July 14th Public Meeting of the Allegany County Commissioners

From the desk of Allegany County News:

At the Allegany County Commissioners meeting today on July 14, 2011. Code Home Rule Bill 3-11 titled Re-codification and Revision of the Public Local Laws,Acts, Ordinances, Resolutions and Bills of Allegany County, Maryland – providing for maintenance of said code, etc. – Attorney William M. Rudd. This portion lasted for at least up to 12 minutes. A Patricia Sweitzer of Flintstone spoke on whether the updated code included provisions for the handicapped, Disabled. Patricia Sweitzer reminded Attorney Rudd that the ordinance must have public notice in the newspaper. Attorney Rudd reminded Patricia Sweitzer that the law already requires public notice in the media before the law takes effect. The commissioners at the end approved the Code Home Rule Bill unamiously.
The Consent agenda listed here As Recommended by the County Administrator

Office of Community Services

Item 2 – Emergency Solutions Grant Application FFY2011 – Authorize the submission of an application totaling $50,000 for the emergency Solutions Grant Program on behalf of HRDC ($39,000) and FCRC ($11,000). Further authorize the President to sign the application.

Item 3 – Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Mod Rehab – Authorize the President to sign two MOU Assignments for the administration of the federally funded Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program to HRDC for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.

Office of the Sheriff

Item 4 – Smooth Operator/DUI/Sobriety Check Point Grant – Authorize the Sheriff’s Office to utilize $11,000 in grant funding through the Maryland Highway Safety Office/SHA for off-duty deputies patrolling state highways and $2,000 for DUI Sobriety check points, and increase budget 1365 to cover the grant. This is a 100% total funded grant.

All items in the consent agenda passed unamiously.

Reports were as followed

County Clerk

 County Administrator

County Attorney

Commissioners’ statements, comments, recognition

The County Administrator had a few words to say. The County Administrator reminded the residents there will be no Work Session and Public Session next week.

The County Commissioners had words to say today. Commissioner Brodie got a call this morning regarding a restriction on the 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle ride that takes place each year since 2002. Commissioner Brodie was busy the entire day to straighten out the problem and was resolved by late afternoon resulting in the problem fixed and will not take place on time. Commissioner Valentine also congratuated Commissioner Brodie for dealing with the problems of today. Commissioner McKay also reminded the people that when the motorcycle ride began in 2002 only 200 motorcyclists started the first ride and this year the motorcyclists are expected to be 1,500 people coming through AlleganyAllegany County, Maryland and Mineral County, West Virginia have 50 tickets each. Mike Wade also noted he sold about all 50 tickets at $30 dollars each. Several Constituents got up to speak including 2 people on the potential new High School that according to LaVale Resident Private Citizen Kevin Shaffer said from sources that the cost of the new School will be about $26 Million. John M Davis the owner of this blog also suggested in his own blog when he picked up the Times-News story on New High School that the High School should be built on the current site. Linda Martin Addressed the commissioners by reading a letter regarding the Board of Education in which her letter will appear on this news blog. Commissioner Mike McKay has also invited the General Public to Allegany College on Wednesday July 20 from 4PM to 6PM in the Continuing Education Building romms 18,19,and 20 regarding all the Municipalities Financial problems for the last few years and the commission he has proclaimed is to find a better way regarding better services for everyone. Commissioner McKay also announced that Former Cumberland Mayor Lee Fiedler has agreed to facilitate the meeting. Anyways the next Work Session will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 5:00 PM and the Next Public Session will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 5:00 PM.

Study says to build new High School

From the Cumberland Times-News

Study: Build new Allegany High

Architectural firm recommends renovations for Washington, Braddock middle schools

Kristin Harty BarkleyCumberland Times-NewsThe Cumberland Times-NewsTue Jul 12, 2011, 11:26 PM EDT

CRESAPTOWN — The local cost to build a new Allegany High School could be anywhere from $9 million to $16 million, according to a feasibility study made public Tuesday before the Allegany County Board of Education.

In a much-anticipated recommendation, Grimm & Parker Architects say that the current Allegany High School, built in 1925, is not salvageable as a modern school. Officials here should build a new high school — at a new location, the firm recommends.

“We do recommend that a new high school gets built off site,” a representative of the Calverton firm told board members at their Tuesday night work session. “I think that’s the only way to really create for you a modern educational facility that this county and the students do deserve.”

A team of engineers and architects from Grimm & Parker have been working for months to come up with recommendations for how Allegany County should proceed with plans to renovate or rebuild three city schools — Allegany High, Washington Middle School and Braddock Middle School.

The firm recommends that Braddock and Washington be renovated, with modernizations and additions, with estimated local costs ranging from $5 million to about $10 million. Per a current state funding formula, the state would pay 93 percent of costs of construction, while the county would pay 7 percent.

Board members listened to a 45-minute report on the feasibility study Tuesday, but no vote is expected until August or September, President Mike Llewellyn said.

In the meantime, the board hopes to gain the support of Allegany County commissioners, who previously balked at placing the school construction projects on their Capital Improvements Project list, saying the county couldn’t afford them. An earlier estimate of $43 million for all three projects was premature and inflated, school board members have said.

Commissioners have indicated they would reconsider placing the projects on the list after cost estimates from the feasibility study became available.

In the report presented Tuesday night, Grimm and Parker indicated that although Allegany High School is structurally sound, its exterior needs major repairs, and all of its systems — electrical, plumbing and mechanical — need to be replaced.

But the main obstacle to renovating the school is its discombobulated configuration — a result of several additions and renovations over the years — which makes 21st-century teaching and learning difficult.

If the BOE isn’t able to find a site for a new school, the firm recommends that a new school be built at the current site, with several configurations possible. A number of design schemes and renovation options were provided for the middle schools, as well.

If the board is able to secure a site for a new high school, Grimm and Parker recommended that middle school students use the current high school while the middle schools are being renovated. The high school project is expected to take place first.

“We do understand the historical significance of this building to the school system and to the state, and recognize its value to the community and its value as an architectural monument,” the Grimm & Parker representative said Tuesday. “Renovation of the building creates so many costs that even if it were desireable, it does make the project almost impossible to accomplish.”

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.

Source: http://times-news.com/local/x1005782717/Study-Build-new-Allegany-High