Monday, July 26, 2004

At the business meeting held on July 26, 2004 at C. Milton Wright High School the following actions and discussions took place.

John Markowski, Chief Financial Officer, Jim Jewell, Budget Director and Kathy Sanner, Supervisor of Planning and Construction provided the Board of Education with information on the proposed school system administrative center to be located at the corner of Hickory Avenue and Courtland Street in Bel Air. Mr. Markowski and Mr. Jewell gave the Board information on the proposed financing for the building with SunTrust - a 25-year lease/purchase arrangement at an interest rate of slightly less than 5% and a yearly payment of $830,579. Mr. Markowski and Mr. Jewell called the interest rate "excellent", especially for an entity which has no taxing power such as the Board of Education of Harford County. Mrs. Sanner described the design/build contract with Manekin, LLC which is in substantially final form. Board members made two motions in connection with the proposals. Board member Thomas L. Fidler, Jr. moved and Board member Salina Pleasant-Grice seconded that when the building begins its operation in 2005-06 an appropriate amount be allocated out of the school system budget for maintenance of the building. The Board approved that motion unanimously. The original motion was made by Board member Robert S. Magee, seconded by Board Vice-President R. Robin Rich to approve the following actions:

• The Board accepts the parcel of land at the corner of Hickory Avenue and Courtland Street for the purposes of constructing an administration building pending signature of the deed by the County Executive.
• The Board approves the design/build contract with Manekin, LLC in substantially final form and authorizes the Board President, or designee, and the Superintendent to execute same with non-material modifications deemed appropriate.
• The Board approves the financing in substantially final form financing documents with SunTrust Leasing Corporation and authorizes the Board President, or designee, and Superintendent to execute some with non-material modifications as deemed appropriate.
• The Board adopts all resolutions which implement the above actions.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the motion.

This document contains a summary of issues that came before the Board of Education of Harford County and actions taken by the Board at the public business meeting at the meeting date referenced on the document. These are not official Board-approved minutes. Board minutes are not posted on the HCPS web site because of the time lapse that occurs between the meeting, their preparation, and ultimate approval by the Board.
For copies of approved Board minutes, please e-mail Lynn.Hutchinson@hcps.org