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.
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
April 18, 2006
BUDGET DISCUSSION: DISCOVERY STATION
Discovery
Station Director B. Marie Byers and organization Treasurer John Davidson requested
funding for current year operations and for continued operations in FY ’07.
The request was for $30,000 to assist in operating costs for the remainder of
the fiscal year, and $30,000 for FY ‘07. Byers cited expenses for transporting
and unloading exhibits at the science museum. Byers said the City of Hagerstown
gave the organization $10,000 in the current year, and that a request for $30,000
would be made to the City for next year. Commissioners’ President Greg
Snook requested a long-range management plan that would reduce dependency on
State, County and City funding sources and rely more on corporate sponsorship.
A proposal, to allow $20,000 from the Commissioners’ contingency fund
for the remainder of FY ’06 was approved, with Commissioners Wivell and
Munson voting “no”.
HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET DISCUSSION
Human Resources
Director Dave Hankinson brought new position and reclassification recommendations
to the Board for review and discussion. Personnel requests for the coming fiscal
year included a total of $2.28 million in reclassifications, new positions and "other" requests.
If approved, Public Safety would see $931,787 in reclassifications. Under the
General Fund, $889,614 would fund 28 new positions, and reclassifications would
account for $167,098. The Commissioners decided to make wage and salary adjustments,
rather than reclassify positions. The Commissioners approved a new Assignment
Clerk in Circuit Court, Put off a decision on a Planning Director’s position
until a presentation on the complete reorganization of the Planning Department
is heard, said yes to a Global Information Systems Analyst in the IT Department,
approved 12 new positions in the three divisions of the Sheriff’s Department,
approved a Deputy Director for Fire and Emergency Services position pending
a review of operations of that Division, and approved transfer of the Emergency
Medical Services Specialist from the County Fire and Rescue Association to the
Division of Fire and Emergency Services. That position would be a lateral transfer.
In the Permits and Inspections Department, the Board approved one new Building
Inspector position, an Electrical Inspector to begin in January of 2007, plus
funding for one Plan Reviewer and one Plumbing Inspector for 11 months of the
new fiscal year.
PUBLIC HEARING: COMMISSIONERS NONPROFIT LIST (1-108)
County Attorney
John Martirano brought this request to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations
to which the Commissioners may donate directly, by Potomac Case Management Services,
Inc. Under section 1-108 of the Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington
County, Maryland, the Board of County Commissioners may contribute funds, directly
to certain non-profit community service organizations. The public hearing was
held to consider a request made by Potomac Case Management Services, Inc. to
be added to the list. Fay Smith, President of Potomac Case Management, testified
in favor of the request, telling the Board that the funding would be used to
pay the costs of moving offices into the Aspire to Serve building. The agency
had been counting on grants to pay for that cost, but those grants were not
funded. Commissioners Greg Snook and Bill Wivell asked for more specific details.
The request would have been for $20,000 of the $50,000 moving costs the agency
incurred. Funding by the Gaming Commission was discussed. Approval by the Board
of County Commissioners of the request of a nonprofit organization to be added
to the list does not assure that the organization will receive funding from
the Board. The request was delayed for one week, pending further information
to be supplied by the Gaming Commission.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Each week
the Board of County Commissioners sets aside time to hear from citizens of Washington
County on matters of importance to the community.
No one appeared
to make comment on this day.
HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET DISCUSSION PART II
HR Director
Dave Hankinson brought additional requests for new positions and position reclassifications
before the Board. Under New Positions, the Commissioners approved an Installer
position in Communications Maintenance, the first addition of personnel to that
department in 15 years. A Global Information System Analyst was approved for
the Engineering Department, but an Office Associate position was put on hold
pending a discussion of part-time versus full-time status. Buildings, Grounds
and Parks’ request for Seasonal Maintenance Workers was approved, as was
a Youth Programs Coordinator position for the Recreation Department. A 9-month
Agricultural Marketing Specialist position requested by the Economic Development
Commission was tentatively approved pending review of a job description and
further discussion of housing the position and how it would be supervised. The
original $100,000 request for that position was reduiced to $50,000. A position
to be called Operations/Safety Inspector in the Solid Waste Department was put
on hold until further information on cost savings was presented. A Utility Construction
Inspector in the Department of Water Quality was approved by the Board. A Maintenance
Worker/Firefighter position request by Hagerstown Regional Airport was denied.
A number
of positions were recommended for reclassification. The Board decided to make
adjustments to salaries, rather than grade reclassifications. An Assignment
Clerk/Jury Coordinator in Circuit Court adjustment was denied. Two Deputy Director
positions in Budget and Finance were approved; the upgrades would have an impact
of $5,882. Fourteen requests in Buildings, Grounds and Parks were approved,
the upgrades would have an impact of approximately $19,700. The Rural Preservation
Administrator position in the Planning Department adjustment request was approved,
the upgrade would have an impact of $2,339. The Risk Management Administrator
in Human Resources was approved, with an impact of $2,075. Upgrade of
two positions in Information Technologies were approved, the upgrades would
have an impact of $9,407. An Office Associate for the Process Servers was approved,
with an impact of $3,205. A request to promote the EDC Marketing Specialist
to Deputy Director of that department was approved, with an impact of $4,449.
REALITY CHECK PLUS
Richard Willson,
Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Washington County (HAWC), and
John Frece, Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth Research
and Education of the University of Maryland presented a briefing about Reality
Check Plus, a Western Maryland Growth Visioning exercise to be held June 2nd,
at Hagerstown Community College. The event, one of four regional exercises to
be held around the State of Maryland, is co-sponsored by the University of Maryland,
the Urban Land Institute, and 1000 Friends of Maryland. The Western Maryland
exercise will involve 160 participants from Frederick, Washington, Allegany
and Garrett counties, invited to participate in the morning exercise. That exercise
will involve asking participants to decide where the increment of jobs and housing
projected to come to the region by 2030 should be located and what the implications
of this growth are to the region. The afternoon session, which will be open
to both morning participants and the public at large, will include a keynote
speech by Pulitzer-prize winning author Tom Hylton, whose editorials advocating
the preservation of farmland and open space in southeastern Pennsylvania won
a Pulitzer Prize in 1990, as well as a presentation of the computerized results
from the morning exercise and a further discussion of the implications of this
new level of growth to the region.
MAUGANSVILLE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT
HAWC Director
Richard Willson and John Schuster of SIS Properties, LLC brought this request,
for a reduction of excise taxes on a Workforce Housing Project in Maugansville.
The Board was requested to approve a Pilot Agreement and a reduction in the
Excise Tax for one and two-bedroom units from $15,500.00 per unit to $1.00 per
square foot to allow for the construction of workforce housing. Schuster told
the Board that there have been many jobs created in the County in recent years
in the $7.00 to $12.00 per hour wage category. The supply of quality workforce
housing available to this work force is extremely limited, and the current Excise
Tax of $15,500.00 per unit could preclude the construction of future housing
to serve this segment of the workforce. SIS Properties is requesting
a reduction in the Excise Tax to allow for such construction. Section 13 (c)
of the Excise Tax ordinance permits the Board of County Commissioners to grant
a credit to an individual who constructs qualified work force housing. The amount
would be adopted by the County Commissioners by resolution and a Pilot Agreement
to provide housing for people whose income does not exceed 50% of the current
Median Income of $21,550 for 1 person, and $30,750 for a family of 4.
The project being proposed is a 24 unit apartment complex with 12 one bedroom
and 12 two bedroom units adjacent to the company’s existing Greenside
Apartments in Maugansville. Current rents and income levels for households at
or below 40% of median would $330.00 per month for one-bedroom units and $380.00
per month for two-bedroom units. Rents for households at or below 50% of median
income would be $450.00 per month for one-bedroom and $550.00 per month for
2-bedroom. Excise Tax paid would be reduced from $372,000.00 to an amount consistent
with tax imposed on small residential construction. Schuster told the Board
that the mortgages on the property would be 40-year, and the restrictions would
remain in effect over that period of time. Commissioners President Greg Snook
said that the Board needed additional time to review the project, and would
comment at a later date.
PUBLIC HEARING: COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT PROJECT
David Jordan,
Executive Director, Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. brought
this Maryland Community Development Block Grant Application to Public Hearing.
In accordance with federal regulations, Washington County must provide a public
hearing for the purpose of obtaining citizens’ views before submission
of an application to the Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. requested that the Board of
County Commissioners approve the submission of an application in the amount
of $22,000 to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
for a planning grant through the CDBG program. Purpose of the grant would be
to perform a county-wide housing condition study. After grant approval the Board
of County Commissioners would serve as the recipient and Washington County Community
Action Council, Inc. would be the sub-recipient of the grant. The City of Hagerstown
has committed $2,500 to the study as well. The housing condition study would
include an inspection of all single family housing units from the street, to
identify substandard units by looking at the exterior condition of each unit,
including evaluation of the roof, siding and grounds.
A point map would be developed identifying the location of each substandard
unit, a digital photograph of each substandard unit would be taken, status
of each unit will be determined as occupied, vacant, abandoned, or used for
another purpose, and
a final report discussing the population and housing characteristics of the
area based upon Maryland Department of Planning, U.S. Census, and other readily
available data. DHCD requires the Community Action Council to perform this
study, as a sub-recipient of CDBG funds that performs housing rehabilitation
activities. Information gained through the study would be helpful in determining
substandard units in need of rehabilitation and identifying units that may
be excellent candidates for purchase, rehabilitation, and re-sale. The proposed
grant would fund a contracted consultant to perform the study and related
project administration costs. The Public Hearing was opened, with Robert Colvin
of Hagerstown asking a question that had neither a positive nor a negative
impact on the outcome. The measure was approved on a 3-1 vote with Commissioner
Wivell voting "no".
REPORT ON PEN-MAR WATER PROJECT
Sonja Hoover
of the Economic Development Commission told the Board that a Public Hearing
on the water project in the PenMar area will be held on May 23rd at 7:00 p.m.,
to get public input on application for a grant to assist residents with water
hookup fees and associated plumbing costs. Assistance would be in the form of
grants to citizens. Commissioners' President Greg Snook requested that the location
for the meeting be moved from the Smithsburg Library to a location in the immediate
PenMar area.
HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET DISCUSSION PART III
Human Resources
Director Dave Hankinson brought this budget discussion back to the Board for
further discussion. The Director of the Community Partnership for Children and
Families position was requested to be adjusted to be more inline with similar
positions in the state, with an impact to the budget of $7,749. A Senior
Project Coordinator position in the Community Partnership was requested to be
promoted to Project Manager at an increase of $3,247, with an impact of zero,
as the position is funded totally by state and federal grants. 71 positions
in the Highways Department were presented for wage and salary adjustments, with
an impact of approximately $119,000. The Solid Waste Fund was requested
to provide upgrades for 11 employees, with an impact of $23,821 on that
fund. The Transportation Fund requested that 11 employees be upgraded, with
an impact of $13,436 to that fund. One employee's salary was entirely paid through
federal and state funds and impact to the Transportation fund decreased by $1,283.00.
The Airport Fund saw upgrades of five employees approved with impact of $6,748
to that fund. Under the "Other" category, upgrades were approved
for two part-time employees in the Board of Election Supervisors at an impact
of $640. Requested increases for Election Board members and that Board's Attorney
were held pending receipt of further information. The Planning Commission and
Board of Zoning Appeals salaries were requested to be increased by 30%. The
Commissioners approved a stipend of $150 per meeting for those Boards.. Increase
in hours of a Part-Time Office Associate at Highways and upgrade for an Assistant
Fleet Manager in that department were approved with impact of $7,008. An upgrade
for the Database Administrator in Information Technologies was approved with
an impact of $2,000.00. An increase to the salary of the IT Director of $5,957
was held pending further information and Board review. Part-time guards in the
Sheriff's Judicial Division were requested for an upgrade of $37,786, but the
Commissioners approved $15,000.00 after discussion with Sheriff Charles Mades.
Adjustments to one 9-1-1 Communications employee was approved at an impact of
$4,921, along with $6,220 in increases in part-time wages for Dispatchers, and
$13,000 in overtime for Dispatchers. Transfer of one position from the Recreation
Department to Buildings, Grounds and Parks had no budgetary impact. A
50-cent raise in part-time seasonal Recreation employee wages was approved at
an impact of $10,000. The Recreation Program Manager's position was retitled as
Recreation Director at no impact on the budget. Transportation part-time Bus
Drivers, Attendants, Para-Transit and Van Drivers were upgraded at an impact
of $12,600.
Public Safety
Pay issues were discussed, with Sheriff's Department Colonel Doug Mullendore
requesting that, in order to stay competitive with surrounding jurisdictions,
starting salaries for Deputies be raised to that currently being paid in Frederick
County. Patrol and Judicial Deputies would start at $36,304, up from $29,991.
Detention Center Deputies would see a new starting salary at $31,674. Applicants
with 2 years experience would start at $38,890 in Patrol and Judicial,
and $33,930 in Detention. Across the board upgrades for all Sheriff's employees
would have an annual impact of $1.67 million. The increases would not go into
effect until October 1st, and the impact on the FY '07 budget would be $931,000.00.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook said that due to time constraints, the discussion
would have to be continued in a budget workshop scheduled for Wednesday morning.
CONTRACT AWARD; CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and Joe Kroboth, Deputy Director of Public Works brought
this Contract Award for Construction/Building Inspection Services to the Commissioners
for approval. To award a primary contract to Development Facilitators,
Inc. of Severna Park, Maryland with the lowest price proposal amount of $172,000.00;
and, as permitted in the Request for Proposals, to award a secondary contract
to A. Morton Thomas, of Rockville, Maryland with a responsive, responsible proposal
in the amount of $215,383.50 with Standard Penetration Tests charged at a daily
rate of $1,500 per day including up to 50 tests per day within the same site.
The services under this contract consist of providing construction/building
inspection services, as well as field and laboratory services for various projects
located throughout the County. The projects may include maintenance and
construction of roads, traffic signals, bridges, drainage structures, waterlines,
sewer lines, buildings or any similar public improvement projects. The
contract is for a period of 1 year tentatively to have begun March 1, 2006,
with an option by the County to renew for up to 4 additional 1-year periods. Under
the terms of the contract, other political jurisdictions within the County may
utilize the services provided as a result of this contract. Services would
be utilized on an as-needed basis at the respective hourly unit prices for each
class of inspector and at the unit price for each test as specified in their
Price Proposals with no guarantee of a maximum or minimum number of hours or
tests. The measure was discussed with an eye towards costs for providing the
inspections in-house. The contract was approved, with that in-house provision
to be investigated, by a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
BID AWARD: INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and Solid Waste Department Director Bob Davenport brought
these bids, for heavy equipment used at landfill sites, before the Commissioners
for approval. One (1) Crawler Bulldozer to Standard Equipment Co. of Frederick,
MD in the amount of $53,274.00 per year for five
years, for a total of $266,370.00 and waiver of Performance Bond of $2,150.00.
One (1) Compactor from Alban Tractor Co., Inc. of Baltimore, for an $83,038.19
lease payment for 5 years including Trade-in for a total of $415,190.95
and waiver of Performance Bond of $8,800.00. The measures were approved by unanimous
vote.
LANDFILL USER FEE ADOPTION
Solid Waste
Department Director Bob Davenport brought this request, to approve the resolution
adopting landfill user fees for FY 2007, before the Board. The County Commissioners
held a public hearing on April 4th, to permit any resident of the County to
appear and testify concerning the proposed modification to certain landfill
user fees. The recommendation is based on a fee structure established from the
Financial Model on full costs accounting; budget requirements for all Solid
Waste Operations, future construction, closure and 30-year post closure costs.
The Solid Waste Advisory Commission recommendation is based on average weight/
cubic yard ratios for used capacity. Based on costs of service analysis, the
recommended rates fund operating costs, reserves, and waste stream projections.
Proposed fee increases from staff for commercial tipping would be $60 per ton
for rubble and composting, and $50 per ton for municipal solid waste. Permit
fees would also increase under the plan, with the Senior Citizen fee increasing
by $5.00 from $90 to $95 per year and regular permits increasing from $120 to
$130 per year. The Solid Waste Advisory Commission recommended $75 per ton for
Rubble and Building Debris and $100 per ton for High Volume-Low Weight materials,
based on average weight to cubic yard ratios for used capacity. The Commissioners
approved the SWAC recommendation for Rubble at $75 per ton, but the High-Volume
Low-Weight fee would remain at $75 per ton. Residential Permits were set at
$125 for regular permits and $95 for Senior Citizens, or an increase of $5.00
each. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
WATER AND SEWER RATE USER FEE ADOPTION
Department
of Water Quality Director Greg Murray brought this request, for approval of
a resolution adopting water and sewer rates and fees for FY
2007, before the Board. The County Commissioners held a public hearing on April
4th, to permit any resident of Washington County to appear and testify concerning
the proposed modification of water and sewer rates and certain miscellaneous
fees. Water and Sewer revenue requirements show that a 3% increase in water
revenue and a 2% increase in sewer revenue are necessary to facilitate the Department
of Water Quality's long-range financial plans. The presented rate schedule
for FY 2007 is based on this requirement. The proposed residential sewer rates
would go to $107.70 for 12,000 gallons per quarter, an increase of $2.15. The
residential water rates were requested at $118.60 per 12,000-gallon average
quarterly flow, an increase of $3.50. The measures were approved by unanimous
vote.
CONSTRUCTION BID AWARD: CULVERT REPLACEMENT
Deputy Chief
Engineer Rob Slocum, brought this request, for award of a contract for several
culvert replacements to the low bidding firm of C. William Hetzer, Inc. of
Hagerstown, MD, for the as bid amount of $410,956.00. The project includes
culvert replacement at three separate locations on Harpers Ferry Road, Nick
Road, and Toms Road. Each
location includes the removal of an existing deteriorated culvert with the
placement of new concrete pipe, cast-in-place concrete endwalls, placement
of riprap, installation of new traffic barrier, and asphalt approach paving. The
three separate projects were combined into a single project in an attempt
to capitalize on an economy of scale. This is a 180 Calendar Day Contract,
with the anticipated Notice to Proceed of May 1st, and a completion
date of October 27th. The various locations would be closed to through
traffic for the duration of the work with the associated detour routes marked. The
measure was approved by unanimous vote.
CONSTRUCTION BID AWARD: STRUCTURE REPLACEMENT
Deputy Chief
Engineer Rob Slocum, brought this request, for award of a contract
for the Structure Replacement Project 2006, to the low bidding
firm of C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown, for the amount of $445,581.75. Slocum
also recommended approval of Change Order 1 in the amount of $55,440, to correct
a quantity error for cast-in-place concrete on the Lanes Run Road structure.
The project includes two superstructure replacements and one culvert replacement
at three separate locations: Catholic Church, Indian Springs and Lanes Run
Roads. The work at Catholic Church and Indian Springs Roads includes
the placement of reinforced cast-in-place concrete bridge slab and endwalls,
placement of riprap, installation of new traffic barrier, and full depth asphalt
paving. The work at Lanes Run Road includes the placement of a concrete
pipe and reinforced cast-in-place concrete endwalls, placement of riprap, installation
of new traffic barrier, and full depth asphalt paving. The three separate
projects were combined into a single project in an attempt to capitalize on
an economy of scale. This is a 200 Calendar Day Contract, with anticipated
Notice to Proceed of May 1st, and a completion date of November
16th. The various locations would be closed to through traffic for the duration
of the work with the associated detour routes marked. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
CITY OF HAGERSTOWN ANNEXATION REQUEST
Director
of Planning and Community Development Mike Thompson, brought this City of Hagerstown
Annexation Request known as the A06-01 Hamilton Annexation before the Commissioners.
The staff determination is that the proposed annexation and zoning is consistent
with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and no “express approval” is
necessary. The request before the City of Hagerstown
is for the annexation of a 2.54-acre tract of land along the west side of US
Route 40. This property is designated as commercial on the 2002 adopted Comprehensive
Plan. No development plans have been presented to the City. The proposed zoning
of the property is commercial and therefore, consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan no further action is required by the Board. The Hamilton property has been
presented to the City of Hagerstown for annexation. Under Maryland Law a municipality
may not place a property into a zoning classification that permits a land use
substantially different from the use permitted under the adopted comprehensive
plan. The application is Commercial General zoning, which is consistent with
the existing Highway Interchange I zoning in the County. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
MAUGANS AVENUE RIGHT-OF-WAY
Real Property
Administrator Joe Kuhna brought this request, to approve purchase of Right of
Way (ROW) fee simple and easements for the Maugans Avenue improvement project.
This purchase of ROW and supporting easements are needed for the construction
of the Maugans Avenue project. The ROW and easement acquisition include
12,356 sq. ft. fee simple, 719 sq. ft. drainage easement, and 7,515 sq. ft.
temporary construction easement, for a total acquisition of $67,700.00. The
property is located behind the McDonalds on Maugans Avenue, is owned by Precision
Angstrom and is required to make a new public road to alleviate traffic on Maugans
and provide a service road behind the I-mart and McDonalds, Kuhna said. The
measure was approved by unanimous vote.
A BUDGET WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19th FROM 9 A.M. UNTIL NOON IN THE COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM AT 100 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, HAGERSTOWN.