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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). // 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. Owl � j�LQS AM02�, Carey Mil s St6rm, Clerk E C' Joel C. Acree, Chair