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
June 5, 2007
Commissioners' Vice-President Terry Baker presided over this meeting.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
with Delegate Richard Weldon. The delegate said it is likely there will be
a special session of the legislature in the fall to deal with the state budget
deficit. A Board of Education redistricting meeting at North Hagerstown High
School discussed the possibility of moving 250 students from Paramount Elementary
to the new Maugansville Elementary School. The Planning Commission held a
joint meeting with the City of Hagerstown Planning Commission to discuss
the City's Comprehensive Plan. The comment period is still open on that plan,
Kercheval said. At the regular Planning Commission meeting on June 4th, a rezoning
amendment involving the addition of 120 acres to the eastern section of the
urban growth area was recommended for denial, a preliminary site plan for
Cinetic/Landis Corporation's newly proposed facility was approved, as well as
a 66-unit senior development near St. James. Kercheval commended administration,
staff, parents and students at North Hagerstown High School and Boonsboro High
School for their recognition as bring among the top High Schools in the nation.
Commissioner
Bill Wivell reported on a meeting of the PenMar Development Corporation
Renaissance Committee. The Committee heard proposals on potential projects to
be funded by PMDC. The Commissioner suggested that the water supply system located
on the former military base be given a high priority for those funds so that
County residents do not bear additional costs associated with this aspect of
the project.
Commissioners'
Vice-President Terry Baker reported on a meeting of the Community Action Council
Board. CAC attempts to have cash recipients repay funds if possible, once financial
situations stabilize, Baker said. The Civil War Roundtable and the Commissioners
presented an award to Tom Kitchens as Teacher of the Year. A meeting of the
Citizens to Protect Washington County discussed concerns relating to landfill
and recycling issues. Citizen calls have been received concerning road conditions
in parts of the County. Baker commended Special Projects Director Gary Rohrer
for dealing with those complaints and explaining the highways maintenance program
to the citizens. The Commissioner commented on being a guest speaker for the
Clear Spring Sports Banquet and told the Board that Graduation at Washington
County Technical High School is set for 6 p.m. this evening.
EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Commissioners'
Vice President Terry Baker presented a Certificate of Merit to Brandi Naugle,
Procurement Specialist II in the Purchasing Department, upon her receipt of
Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification through the Universal
Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC). The County is a member
of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (NIGP). NIGP
is a national, membership-based non-profit organization providing support to
professionals in the public sector purchasing profession. NIGP provides
its members with many services, including education, professional networking,
research, and technical assistance. The Institute is composed of 73 affiliate
chapters and more than 2,300 agency members representing federal, state, provincial
and local government levels throughout the United States and Canada. NIGP
has chosen to align itself with the UPPCC as its indicator of success within
the public sector environment. The UPPCC program is applicable to all
public and/or governmental organizations and agencies. The trend in governmental
purchasing is for mandatory certification of procurement professionals. The
designation communicates to taxpayers that the public employee who manages tax
dollars has reached a specific level of education and experience and is knowledgeable
about government purchasing. Brandi was required upon her employment in August
2003 to acquire CPPB Certification within five years. In presenting the
Certificate of Merit, Commissioner Baker commended Naugle for her diligence
and hard work in obtaining Professional Public Buyer status.
REZONING APPLICATION: ANTIETAM INVESTMENTS
Assistant
County Attorney Kirk Downey brought this measure before the Board for final
approval. The applicant had requested that the property, 3.1 acres located
near the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Massey Boulevard be rezoned from
Residential, Urban (RU) to Business, Local (BL). A joint public hearing
was held on this rezoning request on January 22, 2007. On April 24th,
the matter was brought before the Commissioners, following a tie vote by the
Planning Commission. On that date discussions centered on the need for
adequate buffers between proposed development and the existing neighborhood.
Comment was made that in extending Massey Boulevard several years ago, significant
change was made to that neighborhood. The need for additional buffering if construction
height is increased was also discussed. The findings of fact stated that the
property is located in an area with mixed residential and commercial uses. Recently,
the commercial uses have been expanding in number and intensity. The property’s
location next to an existing commercially-zoned corner parcel and its potential
access to Massey Boulevard through that corner parcel suggests a reclassification
to Business, The property is delineated from bordering residential uses by standing
trees that further the appropriateness of this rezoning. Accordingly, having
considered each of the mandated factors and for all of the reasons set forth
herein, this application for a zoning reclassification is granted with conditions. Adequate
buffer, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, shall be maintained from
the existing trees on the Subject Property along its boundary with the residential
uses on Mountain View Circle as screening. The Subject Property’s parcels
shall, to the extent practicable in the discretion of the Planning Commission,
share a common access to Virginia Avenue and Massey Boulevard. The
Measure was approved based on an acceptance of the findings of fact as presented.
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT GRANT APPLICATION
Commission
on Aging Director Susan MacDonald and COA Board Vice-Chair Bill Beard requested
a Letter of support to Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Gloria Lawlah,
for application for a Maryland Access Point grant. The Maryland Access Point
Aging and Disability Resource Center is a federal initiative to increase the
ability of older or citizens with disabilities to be self-reliant through provision
of streamlined information and assistance. The underlying concept is that there
is “No Wrong Door”. The Commission on Aging is the lead agency
applicant in collaboration with the Health Department, Department of Social
Services and the Center for Independent Living. Four additional Maryland jurisdictions
will receive funding from the Maryland Department of Aging to implement this
program for FY '08. The Board of County Commissioners strong support and recommendation
to the Maryland Department of Aging, before June 11, 2007, is needed to increase
the possibility that older or disabled Washington County citizens and their
families can benefit from this initiative, MacDonald said. The Washington County
Health Department, Center for Independent Living, Washington County Department
of Social Services, Washington County Office on Disability Issues and Washington
County Disabilities Advisory Committee are all supporting this grant application.
The letter will be drafted and sent to the State, and a follow-up phone call
will be placed to the Aging Secretary's office.
CITY OF HAGERSTOWN ANNEXATION; NORFOLK AND SOUTHERN RAILWAY PROPERTY
Director
of Planning and Community Development Mike Thompson brought this request before
the Board, the City of Hagerstown Annexation Request A07-02 for the Norfolk
Southern Railway property, asking that the Board of County Commissioners find
the proposed annexation to be consistent with the County zoning classification
and Comprehensive Plan. The applicant is requesting annexation of some 95 acres
of land located south of the current municipal boundary into the City of Hagerstown. The
property is located south of the current City boundary below Wilson Boulevard,
west of Downsville Pike, east of Virginia Avenue and north of Oak Ridge Drive.
The applicant proposes to develop the property for the off-loading and
storage of new motor vehicles, a rail to truck transfer point. The City introduced
a resolution for the annexation at its meeting on April 24 and has fast tracked
the request with the hope of having the annexation effective on July 20 upon
the completion of the public process. With the passage of House Bill 1141 in
2006, the standard for annexation review changed and the emphasis for the review
has shifted from the Comprehensive Plan to the zoning of the property.. Based
on information provided, staff believes some information from the comprehensive
plan needs to be put forth. First, the land in question is designated for industrial
development in the 2002 adopted Washington County Comprehensive Plan. Second,
the adjacent land to the west is designated for low-density residential development
and is currently zoned RU (Residential Urban). Third, the access to the property
will be via Oak Ridge Drive across from a residential neighborhood. Staff believes
it would be appropriate for the Board to recommend to the City issues that should
be addressed as part of the approval process. Screening should be provided
along the western and southern boundaries of the property to protect the integrity
of the residential lands in the County. Lighting should be directed within the
facility and designed so that there be no spill over on to the adjoining designated
residential properties. A traffic study should be required and approved by the
County Engineer as well as the access to the property. Any necessary road improvements
to public streets shall be completed at the direction of the county engineer
and at the developer’s expense. Attention should be paid to the type of
fencing used to secure and buffer the site from the surrounding residential
development, and hours of operation should be addressed to minimize potential
noise impacts on adjacent properties. Commissioner Kristin Aleshire requested
that attention be paid to the point of access to Oak Ridge Drive, with a view
toward moving that point beyond a 90-degree turn in the roadway. After
discussion and a review of House Bill 1140 by the County Attorney, consensus
was reached to send a letter to the City stating concerns as expressed in the
meeting, and to reserve any vote pending additional information being made available.
Greg Nearchos, a resident of the area, presented a petition containing 150 names
citing many of the same concerns as expressed by planning staff.
BID AWARD: PHASE II OF THE HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT EAST AND WEST APRON
REHABILITATIONS AND TAXIWAY A/G MODIFICATIONS
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther, Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) Manager Carolyn Motz and
Mahesh Kukata, of Airport Design Consultants, Inc. (ADCI) requested award of
a bid for Phase II of the East and West Apron Rehabilitations and Taxiway
A/G Modifications at HGR to low bidder C. William Hetzer of Hagerstown, for
the Sum Total Base Bid of $2,789,515.25, contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) funding and bid approval. The Base Bid work includes, but is not limited
to, embankment construction; bituminous paving of Taxiway A/G Intersection;
bituminous pavement rehabilitation/reconstruction of East and West Aprons, pavement
marking; pavement removal; drainage installations; taxiway edge lighting and
signage; installation of electrical ductbanks; and erosion and sediment control
items. This is the second and final bid package to bring the Taxiway A/G intersection
into current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) criteria. The work area is
inside the active Airport Operations Area (AOA) and requires security badging
of key employees and coordination with concurrent, adjacent construction. The
bid was approved on a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
PUBLIC HEARING: POLECAT HOLLOW ROAD
Joe Kuhna,
County Real Property Administrator, brought to Public Hearing the County's Intention
to Abandon and Close a Portion of Polecat Hollow Road in order to provide the
public an opportunity to comment on the request for the abandonment/closure
of a portion of Polecat Hollow Road near Indian Springs. The portion of the
Road is approximately 2.4 miles long, has not been used by the County
for a roadway, and it is no longer needed for a public purpose. The Washington
County Sportsman Club (WCSC), owner of the property surrounding the portion
of the Road in question, has requested that the County abandon/close a portion
of the Road and convey the abandoned portion of the Road to WCSC by quitclaim
deed for no monetary consideration but in exchange for a parcel of land to be
used in the future by the County for a communications equipment site. Mike Shifler
and members of the WCSC appeared in favor of the closure. No one appeared in
opposition to the measure. Following the hearting the measure was approved by
unanimous vote.
REQUEST TO ADVERTISE BUILDING INSPECTOR POSITION
Dan DiVito,
Director of Permits and Inspections and Deputy Director Angela Smith, brought
this request, to advertise to fill a vacant budgeted Building Inspector Position
before the Board. DiVito said that much attention has been directed at the decrease
in the number of new residential permits currently being issued, the actual
number of inspections that are performed is a more valid number. The department
has performed 21,075 inspections to date this fiscal year, compared with a four-year
average of 20,504 for the same period. The number of permits for additions,
remodels, and smaller stand-alone projects has increased while commercial projects
have held steady making up for the decrease in new residential starts. Last
year approval was given for the department for an additional 3 inspector positions,
1 building, 1 electrical, and 1 plumbing inspector. The building
and electrical positions were filled and the department asked to hold the plumbing
position open to evaluate the need after implementing the first two. Departmental
goals included inspections performed in 24 to 48 hours of request and permit
applications acted upon within 4 to 6 weeks. Currently all inspections are performed
within 48 hours of request, with most within 24 hours and permit applications
are reviewed within 2 weeks. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT APPLICATION
Community
Action Council (CAC) Director of Case Management Services Sherry. Neil, requested
approval of the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Application for Fiscal Year
2007 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development. The ESG Program
provides funds to prevent homelessness and to help improve the quality of existing
emergency and transitional shelters for the homeless in Washington County. It
is also designed to help meet the shelter’s maintenance and operating
costs and providing essential supportive services to those homeless individuals.
Community Action Council would receive $25,000, CASA would receive $10,000,
St. John’s Shelter would receive $10,000 and REACH, Inc. would receive
$5,000 from the grant, for a total of $50,000. The measure, to accept the grant
agreement and four sub-recipient agreements was 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.
Daniel Moeller
of Rohrersville commented on Bard of Education retirement accounts, and the
County's deferred compensation program.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request to
accept the
name of Richard Reynolds as the third candidate for a position on the Property
Tax Assessment Appeals Board along with William Feuerstein and
Christopher McClain. The request was approved and the three candidates' names
will be forwarded to the Governor's Office.
County Administrator's
Comments: County Administrator Greg Murray told the Board that Maryland Senators
Mikulski and Cardin announced $109,000 in federal funding for the Geographic
Information System (GIS) for Washington County. Murray thanked the Senators
on behalf of the Commissioners. A lease agreement approval was requested
for the annual Mud Volleyball Tournament, held on County-owned land near
the airport to benefit the Community Free Clinic. The measure was approved by
unanimous vote. Murray requested Board approval to hold County General Fund
projects exempt from permit fees, citing the Radio Communications System and
School Board projects as examples. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
Reports from
County Staff: Public Works Director Joe Kroboth gave the Board an update
on the sinkhole project on Maugans Avenue. After conferring with State Highway
Administration Geologists, the Department of Public Works will not hire a
consultant for the project, but would follow SHA measures for dealing with
sinkholes. Kroboth told the Board that drilling takes place in sinkhole-prone
areas until 5 feet of bedrock is found, then concrete grout is injected under
pressure into fissures below ground. A state contract for these services exists,
and cost for the service could exceed $250,000, Kroboth said. The problem was
caused by the naturally-occurring sinkhole process, and may have been encouraged
as the result of an illegally-permitted well in the immediate area. The County's
e-cycle event, which recycled computers and other electronics last weekend,
took in 24,000 pounds of material that would otherwise have gone into the
landfill. The Resh Road Landfill capping project got a boost with the recent
decision by the Maryland Department of the Environment to allow capping to be
bypassed on slopes exceeding a 3 to 1 ratio. A number
of slopes of cells in the 45-50 acre site were built in excess of that ratio,
and capping each acre would cost about $250,000, Kroboth said. The MDE determination
will save many millions of dollars in projected capping costs. Kroboth cited
Assistant Chief Engineer Rob Slocum for his diligence in working with the
state to get to that resolution.
Zoning Coordinator
Kathy Kroboth, County Red Cross Employee Blood Drive coordinator, told the
Board that the County has been recognized by the Red Cross for its consistency
in donating blood. Commissioners' Vice-President Terry Baker accepted the
certificate on behalf of the County. Kroboth reminded the Commissioners that
the next drive is Thursday, June 7th from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the
County Administrative Annex, 80 West Baltimore Street, in Hagerstown and
is open to the public.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
Budget and
Finance Director Debra Murray brought a discussion of the budget taken to Public
Hearing on May 22nd before the Board. There are several items that must be adopted
when the budget is approved, including the semi-annual interest rate charge
on bonds. The Tax rate must be formally adopted, and the discount for prompt
payment of property taxes is recommended to be discontinued, due to a
Treasurer's Department software problem. Those items were recommended for discussion
at next week's meeting, and were approved. In addition, last year's $150 tax
rebate has to date had no time limit, but with the end of the fiscal year, Murray
recommended making June 30th the last day for application for the checks. Some
citizens who owned property in the County and were eligible to receive the refund
have stated they did not receive the rebate check, and were asked to call the
Budget and Finance office at 240-313-2300 for details. County Administrator
Greg Murray told the Board there were several other items in the Capital Improvement
Budget that should be addressed, including Highway Maintenance projects. A list
of those projects will be developed for next week's meeting, Murray said. Several
school issues remain outstanding, including possibility of construction of a
cafeteria at Fountaindale Elementary and location of a new Alternative School.
THE BOARD ATTENDED A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT DISCOVERY STATION AT THE NOON HOUR
HALFWAY MANOR LETTER OF SUPPORT REQUEST
Jed Henderson
and Brandon Healy of the Michaels Development Company brought this issue before
the Board, requesting a letter of support from the Commissioners in order that
the company can apply for an award of multi-family tax-exempt bonds from the
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (MDHCD). The bonds
would be utilized in the acquisition and rehabilitation of Halfway Manor Apartments,
located at 11201 Scarlet Oak Drive in Hagerstown. The complex is a 100-unit
family community that receives section 8 rental assistance from the Department
of Housing and Urban Development. In order to qualify for the award of multi-family
bonds a letter of support from the highest elected officials within the jurisdiction
must accompany the application. The original request, made in February, was
deferred. At that time, the developer was asked to submit a scope of work and
to address security issues as part of the rehabilitation of Halfway Manor. On
May 10th, the company submitted a scope of work, a security plan from the Washington
County Sheriff’s Office and site plans for review. The company plans to
spend $2.37 million on the facility. The Sheriff's Department recommended a
number of measures Sheriff's Deputy James Holsinger submitted a report ion security
issues that included trash cleanup, lighting and fencing improvements, installation
of closed-circuit television cameras and signage. Apartments should have steel
or solid wood exterior doors, with 1" throw deadbolt locks. Peep holes
in exterior doors, solid framing on doors and quality locks on windows were
also recommended. Citing the Sheriff's report and scope of work as meeting the
request, the Board approved the measure by unanimous vote.