CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chairperson Diehl called the Regular Session Meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Commission to order at 6:17 p.m. at the Washington County Water and Sewer Department Administration Office, 16232 Elliott Parkway, Williamsport, Maryland.
ATTENDANCE
A quorum was present including: Vice-Chairperson Christopher Diehl, Commissioner Bonnie Parks, Commissioner Gordon Crabb, Commissioner Ed Renn, Commissioner Glenn Fishack, Secretary Michael Armel, Gregory Murray, Director of Water & Sewer Operations, Jamie Calandrelle, Office Associate. Absent: Chairperson Clarence Scheer.
READING, CORRECTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Session Minutes - December 17, 1998
Motion made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Commissioner Crabb to approve minutes as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
Secretary Armel opened discussion regarding December 17, 1998 minutes. Motion was made by Secretary Armel, seconded by Commissioner Parks, to amend the original Motion and to revise the minutes in accordance with the following changes:
1. Page 1 - Attendance, Vice-Chairperson Diehl was absent.
1. Page 2 - Adjournment, Change "Motion made by Vice-Chairperson Diehl..." to "Motion made by Commissioner Renn..."
Unanimously approved.
Regular Session Minutes - January 7, 1999
Minutes were tabled until the next scheduled meeting February 11, 1999.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
None.
ADVISORY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Armel distributed a packet of information prepared by the City of Hagerstown and distributed at the 1/19/99 Joint Meeting between the Board of County Commissioners/City of Hagerstown Mayor & Council. (Attachment # 1) The City requests a tax set-off of approximately $5 million; worksheet #10 itemizes one item as a basis for the set-off as Water and Sewer Operating Transfer. Discussion followed.
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Fishack, seconded by Commissioner Parks to convene in closed session to discuss contract negotiations.
RECONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION
Motion made by Commissioner Crabb, seconded by Commissioner Parks to reconvene in regular session.
Unanimously approved.
Commissioner Fishack departed at 7:00 p.m.
ADVISORY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Secretary Armel distributed a draft he prepared regarding Rate Structure/Revenue Sources. (Attachment #2). An ad hoc committee of Advisory Commissioners Armel, Diehl and Renn are to brief county commissioner Wivell. Discussion followed.
Cost of Service Base Rate - This issue was tabled and will be discussed at the February 11, 1999 Advisory Commission Meeting.
DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Boil Water Advisory Notice (Mt. Aetna area) (Attachment #3)- Director Murray stated with an increase in demand and the fact that we are currently pumping surface water into the reservoir, we need to enforce a boil water advisory notice for this area only.
Director Murray distributed a letter addressed to David Campbell, Environmental Engineer for Sartomer. (Attachment #4) He stated Sartomer is a potential pretreatment customer (possibly 50,000 - 75,000 gallons a week). Discussion followed.
Director Murray also presented a Budget Summary 12/31/98. (Attachment #5) He stated that the revenues and expenditures are directly related to the operations. Discussion followed.
He also discussed the Tentative Budget Schedule - FY 2000. (Attachment
#6) He stated the public
hearing for water and sewer rates is scheduled for March 30, 1999 at
7:00 p.m.
Motion was made by Commissioner Parks, seconded by Commissioner Crabb to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to hold the public hearing regarding water and sewer rates at a
different location other than a downtown location, preferably a school location, to make it accessible for the general public as well as the elderly.
Unanimously approved.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cost Comparison of BNR Upgrade Options. (Attachment #7). This report was prepared by Tom McClellan. Director Murray gave a brief summary of the entire packet including a letter from Dipankar Sen, PhD., P.E. He also referred to the Table 12-1-Estimated Combined BNR Upgrade Costs and the BNR Upgrade Cost Comparisons. A lengthy discussion followed. He stated that the most cost effective alternative would be to upgrade Conococheague WWTP. The Advisory Commission complimented Director Murray and his staff and expressed the consensus that other items at issue as enumerated in their 12-17-98 meeting remain outstanding.
NEW BUSINESS
Director Murray distributed FY 2000 Operating Budget Comparison. (Attachment #8) Due to the fact that July 1, 1999 our engineer, Paul Melby, will be transferred to the engineering department a drafting technician position will be available. Discussion followed.
Motion was made by Commissioner Renn, seconded by Commissioner Parks to approve the FY 2000 Budget as submitted including the drafting technician position.
Unanimously approved.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Commissioner Crabb, seconded by Commissioner Renn to adjourn at 9:15 p.m.
Unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted by:
Jamie L. Calandrelle,
Office Associate IV
Reviewed by:
Gregory B. Murray, Michael V. Armel,
Director of Water and Sewer Operations Advisory Commission Secretary