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
September 26, 2006
PRESENTATION OF APPRECIATION AWARDS
Retiring Washington County Sheriff Charles Mades presented awards of appreciation to the individual Board of County Commissioners, County Administrator and Human Resource Director for their support of the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Mades cited outstanding employees for their service to the County that earned them recognition for "Deputy of the Year (DOY)" awards presented by Maryland Sheriffs' Association. Those honored were Colonel Doug Mullendore , DOY for 1982 and 1996, Major Randy Wilkinson DOY for 1989, Lt. Terri Blair DOY in 2004, Lt. Dennis Minnick DOY in 2005, DFC Ann Churchey was also DOY in 2005. Deputy Ben Jones is Deputy of the Year for 2006, and DFC Joe Barnhart was honored as runner-up for Corrections Deputy of the Year for 2006. In addition, Mades brought Detention Center promotions of Dennis Minnick to Lieutenant and Nancy Stouffer to Sergeant to the Board for recognition..
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
John Munson requested an update on the elevator project in the County Administration
Building. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer said a new proposal to address
the caved-in portion of the elevator shaft floor has been received and is
under review by that Division. Munson also said that the Sheriff's Department
will begin ticketing landfill users that do not tie down trash loads. Information
on those requirements is being given out at the Landfill at this time, Munson
said.
Commissioner
Dori Nipps said that the Airport Advisory Commission meeting last week heard
that the runway construction project is on-time and on-budget, and that the
U.S. 11 realignment should be complete by Thanksgiving. New contracts were announced
for airport businesses at that meeting, that will mean new commerce on the airfield.
Commissioner
Bill Wivell reported on a discussion at the recent Department of Social
Services Board meeting. An issue of importance was the proposed Hunter's
Green business park transportation project. A plan to provide first-year
funding for the project using Community Partnership (WCCP) state grant funds
was rejected by the Governor's Office for Children and Youth because the proposal
did not include a "sustainability" plan considered sufficient
by that office. The Commissioners will contact the Governor's Office in
support of the grant request. Wivell also requested information regarding projected
excise tax revenues due to the reduction in new housing starts. As detailed
by Debra Murray, Director of Budget & Finance, current excise tax revenue
estimates for FY '07 are projected at a $5.8 million shortfall when compared
to those amounts previously budgeted. The excise tax shortfall for FY
'06 is anticipated at $4.2 million. FY '06 General Fund revenues are expected
to cover the shortages in collection of the excise tax. Wivell also asked
for a report on the number of building permits being issued from the Department
of Permits and Inspections.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval commented on a presentation to the Hagerstown Community College
government class. The Local Management Board met Friday at Brooklane mental
health center, marking another in a series of outreach meetings by that Board.
The Chamber of Commerce event at HCC marking the 60th Anniversary of the school
was well attended, Kercheval said.
Commissioners'
President Greg Snook told the Commissioners that a Health Department reminder
card has been sent to all County residents giving precautionary measures to
take in case of a flu pandemic, and also for general home preparedness. The
reminder will be posted to the County website, Snook said. The University
System of Maryland-Hagerstown Advisory Board meeting last week heard
an update on programs and toured the 4th floor nursing area. That floor has
been designed to resemble a hospital wing, Snook said. A workforce survey will
be conducted by USMH and the Economic Development Commission to assess community
education needs and services that employers are looking to the school to provide.
John League is the new Chair the USMH Board and Dr. Gaye McGovern is
Vice-Chair. Snook asked if the Commissioners would approve the request from
USMH for renewed support of scholarships, which was made at last week's Commissioners
meeting. A measure, to approve $25,000 from the Commissioners' Contingency Fund
for Fiscal Year 2007 was approved by unanimous vote.
NATIONAL PIKE FESTIVAL AND WAGON TRAIN
Laura Bowman, coordinator for the National Pike Festival requested continued Commissioners' support for that annual event to be held May 19th and 20th, 2007. The County has supplied Sheriff's Deputies and inclusion on insurance policies for the two-day covered wagon parade from Clear Spring to Boonsboro. Bowman requested specific acceptance for usage of the county Mailroom for the January 2007 information packets and registration form mailing, for two Deputies to accompany the wagon train and to include an insurance rider for county activities for the weekend. Participants are required to have their own liability insurance, Bowman said. The program received $2,500 from the Gaming Commission that will cover about half of the expenses. The National Pike Festival is the worlds longest celebrated festival in the United States, some 300 miles long. The Washington County National Pike Wagon Train is the only segment that takes place in Maryland. The request was approved by consensus.
BID AWARD: BOONSBORO BRANCH LIBRARY
Washington County Free Library Director Mary Baykan, and Boonsboro Mayor Skip Kauffman, brought this request, that the Board of County Commissioners Award the Bid for the Boonsboro Library Project to the lowest acceptable bidder, Callas Contractors for approval, at a total of $2.05 million. After three years of fund raising by the Boonsboro community, $1,583,614.51 has been secured to build the library branch in Boonsboro, and there is another $430,000 in pledges. There is additional support from the county, and state grants will be available and the library is eligible to apply for these grants in November, Baykan said. The library will hold an expanded book collection and have high speed Internet, CD’s, books on disc, study and research space, as well as a meeting room for children’s and adult programs. There is a current budget deficit, and Commissioners support was requested for the project. New fundraising was detailed, occurring over the last several weeks. The original bid contained alternates for reductions for parking lot space, a shingle roof instead of a metal roof and use of brick versus stone siding. Discussion centered on current and future funding for the project. Commissioners President Greg Snook said he felt better about the project given the most recent fundraising information, than when the measure first came to the board. A motion, to accept the original bid, with no reduction alternates, was approved by unanimous vote.
TRANSPORTATION GRANTS
County
Transportation Department Director Kevin Cerrone brought 5 grant agreements
for the County Commuter transit system to the Board for approval.
The Fiscal
Year 2006 Small Urban Area Public Transportation Operating Assistance Grant
Agreement between Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Washington
County. MDOT, through the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), its authorized
agent, will provide a grant to Washington County to assist the County in providing
public transportation within Washington County for Fiscal Year 2006. The
Project is funded jointly by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the
Federal Transit Administration, and has an estimated net project cost of $1,113,619.
The combined Federal and State shares may not exceed 75% of the actual
net project or $669,739 whichever is less. The Federal share may not exceed $561,619
and the State share may not exceed $108,120. The County’s share is $443,880.
The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The Fiscal
Year 2007 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Operating Assistance Grant Agreement
between MDOT, through MTA, and Washington County under the ADA Program will
provide a grant to assist the County in providing transportation services to
persons with disabilities. Estimated net project cost is $209,600. The State
share may not exceed the approved net project cost or $188,100 whichever is
less. The County would be required to provide local public funds from sources
other than revenue from the Project in an amount sufficient, together with the
Operating Assistance, to assure payment of the actual net project cost. The
measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The Fiscal
Year 2007 Statewide Special Transportation Assistance Program (SSTAP) Operating
Grant Agreement between through the MTA and Washington County
through SSTAP, will provide a grant to assist the County in providing transportation
services to elderly persons and/or persons with disabilities. Estimated net
project cost is $195,889. The State share may not exceed 75% of the approved
net project cost or
$146,917 whichever is less. The County will be required to provide local
public funds from sources other than revenue from the Project in an amount
sufficient to assure payment of the actual net project cost. Local
public funds would be in the form of in-kind services. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
The Fiscal
Year 2007 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Operating Assistance Grant Agreement
between MDOT, through the MTA its authorized agent, and the JARC program will
provide a grant to assist the County in providing transportation services for
Fiscal Year 2007. The Project is funded jointly by MDOT and the Federal Transit
Administration. The estimated net project cost is $180,948. The Federal share
may not exceed fifty 50% of the actual net project cost or $38,211 whichever
is less. The State’s share may not exceed $33,002. The local share is
$109,375, paid by the Department of Social Services. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
The Fiscal
Year 2007 Capital Grant Agreement between MDOT, through MTA, its authorized
agent, will provide a grant to Washington County to assist the County in the
purchase of three replacement 30-foot buses with lifts, purchase of shop equipment,
rehabilitation of Electronic Fareboxes, Facility Rehabilitation, and Preventative
Maintenance for Fiscal Year 2007. The Project is funded jointly by the
MDOT and the Federal Transit Administration. The estimated net project cost
is $658,000. The combined Federal and State shares may not exceed ninety
percent (90%) of the actual net project or $592,200 whichever is less. The Federal
share may not exceed $526,400 and the State share may not exceed $65,800. The
County’s share is $65,800. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
"KNOW YOUR COUNTY" PRESENTATION
Donna Smith and Monda Sagalkin League of Women Voters (LWV) of Washington County presented each commissioner a copy of the KNOW YOUR COUNTY booklet and presented the county with the book on disc. LWV asked that the County use the disc to place the booklet on the County website and update as needed. The booklet had not been updated since 2.000,. The entire booklet will be updated again in 2 years, Sagalkin said. Funds for printing were awarded by the Gaming Commission, Smith said.
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
for comment on this date.
OTHER BUSINESS
County
Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop thanked Herald-Mail
reporter Tara Reilly for the support the newspaper gave to his recent retirement
announcement.
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner requested approval of the
reappointment of Julie Barr-Strasburg to the Advisory Commission to the Board
of Health. Her term will expire on October 31, 2006, and she has indicated that
she is interested in serving another term. She has served two three-year
terms. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
Bittner also
brought a request from the Historic District Commission
recommending the reappointment of David Wiles to a second three-year term.
His term expires October 31, 2006. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
Staff Comments:
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer told the Board that the Marble Quarry Road
Bridge project will begin on October 9th. Resh Road Landfill capping will
be complete by early December. Nick Road, Toms Road and Catholic Church Road
culvert replacement projects have been completed. Harpers' Ferry and Lane's
Run Road culvert replacement projects are on schedule. Verizon has completed
utility work in the Maugans Avenue area as part of that road revitalization
project. The Mount Aetna Road and U.S. 40 realignment is at 90% of design stage,
Rohrer said, and will go to the state for approval as the next step. The State
Highway Administration has announced that it will advertise for
bids for the Edgewood Drive and Route 40 intersection in December of 2007. Rohrer
said that right-of-way issues are contributing to the length of that project's
time frame. The project is scheduled for completion in 2009, Rohrer said.
Fire and
Emergency Services Division Director John Latimer gave the Board an update on
Monday night's meeting of the Williamsport Fire and Emergency Services companies,
which approved consolidation of those agencies by a 3-1 margin. Latimer said
the merger will be a better use of resources for both companies. Commissioners'
President Greg Snook commented on the meeting and reported that at a recent
meeting the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association voted to
continue equal distribution of Gaming funds. EMS companies merging with fire
companies would continue to get an equitable amount of that funding. Equal distribution
of other funding sources, such as the Amoss grant, would be continued, Snook
said. A focus group made up of three members from each Williamsport company
will meet starting in January 2007, and a new administrative structure for the
merged company will be in place by the following January, Snook said.
Budget and
Finance Director Debra Murray reported on the current audit of the 2006 General
Fund. Preliminary figures indicate that the fund balance will increase by $6.7
million and the cash reserves will be funded to the fully recommended level
of 17% of the County annual budget, a total of between $25 and $30 million.
Murray cautioned that FY 2007 figures do not look that promising, due to a downturn
in the housing market and reduction of excise and other taxes from those declining
sales.
STATE PLANNING SECRETARY VISIT
Audrey Scott, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning paid a visit to the Commissioners to discuss planning issues and answer Commissioners' questions about planning. Scott told the Board that Washington County is among the state's leaders in land preservation and ranks fourth in Maryland. Planned growth is the focus of the state Planning Department, Scott said, and cited technical assistance programs that the Department provides to counties in terms of comprehensive planning, model ordinances such as the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, and Transfer of Development Rights plans. Scott said the state's "Red Book" for planning data is available on the internet and is updated daily. There will be an increase of 1.2 million Maryland residents due to Base Realignment and Closure activity soon, Scott said, and Maryland's planning goals call for proper infrastructure in place in those growth areas. House Bill 1141 was passed in the last legislative session and will require municipalities to look at water needs and sewer capacity, treatment plant capabilities and future annexation as part of the Comprehensive Planning process. Scott commended Washington County for its proactive stance on managing growth and Land Preservation Specialist Eric Seifarth for his role in the preservation effort.
CONTRACT AWARD: AIRPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) Manager Carolyn Motz brought this measure, to award the contract for engineering services at the airport to URS Corporation of Hunt Valley, Maryland, with the contract agreement being contingent on FAA approval. The County Coordinating Committee recommended award of this contract to its number one ranked choice, based on qualifications and experience submittal and excellent performance of services rendered to the County Airport over the past 13 years. The URS Team includes Airport Design Consultants, Inc. (ADCI), a minority owned airport design firm started by several former URS employees, JA Rice, Inc., a woman-owned surveying firm, and Bushey Feight Morin Architects, Inc. (BFM). The contract is for a two-year period with an option to renew for up to 3 consecutive one-year periods. Federal and State regulations require selection of an aviation engineering consultant to be based on consultants’ qualifications and experience and not on price proposals. The services to be performed include but are not limited to aviation planning services, architectural/engineering services, airport development projects, and incidental services. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: IMPROVEMENTS TO SHARPSBURG WATER PLANT
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Department of Water Quality Director Greg Murray brought this request, to award a bid for improvements to the Sharpsburg Water Plant to the low bidder, Callas Contractors, Inc. of Hagerstown, for the Total Lump Sum Base Bid amount of $1,307,000.00, contingent on Maryland Department of the Environment approval, and to approve Budget Transfer Requests of $232,400.00, $82,184.00 and $50,000 from various Water Quality accounts, to cover costs of the upgrade. Improvements to the Sharpsburg Water Treatment Plant include removal of an existing steel constructed settling tank and filters; furnishing and installing two package treatment units including temporary operation during construction; replacement of chemical feed systems; piping modifications; standby power modifications; building modifications, and installation of a Ultra Violet inactivation system. This wholesale upgrade of the original 1965 system will allow compliance with State and Federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations currently scheduled for implementation. The project would be completed within 270 consecutive calendar days after the Notice to Proceed. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
REZONING REQUEST: PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE 2003 LLC
Planning Director Mike Thompson and Assistant County Attorney Kirk Downey brought this case, RZ-06-009 before the Board for discussion. On September 18th the Commissioners reached consensus that there was a change in character of the neighborhood that was subject of the rezoning request. A joint public hearing was held on this rezoning request on March 20th, 2006. This matter was on the agenda for decision by the Board of County Commissioners in the form of proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as prepared by the County Attorney's Office for review, approval, and adoption by the Commissioners. A motion to approve the rezoning request, pursuant to the findings of fact was approved by unanimous vote.
AWARD OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
Kathy Saxman of the Washington County Community Partnership (WCCP) for Chilrden and Youth brought a request to the Board for award of Community Development Funds to several programs Countywide. $25,000 is available for those projects that were required to address one or more State Result Areas: Stable & Economically Independent Families, Children Entering School Ready to Learn, Babies Born Healthy as well as Children Safe in Their Families and Communities. The WCCP Board approved 6 of the requests. Head Start of Washington County requested $4,340 to receive training on the Ages and Stages Social and Emotional Questionnaire for up to 40 Early Childhood Educators. Otterbein United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Family Center, requested $825.00 to offer a Mothers of Preschoolers Program for teenage mothers. The Boys and Girls Club, in partnership with Otterbein United Methodist Church, requested $9,308 for to provide an After School Program for 40 children and youth living in the Franklin Street community. Children in Need requested $5,000 to assist in stocking its warehouse with school clothing and supplies. The WCCP Board recommended an award of $1,342. The Health Department requested $3,480 for the recruitment and training of 10 volunteers who will serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for 10 to 15 children who are victims of adjudicated Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) cases of abuse or neglect. Funding will provide for personnel, advertising, printing of training manuals, training supplies and screening costs. Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. (CAC) requested $5,705 for the provision of the FLITE program, to assist customers who are homeless, or experiencing a difficult housing situation that may lead to homelessness, in obtaining skills required to gain and maintain self-sufficiency. The Commissioners must approve granting of the funds, and all of the requests were approved by unanimous vote.
QUIT CLAIM DEED: DIVISION AVENUE
Real Property Administrator Joe Kuhna requested a Quit Claim for a portion of an old roadbed to adjoining property owners of Division Avenue, between Jefferson Boulevard and Interval Road. The roadbed is part of a subdivision approved in 1913. This section of Division Avenue was never completed and does not connect with Interval Road. In 1972, the Commissioners transferred the section behind this area to the property owners on Interval Road. A motion to research the plot to find if the property could be sold as a building lot was approved on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Kercheval voting "no".