8-6-2020 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 SIXTH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND
TWENTY
PRESENT:
Joel C. Acree, Windsor District, Chairman
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Vice Chairman
Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District
William M: McCarty, Newport District
Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District (Arrived at 6:05 p.m.)
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Amber Johnson, Legal Assistant
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree called the work session of the Board of Supervisors to order at
6:00 p.m.
INVOCATION
Andrew Cypress delivered the invocation and lead the Pledge of Allegiance to the
American flag of the United States of America.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA/AMENDMENTS
Supervisor Jefferson moved that the agenda be adopted, adding one item under
Old Business as suggested by Supervisor Acree regarding Development Service
Districts. 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.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Jimmy Sanderson, Davenport & Company, briefed the Board regarding the
issuance of general obligation bonds to finance upcoming capital projects to
include construction of the new Hardy Elementary School.
Stephanie Humphries, Director of Budget & Finance, identified those departments
with capital projects to be financed with the bonds. She advised that a tax
increase of $.05 is proposed for FY2020 which would decrease to $.04 in FY2028-
29; then decrease to $.02 in FY2030; and, decrease to $.01 in FY 2031. She
advised that a fund balance transfer in the amount of $645,000 in FY2027 would
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be necessary to avoid raising additional taxes which could be transferred into a
debt service fund until the County could pay itself back in 2029.
It was the consensus of the Board that staff proceed with the plans shared with
the Board.
Mary Beth Johnson, Director of Human Resources, provided an overview of the
County's personnel policies governing progressive discipline.
Ms. Johnson also touched on the recent COVID-19 regulations and offered to
check into the possibility of those regulations being placed on the County website.
County Administrator Keaton notified the Board of the County's receipt of the
second round of an allocation of the CARES Act in the amount of $3.2 million. He
recommended that the Board authorize execution of the Certification document
contained in the agenda packet.
Supervisor Grice moved to authorize staff to execute the Certification document.
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.
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Assistant County Administrator Robertson updated the Board on the proposed
2021 Virginia Technology Initiative Grant Program funding to assist with
broadband expansion efforts in the County. He recalled that the Board had
previously committed to $500,000 in matching funds and that there is the ability
on the private sector side to get more homes up and running sooner if the Board
wished to expand its financial commitment.
Supervisor McCarty moved that the following Resolution be adopted which was
adopted by unanimous vote (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty,
Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting
against the motion:
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE
GRANT TO PROVIDE BROADBAND SERVICE
IN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY
WHEREAS, high-speed broadband connectivity is a necessity for families and
businesses attempting to access a wide array of services including, but not limited
to, education, healthcare, e-commerce, banking, communication, etc.; and,
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WHEREAS, a significant portion of the 15,000 homes and 2,000 businesses in Isle
of Wight County are underserved or unserved relative to reliable high-speed
broadband internet service; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Isle of Wight County is committed to
providing local match funding sufficient to support implementation of the
broadband project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Isle of Wight, Virginia authorizes the submission of a
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Virginia
Telecommunications Initiative Grant application.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Administrator is authorized to sign and
submit the appropriate documents for the submittal of the Virginia
Telecommunications Initiative Grant proposal and any subsequent contract
documents necessary to satisfy program requirements.
Supervisor Jefferson moved to nominate Supervisor McCarty, Supervisor Rosie
and Kelly Blankenship (Windsor Town Council Member) to the Broadband
Taskforce. The motion was unanimously (5-0) adopted.
Supervisor Rosie asked County Administrator Keaton to update the public on
resources that will be available to children beginning school in the new year if
they do not have internet access at their home.
Supervisor McCarty moved to authorize up to $500,000 in additional funding to
assist in the 2021 Virginia Technology Initiative (VATI) Grant, this additional
funding totals $1,000,000 to assist in the initiative. The motion unanimously (5-0)
passed.
Vice -Chairman Grice recommended that the Board conduct another meeting with
its legislators before approving a priority list.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson was requested to reach out to the
County's legislators regarding a joint meeting with the Board at its September 10,
2020 special meeting when it conducts its public hearing on the bonds.
The Board took a recess and upon returning to open session, Assistant County
Administrator Robertson reviewed the County's proposed 2021 legislative
priorities and requested the Board to provide any suggested items for inclusion in
the 2021 legislative agenda.
The Board discussed and deferred adding its Second Amendment position and
support for local public safety agencies to the propriety list until the Board meets
with its legislative representatives, tentatively set for September 10, 2020.
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County Administrator Keaton referred to the recent state of emergency and
requested the Board to adopt a Resolution Declaring a Local Emergency to Exist in
Isle of Wight County on August 3, 2020.
Supervisor McCarty moved that the following Resolution be adopted:
RESOLUTION DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY TO EXIST
IN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Isle of Wight, Virginia, does
hereby find as follows:
1. That due to the occurrence of high winds and/or flooding associated with
Tropical Storm Isaias causing conditions of extreme peril to the lives, safety
and property of the residents of Isle of Wight County;
2. That as a result of this extreme peril, the director of emergency management
declared a state of emergency for Isle of Wight County on August 3, 2020
which must be ratified in accordance with Section 44-146.21 of the Code of
Virginia in order to permit the full powers of government to deal effectively
with this condition of peril.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Isle of Wight, Virginia, hereby ratifies the declaration of local emergency issued by
the director of emergency management for the County of Isle of Wight on August
3, 2020.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during the existence of this emergency the
powers, functions, and duties of the director of emergency management and the
emergency services organization and functions of the County of Isle of Wight shall
be those prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the
ordinances, resolutions, and approved plans of the County of Isle of Wight in
order to mitigate the effects of said emergency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is effective 8:30 a.m. on August 3,
2020 and shall remain in effect until rescinded by the Board of Supervisors as
provided by law.
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.
CLOSED MEETING
County Attorney Jones requested a closed meeting for the purpose of
consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by the Board regarding
specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel
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including (a) the provision of Virginia Code Sec. 15.2-1812 (b) receipt of public
comments during citizens comments and public hearings, (c) parliamentary
procedure and the Board's By -Laws and (d) conflicts of interest, all 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 McCarty 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
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
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UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS
Supervisor Rosie moved to rescind the Board's July 16, 2020 motion which
authorized the advertisement and scheduling of a public hearing on September 3,
2020 regarding the removal, relocation, contextualization, or covering of the
Confederate monument located at the entrance of the Isle of Wight County
Courthouse Complex. The motion was defeated (2-3) with Supervisors Rosie and
Grice voting in favor of the motion and Supervisors McCarty, Jefferson and Acree
voting against the motion.
Vice -Chairman Grice asked staff to post on the County's website that electronic
and regular mail comments will be accepted.
Chairman Acree suggested signs be erected in the County showing the
Developmental Service Districts.
County Administrator Keaton advised that the Department of Planning and Zoning
is currently working on flyers for realtors to give to home buyers explaining the
different districts throughout the County.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:45 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the meeting adjourned.
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Joel C. Acree, Chairma