Agenda

Minutes

FEBRUARY 12, 2002

County of Greene, Virginia

THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2002 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE COUNTY MEETING ROOM.

Present were: Kenneth Lawson, Chairman
Steve Catalano, Vice Chairman
Jeri Allen, Member
Mickey Cox, Member
Kevin Welch, Member
Ray Clarke, County Attorney
J. L. Morris, County Administrator
Patti Shifflett, Deputy Clerk
Tracy Morris, Finance Director

The Chairman opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Junior Girl Scout Troop 791 and prayer by Rev. Mark Holder, Swift Run Baptist Church,

Mr. Al Cinquepalma said he was in favor of saving taxpayers money. He questioned the ability of the County to pay the debt service on the shorter term loan. The County Administrator said the increased debt service will be included in the upcoming budget. The debt service annual payment will increase by $72,000.

The Chairman closed the public hearing.

The County Administrator said the current rate on the bonds is 5.74%. Negotiations with the bank has reduced the rate to 4.40%. The term will be reduced to ten years which will result in a long term savings of $815, 973.

Mrs. Allen asked if the project can be refinanced at a future date if necessary. The County Administrator said loan terms can be renegotiated at a future date, if warranted.

Mr. Cox said the refinancing makes good business sense. He suggested the refinancing of any other loans would be a good idea when possible.

Mr. Welch felt the additional increase should be easily met.

Mr. Catalano supports the refinance.

Upon motion by Kevin Welch and unanimous vote, the Board approved the resolution authorizing the refinancing of the Library/Senior Center Project. (See Attachment "A")

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Mr. Hamp Hall, representative of the Red Cross organization and resident of Greene County, spoke briefly on the activities of the Red Cross. He asked the Board to adopt the proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month.

Upon motion by Steve Catalano and unanimous vote, the Board approve the proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month. (See Attachment "B")

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Upon motion by Steve Catalano and unanimous vote, the Board approved the minutes of the January 29, 2002 meeting as amended.

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Upon motion by Steve Catalano and unanimous vote, the Board adopted the resolution approving a DMV Grant in the amount of $750.00 for the Sheriff’s Department which in no way obligates local funds or local matches beyond the period of the grant. (See Attachment "C")

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Mr. Cox referred to a report in the Board information packet from the Health Insurance Committee. The Committee asked the Board to send a letter to the School Board requesting permission to allow the Committee to continue and that the Committee’s recommendation on health insurance be given consideration during the process of selecting a health insurance company in the future.

The Committee would like to add one School Board member and the School Board Clerk to the committee.

Mrs. Tracy Morris, Finance Director, Mr. James Howard, Director of Social Services, and Mr. Tom Evans, Teacher, all of whom are also members on the Health Insurance Committee, were present to discuss the report.

Mr. Evans distributed a handout to the Board for their review. He spoke on teacher salaries and other teacher related issues.

After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to allow the Committee to continue and to request the School Board to consider recommendations from the Health Insurance Committee. Mr. Welch, Board liaison representative, will present this request to the School Board.

Mr. Welch brought up the matter of residents who build their own homes and are required to pay taxes on the house based on the percent of completion. He suggested the Board re-examine the real property assessment requirements to consider granting a certain period of time before assessing incomplete improvements.

Mr. Catalano said he has discussed this issue with the County Administrator. The plan is to have a comprehensive review of the procedure/process under which real property taxes are levied.

It was the consensus of the Board to have the County Attorney research this issue and report to the Board at the next meeting. Also, a report from the County Assessor is requested.

Mr. Catalano noted all budget requests are to use zero-based budgeting.

Mrs. Allen noted she has received numerous calls from citizens who feel that current public notices are inadequate. She asked that notices of such hearings be placed at the post offices. It has been suggested the Board be allocated column space in the local newspaper for discussion of upcoming issues.

The Chairman suggested a member of the administrative staff could write a weekly column for the local paper.

Mr. Cox said the Orange radio station used to provide news coverage of the Board meetings. The Board asked the County Administrator to contact the radio station regarding this matter.

Mrs. Allen said the Planning District Commission has completed the two-year project on the Regional Economic Development Plan. Copies will be distributed to the Board.

The Chairman noted there has not been a report on the progress of the Charlottesville By-pass recently. The Board asked the County Administrator to contact VDOT regarding the status of this project.

Mr. Leonard Dunahoo was present to request the Board contact VDOT regarding changing the stop sign on the east bound angled crossover on the bypass west of Stanardsville to a yield sign. He said he has talked with Mr. Jim Bryan, Resident Engineer, regarding this matter. If the Board will send a resolution requesting these sign changes, Mr. Bryan will act on this matter.

Upon motion by Kevin Welch and unanimous vote, the Board instructed the County Administrator to send a resolution supporting the change from a stop sign to a yield sign at this location on the Route 33 By-pass and to forward such resolution to Mr. James Bryan, Resident Engineer, for his consideration. (See Attachment "D)

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Upon motion by Mickey Cox and unanimous vote, the Board entered into Executive Session to discuss legal and personnel matters pursuant to Section 2.1-344 Subsection (a, 1-7) of the Code of Virginia.

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

Upon motion by Jeri Allen and unanimous vote, the Board returned to Open Session.

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

By unanimous vote, all members certified that only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements and only such matters as identified by the motion to enter into Executive Session were discussed.

Recorded vote: Kenneth Lawson - Yes
Steve Catalano - Yes
Jeri Allen - Yes
Mickey Cox - Yes
Kevin Welch - Yes

Motion carried.

The Board discussed the following goals submitted to date. Mrs. Allen indicated she had submitted goals for the Board retreat.

• Begin construction on new sewer plant

• Begin upgrading computer technology

• Timeline to automate information for Board meetings

• Open the Recreation Park in 2002

• Develop a detailed master plan for the County Recreation Park

• Adopt a concise statement of "vision" as guidance for the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee

• Establish guiding principles for the next four years, including, but not limited to:

• - Budget priorities, land use/individual property rights issues, possible options for development to pay for the proportionate share of government services

Mrs. Allen suggested the grand opening of the County Recreation Park be combined with a day of appreciation for the volunteers that provided assistance on various County projects.

Mrs. Allen suggested the use of the top floor of the Library/Senior Center building be discussed at the Board retreat.

The Chairman said members need to submit goals for the year and for the retreat.

As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned. A workshop tour of E911 Emergency Service Operations Centers in Culpeper and Orange Counties was held on Tuesday, February 26, 2002 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

_______________________________

Kenneth W. Lawson, Chairman

Greene County Board of Supervisors

WHEREAS, the American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, a woman selflessly devoted to the needs of humanity. Many of the Red Cross’ guiding principles—compassion, courage, character, and civic duty—are timeless ideals shared by the people of the United States. Chartered and authorized by the Congress to act in times of need, the American Red Cross serves our Nation and the world, providing compassionate assistance to people afflicted by personal, local, national, or international disasters. Every day, millions of Red Cross volunteers and employees follow in Clara Barton’s footsteps by providing essential services to people in their communities; and

WHEREAS, for more than 120 years, Americans have relied on the expertise of the American Red Cross in disaster relief. The American Red Cross also saves lives long before tragedy strikes by helping individuals and entire communities learn to prepare for disasters; and

WHEREAS, the educational information distributed by the American Red Cross helps people feel safe at home, at work, at school, and at play. Last year, the Red Cross trained nearly 12 million people in lifesaving CPR and first aid, in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDS), on HIV/AIDS education, and in life guarding and water safety. In 2001, more than 6.3 million units of blood were collected from 4 million generous blood donors; and

WHEREAS, under its charter, the American Red Cross is entrusted to deliver emergency messages and provide vital services for military members and their families. Almost 40,000 Red Cross volunteers work at more than 100 military sites here and around the world; and

WHEREAS, through the years, the American Red Cross has reached out to people worldwide, preventing and relieving the most desperate cases of human suffering caused by crises abroad. The organization’s international services save the lives of people threatened by calamities such as epidemics, natural disasters, armed conflict, deadly weather, social strife, or economic collapse; and

WHEREAS, the Central Virginia Chapter, established on August 7, 1917 and signed by President Woodrow Wilson, under its charter served 50 families who lost their homes to fires last year. The local chapter trained 7,404 individuals in health and safety classes, and assisted nearly 75% of the State of Virginia by providing blood and blood products for all residents, and provided disaster trained volunteers to work throughout the United States in 2001.

NOW THEREFORE the Greene County Board of Supervisors does hereby proclaim March, 2002 as AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH and encourages all citizens to give part of themselves to advance this organization’s noble humanitarian mission.

Adopted in open meeting this 12^th day of February, 2002.

WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s Department of the County of Greene has been awarded funds from the Department of Motor Vehicles to purchase a TV/VCR; and

WHEREAS, the funds in the amount of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) will need to be appropriated to the appropriate line item in the 2001-2002 budget of the County of Greene, Virginia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Greene, Virginia that seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) be appropriated to the 2001-2002 budget of the County of Greene.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Administrator of the County of Greene, Virginia is authorized to make the appropriate accounting adjustments in the budget to do all things necessary to give this resolution effect.

Adopted this 12th day of February, 2002.

WHEREAS, the Greene County Board of Supervisors has received numerous requests from citizens to replace the stop sign with a yield sign at the west exit to the Route 33 Business for east bound traffic crossing the WBL of the Route 33 Stanardsville By-pass; and,

WHEREAS, the Business operators in the Town of Stanardsville have requested the same; and,

WHEREAS, the site distance at the location is more than adequate.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Greene County Board of Supervisors hereby requests VDOT to replace the stop sign with a yield sign at the west exit to the Route 33 Business for the east bound traffic crossing the WBL of the Stanardsville Route 33 By-pass.

Adopted this 12^th day of February, 2002.

Resolutions