Wicomico County, MD
Council Minutes
May 17, 2005
The Wicomico County Council met in Executive Session on
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers,
Larry W. Dodd.
President Sarbanes called the meeting to order and recognized newly elected Willards Council member, Keith Twilley.
The following proclamations were presented:
NATIONAL DAY OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN WICOMICO –
presented to Mary Ashanti, President, NAACP for
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK IN
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN
Minutes: On motion by Mrs. Bartkovich, seconded by Mr. Taylor and unanimously carried, Council accepted the Minutes of May 3, 2005 as written.
Theodore E. Shea, Administrative Director, presented the following items of business.
Pemberton Drive- Schneider Property Proposed Annexation: In accordance with Article 23A, Section 19 of
the Maryland Code, the City of
a copy of the services and
facilities necessary to serve the proposed annexation. Mrs. Bartkovich
reiterated her request for information regarding the City of
Notice is received in accordance with Article 23A, Section
19 of the Maryland Code, that the Town of
Present
were Charles Bounds, Assistant
Superintendent for Administrative Services, Tom Field, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction, E. Bruce Ford, Comptroller,
and Dr. Carolyn Elmore, Director
of Curriculum and Staff Development.
The Board of Education gave its approval to make transfers of funds between major categories of its approved Annual Budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the month of May, in the amount of $147,690, contingent upon Council approval.
The Board also transferred funds within the major categories of its Annual Budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the month of May, in the amount of $62,681. Council action is not required to transfer within categories.
In accordance to a gentlemen’s agreement to make transfers between categories under $1,000, the Board reported transfers for the month of May in the amount of $14,485. No action is required.
On motion made by Mr. Long, seconded by Mr. Dodd and unanimously carried, Council approved the requests.
The Board, at its regular meeting on May 10th
approved seeking Council approval to designate $300,000 of its anticipated
Unreserved Fund balance as of June 30, 2005, for future costs associated with
the joint Financial Management and Reporting Software System acquisition
between the Board of Education and
President Sarbanes announced that at the end of the current school year Dr. Carolyn Elmore will retire from the Board of Education after more than thirty years of service.
Check Presentation
Mark Bowen, Clerk of Court, Karen Lemon, Registrar of Wills and Wendy Riley, Court Administrator came before Council. Mr. Bowen wished to present a check (grant funds) in the amount of $42,300 to renovate the doors of the Old Court House. He expressed thanks to the State and County for their continuing support.
Wicomico Youth and Civic Center- Enterprise Fund
Designation
Gary Mackes, Director, Michael
Delano and Ed Urban, Advisory Board members wished to address Council. Messrs.
Delano and Urban recalled recommendation by the County’s Director of Finance
that the
On motion made by Mr. Long, seconded by Mrs. Prettyman and unanimously carried, Council set the date of June 7, 2005 to adopt the Operating Budget.
Statement
of Latest Investment Rates/Balances for all
Patricia Petersen, Director, submitted the Financial Report. Total General Fund balance, $556,982, Capital Project Fund balance, $31,976,670; Total Major Non-designated Funds, $52,376,270; and Total Reserve Funds of $6,178,451.
Mrs. Petersen requested payment to Conectiv
for electrical service at the D.R.I.L.L., in the amount of $783.14 and payment
to the City of
Sharptown has submitted a request for its proportionate share of the Capital Incentive Sinking Fund, in the amount of $16,000. Accompanying the request is bank certification that matching funds are available. On motion made by Mrs. Prettyman, seconded by Mr. Dashiell and unanimously carried, Council approved.
Mrs.
Petersen reminded Council of the State audit conducted on the Fire, Rescue and
Ambulance Fund. Correspondence to
volunteer fire departments requested information relating to fiscal year 2004
fund disbursements in fiscal year 2005, for facilities, apparatus and capital
equipment. Funds to be encumbered for a specific permitted purpose are to be
accompanied by bank certification. Two
of the four departments being audited by the State have not complied; City of
Financial
Management
On
motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Long and unanimously carried,
Council approved payment to ACI in the amount of $11,866.25.
Manufacturing
Tax Exemptions
Mrs.
Bartkovich asked whether the State would have to legislate authority to have manufacturing taxes included on
the County’s tax rolls. Mr. Baker will research and respond.
Highlights of Significant
Financial Transactions
Mr. Ellis reviewed the referenced report citing year-to-date figures for collected and uncollected taxes, investment interest, recordation tax revenue and enterprise account revenues through April 30, 2005.
Mrs. Prettyman
questioned some of the items in the Drill Academy Budget. Mrs. Petersen explained that Council had a
choice. They could budget it as an
expense, in which case the move over would flow through the financial
statements, or not budget it, in which case it would be a hit to the Rainy Day
Fund. By budgeting it, it is a current
year expense - not budgeting it would mean the Rainy
Day fund would have to be replenished in the next fiscal year. In either case, the impact is the same - the
move is estimated to cost the General Fund a little over $1.1 Million.
Edgar A. Baker, Jr.,
Planning, Zoning and Community Development
NOTICE
OF PUBLIC HEARING was given that the County Council would receive input from the public on the
County’s proposed participation in the State Fiscal Year 2006 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
Mrs. Kamp explained that the competitive round
of funding was opened in March and applications were due by May 23, 2005. There is approximately $5.8 Million Dollars
available this round and the Department of Planning, Zoning and Community
Development would like the County to consider its Housing Rehabilitation
Program in the amount of $450,000; $400,000 toward rehabilitation and
construction, $30,000 for project administration, $10,000 Coastal Counties
Community Housing Resource Board and $10,000 allocation for relocation
costs. It is estimated that this level
of funding will assist approximately 38 beneficiaries. In addition, the Council is asked to consider
hiring a consultant to perform a housing conditions study to identify the
number and exact locations of all substandard housing in the County, to better
administer the housing rehabilitation program and target funding to the most
distressed areas of the County. The
approximate cost is $25,000, included in the housing rehabilitation
application.
Public
Comments: There were no public comments.
Council
Comments: Mrs. Kamp
affirmed the question of Mrs. Bartkovich that
municipalities, with the exception of the City of
On
motion made by Mr. Dodd, seconded by Mrs. Prettyman
and unanimously carried, Council adopted Resolution No. 593 for the County’s
proposed participation in the State Fiscal Year 2006 Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) Program
and, the hiring of a consultant to perform a housing conditions study
P.
RAI SHARMA, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
A Public Hearing was held for the purpose of amending the Wicomico
County Water and Sewer Plan, to allow inclusion of two commercial developments
and one residential development.
Mr.
Sharma advised that the department has received a letter from the City of
Public
Comments: There were no public comments.
County
Council: Mr. Dashiell
recalled part of the process was to involve the developers and is pleased this
is taking place. Mr. Sharma confirmed
developers are being involved either from the sketch plat or preliminary plat
stages. Mrs. Prettyman asked if the Westside Manor
had received an estimated sewer and water usage, to which Mr. Sharma responded
they were granted 82 EDUs. Mr. Taylor asked the direction of the border
and sewer lines either from
Roads
Taken Into
The
following roads were taken into the County’s Roads System for maintenance. All
roads have met County standards:
Request
to Post Construction Bond
Robert
Messick, developer, request permission to post a bond
in the amount of $326,000 to make improvements in Steeple Chase, Section 6,
Subdivision’s streets, curb and gutter and drainage system. Mr. Sharma recommends approval to allow the
developer to record the plat, obtain building permits or sell the lot (s); the developer cannot obtain
occupancy permits until the improvements are complete and accepted by the
Public Works Department. On motion made
by Mrs. Prettyman, seconded by Mr. Taylor and
unanimously carried, Council approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mrs. Pretttyman requested and Council concurred that future Closed Sessions would be at the end of the Council Agenda.
There being no further business to come before the County 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
Executive Session May 17, 2005