MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
October 16, 2001
The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County met in regular session at the Perryville Town Hall, Perryville, Maryland, on Tuesday, October 16, 2001. The following members of the Board were present:
Nelson K. Bolender, President
Harry A. Hepbron, Commissioner
Phyllis Kilby, Commissioner
constituting a full Board.
The meeting was called to order by President Bolender at 7:00 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
- MINUTES – OCT. 2 & 9, 2001 –
The minutes of October 2 and 9, 2001, were approved as presented.
- PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PROJECT – YMCA FOOTBALL FIELD LIGHTING –
A public hearing was held on a Program Open Space project for YMCA Football Field Lighting. LOCATION: YMCA Boulevard, Elkton, MD 21921.
Mr. Edward W. Slicer, Jr., Manager of Parks and Recreation, and Mr. Richard Jorgensen, Executive Director of the YMCA, presented the application.
Mr. Slicer stated the project is for lighting of one of the fields at the YMCA. The total project cost is $86,667.00 with 75% funding by the State and 25% by the YMCA. Mr. Slicer advised that there have been modifications to the application. It is for a multi-purpose field now and not a soccer field, and there is a Lease and Management Agreement since facilities are being constructed on third-party property. Mr. Slicer stated they are trying to ensure that whatever is constructed will have a life of 25 years.
Mr. Jorgensen advised that there is a demand for athletic fields in the County. They have eight acres that have been seeded. He advised that they have the necessary funding for their 25%.
Commissioner Kilby asked if there is a field there now, and Mr. Jorgensen advised that it is a field. It has been graded and seeded and will be ready for play by next year. Commissioner Kilby asked about the number of people utilizing the field, and Mr. Jorgensen stated it will be used by Jaguar Football and will involve 400-500 people.
Commissioner Kilby asked about a maintenance fee for other groups that use the field, and Mr. Slicer stated a reasonable fee could be charged by the YMCA since they have to maintain the field. Reporting will be required relative to the number of requests by other organizations for use of the field.
President Bolender asked Mr. Slicer how this differs from projects for high schools, and Mr. Slicer stated high school projects do not require reporting and are not extended into the future.
Mr. Ronald Rae spoke in favor of the project.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Program Open Space project for the YMCA football field lighting; also, to execute the Park Lease and Management Agreement.
- COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS –
President Bolender reported that the County received a Smart Growth award relative to the Dart Bus 65.
He advised that the Board had their annual meeting last week with the Maryland Department of Transportation.
A meeting was held on the MARC train, and there is a possibility of a bus running from Elkton to Perryville for people to ride the train.
Commissioner Hepbron reported that he was the guest speaker at the GED ceremony at Cecil Community College.
Commissioner Kilby reported that she visited the after-school programs at Perryville and Bainbridge Elementary Schools and stated these programs are doing well in the County.
Commissioner Kilby stated 2002 is the one hundred year anniversary for 4-H. Invitations have been sent to civic groups for discussion as to the needs of youth in the County. These meetings will be held on local, state, and national levels.
Commissioner Kilby reported that the third annual girls’ conference will be held on November 16 at Cecil Community College. It is for girls in Grades 6-12 and will be free.
- TREASURER’S REPORT –
Ms. Pamela Howard, Treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s report as of September 30, 2001. A copy of the report is incorporated as a part of these minutes.
- ORDINANCE – CURFEW FOR MINORS –
Mr. Al Wein, County Administrator, advised that a Curfew Ordinance that would apply to all unincorporated areas of the County was presented, for introduction, on October 2. Since that date, no comments have been received relating to the proposed Ordinance.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Curfew Ordinance. A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.
- EASTERN SHORE OF MD. EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM ENERGY TRUST AGREEMENT –
Mr. Al Wein advised that the Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium has accepted the County’s membership application, and there are three documents that need to be executed, as well as submittal of a participant’s fee of $3,000. He recommended that Craig Whiteford be designated Coordinator with this effort so he may provide the requisite electricity account data for the next round of bid solicitation.
The Board of Education is already a participant in the Trust.
The purpose is to take advantage of the deregulated electricity marketplace resulting from the Act and administering the collective procurement of electricity fuels and related services for Board of Education’s and participants.
The three documents to be executed are the Participant Consent and Approval, Participant Certificate, and Assignment of Coordinator.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to execute the documents and to appoint Mr. Whiteford as the Coordinator.
- DECISION – T & G CONTRACTORS REZONING –
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron to approve the rezoning for T & G Contractors. The motion died for lack of a second.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by President Bolender, and carried to disapprove the rezoning because the applicant did not prove change or mistake. Commissioner Hepbron is opposed.
Commissioner Hepbron stated he visited the site and would rather see houses in that neighborhood as opposed to concrete equipment.
President Bolender stated he voted to disapprove due to the fact that there has been no change or mistake.
Commissioner Kilby advised that by law change or mistake must be proven.
A copy of the findings of fact is incorporated as a part of these minutes.
- LICENSE AGREEMENT – CORMAN CONST. INC. –
Mr. Al Wein presented a License Agreement between this Board and Corman Construction Incorporated pertaining to the utilization of the Blue Chip fenced-in storage area for usage by Corman Construction, who is the contractor working on the Elkton streetscape project. The term of the Agreement is for two years. An attached exhibit shows the monitoring wells that are on-site, and Corman will work around those monitoring wells.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the License Agreement. A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.
- LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT –
Mr. Al Wein advised that it is a requirement of the 2001 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant that it be placed on a public meeting agenda of the Board. The grant is for the Sheriff’s Office and is in the amount of $17,987. Mr. Wein stated the funds will be used to purchase tactical equipment and provide special training for its law enforcement officers. Their advisory committee agreed to utilize the funds for that type of equipment. A $1,999 cash match will be provided from the Sheriff’s budget.
There was an opportunity for public comment, and no one spoke.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to accept the grant.
- BID – PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE –
Mr. Al Wein recommended that the bid for the paramedic emergency response vehicle for the Department of Emergency Services be awarded to SWAB Wagon Company, Inc. for the sum of $63,220.00.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to award the bid to SWAB Wagon Company, Inc.
- EMERGENCY PURCHASE – FLUSHING WATER PUMP –
Mr. Al Wein recommended a waiver from the open bidding requirements of the Purchasing Code for purchase of a flushing water pump for Seneca Point. Three quotes were received, and the lowest price is $11,014.30 from DSI, LLC.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the waiving of the bidding requirements.
- BUDGET AMENDMENT NOS. 43-53 –
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve Budget Amendment Nos. 43-53. Copies of the Budget Amendments are incorporated as a part of these minutes.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to adjourn.