The regular meeting of the County Commissioners of Allegany County was held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 701 Kelly Road, at 11:00 a.m. on the above date. The following were present: President James J. Stakem; Commissioner Robert M. Hutcheson; Commissioner Barbara B. Roque; County Attorney William M. Rudd; County Administrator Vance C. Ishler; and Clerk Carol A. Gaffney.  JT Green, Student Representative, was absent.

            The following business was transacted:

MOTION #1

The Commissioners authorized one addition to this agenda– Item No. 8 – Travel Restriction Policy.

MOTION #2

The Commissioners approved the minutes of the March 25, 2004 public meeting reflecting the detailed summary of the Final Agenda.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

There was nothing to report as there was no closed-door session held

PRESENTATION

Item 1. Proclamation – “Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month” – Carol Sangiovanni accepted the proclamation and introduced members of her Board.  Brad Beal (representing Social Services) and Jane Dawson (mother and grandmother representative) each thanked the Commissioners and  said a few words about their program.

Item 2. Proclamation – “Academic Business Connections Day” – Darlene Bacon, Tech Prep Coordinator, accepted and explained the program.  She invited the Board to their event at the Fairgrounds on the 23^rd from 5-7. 

Item 3.  Public Hearing on 3 Community Development Block Grant Projects – Jim Williams explained the advertised hearing was for applications to be submitted for funding.  The public hearing was to review three grant applications to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program (1) Phase III County-wide housing rehabilitation project (2) the Phase II County-wide housing study and (3) Niners Lane sewer improvements project.  The hearing will also review two active projects which received funds from the same agency:  (1) Phase II County-wide housing rehabilitation and (2) Phase I County-wide housing study. 

Mary Jane Bonser, Housing Division Director, explained that the CDBG process requires that the public be made aware of what we have done with past grants and what is proposed for the new monies requested.  There will be a hearing on April 21 on Phase I of the housing study.  It is on the County’s website and can be reviewed.  Phase I amounted to $25,000; the local match was another $23,480 (out of Housing Division’s  Revolving Loan Fund); to date $45,000 of that has been expended and the balance will be released after 4/21.  The project has gone well.  There were no comments..

Phase II asks the state to provide $17,500 in CDBG funds for a countywide housing study; requiring a local match of $1,000 (in-kind services) and $3500 from the Housing Revolving Loan Fund.  This plan can then be taken to federal/state government or another entity with money to justify the housing needs of the community; there were no comments from the audience on Phase II.

She then discussed Rehab Phase II grant in the amount of $390,000 received in September 2002.  Of that, $20,000 was issued to NAILS (local non-profit) to do emergency home repairs on 15 homes.  All $20,000 was expended to very low income home owners.   The HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) received $15,000; every County in the State is required to have this in place.  The $15,000 was local match.  There was $25,000 administrative money ($20,331.72 has been expended) covers office salaries/inspector-estimator.   There is a balance of $4,668.20 remaining.  This allowed $325,000 for rehab work for 18 very low income homeowners.  The match comes from other funding sources.  There were no questions.

She then requested the Commissioners approval of an application for an additional $350,000 for Phase III of the housing rehab program.  NAILS would again get $20,000 emergency moneys; $300,000 would be used for rehab with 0-4% loans with $7500 maximum grant; $25,000 administrative; and $5,000 general administrative.  They estimate an additional 20 homeowners would be assisted by this grant.  She noted she has letters of support for all the projects and read a portion of one letter which praised the program.

Administrator Ishler asked but was told there is no local match.  

Wally Finster, Allegany County Health Department,  supported the Niners Lane Sewer Improvements Project.  He summarized the findings of their sanitary survey, saying the project would benefit 15 homes in an area south of Cresaptown at Pinto Road who have had failing septic systems and direct discharges.  In 1990 a survey showed many problems.  It is in the service area of a private utility supplier (Maryland Water Service, formerly Pinto Utilities).  He has met with Maryland Water and they are interested in providing sewer service.  He explained property details, discharges and sewer collection systems currently in place, which do not meet current standards.  It is a challenging problem and needs public sewer.  In response to a question from Mr. Ishler, there is no proposal for water at this time.  If done in the future, it would be supplied from Cresaptown.

Mr. Ishler asked about Stoney Run in Westernport, which Mr. Finster said is moving along (viewed favorably & Mayor Smith agreed to take those homes into the sewage collection system there).  Mr. Williams thought the state committed some money in prior years and agreed to come up with additional moneys to fund the entire collection system.  Concerning the Flintstone situation, Steve Young said he would have something in 2 weeks.

Mr. Williams asked that the record be kept open for 10 days and then a resolution be considered. 

CONSENT AGENDA

As Recommended by County Administrator

Vote 3 to 0

Public Works Department

Item 4.  Bid Award – Accepted low bid of IA Construction Corporation in amount of $427,388.20 for Bridge Replacement No. A-92 Mason Road over Pea Vine Run and authorized Administrator to sign documents and Part B (Cattle Access) in amount of $41,734.50 pending approval and funding from Soil Conservation District.

Item 5.  Engineering Contract Award – Approved contract with SPECS, Inc. for $34,025 to do Westernport Drainage Project to be funded by State of Md. Grant.

Emergency Services & Communications

Item 6.  CERT Grant – Accepted $8,000 Community Emergency Response Grant MOU from State to continue development of local response team and authorized Finance Dept. to adjust Budget 1416 to reflect grant. 

Sheriff’s Department

Item 7.  Budget Amendment – Authorized Finance Dept. to increase Capital Equipment Budget to $11,400 from revenues received from rental of Home Detention units to cover the purchase of 6 additional units in the Electronic Home Detention Program, Alternative Sentencing Division. 

ADDITION Item 8.  Implemented travel restriction policy to restrict all departments and/or component agencies to travel within the State of Maryland or within a 200 mile radius of county to require Department Head approval and Administrator approval.  Exceptions are Economic Development and extradition of prisoners by the Sheriff’s Department.  Any exception to policy requires Commissioners’ public action. 

Commissioner Roque said this was not done to discourage anybody from travel, but as they went through the budget, it was felt this would bring accountability.  Reasonable travel won’t be questioned; however when concern is raised it would come to the  Board and through the public meeting.  It would apply to all agencies.   Vote:  3-0. 

BIDS

County Clerk Carol Gaffney reported on 2 proposals received by our office and delivered to Public Works for opening/review:

Proposals for Design/Build/Lease

New Rooftop Air Conditioning Equipment  - Allegany County Office Complex

March 30, 2004  at 3:00 p.m.

Request for Proposals were received from the above firms prior to 3:00 p.m.  Clerk delivered unopened proposals to Kevin Beachy, County Engineer, Public Works Department.  A committee will review the proposals and make a recommendation back to the County Commissioners.   

DISCUSSION

Administrator Ishler announced the April 27 at 7 p.m. “State of the County” address will be held at ACM.  It will be advertised and everyone invited.  Written materials will be distributed. 

Commissioner Hutcheson reported on recognition of former Speaker Cas Taylor (portrait unveiling at the House of Delegates Chamber in Annapolis) and recent MACo meeting.  With lack of action by legislature, the 20006 budget could be even worse than this year.  Some are trying to tie the slots issue to either taxes or other issues and could be counterproductive or kill the slots which will drive the state back to make more cuts to counties. 

Commissioner Stakem said the legislators have had no real compromise on anything.  The Governor is strong on slots and Speaker Busch is strong on the tax hike but nothing has been resolved. 

Commissioner Roque added we are moving into the 11^th hour and she felt the decisions to be made will be very interesting.

Commissioner Stakem commented on SB 320 (the flush tax).  It concerned him because the counties will be the ones to collect this and the ones blamed for the tax and the state won’t give us any administrative costs for collection.  County buildings/school won’t even be exempted.  Prisons would be included by a formula. He was glad HB1 passed (90/10% for new school).

Kevin Shaffer, National Highway, LaVale, again asked Board to set up a donation drive for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital.  Previously they said we would be unable to participate because of information from the Red Cross. He has been told by an official of the Red Cross in Washington that the Red Cross could accept these checks. Mr. Shaffer said the County could do this and he would give them the information. 

The Commissioners thought it was interesting that two officials would have different opinions on this. 

Mr. Shaffer thanked the Board for taking the lead on this drive and knew the citizens of the county would respond.  Board will look into this.

Reminders:   

Bd. Of Education Budget Hearing- Thursday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m., Room 100

Public Budget Work Session - Thursday, April 1 at 1:30 p.m., Room 212

Next Work Session  - Thursday, April 8   at 9:00 a.m., Room 212

Next Public Meeting - Thursday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m., Room 100

Constant Yield Hearing - Thursday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m., Room 100

Public Budget Hearings –

Public Budget Work Session - April 8 at 1:00 p.m. Room 212

Public Budget Work Session – April 13 at 1:00 p.m., Room 212

Preliminary Budget            -   April 23 at 11 a.m. Room 100  

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come to the attention of the Board, a motion to adjourn at 11:42 a.m. was made and duly carried.