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01-04-2010 Special Joint MeetingSPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD THE FOURTH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND TEN PRESENT: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Phillip A. Bradshaw Al Casteen (Arrived at 6:10 p.m.) Stan D. Clark JoAnn W. Hall Thomas J. Wright, III Also Attending: A. Paul Burton, Interim County Attorney W. Douglas Caskey, County Administrator Ron D. Reck, Director of Budget and Finance Donald T. Robertson, Director of Information Resources and Legislative Affairs Carey Mills Storm, Clerk // /1 SCHOOL BOARD David Goodrich, Chairman, Smithfield District Kenneth Bunch, Vice - Chairman, Carrsville District Herbert DeGroft, Hardy District T. Hayes Griffin, Windsor District George Bradby, Newport District Supervisor Bradshaw called the joint meeting with the School Board to order at 6:00 p.m. at the School Board's Conference Room at Westside Elementary School for the purpose of discussing shared services. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Dr. Michael W. McPherson, Ed.D., Superintendent of Isle of Wight County Public Schools, began by highlighting areas currently being shared between the County and the Schools involving the use of school facilities and property and certain areas of technology, both of which are addressed under a formal Memorandum of Understanding. He advised that the School Board is also involved in a joint services relationship with the County involving human resources and maintenance activities although no formal agreement exists with respect to those services. School Superintendent McPherson recalled that in 2006 research revealed that it was more cost efficient for the County to continue to out - source its vehicle maintenance with local vendors versus building a garage adequate to service both County and School vehicles and hiring additional mechanics. Chairman Goodrich recalled that he remembered reading correspondence from the Board of Supervisors to the School Board which indicated that the Board of Supervisors did not wish to proceed with the cost of building a new maintenance facility. County Administrator Caskey offered to provide the School Board members with copies of a compilation of past activities and Board actions which he had forwarded to the Board of Supervisors by cover letter dated June 2, 2009 for their perusal. Supervisor Clark recommended that staff meet with the purpose of identifying areas of potential further consolidation. He commented that future State budget cuts are anticipated to be severe and the Board of Supervisors must begin to consider areas where additional savings can be realized. Chairman Goodrich recommended that focus be only on a couple of areas in the beginning and he suggested that both staffs meet to explore and work out the details of those areas. Supervisor Clark commented that the Board of Supervisors will be faced with budgetary shortfalls over the next several months and he noted that raising taxes is not an option he will favorably consider. He stated that he does not accept that consolidation of services will not save the County money and he suggests that the two (2) staff be directed to pursue with all haste any areas of consolidation they believe may save the County money. Supervisor Bradshaw moved that County Administrator Caskey be directed to meet with Dr. McPherson and proceed with reviewing past cooperative efforts and that they form a committee that will report back to the Board with a recommendation by March 1, 2010. The motion was adopted by a vote of (5 -0) with Supervisors Bradshaw, Clark, Casteen, Hall and Wright voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. Supervisor Bradshaw thanked the School Board for meeting jointly with the Board of Supervisors and recommended that they meet together on a quarterly basis. 1/ Supervisor Bradshaw provided the School Board with a briefing on what the County is doing in response to the recent announcement by International Paper of its mill closure. 1/ At 7:00 p.m., Supervisor Clark moved that the Board adjourn its special joint meeting with the School Board. The motion was adopted by a vote of (5 -0) with Supervisors Bradshaw, Clark, Casteen, Hall and Wright voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion. arey t lls St. m, Clerk 3 A. Bradshaw., Chairman