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; County Administrator Vance C. Ishler; and Clerk Carol A. Gaffney.  J.T. Green, Student Representative, sat in the audience.  Commissioner Barbara B. Roque was absent (on vacation); Attorney William M. Rudd was also absent. 

            The following business was transacted:

MOTION #1

The Commissioners authorized three additions (#13, 14 & 15) and one deletion (#2) to this agenda.

MOTION #2

The Commissioners approved the minutes of the May 6, 2004 public meeting reflecting the detailed summary of the Final Agenda.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Stakem said an executive session was held at about 9:45 a.m. today to discuss a real estate matter at Canal Place with Dave Eberly attending in addition to Commissioners Stakem and Hutcheson, Administrator Ishler and Recording Secretary Virginia Schry.  Tim Carney and Matt Diaz (Economic Development staff) attended a discussion about an economic development prospect. 

PRESENTATION

Welcome:  Visitors – Students from grades 6 – 9 from Flintstone Mennonite School, along with several adults and Kevin Eby, Instructor, attended.  Mr. Eby said they were studying government in school.  They were welcomed to the meeting.

Item 1.  Resolution No. 04-11 Introduced a proposed rate resolution as adopted by the Allegany County Sanitary Commission setting the FY05 water and sewer rates for County customers.   

Steve Young, Director of Public Works, explained some customers are on systems owned by the Sanitary District and some owned by the County.  The Sanitary Commission has already taken action to approve the rates and is now submitting the information to the County to review and accept the rates.  Increases in both water and sewer areas are to cover treatment charges, electrical increases, insurance, entities that treat our wastewater, chemical costs, county billing services, etc. We have 13 sewer districts and each will increase $1/quarter (from $54 to $55 for operating charge, which generates $32,000/year).  The surcharge will be removed for Braddock Run because it is paid off.  The Bowling Green front footage charge (10 cent) has also been paid off.  There will be significant increases to the ad valorem for Cresaptown (from $.16 per hundred to $.30/hundred) and Bowling Green ($15.8 per hundred to $25.8 per hundred).  This will fund new debt of $51,000/year for I&I rehabilitation project.   Water (for our 15 districts) has gone up dramatically but we bill only “at cost.”  The minimum fee covers debt and operating; however, several districts (Frostburg, Lonaconing) have surcharges, and we also pay for water at the price it is sold to us.  Seven districts will increase $2/quarter with 8 districts going up $1/quarter (generates $25,000 per year).  Klondike (same as Carlos system) and Morantown (same as Bordon/Zihlman system) will be new rates added in.  Mr. Young explained that in January ’05 we will be assessed for the “flush” fee that the state has put into effect, and it will increase rates about $30/yr on all users for our customers and also those on septic.  The state has made provisions for the County to be reimbursed for a small collection fee.  Due to the widespread rates (sewer $230-$430; water $382-$529), the Sanitary Commission would like to meet with the Commissioners to find a way to make the rates more uniform.  The rates will be posted on our website or contact can be made with Public Works to receive a copy of the information. 

            Commissioner Stakem noted we are not in the water/sewer business to make money.  What we collect goes directly to the costs (unlike some other places).

            Mr. Young said if the County didn’t back the systems, we could be in a difficult situation at times.

 Vote 2-0 to Introduce for future action.   

ACTION AGENDA

Item 2.  Legislative Day:  Code Home Rule Bill 3-04 entitled “An Act to Establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution for Employee Relations” Possible vote. Bill deleted from agenda.

Item 3.  ARC Project Priorities for FFY05 – Approved the official priorities for ARC funding as explained in detail at today’s work session. 

Rich Harris reviewed the 11 development projects and 1 access road project.  He explained four of the projects are contingent on other events happening such as other funding and timing of notifications.  The requests total $1.4 Million with another $890,000 for the access road.  Tri-County Council needs our information prior to May 21st, when it will be considered with projects from Washington and Garrett Counties.  Vote 2-0 to approve. 

            Commissioner Stakem thanked Mr. Harris for details at the work session this morning and noted that Tri-County would be meeting on May 28^th to review the lists for ARC.  The Appalachian Regional Commission funds economic development projects in the Appalachia region.  Commissioner Stakem serves as Secretary/Treasurer of TCC. 

Item 4.  Library Renovation Project – Signed MOU with Board of Library Trustees to provide $553,500 toward funding of the project from the CIP budget.  Vote 2-0

John Taube, Library Director, said they are very excited about starting this project and appreciated the county support. 

CONSENT AGENDA

As Recommended by County Administrator

Vote 2-0

Public Works Department

Item 5.  Bid for Electrical Renovation & Generator Replacement at ACNH – Accepted the low bid submitted by Queen City Electric in the amount of $209,261. (Contract ACN&RC 04-1)

Community Services Department

Item 6.  Thrasher Carriage Collection Deaccession – Authorized Historical Society to re-advertise remaining vehicles (farm wagons, duplicates, inaccurate vehicle (pony jogging cart) and various parts & pieces for sale under Deaccession Plan through September 21, 2004. 

Item 7.  Second Draw Request for RAP – Authorized Administrator to sign draw #FYRTW2002-02 for $16,474 for Rental Allowance Program to pay on rental assistance to 30 families needing emergency housing.

Economic Development Department

Item 8.  Allconet2 – Point of Presence Connection & Marketing Services – Authorized Administrator to sign contract with Tanner Group not to exceed $24,000 to establish POP via contract with carrier and support negotiations for telework facility in County subject to approval by County Attorney.

Sheriff’s Department

Item 9.  Waiver of Travel Restriction Policy – Approved request for Lt. Rhonda Downton to attend training program in Colorado with 73% cost ($1,148)  paid by NIC Academy and $500 by Detention Center.

Item 10.  Lease/Purchase with Ford Motor Company – Amended previous May 6 action to enter into agreement for the acquisition of seven (7) rather than six (6) 2004 Crown Victoria Police vehicles.  Approval would increase yearly amount from $42,901 to $51,948.08.

Emergency Management

Item 11.  Homeland Security Grant – Approved supplemental FY02 Grant to provide $65,000 in software, authorized President to sign an MOU with state, awarded contract for software from Mason Computer Consulting to allow data sharing with the Sheriff, Cumberland Police, C3I and Narcotics Unit and authorized budget modification to Act. 1448 to reflect grant.

Dick DeVore explained this is for tracking software and will allow data over Allconet.

Administrator Ishler said Cumberland initiated this in 2001, and there will be a joint savings.  It was recently funded through Homeland Security Funds that became available. 

Mr. DeVore further explained that over $500,000 in Homeland Security Funds will be available with $65,000 for the Emergency Planner position and the remainder to be disbursed as the county decides with concentration on communications needs.

Classified Service Appeals Board

Item 12. Reimbursement - Instructed Finance to pay Director $2,000/yr., Chairman $100/meeting and Members $50/meeting for those named to participate. 

ADDITIONS TO AGENDA

Item 13.  CONSENT -  Economic Development Department – Barton Business Park Authorized advertisement seeking bids for the construction of Phase I on-site utilities.  This will allow county to develop utilities and road access to 3 southern most lots and begin to market the properties.  Voted 2 to 0 to approve.

Item 14.  CONSENT – State’s Attorney’s Office – Victim Witness Coordinator Approved application to Maryland Victim of Crime Program for 3^rd year funding in the amount of $37,400 for continuation of the Victim/Witness Coordinator for FY05 with 50% local funding match pending Finance Director’s verification of funding availability.  Voted 2 to 0 to approve.

Item 15.  CONSENT – Economic Development Department – Allconet2 Phase II – Rich Harris presented documents for the county to complete the application for $25,000 funding for Rural Business Enterprise Grant subject to review of County Attorney.  Vote 2 to 0 to approve and authorized completed documents to be returned for funding for Allconet2. 

BIDS

County Clerk Carol Gaffney reported on the bid for ACNH Electrical Renovation & Generator Replacement:

Allegany County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Electrical Renovation and Generator Replacement

Contract No. ACN&RC 04-1

May 4, 2004 – 3:00 p.m.

The above figures represent bid sheet figures as received and do not represent the county’s verification of the amount listed. Bids were opened by Clerk Carol A. Gaffney in the presence of Cathy Blank, Office Associate.  Tom Bender, Department of Public Works Engineer, and a representative from Harbel also attended the bid opening.   The bids were referred to the Department of Public Works for review and recommendation back to the Commissioners.

DISCUSSION

Commissioner Hutcheson welcomed the Flintstone Mennonite School students and teachers.

Student Representative J. T. Green also welcomed the school students to the meeting.  

Jackie Sams, President of the League of Women Voters asked when the CIP presentation would be. 

Administrator Ishler said the Board will meet privately on the 18^th to review and then a meeting would be set. 

Mrs. Sams asked if significant revenue would be lost by the county, what would be the fallout?  If you have a large, unbudgeted expenditure, where will you get the money?  She noted that HB1230 was signed into law that requires they identify sources to repay loans.  Without a lot of extra money, what would be the revenue source?  Do you plan to reduce services in another area?

Administrator Ishler explained we will have $1M from repaid sanitary loans which can be used for matching funds for CIP.  The Board will discuss where we will dedicate funds for on-going projects. We have had no bond issues for 6 years so we have reduced our debt a lot.  We still have a yearly increase in growth of about 2% and have cut back on expenditures.  He felt the intent was to find a source of revenue to pay for the bond for the school.

Commissioner Stakem noted that for over 6 years the Board has been fiscally responsible.  This is all a delicate balance of projects and funding. 

Commissioner Hutcheson noted that the county doesn’t issue unfunded mandates. 

            Al Konrad, Administrator of County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, noted they have 3 centenarians and 1 super centenarian (Edith Taylor is 110 years old)  they will be honoring at an upcoming tea.  He gave background on the various county institutions dating back 116 years. 

Dick Devore, Emergency Management noted that the 911 center and fire & rescue would be receiving state life awards because of their handling of the I-68 accidents in the fog last year.

Opportunity for Comment on Preliminary Budget – no comments.

Reminders:   

Next Work Session    – Thursday, May 27, at 9:00 a.m., Room 212

Next Public Meeting   - Thursday, May 27, at 1100 a.m., Room 100

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come to the attention of the Board, a motion to adjourn at 11:39 a.m. was made and duly carried.