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05-10-2012 Special MeetingBook 28, Page 260 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD THE TENTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE PRESENT: Alan E. Casteen, Chairman JoAnn W. Hall, Vice - Chairman Rex W. Alphin Byron B. Bailey Delores M. Darden Also Attending: Mark C. Popovich, County Attorney W. Douglas Caskey, County Administrator Carey Mills Storm, Clerk Chairman Casteen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on the proposed FY2012 -13 School Budget and proposed FY2012 -13 Isle of Wight County Operating Budget. // Supervisor Bailey delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Chairman Casteen called for Approval of the Agenda. Supervisor Alphin moved that the agenda be approved as presented. The motion was adopted by a vote of (5 -0) with Supervisors Bailey, Darden, Hall, Alphin and Casteen voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. // Chairman Casteen advised that pursuant to the Code of Virginia, the Board is required to wait a period of seven (7) days after conducting a public hearing on the budgets before it can take action on theirs. Chairman Casteen called for a public hearing on the following: FY2012 -13 School Budget Book 29, Page 261 County Attorney Popovich certified that the Budget has been properly advertised. Chairman Casteen called for persons to speak in favor or in opposition to the proposed Budget. Robert Eley, School Board Chairman, Isle of Wight County Public Schools, stated economic growth in the County is dependent upon quality education. He stated residents from other areas are paying tuition for their children to attend County schools and in order to continue to offer quality education, funding from the County is critical. Katrise Perera, Superintendent of Isle of Wight County Schools, stated that the School's vision has remained committed to education as evidence by the process made, but State and Federal mandates have continued to increase. She shared SOL information with the Board, commenting that education is the number one (1) marketing tool. Sydney Register, six grader at Westside Elementary School, shared her feelings about the inadequate heating and cooling of that school building. Theodore Hardison of Garrison Drive recommended the Board fund the School's budget in the amount of $59.8 million to support a progressive educational standard even if it means taxes need to be raised accordingly. Shannon Hardison of Garrison Drive and Lead Teacher at Carrsville Elementary School stated better results cannot be expected with less funding and that she is in support of the proposed School Board's budget in its entirety. Celeste Knowles of Carrollton spoke in support of the School budget being fully funded as requested. Mike Newman, Principal, Windsor High School, requested the Board to fully fund the School's budget as requested. Judith Hastie, Carrsville Elementary School Teacher, stated the quality education provided by the County is priceless and sought by Book 29, Page 262 many. She stated the County's schools have superior rankings in the western tidewater area and the State. Debbie Story, Carrsville Highway, asked the Board to examine the proposed budget carefully and use wisdom when voting on it. Jaclyn Carr, Principal, Carrsville Elementary School, requested the Board to financially support the school system and make it a top priority when planning the budget. Kent Hildebrand, School Board member, requested the Board members to financially support the schools as best they can. Ed Easter, 12224 Hideaway Lane, spoke in support of the Board raising the tax rate accordingly to fund the School system to the level needed. Aruza Copeland commented that her son received a quality education while attending County schools and she requested the Board to support the School's requested budget. Judith Post, Teacher at Windsor Elementary School, spoke in full support of the School's proposed budget. Stennett Byrd, Principal, Westside Elementary School, spoke in favor of the School's budget being fully funded. Stephanie Bailey, President of the Isle of Wight Education Association, requested full funding of the School's proposed budget. Amy Jones spoke in support of raising taxes to fully fund the school's proposed budget. Donna Spivey, Carrsville District, requested support of the school's proposed budget. Herb DeGroft, School Board member, spoke in favor of additional shared and consolidated services to help maximize scarce County revenue resources. Votive Boykin's of Walters spoke in favor of the schools being adequately funding and recommended that the Board approve the 3 Book 29, Page 263 budget categorically so that large raises cannot be provided to top administrators who are already overpaid. Chairman Casteen closed the public hearing and declared a recess. // The Board returned to open session. Chairman Casteen called for a public hearing on the following: FY2012 -13 Isle of Wight County Operating Budget County Attorney Popovich certified that the Budget has been properly advertised. Chairman Casteen called for persons to speak in favor or in opposition to the proposed Budget. Janelle, a six -year old, spoke in favor of funding for the Smithfield Branch of the Isle of Wight County Library. Jennifer McQuillen, who currently home schools her children, spoke in favor of funding for the Smithfield Branch of the Isle of Wight County Library, noting that it is her greatest resource. Votie Boykins of Walters spoke in favor of funding for the Sheriff's Office. He stated he is in favor of the two -cent tax increase for fire and rescue. Bill Chapman, Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department, stated that the Board in 2006 had advised that it did not want those organizations conducting fund raisers in order to operate their organizations and that the Board wanted to fund their operational budget completely so that they can spend time responding to calls. He stated the idea of funding emergency services was the Board's idea and he expects this Board to fulfill that idea. Pinky Hipp of the Hardy District stated that a budget should be developed on funds available, not on possibilities. She stated the 2 Book 29, Page 264 Board will have to make some tough choices which may mean to cut services, laying off some employees, higher taxes or some other approach. Yvonne Hilliard - Bradley, Director of the Blackwater Regional Library, distributed a chart developed by the State Library of Virginia reflecting that the Blackwater Regional Library system is second to the bottom in terms of staffing levels and local income and third from the top with respect to program attendance. She advised that for the last two (2) years, the Blackwater Regional Library Board of Trustees has elected to reduce the Library budget in order to accommodate funding received from localities. She advised that positions were eliminated; full -time positions reduced to part -time; and, programming expenses, travel and training and library administrative expenses cut. She advised that good use is made of grant funding and donations from Library friends and the Library's budget is shared by five (5) localities according to an agreed -upon formula based on the local population and library usage. She advised that the Library's contract with the localities is very clear in that any cut to its budget as presented must be taken from that locality's library services. She stated that Isle of Wight's share of the budget increased from 45% to 46% this year due to increases in the County's population and increased usage of the three (3) County branches. She stated the funding currently proposed is a loss of $53,000 from the County's 46% share of the Library's budget and will require laying off four (4) to six (6) staff members and a loss of two (2) or more days in the County's library service. She stated if the Library's budget is cut from a locality, the Library also stands to lose its State aid, which are funds used to purchase materials. Connie Henderson, 13185 Doggett Lane, advised that the libraries are used by many patrons and a reduction in its budget would cause a reduction in hours and staff levels. She stated that the libraries are also an important factor in bringing people into the County and she requested the Board not decrease the Library's budget. Rebecca Lewis spoke on behalf of teenagers who utilize County libraries. Jim Phillips, President of the Friends of the Smithfield Library, advised that citizens have agreed to fund over $30,000 in renovations 11 Book 29, Page 265 to the Smithfield Library through fund - raising efforts. He stated they are trying to do their part and they hope the Board does its part too. Kent Hildebrand, 22209 Haynes Lane, spoke in favor of funding for the Sheriff's Department and fire and rescue. He stated he further supports the tax under consideration for those departments as long as it does not go in the General Fund and it goes into the districts for which they are servicing. Sharon Hart, Newport District, spoke in favor of funding economic development and bringing in new business revenue. She stated the Board adopted a resolution creating an economic development zone on Route 460 and the Governor presented an economic impact study estimating that by 2020 construction of the Route 460 improvement project would have an economic impact of $7.3 billion sustaining 14,120 jobs in the Corridor. She stated with respect to the Board's $5.4 million for a new Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad facility, she is in favor of building the facility at this time but not in favor of using the design plan previously used for the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department. She stated that she is not in favor of the County selling County -owned properties at half the assessed value to avoid raising taxes. She stated that she does not support charging a fee for fire and rescue. Cheryl Lynn Hayes of Carrollton spoke in favor of funding for the libraries. Rudolph Jefferson, Smithfield, Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department member, asked the Board to consider that Department's request and fund the many projects that have been put up on the shelf. Marian Neighbors, President of the Friends of the Windsor Library and Chairman of the Board for the Blackwater Regional Library, requested the Board to fully fund the Blackwater Regional Library's request. Pat Clark, Twin Hill Lane, spoke in support of the request for new cars for the Sheriff's Department. Herb DeGroft, 15401 Mill Swamp Road, requested the Board to keep senior citizens who are on a fixed income on their minds. 6 Book 29, Page 266 Jean Doughten spoke in favor of the libraries being fully funded. Chairman Casteen closed the public hearing. Supervisor Hall requested Ms. Hillard - Bradby to provide the Board with information related to the County's usage compared to other localities and what those other localities are paying. // Chairman Casteen invited the Board to attend a meeting with Congressman Forbes on Monday regarding defense of our defenses at the Chesapeake Conference Center. Mr. Clark advised that the Commission on Aging is sponsoring a fish fry on May 18`x' at The Smithfield Center, which will start around 9:00 a.m. and lunch served at around and he invited the Board to attend. Mr. Terry presented an updated and revised budget responsive to comments received reflecting no tax increase and keeping the services in tact as much as possible. Mr. Robertson notified the Board that responsive to the Board's challenge to staff to find $1 million in additional savings, there are specific recommendations identified by staff, for a total of $825,000 in cost reductions for the Board's consideration. He advised that staff will provide the Board with additional information highlighting what is being proposed in the way of a final budget document. Chairman Casteen requested that additional information pertaining to the VRS issue be provided to the individual Board members. At 9:25 p.m., Chairman Casteen declared the special meeting adjourned. Alan E. Casteen, Chairman 0 "a UM �-Vk Carey NYills Storm, Clerk 7