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
December 12th, 2006
THE BOARD HELD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO HEAR REPORTS ON Quarterly Budget Adjustments, A Need for Bus Parking , AND AN Overview of Washington County Public Schools FOR THE NEW COMMISSIONERS
INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNTY EMPLOYEES
Human Resources
Administrator Dee Hawbaker introduced four newly hired employees to the Commissioners.
Thornton White and Michael Anders have been employed in Equipment
Operator I positions at the Highway Department. Scott Nipps was
recently hired as a Plant Operator Trainee in the Department of Water Quality.
Sarah Kozal is the new GIS Specialist in the Information Technologies
Department. Cindy Mowen was introduced as a Senior Office Associate in Human
Resources, transferring in from Emergency Services.
BID RESULTS/AWARD UPDATE: ELECTRIC SUPPLY SERVICES TO THE FREDERICK
AREA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING COMMITTEE
County
Purchasing Agent Karen Luther, Richard Anderson of CQI Associates,
LLC, and Jim Sterling, Director of Buildings, Grounds and Parks brought this
update to the Board. A recommendation was made to enter into the record the
results of the award to Reliant Energy Solutions East, LLC of
the bid for Electric Supply Services at the rates as stated for Types 1, 2
and 3 accounts for the periods from January 2007 to May 2007 with capacity
charge and for May 2007 to November 2010 without capacity charge for the Frederick
Area Cooperative Purchasing Committee. On October 3rd, the Board approved
entering into the Frederick Area Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Electricity
as a participating organization and appointed a Primary Representative and
a Secondary Representative to act on behalf of the Board to enter into a contract
immediately following the bid opening for electricity supply services. The
Committee consists Carroll County Public School System, the City of Cumberland,
the City of Frederick, Frederick Community College, Frederick County Government,
Frederick County Public Schools, Garrett County Government, Garrett County
Public Schools, Washington County Government, and Washington County Public
Schools. The Cooperative Purchasing Agreement established
a committee of organizations who agreed to join and adhere to a standard set
of procedures for procurement of electricity. The objective of the Agreement
was to allow one organization, Frederick County Public Schools, to issue a
solicitation for electricity, the specifications of which would represent the
needs of all participating organizations. Each participant would then
make its own individual award to the successful bidder or offerer. This
objective had the effect of lowering administrative costs by participating
organizations, avoiding duplication of effort, obtaining better prices through
economies of scale, allowing for the exchange of information and expertise,
and providing a forum to evaluate the quality of electricity service. The County
Humane Society and the Washington County Health Department agreed to participate
and granted authority to the County to act on their behalf regarding bid award.
Immediately following the “refreshed” bid pricing deadline on November
29, 2006, the Committee agreed to award to Reliant Energy Solutions East, LLC.
Price per Kilowatt hour from January until May 2007 would be 6.5 cents. From
May 2007-May 2010, the price would be 6.8 cents per KWH. There was no motion
needed, as County participation in the co-op was approved by the previous Board.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on a meeting of the Planning Commission. Corporate Office
Properties Trust presented a report on its development plans for Fort Ritchie
and requested the County "fast-track" some of those plans. Williamsport
Ventures LLC presented a preliminary plat for property and requested the Commission
comment on cluster design for that development. Kercheval told the Board that
the State of the County Address will be presented on Tuesday February 6th and
asked that the Board send any suggestions for that presentation to Cassandra
Latimer in the Economic Development Commission Office. The consultant addressing
Transfer of Development Rights recently presented a workshop to planning staff.
A meeting with Homebuilders and School Board representatives discussed adequate
educational needs for the County, Kercheval said.
Commissioner
Terry Baker reported on last week's meeting of the Recreation and Parks
Board. Debbie Murphy was reelected Chair and Al Deal was appointed Vice-Chair
of that Board, Baker said. The Agricultural Education Center Park Board of Directors
is contacting the State Highway Administration regarding installation of signs
on Interstate 70. The Winter Recreation Brochure is available from the Recreation
Department, Baker said.
Commissioner
Kristin Aleshire commented on a meeting with the Delegation to the Maryland
General Assembly. A recent orientation program by the Planning and Community
Development Department discussed Transfer of Development Rights. Aleshire said
that more input on TDR programs is needed from the municipalities, and that
the $80,000 expense on a consultant is a waste of money if input from municipalities
is not included. Tax setoff for municipalities was at the top of a list of items
to be included on future agendas. A question was raised on the need for
multiple meetings for that purpose, and information may be presented to the
Mayors and Councils at the next Maryland Municipal League meeting. Staff will
coordinate that meeting. Aleshire also called for discussion on creation of
a County Council of Governments and addressing the hospital's request for a
waiver of water/sewer fees as part of upcoming Commissioners' Agendas.
Commissioner
Bill Wivell asked about a timeline for rezoning of the County Urban Growth Areas.
County Administrator Rod Shoop said the Planning Department will make a presentation
at the January 9th meeting on that issue. The Commissioner expressed concerns
about serving on the Maryland Association of Counties' Legislative Committee
during the upcoming legislative session and preferred to serve on this committee
at a later legislative session. Commissioners Wivell, Barr and Kercheval
will discuss the appointment.
Commissioners'
President John Barr told the Board that last weekend's Christmas Open House
at the Agricultural Heritage Museum was very well presented and attended. The
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has notified the County that
Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, Health Officer for Frederick County has been appointed
acting Health Officer for Washington County as well, until such time as a Health
Officer for the County is named. The state Department of General Services has
notified the County of its intent to lease space in the downtown area for
juvenile services. Comments on that lease will be accepted for 30 days. The
Board received a thank-you from Maura James, the High-School Youth Meritorious
Award winner for October.
STATE MANDATED POSITIONS: CIRCUIT COURT
Hon. Fred
C. Wright, III, Administrative Judge of Circuit Court and Eunice Plank, Circuit
Court Administrator brought a request for hiring of two State mandated positions
to the Commissioners fort approval A Drug Court Coordinator and Permanency Planning
Liaison are needed for a new program and salary and benefits for both positions
will be paid by the State. Wright told the Board that Circuit Court is in the
process of developing a Juvenile Drug Court Program through a state grant. Part
of that grant provides for a Drug Court Coordinator who will manage all aspects
of the Juvenile Drug Court including coordination of all agencies involved in
the program. Through a Family Law Grant from the state, a case
manager for termination of parental rights cases will be provided for Children
in Need of Assistance. The Permanency Planning Liaison will monitor all
termination of parental rights cases and see that they are concluded within
the proper time standards as mandated by State and Federal guidelines. The requests,
including temporary office space for the Drug Court Coordinator were approved
by unanimous vote.
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.
Earl Wolf
of Hagerstown asked about the recent tax refund. Wolf, a resident of Ravenwood
Lutheran Village was not eligible to receive a refund due to an "owner-occupied" provision
in state authorizing legislation. Wolf also commented on odor problems from
the Hagerstown water treatment facility.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Administrator's
Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop asked if the Board wanted to consider
retired Sheriff Charles Mades for appointment to the Black Rock Golf Course
Board. That nomination was approved by unanimous vote.
Shoop told the Board that the Thanksgiving Employee Casual Day for Food Resources
brought in $363.00 and 300 pounds of food. The Robert Rouse memorial Casual
Day event raised $969.00 for Hospice, Inc. A Change Order for the Boonsboro
Library would add the Architectural Firm of Murphy and Dittenhafer to the
contract and authorize a $30,000 increase to that budget. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote.
Reports from
County Staff: Community Partnership for Children and Families Director Stephanie
Stone commended Tom Kline, a member of her staff for receiving the 2006 Family
Partnership Award from the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's
Mental Health at the organizations recent 7th Annual Luncheon.
Public Works
Director Gary Rohrer presented a brief update on actions of the School Design
Review Committee, which is mandated by state law to have oversight on school
construction projects in excess of $2 million in Washington County.
ANNEXATION REQUESTS: TOWN OF BOONSBORO
Michael C.
Thompson, Director of Planning and Community Development, and Boonsboro Town
Planner Derek Myers brought this proposal to the Board for approval. The
Town of Boonsboro was considering requests for the annexation of a number of
properties into the Corporate Limits of the Town, and it is anticipated the
Town Council will take formal action on the requests that evening. The requests
were received by the Town prior to October 1, 2006 and therefore, are subject
to the provisions of Article 66B, the enabling legislation for planning within
the State of Maryland as they exist today.. Under the current language of Article
66B, no action is required by the Board unless the proposed zoning to be adopted
by the Town is not consistent with the designated land use for the property
under the adopted 2002 Washington County Comprehensive Plan. If the Town’s
proposed zoning is not consistent with the plan, the Board must give “express
approval” to allow development to proceed at this time, a decision not
to grant “express approval” does not preclude the Town from
annexing the property, but the property cannot be developed for a period of
five years, contrary to the Plan. After the five-year period the municipality
may allow development to proceed regardless of the County Plan. The requests
before the Town of Boonsboro total approximately 813 acres and will almost double
the acreage within the current corporate limits. The Planning Commission approved
support for the staff recommendations including the granting of “express
approval”, where necessary. The Board cited a need for additional information
and took no action. Action was not necessary on portions of the proposal that
did conform, and only a section along U.S. Alternate 40 consisting of 94.36
acres met that standard. County Staff will work with Town of Boonsboro Planning
staff to provide additional information on other sections of the proposal requiring
express approval. Discussion centered on the town effectively doubling its size,
with inadequate information provided regarding how extension of services such
as schools, fire and police protection and water and sewer would be provided.
THE BOARD MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE NOON HOUR.
WESTFIELDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
Director
of Public Works Gary Rohrer brought the request, to approve Westfield Elementary
School construction for advertisement of bids pending funding for a budgetary
shortfall. In 2005, the Washington County Delegation to the
General Assembly sponsored legislation requiring the Board of County Commissioners
to form an Advisory School Design Review Committee to review “certain
information” relevant to school construction plans, specifications, and
documents and make recommendations the Washington County Commissioners and the
Washington County Board of Education. The statute further requires the
Board of County Commissioners to determine whether school construction projects
may or may not proceed to advertisement for construction bids. More specifically,
the statute applies to all school construction projects in excess of $2 million
and sets forth a general process for doing so. The Board of County Commissioners
determined the type of representation for the Committee and appointed the members.
The Committee has met at various stages to review plans and specifications for
Mike Callas Stadium, Maugansville Elementary; Westfields Elementary; Pangborn
Elementary; and Barbara Ingram School For The Arts. Westfields is the
first school construction project to reach the Commissioners after having been
through the process. The Advisory School Design Review Committee has completed
its review of the construction drawings for the subject school and takes no
exception to them. Several questions arose regarding a lifecycle cost
analysis of siding verses brick. The Committee requested copies of the
analysis and was assured by WCPS staff that copies would be forthcoming the
following morning. At the time this form was submitted, the analysis had
not been made available. There is consensus with the majority of the Committee
that the construction manager approach is not the most cost effective approach.
Estimated cost of Westfields Elementary has increased from $21.4 million to
$26.7 million, an increase of 25% since the project began. The $5.3 million
shortfall is neither programmed nor budgeted in the County’s current Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) budget, and would be addressed in the FY 2008 Capital
Impovement Project budget. The BOE is currently under contract for approximately
$759,000 to manage the construction of the subject school project. Currently,
projects receiving over $2 million in state funding must agree to prevailing
wage provisions, which could increase construction costs. The recommendation
was approved with the provision that the Board of Education bid the project
both with prevailing wage limitations and without those limitations, if state
legislation allows.
Youth Meritorious Awards L-R Eberly, Gipe, Klinsrisak
YOUTH MERITORIOUS AWARDS
The Board
of County Commissioners recognized outstanding High School and Middle School
students with "Youth Meritorious" awards. The Community Partnership
for Children & Families Community Outreach Committee selects students to
receive the Youth of the Month (YOM) awards, based on scholastic record and
community involvement. Commissioners Barr and Kercheval made
the presentations. Selected
as High School YOM for November 2006 was Brittany Eberly of Heritage
Academy. Brittany Eberly, daughter of Roger and Jeanne
Eberly, is a Senior at Heritage, where she serves as Senior Class President. A Member
of the National Honor Roll, and Who’s Who among American High School
Students, she has been awarded the Excellence in Chemistry and Pre-calculus
Award and the International Foreign Language Award. Brittany's leadership qualities
have been demonstrated by service as a Student Council Representative, and Junior
Class President , in addition to being Senior Class leader. She
has performed 40 hours of volunteer community service, has
been a sports camp volunteer, and a member of the Mexico Missions Team. She
has been called a strong leader and positive role model for other students.
Lynsay Gipe,
a 7th grade student at Springfield Middle School, daughter of Sean and Roxanne
Gipe is the Middle School award recipient for November 2006 Lynsay has
been on the Honor Roll numerous times, achieving an 80% or higher grade in all
her classes. She scored at the advanced level for Reading in Grade 6, and is
currently in a Merit Language Arts class. Lynsay is running for student government
representative for her 7th grade homeroom this year and helps teach Sunday school
to younger children at her church. Through her church, Lynsay participated in
a fundraising walk to raise money to benefit hurricane Katrina victims. She
has also helped raise money to purchase school uniforms for children in Africa,
and has participated in a Bowl-athon to help raise money for school supplies
for children in Columbia. Her teachers say that Lynsay has been very helpful
at Springfield Middle School by helping new students learn their way around
the building and find their classes. She has befriended new students to help
them adjust to a new school.
Middle School
honoree for December is Praphawade “Unn” Klinsrisak, an 8th grade
student at Clear Spring Middle School, the daughter of Calvin and Somwang Johnson She
is a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll, and received the
S.T.A.R.S. Award for Math and Spanish. Achieving perfect school attendance in K
though 7th grades, Unn was runner-up in the Spelling Bee in grade 6 Leadership
qualities include being a morning announcement crew member in grades 6
through 8, a member of the Yearbook staff, Jet Skiing lead driver for 6 years,
and Jet Skiing captain for 2 years
In the Community she mows a neighbor’s lawn for free, plows snow, picks
up trash on sidewalks and helps clean and take care of Camp Harding
County Park in Pectonville.
BID AWARD: GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL
County Buyer
Rick Curry brought these requests to the Board, to extend the current Gasoline
and Diesel Fuel contracts with A. C. & T. Co., Inc., and Petroleum Traders
Corporation, from December 1, 2006 until December 31, 2006, and to award the
bids to the responsive, responsible bidders with the lowest bid. The Contract
for gasoline and diesel tankwagon loads is requested for award to A. C. & T.
Co., Inc. of Hagerstown in the total amount of $114,594.84 for each. The
Contract for gasoline and diesel transport loads is recommended for award to
Petroleum Traders Corporation of Fort Wayne, Indiana in total amounts of $552,049.16
for Gasoline and $953,037.03 for Diesel Fuel. The measures were approved by
unanimous vote.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FOR 2007 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Assistant County Attorney Kirk Downey brought this request to the Board, for consideration of potential legislative items for the 2007 session from County staff. Central booking facility: A request that the Delegation be encouraged to continue its support for State funding for the proposed central booking facility, proposed by Sheriff Mullendore was approved by consensus. Fire police legislation: A request to increase the number of persons who may be appointed from a fire company to perform the duties of deputy sheriff while going to, functioning at, or returning from fires, accidents, floods, other emergencies, or other functions conducted by a fire company. This is the same request which presented last year that was not passed because the General Assembly ran out of time, and was proposed by Sheriff Mullendore. Up to 20 persons from a Fire company could be appointed under the legislation. The measure was approved by consensus. Child luring law: A proposal to adopt legislation making it a crime to intentionally lure a child into a motor vehicle or structure without the presence of the child’s parent with the intent to commit a future criminal act. Also proposed by Sheriff Mullendore and approved by consensus. Maintenance of level of funding: A proposal to require the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, upon the merger of a fire or rescue company with another company, to maintain funding to the merged company at a level equivalent to the cumulative pre-merger funding of the individual companies, proposed by Commissioner Wivell. Emergency Services Division Director John Latimer told the Board that a recent vote by the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association preserved the previous funding formula, protecting the merged company, and the Commissioners did not include the item. Prevailing wage: A request for legislation that would require local figures specific to Washington County be used to determine the prevailing local wage when a project requires that workers be paid the prevailing local wage. Also proposed by Commissioner Wivell, the measure was approved by consensus. Civil citations: A request for legislative authorization to allow the County to issue civil citations in enforcement of its trade and building codes in addition to criminal proceedings currently allowed. Proposed by the Director of the Department of Permits and Inspections and approved on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Wivell and Baker voting "no". Bond authority: Request for legislation authorizing the Board of County Commissioners to issue $80 million of general obligation bonds over the next four years to finance the construction costs of public facilities. Proposed by the Director of Budget & Finance. The measures were approved on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Wivell and Baker voting "no". An addendum was presented that would affect the Fire and Rescue Length of Service Program (LOSAP) retirement system. The amendments would, if state action were necessary, add the Emergency Services Director to the Committee overseeing the LOSAP program , and set minimum age requirements for accruing retirement credits at age 16. The measure was approved by consensus.