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05-16-2002 Continued Meeting•. so~~ 21:~-:~ 24 CONTINUED MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. HELD THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TWO PRESENT; BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Robert C. Claud, Sr., Chairman.. Richard K. MacManus, Vice Chairman Stan D. Clark Phillip A. Bradshaw ° Henry H. Bradby ALSO PRESENT: SCHOOL BOARD George A. Bradby, Chairman Pamela J. Edwards Dr. Richard L. Peerey A. Gene Lowery Barbara B. Olin Also Attending: H. Woodrow Crook, Jr., County Attorney W. Douglas Casket', County Administrator Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator/Director of Human Resources Carey H. Mills, Recording Secretary Board of Supervisors Chairman Claud called the continued. meeting to order at 4:00 p.m, for the purpose of conducting a joint work session with the School Board. He thanked the School .Board for agreeing to meet with the Board of Supervisors to discuss items of mutual concern. School Board Chairman Bradby thanked the Board of Supervisors for the opportunity to meet jointly with the School Board. He stated he hoped the School Board could continue to meet with the Board of Supervisors on a periodic basis to continue .discussing items of mutual interest. // School Board Chairman Bradby introduced Dr. McPherson, the new Superintendent of Public Schools, to the Board. Dr. McPherson acknowledged that he is looking forward to a good relationship between .the School Board and the Board of Supervisors. U l ., 'i 904K ~~ ~~ ~ ~~ Board of Supervisors Chairman Claud called -for discussion of cooperative. efforts between the County and the School Board. County Administrator Casket' stated the Board of Supervisors, at its: meeting in December, charged the respective staffs of the County and the School Board. to work towards a review of potential areas that could be shared between the .two (2) bodies resulting in monetary savings. He referred to a report contained in the agenda identifying .school .systems throughout the State, at the County government level, and the various areas in which they had experienced successful cooperation in working jointly on issues. Ms. Pamela Edwards, referring to the example of fleet maintenance on Page 1, noted that additional employees would be needed to combine fleet maintenance between the .schools and the County. She asked staff if it felt that the .additional employees that would be needed would offset the expenses being expended by the County now. F Anne-F: Seward, Director of Budget and Finance,. advised that staff is now reviewing the feasibility of combining fleet maintenance; however, a cost benefit analysis still needs to be performed.. Ms. Edwards .pointed out. that, if combined with the school system, the Human Resources Department would oversee a total of 1,005 employees, in addition to applicants. Ms. Edwards requested confirmation of the implementation of the fleet fueling system.. Ms. Seward confirmed that the implementation began in April of 2002. Ms. Edwards inquired if the fin er rintin s listed on Pa e 7 include g P g g the County. Ms. Seward confirmed that approximately twenty-five (25) .finger printings are done~for applicants by the School system alone. Dr. Peerey ~ requested staff further ..investigate the, feasibility of combining fleet maintenance between the school system and the County.... He requested tall. keep in mind any additional employees that would be necessary to combine the fleet maintenance, their associated salary and fringe benefits, as well as a location to perform the .duties involved with fleet maintenance. Chairman -Claud pointed out that the concept is to evaluate and determine methods. in which to make the concept. work. to each .Board's advantage. He requested the respective boards keep an open mind .and _2 .~ evaluate each item before making a decision to implement, or not implement, a concept.. Mrs. Edwards noted that manpower must offset any financial gains. Supervisor MacManus requested staff provide a cost benefit for each item, to include. an explanation of the net results of the evaluation, and .the .amount of savings to be realized by the schools and/or the County. Supervisor Bradshaw thanked staff far their efforts and requested they continue to move forward in making recommendations to both boards.. Dr. Peerey stated the intent is to save money; however, when staff determines that this can not be accomplished, staff should not proceed any further. He inquired what is staff's next step in this process. County Administrator Caskey stated the next feasible step is to cost. out the different scenarios. He stated the County's Strategic Plan not only focuses on cooperative efforts with the School Board, but other aspects of County government, to include the. task of a larger interagency committee to review. what the County does- in conjunction. with other agencies and the identification of any efficiencies. He stated whether it is to save money or stretch resources and personnel, the idea is to create efficiencies and eliminate redundancies. // County Administrator Caskey stated the Board previously instructed staff to develop a draft Strategic Plan of Action with the intent to identify a collective vision in all areas that .the Board identified as .quality of life issues. Mr. Caskey reviewed the nine (9) major visions and their objectives fora measurement, as follows: 1) growth management; (2) transportation planning; (3) fiscal management; (4) economic development; (5) education; (6) resource protection management; (7) effective government; (8) social and cultural enrichment; .and, (9) external and regional relationships. He ..stated the Plan would be updated on a continuing basis. // Chairman Claud called for discussion of the feasibility of percentage funding formula for future budgetary considerations. Supervisor Bradshaw expressed support for the implementation of a funding formula because it ensures schools will receive a certain amount of funding. Ms. Olin stated she .also believes a funding formula would be beneficial because the School Board would know the funding amount it has ~i ~~ 1 3 u 1 BO~x 21 ~:. ?7 to work with as the school budget is formulated. She noted that the counties studied were much larger than Isle of Wight County and'the financial impact of a new school would not be as great on those counties as it would be on Isle of Wight County. Supervisor Bradshaw noted that it could-.take four (4) to five (5) years before a process is developed that the Board- feels comfortable with. .Chairman Claud stated other localities have a steady number . of increase in students each year, as well as an increase in revenues, but the County's enrollment has experienced a minimum increase over the last five (5) years. He suggested that staff monitor a formula for several. years to ~ ensure that it will be successful. I' ~ Ms. Olin stated that while enrollment numbers may not .increase, teachers' salaries should. Supervisor Bradshaw noted the funding formula is only a guide and in order for the County to maintain the same standard of quality education, funding will have to be provided beyond the funding formula. Ms. Edwards stated she understands the State of California allows a reserve .fund to be established for school related emergencies, however, the .State of Virginia does not allow such reserve funds. Supervisor .Clark suggested staff look at other counties similar to .the County geographically and industrial base, such as Gloucester and Prince George. He stated methods other than pay increases must be addressed to retain teachers. Supervisor MacManus noted that the County has been funding 3.25% annually for the last five (5) years, as well as allowing the schools to 1 r f continue utilizing their unappropriated funds. He stated for planning purposes the County has already been working towards a formula that works for the County. He stated as an average, this is a good starting point and the County can determine what it has in new revenue. Dr. Peerey stated the budget process needs review and the two (2) Boards owe it to the children of the County to get it accomplished before the next major round of elections. Supervisor Bradshaw moved the Board. direct staff to continue working with the School Board staff on the plan presented and bring back further recommendations at a time appropriate to the Committee. The motion was adopted: with Supervisors MacManus, Bradby, Bradshaw, Clark and Claud voting in favor of themotion (5-0). and no Supervisors voting against the motion. 4 8~~~ 21.h,,^ ~'$ School member Dr. Peerey .moved that the School. Board direct its staff to continue to review, revise and adjust the project as it proceeds. Ms. Olin seconded the motion. The motion was adopted with School Board members Peerey, Olin, Edwards and Bradby voting in favor and School Board member Lowery abstaining. // Supervisor MacManus reported .that he had attended the Steering Committee meeting for. VACo at which the financial analyst for the Senate spoke- and .indicated that. funding looks tighter next year. He reported that the new Secretary of Education warned the Committee that the State is looking at adding new requirements under the Standards of Quality. He encouraged the School Board. to stay tied in with the VSBA to try to resist some of these which typically are unfunded. He reported that Montgomery ' and Rockingham Counties have adopted resolutions to place a temporary moratorium on SOLs until. the State funding for SOL materials and teacher training is restored. Supervisor Bradshaw reported that VACo and VML are performing an in-depth study on the State .tax structure and the consultants have provided a presentation. .Supervisor Bradby commended the two (2) boards for meeting to do what is necessary to provide quality public education for the children of the County. He stated the County is obligated to provide the best quality education .possible for the County's children. // The Board of Supervisors and School Board set August 8, 2002 at 5;:00 p.m. as their next quarterly joint meeting date. // At 5:32 p.m., Supervisor Bradshaw moved the Board adjourn its continued meeting. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0). At 5:33 p.m., Ms. Edwards moved the School Board adjourn. Ms. Olin seconded themotion. The motionwas adopted by unanimous vote (5-0). ~ ~ ~~~ Robert C. Claud, Sr., Chairman ,. 11 n 5