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 toured the WASHINGTON county sheriff's department at the NOON hour
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
John Munson reported that the state's property tax constant yield figures are
due out on January 14th, and cited news reports that Governor Ehrlich may reduce
state property tax next year. Munson requested the Board to consider lowering
the property tax at the County level.
Commissioner
Dori Nipps commented on the Maryland Association of Counties' winter meeting,
which featured a workshop on affordable housing. The City of Rockville has
some programs in place that could be of interest in Washington County, and
further information has been requested from that City. Governor Ehrlich announced
increases in school construction funds and operational funds at the meeting.
The Governor's budget will contain $281 million in construction funds, but
MACo said the amount should be increased to $400 million. The annual awards
dinner at Halfway Fire Company highlighted safety initiatives for firefighters,
and discussed the increased amount of calls the company is receiving due to
increases in County population.
Commissioner
Bill Wivell reported on a recycling plan underway in Worcester County in which
that County has undertaken a drywall-recycling program in cooperation with
a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania paper company. A number of products are being
manufactured from the recycled drywall, available in large quantities due to
the current building boom. Wivell requested Washington County staff to
undertake implementation of a similar plan. The MACo winter meeting dealt
with several issues of importance including post employment benefits. At the
community meeting with the Local Delegation to the General Assembly held last
weekend, about a third of the citizens that spoke addressed the need for property
tax relief. Wivell agreed with Commissioner Munson's call to consider the issue
during budget preparation for the coming fiscal year.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on the Maryland Association of Counties' winter meeting.
One session dealt with new recreational resources including Water Trails. The
Town of Rockville discussed its MPDU program that does not include bonus densities,
and that program has been successful. Kercheval said he talked to the Mayor
of Rockville after the meeting and asked that a copy of their program be sent
to Washington County for review. Monday evening's Planning Commission meeting
discussed a proposed development off Bower Avenue. Kercheval suggested that
the developer complete a formal traffic study in the area to provide data before
the rezoning hearing on that development, due to the current traffic inadequacies
of Bower Ave. A review of the Maugansville Elementary School plan revealed
the entrance road would require the demolition of the old school buildings. Kercheval
said that the plan should be examined to provide alternate access if the County
needs to temporarily keep the old school open to help with capacity issues
at area schools until permanent solutions are completed.
Commissioners'
President Greg Snook requested that staff evaluate the school closing procedures
so that all parties will be familiar with the requirements as new schools are
built. Home sales in Washington County for the first two weeks in December
amounted to $44,750,000.00. An article in a Frederick newspaper reported that
Washington County's average property tax assessment increase at 19.5%, below
the state average of 20.1%. The figures are for the three-year assessment period,
Snook said. A letter from the Department of Business and Economic Development
has announced approval of the Town of Hancock's reauthorization as an Enterprise
Zone. The state Department of Natural Resources has approved $42,000 for paving
projects in parks. A letter from the state's Emergency Numbers System Board
congratulated Washington County's Emergency Services Division for passing the
most recent inspection with flying colors. The Chamber of Commerce Board met
last week and discussed school construction issues and the Wal-Mart insurance
bill that will be before the legislature in the coming session. A survey of
local businesses by Manpower Inc. found that 40% of the firms surveyed said
they were looking to add jobs in 2006. Average new home prices in Washington
County are $260,000.00, compared with $520,000 for Frederick County and $700,000
in Talbot County, the highest in Maryland. A session at the MACo conference
dealt with Early Voting issues, Snook said. The state is looking into requiring
Counties to provide at least one voting site open for 7 days prior to an election.
Counties must pay the costs for all elections, and would impact County budgets.
The legislature will debate the issue and make decisions in the coming session,
Snook said.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director
Gary Rohrer showed the Board a large wooden rendition of the County's Logo,
given by an anonymous donor. A suggestion was made that the Logo be mounted
in the Commissioners' meeting room. Consensus was reached to mount the logo
on the wall behind the Board President's chair.
Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson requested approval to advertise a Buyer
position in the Purchasing Department due to a recent resignation. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Clerk
Joni Bittner told the Board that the Area Agency on Aging has requested the
appointment of Donna Palmer, Delores Harmon, and Jeffrey Long to the Area Agency
on Aging Advisory Council for three-year terms. The measure was approved by
unanimous vote.
County Administrator's
Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Board that the State
IAC committee will hear pleas for additional funding for schools on January
18th. The School System has requested Commissioner support at that meeting.
The three items up for additional funding include Maugansville Elementary School
construction, plus planning and funding approval for Pangborn Elementary renovation
and additions and construction of Westfields Elementary.
WORKING AGREEMENT PROPOSAL WITH MID-MARYLAND LAND TRUST
County Agricultural
Land Preservation Administrator Eric Seifarth and Peter Vorac of Mid-Maryland
Land Trust Association (MMLTA) brought this item, a Proposed Working Agreement
with Board Of County Commissioners and MMLTA for discussion and approval. That
agreement would allow for donated easements in Washington County. Seifarth
told then Board that with demand for purchased easements continuing to be far
in excess of available funding, one option to stretch available preservation
dollars is to work with landowners willing to donate easements. Working with
MMLTA the Commissioners would be able to permanently protect farm and open
space land at a cost of only administrative and legal fees amounting to about
3% of the easement value. If property owners decide to donate a conservation
easement on their property, it could save County funds for having to pay for
a purchased easement; and could increase the number of acres of protected agricultural
land, forestland, and open space in Washington County. Some type of assistance
to help cover the MMLTA administrative costs to process and complete a donated
conservation easement, possibly 3% of the donated easement appraisal would
be in order. Donated easement values would probably be lower that those
of a purchased easement. For example, if a 50-acre, donated easement
property, appraised at $3,000 per acre has a total value of $150,000, 3%
of that sum would be $5,000. For an investment of $5,000 Washington
County would be saving at least $150,000 for a purchased easement. MMLTA is
also requesting payment for, or reimbursement of title search, one appraisal,
and settlement costs. There would be no title insurance cost on a donated
easement and costs would be in the range of 1% to 1.5%. For both purchased
easements and donated easements, reimbursement would be best handled at the
time of the easement settlement, Seifarth said. MMLTA would submit a
Request for Payment to Washington County on an individual easement basis, which
would be disbursed at settlement. Commissioner Wivell requested that the agreement
be modified to ensure that administrative costs would only be charged when
an easement goes to settlement. The modified measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN ANNUAL REPORT
Natalie
Rook, President of the Washington County Commission for Women and Commission
member Joan Erdesky brought this Status Report and discussion of its association
with Girls Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club before the Board. Rook told the
Board that the Commission has been active in community projects such as the
Storybook Project at the County Detention Center. Female inmates are encouraged
to tape record children's' stories that are played to their children in the
home. The Commission's annual essay contest theme will be "Women
in Sports". Better participation from the schools is being sought. The
contest has a $300.00 first prize, Rook said. The report covered other
projects completed over the past year and announced that the Commission is
in the process of writing a book titled “Washington County Women First’s”.
This is the first in what is hoped to be a series of reports to the Board of
County Commissioners.
CONSTRUCTION BID AWARD, DEMOLITION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
Deputy Chief
Engineer Rob Slocum and Steve Blickenstaff, Engineering Project Manager brought
this Construction Bid Award for Demolition of Four Residential Properties Along
Maugans Avenue, before the Board for approval. Engineering is recommending
awarding the contract to the low bidding firm of Callas Contractors, of Hagerstown,
for the as bid amount of $87,100. The project includes complete demolition
of the houses at 13534 Spriggs Road, 13526 Pennsylvania Avenue and 18620 Maugans
Avenue and partial demolition of the property at 13529 Spriggs Road. The
County owns all of the properties and all are vacant. Upon demolition,
the properties will be graded and seeded. The lots and remaining house will
be turned over to the Real Property Administrator upon completion of the project
for resale to the public. The lot at 18620 Maugans Avenue will be reserved
for a construction staging area prior to resale. Slocum told the Board that
the 120 Calendar-Day Contract would have a Notice to Proceed
of January 23rd, 2006, with an anticipated completion date of May 22nd, 2006. The
project would not affect utility relocation or construction, under the above
schedule. All adjacent roads would remain open for the project duration;
a temporary lane closure with flagmen may be required. The contract does include
provisions for liquidated damages of $100 per day, Slocum said. Discussion
took place on the need for total demolition of some structures, and use of
the land when the process was complete. 14 easements remain to be purchased.
The bid award was approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: EMERGENCY GENERATOR SYSTEM
County Purchasing
Department Buyer Rick Curry and Highways Department Fleet Manager Jack Reynard
brought this request, to award the emergency generator systems consisting of
two 150 kilowatt generators and electrical service upgrades at four highway
department locations to Ellsworth Electric Company of Hagerstown, Maryland
in the amount of $199,500. The two portable generators and four highway facility
electrical upgrades will be used to provide modern automatic emergency AC current
backup in the event of power outages. This upgrade will replace an existing
1968 model year, 10k watt trailer mounted twin engine/twin frame generator
set, with a disposal revenue $1,000. These upgrades were proposed and
approved as part of the FY ’06 operating budget. Discussion on reuse
of the existing equipment took place with Fire companies and schools mentioned
as reusers. Two options were presented, and option 2 would have provided one
generator and accompanying electrical work for $126,500.00. A motion to accept
option #2 failed by a two to three vote with Commissioners Nipps, Kercheval
and Snook voting "no". A motion to approve the original bid award
was approved on a three-two vote with Commissioners Wivell and Munson voting "no".
LAND PRESERVATION STAFFING
Planning
and Community Development Director Mike Thompson
Brought a request for increased land preservation staffing Before the Board.
Thompson requested the Commissioners to authorize hiring of a planner at
a Grade 11 with a base salary of $32,391.00 plus benefits to assist with
the land preservation efforts of the County. Thompson said that the preservation
efforts and programs the County is involved with have increased over the
last ten years and that in order to continue with these efforts at an acceptable
level, additional staff is necessary. The Rural Preservation Administrator
would assume supervisory responsibilities. Originally the
efforts of the County focused on Agricultural Preservation, and the Comprehensive
Plan on the 1980’s established a goal of 50,000 acres to be preserved
in the coming years. The original preservation staff job description outlines
a number of essential tasks for which the position is responsible, including
such things as working with landowners with regard to financial decisions;
preparing documentation for review of the County Agricultural Advisory Board,
Planning Commission, County Commissioners, and the State Agricultural Preservation
Foundation (MALPP); calculating and documenting tax credits (presently over
800); preparing technical applications for the Maryland Agricultural Land
Preservation districts; participating in long-term planning efforts; and
performing various other planning related reviews and functions. The initial
focus on agricultural land through the MALPP programs have now expanded into
seven different programs dealing with approximately $10,000,000 per year.
State and local programs include Agricultural Preservation, Rural Legacy,
Private Land Trusts, Farm and Ranch Protection Program, TEA 21, and most
recently the Installment Payment Program. In addition to the preservation
efforts, the current administrator has worked extensively with the Comprehensive
Plan and the Rural Zoning Update, as well as with the preparation and review
of subdivision documents dealing with properties proposed for development
in the rural areas. Major time is being spent with the Agricultural Advisory
Board in the review and potential development of a Transfer of Development
Rights program for the county. Salary costs for time spent on state programs
is reimbursed to the County from Transfer Tax and it is staff’s proposal
that this should remain the primary source of funding for the Administrator
and planner positions. Additional funding is available through the Rural
Legacy Program. Commissioner Kercheval requested revision of the job description
to ensure that other planning duties would be assumed by the position as
needs dictate. Commissioner Snook told Thompson to make sure adequate space
is available for the expanding Planning staff. The measure was approved by
a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES
County Attorney
John Martirano told the Board that the requirements that the Adequate Public
Facilities Ordinance specify a 60-day period for Towns to either adopt the
County's APFO or develop their own regulations. Some towns have complied, some
are in the development stage, and some have requested an extension to revise
plans. Martirano requested the period be extended to 120 days and the measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
CHANGE ORDER: BROADFORDING BRIDGE
County Administrator
Rod Shoop requested a change order in the final amount for the Broadfording
Road Bridge Contract, a decrease of $32,263.21. Final total for the project
was $1.37 million, Shoop said. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
ANNUAL TAX SETOFF MEETING WITH THE TOWN OF BOONSBORO
The Board
attended the annual Tax Setoff meeting with the Town of Boonsboro at Shaffer
Park Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Property Tax setoff funds are paid to municipalities
annually to help reimburse costs for Police services, Roads and Parks. For
fiscal year 2006 the allocation increased by 8.87%, or $112,627.00 over FY
2005. Allocations for all 9 municipalities were at or above the previous year's
funding level. The town of Boonsboro received $84,715 for 2006, an increase
of 8.87% over the FY allocation of $77,810. The Police
allocation was $67,443.00 and the Parks allocation was $12,272.00. Roads allocations
for all municipalities remain at $0.00 for 2006.