Loading...
12-10-2020 Work SessionWORK SESSION OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN THE ROBERT C. CLAUD, SR. BOARD ROOM OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 17090 MONUMENT CIRCLE, ISLE OF WIGHT, VIRGINIA ON THURSDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY PRESENT: Joel C. Acree, Windsor District, Chairman Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Vice -Chairman Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District William M. McCarty, Newport District ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator Carey Mills Storm, Clerk CALL TO ORDER The work session of the Board of Supervisors was called to order at 3:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Supervisor Jefferson moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, Jefferson, McCarty and Acree voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisor voting against the motion. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT Steve Zollos, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, addressed the Board on the following future steps of development: 1) Awareness 2) accessibility 3) strengthening of programs 4.) expansion of services 5.) connectivity over the next five years to address the needs of the growing senior citizen population in the County. He presented a recommendation of three new program locations over the next five years and the relocation from Nike Park to the Windsor Town Center this year with offices in Zuni and Carrollton in the future. Under the Awareness category, $50,000 is being requested. Under Accessibility, $135,000 is being requested and, $56,000 being requested for current services, for a grand total of $241,000. Tabitha Smith, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, emphasized the need to provide public transportation and recommended the expansion of fleet and on - demand services. Funding in the amount of $130,000 was requested for the purchase of two new vehicles (vans) and $5,000 for associated maintenance and gas costs. 1 Lanelle Johnson, Vice -Chairperson, Commission on Aging, recommended that a link be created on the County's website listing all of the organizations that work with seniors. Herb DeGroft recommended that a booklet be created listing services available by organizations and churches. Jamie Oliver, Transportation Planner, provided updates on the following Route 17 projects: Bartlett Intersection — Construction Advertisement (November 41 2020); Bid opening (December 16, 2020); Construction Start (February 2021); Construction Completion (May 2022); and, a construction budget of approximately $4 million. Nike Park Road Extension — Right-of-way acquisition (January 2022); Utility relocation (July 2022 —July 2023); Construction Advertisement (June 2023); Construction (November 2023 — November 2024); and, a construction budget of $8,254,147. Other Route 17 Corridor initiatives include a pedestrian crossing at Route 17 and Eagle Harbor Parkway (completed); VDOT STARS study from James River Bridge to Bartlett (80% complete); VDOT Arterial Preservation Plan from Bartlett to Route 664 (30% complete); and, Isle of Wight Round 4 SmartScale Application for Smiths Neck Road Turn Lane Extension. Stephanie Humphries, Director of Budget & Finance, reported on the County's financial results for fiscal Year end June 30, 2020 as follows: Net cost of services ($76,688,051) Education at 39% Health and Welfare at 6% Public Works at 8% Public Safety at 20% Judicial Administration at 2% General Government at 9% Debt Interest at 6% Community Development at 5% Parks and Recreation at 5% // 2 Supervisor McCarty moved that the Board's work session be extended to 5:30 p.m. with its regular meeting being rescheduled to begin at that time. The motion was unanimously (5-0) adopted. Following a report from County Administrator Keaton on trends in the County's revenues and expenditures for FY2021, the discussion turned to the potential for a cost of living adjustment for County employees. Reported by County Administrator Keaton: Neighboring localities surveyed in Hampton roads revealed COLAs range from 0 to 3% some localities did lump sum payments from $250 to $2,500 schools are proposing a 2% increase effective January 1, 2021. a 1.5% increase for employees effective January 1, 2021 is being proposed. Responsive to Chairman Grice's recommendation of a one-time bonus versus a percentage increase, the following points were noted for further consideration before action is taken: A percentage increase is important as the 1.5% stays with you with your longevity with the County and your retirement will be based on that. A one-time bonus will not go against your retirement or go towards recruitment. We want to take care of the employees we have and keep the county marketable and be able to recruit and retain good employees. Also important is to look at other recruitment and retention tools in terms of health care following retirement and banking of leave. The consensus of the Board was that additional discussion is needed in the following areas: how compensation works in the County retention occupations that are currently underpaid/other divisions with unique circumstances and skillsets and difficulties with recruitment and retention, Information on the study on aging contained in the agenda was recommended for review by the Board. 3 ADJOURNMENT At 5:30 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the meeting adjourned. I / . tHISS m, Clerk 11 Richard L. tce, C airman