3-16-2020 Special MeetingSPECIAL MEETING 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 SIXTEENTH DAY OF MARCH 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
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree called the special meeting of the Board of Supervisors to order at
6:00 p.m. in order to receive an update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Pat Humphries, the County's new Chief of Emergency Services, was introduced to
the Board.
Andrea Clontz, Emergency Services Coordinator, recommended that up-to-date
information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) be obtained from the Center for
Disease Control (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health. She advised that to
date, COVID-19 has been a mild to severe respiratory illness which could lead up
to and include death and presents with a fever, dry cough and shortness of
breath. She stated progression of the spread of the virus can be slowed down so
that the most severe cases hit the hospitals in a graduated fashion. She stated
the County's organization objective is the safety of its staff and to protect those
with higher risk of adverse health complications. She advised that each County
department and the Constitutional Officers have been requested to identify how
to best decrease the spread of the virus in their workplace; to monitor and
respond to absenteeism in the workplace; to look into exploring flexible work
sites, telecommuting and flexible hours to assist with increasing physical distance;
and, to review and access their cross training procedures of employees. She
advised that the County has implemented suspension of non-essential travel
outside of the region and is considering attendance at external meetings on a
case-by-case basis. She noted that certain special events have been cancelled and
others are being monitored. She advised that employee personal and domestic
travel is being discouraged and employees are being made aware that they could
be subject to a self -quarantine period of up to 14 days following their travel. She
advised that all youth soccer programs, and senior activities have been cancelled.
She advised that Inspections are following the Regional Inspection Organization
Guidance; water shut -offs are being halted by Public Utilities; refuse centers
remain open in a self-service mode; services handled by the Planning and Zoning
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Department continue to be offered on-line; the Registrar's office will be
encouraging on-line absentee voter requests; and, the Clerk of Circuit Court and
all courts will be operating with limited public access until April 6, 2020.
County Administrator Keaton addressed the impact Coronavirus (COVID-19) may
have on the upcoming budget. He advised that the Commissioner of Revenue
included a disclaimer in his revenue projections for the upcoming budget that
those projections do not include any effects from COVID-19. He stated the goal is
to present a budget with revenue projections based on what the Commissioner of
Revenue is projecting and to place most of that revenue into contingency so that
if the revenues come in as hoped, those funds can be allocated later. Most
localities have made the decision to close to the public and he has been
coordinating with the Towns of Smithfield and Windsor, the City of Franklin and
Southampton County and recommends that County offices be closed to the public
beginning Wednesday morning.
A report from the Sheriff's office was requested, as well as what job functions are
being performed by the School Resource Officers now that the schools are closed.
Mary Beth Johnson, Director of Human Resources, briefed the Board on a new
policy being proposed for public health emergency leave to provide for paid leave
to employees that meet the criteria specified in instances of a public health
emergency and to clarify the provisions, guideline, rules and procedures of the
Leave Donation Policy. She advised that a Resolution to Adopt Chapter 1:
Personnel, Article V, Section 5.15 and Amend Chapter 1: Personnel, Article XIII of
the County Policy Manual will be included in the Board's March 19, 2020 agenda
for consideration of adoption.
Supervisor McCarty moved that County Administrator Keaton be authorized to
make the declaration in closing the County offices with the authority to revisit.
The motion was adopted (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, Jefferson, Rosie and
McCarty voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the
motion.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:50 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the meeting adjourned.
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
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Joel C. Acree, Chair