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 23, 2006
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
John Munson reported on attending the Clear Spring National Pike festival parade
last weekend.
Commissioner Dori Nipps commented on last week’s Airport Commission
meeting. The expansion project continues on schedule, Nipps said. The dedication
and open house at the Commission on Aging’s new location in the
Aspiring to Serve building means better services for Seniors will now be available.
The Rural Heritage Museum Truck Show and Truck Pull last weekend was very
successful, Nipps reported.
Commissioner Bill Wivell reported on a meeting of the Greater Hagerstown
Committee last week. Under discussion was alternative financing proposals
for funding school projects, including the proposed Barbara Ingram School
for the Arts in downtown Hagerstown. A meeting of parties concerned with the
planned Central Booking facility took place, and funding was an item of discussion.
Further meetings will need to be scheduled in order to resolve some issues
regarding various funding levels proposed. All law-enforcement agencies should
be at the table for that discussion, Wivell said, including the Maryland State
Police.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval said that a Planning Commission workshop on Monday discussed Planned
Urban Development overlays and are considering other updates to applicable ordinances.
Kercheval was a featured speaker at the Hagerstown Community College commencement
ceremonies past weekend. HCC graduated more than 350 students this year. The
Commissioner also commented favorably on the new space for the Commission on
Aging. The Mental Health Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting in August.
Additional cuts in Mental Health services have been seen at the state level. The
MHAC is concerned about the direction the care for those with mental illness
is going and whether the State is really listening to their advocacy efforts.
The MHAC will discuss their function and possible improvements in its advocacy
efforts at future meetings. Kercheval said. The Local Management Board meeting
last week elected Dave Engel as President, Paul Pittman as Vice-President and
Melissa Sibley as Secretary. The LMB is seeing about 1.5% or about $50,000 being
returned to the State out of $3.4M in grants previously awarded. These
unused funds are mainly from smaller grants that do not begin until later in
the Fiscal Year and do not need all of the awarded funds, Kercheval said.
Commissioners'
President Greg Snook told the Board that staff is constructing a Memorial Garden
in honor of Ruth Monroe at the Memorial Recreation Center. Snook said he will
meet with the Boonsboro Town Council about issues regarding the new Library
branch there, on Tuesday evening. The University of Maryland-Hagerstown Advisory
Board Meeting last week discussed the progress of the Hagerstown campus. The
downtown Hagerstown building has been open 15 months and has 325 full-time students,
with a goal by Fiscal Year 2008 of 600 FT students. The budget for the facility
was fully funded by the state and 4 new positions are being advertised. Towson
State University will be added to the list of colleges and universities providing
courses at the Center this August, adding BS degrees in Nursing and Social Science.
By next August BS degrees in Early Childhood Education, as well as Masters and
Educational Doctorate degrees in Educational Administration will be offered,
Snook said. The most recent offerings at the Center are Engineering degrees
and certifications. A meeting between the County and City utilities last week
indicated that the Sewer Interconnector project is in its final stages, Snook
reported.
2006 JOHN FRYE PRESERVATION AWARD
Commissioners’ President
Greg Snook presented the 2006 John Frye Historic Preservation Awards to two
programs that tied for the honor. Doug Bast of Boonsboro was honored for his
tireless efforts to preserve the area’s history at his Boonsboro Museum.
The museum contains memorabilia dating to the original settlement of the County,
and includes French and Indian War Cannons, and a large collection of items
from the Battle of Antietam in the Civil War. Bast is widely recognized as one
of the most knowledgeable historians in the area. Bill Knode and Blaine Weaver
accepted a Frye Award for the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum for their efforts
to preserve railroading history in Hagerstown and Washington County. The award
has been presented annually by the Historical Advisory Committee, but the name
was been changed to honor local historian John Frye in 2005.
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.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought
a request from the Chair of the Commission for Women to reappoint Rose Wolters
and Barbara Downey for a second term on the Commission. Their current
terms will expire on June 30, 2006. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote. Paula Lampton was recommended for appointment to the Board of Zoning
Appeals with Matt Harsh as Alternate. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop asked Division
of Fire and Emergency Services Director John Latimer to present a request
to the Board for two new vehicles for that Division. Latimer told the Board
that two vehicles would be needed at a total cost of $79,266.00. An SUV would
be used by the Emergency Services Coordinator to provide backup to help overstressed
EMS companies, and also to assist with Safety Officer programs. The County’s
Risk Management Coordinator suggested that a Safety Officer on-scene would
reduce insurance costs and Workers’ Compensation claims. An additional
stake-body truck would be used for transportation of palletized emergency
supplies and to pull the County’s Special Operations and Mass Casualty
trailers. $52,000 in funding for the vehicles would be supplied by the State
Emergency Management Agency and the balance of $27,266 would come from unused
funds in Fiscal Year 2006 Division budget line items. The measures were approved
by unanimous vote.
Shoop requested approval to advertise a Motor Equipment Operator III position
in the Highways Department due to promotion of an employee to the Assistant
Supervisor Position in the Western Highways Section. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
PROPOSED NEW FEE SCHEDULES: DEPARTMENTS OF PLANNING AND PERMITS & INSPECTIONS
Director
of the Washington County Planning Department Mike Thompson, brought this request,
to adopt a Resolution to Adopt a Fee Schedule to Govern Work and Services Performed
by the Washington County Planning Department before the Board. The Commissioners
held a public hearing on April 25th, 2006 to permit any interested person to
appear and testify concerning the proposed adoption of a resolution adopting
a new fee schedule for the Washington County Planning Department incorporating
fees to be charged pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland,
the Subdivision Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland, the Forest Conservation
Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland, and other administrative fees. The
new fee schedule, if adopted, would be effective July 1, 2006. Some of
the proposed changes would see Map Amendment fees increase from $200, to $20
per acre plus $2,000; Text Amendment fees would increase from $200 to $2,000;
Site Plan for residential construction would go from the current $10 per unit
plus $100 to $10 per unit plus $750.00. Staff Site Plan Approval would see a
new $500 fee; a Zoning Verification Letter Report would have a $100 charge;
Preliminary Consultations would be charged a $20 per acre plus $500 fee. Board
of Zoning Appeals fees would increase as well as Subdivision plats, PUD's and
Forest Conservation Plan reviews. Debi Turpin of the Home Builders Association
appeared to testify against the new fee structure. The written record will remain
open for 10 days. The fee structure will be posted on the County website, www.washco-md.net and
be available at the Planning Office at 80 West Baltimore Street. Without the
proposed fee increase, additional money from the General Fund will have to be
used to cover costs of development review activities. The measures were
Permits and
Inspections Director Dan DiVito brought proposed fee increases to the Board
for final approval. The fee schedules govern all building work performed under
the 2005 National Electrical Code, the 2003 International Residential Code for
One- and Two-Family Dwellings, the 2003 International Building Code, the 2003
International Plumbing Code, and the 2003 International Mechanical Code. The
new fee schedules, if adopted, would become effective July 1, 2006. Fees charged
by the department have traditionally failed to generate enough revenue to cover
the cost of providing services. Last year alone, the department's budget
was subsidized by over $500,000 from general fund revenues. A comparison
of current and proposed fees with other neighboring jurisdictions reveals the
County fees are at least 36% lower than surrounding jurisdictions. Adopting
the new fee schedules would make the County competitive with surrounding jurisdictions
and generate enough revenue to cover the cost of providing services. Approximately
$650,000 additional revenue would be generated by the fee structure in the coming
fiscal year. The rate structure will be available at the Permits and Inspections
Office at 80 West Baltimore Street and on the internet at www.washco-md.net.
Discussion took place on raising Board of Zoning Appeals fees, with Commissioner
John Munson making a motion to approve all other changes, but leave BZA funds
at the current level. The motion died for lack of a second. A motion by Commissioner
Nipps, to adopt the fees as presented was approved in a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners
Wivell and Munson voting “no”.
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED FY 2007 BUDGET
County Budget
and Finance Director Debra Murray brought this measure before the Board, requesting
adoption of the final Fiscal Year 2007 budget in the amount of $305 million.
The property tax rate remains at 94.8 cents per $100 of full assessed value,
the same rate the County has used since FY 2001. For 2007, the General Fund
budget is $177,991,490. The Capital Improvement Fund totals $85,786,546. The
Water Quality Fund is $16,019,980. The Solid Waste Fund totals $10,509,860,
while the Highway Fund will be $9,325,520. Other Funds account for $5,836,395,
with the grand total being $ 305,469,791. Of the $178 million General Fund (GF)
budget, the majority of revenue is generated by property tax. Other sources
of revenue are income and recordation taxes, fees, and revenues from grants.
Of county GF expenditures, $95.5 million goes for education, and includes Public
Schools, the library system and Hagerstown Community College. Public funding
for the Sheriff’s Department, fire and rescue, and animal control services
account for $24.6 million. Courts and State programs, Other Services and Capital
and Operating make up the remainder of expenditures in the GF budget. Highlights
of the budget package include a multi-stage tax relief program, totaling $9
million over a four-year period. Surplus funds from the fiscal year 2005 and
2006 budgets would be refunded to homeowners by check, in the amount of $150.
The proposed County Homeowner’s Tax Credit Program allows a tax credit
to households whose income is below a standard set by the State. The County
would join with the state homeowners tax credit program to help reduce the tax
burden for persons with low and fixed incomes. $1 million has been allocated
to this program in the coming fiscal year. A property tax cap reduction helps
homeowners deal with large assessment increases. The County Commissioners proposed
a lower cap on the homestead property tax credit from 10% to 5%, and the credit
is applied against the tax due on the portion of the reassessment exceeding
5% from one year to the next Excise taxes will provide $11.8 million for new
schools and $2.79 million for road improvements in FY 2007. The 6-year
capital budget would provide for construction of four new schools, renovations
and additions to existing structures and Facility Maintenance funds amount to
$133.85 million. The Road Rehabilitation program would be enhanced, with $28
million in funding over the 6-year capital budget period. Discussion centered
on several items that had not been resolved at the time of the hearing.
Potomac Case Management had requested $34,000 as a one-time expense for moving
its offices. Hagerstown Community College had requested $250,000 in support
for bio-technology wet labs. Courthouse Capital Improvement Project budget transfers
were discussed, along with the $30,000 proposed for Emergency Medical Services
Physician’s fees. Discovery Station’s request for support had been
tabled pending receipt of a more formal business plan from the organization.
Health Department funding for Teen Pregnancy issues
had not received final approval. Commissioner Nipps requested funding for
the Potomac Case Management's one-time request of $33,786.00 out of Fiscal Year
2006 contingency funds. That measure was approved by unanimous vote. Discussion
also took place on the Board of Education’s appeal of the Pangborn School
renovation versus new construction decision to the State Board of Education.
A motion by Commissioner Munson to reduce the property tax rate by 2 cents failed
due to lack of a second. Discovery Station would need to provide a more detailed
business plan to the Commissioners. A “placeholder” for the Heath
Department fund request until further infoprmation is received from the Teen
Pregnancy Task Force would be put into effect. Extra Highway User funds from
the state would be placed in a holdback account for possible use in Eastern
Boulevard upgrades. A placeholder would be created for the Emergency Medical
Services Physician funds. The Hagerstown Community College wet lab request ,
a request for funding Health Department vehicles and Air Conditioning, and a
new roof for the Williamsport Library were moved from FY '07 into the 2006 existing
budget. Staff would need to continue to look at Courthouse renovation costs
and bring recommendations back to the Board. The budgets were voted upon
separately. A motion to approve the adjusted Capital Improvement Budget by Commissioner
Kercheval failed due to lack of a second. A motion to approve the CIP but limit
borrowing to $10 million through a number of reductions to CIP programs, by
Commissioner Wivell, was rejected by a 2-3 vote with Commissioners Nipps, Kercheval
and Snook voting "no". A motion to approve the Operating Budget as
amended, by Commissioner Nipps was approved by a 3-2 vote with Commissioners
Munson and Wivell voting "no". The Capital Improvement Budget approval
was postponed.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT: E-CYCLE EVENT
Recycling
Coordinator Harvey Hoch, requested the Commissioners approve an Intergovernmental
Agreement for a residential electronics-recycling (e-Cycle) event.
The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) has contracted with Capitol Recycling
Services, LLC to provide electronics recycling services for Washington County
during a one-day event to be held in June. The e-cycling collection and recycling/recovery
service includes accepting and properly managing electronic items including
but not limited to all computer components, televisions, radios, telephones,
copiers, fax machines and similar electronic items. The event would
take place at the Forty West Municipal Landfill from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30
p.m., and Capitol Recycling Services would provide equipment and staff to
handle the materials received and transport the collected materials to an
authorized electronics recycler within 48 hours. Washington County would
promote the event, provide a collection area for the event, manage traffic,
and assist residents with their materials. The event would be free for
residents, who could recycle personal computers and peripherals, television
sets, radios and other electronic items. No limit was set on the number of
items per household. The County would pay up to 26% of program costs up to
$3000. After $3000, the cost for 50,000 pounds, the County would be responsible
for paying 6 cents per pound. Hoch said that the cost was a fraction of the
amount usually charged for recycling this type item. The County would be responsible
for the cost of promoting the event. The Public Information Office would assist.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: RECYCLING CENTER DROP-OFF SERVICES
County Buyer
Rick Curry and Recycling Coordinator Harvey Hoch brought this request, to award
the bid for Recycling Center Drop-off Services to Allied Waste Services of Hagerstown,
for bid Option B in the amount of $1,011,553.11 based upon a 5-year contract
and using a 5% annual increase to the number of estimated trips.
The County only pays for trips as required and there are no annual guaranteed
minimum or maximum number of trips. The bid was advertised in the State’s “Contract
Weekly” publication and on the County’s web site. Direct-mail
bid notices were sent to 15 potential vendors. 8 persons or firms accessed
the bid document from the web site. Two companies were represented at
the pre-bid conference. A sole bid was received on May 16, 2006 from
the incumbent contractor, Allied Waste Services. Services consist of
the vendor-supplied containers and the removal, processing, and marketing
of recyclables for the residential recycling drop-off sites. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote
ELECTRICAL BOARD BYLAWS
Permits and
Inspections Director Dan DiVito brought this request, for approval of Revised
Electrical Board Bylaws before the Commissioners. On April 11th, the Electrical
Apparatus and Wiring Board of Examiners and Supervisors of Washington County
voted unanimously to approve revisions to their Bylaws. Minor revisions of those
Bylaws were last adopted in January of 2005 to ensure consistency with County
Policies regarding the operations of boards and commissions. Adjustments to
wording and clarification was suggested and the measure, as amended, was approved
by unanimous vote.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET: CONTINUED
After further
discussion on various aspects of the Capital Improvement budget, Commissioner
Dori Nipps made a motion that the CIP be approved. Nipps restated opposition
to the CIP due to use of POS funds for a project that did not follow Board of
Education or County procedures, and said that she would vote for the CIP to
move school and road projects along, while maintaining that opposing view. The
measure was passed on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Munson and Wivell voting "no".
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE LABS
Dr. Guy Altieri,
President of Hagerstown Community College presented a consultant's
report on the feasibility of “Wet Labs” at the Technical Innovation
Center (TIC) to boost Economic Development. The report stated in part that
the Washington County Office of Economic Development indicated that life sciences
have been a “target” sector in its work plans for several years. The
City of Hagerstown expressed optimism that the proposed wet-labs would help
to attract biomanufacturing and other life science jobs to the area. Hagerstown
Community College is planning to include wet-lab space in at least two of the
upcoming building renovations to provide students enrolled in current programs “hands
on” experience that will enhance their value as potential hires in biotechnology
and other life sciences companies. There is a strong potential for synergy
between the academic programs in the life sciences and similarly focused companies
in the TIC incubator. In similar incubator situations, such as Frostburg,
UMBC, UMCP and FITSI, interactions between incubator companies and the surrounding
academic communities have taken the form of faculty involvement, student internships
and part time jobs for students prior to graduation; many of which have led
to full time employment after graduation. The report concluded that two main
initiatives must be accomplished to attract bioscience companies to the TIC.
First there is a need to provide affordable wet-lab space and equipment for
start-up companies. Facility costs are among the most significant expenses for
new bioscience firms. These firms need access to wet-lab space and specialized
equipment. Since most bioscience firms initially lease space rather than purchase
it, an available supply of facilities offering space for bioscience companies
is critical. Secondly. A need exists to change the perception of employers that
Washington County does not have a local “bio” trained workforce.
Altieri’s request was to support a financial plan to have Technology
Development Corporation for Maryland (TEDCO), the Department of Business and
Economic Development (DBED) and County Government share the funding for
the contribution of wet labs in the HCC Technical Innovation Center. County
funding would be $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2007 and $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2008. Commissioners'
President Snook made Altieri aware of the action earlier in the day that moved
the original $250,000 request from the FY '07 to the FY '06 budget. A letter
of commitment for the full $450,000 support for the project was proposed, with
a source for the additional $200,000 to be determined at a later date.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
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THE BOARD ATTENDED A PUBLIC HEARING AT LAKESIDE HALL AT FORT RITCHIE TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON A MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION FOR WATER SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
Kathy Saxman, Director of Housing, for the Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. (CAC) took the Maryland Community Development Block Grant Application to public hearing In accordance with state law, Washington County must hold a public hearing for the purpose of obtaining citizens’ views before submission of an application to the Maryland Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG") program. CAC requested that the Commissioners approve the submission of an application in the amount of $400,000 to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development ("DHCD") for a grant through the CDBG program. The purpose of the grant would be to provide funding for the CAC’s PenMar Water Connection Assistance Program. On approval by the state, the Board of County Commissioners would serve as the recipient and CAC would be the sub-recipient of the grant. The proposed Pen Mar Water Connection Assistance Program would provide zero % interest grants or deferred loans to eligible low-income households in Cascade. The Pen Mar Water Connection Assistance Program would assist residents of Cascade with connection fees, plumbing, and excavation costs associated with the new Pen Mar Water System.