Cecil County
Home MenuNovember 9, 2010
Board of County Commissioners
Worksession Minutes
November 9, 2010
PRESENT: Commissioners Lockhart, Demmler, Mullin, Tome, and Hodge; County Administrator Al Wein, Public Works Director Scott Flanigan and staff; Planning and Zoning Director Eric Sennstrom; Economic Development Director Vernon Thompson; Human Resources Director Donna Nichols; Emergency Services Director Richard Brooks; Budget Manager Craig Whiteford; Executive Office Administrator Vicky Rinkerman, County Counsel Norman Wilson; President Robert Gell and Council member Donna Sheets from the Town of Charlestown; members of the press, and members of the public.
OPEN SESSION
9:00 a.m.
Response to Town of Charlestown regarding Trinity Woods sewer
County Administrator Wein provided the Board an update on sewer service provided by the County in the Trinity Woods development in Charlestown.
Director Flanigan stated that the houses in the Trinity Woods development are provided water service from the Town of Charlestown and are provided sewer service through the County. Residents within the development have questioned the sewer service agreement between the county and the town for town residents. The town annexed the Trinity Woods property midway through the development process; however, the county owns the sewer infrastructure and processes the solid waste from the community. The residents in the development are billed at the County rate because their sewer system is connected to the County's sewer collection system, which is not part of the Town's sewer collection system.
Treasurer Howard stated that the residents in Trinity Woods are billed individually for sewer service; whereas, the Town of Charlestown is billed collectively for sewer service through the Treasurer's Office.
Dr. Gell stated that the residents of Trinity Woods are within the Town limits and they feel that they should be billed at the Town sewer rate. Trinity Woods was provided sewer service by the County before the annexation of the property into the Town of Charlestown and the development has never been turned over to the Town.
Director Flanigan stated that the sewer agreement with the Town of Charlestown states that town residents receive a twenty-five percent discount on the County's sewer rate.
Dr. Gell stated that the discount on the County sewer rate was provided to Charlestown residents to offset the cost of bond funding paid by the residents to install the sewer infrastructure through the Town.
Treasurer Howard stated that the billing agreement with Charlestown has been difficult to manage when problems occur with their water and sewer system.
Council member Donna Sheets stated that she lives in the Trinity Woods development and feels that the residents should be billed for sewer service at the same rate as the rest of the Charlestown residents.
Director Flanigan stated that the County owns the sewer infrastructure and provides the sewer service in the Trinity Woods development, and it is not part of the Charlestown sewer system.
The Board concurred to direct Council Wilson to review the information and sewer service agreements with the Town of Charlestown, and forward an opinion at the next worksession meeting.
Charlestown Town Administrator Pumpaly stated that the town officials have been discussing resurfacing several roads in the town with tar and chip. He is finding it difficult to find a company to do this work, and asked if there was a possibility that the County could use their resources to tar and chip several of the streets.
Director Flanigan stated that he feels the County does not have the resources or employees to perform the tar and chip work for the town.
The Board concurred to discuss and consider the request at a later time.
Evening meeting agenda review
County Administrator Wein reviewed the introductory items on the evening agenda.
Director Thompson stated that the Board will consider the resolution to approve a real property tax credit for W. L. Gore and Associates.
Director Flanigan reviewed the deed and bid award on the agenda.
Budget Amendments – Budget Manager Whiteford reviewed the budget amendments.
Discussion ensued regarding the budget amendment request to transfer funding to address drainage issues in the Hacks Point area.
Health Advisory Committee recommendation
Director Nichols stated that the Health Advisory Committee is considering a recommendation to change the co-pay for the employee prescription mail order plan from $50 to $75 for a three-month prescription supply. Open enrollment for the health plan begins in November and will take effect in January 2011. This includes the option for employees to add dependents to their plan up to the age of 26, as per the Federal guidelines. Any rate changes for employees will not take effect until July and the Board will consider the revisions at that time.
Watershed Implementation Plan Advisory Committee - Final approval of letter and committee representation
County Administrator Wein stated that the Board has received a copy of the proposed letter and committee representation, which includes a representative from Artesian.
The Board concurred unanimously to approve the list for committee representation, and authorized the County Administrator to proceed with mailing the letter to the members.
Memorandum of Understanding-Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Senior Services Volunteer Coordinator Krista Gilmore stated that the County has collaborated with Harford County for this grant since 1978. This year the county will receive $100,000 from the grant for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to engage people 55 and older for community volunteer service.
On motion by Commissioner Mullin, second by Commissioner Tome, the Board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding for the RSVP grant with Harford County.
Commissioner Items
Commissioner Hodge stated that he feels the County needs to continue trying to resolve the clean up effort with the Ontario Court property owners in the Lakeside community.
County Administrator Wein stated that a meeting is scheduled with the Town of Perryville relative to the disbursement of revenue from the casino. Director Thompson stated that no slot revenue would be disbursed until the county and town approve a plan and it is reviewed by the Local Development Council members.
Commissioner Tome stated that he provided the Board members with a copy of the property maintenance ordinance for Baltimore County for review. He asked that the Board consider a similar ordinance for Cecil County.
Commissioner Hodge stated that the Animal Control Task Force is finishing their work on the draft ordinance and it will be forwarded to the Board.
County Administrator Wein stated that the proposed revisions to the Ethics Ordinance have been forwarded to the State Ethics Commission for review, and any recommendations from them will be forwarded to the Board as soon as received.
Commissioner Lockhart questioned if the members of the state delegation responsible for disclosing minutes of a Commissioners' closed session without written permission would be reprimanded relative to any closed minutes laws.
Counsel Wilson responded that the delegation was not in violation of any closed minute laws for publically disclosing minutes from a Commissioners' closed session meeting without written permission.
In response to discussion, Budget Manager Whiteford stated that purchase contracts and bid packages are available on line; however, the Purchasing Department requires contractors to register in the event they need to be notified of contract or bid revisions.
President Lockhart requested Counsel Wilson and County Administrator Wein provide a list of pending lawsuits involving the outgoing Commissioners.
CLOSED SESSION
10:00 AM
On motion by Commissioner Demmler, second by Commissioner Mullin, the Board convened in closed session pursuant to the Maryland Annotated Code-State Government 10-508(a) (1) Personnel matters and (13) to comply with specific constitutional statutory or judicially imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding or matter.
The Board convened in closed session.
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Worksession Minutes
November 9, 2010
PRESENT: Commissioners Lockhart, Demmler, Mullin, Tome, and Hodge; County Administrator Al Wein, Public Works Director Scott Flanigan and staff; Planning and Zoning Director Eric Sennstrom; Economic Development Director Vernon Thompson; Human Resources Director Donna Nichols; Emergency Services Director Richard Brooks; Budget Manager Craig Whiteford; Executive Office Administrator Vicky Rinkerman, County Counsel Norman Wilson; President Robert Gell and Council member Donna Sheets from the Town of Charlestown; members of the press, and members of the public.
OPEN SESSION
9:00 a.m.
Response to Town of Charlestown regarding Trinity Woods sewer
County Administrator Wein provided the Board an update on sewer service provided by the County in the Trinity Woods development in Charlestown.
Director Flanigan stated that the houses in the Trinity Woods development are provided water service from the Town of Charlestown and are provided sewer service through the County. Residents within the development have questioned the sewer service agreement between the county and the town for town residents. The town annexed the Trinity Woods property midway through the development process; however, the county owns the sewer infrastructure and processes the solid waste from the community. The residents in the development are billed at the County rate because their sewer system is connected to the County's sewer collection system, which is not part of the Town's sewer collection system.
Treasurer Howard stated that the residents in Trinity Woods are billed individually for sewer service; whereas, the Town of Charlestown is billed collectively for sewer service through the Treasurer's Office.
Dr. Gell stated that the residents of Trinity Woods are within the Town limits and they feel that they should be billed at the Town sewer rate. Trinity Woods was provided sewer service by the County before the annexation of the property into the Town of Charlestown and the development has never been turned over to the Town.
Director Flanigan stated that the sewer agreement with the Town of Charlestown states that town residents receive a twenty-five percent discount on the County's sewer rate.
Dr. Gell stated that the discount on the County sewer rate was provided to Charlestown residents to offset the cost of bond funding paid by the residents to install the sewer infrastructure through the Town.
Treasurer Howard stated that the billing agreement with Charlestown has been difficult to manage when problems occur with their water and sewer system.
Council member Donna Sheets stated that she lives in the Trinity Woods development and feels that the residents should be billed for sewer service at the same rate as the rest of the Charlestown residents.
Director Flanigan stated that the County owns the sewer infrastructure and provides the sewer service in the Trinity Woods development, and it is not part of the Charlestown sewer system.
The Board concurred to direct Council Wilson to review the information and sewer service agreements with the Town of Charlestown, and forward an opinion at the next worksession meeting.
Charlestown Town Administrator Pumpaly stated that the town officials have been discussing resurfacing several roads in the town with tar and chip. He is finding it difficult to find a company to do this work, and asked if there was a possibility that the County could use their resources to tar and chip several of the streets.
Director Flanigan stated that he feels the County does not have the resources or employees to perform the tar and chip work for the town.
The Board concurred to discuss and consider the request at a later time.
Evening meeting agenda review
County Administrator Wein reviewed the introductory items on the evening agenda.
Director Thompson stated that the Board will consider the resolution to approve a real property tax credit for W. L. Gore and Associates.
Director Flanigan reviewed the deed and bid award on the agenda.
Budget Amendments – Budget Manager Whiteford reviewed the budget amendments.
Discussion ensued regarding the budget amendment request to transfer funding to address drainage issues in the Hacks Point area.
Health Advisory Committee recommendation
Director Nichols stated that the Health Advisory Committee is considering a recommendation to change the co-pay for the employee prescription mail order plan from $50 to $75 for a three-month prescription supply. Open enrollment for the health plan begins in November and will take effect in January 2011. This includes the option for employees to add dependents to their plan up to the age of 26, as per the Federal guidelines. Any rate changes for employees will not take effect until July and the Board will consider the revisions at that time.
Watershed Implementation Plan Advisory Committee - Final approval of letter and committee representation
County Administrator Wein stated that the Board has received a copy of the proposed letter and committee representation, which includes a representative from Artesian.
The Board concurred unanimously to approve the list for committee representation, and authorized the County Administrator to proceed with mailing the letter to the members.
Memorandum of Understanding-Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Senior Services Volunteer Coordinator Krista Gilmore stated that the County has collaborated with Harford County for this grant since 1978. This year the county will receive $100,000 from the grant for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to engage people 55 and older for community volunteer service.
On motion by Commissioner Mullin, second by Commissioner Tome, the Board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding for the RSVP grant with Harford County.
Commissioner Items
Commissioner Hodge stated that he feels the County needs to continue trying to resolve the clean up effort with the Ontario Court property owners in the Lakeside community.
County Administrator Wein stated that a meeting is scheduled with the Town of Perryville relative to the disbursement of revenue from the casino. Director Thompson stated that no slot revenue would be disbursed until the county and town approve a plan and it is reviewed by the Local Development Council members.
Commissioner Tome stated that he provided the Board members with a copy of the property maintenance ordinance for Baltimore County for review. He asked that the Board consider a similar ordinance for Cecil County.
Commissioner Hodge stated that the Animal Control Task Force is finishing their work on the draft ordinance and it will be forwarded to the Board.
County Administrator Wein stated that the proposed revisions to the Ethics Ordinance have been forwarded to the State Ethics Commission for review, and any recommendations from them will be forwarded to the Board as soon as received.
Commissioner Lockhart questioned if the members of the state delegation responsible for disclosing minutes of a Commissioners' closed session without written permission would be reprimanded relative to any closed minutes laws.
Counsel Wilson responded that the delegation was not in violation of any closed minute laws for publically disclosing minutes from a Commissioners' closed session meeting without written permission.
In response to discussion, Budget Manager Whiteford stated that purchase contracts and bid packages are available on line; however, the Purchasing Department requires contractors to register in the event they need to be notified of contract or bid revisions.
President Lockhart requested Counsel Wilson and County Administrator Wein provide a list of pending lawsuits involving the outgoing Commissioners.
CLOSED SESSION
10:00 AM
On motion by Commissioner Demmler, second by Commissioner Mullin, the Board convened in closed session pursuant to the Maryland Annotated Code-State Government 10-508(a) (1) Personnel matters and (13) to comply with specific constitutional statutory or judicially imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding or matter.
The Board convened in closed session.
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