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
January 23, 2007
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
After having
received a phone call from a constituent, Commissioner Bill Wivell suggested
that there may be a need for a review of Permits and Inspections fees, especially
concerning replacement items inside a home. The Governor's Budget proposal funds
expansion of the Prison complex and Wivell asked if this project would include
the purchase of additional lands or construction on the existing site. Wivell
asked that the question be posed to the Local Delegation in Annapolis on Wednesday.
The recent Department of Social Services Advisory Board meeting heard a presentation
on the child support collection process. DSS has also requested time on a Commissioner's
Agenda in the next several weeks, Wivell reported.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on this week's meeting the Black Rock Golf Course Board.
Budget and Finance Director Debra Murray discussed budget preparation procedures
with that group, Kercheval said. The Local Management Board approved hiring
a new Project Coordinator at its meeting on Friday. The Commissioner attended
the Clear Spring Fire Company Awards event last week. That company thanked the
County for its support, Kercheval said. The Mental Health Advisory Committee
discussed comments to be made in its annual letter of review of the state's
Mental Health Plan at its recent meeting, Kercheval reported.
Commissioner
Terry Baker reported on presenting awards to members of the Hancock Youth Basketball
League last week.
Commissioners'
President John Barr told the Board that the Agricultural Center Board meeting
last week heard that plans to construct a second museum building are moving
forward. A letter from the Maryland Department of the Environment requested
comment on a plan to transport sewer sludge from the Highland View Academy wastewater
treatment plant to the Conococheague plant for further treatment. A letter from
the Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick invited the Board to tour that facility.
The Maryland Theater sent a letter to the Commissioners outlining new initiatives
and thanking the Board for its support. The state of Maryland has announced
aviation grants for Hagerstown Regional Airport. The MAA will provide its regular
share of 2.5% for a $2.5 million grant for rehabilitation of the East and West
aprons at the terminal and a $304,000 engineering design grant. The Maryland
Environmental Trust has announced a donation of perpetual easement of the Allen
Stonebraker property. The Airport Commission meeting last week discussed
progress on projects at the airfield. New lights on the runway extension and
U.S. 11 bridge are costly, and will be evaluated as to efficiency and improved
cost-effectiveness, Barr reported.
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.
Tom Berry
of Rohrersville requested input be obtained from rural area landowners on the
proposed Urban Growth Area rezoning advisory committee
Jerry Ditto
of Clear Spring stated that a preliminary consultant report dealing with Transfer
of Development Rights be revised to include TDRs in rural areas and that
the work of members of the Agricultural Preservation Committee should be recognized.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner reported that the Gaming
Commission requested appointment of Judith Ferro to that Commission. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
The Local
Management Board requested Samuel Key be appointed to that body. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
The Animal
Control Board requested appointment of John Venetta as an alternate. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded
the Commissioners that the group will leave the County Administration Building
at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday for the trip to Annapolis and the meeting with the
Local Delegation.
Staff Comments: Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker requested approval
to advertise two positions. There is a vacant Senior Plant Operator position
at Water Quality and a Part-Time Landfill Attendant position vacant at the
Solid Waste Department. Both were approved by unanimous vote.
AIRPORT CHANGE ORDER
Carolyn Motz,
Hagerstown Regional Airport Manager and Mahesh Kukata of ADCI consultants brought
this request, to approve Change Order Number 3 for Runway 9/27 Rehabilitation,
Package 3 before the Board. Changes involve additional class 1 excavation in
the wing wall areas of the bridges; revising fire detection systems; provision
of temporary power for bridge lighting, modification of wing wall height; miscellaneous
electrical quantity changes; blasting revisions to allow for smaller charges
near critical structures on the airfield; installation of stone backfill around
sewer lines; construction of a containment curb on the Runway 9 Hold Apron;
sewer line modifications in accordance with Washington County Department of
Water Quality and miscellaneous quantity adjustments. Total cost of change order
is $147,527.90. The Current contract price is: $17,484,635.64. Cost of additional
work is $249,279.25 with a credit due of $101,751.35.
Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Districts Office is
also required. Kukata told the Board that funding will come from a project
contingency fund. The measure was approved on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner
Wivell voting "no".
SITE WORK FUNDING: PANGBORN ELEMENTARY
Boyd Michael,
Assistant Superintendent for School Operations and Robert Rollins, Director
of Facilities Planning & Development for Washington County Public Schools
(WCPS) brought the Washington County Board of Education’s request
to advertise bids for the site work at the new Pangborn Elementary School before
the Commissioners. Bidding of the site work with a cost of $1,850,000, needs
to move forward in order for the project to remain on schedule for an August,
2008 opening, Michael said. $8.9 million is currently approved in the FY 2007
Capital Program for WCPS. Discussion centered on need to eliminate "portable" classrooms.
The project will be split into two phases, Rollins said, but be bid as a single
contract. The measure was approved on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL REVIEW
Assistant
County Attorneys Kirk Downey and Andrew Wilkinson brought this discussion
before the Board. There have been a number of Legislative proposals made for
the 2006 session of the General Assembly. The Commissioners will travel to Annapolis
on Wednesday to meet with the Delegation and the discussion was held for review
purposes and to discuss one new item.
Central booking facility. A request that the Delegation be
encouraged to continue its support for State funding for the proposed central
booking facility. Governor O'Malley has included $1.4 million in his budget
for the facility
Fire police legislation. A request to clarify and amend the
procedures governing members of fire or ambulance companies who are appointed
as fire police.
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(s).
Prevailing wage. A request that 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. Staff has determined that no
legislative action is required on this item, but that the matter should be discussed
with the Delegation.
Civil citations. A request for legislative authorization to
allow the County to issue civil citations in enforcement of its trade and building
codes, rather than always having to resort with criminal charges for enforcement.
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.
Public Local Laws. Request for authorization to publish and
legalize a current edition of the Code of Public Local Laws for the County.
Excise Tax: Discussion will be held with the Delegates
on a potential request for legislation increasing the maximum authorized amount
for the excise tax, and discussion of potential changes to the Excise Tax Ordinance
that could be accomplished at the local level without additional legislation. Discussion
centered on potential for shortfall in school construction funding. Commissioner
Kercheval stated that either enabling legislation would have to be passed now,
or no changes could take place until July of 2008. Modifying the "cap" on
excise taxes does not mean the taxes would necessarily increase, but the ability
to increase the tax would be there if a need existed. Kercheval cited a need
for "wiggle room" in the tax structure. State support for educational
construction averages 35% statewide, and could mean increased burden on local
taxpayers, Kercheval said. None of the Commissioners favored raising
the excise tax, but agreed that they would discuss the issue with the Delegation.
URBAN GROWTH AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Steve Goodrich,
Chief Planner in the Department of Planning and Community Development and Planning
Director Mike Thompson brought this discussion before the Board. On January
9th, approval was given to go ahead with a Citizen Advisory Group to gather
input on Rezoning of the Urban Area. Commissioners requested staff to return
with more information on the composition of the advisory committee and the task
force that reviewed the Rural Area Rezoning proposal in 2004. The Rural
Area Rezoning Task Force had members from Banking, Law, Agriculture, Developers,
Engineering consultants, Real Estate, Chamber of Commerce, Business, Appraisers,
Agricultural Extension Service, Home Builders, Economics and the Planning Commission. These
are all appropriate areas for representation on a future Urban Area Advisory
Committee, Goodrich said. Additional areas of interest for representation
could includxe the Economic Development Commission, League of Women Voters,
Municipalities including elected officials, planning commission members
or citizens at large, Citizen organizations, Housing, and at-large representation. In
determining membership of the previous task force, the County Commissioners
decided the total number of appointments should be 13, with 5 bering Commissioners'
appointees. The remaining 8 members were selected from names submitted by the
various interested organizations and agreed upon by consensus of the Board.
Staff recommended that if a new committee is selected it should be 11 members
or less and the members be appointed by the Commissioners from the suggested
organizations. Staff also recommended that the advisory committee
be charged with specific tasks that might include expanding or decreasing the
size of the urban and town growth areas, desired minimum/maximum densities in
growth areas, workforce housing; and analysis of the growth areas as receiving
areas for transferred development rights. Potential members could fill more
than one "slot" if expertise existed in more than one area,
which could reduce the size of the Committee. The Board gave its consent to
advertise for members of the Advisory Committee.