10-04-2018 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 ON THURSDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR TWO
THOUSAND AND EIGHTEEN
PRESENT:
Rudolph Jefferson, Chairman, Hardy District
William M. McCarty, Vice -Chairman, Newport District
Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District
Joel C. Acree, Windsor District
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Robert W. Jones, Jr., Interim County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Amber Johnson, Legal Assistant
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Jefferson called the work session of the Board of Supervisors' to order
at 6:00 p.m. and welcomed all present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AMENDMENTS
Supervisor McCarty moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. The motion
was adopted unanimously (5-0).
INVOCATION
Assistant County Administrator Robertson delivered the invocation and led the
Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
In anticipation of developing the Board's list of legislation priorities for
consideration by the General Assembly in 2019, the County's legislative
delegation had been invited to attend the meeting. Those in attendance were
Senator John Cosgrove; Senator Tommy Norment; Senator Louise Lucas; and,
Delegate Emily Brewer.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson provided an overview of the County's
2018 Legislative Priority List consisting of the following items: Education Funding
Support from the Commonwealth; exemption of State Revenue Recovery for
Western Tidewater Regional Jail; Limited Residential Lodging Act; equity in
authority for counties, cities and towns; unfunded mandates; and, transportation
funding. Other items identified by Board members for potential inclusion in the
upcoming Legislative Priority List were: Proffer or Impact Fee Legislation; VDOT
responsibility for drainage installations in easements; assistance for broadband
(regional project with Surry, Franklin and Southampton); and, impact of recent
Supreme Court ruling on public sector union membership in the Commonwealth.
Senator Cosgrove advised that he supports increased education funding
throughout the Commonwealth.
Delegate Brewer reported on a recent announcement that Smithfield Middle
School and Smithfield High School had received $100,000 in funding to assist with
issues related to security.
Senator Norment remarked that public education is the most important core
service on the State level. He advised that the Recession was the first time in the
history of Virginia that funding was cut for public education and attempts to
recover have not been successful. He stated when there have been unanticipated
revenues, the competition for such revenues is great. He advised that he sits on
the Education Subcommittee which provides him oversight and he will continue
to fight very hard for any additional funding for public education. He further
advised that 10% of any unanticipated revenues are automatically allocated to
water quality improvement and a certain percentage is allocated to the revenue
stabilization fund and transportation.
Regarding the subject of lottery proceeds, Senator Norment advised that the only
potential way for localities to receive a net increase in the distribution to localities
for education is if the net lottery proceeds have increased.
Delegate Brewer emphasized the importance of the unanticipated revenue fund,
which is mandated and critical for the State to keep strong fiscal health in the
Commonwealth.
Responsive to Supervisor Grice's request that community college certification
programs be reexamined as they are not funded as regular credit hours, Senator
Norment offered to bring this up for discussion at a future Education and Health
Committee meeting.
Delegate Brewer remarked that workforce development is important to her and
that community colleges are moving towards a new era where they are looking
for community partners.
Senator Louise Lucas arrived at the meeting and commented that she is a strong
supporter of community colleges.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson stated a critical need is linkage
between the Hampton Roads region and the Richmond metro area with regard to
the interstate.
Relative to transportation funding, Senator Cosgrove remarked that he serves on
the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission which has been
very good stewards of transportation dollars and each locality has representation
on the Committee. He agreed that maintenance of roadways needs to be a
primary concern and he is very aware of the importance of ensuring that the
arterials are capable of handling commerce traffic.
Delegate Brewer remarked that there is a Bill at the Senate level being proposed
that would establish Federal pull -down funds for primary emergency evacuation
routes and she intends to address the flooding issues with Route 460 if that Bill
comes to fruition.
Supervisor Grice brought to the legislative delegation's attention an issue
involving a citizen that lives in a community where a drainage ditch has washed
away and is in an easement.
County Administrator Keaton is to provide information regarding the above to the
legislative delegation members.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson addressed the issue of proffer
legislation. He stated there is no obligation on the development community to
participate in infrastructure and capital impacts on schools and other County
services. He noted the Board would like their assistance in revising the proffer
language.
Senator Cosgrove recommended that local governments work with the
development community to determine if there is a common ground in terms of a
reasonable proffer system.
Delegate Brewer recommended getting the Virginia Association of Counties and
the Virginia Municipal League involved.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson addressed the issue of broadband
availability.
Delegate Brewer stated that she has been appointed to a Broadband Advisory
Council and she offered to bring the County's specific issues up at the Broadband
summit.
Senator Norment stated he would like to restructure franchise agreements to
require that broadband be made available to everyone.
Supervisor McCarty offered to bring up the concept of a rural broadband coalition
at a future Hampton Roads Planning District Commission meeting to include
Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson brought up the issue of the recent
Supreme Court ruling on public sector union membership in the Commonwealth.
Senator Cosgrove offered to research the issue as he believes it covers only
Federal union activities.
The Board took a break and reconvened.
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Assistant County Administrator Robertson asked for discussion and direction from
the Board regarding the creation of a Safety Task Force.
Following discussion by the Board that the safety of the County's students is of
great concern and that there is a need for a plan to be in place, to include a policy
and procedure, to address an active shooter or other emergency.
Supervisor Rosie brought the Board up to date regarding the discussion held at
the Security Task Force meetings which revealed that the attendees had different
perspectives. He advised that some representatives wanted SROs in every school
and the School Division wanted SROs in the middle and high schools, but not in
the elementary schools. He advised the new Sheriff is agreeable with whatever
this Board wishes to do, to include putting SROs in every school. He stated the
Security Task Force was reset while this Board decides on its objectives and
policies so that a clear plan can be set up to deter, detect and defend the County's
schools. He recommended that the offer of DHS to evaluate free of charge two of
the County's schools be accepted. He stated that the Board needs to ask the
Department of Emergency Services, the Sheriff's Department and the school
system to be truly collaborative and share all its information.
Supervisor Grice remarked that the Task Force, through a coordinated group
effort, needs to prioritize the things they would like to see accomplished so that
the Board will know how to go about funding it.
Supervisor Rosie offered to coordinate with a PSA to attend the Board's work
session on November 1' at which time the Board is to receive an update of the
school's security system.
The following matter were identified for discussion in closed meeting by Interim
County Attorney Jones:
Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia concerning
consideration of perspective candidates for employment.
Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty, the Board entered the closed meeting for
the reasons stated by Interim County Attorney Jones, which was adopted
unanimously (5-0).
Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty, the Board reconvened into open meeting,
which was adopted unanimously (5-0).
Interim 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.
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Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty, 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 and Rosie
NAYS: 0
ABSENT DURING VOTE: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 0
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:00 p.m., Chairman Jefferson declared the meeting adjourned.
Carey Its S orm, Clerk
&W;bWR
Rudolph Jefferson, Chairman
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