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02-04-2021 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 FOURTH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY ONE PRESENT: Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Chairman Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District, Vice -Chairman (via electronically from Indian Beach, North Carolina) Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District William M. McCarty, Newport District Joel C. Acree, Windsor 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 Chairman Grice called the work session of the Board of Supervisors to order at 6:00 p.m. Assistant County Administrator Robertson delivered the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. County Attorney Jones advised that pursuant to State Code and the Board's by- laws, a Board member can participate remotely in a meeting if a physical quorum is assembled and if the member has requested and notified the Chairman that he wishes to appear remotely/electronically. He advised that Vice -Chairman Rosie will be participating electronically due to a work obligation which will require him to state the nature of his absence and the remote location from which he is participating. Vice -Chairman Rosie advised that he will be participating electronically from Indian Beach, North Carolina due to a work obligation. Supervisor Acree moved that Vice -Chairman Rosie be authorized to participate electronically in the meeting. The motion was adopted (4-0) with Supervisors Acree, McCarty, Jefferson and Grice voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisor voting against the motion. 1 Vice -Chairman Rosie thereafter joined the meeting. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Supervisor Jefferson moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. Chairman Grice read a statement into the record pertaining to COVID-19 advising that the Health Department will be providing 1,000 doses of Moderna vaccine to residents in the Western Tidewater area age 65 and older and that the vaccines will be provided by appointment only on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Eastern Baptist Church located in Suffolk, Virginia. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT County Administrator Keaton provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the Western Tidewater area related to doses administered by locality of residence; doses administered last week; and, scheduling etiquette. David Smith, Director of Parks & Recreation, provided an update on the Blackwater River Park operation and plans relative to public access. III County Administrator Keaton provided an overview of the proposed plans for expansion of the Windsor Library building to address the overcrowded conditions and lack of programming space at that facility. The Board was apprised that the Town owns the land and the County owns the building and that staff is currently working with the Town to update the existing agreement. County Attorney Jones referred to the draft letter in the agenda sent on behalf of the citizens of Isle of Wight County expressing their strong support for House Bill 2322/Senate Bill 1469 which would establish the opioid abatement authority to ensure the fair and orderly distribution of opioid litigation recoveries to local and state governments. Supervisor McCarty moved that the Chairman be authorized to execute the letter of support for HB2322 and SB1469 for the establishment of the opioid abatement authority. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. 2 County Administrator Keaton addressed the Board regarding the potential implementation of a County tax on cigarettes. Chairman Grice requested that staff return to the Board after the General Assembly ends with a recommendation as to how the Board should proceed before taking action to implement a cigarette tax. County Administrator Keaton stated a 1% sales tax which can only be used for school construction or capital needs would require a referendum, and, if passed, would generate $2.3 to $2.4 million which could take the place of the $.04 property tax proposed to pay the County's debt service payments. Chairman Grice directed that additional taxing authority in the form of a cigarette tax, plastic bag tax and sales and use tax be placed on the November ballot and that staff produce documents to inform the public and make presentations to the various civic organizations. County Administrator Keaton addressed the concern with an ever-increasing amount of trash along the roadways and advised that the General Assembly is currently considering legislation to increase penalties for littering. County Attorney Jones advised that the County is currently at the harshest penalty under the law for littering or having trash blown out of the vehicle which carries a minimum punishment of a $250 fine up to a $2,500 fine and up to twelve months in jail. The consensus of the Board was that if the County can directly benefit from the legislation currently under consideration by the General Assembly, staff should proceed to obtain the effective tools related to the enforcement of litter in terms of hiring a licensed enforcement officer who would specialize in investigating illegal dumps or partnering with VDOT to install cameras in certain locations targeted as high volume trash areas. Assistant County Administrator Robertson reported that the Monument Task Force discussed and listed the following methods of contextualization as options; however, no consensus or agreement was reached by the Task Force as to any priority or preference of the options: 1. Erect another monument of equal size and equal height to memorialize all who died in war 2. Erect a statue in recognition of the 36th United States Colored Infantry Regiment 3. Make the current monument all-inclusive 4. Erect granite monuments in a semi -circle with each portion of granite providing historical information W 5. Erect additional statues of other notable individuals (such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) of the same height and size as the current monument 6. Add simple signage around the current statue with QR codes with historical information visitors could read on their own electronic devices Staff was requested to investigate and report back to the Board the number of monuments owned by local governments and that staff continue to take under consideration any other options should the relocation of the monument from the Courthouse complex to the Town of Windsor cemetery not occur. Amy Ring, Community Development Director, briefed the Board on staff's efforts to identify and conduct outreach to key stakeholders for the anticipated study on senior citizens in the community which will identify steps the County can take to ensure its residents can age successfully in the community. The initial step will be to survey residents on their top concerns with aging in the County as well as their future lifestyle priorities. The next step will be for the stakeholder work group to convene and develop policy recommendations to better direct County actions and decisions as well as guide capital investments to maximize the accessibility in the County to persons of all ages, ability levels and socioeconomic groups. She solicited the Board's assistance in identifying those individuals that may be willing to participate in the stakeholders' group and advised that the Commission on Aging members did offer themselves as a potential stakeholder group. Chairman Grice shared with the Board that the Commission on Aging recently formed a subcommittee of that group that will be submitting their recommendations in terms of budgeting items to County Administrator Keaton for this budget period. Supervisor McCarty moved the subcommittee be formed out of the Commission on Aging membership. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. Ms. Ring shared with the Board the results of the space needs analysis and timeline for the Community Development Department initiated to identify ways to provide a more secure, user-friendly and service-oriented space and to increase staff efficiency in an appropriate work environment. It is designed for social distancing and public health recommendations are incorporated in the recommended layout. Additional office space is also needed on the first floor to allow for more efficient workflow, meet social distancing requirements, and provide for individual concentration. Reorganization of the Lobby allows for easy public access to the service counters while maintaining controlled access to the Department to address current security concerns. El Supervisor McCarty recommended stackable chairs for the Board Room be done in conjunction with the expansion of the Community Development office space. County Administrator Keaton offered to obtain information on stackable chairs for the Board Room and bring back to the Board at its next regular meeting. County Attorney Jones requested a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2- 3711(A) of the Code of Virginia, for the limited purpose of: A discussion regarding the disposition of County owned real property located within the town limits of Smithfield where discussing of the same in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Board, pursuant to subsection 3; and, consultation with legal counsel employed by the Board regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, namely the requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act pertaining to meetings pursuant to subsection 8. Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty and all voting in favor (5-0), the Board entered the closed meeting for the reasons stated by County Attorney Jones. Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty and all voting in favor (5-0), the Board reconvened into open meeting. County Attorney Jones reminded the Board that in accordance with Section 2-10(G) of the Board's Rules & Procedure, all those who participated in the closed meeting are reminded that all matters discussed in closed meeting are to remain confidential, as provided under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and that such matters as were discussed in closed meeting should not be acted upon or discussed in public by any participant unless and until a public, formal action of the Board of Supervisors is taken on that particular subject matter. Upon motion of Supervisor Jefferson and all voting in favor (5-0), the following Resolution was adopted: CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and, WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712(D) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this Board of Supervisors that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed 61 in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Board of Supervisors. VOTE AYES: Acree, Grice, Jefferson, McCarty. Rosie NAYS: 0 ABSENT DURING VOTE: 0 ABSENT DURING MEETING: 0 ADJOURNMENT At 10:05 p.m., Chairman Grice declared the meeting adjourned. �nttj& O&U, Carey Mills Storm, Clerk 0 Richard Oarice, airman