Wicomico County, MD
Council Minutes
July 18, 2006
The Wicomico County Council met in Executive Session on
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., Council Chambers,
President Sarbanes brought the meeting to order calling for a motion to approve the Minutes of July 5, 2006. On motion made by Mrs. Bartkovich, seconded by Mrs. Prettyman and unanimously carried, the Minutes of July 5, 2006 were approved as corrected.
ADMINISTRATIVE
DIRECTOR
Theodore E. Shea, II, submitted the following items of business:
Board of Education - Budget Transfers
Charles Bounds, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services was present. Mr. Shea reported a request to make year-end transfers between categories of the Board’s approved Annual Budget in the amount of $45,000, for the month of June. The request received approval of the Board at its regular meeting on July 11, 2006. Upon motion made by Mr. Long, seconded by Mr. Dashiell and unanimously carried, Council approved the request. For information, Mr. Shea reported the Board gave its approval to make year-end transfers of funds within major categories of its Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 during the month of June, in the amount of $111,988; transfers within major categories do not require Council approval. Mrs. Prettyman asked for a year-end budget balance, to which Mr. Bounds responded, would be available with the Board’s audit; which he anticipates receiving by the next meeting.
State’s Attorney’s Office - Request for Position
Wayne Lowe, Victim/Witness Coordinator, appeared before Council on behalf of State’s Attorney Davis Ruark, to request the creation of a Legal Office Associate II, position, Grade 16, $28,000; which Mr. Ruark indicates is below mid-range. Mr. Lowe told Council that while five new attorneys were added over the past five years, clerical staff support was not. Mr. Shea recalled discussion of the position during budget deliberations however Human Resources (H.R.) had not evaluated the position. H. R. Director Michael Thompson suggests if Council agrees to create the position, a Grade 16 without a salary, but with the salary range should be used. Mrs. Prettyman made a motion to accept the recommendation. Mr. Taylor seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried.
Bad Check Program
Mr. Lowe was pleased to report the success of the Bad Check Program, established through the Office of the State’s Attorney. The program benefits the public and private communities.
Homeowners’ Tax Credit Application
Delegate Norman Conway has forwarded a copy of the new Homeowners’ Tax Credit Application. Salient changes include an increase for eligible assessment from $150,000 to $300,000, and revised net worth requirements that excludes individual retirement accounts and qualified retirement savings plans. More detail and the application are available at the State Office of Assessments and Taxation.
Statement
of Latest Investment Rates/Balances for all
Ms. Petersen submitted the Financial Report. Total General Fund balance, $580,856, Capital Project Fund balance, $49,403,611; Total Major Non-designated Funds, $75,421,392; and Total Reserve Funds of $16,684,722.
Highlights of Significant Financial Transactions
Ms. Petersen reviewed the referenced report citing year-to-date figures for collected and uncollected taxes, investment interest, recordation tax revenue and enterprise account revenues through June 30, 2006.
Permit to Operate
Upon motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mrs. Bartkovich and unanimously carried, Council granted the following permits for the period ending May 30, 2007, unless revoked sooner. Applicants have met requirements, including payment of taxes.
Sharda, Inc., t/a Budget Inn, Arvind M. Patel, Owner, 1804 N. Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury, Maryland and, Krenna, Inc., t/a Chesapeake Inn, Chirag K. Patel, Owner, 712 N. Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury, Maryland.
Contractors Expenditure for Code Enforcement
Ms. Petersen requested permission to pay J & J Lawn Care $375
for work at lots
Grass Cutting Bills
In accordance to
an agreement that the Director of Finance be authorized to make payments for grass cutting up to $250 without Council
approval, Ms. Petersen reported payments to contractors for grass cutting: $225
for service at 31597 Largo Terrace; $125 for service at
Capital
Incentive Sinking Fund
Ms. Petersen reported Delmar Fire Department, Inc. has applied for the entire amount of its Capital Incentive Sinking Fund, $155,000. The request indicates Delmar wishes to purchase a fire engine, ambulance, excursion command unit and pickup utility truck and, accompanying the request is certification of funds by their bank. Upon motion made by Mrs. Prettyman, seconded by Mr. Dodd and unanimously carried, Council granted the request.
Ms. Petersen reported Powellville Fire Department, Inc. has applied for its proportionate share of the Capital Incentive Sinking Fund, $83,000. The request indicates Powellville wishes to purchase self contained breathing apparatus and a brush truck. Accompanying the request is certification of funds. Upon motion made by Mr. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Dashiell and unanimously carried, Council granted the request.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS, ROADS, SOLID WASTE
P.
Mrs. Prettyman wished to thank Mr. Sharma and Bruce Kelly, Roads
Superintendent, for participating in the community meeting she organized to
inform residents and hear concerns regarding
Fox Meadows
Subdivision, Section 2,
Applicant: CNA, Inc., Owner: Gemcraft Homes
Mr. Sharma advised the preliminary
approval time has expired on the above subdivision therefore, the subdivision
is resubmitted. All conditions remain the same and he recommends forwarding the
subdivision to the Planning Commission. Upon Mrs. Prettyman’s inquiry, the
Update: Public Works Projects
Coulbourn Mill Dam: The permit has been
received from the State; the project will be advertised with bids due on August
10th. Mr. Sharma is hopeful that bids would be returned within the
$400,000 budget range. He will come back to Council with bid results and recommendation for award.
Railroad Crossing Improvements at
Public Works Miscellaneous
Environmental Trust: Mr. Sharma reported he recently attended a
meeting to discuss the technical aspects of package treatment plants in
Villas at Avalon: Referring to recent heavy and continuous
rains, Mr. Dodd reported calls from residents concerned that gates were not
open and flooding could occur. He asked if the department inspects the dam
during these times. Mr. Sharma said his department watches the levels of the
ponds and open the gates accordingly.
Recycling: Mr. Dodd shared that he attended a meeting
recently where Wicomico County’s recycling efforts were compared to those of
Ocean City and Worcester County, where it was stated Wicomico County was not
doing enough, though he was certain the county was. Mr. Sharma responded the difference is that
DIRECTOR
OF PURCHASING
Frederick Harris, Purchasing Agent,
submitted the following item of business:
CASA Program
At its last meeting, Carolyn Cordial and Teresa Fields,
Youth and Family Counseling Services, Inc., Lower Shore CASA and Wendy Riley,
Circuit Court, provided a power point presentation for the CASA Program,
designed to provide advocates for physically and sexually abused children. Council was advised that, due to a financial
shortfall, the program is able to serve only a small percentage of children in
Wicomico and
As a Council representative to the
SBC, Mrs. Bartkovich wished to hear Council’s thoughts on inviting the City of
Salisbury (as a non-voting member and for information purposes) to attend
meetings regarding discussion on the new Bennett High School, basically the
impact to College Avenue and Onley Road; bus traffic, signalization and turning
lanes, since the road is both City and County.
While acknowledging the meeting is open to the public, she noted the
public does not usually attend. Mr. Long, who also represents the Council and
is retired from the County, was instrumental in establishing rules and
responsibilities for the Commission. He explained, the SBC reviews construction
documents and plans for school construction and makes recommendation to the
Board of Education relative to the projects. The Commission was designed with
two representatives from the County and two from the Board of Education, joined
by other technical resource from within the County. Since the meeting is open
the City of
House Bill 1141
Mr. Lenox began the review of
House Bill 1141 (scheduled for the
afternoon work session) in Executive Session however, due to its length Council
choose to continue the discussion in the open work session. Mr. Lenox briefed Council on those items to be
discussed. In addition to responsible planning, legislators have directed that
cities, towns and the County include in their planning, details specific to
issues of growth, growth management and monitoring, water resources, collection
of impact fees, (collections since the June 5th inception total
$109,851) and elements in the Comprehensive Plan that were not previously
highlighted. Mrs. Prettyman asked for discussion of the
EDGAR A. BAKER, JR.,
Mr. Baker requested a motion to convene in Legislative Session, which was provided by Mrs. Bartkovich, seconded by Mr. Taylor and unanimously carried. Bill No. 2006-6: AN ACT to amend Chapter 117, titled “Building Construction,” to create Article II entitled “Public Safety Radio Amplification Systems,” sections 117-8 through 117-14, requiring certain buildings or structures located within the County to support a required level of radio coverage for the protection of emergency services personnel and for the welfare of the citizens of Wicomico County. Bill No. 2006-8: AN ACT to amend Chapter 133, titled “Dogs and Other Animals,” Section 133-6, titled “Potentially Dangerous Dog,” and Section 133-7, titled “Dangerous Dog,” to establish time limits within which Owners must comply with the requirements set forth in the Code. Legislative Minutes are not a part of the Executive Session but are part of the Official Record.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS, ROADS, SOLID WASTE
P.
Public Hearing
Deputy Director John R. Redden conducted
a public hearing to hear public comments regarding a proposed amendment to the
Wicomico County Water and Sewer Plan to allow the inclusion of a property. This
property is part of the Rowan’s Mill development and will allow twelve
additional residential units to be constructed.
It will be served by public water and sewer from the City of
Public and Council Comments: There were no comments. Upon motion made by Mr. Long, seconded by Mr. Dashiell and duly carried; Mrs. Bartkovich recused herself from discussion and the vote due to a conflict of interest, the amendment was approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Karen Basile, resident, called attention to 2005 survey
statistics regarding the problems and demands of growth in
Dr. Augustine DiGovanna, resident, asked if all public schools in municipalities were County schools, to which the Council responded were County schools. Referring to the Village Down River Condominium project he wished to know why a traffic study was not conducted. Mr. Sharma responded the question should be posed to the Planning Commission, not the County Council. Also, he wished to compliment the Planning Department on plans to upgrade the system of data gathering and monitoring and influencing growth and development.
Mr. Dashiell moved
to adjourn Executive Session and to conduct an open work session to continue
discussion on House Bill 1141. The
motion was seconded by Mrs. Bartkovich and unanimously carried.
There being no
further business to come before the Council in Executive Session, 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
July 18, 2006