09-19-1991 Continued Meetingc~ •
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CONTINUED MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
HELD THE NINETEENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR NINETEEN HUNDRED
NINETY ONE
PRESENT: Henry H. Bradby, Chairman
Joel C. Bradshaw, Jr., Vice Chairman
Steven W. Edwards
Thomas L. Ross
Richard L. Turner
Also Attending: H. Woodrow Crook, Jr., County Attorney
Myles E. Standish, County Administrator
W. Douglas Caskey, Assistant .County
Administrator/Community Development
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant to the County
Administrator
Carey H. Mills, Assistant Clerk
Chairman Bradby called the continued meeting to order at 2:00
P.M. and stated the meeting is for the purpose of listening to
presentations from the School Board concerning school construction
GOStS.
County Administrator Standish stated he would recommend
opening the public hearing and that the Board would have two
resolutions to consider after comments had been received.
Pamela Edwards, Chairman of the School Board, stated the
School Board endorses the VPSA bonds as they are obtained with the
lower interest rate as compared to other bonds and other methods
of financing.
Chairman Bradby called for citizens to speak in reference to
the school construction matter.
William C. Johnston of Smithfield stated the Windsor school
site selection by the School Board is not a suitable site because
it would have to go through the process of condemnation and
negotiation and would require a sewage plant and pump station
because he understood it would not perk. Mr. Johnston added that
in addition, the location was on the south side of the railroad
tracks which would isolate it from the majority of the population.
Mr. Johnston stated another site on the north side of Route 460
would be better suited because it perks, is more accessible and is
also for sale. Mr. Johnston continued that renovation of the old
Windsor high school has not been considered which .would be more
economical and questioned why the less costly site has not been
chosen and why has a consultant not been contacted.
Supervisor Bradshaw stated the majority of the population was
from his district and that when he came on the Board sixteen years
ago two schools were discussed and only one was approved.
Supervisor Bradshaw stated .Smithfield had their school and he
wanted one in his district.
Mac Cofer of Smithfield stated he was opposed to the VPSA bond
issue because bids had not been received. Mr. Cofer further stated
after researching the General Obligation bonds it appeared they
would be a better deal although the. interest rate may be slightly
higher initially. Mr. Cofer continued this would allow the County
the opportunity of how the twenty-year debt would be repaid..
Reverend Willie Williams stated he was opposed to the County
currently soliciting for a bond issue because of the same reasons
stated by Mr. Cofer and urged the Board to disapprove a bond issue
until all bids have been received.
R. L. Walker of the Hardy District stated he was concerned
about the safety of the children crossing the railroad tracks and
the racial imbalance.
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David Hardy stated he was for the best education money could
buy and that the County would be the benefactor of both good and
bad decisions.
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Hugh .Gwaltney stated he was not in favor of building two
schools simultaneously because of increased taxes.
James Brown of the School Board stated the County needed to
look at the type of schools being built, where they are being.
built., and the impact of such in the years to come.
Reverend James H. Johnson of the School Board stated he
supported education and urged the Board to not deny the children
of the County.
Supervisor Edwards asked if it mattered to the School Board
whether the County pursued the VPSA issue or the General Obligation
bond issue.
Dr. Morlino, School Superintendent, urged the Board to pass
the resolutions relative to the issuance and sale of School Bonds
of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, in the maximum amount of
$13,000,000 by the Virginia .Public School Authority. Dr. Morlino
continued that as a tax payer of the County, he would not favor
participating in .the General Obligation bond issue because the
County would be paying more money- for the convenience of
structuring a tax rate or a debt structure.
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Supervisor Bradshaw stated he was surprised at the growth in
the southern end of the County and he wanted the northern end. of
the County to know that his voting district is carrying close to
40$ of the taxes.
Supervisor Turner stated he was criticized for stating an
amount to be financed for the schools construction, but that he
looked at the different factors involved and applied them to the
general average of schools built in the last year. Supervisor
Turner urged the School Board to adjust their plans so that it was
within the average of the State and that he had researched the
different alternatives to finance school construction and did not
think the VPSA bonds were flexible.
Supervisor Ross stated that while he was not. in favor of
putting a limit on the cost of schools, he thought the School Board
should be made aware that he was in favor of supporting new schools
being built in the. County, but that this should be accomplished in
the proper way, and not at a figure of $23,000,000.
Chairman Bradby stated the Board is responsible to the
citizens of the County and that he does not agree with the way the
matter is being handled. Chairman Bradby. continued it would be
premature to appropriate money before the .bids have been received
and he wanted to see the bids before agreeing to an amount to be
financed.
Supervisor Edwards suggested that the meeting be continued
until 7:00 P.M. to allow all citizens an opportunity to speak on
the issue.
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Supervisor Turner stated he would not be able to be present
at the 7:00 P.M. regular meeting and moved the Board defeat the
VPSA bond issue and reconsider options on how the County can
finance the school construction. The motion passed (4-1) with all
members voting in favor except Supervisor Edwards who voted against
the motion.
Supervisor Turner then moved the Board approve the following
recommendations of the County Administrator for financing school
construction:
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1. Board of Supervisors should direct County staff to
prepare a recommended finance package to include bond
anticipation notes and/or permanent General Obligation
debt financing, with the intent to minimize impact on the
real estate and other tax rates during the early years
of debt service. The issue to be coordinated with the
School construction program at the appropriate time and
in the appropriate amount
2. Request that the two School projects be put to bid only
after they are properly scaled. When bids are received,
same should be thoroughly .analyzed and the results
reported to the Board of Supervisors with minimum delay
3. If bids received are excessive, designers should be
directed to review. and. revise the projects accordingly
and report to the Board of Supervisors regarding same
The motion passed (4-1) with all members voting fn favor
except Chairman Bradby who voted. against the motion.
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Chairman Bradby called for Appointments.
Supervisor Turner moved the Board appoint Gloria Harris to the
Youth Services Board for a three-year term. The motion passed
unanimously (5-0).
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Supervisor Ross moved the Board adjourn at 3:10 P.M. The
motion passed unanimously (5-0).
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Myles Standish, Clerk
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