The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County met in regular session in their office at 107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, on Tuesday, October 1, 2002. 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 10:00 a.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
- MINUTES – SEPT. 17, 24, & 25, 2002 –
The minutes of September 17, 24, and 25, 2002, were approved as presented.
- COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS –
Commissioner Kilby reported that September 29 was National Farm Day, and she attended the tour at the Rumbleway Farm.
Also, on September 29 she attended the 150th anniversary celebration at the Janes Methodist Church.
Commissioner Kilby stated she attended the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway annual auction and banquet at the Donaldson Brown Center.
She advised that a music festival was held at Fletchwood on September 28.
President Bolender reported that the Board took a tour of IKEA.
He attended the North East Fall Festival.
- PROCLAMATION – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH –
The Board proclaimed the month of October, 2002, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Ms. Karen Dunne, Administrator of the Domestic Violence Program, described the activities that will be held throughout the month.
- MALPF – CERTIFICATION ANNUAL REPORT –
Mr. Eric Sennstrom, Director of Planning and Zoning, presented the MALPF Certification Annual Report for FY2002. He explained that the report must be filed with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Department of Planning in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland. Relative to finances that the County has dedicated to agricultural Preservation in the County, Mr. Sennstrom advised that the County can retain 75% of the agricultural transfer tax. Also, funding is received from the Federal Farmland Protection Program.
Also contained in the report is a summary of 2002 agricultural preservation districts that were approved, as well as easement offers that were made. There is also an overview of activities that the County is engaged in to promote agricultural preservation in the County, as well as a summary of agricultural preservation activity versus converted acreage over the last ten years. Mr. Sennstrom advised that 10,559 acres have been preserved, and 9,334 have been converted. Building lots were approved for 58%.
Also listed in the report are strategies that the County is pursuing to further the efforts to protect the agricultural economy of the County.
Mr. Sennstrom stated also included is a schedule of upcoming dates for certification and other activities that need to be followed into 2003 and 2004.
He advised that there are almost 16,000 acres in protected lands. Almost 24,000 acres are involved in some stage of preservation, and 23% of the County’s total land is involved in agriculture. Included in the report is a total list of properties involved in the Agricultural Preservation Program in the County.
- PROCLAMATION – NATIONAL 4-H WK. –
The Board proclaimed October 6-12, 2002, as 4-H Week in the County.
- HALLOWEEN OBSERVANCE –
President Bolender announced that Halloween will be observed on October 31 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
- PUBLIC COMMENT –
Mrs. Rebecca Demmler expressed concern about notification for Commissioner meetings.
- PERSONNEL ITEMS –
Ms. Donna Nichols, Director of Human Resources, presented the personnel items. Upon recommendation by Ms. Nichols, motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to accept the retirement of Christine A. Main, Deputy Clerk, County Administrator’s Office, effective November 1, 2002.
Upon recommendation by Ms. Nichols, motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the following appointments:
Pamela L. McCoy, part-time Office Services Assistant, Information Systems, at $9.21/hour (Grade 3);
Larry Austin, Laborer (Bridge Crew), Roads Division, $9.21/hour (Grade 3) – Must obtain CDL within six-month probationary period;
Nelson George, Equipment Operator I, Central Area Roads Division, $10.46/hour (Grade 4);
Harold Ireson, Equipment Operator II, Central Area Roads Division, $14.00/hour (Grade 5).
Upon recommendation by Ms. Nichols, motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to approve the following promotions/transfers/reclassifications:
Transfer Pamela W. Castell from Accounting Office to Human Resources Department as Office Services Specialist, effective October 15, 2002, same hourly rate and grade of $12.48 (Grade 5).
Promote Rita A. Cornell from Office Services Assistant at $9.67 to Office Services Specialist at $11.71, effective October 7, 2002.
Reclassify Douglas R. Willis, III, Equipment Operator Trainee at $9.77 (Grade 3) to Sign Maintenance Technician at $10.46 (Grade 4), effective September 21, 2002.
Increase Raymond S. Ruyter, Water & Wastewater Operator Trainee, from $11.71 to $12.06, effective September 7, 2002, as a result of attaining his CDL.
- ORDINANCE – CHAPTER 221 – CECIL CO. CODE –
Mr. Pat Conway, Director of Permits and Inspections, and Mr. Rob Flayhart, HVAC Inspector, presented an Ordinance adding a new Section 221-11 to Chapter 221 of the Cecil County Code adopting the 2000 edition of the International Mechanical Code and repealing the 1996 BOCA Mechanical Code.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to adopt the Ordinance. A copy is incorporated as a part of these minutes.
- BID – EMS CHASSIS – EMERGENCY SERVICES –
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to award the bid for a chassis for Emergency Services to Advantage Ford for the sum of $35,956.00.
- BID – ROAD SALT –
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to award the bid for road salt for the Department of Public Works, Roads Division, to Eastern Salt Company, Inc. for the sum of $255,920. (annual usage – 8,000 tons.)
- BID – REHABILITATION OF BLUE BALL RD. BR. –
Mr. Matt Carter, Director of Public Works, recommended that the bid for the rehabilitation of the Blue Ball Road Bridge be awarded to JJID, Inc. for the sum of $148,473.95.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hepbron, seconded by Commissioner Kilby, and unanimously carried to award the bid to JJID, Inc.
- BID – REPLACEMENT OF KIRKS MILL LANE BR. –
Mr. Matt Carter recommended that the bid for the replacement of the Kirks Mill Lane Bridge be awarded to JJID, Inc. for the sum of $329,068.25.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to award the bid to JJID, Inc.
- BUDGET AMENDMENT NOS. 37-42 –
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve Budget Amendment Nos. 37-42. Copies are incorporated as a part of these minutes.
Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to adjourn.