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 4, 2007
THE BOARD TOURED THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND HEARD A REPORT ON OVERCROWDING DURING THE MORNING HOURS.
An evening meeting was held WITH THE mayor and council of boonsboro, maryland at 7:00 p.m. in the town community center, at 37 park drive.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Terry Baker thanked Boonsboro officials
for hosting the meeting, and commented on the positive interaction of
municipal governments with the County.
Commissioner Bill Wivell also thanked the Mayor
and Council for hosting the meeting. Wivell commented on attending the 19th
annual Illumination event at the Antietam Battlefield over the past weekend,
and commended all of the volunteers for an outstanding event. The U.S. Army
recently transferred the last parcel of land at Fort Ritchie to Corporate Offices
Property Trust, Wivell reported.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval commended Airport
and other departmental staff for the Runway ribbon-cutting event held on Friday,
November 30th. The 1500-foot extension of Runway 9-27 was the largest infrastructure
project, excepting construction of the interstate highways, ever undertaken
in Washington County. The Commissioner participated in reading to children at
the Hospital and attended the Festival of Trees last week. The Chamber of Commerce
downtown task force is being restarted, and the first meeting was held last
week, Kercheval said. Monday's meeting of the Planning Commission reviewed
preliminary consultation of the Master Plan for the Corporate Offices Property
Trust (COPT) revitalization project, and gave site review approval to some of
the construction projects at the former Fort Ritchie. The corporation will develop
model office space in the "finger buildings" Kercheval said. There
are emergency services needs at that location, as there is currently no volunteer
fire and rescue service in Cascade, with first response coming from Smithsburg
and the Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania companies, he said. Congratulations
are in order for the 6 area high schools voted as among the nation's best by
U.S. News and World Report. The Greater Hagerstown Committee will lobby
for transportation needs, Kercheval said, and has requested $15,000 assistance
from the County for that effort. Following discussion of this proposal by the
Board, a motion made by Kercheval to fund the proposal from the Commissioners'
Contingency Fund, providing three Commissioners would be part of the lobbying
effort's steering committee, was approved by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners
Wivell and Aleshire voting "no".
Commissioner Kristin Aleshire commented
in attending municipal meetings across the County and told the Boonsboro Mayor
and Council he would attend the Town meetings in February, June and October.
Aleshire attended the Keedysville Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, he said.
Aleshire commented on attending the Airport ribbon-cutting event on Friday,
and a recent meeting with the Homebuilders' Association to discuss excise tax
changes. The Commissioner attended the Festival of Trees, and called for development
of a Council of Governments in Washington County.
Commissioners' President John Barr reported on
attending the Festival of Trees last week. The formal opening of Runway 9-27
at Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) was an outstanding event, and offered opportunities
for networking with officials in Southern Pennsylvania, who viewed the expansion
as an economic development tool for Franklin and Adams Counties. Barr said there
are a number of national corporations calling those Counties home, which utilize
HGR for their corporate aircraft. The County receives 17 cents in gas tax for
each gallon of jet fuel pumped, Barr said.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL ISSUES
Boonsboro Mayor Skip Kauffman reported on taking
legislative proposals to the Maryland Municipal League County Chapter last week
that included a request for speed monitoring systems for the Town. The new library
branch is 97% complete, Kauffman reported, and thanked the County for its support
of the project and for Program Open Sp-ace (POS) funds for park development
over the years. Public transportation for the town remains an issue, Kauffman
said.
Councilman Rich Hawkins discussed the need for
additional recreational facilities for the Town, and said that use of the school
complex playing fields is being restricted. The town is becoming a hub for area
recreation programs, and additional POS money for those recreational needs was
requested. A citizen task force is studying recycling in the Town, Hawkins said,
and is conducting a door-to-door survey.
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.
Janeen Solberg, Chair of the citizens' recycling
task force reported on that committee's efforts to revitalize recycling in the
Town. County Recycling Coordinator Harvey Hoch has been working closely with
the committee, Solberg said, and the next step is to find a suitable location
for the recycling bins in the Town. The survey has shown a demand for curbside
recycling, she said.
Tom Berry of Rohrersville commented on the need
for additional hangars at the airport so that more planes could be housed there,
and on the Charter Home Rule Board decision not to publish a minority report,
as he had requested.
Brian McMurtrie of Scenic View Court discussed
the Town water line project, and stated that many of his neighbors in that development
just outside Boonsboro did not want the water service, citing expensive individual
water treatment systems installed in the homes there. Discussion took place
on the state mandate to extend water service to the area given contamination
of wells. Councilman Hawkins stated that the Health Department had not performed
proper testing on all wells in the area.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County
Clerk Joni Bittner brought several requests for appointments or reappointments
before the Board.
Jason Baer was requested to be reappointed to
a second three-year term on the Emergency Services Council. The measure was
approved by unanimous vote.
The Agricultural Reconciliation Board requested
reappointment of Michael Main to a second three-year term. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
Requested reappointments to the Black Rock Golf
Course Board included Tom Riford, Jeff Yuengling, Ron Van Reenen and Steven
Bittner. The measures were approved on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Aleshire
voting "no".
The Tri-County Council requested appointment
of Brien Poffenberger, Dave Smith and Jeff Cline. The measure was approved by
unanimous vote.
Bittner also requested formal approval of hiring
Sarah Lankford as the Economic Development Commission office Marketing Specialist,
as discussed in closed session earlier in the day. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator
Greg Murray thanked the Mayor and Council for hosting the meeting, stating that
one of the Commissioners' goals for the year was to increase visibility in the
municipalities and increase citizen participation in meetings. Murray reminded
those attending that the Commissioners' meetings may be heard live on Tuesdays
by linking to eGeorge on the County website, www.washco-md.net.
A meeting of the Greater Hagerstown Committee on Wednesday will discuss legislative
issues, and a meeting pf the Homebuilders' Association is set for Friday
evening. Citizens for the Protection of Washington County will hold a reception
on Thursday night as well, he said. Airport Director Carolyn Motz asked Murray
to convey her thanks to Commissioners for attending the Friday ceremony and
for support of the project over the years. Staff members of the Airport, the
Economic Development Commission, and Public Works are to be commended for
their participation in the event, Murray said.