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 19, 2007
THE BOARD ATTENDED RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES AT JELLYSTONE CAMP AND RESORT IN WILLIAMSPORT AT THE NOON HOUR
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Terry Baker reported on a meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board. That Board
toured Clear Spring Park, Pinesburg Park and Kemp's Mill Park as part of its
recent meeting, and made recommendations for improvements.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval commented on the recent meeting of the Local Management
Board. A needs assessment is being conducted to gather input from citizens
on areas for services to children and youth and where needs exist in the County.
Healthy Families programs are a focus for the Board and its operating partner
the Community Partnership. The Commissioner also commented on a ribbon-cutting
ceremony at Landmark Equipment last weekend.
Commissioner
Kristin Aleshire commented on attending the Washington County Homemakers Club
Scholarship Awards event held recently. Aleshire commended that group for
funding 16 scholarships for the coming year.
Commissioners'
President John Barr commented on attending the 50th Anniversary celebration
for the United Way of Washington County. Over the history of that organization,
$48 million has been put back into the community, Barr said. Two openings exist
on the Advisory School Design Review Committee. Barr nominated Jim Nipps to
fill the Facilities Manager position. That measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
Property and Casualty Insurance Program Placement
Insurance
and Risk Management Coordinator Becky Maginnis brought this measure before the
Board. Staff recommends placing the casualty insurance program with Travelers for
the total estimated premiums of $763,824. Property and contents insurance coverage
is recommended to be placed with Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT), the
Maryland public entity insurance pool, with total estimated premiums at $153,075.
Overall premium reductions negotiated by the County’s insurance consultant
(HRH of Baltimore, Inc.) total $331,000 under budgeted FY 2008 estimates. Coverages
and limits have been increased in several areas and some deductibles have been
lowered or eliminated. Maginnis requested reallocation of a portion of
the premium savings to fund a Risk Management Program. A more detailed
program presentation is scheduled for the Commissioners July 10th meeting and
will include recommendations from HRH. The measures were approved by unanimous
vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments
to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from
the PenMar Development Corporation Board for reappointments of George Griffin,
Elizabeth Morgan and Phillip Ulzheimer to that Board. The measures were approved
by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's
Comments: County Administrator Greg Murray told the Board that a Groundbreaking
ceremony will he held on Friday June 22nd at 10 a.m. at Hagerstown Community
College for the Wetlab facility. The Department of Water Quality is receiving
over $2.76 million in state funds for Environmental Nutrient Removal projects,
Murray said. A meeting with representatives of Local Government Insurance Trust
(LEGIT) showed a reduction of fees paid by the County for Fiscal Year 2008.
Murray also
brought appointments to the Excise Tax Task Force before the Board.
Previous closed session discussions had generated a list of potential names
for that Task Force. Murray requested that appointments be made and duties
of the Task Force be discussed. 11 of the proposed 13-member panel were appointed.
The Board of Education and Maryland Municipal League local chapter will make
their nominees known to the Commissioners at a later date. Appointed to the
Board were: Edward Forrest as a homeowner; Brian Lautenslager as Home Builders
representative; Mike Deming representing Urban Redevelopment; John Schnebly
as Economic Development representative; Frank Erck as Banking representative;
Jason Divelbiss, Land Use Attorney; Tamara Austerman, Realtor representative;
Ivory Mann and Keith Scheer as citizens-at-large; and Leroy Myers as Delegates'
representative. Those appointments were approved by unanimous vote, with a
tentative approval of John Schnebly as Chair, pending his acceptance. Actual
charges and duties would be deferred until the Board of Education and Municipality
members were approved. Information would be needed from Planning and Permits
and Inspections Departments as to methods that would work to solve some of
the problems of imposing excise taxes. The Group's Chair would need to meet
with departmental representatives and the Director of the Economic Development
Commission soon. The Task Force would be asked to develop ideas that staff
can implement quickly and efficiently.
Reports from
County Staff: John Latimer, Director of the Division of Fire
and Emergency Services requested that the Commissioners distribute the FY '07
Senator William Amoss Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Fund subsidy in the amount
of $231,848. equally between the County fire and rescue corporations. The
State of Maryland distributes four equal quarterly payments to each County for
support of local fire and rescue operations. The County in turn
distributes the funding to all fire and rescue corporations. Financial
accountability reporting to the Division of Fire and Emergency Services is required
and the County files an annual financial report with the State.
The Senator Amoss Fund is authorized within the Public Safety Article of
the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency
is responsible for the program. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
Budget and
Finance Director Debra Murray presented Commissioners with copies of the new
financial update quarterly report. This report will cover County economic trends,
revenue activity, expenditures by fund and other general financial information.
The Board requested that the information be posted to the County website.
BID AWARD: TRASH REMOVAL AT COUNTY FACILITIES
County Buyer
Rick Curry brought this recommendation, to award the bid for the trash removal
services to the responsible, responsive low bidder, Allied Waste Services of
Hagerstown, Maryland for the base bid, in the amount of $47,571.00 to the Board.
The Bid notice for trash removal services at twenty County facilities was advertised
April 20, 2007, listed on the State of Maryland’s “eMarylandMarketPlace” and
the County’s web site. Two vendors submitted bids. The term
of the Contract is for one year period tentatively beginning July 1st,
2007 with an option by the County to renew for four additional consecutive one year
periods. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES
County Buyer
Rick Curry brought this recommendation, to award the subject contract to the
responsible, responsive low bidder, Landmark Elevator, Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland
for the base bid, in the amount of $14,160.00 to the Board for approval. On
May 29th, 2007 the County accepted bids for the elevator maintenance service. Bid
notices were forwarded to twenty vendors. The Bid notice was published
in the local newspaper, listed on the State of Maryland’s “eMarylandMarketPlace” and
posted on the County’s website. The contract is a one year contract
commencing July 1, 2007, with an option by the County to renew for up to four
additional one year periods. The Washington County Health Department and Washington
County Free Library are also included in this contract. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CHEMICALS BID AWARD
County Buyer
Rick Curry and John Kain, Superintendent of Black Rock Golf Course brought
this recommendation to the Board, to relieve Fisher & Son Company of Salvage,
MD, from the bid without prejudice on Item #29 due to pricing error, and
to award the contracts to the responsible companies with the lowest responsive
bids meeting specifications for each chemical item. 45 Chemicals for grounds
maintenance use would be supplied by 3 different vendors to County departments
and the City of Hagerstown. This contract primarily provides the needed chemicals
for the Black Rock Course. The Highway Department, Department of Water
Quality and the City of Hagerstown also use some of chemicals. The contract
term is one year commencing July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
CONTRACT AWARD: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and Linda Widmeyer of the Washington County Community Partnership
(WCCP)/Local Management Board brought this item before the Board. The recommendation
was to award a contract for provision of After School Programs for the County
to the responsive, responsible sole proposer, Boys & Girls Club of Washington
County, Maryland in the amount of $90,171.00 contingent on confirmation of funding
from the Governor’s Office for Children (GOC). The
purpose of the service is to fulfill the requirements contained in the Governor’s
Office for Children (GOC) Community Partnership Agreement (CPA). The contract
is for a first year period tentatively to begin July 1, 2007 and ending June
30, 2008 with funding requests to be made annually by the WCCP for two (2) additional
option years. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
CONTRACT AWARD: PROVISION OF HEALTHY FAMILIES HOME VISITATION SERVICES
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Community
Partnership/LMB
Director Stephanie Stone brought this measure before the Board, to award
a contract for providing the subject services to the responsive, responsible
sole proposer, the Washington County Health Department (WCHD) in the amount
of $277,993.00 with contract renewals contingent upon the WCCP’s receipt
of a Single Line Audit on the funding no later than March 31, 2008 and no
later than March 31 of each contract renewal year thereafter if Federal funding
to the WCHD exceeds $500,000 annually with expenses not to be taken from the
Direct Services portion of the awarded fundsThe purpose of the service to
be provided and of this agreement is to fulfill the requirements of
the Maryland
Department of Education/Early Intervention Services and the Healthy Families
America (HFA) model prevention program. Some of the core HF services
provided include
Ensuring families have a medical provider; Sharing information on children’s
development
Processes; Assisting families in identifying their baby’s needs and
obtaining certain
Resources; Supporting families in the home while they respond to their child’s
and their own needs; Sharing ideas on caring for babies, toddlers, and
young children; Linking
families with other resources in the community for assistance with job placement,
identification of day care providers; Assisting families in following up
with recommended immunization schedules; Helping families feel more empowered
and in turn more likely to take action when needed. Healthy Families programs have
an assessment process where all families within the target population
are systematically assessed by a
trained staff member, either prenatally or within two weeks of the birth
of a child.
Programs typically work with hospitals, clinics and other community agencies
that serve
pregnant women and /or new parents to provide assessment services. Assessments
enable staff to identify family needs The contract will begin on July 1, 2007
and end June 30, 2008 with an option by the WCCP to renew the awarded Contractor for up
to two (2)
consecutive one-year periods through fiscal year 2010. The measure
was approved by
unanimous vote.
Contract Extension: Interagency Family Preservation and Washington County
Diversion Program
Stephanie
Stone , Director of the Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families
(WCCP)/Local Management Board (LMB), brought this request. to extend the current
contract by three months with the Washington County Department of Social Services
as provider of services for Interagency Family Preservation and the current
contract by three months with Potomac Case Management for the Washington County
Diversion Program contingent upon continued funding from the Governor’s
Office for Children (GOC) in FY 2008. WCCP is currently in negotiations
with the GOC for a 3-year Community Partnership Agreement (CPA), for fiscal
years 2008, 2009 and 2010. All contracts funded under the current CPA
will expire June 30, 2007. As a consequence, Requests For Proposals for multiple
program initiatives are being prepared and will be released to the community
as soon as negotiations with the Governor’s Office have been completed.
LMB is concerned that there could be a break in services to families and children
in Washington County when the current contracts expire. This is of particular
concern for programs that provide intensive services to families eligible for
those services into FY 2008. Interagency Family Preservation
is a statewide program that promotes the integrity of the family, builds family
skills, and seeks to reduce out-of-home placements. Approximately 80 families
are served by the program each fiscal year. The anticipated GOC funding allocation
for this program in FY 2008 is $477,541.00. The Diversion Program employs
Two full-time Case Managers to implement case management and diversion services
focusing on diverting juvenile offenders from the Department of Juvenile Services
(DJS) and redirecting alleged Children In Need of Supervision (CINS) youth away
from DJS to community-based services. Cases generally remain open 3 – 6
months, but services may be extended where warranted. As a result, approximately
80 - 100 cases “carry over” from one month into the next. The anticipated
GOC funding allocation for this program in FY 2008 is $137,700.00. Discussion
centered on sole source funding for the Family Preservation grant. Stone told
the Board that pending approval by the state, that grant would be up for rebid
this summer. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
BOARD OF EDUCATION THIRD QUARTER BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
Board of
Education Chief Financial Officer Chris South brought these recommendations
before the Commissioners, for Third Quarter Adjustments to the FY 2007 BOE General
Fund Budget. State Law requires local school systems to periodically re-forecast
their financial needs and make necessary changes to budgets. BOE approved
a list of changes to its General Fund Operating Budget at its June 5, 2007 meeting.
South told the Commissioners that several changes that the BOE approved cross
major categories, and the County Commissioners must also approve these requested
adjustments. The adjustments will result in a $1,102,445 increase to the
Board of Education’s undesignated fund balance and the establishment of
a $700,000 designated fund balance for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
(BISFA). This designated fund balance will eliminate the need to capitalize
interest during BISFA construction by providing funds for lease payments to
begin in FY 2008, and will provide significant savings over the life of the
financing. Other projects would include $208,575 in Other Instructional
Costs from redeployment of budgeted funds between Textbooks/Supplies and Other
Instructional Costs to properly categorize expenditures. $83,080 would go for
additional Student Personnel Services for social workers at Marshall Street
and Antietam Academy. Revenues. South said that savings in the Instructional
Salaries, Textbooks & Supply, Student Transportation Services, Plant
Operation and Maintenance, and Fixed Charges allowed the changes to take place.
Discussion centered on funds for Special Education needs and forward funding
of BISFA. Commissioner Wivell asked about the percentage of funding for the
designated fund balance for that project that would be County funds. The
measures were approved on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Wivell and Aleshire
voting "no" and Commissioner's President John Barr breaking
the tie voting yes "with reservations".
SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Washington
County Commission ion Aging (COA) Executive Director Susan MacDonald, and COA
Board member Linn Hendershot brought this request to the Board, to include support
for a downtown Senior/Community Center in the Fiscal Year 2009 County Budget
and Incorporate senior/community centers into short and long range planning.
MacDonald told the Board that Washington County is the only county in the state
without a multipurpose senior center. Approx. 27,000 persons over age
60 reside in the county and this number is expected to increase by more than
70% over the next 12 years. COA has been working with interested
community and service providers over the past 2 years to explore the creation
of the first of several such centers in the county. The initial center
would be located in downtown Hagerstown. A comprehensive aging services
planning process is underway and is expected to produce recommendations for
additional locations as part of the overall plan. As a non-profit Area Agency
on Aging, COA will attempt to pull together a funding package for the downtown
Hagerstown center which will include Community Development Block Grants, partnerships
with other agencies, and other state-based funding. The group said its stated
purpose was to get the recommendation into the very earliest stages of the County
budget process.
THE BOARD ATTENDED THE QUARTERLY JOINT MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF HAGERSTOWN AT 4:00 P.M.
The Commissioners heard updates on the Upstairs, Downstairs Hagerstown project, a report on the Combined Emergency Communications 911 Center from Sherioff Doug Mullendore, Fire And Emergency Services Director John Latimer and Hagerstown Police Chief Art Smith, on Homeless Task Force recommendations, on the Central Booking Facility, and on the Route 40/Edgewood Drive project.