Organizational Meeting – January 4, 2012
Organizational Meeting, Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 5:00 p.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.
PRESENT: Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Chairman
Jeffrey A. Moore, Vice-Chairman
David R. Beyeler
David A. Karaffa
Marshall W. Pattie
Michael L. Shull
Larry J. Wills
Timmy Fitzgerald, Director of Community Development
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Director of Finance
Patrick J. Morgan, County Attorney
John C. McGehee, Assistant County Administrator
Patrick J. Coffield, County Administrator
Rita R. Austin, CMC, Executive Secretary
VIRGINIA: At an organizational meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at 5:00 p.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 236th year of the Commonwealth….
Michael L. Shull, Supervisor for Riverheads District, led us with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Larry J. Wills, Supervisor for Middle River District, delivered invocation.
ORGANIZATION OF 2012 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Larry J. Wills, Supervisor for Middle River District, presided over the reorganization of the Board for 2012. Mr. Wills welcomed each member to the Board and indicated he looked forward to working with each member over the next four years.
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN – 2012
Mr. Wills called for nominations for Chairman for 2012.
Mr. Beyeler nominated Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., seconded by Mr. Karaffa, Chairman for 2012.
The Chairman called for a vote for Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Chairman for 2012.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR 2012
Mr. Karaffa nominated Jeffrey A. Moore, seconded by Mr. Beyeler, for Vice-Chairman for 2012. Mr. Beyeler moved that Mr. Moore be elected by acclamation.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
CHAIRMAN PYLES STATEMENT
Chairman Pyles made the following comment:
I thank the Board. I thank Mr. Beyeler for the nomination and support of the Board here.
This is football season and a lot of coaches have been fired and there are different jobs out there that coaches go to; I think I just became the coach of the Greenbay Packers. I think there is a heck of a team of people up here, now, that are both some veterans – Dave Beyeler, Larry Wills and Jeff Moore who has been through the wars of the School Board. Then we have some new young talent that are first round draft picks – who I think are going to do great jobs for the County.
I was reminded this morning, when I went to swear in, you raise your hand and you promise/pledge to support the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia. I think it is important that we go and do those things. You can say, ‘well, that’s just a formality’, but it causes you to stop and think for a minute the responsibilities that we have and what it is we need to do and who we are trying to represent. One of the things in the Constitution that’s out there, Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution: ‘He (the President) shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.’ One of the things I don’t think we do as a Board is really enunciate our plans, lay forward where we want to go. We kind of take the jobs as it comes to us and deal with them and not really put out sometimes the big picture. I’m not going to talk long, I promise, but there is a couple of things that I would like to put out there.
For my position in Government, I kind of go by two old mountain sayings: One is ‘take what you have and make what you want’; and the other is ‘measure twice, saw once’. Both of those things are about making the most of what you do. Don’t waste anything. Bring them together. When I think about ‘take what we have,’ I think about what do we have in Augusta County? What do we have for this Board? I think we have talented people on this Board, but what I found in the weeks since the election and discussions, everybody is inquisitive; everybody wants to learn; everybody wants to figure this thing out. How do we proceed? There are so many challenges out there. So I think that this Board is willing, you know like the football coach, before every season, you have a training session—a training camp, and it is miserable and nobody wants to do two a days, but I think we’re going to have to put in some time and each member has so far indicated their willingness to do so—a willingness to study the issues in a format that is long enough to get all the information. We come to our Board meetings and we generally have two hours, and we have people out there, we have an agenda to get through, and I am not sure that we give it all the time we need. So what I think this Board wants to hear, we’ve got three months to understand what we need to do before we have to put a budget together—that we can change it after that. We need to know where our finances are coming from and we need to know where they are going and if there is a better way to do any of it, we’ve got to come up with that. The things that are good, let’s encourage; the things that aren’t good, let’s see if we can’t get rid of them.
The other thing that we have on our side is the people of this County. I don’t think there’s hardly a county in the State that has a better tax-paying citizenry than these people. That is the people pay their due—pay what is required of them. We may not be the top County in average income, but I think we’re at the top of the State of good people.
We’ve got people that over the years have put in their time in Fire and Rescue, put in their time in Parks and Rec to make us all better. I think we’ve got that going for us, but not everything out there is going for us. We’ve got challenges that are here and we might try to mask them, or we don’t bring them up. The one that I would bring up, just as a point of reference, is if you think of the kids in our community as a “canary in a coal mine,” the ones that get affected first by what government does and doesn’t do, I would put before you that Virginia does an analysis of how many kids get free lunches—how many get reduced lunches. In 2008, at the beginning of the last Board, Augusta County had 2,426 kids on free lunches (21%); four years later, we have 3,036 (28%). We’ve grown 600 children who have gone on to free lunches in these four years. It’s indicative of challenges that have struck some folks. There are things out there we have to do. So our folks don’t have as much as they did have and we need to encourage them and help them through that time, whether there be more jobs or seeing that we have good services.
The other thing, I think, that challenges us is the State of Virginia. I think that we cannot plan what we’re going to do because they keep changing our plans. How do we navigate all this? It was in the paper, today, that struck me:
1) The School Board is going to have a public hearing on Thursday. That’s good, but I think what is going to be said is “We’re being squeezed to death and we need some more money.” I think they are the advocate for education and that certainly is what they ought to be about. But that will be a challenge to us.
2) The delegates and some of their comments in the paper. I’m thinking, ‘geez, Delegate Cline is saying the surpluses from the State should be seen as stuff to rebate back to the taxpayers. This is just found money.’ But if you’re at this level, that’s not the case.
I tend to be outrageous. I’m trying to make a point. These are two checks that we wrote in the last month. This was for $356,866. What I called it was “for the people of Augusta County paid to the loan of State 10 deputies”. We could have 10 more deputies on the road if we hadn’t sent that money to the State. This one is a check for $355,795—that’s 10 firemen that we could have had. We are being squeezed and for someone to say this is just found money. There was no cost reductions with that; they are just saying to send the money back. Part of one of those things is the money from the Middle River Regional Jail, where they cut the per diem for our prisoners from $8 to $4. These are shared responsibilities. They’re breaking the laws of Virginia. They’re not just breaking the ordinance of Augusta County. They only talk to us about ‘can you handle this’–from $8 to $4 per diem? No costs were cut. There were no cost reductions, just the money that we would have received was cut. We need to have partners who will talk to us about it. This is one of those things that I shouldn’t do, but I’ll do it anyway. The per diem for our legislatives, when they go to Richmond, is $135 for Delegates and $169 for Senators–$4,000 a month per diem for one; $5,000 a month for the other. There is a big difference between $4 and $135 and we’ve got to provide everything for them. What are our responsibilities? Do you have any responsibilities for prisoners? Do you have any responsibilities for our roads? We’re picking up $1 million a year for roads. This is taking things away from our real estate tax rate. That’s where our money is having to go. We need some help with those guys. I don’t know what to do with that other than make it public that we’re becoming the people. This Board supplies services to the people of Augusta County. We’re getting more involved with roads, Fire and Rescue, Education, Libraries—the things that matter, we’re trying to do. We’ve got challenges I don’t think we can’t meet them; I think that this Board, this year, will look at things, plan it, be willing to make changes, ruffle some feathers if necessary, but try not to; I’m going to try not to; and, maybe, come up with something that the folks out there can believe in that we, as good Supervisor Wills in his invocation said, ‘help us to be good stewards and serve these people well’. And that is what I hope this Board will do and I hope that I can contribute to bring us together as a symphony with beautiful music for Augusta County!
BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2012
Patrick J. Coffield, County Administrator, noted that, during the Transition meetings, the schedule was shared with the incoming Board members. He directed the Board’s attention to the budget work session. In past years, two days have been scheduled. An option to be considered is for the week of March 19, 2012.
Chairman Pyles added that there may be additional work sessions needed. He noted that the work session has been done in one day many years. He suggested that the schedule be approved as presented and amended if needed.
Mr. Wills moved, seconded by Mr. Moore, that the Board adopt the schedule as submitted and resolution:
SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE
AUGUSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FOR THE YEAR 2012
LOCATION: GOVERNMENT CENTER, VERONA, VA
DATES – 2012 Regular Meetings Staff Briefings Wednesday Monday 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.
JANUARY 4th 5:00 p.m.
(ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING)
JANUARY 11th 25th 23rd FEBRUARY 8th 22nd 21st (Tues.) MARCH 14th 28th 26th APRIL 11th 25th 23rd MAY 9th 23rd 21st JUNE 13th 27th 25th JULY 11th 25th 23rd AUGUST 8th 22nd 20th SEPTEMBER 12th 26th 24th OCTOBER 10th 24th 22nd NOVEMBER 14th*** 28th 26th DECEMBER 12th Special Meetings:
Budget Hearing April 18, 2012 Budget Adoption May 2, 2012 Organizational Meeting January 2, 2013 5:00 p.m.
• February 20th – Presidents’ Day • March 26th & 27th –Budget Briefing • November 11th through 13th – Annual VACo Conference • July 11th (previously cancelled – 7/9/08; 7/8/09; 7/14/10) * * *
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, § 15.2-1416 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, requires that the Board of Supervisors of Augusta County, Virginia, at its organizational meeting, prescribe by resolution the days on which it will hold future meetings during the ensuing months.
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors now desires to establish its schedule for regular meetings during calendar year 2012.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY,
VIRGINIA:
1. The Board of Supervisors shall hold regular meetings during calendar year 2012, in the Board Meeting Room at the Augusta County Government Center, on the dates and at the times set forth on the schedule attached to this Resolution.
2. In the event the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, or the Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, if the Chairman is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members of the Board of Supervisors to attend a regular meeting, such regular meeting shall be continued to the next business day. Such finding and declaration shall be communicated to the members of the Board of Supervisors and the press as promptly as possible. All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
TIE BREAKER
The Board considered, in accordance with Section 15.2-1421, appointment of a tie breaker, which is at the discretion of the governing body.
Mr. Morgan advised that the State Code allows the Board to appoint a tie breaker. The purpose of a tie breaker is if the Board is deadlocked on an issue, this would be a person who would come in at the next available Board meeting and vote to break the tie. If no tie breaker is appointed, motions would fail in the event of a tie vote.
Traditionally, the Board has voted not to have a tie breaker and Mr. Morgan suggested that the same procedure be used as has been used in the past.
Mr. Beyeler moved, seconded by Mr. Karaffa, that the Board not appoint a tie breaker for 2012.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
RULES OF PROCEDURE
The Board considered adoption of Rules of Procedure.
In reviewing rules previously employed by the Board, Mr. Morgan made the following highlights: 1) Each Board member may speak on any issue before the Board. 2) Although customary, a second is not required to have a matter voted upon. 3) Vote of each member must be recorded on every item voted upon. 4) A tie vote defeats the motion, resolution or issue voted upon. 5) No decisions are made in closed session.
An action can be made after the Board comes out of closed session.
Mr. Moore moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board adopt the Rules of Procedure, as presented.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC – NONE
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
The Board discussed the following:
RECYCLING COMMITTEE – REAPPOINTMENT
Mr. Wills moved, seconded by Mr. Pattie, that the Board reappoint Riley Allen Murray, III, to serve another 4-year term on the Recycling Committee, effective immediately, to expire September 24, 2015.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
Mr. Karaffa: “Thank you. I look forward to journey ahead. Mr. Shifflett, I would like to express appreciation for the last four years of the work that you did on this Board.” Mr. Moore: “Coming off the School Board, and now sitting on this Board, I am fairly briefed on the challenges that the School Board has right now. I support your comments that we really need to look at what funding is available, where we’re spending money, and really make sure we’re spending it the best we can to support everybody in the County.” Mr. Shull: “I would like to thank every one of you and look forward to working with you.” Mr. Pattie: “I echo those comments and say we have some really big challenges. We have a lot of budget issues coming up very shortly and we need to work together on these.” Chairman Pyles:
1. “Training Camp” – distributed a list of Boards and Commissions/Committees; Fire and Rescue; Libraries; Parks; Community Centers for the Board to decide who they wish to meet with magisterially or altogether as a Board within the next three months to give them first-hand knowledge. Some of these items could be listed under “Viewings” at the Staff Briefings.
2. Board “Items needed to be addressed” – If a work session is needed, inform Mr. Coffield and Chairman Pyles of that need. It was understood that the Board is flexible, with Wednesdays being the preferred day for Messrs. Pattie and Karaffa. Mr. Coffield added that Blue Ridge Community College, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, Landfill, Jail, Juvenile Detention Center, Animal Shelter, Parks, Community Centers and Libraries would be good facilities to place on the “Viewings” list.
CLOSED SESSION
On motion of Mr. Moore, seconded by Mr. Beyeler, the Board went into closed session pursuant to:
(1) the economic development exemption under Virginia Code § 2.2-
3711(A)(5)
[discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of its interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the county]:
A) Pending Industrial Project On motion of Mr. Beyeler, seconded by Mr. Wills, the Board came out of closed Session.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
The Chairman advised that each member is required to certify that to the best of their knowledge during the closed session only the following was discussed:
1. Public business matters lawfully exempted from statutory open meeting requirements, and 2. Only such public business matters identified in the motion to convene the executive session.
The Chairman asked if there is any Board member who cannot so certify.
Hearing none, the Chairman called upon the County Administrator/ Clerk of the Board to call the roll noting members of the Board who approve the certification shall answer AYE and those who cannot shall answer NAY.
Roll Call Vote was as follows:
AYE: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles NAY: None The Chairman authorized the County Administrator/Clerk of the Board to record this certification in the minutes.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the Board, Mr. Karaffa moved, seconded by Mr. Wills, the Board adjourned subject to call of the Chairman.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Beyeler and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.
Chairman County Administrator h:1-4min.12
