02-04-2021 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 LOCATED AT 17090 MONUMENT CIRCLE, ISLE OF WIGHT, VIRGINIA
ON THURSDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND
AND TWENTY ONE
PRESENT:
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Chairman
Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District, Vice -Chairman (via electronically from Indian
Beach, North Carolina)
Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District
William M. McCarty, Newport District
Joel C. Acree, Windsor 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 Grice called the work session of the Board of Supervisors to order at
6:00 p.m.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson delivered the invocation and led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
County Attorney Jones advised that pursuant to State Code and the Board's by-
laws, a Board member can participate remotely in a meeting if a physical quorum
is assembled and if the member has requested and notified the Chairman that he
wishes to appear remotely/electronically. He advised that Vice -Chairman Rosie
will be participating electronically due to a work obligation which will require him
to state the nature of his absence and the remote location from which he is
participating.
Vice -Chairman Rosie advised that he will be participating electronically from
Indian Beach, North Carolina due to a work obligation.
Supervisor Acree moved that Vice -Chairman Rosie be authorized to participate
electronically in the meeting. The motion was adopted (4-0) with Supervisors
Acree, McCarty, Jefferson and Grice voting in favor of the motion and no
Supervisor voting against the motion.
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Vice -Chairman Rosie thereafter joined the meeting.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Supervisor Jefferson moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. The
motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty,
Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting
against the motion.
Chairman Grice read a statement into the record pertaining to COVID-19 advising
that the Health Department will be providing 1,000 doses of Moderna vaccine to
residents in the Western Tidewater area age 65 and older and that the vaccines
will be provided by appointment only on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 from
9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Eastern Baptist Church located in Suffolk, Virginia.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
County Administrator Keaton provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
in the Western Tidewater area related to doses administered by locality of
residence; doses administered last week; and, scheduling etiquette.
David Smith, Director of Parks & Recreation, provided an update on the
Blackwater River Park operation and plans relative to public access.
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County Administrator Keaton provided an overview of the proposed plans for
expansion of the Windsor Library building to address the overcrowded conditions
and lack of programming space at that facility. The Board was apprised that the
Town owns the land and the County owns the building and that staff is currently
working with the Town to update the existing agreement.
County Attorney Jones referred to the draft letter in the agenda sent on behalf of
the citizens of Isle of Wight County expressing their strong support for House Bill
2322/Senate Bill 1469 which would establish the opioid abatement authority to
ensure the fair and orderly distribution of opioid litigation recoveries to local and
state governments.
Supervisor McCarty moved that the Chairman be authorized to execute the letter
of support for HB2322 and SB1469 for the establishment of the opioid abatement
authority. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors Acree,
Grice, McCarty, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no
Supervisors voting against the motion.
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County Administrator Keaton addressed the Board regarding the potential
implementation of a County tax on cigarettes.
Chairman Grice requested that staff return to the Board after the General
Assembly ends with a recommendation as to how the Board should proceed
before taking action to implement a cigarette tax.
County Administrator Keaton stated a 1% sales tax which can only be used for
school construction or capital needs would require a referendum, and, if passed,
would generate $2.3 to $2.4 million which could take the place of the $.04
property tax proposed to pay the County's debt service payments.
Chairman Grice directed that additional taxing authority in the form of a cigarette
tax, plastic bag tax and sales and use tax be placed on the November ballot and
that staff produce documents to inform the public and make presentations to the
various civic organizations.
County Administrator Keaton addressed the concern with an ever-increasing
amount of trash along the roadways and advised that the General Assembly is
currently considering legislation to increase penalties for littering.
County Attorney Jones advised that the County is currently at the harshest
penalty under the law for littering or having trash blown out of the vehicle which
carries a minimum punishment of a $250 fine up to a $2,500 fine and up to twelve
months in jail.
The consensus of the Board was that if the County can directly benefit from the
legislation currently under consideration by the General Assembly, staff should
proceed to obtain the effective tools related to the enforcement of litter in terms
of hiring a licensed enforcement officer who would specialize in investigating
illegal dumps or partnering with VDOT to install cameras in certain locations
targeted as high volume trash areas.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson reported that the Monument Task
Force discussed and listed the following methods of contextualization as options;
however, no consensus or agreement was reached by the Task Force as to any
priority or preference of the options:
1. Erect another monument of equal size and equal height to memorialize all
who died in war
2. Erect a statue in recognition of the 36th United States Colored Infantry
Regiment
3. Make the current monument all-inclusive
4. Erect granite monuments in a semi -circle with each portion of granite
providing historical information
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5. Erect additional statues of other notable individuals (such as Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.) of the same height and size as the current
monument
6. Add simple signage around the current statue with QR codes with historical
information visitors could read on their own electronic devices
Staff was requested to investigate and report back to the Board the number of
monuments owned by local governments and that staff continue to take under
consideration any other options should the relocation of the monument from the
Courthouse complex to the Town of Windsor cemetery not occur.
Amy Ring, Community Development Director, briefed the Board on staff's efforts
to identify and conduct outreach to key stakeholders for the anticipated study on
senior citizens in the community which will identify steps the County can take to
ensure its residents can age successfully in the community. The initial step will be
to survey residents on their top concerns with aging in the County as well as their
future lifestyle priorities. The next step will be for the stakeholder work group to
convene and develop policy recommendations to better direct County actions and
decisions as well as guide capital investments to maximize the accessibility in the
County to persons of all ages, ability levels and socioeconomic groups. She
solicited the Board's assistance in identifying those individuals that may be willing
to participate in the stakeholders' group and advised that the Commission on
Aging members did offer themselves as a potential stakeholder group.
Chairman Grice shared with the Board that the Commission on Aging recently
formed a subcommittee of that group that will be submitting their
recommendations in terms of budgeting items to County Administrator Keaton
for this budget period.
Supervisor McCarty moved the subcommittee be formed out of the Commission
on Aging membership. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with
Supervisors Acree, Grice, McCarty, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the
motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion.
Ms. Ring shared with the Board the results of the space needs analysis and
timeline for the Community Development Department initiated to identify ways
to provide a more secure, user-friendly and service-oriented space and to
increase staff efficiency in an appropriate work environment. It is designed for
social distancing and public health recommendations are incorporated in the
recommended layout. Additional office space is also needed on the first floor to
allow for more efficient workflow, meet social distancing requirements, and
provide for individual concentration. Reorganization of the Lobby allows for easy
public access to the service counters while maintaining controlled access to the
Department to address current security concerns.
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Supervisor McCarty recommended stackable chairs for the Board Room be done
in conjunction with the expansion of the Community Development office space.
County Administrator Keaton offered to obtain information on stackable chairs
for the Board Room and bring back to the Board at its next regular meeting.
County Attorney Jones requested a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-
3711(A) of the Code of Virginia, for the limited purpose of: A discussion regarding
the disposition of County owned real property located within the town limits of
Smithfield where discussing of the same in an open meeting would adversely
affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Board, pursuant to
subsection 3; and, consultation with legal counsel employed by the Board
regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such
counsel, namely the requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act
pertaining to meetings pursuant to subsection 8.
Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty and all voting in favor (5-0), the Board
entered the closed meeting for the reasons stated by County Attorney Jones.
Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty and all voting in favor (5-0), the Board
reconvened into open meeting.
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.
Upon motion of Supervisor Jefferson and all voting in favor (5-0), 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
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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. Rosie
NAYS: 0
ABSENT DURING VOTE: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 0
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:05 p.m., Chairman Grice declared the meeting adjourned.
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Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
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Richard Oarice, airman