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
May 9, 2006
THE COMMISSIONERS HELD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT 9:00 A.M. TO HEAR THE TEEN PREGNANCY TASK FORCE REPORT
REPORT: TEEN PREGNANCY TASK FORCE
Maureen Grove,
Chair, Washington County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force (WCTPPTF), Dale
Bannon of the United Way and Dr. Meredith Williams presented the Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Task Force Report to the joint meeting of the Commissioners and the
Board of Education. A survey by the Washington County Community Partnership
over the last two months produced a number of recommendations. The Task Force's
recommendations to the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners
including informing the community that parents are interested in having comprehensive
sex education provided to their children. The recommendation would be to expand
to the maximum allowed by state law. The Family Life Curriculum should include
all grades from 5th to 10th and additional classes should be taught. A mass
media campaign on teen pregnancy issues should be created and disseminated.
Transportation should be provided to after school programs at non-profit agencies,
Greater access should be allowed to school -based wellness centers at all high
schools. Additional access to middle and high schools to offer teen pregnancy
prevention programs for all students is needed. The Task Force cited Teen
Pregnancy has having a major financial impact on the community. No funding was
requested, although need for funding was discussed. Commissioners’ President
Greg Snook said that the Task Force, the Board of Education and the Health Department
should work together on a plan of action and submit it to the County Commissioners
for fiscal consideration.
PROCLAMATION: WASHINGTON COUNTY TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH
Commissioner Dori Nipps presented this proclamation
to members of the Task Force designating May as
Teen Pregnancy Prevention month in Washington County. The proclamation stated
that Washington County has the fourth-highest teen pregnancy rate in Maryland.
206 County teens gave birth in 2994, Teen parents are less likely to complete
high school, and the likelihood that these children will be victims of abuse
is great and cost to the taxpayer for programs of treatment is high. The WCTPPTF
is working to raise awareness of the implications of the high birth rate and
advocate for an inclusive, community-wide approach and comprehensive services
in order to reduce the number of births to teen parents.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on making a presentation to the Elks Club Teen of the
Year ceremony past week. The County-City 2+2 Committee discussed hospital issues,
sewer flow transfer and the City's involvement in the new communications system
in its recent meeting. The Downtown Task Force discussed priorities in its recent
meeting, including the School for the Arts, the East Frankiln Street area and
the feasibility of a Civil War Museum. The Planning Commission (WCPC) meeting
on Monday night recommended approval for a Daycare center requesting a rural
business-new designation and several text amendments. WCPC also had two
PUD rezoning requests for Portrait Homes and the Heritage Land Development project.
The Planning commission had split decisions for both requests and therefore
will be neutral in the recommendations for these projects. Those decisions
will now come before the County Commissioners for approval. This week is Teacher
Appreciation Week in Washington County, Kercheval said, and thanked the teaching
community for the hard work they do every day educating the children of Washington
County.
Commissioner
John Munson told the Board that the state of the dam at Devils’ Backbone
Park is again in question, and there is no money in the proposed budget for
repairs. The State has funds to demolish the dam, Munson reported. The Commissioner
also made a request to reduce the tax rate by 2 cents, matching state cuts.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on a meeting of the Historic Advisory Commission
that also discussed Devil’s Backbone. A plan to retain or remove the
dam will be presented by Public Works Director Gary Rohrer. The Fort Frederick
250th anniversary will be celebrated May 26th through the 28th. The Friends
of Fort Frederick requested assistance from the County, but set no dollar
amount. The event will also see groundbreaking for the Governor’s House
project. A donation to the event should be discussed, Nipps said. The Historic
Advisory Committee also requested that Bill Knode be appointed as representative
from the museum Association. The measure was approved by unanimous vote. The
Historic District Commission also met last week and discussed rural village
issues. That new zoning designation gives the HDC authority to review demolition
and construction permits in those areas designated as historic.
Commissioners'
President Greg Snook told the Board That a Certificate of Merit will be presented
to Mahesh Kukata, formerly of URS consultants. Kukata, a primary engineer on
the Airport expansion project is forming a new company, Snook said. A regional
Women’s Softball Tournament played at Kemp’s Mill Park saw Hagerstown
Community College win the title. HCC’s team advances to the Softball World
Series, Snook said. Snook reported on speaking to the National Day of Prayer
ceremony at Cedar Ridge Ministries, and to the Government class at Hagerstown
Community College last week. The Quad-State Business Journal showed Washington
County’s rate of growth at 1.5% over the past 5 years, and ranked that
growth lowest in the nearby area. Jefferson County West Virginia grew 3.1%,
Berkeley County grew 4.2%, and Loudon County Virginia grew by 8.5%. Snook said
that Loudon County’s population grew from 170,000 to 255,000 in a 5-year
period. By comparison, Washington County grew by 10,000 people during that same
period. Snook cited the lack of zoning ordinances for the rate disparity between
Washington County and the WV counties.
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.
Students and Teachers from Broadfording Mennonite
School paid their annual visit to the Board to observe the working of County
Government. Commissioners’ President Snook discussed budget preparation
and approval items with the group.
Danny Lane of Keedysvile addressed tax issues
and persons on fixed incomes. Lane commended the Commissioners for implementing
the rural rezoning amendments.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from
the Board of Social Services that John Miller be reappointed to the Board for
a second term, and that Delores Harmon be appointed to a first term. The measures
were approved by unanimous vote.
A request from the Local Management Board to reappoint Paul Pittman and Melicent
Malchenson to serve a second term, and reappoint Mark Lannon to a full three-year
term retroactive to July 1, 2005 was brought to the Board. The measures were
approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded
the Commissioners that the annual Employee Recognition and Retirement Breakfast
is set for May 16th at 7:30 a.m. at the Four Points Hotel.
ANNUAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU UPDATE
Tom Riford, President and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) presented an update on tourism
in Washington County. The tourism industry has recovered in Washington
County. Local hotel occupancies were up significantly in 2004 and 2005, and
visitation to local attractions also increased. 2006 is shaping up to be
a good year for Washington County’s Tourism industry. More than
6,000 people work in tourism – up
from 5,300 last year, Riford said. According to the State’s
Office of Tourism Development, last year 1.3 million visitors spent $187.7
million in Washington County. Those numbers did not include visits to the
local retail malls. The CVB’s financial situation has improved during
the last two years, Riford reported. May is Tourism Month. May 13-21
is Maryland and National Tourism Week. Tourism-related events are happening
around the state during May. The month ends with the 250th Anniversary
of Fort Frederick. New
events, attractions, and museums are working closely with the CVB, and the
agency has also taken an active role in assisting local groups and their
efforts. Public relations efforts have brought positive attention to Washington
County tourism marketing. Riford presented the annual audit of the CVB,
and reported that serious budget deficits that were experienced two years
ago have been overcome. Riford told the Board that the CVB’s entire
debt has been paid off over the two years, and that the Bureau now has positive
cash flow and cash reserves. Commissioners’ President
Greg Snook congratulated the CVB staff and Board of Directors and commended
Riford difficult choices in staff cuts taken during his term at the Bureau. Snook
presented Riford and CVB Chair Dennis Miller with a proclamation designating
the week of May 13th through the 21st as
Tourism Week in Washington County.
PROCLAMATION: WASHINGTON COUNTY READING DAY
Kathleen O'Connell of the Washington County Free
Library received a proclamation from Commissioner Jim Kercheval designating
May 13th, 2006 as Reading Day in Washington County. The proclamation cited reading
as the foundation of all learning, and said that literacy is essential to the
quality of life in Washington County. Citizens recognize that sharing
enthusiasm for reading is the best way to encourage children to develop reading
skills. Literacy shows the way to better medical care and nutrition, gives people
a sense of self-worth, helps strengthen the economy through creating a productive
and educated workforce. The Partners in Literacy subcommittee of the Business
Education Partnership is sponsoring a celebration to be held at the University
of Maryland System at Hagerstown, and the University Plaza Park. The event
will feature 35 authors including best selling children’s author Jonathan
London and teen author Chris Crutcher. The committee said it was grateful for
the support of the commissioners in the past. Previously the commissioners
had given the committee $1,000. This year a $5,000 donation from the Nora
Roberts Foundation will enable the committee to cover all costs
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION PRELIMINARY PROJECT
Robert Mandley,
Project Coordinator for the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development
Commission and Tim Troxell, EDC Director, brought Appalachian Regional Commission
(ARC) Preliminary Project Descriptions to the Board. Mandley
requested prioritization of projects to be submitted to the ARC and give approval
to proceed with applications for projects that receive funding. As part of
the annual ARC FY '07 funding program, Tri-County Council, the local administrator
of the federal funds, requests that the County review and prioritize the projects
to be submitted to them for funding consideration. The County Administrator,
Director of Planning and EDC Director reviewed the projects and ranked them
based on the economic impact each could have on the future of Washington County.
Nine projects were received for consideration. In the TEA-21 Access Road
funding category there is only one proposed project, Newgate Boulevard Extension
at $400,000, to be submitted by Washington County. Mandley told the Board
that $807,000 is available in the T-21 line item, and that neither Allegany
or Garret County is applying for the funds. The Board gave its permission to
apply for the maximum amount available. In the Area Development
Projects category there were 8 proposed projects listed in order of rank, and
one which had not been ranked, relating to the Washington County Enterprise
Geographic Information System (GIS). The City of Hagerstown submitted
the Hagerstown Southside Revival Project. Hagerstown Community College is interested
in Increasing the Capacity of Hagerstown Community College to Provide Leading
Edge Nursing and Allied Health Education, and Training Equipment. The
Washington County Public Schools submitted Project Lead the Way: Gateway to
Technology and Biotechnology Program. The City of Hagerstown also submitted
a request for a New Business Park. Washington County Public Schools also submitted
a Boonsboro Campus Technology Infrastructure Modernization Project. The Community
Free Clinic –submitted a project for providing medical care, prescription
medication and laboratory services to residents of Washington County, Maryland
who are medically uninsured. An additional Washington County Public Schools
project would deal with a Student Projection and Resource Allocation Project.
The City of Williamsport submitted a water and sewer project to improve the
Williamsport Pumping Stations and I & I Improvement Project. ARC funding
is limited to 30% of a project’s cost. If approved, these funds
reduce the costs to other funding sources for the project. The Board
of Education Student allocation and resource project was seen as similar in
scope to the County GIS project. The two projects would be merged and then
ranked to come in at number 4, just below the School Board’s Project
Lead the Way request. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
Sheriff
Charles Mades requested acceptance of the
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG Program) for the period
from October first 2005 to September 30th, 2009. Awarded Funds of $15,137.00
would be split 50/50: between the Hagerstown City Police Department and
the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The JAG Program allows states, tribes,
and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and
control crime based on their needs and conditions. Grant funds
can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training,
personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems
for criminal justice. The Hagerstown City Police will use their half of the
JAG funding to fund overtime to police personnel for the support of law enforcement
efforts in designated CSAFE areas of Hagerstown. The Washington County Sheriff's
Office will utilize its half of the JAG award to support traffic enforcement
initiatives, crime prevention patrols in response to specific crimes, threats,
or holiday events, and to purchase equipment, software or other technology
improvement items. The update was presented in order for the Budget and
Finance department to be able to place the money in the appropriate budget
line item. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
REVISED LIVABILITY CODE
Permits and
Inspections Director Dan DiVito brought this request, to adopt the Code
as revised, before the Board. Washington County has had a Livability Code in
force since at least 1988. The Code governs such things as the minimum requirements
for a residence in terms of heat, water, power, and sanitary facilities that
must be in place in order for it to be approved for ocupancy. State law requires
local jurisdictions to either adopt a code that is compliant with the statute,
or enforce the state model code. The revised version of the Code meets or exceeds
the minimum requirements of state law. The current Code is not, in some
areas, in compliance with state requirements. This proposed version also
delineates responsibilities of property owners and tenants, provides means of
enforcement, and clarifies methods of appeal. On March 28, 2006, a public hearing
was held on the draft Code. Changes were based upon testimony given at the hearing
and recommendations of the County Commissioners and staff to eliminate Section
3 regarding owner-occupied housing. Displacement of tenants was discussed, with
wording added to require a displaced tenant be provided the same size and type
of housing as had been rented. The code, as amended, was adopted on a 3-2 vote
with Commissioners Bill Wivell and John Munson voting "no".
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Human Resources
Director Dave Hankinson requested approval to advertise a Collections Operator
Trainee position at the Department of Water Quality. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
Public Works
Director Gary Rohrer reported that Ford Drive in Hancock opened Friday afternoon.
Westfields Elementary School plans were reviewed by the Advisory School Design
Review Committee (ASDRC). Rohrer said the plans were very good for the facility.
Pavement maintenance projects for FY 2007 will encompass 40 miles of County
roadways, and construction should begin in early July. A tour of the county
to look at bicycle routes will enable a map of bike paths to be developed, Rohrer
said. The Division is looking at the Devil's Backbone dam issue, and reviewing
engineering estimates for that structure's repair. A formal report will be made
to the Board at a later date on recommendations for repairs to the structure,
Rohrer said.
OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioners'
President Snook asked the Board if it wished to donate $10,000 to the Fort Frederick
250th Anniversary event. The funds would be routed through the Convention and
Visitors Bureau strictly for that event, to be used as the Friends of Fort Frederick
committee wished,. The funds would come from the Commissioners' contingency.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
Commissioner
John Munson requested a vote on a 2 cent cut to the County property tax rate.
His motion, seconded by Commissioner Wivell failed on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners
Nipps, Kercheval and Snook voting "no".
YOUTH OF THE MONTH
The Washington
County Community Partnership brought the High School and Middle School
Youth of the Month Meritorious Awards for March, before the Board. The
Middle School honoree is Sarah Hull, of Boonsboro Middle School.
Daughter of Matthew and Sarah Hull, Sarah is a seventh grade student at
Boonsboro Middle School. Sarah has received the Citizenship Award, Success
Through Academic Recognition and has been on the honor role in the 6th and 7th
grades. She participates in the Girl Scouts, the youth group at her church and
the Digital Photo Club at Boonsboro Middle. In addition to her school activities,
Sarah participates in Family Fun Night every Friday; car washes, food drives at
her church, canned food drives, and the Christmas Luminary lighting in
Keedysville. Sarah's teachers note that Sarah’s leadership qualities include,
honesty, responsibility, trustworthiness, a team player and a good decision
maker.
Cory Shank
of South Hagerstown High School is the High School honoree
for March. Cory, son of Jeffrey and Stephanie Shank is a tenth grade
student at South Hagerstown High. He has maintained perfect attendance
and aspires to graduate with perfect attendance. Cory played freshman football
and basketball, serving as team captain for both sports. He also participates
in baseball and Student Government as a Student Representative. Cory his
seen as a positive leader for all the organizations in which he has participated.
Among Cory’s home activities, he assists with cleaning and yard work. He
also enjoys playing family games and at times is responsible for babysitting
his younger siblings. Cory is an active member in St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church in Funkstown, where he is involved in the youth group as one of its leaders. He
also participates in activities at the Hagerstown YMCA, National Little League,
Junior Basketball, Junior Football League and Hagerstown Pony League.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TOOK THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2007 BUDGET TO PUBLIC HEARING IN KEPLER THEATER ON THE HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS AT 7:00 P.M.