03-7-24 - 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 SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND
TWENTY-FOUR
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Joel C. Acree, District 4, Chairman
Don G. Rosie, II, District 5, Vice -Chairman
Rudolph Jefferson, District 3
William M. McCarty, Sr., District 2
Renee Rountree, District 1
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
On motion of Supervisor McCarty, the agenda was adopted unanimously (5-0) as
amended to move Item (C), a report from the Chairperson of the Commission on
Aging to Item (A) and Item (A) an update on the expansion of broadband, to Item
(C) and add a closed meeting at the end of the meeting.
INVOCATION
Barbara Higgins of Smithfield delivered the invocation and led the Pledge of
Allegiance to the American flag.
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Brenda Reynolds, Chairperson for the Commission on Aging, addressed the Board
regarding previously held events for County citizens. She thanked the Board for its
past financial support and for appointing individuals to serve on the Commission.
Eric Collins, Director of Government Services, Charter Communications (Spectrum),
provided an update on construction activities related to the expansion of
broadband internet services in the County. He advised that Spectrum will be
meeting the June/July 2025 deadline for completion of its expansion.
Chris Pomeroy, President, AquaLaw PLC, provided information on the background
and milestones of the Western Tidewater Water Authority from 2000 to present.
He continued with an overview of the regional Water Agreement in terms of its
parties, term, and purpose and concluded his presentation with an overview of the
benefits, cost and use associated with the Norfolk Water Agreement.
Laura E. Smith, Clerk of Circuit Court, provided an update on operations within the
Clerk of Circuit Court's office related to the launching of a Deed Notification
Program on the County's website and a reindexing project of land records from
1914 going forward. She informed the Board about the receipt of a $40,000 grant
from the Virginia Library to help preserve Deed Books and Will records. She advised
that she has requested a management analyzation of her office by the Department
of Judicial Services. She further advised that she has filled her previous position of
Chief Deputy with an internal candidate and has advertised for the position left
open. She informed the Board that she had hosted two home school groups who
observed the criminal docket with Judge Farmer and who will be conducting a mock
trial in the General District Circuit Court in April. She continued that her office is
currently scanning criminal files from 2009 in order to make them digital which will
help with storage and the sealing Bill that will go into effect in 2025. She concluded
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her presentation explaining the concealed weapons permit process and the
collection method for County fees.
Julie D. Slye, Treasurer, distributed suggested changes to the pet license followed
by an overview of operations within the Treasurer's office. She began with her first
efforts in her office pertaining to estimates and State taxes and Comp Board
reimbursements. With regard to delinquent tax collections efforts, specifically
those for December 2023 and earlier, she explained that she was not able to access
the Department of Motor Vehicles records due to the County's user agreement
expiring the day after she came into office. She explained that the delinquent tax
collection rate has decreased from 98% to 96% as a result of personnel changes
and no active collection being done. She noted that her office is short of two utility
billing positions and she has asked for these positions back.
On the subject of satellite locations throughout the County being offered to County
citizens during peak times of the year, Ms. Slye confirmed that her long-term plan
does anticipate doing this at the northern end of the County.
On the subject of animal licenses, Ms. Slye recommended the County begin selling
either a one-year animal license or a lifetime license. At this time, the County
charges pet licenses only for dogs.
On the subject of the Delinquent Tax Collections report, the Treasurer indicated
that it is her goal to have the 2024 January and February tax levy reports for the
Board's information at its March 21, 2024 regular meeting.
The sentiment of the Board was for the Treasurer to solicit assistance of past
Treasurers regarding the preparation of certain reports. It was the sentiment of
Supervisor Rountree that the Treasurer focus on delinquent tax collection efforts.
Following a short break, County Administrator Keaton brought up the County's
Strategic Plan for discussion and suggested that formal updates to the
Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Plan parallel each other.
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Chairman Acree recommended sending out a similar questionnaire as that used
with the previous Strategic Plan to solicit feedback from the citizens.
Supervisor Rountree spoke in favor of Warren County's Strategic plan. She
recommended moving forward with updating the County's Strategic Plan noting
that the last update was in 2017.
Supervisor Mccarty recommended copies of a proposed Strategic Plan be provided
to the Board in Word format for individualized corrections/suggestions followed by
a work session or retreat to discuss proposed changes.
County Administrator Keaton advised that staff could provide a summary of items
that have been accomplished since the 2013 Strategic Plan.
County Attorney Jones advised that the elevator providing access to the Robert C.
Claud, Sr. Board Room is out of order and is anticipated to remain out of order for
several additional months due to the need for manufactured replacement parts.
He recommended that the Board's meetings be moved temporarily to the Isle of
Wight County General District Court to accommodate public access.
Vice -Chairman Rosie moved to adopt the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY,
VIRGINIA TO CHANGE ITS MEETING LOCATION as ADOPTED BY THE BOARD AT ITS
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2024
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, held its
organizational meeting on January 5, 2023, in the Robert C. Claud, Sr. Board Room
located at 17130 Monument Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia and adopted its 2024
meeting schedule; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, at its meeting held on March 7, 2024, made it
known that beginning March 21, 2024, they desired to change the meeting place
of their meeting from the Robert C. Claud, Sr. Board Room to the Isle of Wight
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County General District Court, located at 17000 Josiah Parker Circle, Isle of Wight,
Virginia in order to provide access accommodations due to a broken elevator.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that beginning March 21, 2024 and continuing
until such time as amended by the Board of Supervisors, the meeting location of
the meetings of the Board of Supervisors shall be the Isle of Wight County General
District Court, located at 17000 Josiah Parker Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia, and, as
is required by the Board's By-laws and §15.2-1416 of the Code of Virginia, that this
resolution moving the meeting location be posted on the door of the initial public
meeting place and inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the County
at least seven days prior to the first such meeting.
Supervisor Jefferson noted that the Commission on Aging appointees currently
meet in this room and will need another place to meet. Staff is to investigate
another meeting site and report back.
County Attorney Jones stated that the Planning Commission will need to change its
meeting location as well; however, most of the other appointed
boards/committees/Commissions will not have to move their location from this
room as most of them consist of only several people in which case the Board could
accommodate them by moving itself.
CLOSED MEETING
Pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia, Vice -Chairman Rosie
moved to enter a closed meeting for the limited purpose of consultation with legal
counsel and briefing by staff regarding actual or probable litigation regarding the
use of county owned real property, where such consultation would adversely affect
the negotiating or litigation posture of this public body pursuant to subsection 7.
Upon motion of Supervisor McCarty the Board entered a closed meeting.
On motion of Supervisor McCarty, which passed unanimously (5-0), the Board
reconvened into open meeting.
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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 McCarty 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
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, Rosie, Jefferson, McCarty, Rountree
NAYS: 0
ABSENT DURING VOTE: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 0
A
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:00 p.m., the work session was declared adjourned.
- W () az54='—
Joel C. Acr e, Cha"r
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk