9-3-2020 Special MeetingSPECIAL MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD
IN THE SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA LOCATED AT 14171 TURNER DRIVE,
SMITHFIELD, VIRGINIA ON THURSDAY, THE THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 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
Amber Johnson, Legal Assistant
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree advised that the meeting of the Board had been opened and
closed at the Smithfield High School auditorium; however, due to the air
conditioning not working properly, the meeting of the Board had been changed to
the Smithfield High School cafeteria for the purpose of conducting a public
hearing on the removal, relocation, contextualization or covering of the
Confederate monument located at the entrance of the Isle of Wight County
Complex located at 17140 Monument Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia, 23397.
Supervisor McCarty moved that the meeting of the Board of Supervisors be called
back to order at 6:00 p.m. which was unanimously adopted (5-0).
Assistant County Administrator Robertson delivered the invocation and
conducted the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Supervisor Jefferson moved that the agenda be approved as presented which was
adopted unanimously (5-0).
Supervisor McCarty moved that the Board set a special joint meeting with the
School Board on September 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Westside Elementary School
auditorium. The motion was unanimously adopted (5-0).
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Chairman Acree opened the public hearing and called for those to speak in favor of
or in opposition to the removal, relocation, contextualization or covering of the
Confederate monument located at the entrance of the Isle of Wight County
Complex located at 17140 Monument Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia, 23397.
County Attorney Jones advised that 94 written comments had been received prior
to the start of this meeting and that an additional eight comments were received
since 3:00 p.m. today. He further advised that all emails received prior to midnight
tonight will be made a part of the record of this meeting.
Chairman Acree offered to send the emails that were sent to him to the County
Attorney for inclusion in the record.
Lee Duncan of Modest Neck Road remarked that the statute represents a painful
part of history and should be removed to Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Albert Burckard distributed General Order #14 to the Board and noted his strong
opposition to the removal of any reminders of this nation's bloodiest war.
Thomas Finderson of Sugar Hill Road reviewed the events associated with the Civil
War.
Pat Clark of Twin Hill Lane addressed three separate monuments which he believes
should be preserved for history.
Joseph Ferguson of Dews Plantation Road remarked that the purpose of these
statutes is to perpetuate the memory of hundreds of men.
Jennifer Boykin of Walters Highway presented a letter written by George Webster
recommending that the statute remain at its present location. Those in favor of the
monument remaining at the Courthouse were asked to stand and were
acknowledged.
Tom Conley of Red Oak Court read a statement written by an anonymous individual
who is unable to attend the meeting but is in favor of the monument remaining at
its present location.
Joe Epps of New Town Haven Lane spoke in favor of the Confederate monument
which stands at the front of the Isle of Wight Courthouse remaining in its current
location.
Frank Earmist of Virginia Beach spoke in favor of the Confederate monument
remaining at its current location at the front of the Isle of Wight Courthouse.
Jerry Tenney of Smithfield spoke in favor of the Confederate monument being
relocated to a cemetery.
Lee Hart of Suffolk spoke in favor of the Confederate monument remaining at its
current location.
2
Jennifer Molesworth of Smithfield spoke in favor of the Confederate monument
remaining at its current location.
Heidi Swartz of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Jim Parker of Suffolk spoke in favor of the monument remaining at the Courthouse.
Glen Little of Zuni spoke in favor of allowing citizens to decide and put the matter on
a ballot.
Martha Jackson of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument being removed from
its current location.
Keith Morris of Suffolk spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Dwight Doggett, Jr. of Smithfield opposed the removal of the monument from its
current location.
Ed Whitley of Newport News spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its
current location.
Volpe Boykin of Carrsville, by a show of support from the public, advised he was
representing a group of ten individuals. He spoke in favor of erecting a new
monument in Monument Circle at the Isle of Wight Courthouse and that a group of
individuals be appointed by the Board to honor those soldiers who fought in the
36th Infantry.
Larry Gaskins of Williamsburg spoke in favor of retaining and preserving the
Confederate monument at its current location.
Valerie Butler of Smithfield, on behalf of the NAACP, requested that the
Confederate monument be removed which represents a symbol of oppression for
people of color.
Akilah Frye of Carrollton spoke in favor of the Confederate monument being
removed from its current location.
Chrissy Appel of Surry spoke in favor of the Confederate monument remaining in its
current location.
Chairman Acree declared a break. Upon returning to open session, Maggie Richards
of the Windsor District spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Tony Griffin of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
3
Mariel Shumate of Suffolk spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Herb DeGroft of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Che Mullins of Bowling Green Road spoke in favor of the monument being
relocated.
Craig Marshall of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument being relocated.
Jeriyah Savadge of Newport News spoke in favor of relocating the monument.
Hunter Manley of Benns Church Boulevard spoke in favor of the monument being
relocated.
Rosa Turner of Old Stage Highway spoke in favor of the monument being relocated.
Terrell Batten of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument being relocated,
Dale Robertson of Windsor spoke in favor of the monument remaining at its current
location.
Denise Uzzell Herald of Bowling Green Road spoke in favor of the monument being
relocated.
Pastor Gloston Nolen of Wrenn Road spoke in favor of the removal of the
monument.
Colonel Joshua Higgins of Portsmouth spoke in favor of the monument being
relocated
Tamekiah Aguirpe of Carrollton spoke in favor of the monument being relocated.
Karra Johnson of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument being
relocated/removed.
Dereck Boone of Carrollton spoke in favor of the monument being relocated.
Mike Armistead of Suffolk spoke in favor of the monument not being destroyed.
Annika Erig of Smithfield spoke in favor of the monument being relocated to
another location.
Sarah Tippett of Carrollton spoke in favor of the monument remaining in its current
location.
Joel Bradshaw of Carrsville spoke in favor of the monument remaining in its current
location, relocating it, but not destroying it.
Matt Ployl of Smithfield spoke for the removal of the monument from its current
location.
Joel Joyner of Carrollton spoke in favor of the monument being taken down.
Ethan Swartz of Longview Drive spoke in favor of the monument not being taken
down.
There being no additional individuals signed up to speak on the matter, Chairman
Acree advised that comments will be received on this matter until midnight tonight
and that action will be deferred until a later date.
Supervisor Rosie moved that the public hearing be closed at 11:59 p.m. tonight. The
motion was unanimously (5-0) adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:30 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the meeting adjourned.
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Carey Mil s St6rm, Clerk
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Joel C. Acree, Chair