Wicomico County,
MD
Council Minutes
January 21, 2003
The
County Council of Wicomico County, Maryland met in regular session on
President
Sarbanes brought the meeting to order calling for additions or corrections to
the Minutes of the meeting of
Council
member Taylor presented the following Proclamation:
PROCLAMATION
OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF
Whereas,
mentoring has been
long recognized as an effective means to establish and maintain positive
relationships between youth and adults; and
Whereas, mentors, in formal
mentoring programs may, over time, provide nurturing and supportive adult
relationships and role models that many of today’s youth lack; and
Whereas, mentoring is an effective
means to assist at-risk youth and an estimated 25% of
Whereas,
formal mentoring
programs may be found in various forms and settings within educational,
business, faith-based and other communities, as well as in social agencies,
service organizations and the private, non-profit sector; and
Whereas,
research confirms
that formal mentoring programs, utilizing the guidance, experience, commitment
and support of caring adults, provide opportunities for mentored youth to
develop life-long positive approaches to community responsibility and
citizenship; and
Whereas, the mentoring programs
within Wicomico County, in concert with their State and National mentoring
partners observe National Mentoring Month each January to emphasize the
importance and benefits of mentoring and to provide appropriate recognition to
those community organizations and individuals involved in the mentoring process;
NOW,
THEREFORE, WE THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND do
hereby proclaim January 2003 as National Mentoring Month.
Council member Bartkovich presented
the following Resolution:
A RESOLUTION
OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF
WHEREAS, P. Rai Sharma, P.E., has served Wicomico County
faithfully and dutifully since 1973 and as its Director of Public Works since
1987, overseeing a myriad of operations essential to maintaining this County’s
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sharma has lent his leadership, as its
president, to the County Engineers Association of Maryland, the statewide
association comprising nearly 600 county, municipal and consulting engineers,
public works personnel, contractors and suppliers; and
WHEREAS, the Maryland Association of Counties, at its annual
winter conference this year recognized Mr. Sharma for his year of service
leading the County Engineers Association of Maryland as its president, and in
so doing acknowledged at the highest levels of the state level his leadership
and his work with the technical issues that all counties face; and
WHEREAS, such recognition not only bestows honor upon him,
but also for the staff who supports him and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it
resolved by the County Council of Wicomico County, Maryland, that P. RAI SHARMA, P.E. be, and hereby is,
recognized for his accomplishments, for the honor he has brought Wicomico
County, and for his continuing efforts with the County Engineers Association of
Maryland as its immediate past president to make state legislators aware of the
financial needs of small venues such as ours; and we call upon all the citizens
of a grateful County to join us in showing our appreciation for all that he
does in our service and on our behalf.
The
Administrative Director Theodore E. Shea, II, informed Council of discussion
with Skip Jones, Wicomico County Gypsy Moth Committee, who advised that gypsy
moth egg mass surveys for Wicomico County are complete and reports are
forthcoming.
The Salisbury Junior Chamber of Commerce requests
financial assistance from
Jolley Memorial Chapel requests assistance in the
indigent burial of Norma T. Jones, a
TRANSFER TO TRANSFER
FROM
001-111-510.00-070 001-111-570.00-033
Council Dept Expense
Contingency
E.
Bruce Ford, Comptroller, Board of Education, submitted a request for transfers
of funds within major categories of its FY 2002-03 Annual Budget for the month
of January, in the amount of $3,320. Upon motion made by Mr. Long, seconded by
Mr. Taylor, and unanimously carried, Council granted approval. Council also
concurred in transfers of funds under $l,000 between
categories in the amount of $169.
Mr. Ford solicited Council approval to recognize
unanticipated state aid in the amount of $184,000 for nonpublic placements; the
result of unanticipated increase in costs for special education placements and,
to appropriate the revenue to its general fund expenditures budget for FY
2002-2003 in the category of Special Education. Mr. Ford explained the
recognition of these funds affords payment of obligated expenditures in
accordance with State approval for the placements. Upon motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by
Mr. Long, and unanimously carried, Council granted approval for the utilization
of these funds as requested.
Mrs. Bartkovich thanked the Board for sending the Mardela
High School Marching Band to
Mr. Shea reported a request from the Wicomico County
Library, accompanied by recommendation from the Director of Human Resources, to
include the employees of the Library in the County’s Employee Assistance
Program. He advised that most treatment
costs are paid by the health insurance plan in which the Library participates
and, that the library would bare all costs associated with its
participation. Upon motion made by Mr.
Long, seconded by Mr. Dashiell, and unanimously carried, Council agreed that
employees of the Wicomico County Library are eligible to participate in the
County’s Employee Assistance Program.
Mrs.
Petersen submitted the Statement of Latest Investment Rates/Balances for All
County Funds as of January 21, 2003, which reflects a total General Fund
balance of $257,833; Capital Project Fund balance of $34,391,043. Total Major
Non-Designated
P. Rai Sharma, Director of Public Works, submitted a
request to reduce speed on a portion of
Mr. Sharma advised that members of the Church of the Latter Day
Saints on
Mr. Sharma announced the following streets in Nutters
Crossing Subdivision are ready to be taken into the County Roads System for
maintenance:
Mr. Sharma provided information and costs for the most
recent snowfall. He also reported the collection of fees is on target for his
department; building permits, subdivision review fees and fire safety review
fees.
The County Attorney Edgar A. Baker, Jr., submitted a
status report on
Mr.
Baker recalled, historically the Wicomico County Council has held three
Legislation Sessions each year, February, June and October. A charter revision
provides for legislative sessions during regular County Council meetings plus,
two additional (special) meetings per month. Given the requirements for
advertising, Mr. Baker proposes Council conduct a legislative session during
the first meeting in February. While all
items may not be ready for introduction, Mr. Baker noted Council’s interest for
the following: the extension of the moratorium on housing, technical changes to
Forest Conservation Act, Amendment to Critical Area Map, street closing
procedures for future street extensions, reimbursement for costs associated
with enforcement of State mandates, establishment of time frames for petitions,
minor technical legislation as submitted by County departments.
The Director of Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Civic
Center came before Council, together with Denny Bowers, David Grier, and John
Terrell, who served on a committee to construct a Memorial to recognize
servicemen and women who gave their lives while serving in the uniform of
United States during armed conflict, and whose home of record is Wicomico
County. A groundbreaking ceremony is
scheduled for January 22nd . The committee is in hopes that the wall will
be constructed in time to honor these heroes on Memorial Day. Mr. Bowers
reported that more than $100,000 has been pledged,$45,000
has been received in cash donations, and thousands of dollars contributed in
in-kind service. He encouraged the
continuance of donations to help defray general maintenance and costs
associated with replacing flags. Council members were given the brochure,
Wicomico County War, “Lest We Forget”.
The Committee expressed appreciation for Council and County staff
support. Council thanked the Committee for embracing this project and expressed
that the Wicomico Youth and
Mr. Mackes recalled that Council approved the sale of the
Mr. Mackes gave Council a brief update on waterway
projects:
Funding: financial support is received from State and
Federal sources. Through State resources the excise tax on new and used boats,
in addition to registration fees, provides needed public services such as boat
launching facilities, marinas and parking lots. In addition, the department’s
Operating Budget receives a State grant for inland waterways to defray costs
for portable toilets and trash collection.
Riverside Boat Ramp: renovations completed.
Joined by staff John Terrell, Charles Rousseau,
Allen Gravenor, Dawn Adams, Robin Welsh and I.T. Director Ray Micciche, Mr. Mackes
submitted a proposal for automated ticket sales. Calling attention to numerous complaints
associated with a recent concert and systems currently in use by other venues,
it was agreed the ticketing system was outdated and unable to meet high volume
sales, particularly phone order and Internet customers. In the fall of 2002
Council approved an appropriation from the Department of Recreation and Parks
enterprise escrow to purchase a computerized system. A committee, including staff from the
County's Information Technology Systems department was formed to develop a
Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain a vendor.
Eight proposals were received and evaluated. The committee recommends award to
Tix.com. Discussion ensued with an
explanation of service requirements and technological expectations. Mr. Mackes explained Tix.com is an
established vendor meeting all requirements of the RFP, provides lower than
average ticket fees, adds $1 to the current $2 convenience fee on a ticket
purchase, does not require long-term commitment, low startup cost - to be
borrowed from, and reimbursed to, the Enterprise Account, affords customers of
the Internet the ability to know where they will sit when the ticket is
purchased on line. He concluded the
automated system would allow the
The Administrative Director reminded Council of the
Capital Improvements Public Hearing this date,
There
being no further business to come before the Council the meeting was adjourned.
____________________________________
Anthony
Sarbanes, President
____________________________________
Charles
R. Dashiell, Jr., Vice President
____________________________________
Edward T.
Taylor, District 1
____________________________________
Stevie
Prettyman, District 2
____________________________________
Gail M.
Bartkovich, District 3
____________________________________
Marvin
R. Long, District 4
____________________________________
Larry W.
Dodd, District 5
__________________________________
Theodore E. Shea, II
Administrative Director