CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Scheer called the Regular Session Meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Commission to order at 6:05 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

The following members were present: Chairperson Scheer, Vice-Chairperson Diehl, Secretary Armel, and Commissioners Fishack, Parks, Renn, and Vicky L. Malott, Office Associate IV. Director Murray and Commissioner Crabb were absent.

Other Attendees: Jim Bishop, Operations Coordinator, Cindy Glessner, Facilities Manager, and Greg Larsen, Pretreatment Marketing Coordinator.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Workshop Session - April 2, 1998 - Motion made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Diehl, to approve the Workshop Session Minutes of April 2, 1998 with the noted addition to indicate the beginning and ending of the motion as amended and approved on Page 1 and Page 2. Unanimously approved.

Regular Session - April 2, 1998 - Motion made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Diehl, to approve the Regular Session Minutes of April 2, 1998 as submitted. Unanimously approved.

Closed Session - April 2, 1998 - Motion made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Diehl, to approve the Closed Session Minutes of April 2, 1998 as submitted. Unanimously approved.

Regular Session - April 16, 1998 - Motion made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Diehl, to approve the Regular Session Minutes of April 16, 1998 as submitted. Discussion followed. Secretary Armel read a statement that he wanted added to the minutes under Old Business, paragraph one, following "Discussion followed." Chairperson Scheer asked Ms. Malott to listen to the tapes and document the nature of the discussion regarding Secretary Armel’s statement concerning " . . . billing methodologies used by other Maryland counties and other Washington County municipalities . . ."

Motion made by Secretary Armel, seconded by Commissioner Fishack, to table the motion for approval of the Regular Session Minutes of April 16, 1998 until the tapes are reviewed and documented. Unanimously approved.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

No citizens were present.

ADVISORY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

Commissioner Parks shared with the Advisory Commission a copy of a letter to Delegate Donoghue from the Maryland Department of the Environment. The letter was in response to the request of water and sewer debt forgiveness. (Attachment #1 - letter dated April 20, 1998, to Delegate Donoghue from J. L. Hearn, MDE.)

Chairperson Scheer reported that he received a letter at his home from Mr. & Mrs. William J. Riker, 22412 Goose Street, Smithsburg, Maryland. (Attachment #2 - letter dated May 6, 1998, to Chairperson Scheer from the Riker’s.) The Riker’s are requesting that the Water & Sewer Department stop billing them for sewer service, something they do not have. The Advisory Commission previously addressed the Riker’s situation back in October/November 1997. The deadline for the Riker’s to make the sewer connection to the Cavetown Sewage Collection System was September 1, 1997. They have not made the connection, and the Department sent a letter to the Riker’s advising them that "the County’s legal counsel will follow through with normal legal proceedings." (Attachment #3 - letter dated November 7, 1997, to Riker’s from Victoria Malott.) Chairperson Scheer asked that Ms. Malott write another letter to the Riker’s, acknowledge receipt of their May 6, 1998-letter, and advise them that the County’s position still stands.

NEW BUSINESS

Pretreatment Update

Greg Larsen gave the Advisory Commission an update on the public/private partnership agreement with Spirit Services, Inc. out of North Carolina. He also gave the Advisory Commission a copy of his CIPF Marketing Report, dated May 14, 1998, (Attachment #4) for their use and information. Chairperson Scheer asked about the capabilities of regaining Mack Trucks back as a customer. Mr. Larsen said that the Spirit Services endeavor would give us the capability of addressing Mack’s waste stream. However, we need to approach Mack Truck very diplomatically and clearly illustrate that we can treat their waste stream. Mr. Larsen reported that the Rail Program is moving ahead and that the draft Water & Sewer Web Site is almost completed. Mr. Larsen reported that he is getting three to four new business inquiries per week.

Project Status Report

Cindy Glessner gave the Advisory Commission a copy a Memorandum from MDE to Delegate Donoghue’s office regarding the unavailability of grant funds for the Pangborn East Sewer Project. (Attachment #5 - Memo dated May 6, 1998, from Virginia Kearney, MDE to Chris Shank/Delegate Donoghue’s Office.) She also gave the Advisory Commission a copy of the Status Report on CIP and Capital Outlay Projects. (Attachment #6 - Status Reports, dated May 11, 1998.) Ms. Glessner briefly highlighted some projects.

Jim Bishop advised that the Advisory Commissioners’ packet included the sewer and water service EDU information for the period July 1, 1997 through May 13, 1998. (Attachment #7.)

Jim Bishop, Cindy Glessner, and Greg Larsen departed the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Revisit Advisory Commission Mission

Chairperson Scheer gave the Advisory Commission a copy of their Mission Statement. He shared with them various opinions he received on direction the Advisory Commission should be taking. Discussion followed.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Commissioner Renn, seconded by Commissioner Fishack, to adjourn at 7:47 p.m. Unanimously approved.
 
 

Prepared by:
 
 

_________________________________ Date: May 27, 1998_____________

Vicky L. Malott,

Office Associate IV
 
 

Reviewed by: Approved by:
 
 

_________________________________ _____________________________

Gregory B. Murray, Michael V. Armel,

Director of Water and Sewer Operations Advisory Commission Secretary

Date: May 27, 1998_________________ Date: May 28, 1998_____________