Regular Meeting – October 28, 2020
En Regular Meeting, Wednesday, October 28, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.
PRESENT: Gerald Garber, Chairman
Pam L. Carter, Vice-Chair
Butch Wells
Michael L. Shull
Scott Seaton
Jeffrey Slaven
Steven Morelli
Timothy K. Fitzgerald, County Administrator
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator
John Wilkinson, Director of Community Development
James Benkahla, County Attomey
Angie Michael, Executive Assistant
VIRGINIA: At a regular meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 245" year of the Commonwealth…
a ed Chairman Garber welcomed the citizens present.
Mr. Morelli, Supervisor for the South River District, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Shull, Supervisor for the Riverheads District, delivered the invocation.
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AMBULANCE/MEDIC UNIT FUNDING REQUEST
The Board considered funding for an ambulance/medic unit.
Funding Source: Capital 7-80000-8057 $282,745.90 Timothy Fitzgerald, County Administrator, stated that Fire-Rescue is requesting approval to purchase the next ambulance/medic unit. This request also includes the purchase of one replacement cot/stretcher. The grand total for the purchase will be $282,745.90. Placing the order in November will result in a June or July 2021 delivery.
Funding will be from the capital account.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Wells, that the Board approve the funding request for the ambulance/medic unit.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
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GENERAL ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTUAL SERVICES 2020 RFP
The Board considered the contracts for General Engineering Services.
John Wilkinson, Director of Community Development, stated that the current contracts for General Engineering Services expire on January 31, 2021. After review of the submitted proposals, staff conducted interviews with the most responsive firms. The solicitation sought Architectural & Engineering professional services in four categories; Small Projects, Large Scale Projects, Economic Development Services and Architectural Services. There were fourteen proposals received and the committee reviewed the top three firms in each category.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Wells, that the Board approve the contracts as presented.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Abstain: Garber Motion carried.
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FLOW BEVERAGE INC. PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
The Board considered the Performance Agreement for Flow Beverage, Inc. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that as announced on April 30, 2019, Flow Beverages committed to locate its operation in Augusta County. The location is to include a $15,500,000.00 investment in capital expenditures and 51 new jobs. The Board agreed to match a grant of $250,000.00 from the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund that was offered to Flow. Once the agreement is completed, Flow will submit annual reports and be monitored on progress towards capital investment and jobs performance targets.
Mr. Wells moved, seconded by Mr. Slaven, that the Board approve the performance agreement.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Abstain: Carter Motion carried.
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NON-PROFIT GRANT PROG MOU — CARI T FUNDING
The Board considered CARES Act funding for the Non-Profit Grant Program in the amount of $102,000.00.
Oo Jennifer Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator, stated that Economic Development has made a request to use $102,000.00 of Augusta County's CARES Act allocation to help support non-profits in the County or those who serve County residents and the community, by providing grants to those eligible non-profits. The program would be run through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. The total fund amount would be $100,000.00 and as payment for executing the program, the foundation would be paid $2,000.00.
Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Seaton, that the Board approve the CARES Act funding request for the Non-Profit Grant Program.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
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TREASURER’S TAX REFUND
The Board considered the State Code revision from $2,500.00 to $5,000.00 for tax refunds.
James Benkahla, County Attomey, stated that currently any refund requests in excess of $2,500.00 must be reviewed and approved by the Board. State Code was revised, effective July 1, 2020, to allow the Treasurer to issue refunds of up to $5,000.00 without having Board approval.
Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Slaven, that the Board approve the State Code revision as presented.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
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HAZARDOUS PAY
The Board considered payment to employees in the amount of $2,500.00. Utilizing FY20 Year-End Fund Balance.
Mr. Fitzgerald stated that merit increases were deleted from the FY21 budget for all employees due to COVID-19. All employees have put themselves at risk each day to take care of business for the residents of Augusta County.
Mr. Wells moved, seconded by Mr. Morelli, that the Board approve the onetime payment to all full-time employees and budgeted part-time employees in the amount of $2,500.00 for full-time and $1,250.00 for budgeted part-time employees.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton, and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
WAIVERS -~- NONE
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CONSENT AGENDA
Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board approve the consent agenda as follows:
MINUTES
Consider minutes of the following meeting:
e Regular Meeting, Wednesday, September 9, 2020 e Staff Briefing, Monday, September 21, 2020 Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
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MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC
Charles Leech, 615 Limestone Road, Verona, is disappointed with the reactions of some Staunton residents to the proposed courthouse project. The County is attempting to meet state requirements for the courts.
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MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
Mr. Wells received an email from Ken Jones regarding the poultry house project in Barren Ridge. They were not able to get sufficient water to complete the project.
Ms. Carter stated that one application for the Governor's Broadband Grant has been submitted. It is from New Hope and a second one is expected from MGW.
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MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY STAFF
Mr. Fitzgerald discussed the following:
1) The Staunton Historic Review Commission denied the request on all applications regarding the courthouse project. There is a thirty-day appeal process. Board direction is needed on how to proceed with the appeal process to the City Council.
Mr. Shull recommended continuing on with the process. | Augusta County has the small piece of land that the current courthouse is sitting on and a piece of land the County building is sitting on. The County does not have the ability to build more on because there is not room. The former Judge has an order written up and was willing to sign it, but he wanted the City and the County to work together and come to a conclusion of the best option that works for everybody.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Wells, that the Board approve proceeding with the appeal process.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
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CLOSED SESSION
On motion of Ms. Carter, seconded by Mr. Shull, the Board went into closed session pursuant to:
(1) the real property exemption under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711 (A) (3) [discussion of the acquisition for a public purpose, or disposition, of real property]:
a) Augusta County Courthouse On motion of Mr. Shull, seconded by Mr. Wells, the Board came out of Closed Session.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
ed 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.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
The Chairman authorized the County Administrator/Clerk of the Board to record this certification in the minutes.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the Board, Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Slaven that the Board adjourn subject to call of the Chairman.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.
County Administrator h:10-28min.2020
