williamson said. Few delinquent pledges have been seen to date, and the Committee
has a paid staff member tracking the pledges and collections of donations.
Funds are being sent to the County on a quarterly basis for deposit in appropriate
budgets. As the fund drive is ongoing, there is no shortfall at the current
time, Williamson said, with donation periods as long as 5 years. Some of the
funding could be outstanding for as long as 10 years, the Committee said. A
question on who would be accountable should a shortfall in donations occur
and would committee members sign a promissory note prompted Commissioners'
President Greg Snook to state, on behalf of the entire Board, that personal
guarantees would not be expected. Snook applauded the Committee for its efforts
in the largest private fundraising effort the County has ever seen. Snook reminded
the Committee that in a Public-Private partnership, extra caution is taken
because of public fund accountability. Williamson assured the Board that the
most rigorous standards of fund raising have been used. Commissioner Dori Nipps
asked staff if matching funds for State Program Open Space money can come from
the fund-raising activities or through use of in-kind services, the answer
was yes. Commissioner Jim Kercheval stated that the effort has been successful
to date, and that 90% of the Committee's goal has been reached prior to ground
being broken. Commissioner John Munson said the Committee should look at the
way in which Public-Private partnerships have made the Boonsboro and Smithsburg
libraries possible. A motion to approve the project budget as presented, with
the County acting as financial pass-through entity at a total of $3.5 million,
was approved by unanimous vote.
THE BOARD ATTENDED THE ANNUAL FARM BUREAU LUNCHEON AT THE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER AT THE NOON HOUR
CONTRACT AWARD: FUNDS TO BUILD CAPACITY OF OUT OF SCHOOL PROVIDERS SERVING
YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and Gina Taffe, Project Coordinator in the Washington County
Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) brought this contract
Award for Funds to Build the Capacity of Out of School Time (OST) Providers
Serving and/or Willing to Serve Youth With Special Needs in Washington County,
Maryland
On December 16th the WCCP Board recommended awarding the contract to Apples
for Children, Inc. (ACI) of Hagerstown, Maryland, in the amount of $30,536.00.
Proposals were received from the recommended provider and from The Arc of
Washington County. Both providers' Price Proposals were submitted for
the same as the grant amount of $30,536.00. ACI would provide In-Kind
Services in the amount of $17,869.00 while The Arc of Washington County would
provide in-kind services in the amount of $8,498.00. A total of $30,536.00
is available through the Developmental Disabilities Administration/WCCP Funds
to Build the Capacity of OST Providers Serving and/or Willing to Serve Youth
with Special Needs for the period of January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2006. The
measure was approved by unanimous vote.
ULTRA HIGH CAPACITY DATA COMMUNICATIONS INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK
Ron Whitt,
Director of Information Technologies and members of the Washington County Public
Network (WCPN), a public cooperative of the Washington County Free Library,
the City of Hagerstown, the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners,
brought this request before the Board. WCPN's purpose is to design, develop,
manage and maintain a shared high-speed data communications institutional network
(I-Net) in Hagerstown and Washington County. Whitt requested a budget transfer
of $65,000 to facilitate creation of a converged ultra-high capacity (10GB)
data communications institutional network (I-Net) for use by the WCPN membership
and supported institutions.
Funding would come from the 2006 CIP Technology
Development and Upgrade account to a network infrastructure upgrade project
account to fund the purchase, installation and testing of 2 high capacity
10 Gigabyte data networking switches. One
switch would be located in the County Office Building and the other in the
Washington County Free Library.
Whitt told the Board that the high speed data communications institutional
network would provide the bandwidth and technology to afford the WCPN members
the opportunity to partner with eighteen (18) Maryland State agencies located
in the downtown area to facilitate high-speed connectivity to Network Maryland,
the statewide high-speed network for public sector use managed by the Maryland
Department of Budget and Management Networks Division. Over the past year,
the WCPN Engineering Committee met with six data networking vendors (Accela
(MRV), Cisco, Foundry, Fujitsu, Juniper, and Nortel) to review and evaluate
each vendor’s technology proposals (both written and verbal presentations
including selected site visits) on how best to create this high capacity
converged institutional network. The Engineering Committee determined
that Foundry Networks’ proposal provided the best technology value.
Foundry Networks’ design proposes the purchase of 4 scalable network
switches for deployment to each of the WCPN partners. This budget transfer
request provides funding for both the County’s and Library’s
portion of the design. If approval is given, the purchase of Foundry
Networks’ proposed technology will be pursued as an intergovernmental
cooperative purchase as required by the Code of Public Local Laws of Washington
County. Funds are available in the CIP under the Technology Development and
Upgrade account. Use is appropriate according to project description
and justification and project qualifies as a CIP project by definition under
County policy. Discussion centered on connecting Hagerstown Community
College to the state's fiber backbone. Whitt was tasked with finding the
cost for that connection. Commissioners' President Snook said the University
System of Maryland Hagerstown Campus and HCC should be connected, to facilitate
inter-campus programs, and help alleviate crowding at the Community College.
The budget transfer was approved by unanimous vote.
HEART OF THE CIVIL WAR HERITAGE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chief Planner
Steve Goodrich brought this measure before the Board, a request to approve
submission of the draft of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Management
Plan to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority for approval and certification. In
order to take advantage of the benefits of becoming a certified Heritage Area,
Washington, Frederick and Carroll Counties and their respective municipalities
have prepared the required Management Plan. Establishment of heritage areas
in Maryland is for the purpose of promoting tourism and leveraging private
investments to add or improve services and attractions for tourists. Upon
approval of the Management Plan by the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, jurisdictions
must amend Comprehensive Plans to include reference to Management Plan. Maryland’s
Heritage Area program is designed to increase heritage tourism throughout the
state by providing financial assistance and marketing expertise. Each Heritage
Area has a specific theme. Washington, Frederick and Carroll Counties determined
it beneficial to cooperate, rather than compete, in promoting the multitude
of Civil War sites and events. Heritage Area creation is a 2 step process of
recognition and certification, which began in 1999. Recognition provided access
to an $83,000 grant from Maryland Heritage Area Authority, which was combined
with a $75,000 grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program to employ
a consultant to prepare the Management Plan. That plan is the key to
achieving certification required before benefits to County, municipal governments,
organizations and citizens engaged in heritage tourism support activities are
available. Benefits include matching grants and loans and state income tax
credits for historic and some non-historic structure rehabilitations. In addition
to program specifics, summaries of the Civil War history and thematic goals,
specific work programs are included in the Management Plan. There are also
procedures to include areas not initially designated. Application and
promotion activities will be managed by the existing Tourism Council of Frederick
County with policy guidance from a three County Advisory Board to insure equitable
distribution. Certification can reduce dependence on local funding of applicable
projects by 50% and may encourage new proposals that will increase tourism
and subsequent revenues. Without certification, financial incentives will not
be available to County, municipalities and Civil War heritage tourism supporting
organizations. Failure to follow through would jeopardize reimbursement
to Washington County of $154,000 in consultant costs and a waste of at least
$5000 in contributed staff time to the project. Approval of management
plan and certification does not obligate Washington County to fund any activity.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAM AND ADDITIONAL
Economic Development Administration FUNDING
Economic
Development Commission Director Tim Troxell brought this matter before the
Board. The Tri-County Council has created a new position to offer Technical
Assistance and business counseling to TCC Loan Fund recipients in Washington,
Allegany, and Garrett counties. Grant funding to cover a majority of
the costs associated with this position has been secured, including $38,500
from the USDA and $25,800 from the Appalachian Regional; Commission. Each
county is being asked to provide $5,000 as the necessary match. In addition,
TCC has received an additional $8,000 from EDA for their current work plan,
which increases that funding to $60,000. This increase requires an additional
$2,500 match from each county. Total request would be $7,500 in matching funds.
The measure was approved by a 3-0 vote with Commissionber Kercheval abstaining.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Dori Nipps commented on a meeting of the Women's Commission that discussed
donations to the Boys' and Girls' Club. The Girls' Inc. Dance Program was enjoyable,
Nipps said. The program featured dancers in age from Pre-K to 4th Grade.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on a meeting of the County/City 2+2 Committee that discussed
issues related to the City's Comprehensive Plan update. The City is updating
its plan and will make a presentation to the Economic Development Commission
Board on January 19th. Issues affecting the County include planned growth areas,
densities, and annexation areas. In the near future, time should be set aside
to talk about road issues with City representatives, Kercheval said. The two
parties should have the opportunity to share their various road projects and
road priorities and how they match with each other. Kercheval used Eastern
Boulevard as an example, saying that as that road is improved, the two governing
bodies should work together to make sure they are on the same page in regards
to access points, alternate alignments, interconnectivity, and development
along that major corridor.
Commissioners'
President Greg Snook told the Board that a letter had been received from the
Heritage Land Development Company withdrawing its plans for development of
the Breichner Farm near Williamsport. Those plans may be reworked and resubmitted,
Snook said. A letter from Hagerstown Trust officials commended Sheriff's Deputies
for actions that led to capture of two suspects in a string of ATM thefts.
The Maryland Department of Management and Budget sent a letter outlining the
Governor's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007. $150 million in state bond
money would be earmarked for School construction. Increases in operating budgets
for public schools would be supplied, taking that fund to $425 million, and
$110 million in teacher pension funding would be supplied. $170 million in
Medicaid assistance would be included in the Governor's budget, Snook reported.
The Health Department is assisting in finding placement for elderly citizens
who will have to move when a local nursing home closes in the near future.
The Board of Education has sent a letter outlining proposed Capital Improvement
Program expenditures for FY '07, and a letter from Marie Byers of Discovery
Station outlined that organization's' "Wish List". The issues will
be discussed at the January 10th meeting, Snook said.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works
Director Gary Rohrer reported on development of a feasibility study on Water
and Wastewater costs for Conococheague Elementary School, and has been sent
to the Board of Education.