The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County met in regular session in Courtroom 1 at the County Office Building, Elkton, Maryland, on Tuesday, December 5, 2000.  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 – NOV. 21 & DEC. 1, 2000 –

The minutes of November 21 and December 1,  2000, were approved as presented.

-         PUBLIC HEARING – YMCA EC. DEV. REVENUE BONDS –

A public hearing was held on a Resolution pertaining to financing for the expansion of the YMCA.  Mr. Dwight Thomey, County Attorney, stated the YMCA is in the process of building an additional facility.  They are seeking assistance with regard to obtaining financing for the new facility and are requesting that the County assist by executing industrial revenue bonds to allow them to obtain financing at a lower interest rate.

Mr. Steve Winter, bond counsel for the YMCA, advised that the Resolution does not pledge the faith and credit of the County.  The YMCA is solely responsible for repayment of the debt. 

Mr. John Burkley, President of the YMCA, thanked the Board for their consideration in this matter stating there will be a substantial savings to the YMCA over the life of the loan.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Resolution.  A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.

-         PUBLIC HEARING – CIP –

A public hearing was held on the presentation of the Capital Improvement Program for 2001-2006.  Mr. Al Wein, County Administrator, advised that the CIP Committee has met with each submitting agency and made its recommendations to the Planning Commission at their November meeting.  Highlights of the FY 2002 CIP include the commencement of construction funding for Charlestown Elementary, the completion of planning for the addition/renovation of Elkton High, and the continuation of construction for Bainbridge Elementary, North East Elementary, and Bay View Elementary.  These are all projects that will alleviate current overcapacity conditions.  Other projects included are the commencement of design for the Continuing Education Facility for the Cecil Community College at Railroad Avenue in Elkton, funds for site selection and possibly acquisition for a library branch serving the Perryville/Port Deposit region, parking lot improvements and lighting renovation at the Detention Center, new cell construction at the landfill, various wastewater projects, including BNR upgrades at Seneca Point, Carpenters Point sewer, and the Cherry Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant.  It is proposed that nearly $1.8 million will be utilized for bridge rehabilitation and major road reconstruction in FY 2002 with $875,000 of paygo funds being used for those improvements.  Various improvements to the Court House and other County buildings are reflected in the CIP through a performance contract with Johnson Controls.  A new chiller and window replacements constitute the bulk of the work within the Court House.  Finally, the Perryville industrial road is a component of this CIP, to be financed through the creation of a tax increment financing district that Mr. Paul Gilbert will discuss later in the agenda. 

Mr. Wein stated upon approval of this document the FY 2002 capital projects become a piece of the FY 2002 operating budget which will be approved by June 1.  The projects in the outyears serve as a guide and tool for future fiscal planning.

Mr. Ronald Rae expressed concerns about the Board of Education capital budget.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to adopt the Capital Improvement Program for 2001-2006.

-         COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS –

President Bolender congratulated the Elkton High School football team for bringing the State championship to Town.

He reported that he and Commissioner Hepbron attended the groundbreaking on December 2 at the Senior Center in Rising Sun.  They then went to North East for the Christmas parade. 

Commissioner Hepbron reported that the contract for the Elk River dredging project was awarded on December 1.

He advised that he judged the Christmas decorations of the businesses in North East.

Commissioner Kilby advised that the “Stuff a Truck” at Walmart on November 24 was a very positive experience with many people responding.

-         PUBLIC COMMENT –

Mr. Joe Carabetta advised of a deteriorated road at Carpenters Point.  Also, someone in Carpenters Point has created a large stump dump.

Mr. Carabetta stated the former Little Elk Inn property has become a rubble dump.

-         APPOINTMENT – BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES –

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to appoint Mrs. Dale Kerns, 418 Ryan Drive, Rising Sun, Maryland 21911 as a member of the Board of Library Trustees for a five-year term, said term expiring January 8, 2006.

The Board and Linda Brammer, Administrator of the Library, thanked Mr. Jerry Newman for his service on the Board of Library Trustees for the past five years.

-         PERSONNEL ITEMS –

Mr. Al Wein, County Administrator, presented the personnel items. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by President Bolender, and unanimously carried to approve the following appointments:

1)      Donna M. Nichols, Director of Human Resources, $55,000 (Grade 13),   effective January 2, 2001;

2)      Marilyn L. Rodriguez, on-call Substitute House Manager, Domestic 

Violence/Rape Crisis Center, $8.69 (Grade 3);

3)      Thomas A. Cairo, Laborer, Roads District 2, $18,075 (Grade 3) – Must obtain

CDL within six months from date of appointment;

4)      Joyce Van Zile, part-time Case Work Associate for the Medicare Waiver

Program in the Department of Aging, $13.13/hour (Grade 7);

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by President Bolender, and carried to appoint Joanne T. Richart as Ag Coordinator (contractual), Economic Development Office, $1,538.46/two weeks.  Commissioner Hepbron is opposed.

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the promotion of Kevin T. Ewing from Roads Equipment Operator II ($24,805.96, Grade 5) to Crew Leader, Roads District 3, $26,046.26 (Grade 6).

-         BIDS – FOOD SERVICE AT DETENTION CTR. –

Mr. Al Wein, County Administrator, recommended that the bids for food service at the Detention Center be awarded to Hy-Point Dairy, Schmidt Baking Company, Carroll County Foods, and Lankford-Sysco Food Services, Inc.

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to award the bids as recommended by Mr. Wein.

-         JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC. – PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING –

Mr. Earl Bradford, of the Maintenance Department, advised that his department has been working with Johnson Controls, Inc. to upgrade County facilities through performance contracting.  They have completed mechanical equipment and energy audits, as well as installation of computerized control systems and replacement of aging equipment, in order to produce energy savings.

Mr. Bradford recommended that the Board approve the agreement for performance contracting with Johnson Controls, Inc.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the agreement with Johnson Controls, Inc.

-         RESOLUTION – MD. EC. DEV. ASSISTANCE FUND –

Mr. Paul Gilbert, Director of Economic Development, presented a Resolution for a grant application to the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Fund in the amount of $140,397.94.  He advised that this is a matching grant which is available to all jurisdictions in Maryland for additional capitalization of the Revolving Loan Fund.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Resolution.  A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.

-         RESOLUTION – BAINBRIDGE NAVAL TRAINING CTR. –

Mr. Paul Gilbert presented a Resolution pertaining to acceptance of a grant from the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund in connection with the development of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center in the amount of $33,561.  He advised that the funds will be used to partially fund a study of the water and wastewater systems in the Town of Port Deposit, partially fund the field location and analysis of the existing main withdraw and discharge pipes serving the Bainbridge property, and partially fund a facilities study and development of an RFP in connection with making improvements to Memorial Hall and the Headmaster’s House at the former Tome School.

Mr. Gilbert advised that the Town of Port Deposit will commit $10,000 to the water and wastewater systems feasibility studies, which will be a part of the required 30% local matching funds, and the Office of Economic Development will provide the $4,384 balance in matching funds from its FY 2001 budget.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Resolution.  A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.

-         TAX INCREMENT FINANCING – PERRYVILLE INDUSTRIAL RD. –

Mr. Paul Gilbert gave a presentation on tax increment financing for the Perryville Industrial Road which is incorporated as a part of these minutes.

Ms. Cheryl Guth, bond counsel, presented a Resolution which would create the Perryville/Cecil County Industrial Development District No. One and establish a special fund with respect to the Development District.  She advised that there are two other properties that will benefit by this road and could have additional development.

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the Resolution.  A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.

-         DEED – WHEATLEY RD. BR. –

Mr. Fred Orr, Deputy Director of Public Works, presented a Deed between Donald H. Wolfe and Nancy M. Wolfe (deceased) pertaining to property adjacent to the Wheatley Road Bridge.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Deed.

-         Public Wks. Agreement –  Timberbrook  –

Mr. Fred Orr presented a Public Works Agreement for a sanitary sewer system between this Board and Zack, LLC pertaining to Section 2, Phases 5 & 6, of Timberbrook.

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the Public Works Agreement.

-         Easement Agreement – Timberbrook –

Mr. Fred Orr presented an Easement Agreement between this Board and Zack, LLC wherein the developer reserves the right for the County to operate and maintain the sanitary sewer system.

Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the Easement Agreement.

-         BUDGET AMENDMENT NOS. 71 & 72 –

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve Budget Amendment Nos. 71 and 72.  Copies of the Budget Amendments are incorporated as a part of these minutes.

Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to adjourn.

Alfred C. Wein, Jr.
County Administrator

APPROVED:
Nelson K. Bolender, President