[A. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
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OKAY.I AM YOUR, UH, WARREN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH ONE OF THE BOARD'S MEETING POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
THIS EVENING MARKS A SPECIAL OCCASION THAT BEING THE OCCASION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING DURING WHICH THE BOARD WILL ELECT ITS CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF WHAT I'LL CALL CHAIRMAN PRO TEM FOR THE EVENING.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING US TO ORDER AND FILLING IN UNTIL WE HAVE OUR NEW OFFICERS.
FIRST, I'LL BEGIN BY LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UH, AND NEXT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MR. RANDY DESANTIS PRESENT TO LEAD US IN AN OPENING PRAYER.
MR. DESANTIS, PLEASE IF YOU WILL.
UH, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE HAVE JUST PLEDGED THAT WE ARE A NATION UNDER YOU, WHICH MEANS WE ARE TO BE SUBJECT TO YOU AND YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR LAWS, YOUR WORD.
AND SO I PRAY, FATHER, THAT DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE WILL BE MADE IN THAT ACCORD, THAT YOU MIGHT BE PLEASED.
AND FATHER, I PRAY THAT THOSE WHO SPEAK TONIGHT WILL BE RESPECTFUL AND FATHER, THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE DECENTLY IN ORDER.
AND FATHER, THAT YOU'LL GUIDE AND DIRECT DECISIONS TO BE MADE THAT THEY WILL BE MADE IN A WAY THAT WOULD PLEASE YOU AND WE'LL THANK YOU.
OKAY, NOW FOR THE OFFICIAL STUFF,
[B. Election of Officers: (Chair and Vice Chair)]
THE ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, UH, FOR THE YEAR 2026.FOR EACH OFFICE, I WILL OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS ARE PROVIDED.
IF YOU RECALL, DO NOT RE, RE DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
I WILL THEN PROMPT THE ROLL CALL WHERE YOU SHOULD INDICATE YOUR CANDIDATE SELECTION.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN AND ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS, MR. HENRY? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE CHERYL COLORS.
UH, MR. HENRY HAS, UH, NOMINATE MS. MS CU, UH, ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR? I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE TONY CARTER.
MR. CARTER, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIR? I'D LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE ROGER BIANCHINI
UM, A, A BIT BEFORE MY TIME, I BELIEVE, BUT, UH, I, UM, OKAY.
UH, SERIOUSLY, TWO MEMBERS, UH, HAVE BEEN, UH, NOMINATED, UH, AT THIS TIME.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS, UH, GOING A THIRD TIME? ANY FURTHER NOMINATION FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIR? OKAY.
UH, THAT BEING THE CASE, UH, MR. HENDERSON, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
AND, UH, AS A REMINDER, UH, EACH SUPERVISOR SHOULD, UH, WHEN CALLED, UH, INDICATE THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATE, DR.
JAMISON, TONY FARMER, MR. STAN MEYER, TONY CARTER, MR. HENRY, CHERYL.
UH, NOW, UH, AT THIS TIME, UH, I WOULD, UH, UH, NOMINATIONS ARE ALREADY OBVIOUSLY CLOSED.
UH, AT THIS TIME I'LL MOVE TO, UH, THE SELECTION OF VICE CHAIR.
UH, I WILL NOW AGAIN OPEN AND ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR MR. HENRY TONY CARTER.
MR. HENRY NOMINATES, UH, MR. CARTER, ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? AGAIN? ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR? GOING ONE LAST TIME? ANY NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF VICE CHAIR? HEARING NONE.
AND, UH, UH, MR. HENDERSON, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLE DR.
AND AT AND AT THIS POINT, UH, THE, UH, SELECTION OF THE OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 2026, UH, IS NOW CONCLUDED.
AND, UH, SUPERVISORS, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, UH, COME
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TAKE YOUR SEATS AND I WILL HAND THE GAVEL OVER.IF YOU'LL PARDON US JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO GET ORGANIZED WITH ALL THIS.
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
OF THE AGENDA, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? WELL, MADAM CHAIR, IT WAS, UH, MENTIONED TO ME IN AN EMAIL THAT, UH, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING PERIOD OR AFTER SOME OF THE AGENDA ITEMS, AND, UH, PUBLIC HAD INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD, UH, LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE NOT IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.SO THEY WANTED TO SWAP D AND E SO THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WOULD BE A AHEAD OF POLICY MEETING BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON IT.
AND, UH, I'LL SUPPORT THAT IF, UH, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO YOUR MOTION WOULD BE TO, UM, MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM D AND ADOPTION OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MEETING POLICIES.
DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT? UH, SWAPING, D AND E SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS BEFORE, UH, ABOUT POLICY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED POLICY.
AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA, UH, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THERE'S NO PUBLIC HEARING FOR IT.
SO I I THOUGHT IT WAS A FAIR ARGUMENT, SO I AGREED TO, I'LL SECOND THAT.
[E. Public Comment Period for Items on the Agenda (30-Minute Time Limit)]
AT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE A 30 MINUTE PERIOD.
UM, EACH SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.
THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING, OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION.
UM, DURING THE SPEAKING THROUGH A SHOW OF HANDS, THE CHAIRMAN MAY ASK FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT OF COMMENTS BY, UM, MADE BY SPEAKERS, PLACARDS, POSTERS, AND OTHER MEANS A VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED, UM, DURING THAT TIME.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS, UM, AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION, AND THE BOARD DOES NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROCEEDINGS AND ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THAT COULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
SO, MR. HENDERSON, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? UH, YES MA'AM.
FIRST UP IS EILEEN DERICH, AND IF YOU WOULD, UM, JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN.
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TELL YOU WHAT IT'S, I AM EILEEN DERICH AND I RESIDE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT SINCE THERE WAS NO MOMENT OF SILENCE.TONIGHT FOR RENEE NICOLE GOODE, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER MURDER AND ALL THE HUMAN BEINGS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED AND ENDED BY ICE.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR COMMUNITY FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE OUR LIBRARY, SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE LIBRARY WHERE I AND MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY LEARNED AND CONTINUE TO LEARN TO READ THE LIBRARY THAT HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
THE LIBRARY, THE LIBRARY THAT SERVES AS A HERE HEATING AND COOLING CENTER, THE LIBRARY THAT PROVIDES OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE INVALUABLE RESOURCE OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE, AS WELL AS A PLACE FOR US TO GATHER AND BENEFIT FROM AN ARRAY OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES.
I WANT TO THANK SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND BEING THERE FOR US.
I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN MY PERSONAL HONOR TO DEFEND OUR LIBRARY IN THE FACE OF BIGOTRY DESPITE OUR VARYING BACKGROUNDS AND VIEWS, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR OUR LIBRARY, BUT TONIGHT, THAT FIGHT IS STILL NOT DONE.
I AM HERE TO CALL ON THIS NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DISBAND THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD REOPEN TALKS WITH SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND TO RESTORE THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING AND NEGOTIATE A NEW MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, ALREADY SENT YOU MOST OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO ME OR SOMEBODY ELSE.
UM, ANYWAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT CONSENT ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT TO AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE POSSIBLE SALE OF COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY.
I'M NOT HERE TO OPPOSE ADVERTISING THE HEARING.
I DO HOPE, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD, IT INCLUDES CLEAR AND CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION SO RESIDENTS CAN PROVIDE INFORMED INPUT.
THE PROPERTY AT ZERO HILDE STREET IS LOCATED ROUGHLY 700 FEET FROM WHERE WE'RE SITTING TONIGHT WITH THE TOWN WITHIN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WITH FRONTAGE ALONG NORTH COMMERCE STREET.
IT'S IN A DEVELOPED AREA WITH EXISTING MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING NEARBY WATER, SEWER, ELECTRIC SERVICE, AND A FIRE HYDRANT AT THE CORNER OF THE LOT.
THE MATERIALS SHOW THE PARCEL AS VACANT LAND WITH NO STRUCTURES, YET IT CARRIES A LEGACY LAND USE CODE OF RELIGIOUS VACANT THAT APPEARS HISTORICAL RATHER THAN REFLECTIVE OF CURRENT CONDITIONS.
AND CLARIFICATION WOULD HELP AVOID THE COMMU CONFUSION.
I ALSO HOPE THAT WE RECENT IT.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT WE'VE RECENTLY COMPLETED A COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT CYCLE.
IN THIS CASE, THE OFFER IS BELOW THE 2024 ASSESSED VALUE.
BUT ABOVE THE REVISED 2025 ASSESSMENT, A PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF WHAT FACTORS DROVE THAT CHANGE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ASSESSED VALUES ARE FOR TAXATION PURPOSES AND DIFFER FROM MARKET APPRAISALS USED FOR DISPOSITION.
AND I HOPE THE HEARING CLARIFIES WHAT VALUATION ANALYSIS WAS RELIED UPON HERE.
FINALLY, GIS SHOW RECORDS SHOW THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER OWNS THE ADJACENT PARCEL CURRENTLY USED FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS.
ADJACENCY CAN CREATE ASSEMBLAGE VALUE THAT STANDARD ASSESSMENTS DON'T ALWAYS CAPTURE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE OFFER.
I HOPE THE PUBLIC HEARING ADDRESSES HOW VALUATION WAS DETERMINED AND WHETHER BROADER MARKETING OR COMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION WAS EVALUATED.
PROVIDING THAT CONTEXT UP FRONT WOULD HELP THE PUBLIC FOCUS ON THE MERITS RATHER THAN SPECULATE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
TODAY I AM PROUD TO STAND IN HERE AS SOMEONE WHO, ALONGSIDE MANY OTHERS, THROUGH DETERMINATION AND GRIT WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF ELECTING OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS.
NOW THAT THAT WORK IS DONE, WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO IN REGARD TO THE LIBRARY.
WE ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY NEED TO DISBAND THAT LIBRARY BOARD AND ENTER INTO PEACEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE TALKS.
VOTERS CAME OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS THIS PAST ELECTION, WHICH TO ME, HAD THE LIBRARY NOT BEEN THE BURNING SUBJECT ON THE BALLOT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE CASE.
IT'S TIME TO GIVE THE LIBRARY BACK THE FUNDING TO WHERE IT BELONGS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT DISBANDING THE BOARD.
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THIS COUNTY LOVES ITS LIBRARY AS IT HAS SHOWN WITH VOTER TURNOUT AND JUST OVERALL COMMUNITY SUPPORT.DISBAND THE LIBRARY BOARD REOPEN TALKS AND FOCUS ON OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE FAR, FAR MORE PRODUCTIVE AND IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY.
VOTE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO MOVE FORWARD ONCE AND FOR ALL.
AND I'M EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY WITH THIS BOARD AT THE HELM.
MY NAME IS COLLEEN SNYDER AND I'M IN SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
AND I AM HERE ABOUT THE, UH, AGENDA ITEM ON THE ORDINANCE.
AND TO REPEAL THAT ORDINANCE SEVEN, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR ABOLISHING WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, WHICH PROVED TO BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
I'M ALSO HERE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN IT SUSTAINED AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ITS INTEGRITY.
AS ONE OF THE COUNTY'S PRIZE JEWELS, PATRONS, DONORS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS RALLIED TO DEFEND THE LIBRARY.
DESPITE MOST OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEING BENT ON ITS DESTRUCTION AS A TIME OF GREAT FISCAL CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COUNTY.
GIVEN THE EDA TOBACCO, THE WASTE OF TAXPAYER'S FUNDS ON WHAT PROVED TO BE A VINDICTIVE ASSAULT ON THE LIBRARY WAS APPALLING.
LUCKILY, ELECTIONS HAVE BROUGHT TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO RAN ON A SUPPORT SAMUELS PLATFORM.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND SAMUELS CAN BE REPAIRED.
I CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO SET ASIDE THE ACRIMONY OF THE LAST FEW YEARS AND EMBRACE THE SPIRIT AND CARE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD SHOWN FOR SAMUELS BY ENTERING INTO A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO FULLY FUND THE LIBRARY.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT AS THE SOLE SUPPORTER AND LONE DISSENTING VOTE, SHARON COLORS IS INDEED THE BEST CHOICE TO LEAD THIS EFFORT.
THE LIBRARY HAS PROVEN ITSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS BEING A WELCOMING PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT HAS PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT CAN PROVIDE EXEMPLARY SERVICES.
DESPITE THE RECENT DEMORALIZING CHALLENGES IT HAS PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PASSING CLEAN AUDIT AFTER CLEAN AUDIT ON TIME, A CLAIM THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF CANNOT MAKE.
THE LIBRARY HAS SURVIVED AND WE ARE GRATEFUL.
BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE LIBRARY HAS THRIVED PULLING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A DEFENSE OF A VALUABLE RESOURCE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO 2026 AND A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT RESPECTS THE COUNTY'S CHERISHED INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SAMUELS, A BOARD THAT LOOKS TO BUILD UP THE COUNTY BASED ON ITS CURRENT RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY TREASURERS, NOT TEAR IT DOWN WITH FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS THAT WASTE RESOURCES.
JOHN CERMACK, EAST SHENANDOAH.
UM, I'D LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATE YOU ON BEING OUR BOARD FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
AND I WOULD PLEAD AND PRAY THAT YOU WORK TOGETHER IN A SENSE WITH KINDNESS AND THOUGHTFULNESS, AND ESPECIALLY PLEASE LISTEN TO PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ARTICULATE TO SAY ABOUT THE LIBRARY EXCEPT THAT IT SAVED MY BUTT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID IN CHICAGO.
LIBRARIES ARE WONDERFUL PLACES AND I THINK THIS LIBRARY IS THE, IS THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
GOOD EVENING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
MY NAME IS DR. CLARK DONNELLEY.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT AND A SAMUEL'S LIBRARY SUPPORTER.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK SUPERVISOR HENRY FOR SWITCHING THE HELPING SWITCH THE ORDER OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE ITEM D ACTUALLY HAS SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND TALK ABOUT, UM, AS A COMMUNITY BEFORE THEY'RE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD.
IN NOVEMBER, THE VOTERS OF WARREN COUNTY SPOKE VERY CLEARLY, ELECTING TWO NEW
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MEMBERS TO CONSTITUTE A THREE TO TWO PRO LIBRARY MAJORITY.AND THE VOTERS CHOSE CHANGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY CHOSE TO RESTORE THE LIBRARY.
AND TONIGHT THE VOTER'S MANDATE IS UNDER ATTACK.
SUPERVISOR JAMISON HAS PROPOSED CHANGES TO BOARD PROCEDURE THAT APPEAR NEUTRAL AND UNCONTROVERSIAL ADOPTING ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS AS THE BOARD'S PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY APPOINTING THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, MR. AL AS THE PARLIAMENTARIAN AND ESTABLISHING NEW SPONSORSHIP REQUIREMENTS.
AND THESE SOUND LIKE GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORMS, BUT THEY ARE ANYTHING BUT THAT THESE PROPOSALS WOULD BURY A FIVE PERSON BOARD UNDER A MASSIVE PHONE BOOK OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN ROBERT'S RULES OR IT'S HUGE.
THEY WOULD ENABLE AN ANTI LIBRARY MINORITY OF TWO TO OBSTRUCT ANY AND EVERY ACTION.
A PRO LIBRARY MAJORITY OF THREE WOULD TRY TO TAKE.
THEY WOULD SILENCE THE VERY VOTERS WHO ELECTED THIS NEW MAJORITY.
AND LET ME EXPLAIN HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS REQUIRES TWO THIRDS VOTES TO END DEBATE SECTION 16 OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
THE PRO-LIFE MAJORITY UNDER, UNDER MY UNDERSTANDING OF WARREN COUNTY POLITICS HAS THREE VOTES.
SO THEY NEVER REACH TWO THIRDS UNDER THESE RULES.
THE AMPY LIBRARY MINORITY CAN FILIBUSTER FOREVER.
THEY CAN STALL DELAY, THEY CAN TALK UNTIL THE CLOCK RUNS OUT.
AND THE PRO PRO LIBRARY MAJORITY OF THREE AND NO POWER TO STOP THEM.
LIBRARY FUNDING FILIBUSTER REPEALING THE BOARD FILIBUSTER EVERY PROMISE A PRO LIBRARY MAJORITY MADE TO THE VOTERS FILIBUSTERED.
THIS IS OBSTRUCTIONISM BY DESIGN.
SO WHY DOES A FIVE PERSON BOARD NEED 700 TO A THOUSAND PAGES OF PROCEDURE? THAT DEFIES COMMON SENSE.
IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND THE PARLIAMENTARIAN PROPOSAL COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM.
IT WOULD HAND PROCEDURAL CONTROL TO MR. BRETT SAL.
AND I DON'T KNOW MR. SAL, BUT WHAT I'VE READ TROUBLES ME AS A PROPOSAL FOR HIM TO BE PARLIAMENTARIAN.
PRIOR TO BEING IN WARREN COUNTY, MR. SAL WAS IN LOWER PACTON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA.
AND SUPERVISORS AND RESIDENTS THERE ACCUSED HIM OF USURPING THE AUTHORITY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMEONE TO ME WHO SHOULD BE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN PRESIDING OVER A MASSIVE PHONE BOOK OF RULES DECIDING HOW VOTES ARE GOING TO GO AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO CONTROL THE BOARD'S PROCEDURES AND WHAT THE PRO LIBRARY MAJORITY CAN AND CANNOT DO UNDER THOSE PROCEDURES.
FURTHERMORE, THE SPONSORSHIP OR RULES ADD ANOTHER BARRIER.
WHY DO WE NEED AMBIGUOUS REQUIREMENTS THAT WEREN'T THERE PREVIOUSLY TO POSSIBLY ADD ANOTHER GATEWAY, UM, AND TO PREVENT AGENDA ITEMS FROM EVEN REACHING A VOTE ARE BEING DISCUSSED.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE MORE WAYS TO SILENCE THE MAJORITY TO ME.
SO VOTE NO ON ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
VOTE NO ON THE PARLIAMENTARIAN AND VOTE NO ON THE SPONSORSHIP RULES.
HI, MY NAME'S EDWIN WRIGHT FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I SAW THE APPLICATION POP UP FOR THE ROAD NAMING OFF GUIE MAR LOOP AND BROWNTOWN AND HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT E NINE NINE, E 9 1 11 DIS AMBIGUITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE PROPOSED USE OF MANOR LINE DRIVE AND MARLINE COURT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF GUIE MAN LOOP FROM BANNER LINE RANCH, BUT LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM OUR FARM AS A CROW.
FLIES MAY END UP BEING MISLEADING AND RESULT IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, TOURIST DELIVERIES AND VISITORS BEING MISDIRECTED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.
I SENT YOU ALL SOME INFORMATION ON THIS AND REACHED OUT TO THE APPLICANT, UM, GOT A MESSAGE BACK THAT MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY WERE OPEN TO CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES.
I WANT TO APPEAR HERE TO ASK YOU TO TURN DOWN THIS SLATE OF NAMES, UM, TO AVOID MISDIRECTING EMERGENCY SERVICES, TOURIST VISITORS AND DELIVERIES TO THE WRONG SIDE IN GOODY MANOR LOOP.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, UH, WELCOME TO MR. CARTER AND MR. HENRY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR LOOKING OUT FOR PROTECTING OUR LOCAL LANDMARKS, LOCAL FARMS, ROAD SAFETY, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE GONNA BE BEFORE YOU.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS, MA'AM.
UM, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE ON THIS? UH, THAT WAS SEVEN SPEAKERS.
THERE SHOULD BE TIME FOR THREE LEFT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK AT THIS TIME? MR. JENKINS? JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, JUST A COUPLE, UH, WORDS ABOUT THIS LIBRARY BOARD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S TAKEN SIX MONTHS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT LIBRARY BOARD WAS APPOINTED, THEY WERE BASICALLY, UH, BIASED AND PREJUDICED AGAINST THE LIBRARY.
THAT SEEMED LIKE THEIR MAIN AGENDA WAS TO DESTROY SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UH, AND THE SIMPLE THING TO DO WOULD BE JUST TERMINATE
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THE MEMBERS AT THIS POINT.AND, UH, THAT WOULDN'T BE NEEDED.
AND AS OF JUNE OF THIS PAST YEAR, THE LIBRARY BOARD WENT UNDERGROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THEY'VE OUT BEEN OUT AND DONE ANYTHING.
UH, AND THE MONIES THAT WERE GIVEN AWAY OR GIVEN TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, SHOULD BE RETURNED BACK TO THE LIBRARY SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
AND THE OTHER THING, THIS, UH, MEETING POLICY AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU HAVE ON HERE, UH, I DON'T YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA APPROVE THAT HERE TONIGHT, BUT WHERE IS THAT, WHERE IS THAT DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT THE, WHAT THE, UH, MEETING POLICY AND PROCEDURES ARE? I DIDN'T SEE IT ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA, SO JUST A LITTLE CURIOUS ON THAT, UH, LATER.
SO WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE, TWO MORE.
DOES ANYONE ELSE, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? I I HAVEN'T GOT YOU SECOND CALL.
I'M, UH, JIM BARNES FROM THE, UH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I DIDN'T PLAN TO SPEAK TONIGHT, SO, UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS, UH, SHORT, UH, AND SOMEWHAT COHERENT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO, UH, JOIN WITH THE OTHERS, UM, IN, UH, ADVOCATING FOR THE REPEAL OR THE, THE CANCELLATION OF THE, UH, LIBRARY BOARD.
UM, SO I, I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT FOR MYSELF, AND I BELIEVE FOR A LOT OF THE FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, MR. JAMON, WE JUST DON'T TRUST YOU.
I READ ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE ARTICLES THAT YOU SUBMITTED TO THE NEWSPAPER IN THE LAST WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF, WHATEVER THE TIMEFRAME WAS, ALL SOUNDED VERY GOOD.
AS THE VERY ELOQUENT GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE A FEW MINUTES AGO POINTED OUT, THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH ABOUT YOU THAT I CAN'T SIGN OFF ON.
IT ALL SOUNDED GREAT, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AGENDA AND I DON'T TRUST YOU.
AND I HOPE THAT THE REST OF THE BOARD DOESN'T TRUST YOU AS WELL AND DOESN'T GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO RAILROAD THROUGH.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE THIS LAST LOT TO SHERIFF KLEIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T FORGET YOU, BUT I DID FORGET YOU
I SHOULD HAVE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UM, SHERIFF KLEIN WOULD LIKE TO DO A QUICK PRESENTATION, AND SO I'M GONNA LET HER HAVE THIS LAST THOUGHT.
I WILL MAKE THIS VERY, UM, BRIEF, UM, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR THIS.
UM, IN DECEMBER, I HEARD SOME REALLY AWFUL NEWS, AND THAT WAS THAT MY NUMBER TWO, MY, MY MAJOR WAS GOING ON TO, TO BETTER THINGS AND CHECKING OFF SOME, SOME GOALS THAT HE HAD, WHICH WAS LEADING HIS OWN AGENCY.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY, MY MAJOR WENT TO GO BE THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF BERRYVILLE, AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF HIM.
BUT THAT LEFT ME IN A LITTLE BIT OF A LURCH.
SO IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, IN THE FIRST PART OF JANUARY, UM, WENT THROUGH, UH, A LOT OF STRESS TO FIGURE OUT WHO WOULD BE THE PERFECT PERSON TO FILL THIS POSITION.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY MAJOR FRANK MYRTLE.
UM, HE HAS A 26 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER THUS FAR, MOST OF WHICH WAS AT THE WINCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE WERE BOTH IN INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE WERE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE OUT OF THE WINCHESTER FIELD OFFICE OF THE FBI.
AND, UM, HAD SOME ADVENTURES ALONG THE WAY.
UM, HE CAME OVER AND HE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.
AS, AS MY CAPTAIN OF SUPPORT SERVICES, HE HAS LED THE, UH, COURT SERVICES, THE COMMUNITY POLICING UNIT, THE SROS, UM, AM I MISSING SOMETHING? EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD.
AND HE IS BEEN RIGHT THERE LEADING, UM, IN OUR EXECUTIVE COMMAND.
SO I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE, UM, CAPTAIN FRANK MYRTLE.
HE IS A FELLOW GRADUATE OF THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY.
HE WAS IN SESSION 2 89 3 9 2 89, AND HE ALSO HAS THE FBI TRILOGY, FBI LEAD A TRILOGY UNDER HIS BELT AS WELL.
SO, UM, BOTH GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LEADERSHIP.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY MAJOR, MAJOR FRANKIE MYRTLE.
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SHERIFF, THANK YOU MUCH VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.UH, SHERIFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD.
I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY, AND I WILL KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
UM, NEXT ON THE AGENDA ARE BOARD REPORTS, MR. JAMESON.
[D. Adoption of the Board of Supervisors Meeting Policy and Procedures]
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING POLICIES.I DIDN'T EVEN YELLOW THAT OUT AND I STILL STEP OKAY.
SO WE HAVE A LIST OF SUGGESTED CHANGES.
I'M TRYING TO GET THEM UP HERE AND WE HAVE WHAT ON OUR AGENDA OF WHAT FROM LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, HOW DO WE WANNA PROCEED WITH THIS? WE HAVE, UH, THREE SETS OF SUGGESTED CHANGES.
UH, MR. CARTER, UH, SUPPLIED SOME MR. JAMESON, AND THEN MR. HAM HAD DONE SOME, UM, UM, REVISING AND CLEANING UP SOME LANGUAGE AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THE RED LINE CHANGES ARE THE ONES THAT, I'M SORRY, LEMME TURN THIS ON.
THE, THE RED LINE CHANGES ARE THE ONES THAT, UH, MR. HAM THAT YOU'VE ADDED? YES.
AND THEY INCLUDE THE CHANGES SUGGESTED BY MR. CARTER, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT IT CHANGES THE JANUARY 3RD TUESDAY MEETING TO 7:00 PM RATHER THAN 6:00 PM THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADVERTISED.
SO RATHER THAN GO FOREGO RE-ADVERTISING, WE'LL JUST LEAVE THAT ALONE FOR THE, FOR THE NEXT, THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
SO THESE, ANY CHANGES VOTED ON TONIGHT WOULD, UM, START IN FEBRUARY? NO, THEY WOULD START AT YOUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING IN JANUARY.
THE, UH, THIRD TUESDAY MEETING IN JANUARY.
THE, THEY WILL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
BUT THE AGENDA CHANGE WHERE, 'CAUSE I'M, I HAVE, I HAVE PROVIDED THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE BE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF 60 MINUTES INSTEAD OF TWO, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
THAT WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT TODAY BECAUSE TODAY'S MEETING IS A SPECIAL MEETING AND THAT RULE APPLIES TO REGULAR MEETINGS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE MEETING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WOULD TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS ADOPTION.
SO HAS EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ ALL OF THESE OVER? YES.
I WAS HOPING THAT EACH, EACH PER, EACH PERSON WHO SUGGESTED A CHANGE WOULD INTRODUCE THE CHANGE.
JAMESON, IF YOU WANNA GO OVER YOURS AND THEN I'LL GO DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
UH, I DID MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RULE, ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
AND, UM, INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME FORWARD.
UM, NEVER THOUGHT OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, I THINK A, A SIMPLE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO, UH, SIMPLY MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO USE A SIMPLE, UH, MAJORITY INSTEAD OF A TWO THIRDS VOTE.
UH, THE INTENTION WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE, UH, THE GOLD STANDARD.
EVERYBODY VIRTUALLY IN THE WORLD USES ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
UM, AND THEY'RE, UH, UNIVERSALLY KNOWN, UH, RATHER THAN SPECIALLY, UM, UH, DEVISED.
UH, THE IDEA BEHIND THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, UH, BEING THE COWORK OF THE BOARD IS THAT PARLIAMENTARIAN, MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE IN EVEN THEIR OWN CLUBS AND, AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND, UH, SUCH ORGANIZATIONS USE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
SO, UH, IT'S, I THINK A, A NON NECESSITY FOR AN ATTORNEY, UH, TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN
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THE, THE, IN OUR CASE, COST OF HAVING AN ATTORNEY PRESENT FOR THAT PURPOSE, UH, IS RATHER HIGH FOR THAT FUNCTION.UM, THAT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND THAT.
UM, CONCERNING AN AMENDMENT, UH, TO THE COURT COUNTY ORDINANCES OR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS OR MAJOR, UH, REGULATIONS, FRANKLY.
I MEAN, THIS IS A, A, A BODY THAT VOTES ON ORDINANCES AND LAWS THAT GOVERNOR CITIZENS.
SO, SO THE INTENT, ANY STATE HOUSE, THE ASSEMBLY, THE SENATE, THE CONGRESS ALWAYS HAS PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING FORTH SOMEBODY WHO'S SPONSORING LEGISLATION.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE, THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY REC OR SEE THAT ORDINANCES AND, AND OR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUGGESTING LAWS COME FROM THE BOARD, UH, RATHER THAN FROM STAFF OR IN, UH, SOMETIMES FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HIMSELF.
UM, SO THAT'S THE, THE, THE IDEA THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY A UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE OF, OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES TO HAVE THE MEMBERS OF THE BODIES BE SPONSORED OF, OF LEGISLATION.
UM, THE, THE MATTER OF, OF CONSIDERING WHETHER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD ATTEND MEETINGS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS, UM, JUST BASICALLY ON WHETHER IT'S ACTUALLY CONSIDERED NEEDED.
UH, IN OUR CASE, UH, OUR ATTORNEY IS ON A CONTRACT BASIS AND TRAVELS A, A FAIR DISTANCE.
UM, I THINK IN THE NE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 25 TO $30,000 A YEAR, UH, IS SPENT TO HAVE HIM SIT AND IN THESE MEETINGS.
AND, UH, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IN TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE MEETINGS, UM, THERE'S NOT A, A CLEAR, UH, PARTICIPATION.
AND IF THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WAS, UH, A, THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, UH, THAT WOULD BE A, A, UH, A SIMPLIFICATION AND A, UM, AND A SAVINGS.
UM, THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL THAT, THAT, UH, DIDN'T MAKE IT ONTO THE LIST THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, IN, IN LINE WITH THE TRANSPARENCY, I THINK ALL THE PUBLIC MEETINGS SHOULD BEGIN IN THE PUBLIC MEETING VENUE.
UM, AND THEN A MOTION TO MOVE TO A CLOSED SESSION SHOULD BE READ FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING VENUE BEFORE HE MOVES IN INTO A CLOSED MEETING.
UH, THAT WOULD BE A, A DIFFERENCE RATHER OF JUST WALKING INTO THE BACK ROOM AND READING OUR MOTION OF NOT IN PUBLIC.
I'D WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS OR, OR, OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS.
DO WE WANNA MAKE COMMENTS AFTER EACH OF THESE, IF I MAY? YES.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THERE AGAIN, AND KEEP UP WITH IT.
AND THERE AGAIN, YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING TIRED OF ME SAYING IT, BUT BACK WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE WE HAD THE CLOSED SESSIONS, AFTER THE REGULAR MEETING, I LIKE HAVING IT BEFORE BECAUSE IT DOES PUT SOME TIME LIMITATION.
AND IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT WHEN YOU DID THAT BEFORE, YOU DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN OPEN MEETING AND THEN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, YOU JUST WENT STRAIGHT INTO CLOSED SESSION.
WE WOULD READ THE MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION IN, IN THE BACK ROOM.
I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE, WE START HERE, RIGHT? READ THE MOTION OUT LOUD.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GO.
UM, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT SHOULD BE DONE, I GUESS ONCE THE REGULAR MEETING'S OPEN, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIR CALLS, UH, CALL TO ORDER, AND THE FIRST THING ON AGENDA WOULD BE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
I THINK THAT'S A, A, A GOOD WAY TO DO THINGS.
AND, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T CARE HOW LONG I'M HERE FOR, UH, I DO THINK MORE OF THE AUDIENCE, BUT, UM, IF OUR GENERAL MEETINGS START AT SAY, SIX O'CLOCK AND WE TRY TO DO A CLOSED SESSION BEFORE THE MEETING, UH, THEY'RE WELCOME TO COME HERE AT FIVE 30 AND SIT IF THAT'S WHEN WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
IF WE READ IT OFF HERE, I DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IF THERE'S NO ONE SITTING THERE, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
BUT, OR DO WE START OUR MEETING AT SIX AND THAT'S THE TIME WE START, UM, PEOPLE ARE HERE AND THEN WE GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION, THEY CAN HEAR IT AND THEY'RE TIED UP AND THE MEETING IS EXTENDED.
SO I WOULD, NO, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, PARDON ME.
I WOULD SAY YOU GO INTO CLO YOU OPEN THE MEETING MM-HMM
AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DIRECTLY INTO THE CLOSED SESSION.
LIKE I SAID, WE USED TO ALWAYS DO IT AT THE END OF THE REGULAR MEETING.
IT WAS LIKE THE LAST THING ON THE AGENDA.
AND I MEAN, IT'S A POSSIBILITY IF YOU HAVE, THEORETICALLY, IF YOU HAVE A, UM, YOU OPEN THE MEETING, YOU GO TO THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, AND MAYBE IT'S ONLY A HALF HOUR, AND THEN WE STILL HAVE MAYBE A, UH, 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE GO TO, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE
[00:40:01]
CAN MAYBE FILL IT IN THERE IF THEY'RE SHORT ITEMS. MY HOPE IS THAT WE GO INTO LESS AND LESS MM-HMMSO WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO THAT THAT OFTEN.
THAT'S ANOTHER ITEM WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
BUT, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
'CAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE TO ME, AND MAYBE YOU DID THAT IN THE, UH, BACK THERE IN THAT ROOM, MAYBE YOU DID ACTUALLY OPEN UP A MEETING, THE PUBLIC MEETING AND THEN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT GOING RIGHT INTO CLOSED SESSION AND MAYBE, MAYBE THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE, BUT, WELL, I, IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE THING, I, I'M NOT SAYING REALLY THAT WE NEED TO OPEN A PUBLIC MEETING.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE SHOULD READ OURSELVES INTO OUT HERE.
WE SHOULD READ OURSELVES IN THE CLOSED OKAY.
THAT, THAT'S MY ONLY SUGGESTION.
AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.
THE VERY FEW TIMES, THAT'S FINE.
THAT WE WENT IN, YOU KNOW, WE COME IN BECAUSE OH, RIGHT.
THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM WAS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA.
SO YOU KIND OF HAD TO DO IT BEFORE YOU COULD DO RECORD THE AGENDA.
THE ONLY THING, MR. HAM, DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? YEAH, I HAD A FEW THOUGHTS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS, SO THE, THE CLOSED SESSION IF NEEDED, WHAT HAD BEEN TYPICALLY HAPPENING WHEN DR.
DALEY WAS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY, IS THAT WE WOULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, OR ACTUALLY MORE CORRECTLY A WORK SESSION, AN HOUR BEFORE THE REGULAR MEETING TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION.
AND I SUGGESTED, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, TO PUT THAT CLOSED MEETING IF NEEDED THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS A, A TIME WHERE SOMETHING CAME UP AT THE LAST MINUTE WHERE IT WAS TOO LATE TO NOTICE IT, UM, TO MEET EARLIER.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
SO THAT'S REALLY JUST A, A PLACEHOLDER.
UM, AND WHAT THE BOARD'S PO WHAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN DOING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY, IS TO HAVE MEETINGS BEFORE THE REGULAR MEETING.
THE COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, UM, WITH, WITH REGARD TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, I'VE GOT IT HERE.
IT, IT'S NOT THE GOLD STANDARD.
UH, NONE OF MY CLIENTS USE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS IN IT THAT ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH VIRGINIA LAW.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, 49 DASH 21, UM, ONE MEMBER CAN GET ANYTHING VOTED ON.
UM, THERE ARE CLOSED MEETINGS RULES IN 9 25 THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH FOIA.
THERE ARE ELECTRONIC MEETING RULES THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH FOIA.
UM, THERE ARE MEETINGS IN WRITING ALOUD THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH FOIA.
AND THERE ARE SOME WEIRD THINGS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IN SECTION 35 2 7, YOU CAN RESCIND BY A MAJORITY VOTE, BUT THEN IF YOU CALL IT A RECONSIDERATION, THERE'S A DIFFERENT RULE.
SO IT IS AN ENORMOUS CUMBERSOME, EVER-CHANGING DOCUMENT.
AND MY FIRM DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF RULES, ROBERT'S RULES.
WE HAVE 14 PAGES OF PROCEDURAL RULES THAT ARE ADEQUATE.
AND, UM, JUST, I'M SORRY, THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO SAY.
THE 25 TO $30,000 A YEAR COST OF MY ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING.
AND, AND THIS IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE BOARD WHETHER OR NOT I ATTEND THE MEETING AT ALL, BUT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
HOWEVER, WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR TRAVEL TIME AND WE CHARGE $197 AN HOUR FOR MY TIME AT THESE MEETINGS.
SO IF THERE WERE 24 HOURS OF MEETINGS IN A YEAR, THEN THAT WOULD BE USING ROUND NUMBERS $5,000.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF CLARITY AND A MOTION THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND I WOULD CONSIDER THAT OUNCE OF PREVENTION VERSUS POUND OF CURE.
BUT THAT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE BOARD.
AND, UM, JUST TO, FOR MY CLARIFICATION AND EVERYONE ELSE'S, WHEN OUR PACKET IS POSTED, UM, THE CLOSED SESSION MOTION IS CLEARLY WRITTEN SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING INTO UNDER WHAT SECTION AND SO FORTH IS, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES.
SO THERE IS TRANSPARENCY THERE.
UM, WHETHER THERE'S A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE OR NO ONE HERE, WHEN WE READ INTO THAT, THE, UM, THE PACKAGE HAS THAT INFORMATION AND WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE.
THIS GOES OUT, MR. HENDERSON, YOU PUT POST THIS FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.
HOW MANY DAYS BEFORE THE, UM, MEETINGS FOR TUESDAY MEETINGS? I PUBLISHED THE THURSDAY PRIOR AT 4:30 PM GIVE OR TAKE APPROXIMATELY.
SO, UH, ANYONE WITH A QUESTION IS ABLE TO REACH OUT AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT YOU'RE, EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS CLOSED SESSION MOTION IS AND WITHIN REASON
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WE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.I MEAN, NO, NO ONE IS TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING BY GOING INTO A CLOSED SESSION.
IT'S AN ADVISORY TYPE MEETING, UM, THAT NO DECISIONS ARE REALLY MADE THERE.
IT'S JUST INFORMATION TO HELP PROCEED WITH SOMETHING.
UM, AND NO ONE HAS TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION IF THEY DON'T WANNA GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, UM, IF YOU KNEW WE WERE GONNA HAVE LIKE A REAL LONG CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION THAT HAD TO GO OVER SOME HUGE LEGAL BUDGET ITEM OR SOMETHING THAT WAS GONNA TAKE AN HOUR, UM, AND IT WAS AT THE SAME NIGHT THAT YOU WERE HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS, ALL, YOU KNOW, AND THEN PEOPLE COME IN FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE, YOU'RE PAYING CUSTOMER, YOU TRY TO BE ON TIME FOR THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF, YOU KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A LONG THING, I, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO LABEL THAT AS SPECIAL MEETING OR SOMETHING AND HAVE IT AS A CLOSED SESSION AND IT BE ADVERTISED PROPERLY, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO START IT EARLY.
BUT THE COUPLE TIMES THAT WE DID IT ON PLAN COMMISSION, WE WERE LIKE FIVE TO 10 MINUTES.
SO, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR 10 MINUTES, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BURDEN ON THE CUSTOMER.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S A, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S REALISTIC.
THE, UH, THE OTHER THING AS FAR AS THE, UH, AND I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SOONER, BUT, UH, IS THE ORDER, YOU KNOW, I, UH, BEFORE I WAS ON A BOARD, I CAME TO SO MANY MEETINGS DURING THE ELECTION.
IT, IT'S SO EASY TO GET LOST IN THE AGENDA IF YOU'VE ALREADY WRITTEN A, AN AGENDA THAT YOU CAN'T FOLLOW ITS ORDER ON.
SO YOU CAN ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND START 'EM LATE, BUT YOU CAN'T START 'EM EARLY.
SO IF THE MEETING STARTED AT SEVEN AND YOU ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THE SEVEN, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD DO THE PLEDGE AND YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA TO MOVE FORWARD.
YOU COULD KNOCK OUT ALL, YOU KNOW, THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT TO FIVE OR 10 MINUTES AND TO GO INTO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW WITH THE HOUR OF PUBLIC, OF PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
UM, 'CAUSE IF YOU START THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND THEN YOU'RE 20 MINUTES INTO THAT AND THEN IT'S SEVEN 30 AND THEN YOU HAVE TO STOP THAT, OH, AND THEN, AND THEN YOU'RE UP HERE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DID IT TONIGHT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, BY SWITCHING TWO ITEMS, WE, YOU KNOW, WE AUTOMATICALLY HAD OURSELVES CONFUSED.
SO IF WE CAN MESS IT UP SETTING UP HERE, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT A DISASTER IT IS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE GOT THE AGENDA IN THEIR HAND AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, WE'RE GONNA START THIS, BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN FINISH IT AND START OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AT SEVEN 30.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE, UH, THE HOUR PUT TOGETHER.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT IT'S SPLIT AND IT JUST, UH, UM, TO ME IT WAS A BAD LOOK.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FLIP AROUND IF, UH, I COULD GET, GET SUPPORT ON IT IS OUR COMMENT PERIOD.
WE, AND IT'S JUST MAYBE IT'S FORCE OF HABIT FOR ME, UH, FROM BEING ON PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ALWAYS PUT IT TOWARDS THE END.
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THE VERY LAST THING, BUT USUALLY STAFF REPORTS AND BOARD OR COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, REPORTS WERE AT THE END.
AND THE THING THAT I ENJOYED, WELL, TWO THINGS THAT IT HELPS ME IS, SO I'M VERY FOCUSED ON OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
'CAUSE UH, THEY'RE USUALLY BIG DECISIONS OR THEY CAN BE, SOME OF 'EM ARE PRETTY COOKIE CUTTER, YOU KNOW, THEY GO THROUGH PRETTY FAST.
BUT OH, MY FOCUS IS SO HARD ON THAT.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SPLIT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN TIME.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB ABSORBING THAT.
SO IF IT'S DONE SEPARATE, I'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE HARD WORK IS DONE AND IT PUTS ME IN A MORE RELAXED STATE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE OTHER THING THAT IT DOES IS, UH, IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTERWARDS.
SO IF WE DO THE BOARD REPORTS FIRST AND THEN IT WAS SOMETHING, MAN, I WOULD'VE REALLY LIKED TO SAID SOMETHING.
SO I'VE ALMOST GOTTA ADD IT TO THE MEETING OR KIND OF INTERRUPT THE MEETING TO GET IT IN WHERE I COULD SIMPLY ADDRESS IT IN MY COMMENTS.
AND THE THIRD ADVANTAGE THAT I'VE SEEN TO IT IS IF I'VE GOT A LONG-TERM GOAL, THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY THAT I WANT TO BRING FORWARD AT THE BOARD.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IN A SIX MONTH OR YEAR OR CATEGORY.
IF IT'S EIGHT 30 AND WE'RE DONE AND I WANNA BURN UP AN EXTRA 15 OR 20 MINUTES, IT'S WORTH DOING.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT AND IT'S 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT, SAY JUST WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, I CAN, I CAN USE THAT AS A GAUGE RATING.
ITS IMPORTANCE FOR WHEN IT'S DELIVERED VERSUS THE TIME OF THE NIGHT THAT IT IS AND, AND HOW PRODUCTIVE IT WOULD BE TO, YOU KNOW, GO INTO SOMETHING THAT MAY BE A LITTLE LONG-WINDED, UH, AT 11 O'CLOCK VERSUS, YOU KNOW, EIGHT 30 OR NINE.
SO, UH, MY SUGGESTION IS, IS THE, UH, THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
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IS TO LET ME FIND AN AGENDA.IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO FLIP IT AROUND, BUT I'LL COME ON ONE THING.
YEAH, YOU COULD DO, YOU WOULD DO, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU DO, YOU CALL THE PLEDGE ALL, YOU DO YOUR ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND THEN YOU GO IMMEDIATELY TO PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU CAN ADVERTISE 'EM AT SEVEN.
YOU CAN START 'EM LATE AND THOSE TWO THINGS WILL TAKE LIKE FIVE MINUTES.
SO WE'D REALLY BE STARTING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT LIKE 7 0 5.
WE DO ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ALL AND HAVE THAT OVER WITH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALL THE HEARINGS FIRST.
OH, PUBLIC HEARINGS FIRST, THEN PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THEN BOARD REPORTS LAST, BECAUSE THEN THAT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
BUT IF I'VE ALREADY GIVEN MY REPORT AND WE'VE GOT A 30 MINUTE PUBLIC PRESENTATION SPOT AT THE END, I I I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, IF I ADDRESS IT NEXT MONTH, THE HECK, THE FAULT'S GONE BY THEN.
IS THAT THE, THAT'S, I, I CAN GET BEHIND THAT.
IF I MAY, AND THERE AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I'M, THAT'S THE THING THAT'S GETTING CONFUSING.
BUT AS FAR AS, I MEAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD, AT THE RISK OF LOSING MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND CONCENTRATE ON MR. OR DR.
I KNOW MR. STAN MEYER, I'M NOT SKIPPING OVER YOU.
BUT MR. STAN MEYER'S BEEN TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING, SO SORRY, I WANTED TO GO TO HIM.
I'M OH, NO, IT, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, READING AND TO CLOSED SESSION, UM, I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OF IN TERMS OF WHAT TIME.
I MEAN, WE COULD DO EVERYTHING ON THE EXACT SAME TAM, SAME TIME TABLE, EVEN HAVE A CLOSED SESSION, FOR EXAMPLE, SCHEDULED AT FIVE, AND THEN THE REGULAR MEETING STARTS AT SIX, BUT STILL READ IN FROM OUT HERE AND THEN GO IN THERE MM-HMM
AND IF WE, AND IF WE'RE DONE WITH CLOSED IN 20 MINUTES, THEN IT'S ON US TO KILL 40 MINUTES.
AND YOU KNOW, AND IF THAT WAY, IF PEOPLE WANNA BE HERE FOR THE READING IN TO HEAR WHAT IT'S ABOUT OR TO SEE IF ANYONE VOTED AGAINST IT, THEY CAN SEE THAT WITH THEIR OWN EYES.
AND THAT, THAT'S ALL I THINK IS THE, THE INTENT.
I'D DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT PART OF IT.
UH, MR. CARTER, WE ONLY OTHER SUGGESTION WOULD BE IF WE GO AT FIVE O'CLOCK, WE START THE MEETING AT SIX, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT.
WE COULD ALWAYS, IF WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON A CLOSED MEETING, WE CAN ALWAYS DO THAT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IF IT'S NOT PRESSING.
SO YEAH, THAT WAY PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND ATTEND AND HEAR WHAT YEAH, WE, WE WERE GONNA DO.
SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? ATTITUDE, I THINK NORMALLY YOU GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, YOU COME OUT IMMEDIATELY AND YOU MAKE A MOTION TO COME OUTTA CLOSED SESSION, BUT THEN YOU MAKE A MOTION IF THERE'S ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
ALL I'M SAYING, IF WE DO HAVE CLOSED SESSION, WE START AT FIVE AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE EXTRA TIME.
AND THEN, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO, TO, TO, TO, UM, MAKE, MAKE ANY, UH, WHAT'S THE WORD, MAKE ANY, UH, ACTION.
AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT TILL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
'CAUSE THEN THAT WAY AT LEAST PEOPLE WOULD BE HERE AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO SHOW UP AT FIVE.
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
SO I'M JUST SAYING WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS, ACTIONS OR WHATEVER TILL AFTER THE SIX O'CLOCK START IF WE DECIDE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
AND THEN WE COULD DO THAT AND THE WHOLE THING.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WHAT'S THAT? I'M A LITTLE LOST.
SO, UM, COMMENTS ON MR. JAMESON'S SUGGESTIONS.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE ITEMS THAT HE PRESENTED? YEAH, YEAH.
THE IDEA OF HAVING, UM, SOMEONE ON THE BOARD SPONSOR, UH, ANY, UH, COMP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHANGE OR, UH, TEXT AMENDMENT TO A COUNTY ORDINANCE, I, I THINK IS ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA.
UM, IT DOESN'T MEAN STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATION CAN'T TAKE THE LEAD ON, ON COMING UP WITH THESE I IDEAS, BUT THEY NEED TO FIND AT LEAST ONE PERSON ON THE BOARD WHO'S GONNA STICK THEIR NECK OUT AND SAY THAT, THAT I'M GOING TO THROW MY WEIGHT BEHIND THIS BECAUSE IT DOES CREATE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND THE EXAMPLE I USE IS IF, IF THERE'S A DATA CENTER AND UH, A DATA CENTER IS GONNA COME IN AND THERE, THERE'S SOME OBSCURE TEXT AMENDMENT THING THAT, THAT'S GOING TO ENABLE THAT, I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO SORT OF HAVE TO PUT THEIR NECK OUT AND SAY, I'M THE ONE WHO'S BACKING THIS.
UM, IT'S MY INITIATIVE OTHER THAN JUST HAVE THREE PEOPLE VOTE FOR IT.
AND, AND THE, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACCOUNTABILITY GETS DIFFUSED, UH, INTO NOTHING AT THAT POINT, I FEEL LIKE.
SO, UM, AND DATA CENTER'S JUST AN AN EXAMPLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE ARE REALLY MUNDANE THINGS AND YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK, UH, ANYONE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM BEING SPONSORED FOR IT, UH, IF IT'S SOME MUNDANE THING.
UH, BUT IT, IT JUST HELPS, I THINK TO, UM, TO SORT OF HAVE THE, UH, THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, WHICH IS US TAKING THE LEAD ON
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LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.MAY I, CAN I ADDRESS THIS? OR TONY CAN GO IF HE WANTS TO? NO, I WAS JUST ASKING THERE AGAIN, UH, AND I'M SURE IT'S THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT WHAT IS THE, UH, IF ANYBODY'S WONDERING, I'M NOT PLAYING GAMES ON MY COMPUTER, I'M TRYING TO HOOK UP TO WIFI SO I CAN FOLLOW.
BUT, UM, WHAT IS THE CURRENT POLICY AS FAR AS THE BOARD CAN PUT STUFF ON THERE, THE STAFF CAN PUT STUFF ON THERE.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE GENERAL POPULATION? WHAT, WHAT'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR THEM? I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA IF THERE'S A POLICY THAT DETERMINES WHAT CAN BE, UH, CAN, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, SPECIFICALLY WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF IT'S AN ORDINANCE, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REGULATION, SOMETHING THAT IT, THAT MODIFIES THIS, ESSENTIALLY THE STATUTE OF THE COUNTY, WHICH I THINK ARE REFERRED TO AS ORDINANCE, IS WHEN IT'S THE COUNTY.
SO IF SOMEBODY SPONSORS IT, IT, AND IT'S, I DON'T MEAN A-A-C-U-P OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGES TO ORDINANCES.
SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS EVERY CITIZEN OF THE COUNTY, UH, THAT, THAT ONE PERSON AS, AS MR. SR SAID ESSENTIALLY IS A SPONSOR.
AND, UH, HE USED THE WORDS STICK THEIR NECK OUT.
BUT, UH, THAT MEANS REALLY WHAT IT DOES IS IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, STAFF WHO ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON SOMETHING THAT ESSENTIALLY NOBODY ON THE BOARD IS SPONSORING, POTENTIALLY NOT REALLY KNOWING ABOUT OR BEING ACQUAINTED WITH.
UM, IT JUST CONNECTS IT TO THE BOARD.
WHO'S IT GONNA BE? THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSING IT.
I WOULD, I WOULD FEEL THAT THAT BLOCKS THE APPLICANT ALL IF, IF, IF YOU COME IN FOR A CUP, NO, IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT CP AT ALL.
BUT YOU GOTTA DO A TEXT AMENDMENT SOMETIMES TO GET A CUP THROUGH 'CAUSE IT'S ED.
WELL, WELL THEN IT'S A TEXT AMENDMENT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THE TEXT AMENDMENT AFTER 12 YEARS ON A PLANNING COMMISSION.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT A LOT OF CS HAVE TO HAVE SOME LITTLE MINUTE THING ADDED TO THE GENERAL ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THAT CUP AND IT'S A TEXT AMENDMENT AND THE APPLICANT IS PAYING THE MONEY TO BRING THAT UP HERE FOR US TO VOTE ON.
UH, BECAUSE STAFF WILL WRITE THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE A PAYING CUSTOMER.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE APPLICANT IS THE CUSTOMER AT THAT POINT.
UH, AND IF HE NEEDS A TEXT AMENDMENT TO GO WITH HIS CUP AND IT GOES THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT GOES TO HERE, HE, HE'S PAID HIS FEE.
UH, AT THAT POINT HE'S A CUSTOMER.
AND, UH, IF IT GETS VOTED DOWN, IT JUST GETS VOTED DOWN.
BUT, UH, FOR A BOARD MEMBER TO HAVE TO INTERACT WITH THE PLANNING STAFF OVER A CEP APPLICATION THAT NEEDS A MINOR TEXT AMENDMENT TO GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD IS GONNA BE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU TRY THE ONE IN YOUR DISTRICT FIRST, AND THEN IF YOU DIDN'T GET SUPPORT THERE, THAT GUY WAS BUSY.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AND THERE, THERE COULD BE, OF COURSE, I CAN'T SPIT OUT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I WANT TO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE A WAIVER TO A SETBACK FOR A FEW FEET.
YOU KNOW, SO YOU, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ANYTHING, OH, IT COULD BE THE, THE SMALLEST LITTLE DETAIL THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THAT CUP.
AND, UH, IF A BOARD MEMBER HAS TO SPONSOR THAT, UH, JUST TO GET IT THROUGH, HE MAY, ONCE IT GETS HERE, HE MAY FEEL HE MAY NOT VOTE FOR IT.
AND, AND HE SHOULDN'T BE OBLIGATED TO IF WE, EVEN IF WE DO THAT PROCESS.
SO IF, IF I HAD A, SOMEONE IN MY DISTRICT AND NEIGHBORS TRYING TO GET A CEP SAY, HEY, I, I GOTTA GET A BOARD TO SPONSOR IT BECAUSE I NEED A SLIGHT TEXT AMENDMENT.
I'D HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH THE GUY.
SO, WELL, I'D LIKE YOU TO GET IT TO HERE, BUT I HAVEN'T, I CAN'T MAKE A DECISION SAYING I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT.
'CAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVEN'T HEARD IT ALL YET.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT PUTS YOU IN A, IN A DOUBLE STANDARD TO WHERE YOU WANT TO TRY TO HELP THE CUSTOMER GET HIS STUFF OUT HERE AND HE'S PAYING A CUSTOMER IF HE'S PAYING $1,500 FOR CEP, YOU KNOW, I THINK STAFF OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THE INFORMATION, BUT OH, YOUR POWER'S IN YOUR VOTE.
YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T NEED, YOU KNOW, TO GO DOWN THERE AND HOLD PLANNING STAFF IN A CUSTOMER'S HAND TO GET SOMETHING TO HEAR IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY THE MONEY, FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.
I WOULD SAY JUST A MINOR THING, I THINK THAT, THAT SPONSORING SOMETHING MEANS IT'S WORTHY OF, OF GETTING, OF THE BOARD TIME THAT'S IN THE, IN THE BOARD'S BUSINESS.
I DON'T THINK IT OBLIGATES ONE TO, UH, NECESSARILY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE WHERE THERE'S UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE DETAILS OF IT.
THAT, AND, AND AGAIN, I I, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT FORWARD BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A CON A USE CASE, YOU KNOW, THAT I, THAT I THOUGHT OF MM-HMM
UM, AND, AND YOU COULD PERHAPS CARVE THAT OUT, UH, OF THE IDEA.
THERE ARE OTHER THING, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REGULATORY AND HAVING HIGH IMPACT IN TERMS OF COUNTY ORDINANCES, I THINK WOULD MERIT SOMEBODY SPONSORING THAT.
NO, IT, IT'D BE HARD TO DIFFUSE 'EM.
'CAUSE IF UH, ANYBODY CAME TO MY DISTRICT
[01:00:01]
AND WANTED TO PAY THE FEE, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SPONSOR IT.BUT YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO TELL 'EM WITH THE CONDITIONS.
I CANNOT PROMISE YOU I WILL VOTE FOR IT WHEN IT GETS TO HERE.
BECAUSE AT THAT EARLY STAGE, I, THE, THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'M MISSING IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
OH, SO I, I DON'T THINK I WOULD, UH, I MEAN, I GET YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, IS IT, UH, SOMETHING BIG LIKE A DATA CENTER? YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, BUT I, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IT MAY POTENTIALLY BLOCK SOMEONE'S RIGHTS.
SO IF YOU'RE A PROPERTY OWNER OR A PURCHASER, YOU WROTE A CONTRACT AND YOU NEED TO TEXT A MINUTE TO GET A CUP, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE IT'LL BE VOTED FOR.
AND, UH, I I, IT, IT MIGHT, THAT COULD BE JUST TURNED INTO POLITICAL AMMUNITION LATER FOR SOMETHING YOU WEREN'T GONNA VOTE FOR ANYWAY.
SO I, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT FROM THAT ANGLE.
IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE ON, ON, ON THE FACT THAT WE GET A PACKAGE WITH THINGS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
UH, WHETHER IT'S A, A NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE OR AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.
UM, THE PROCESS WE HAVE NOW, THERE'S, UM, A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PLANNING STAFF AND THE, OUR LEGAL STAFF TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WRITTEN WELL AND THEY'RE WRITTEN LEGALLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THAT STAFF FOR, TO DO THAT PROCESS AND THEN BRING IT TO US AS A PACKAGE FOR US TO LOOK AT, UM, GO TO THEM, BE EDUCATED ON IT, AND THEN MAKE A DECISION.
I FEEL LIKE FOR US TO BE IN THAT BEGINNING PROCESS, IT MAKES IT, TO ME, IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE THAT I'M GETTING TOO DOWN INTO THE WEEDS AND WILL HAVE A PERSONAL BIAS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UM, WHICH I LIKE TO STAY OUT OF THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I'M WILLING TO LISTEN AND I'VE GONE OUT, I TRY TO GO OUT ON ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I CAN GET TO, TO LOOK AT BECAUSE I'M, I'M MORE OF A, YOU CAN TELL ME SOMETHING'S A HUNDRED SQUARE FEET OR 2000 SQUARE FEET.
I NEED TO SEE IT ON SOMETHING BESIDES A PIECE OF PAPER.
SO I TRY TO GET OUT TO ALL THESE PA PLACES THAT I LIKE TO STAY AS CLEAN AWAY FROM TOO MUCH INVOLVEMENT, UM, UNTIL WE GET HERE SO THAT WE'RE ALL BEING PART OF A PROCESS AT THE SAME TIME.
AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN TAINTED ANYWHERE ALONG THE LINE.
UM, AS FAR AS AN ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING TO LIKE THE TOWN DID TO DEAL WITH DATA CENTERS.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US CAN SPONSOR AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE A CONCERN.
AND GIVE A DIRECTIVE TO OUR STAFF THAT WE THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.
AND LET THEM DO THE PROCESS TOGETHER WITH LEGAL AND THEN PRESENT IT TO US AND SAY, IS THIS WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? UM, THAT JUST FEELS TO ME LIKE THE MORE COMFORTABLE AND WE'RE, WE ARE THE FINAL STEP IN A PROCESS WHERE I FEEL LIKE STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS IS JUST OFF KILTER FOR ME PERSONALLY.
UM, AND I WANNA BE FAIR TO EVERYONE.
UM, SO I, I DO THINK WE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY, HEY, I GOT A CONCERN.
IS DOES THIS BOTHER ANYBODY ELSE? AND CAN WE GET STAFF TO LOOK AT IT? UM, THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS I THINK WE NEED TO GET INTO IT UNTIL IT COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL PRODUCT.
AND IS THIS WHAT WE WANT? AND WE VOTE YES OR NO ON IT? UM, JUST MY STANDING AS FAR AS, UM, THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, I DID A LOT OF, SHOULD WE, EXCUSE ME.
CAN WE JUST TAKE ONE ITEM AT A TIME? WELL, THAT'S WHAT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GO DOWN, BUT I KNOW, BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A SPONSORSHIP.
SO LET'S, LET'S IF WE CAN DO THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, AGAIN, WHAT IS, IF A CITIZEN WANTS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE JUST LETTING A CITIZEN PUT ANYTHING AT ALL ON THERE, MR. HAM.
UM, SO BASICALLY ANY TWO BOARD MEMBERS CAN PUT ANYTHING ON, ON THE AGENDA.
OTHERWISE THE CLERK IN COORDINATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN SET THE AGENDA.
AND THAT'S IN YOUR SECTION FIVE DASH ONE.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME AS IT'S BEEN.
I'VE SUGGESTED SOME CHANGES ON THE TIMING OF THIS, UM, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS RIGHT NOW, IF I COULD JUST, JUST CLARIFY, I'M, I'M SURE I'M, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHO CAN PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
I'M TALKING ABOUT IF THE ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY, WHICH IS THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY ARE
[01:05:01]
CHANGED, THAT SOMEONE ON THIS BOARD WOULD'VE SPONSORED THAT CHANGE.SOMEONE ON THE BOARD SPONSOR TO THAT CHANGE.
IT WOULD BE ORDINANCE CHANGE, TEXT AMENDMENT.
WELL, TEXT AMENDMENT IS A CHANGE TO, TO THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? A REGULATION.
IS IT, ARE THESE WORDS A NEW ORDINANCE? A NEW ORDINANCE, A CHANGE TO AN ORDINANCE OR A DELETION FROM AN ORDINANCE? SOMETHING THE ORDINANCE IS EVERYBODY IS SUBJECT TO NOT ONE PERSON'S PROPERTY WHERE THEY'RE COMING IN FOR A CUP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, THAT WAS THE INTENTION IS THAT, THAT YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY.
SOMEONE ON THIS BOARD SHOULD BE THE, THE ONE THAT'S BRINGING IT TO, TO THE BOARD.
I, OH, I SHOULD SAY SPONSORING NOT, NOT INITIATING NECESSARILY.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TEXT CHANGES AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SEE UP, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A NEED FOR A SPONSORSHIP.
I, I THINK THAT WAS A POINT THAT HE MADE, RIGHT? THAT I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, UH, CONTEMPLATE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WEREN'T, YOU WEREN'T INTENDING THAT WASN'T, HE WAS THINKING MORE BIGGER, BIGGER STUFF.
BUT I HOW YOU TO SEPARATE 'EM? WELL, I WAS JUST THINKING THAT, THAT, THAT IN ORDER TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BOARD, I MEAN, BUT, BUT, BUT WE HAVE IT SET NOW THAT NOT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CAN'T ASK TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
THEY COME TO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO OPEN THAT.
SOMEBODY MAY HAVE AN IDEA AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO US AND WE GET SPONSORED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TWO BOARD.
IF YOU WANNA DO THAT, IF YOU HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS, I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OR TWO.
WELL, I'M, AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN GET ON AN AGENDA.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE VOTE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, ACCEPTING THE SMALL TIME STUFF THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S A SMALLER ITEMS THAT GET RIGHT.
IT, IT JUST, THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE BODY, WHICH WE DON'T THINK OURSELVES TYPICALLY THAT WAY, BUT GO TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES OR THE CONGRESS, SOMEBODY THAT'S IN A MEMBER SPONSORS LEGISLATION.
THAT'S HOW IT GETS INTRODUCED AND THAT'S HOW IT GOES FORWARD.
SO I WAS DEFINITELY INTENDING THIS TO, TO BE SOMETHING APPLICABLE TO SUBSTANTIVE THINGS.
WELL, I I KNOW IN THE PAST, UM, PLANNING COM, UM, DEPARTMENT STAFF OR OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS FOUND THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REWRITTEN BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T WRITTEN WELL.
UM, HAVING TO HAVE SOMEONE SPONSOR THAT IS GONNA SLOW THAT PROCESS DOWN.
I MEAN, THEY, WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT'S PROBABLY, I MEAN ME TO INTERRUPT, BUT I MEAN, THAT'S ACTUALLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE I THINK IT, THAT THAT'S WHERE NECESSITY IS.
'CAUSE EITHER THAT, UH, ATTORNEY OR THAT STAFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPROACH SOMEONE.
IF IT WAS A PLANNING ISSUE AND, AND WE HAD A SUPERVISOR THAT HAD 12 YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY WOULD COME AND SAY, HERE'S THIS ISSUE.
WOULD YOU BRING THIS TO THE BOARD? THAT KINDA THING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SLOWING IT DOWN, BUT JUST HAVE BRINGING, HAVING IT SOMEBODY ON THE BOARD BASICALLY OWNING IT RATHER THAN IT, THAN IT COMING.
I THINK WE ALL OWN IT AT THAT POINT BECAUSE IT'S BROUGHT TO US.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND WHATEVER, UH, NEEDS TO BE TO GET US UP TO SPEED ON IT.
AND, UM, WE AS A BODY VOTE ON IT.
I THINK SPONSORING IT, WHAT IF, WHAT IF SOMEONE CAME TO ME AND I SAID, NO, I DON'T WANNA SPONSOR THAT, THEN THEY HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.
UM, I JUST, I, WELL, I GUESS, I GUESS WILLING TO FIX THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN, BUT IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, I DON'T, I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THE THINGS THAT ARE, AND I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE THIS PROCESS IS BROKEN.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THE, THE ONLY, UM, THE, THE ONLY COMMENT ABOUT THAT WOULD BE THAT IF, IF THEY BROUGHT IT TO YOU AND YOU SAID NO, AND THEY BROUGHT IT TO FOUR OTHERS AND THEY SAID NO, THEN THERE'S NO ONE ON THE BOARD WHO'S WILLING TO SPONSOR THAT TAX AMENDMENT, WHO TO BE BASICALLY TO OWN IT FOR CONSIDERATION.
BUT IN FAIRNESS TO TRANSPARENCY TOO, THAT'S LIMITING THE PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO HEAR.
WE'RE CUTTING THEM OUT ENTIRELY.
YOU HAVE, YOU'D HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ITEM IN.
SO IF YOU, ON THE INITIAL, IF YOU THOUGHT THIS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT, BUT IT, AND IT WOULD NEVER GET HERE, BUT THE OTHER WAY IT WILL GET HERE.
AND WHAT IF YOU GOT, YOU CAN STILL VOTE IT DOWN, PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND HE WAS LIKE, WELL, MAYBE IT IS A GOOD IDEA.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE PUBLIC INPUT AT THAT POINT.
YOU COULD BLOCK SOMETHING, SOMETHING COULD NOT GET THROUGH, COULD BE BLOCKED AND NOT END UP WITH A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE MY FEAR.
I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID, SO I'M NOT GONNA KEEP BELABORING IT.
SO, UH, MR. CARTER AND MR. JAMESON, ANY COMMENTS IS
[01:10:01]
I DON'T, UM, NO.ARE YOU GONNA TAKE, EXCUSE ME? ARE YOU GONNA TAKE THE EACH PERSON'S WHATEVER? YEAH.
AND SO I WANNA GO DOWN HIS LIST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
ARE ANY COMMENTS ON THE SUBJECT OF, UM, ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER? ANYONE? THE ONLY THING I I DID GOOGLE, UM, FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW MANY, UM, LOCAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND IT IS NOT, UH, GENERAL USE OF THAT ACCORDING TO GOOGLE.
UM, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN OF THE CLERK.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? UH, I, I WOULD, UM, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH LEGAL PRESENT ON ANY VOTING MEETING ALL, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S JUST A WORK SESSION.
AND I THINK, UH, THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT ANYWAY.
UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE LEGAL AT A WORK SESSION.
BUT, UH, ANYTIME THERE'S A VOTING TOPIC, UH, I, I DEFINITELY THINK, UH, UM, NO OFFENSE TO MR. GODSHAW, BUT THAT HE'D BE WEARING THREE HATS INSTEAD OF THE TWO THAT HE'S WEARING NOW AT THAT POINT.
AND, UH, I'D, UH, I'D LEND TO MR. HAM'S 28 EXPERIENCE, 28 YEARS IN THE, UH, BUSINESS, ALL FOR LEGAL MATTERS ALL, AND THAT IT COULD BE IMPORTANT ON ANY, UH, ANY MEETING WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, VOTING FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING.
WELL, AND I GOOGLED THAT ONE AS WELL.
UM, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS, UM, GENERALLY THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, UM, WHERE WE JUST DISCUSSED THE SPONSORSHIP AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, UM, BEING AT BOARD MEETINGS, UM, I'M, I FEEL THAT THAT PERSONALLY IS A NECESSITY.
UM, AS HE SAID IN THE BEGINNING, I WOULD'VE RATHER HAVE AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION OVER A POUND OF CURE.
I THINK WE'VE HAD WAY TOO MANY POUNDS OF CURE IN THE LAST, UH, UMPTEEN YEARS.
MR. CARTER OR MR. UM, YEAH, IN, IN, IN REFERENCE TO, I GUESS WHAT MR. HAM SAID AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER FORMALLY ADOPTED ROBERT'S RULES, BUT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH, UH, DOING THEM OR FOLLOWING THOSE.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME TALK THAT IT WOULD TAKE TWO THIRDS OF A, UM, VOTE TO MAKE A MAJORITY.
AND I LOOKED IT UP BRIEFLY AND THERE AGAIN, UH, AND IT SAYS SOMETHING THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT AMENDMENTS COULD BE PASSED BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS OR THE, THE BOARD MEMBERS.
BUT IT SAID THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE BYLAWS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHEN IT TOOK TWO THIRDS.
SO I KNOW WE DON'T WANNA GO THERE.
AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF WHAT WE DO NOW IS BASED ON ROBERT'S RULES AND I THINK THE, THE, THE, UM, POLICIES, PROCEDURES WE'RE DD DISCUSSING TONIGHT, UM, THERE COULD ALWAYS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CHANGEABLE.
IF SOMEBODY THINKS OF SOMETHING LATER ON AND THEY WANNA INCORPORATE SOMETHING FROM ROBERT RULES, WE COULD ADD THAT AND CHANGE THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COME UP WITH IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
AND RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, WE WILL PROBABLY BE HERE TILL THE NEXT MEETING
BUT ANYWAY, UM, SO, BUT NO, LIKE I SAID, IT JUST, I WOULD JUST LIKE, JUST TO, JUST TO REGET OR WHATEVER.
I DON'T THINK, HOWEVER YOU WANNA DO IT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE EASIER.
WE NEVER HAVEN'T TAKEN A VOTE ON THE, UH, SPONSORSHIP.
BUT TAKE THAT, TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE, ROBERT SCHUL AND JUST GO DOWN THE LIST THAT WAY.
WELL, UM, DO YOU THINK THAT COVERS, UNLESS MR. STANIER, YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING? I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
UM, MR. CARTER, IF YOU WANNA GO DOWN YOUR LIST.
BUT SINCE I, I DON'T THINK SOME, YOU WANNA DO 'EM ALL ONCE OR YOU WANNA DO JAMESON'S AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT JUST DOING 'EM INDIVIDUALLY.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T, I RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THERE'S A COUPLE OF, OF MR. JAMESON SEAS LIKE, OR A COUPLE I LIKE, AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF, DON'T.
I, I THINK, I THINK I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION.
UM, ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER? NO.
UH, ONE BOARD MEMBER'S LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR? I HAVE HEARD A, NO, I THINK YOU'RE A NO.
I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MR. CARTER.
AND I HEARD, I HEARD A YES THERE.
SO IT'S A, IT'S UP TO, TO MR. CARTER.
WE COULD VOTE THAT ONE QUICKLY.
DID WHAT? WE COULD VOTE ON THAT ONE.
[01:15:01]
WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU JUST INDICATED YES OR NO, WE'RE WE, WE'RE DONE.I MEAN, I THINK IT'S WAY, WAY I, I BEEN USED TO, WITH THE OTHER BOARDS OR WHATEVER, THAT WE DID HAVE A SPONSOR.
NOW, I THINK WHERE WE'RE GETTING INTO THE DIFFERENTIATION IS THE TEXT AMENDMENT.
UH, THAT, AND I GUESS I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT, IF SOMEBODY HAS THE PUBLIC WANTED TO COME BEFORE US FOR, TO MAKE SOME DECISION, THEN THERE MAY NEED A, A, A SPONSORSHIP.
BUT THEN THE, I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE US, UH, IN PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS TO SAY, HEY, I HAVE THIS IDEA.
WOULD YOU ALL BE WILLING TO MM-HMM
PROMOTE IT OR PUT IT ON FOR A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM? AND THAT MAY BE THE WAY TO GO.
AT THAT POINT, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS SPONSOR IT MM-HMM
SO THEY, THEY WOULDN'T GET TO PUT IT ON THE PUBLIC WITNESS, BUT IF THEY'RE, WELL, NO.
BUT IF THEY CAME BEFORE IT YEAH.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND THAT MAY BE IT'S ALREADY THERE.
WELL THAT MAY BE TO ALLOW, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE PERSON, RIGHT? SO SOMEBODY CAME TO THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND THEY WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING? COULD NOT.
AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE OFF THE TOPIC.
IT'S, IT'S ABOUT TEXT AMENDMENT, SO, OKAY.
BUT, UH, UH, IN THAT CASE, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE'S JUST, UH, READING INTO CLOSE FROM OPEN.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR OF MR. CARTER'S OPINION ON THAT.
THANK YOU MR. SAM, YOURS ON THE, UH, ORDINANCE? UH, I WOULD, YES.
UM, AND, AND IF THERE'S, UH, I'D EVEN PUT OUT ONE, ONE THING FURTHER, WHICH IS, IT MIGHT BE SPLITTING HAIRS, BUT IF IT WOULD CHANGE ANYONE'S MIND, I'D BE WILLING TO, TO CONSIDER IT JUST FOR CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LET ALL THE TAX AMENDMENT STUFF GO.
UM, SO THAT IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL FIVE YEAR CYCLE, UH, THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A SPONSOR FOR THAT.
CAN, CAN THE PUBLIC MAKE A DIRECT, UH, SUGGESTION AND HAVE IT BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA FOR A CHANGE IN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR THAT? SO ALL, ALL OF THIS WOULD GO THROUGH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF CHASE HAD A CHANGE THAT HE SUGGESTED BE MADE, UM, TO A COUNTY ORDINANCE, I MEAN, THE, THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK IS THAT, THAT WOULD GO THROUGH BRAD AND BRAD WOULD BE THE DECIDER AS TO THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD.
WHAT IF IT WAS THE PUBLIC? DOES SOMEBODY A RESIDENT? WELL, I MEAN, RESIDENTS ARE FREE TO CALL YOU ALL THEY, LIKE, I MEAN, COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE IN A CHAIN OF COMMAND TO GO THROUGH THE, THE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT, BUT THEY HAVE NO FORMAT TO COME IN AND, HEY, I WANT Y'ALL TO VOTE ON THIS STUPID.
NO, NO DIRECT FORMAT TO DO WELL THERE YOU CAN HAVE A PUBLIC, UM, PRESENTATION.
YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA.
SO THEY HAVE NO DIRECT FORMAT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO CHANGE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO BE VOTED ON IT AS A PUBLIC.
NOT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THOUGH.
AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GENERALLY SURVEYS THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT.
SO THERE IS AN AVENUE FOR THEM TO, UM, COME TO MEETINGS, UM, DIRECTLY, INDIRECTLY BY REACHING OUT TO US AS INDIVIDUALS, OR I THINK THEY EVEN DO, UM, WHAT DO THEY CALL 'EM? SURVEY MONKEYS OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.
UH, A LOT OF DATA IS TRIED TO BE COLLECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S OF THE LIVING DOCUMENT OF NOT JUST US, BUT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR WANTS AND DESIRES AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF ALREADY DONE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANYTHING.
UM, SO I'M, I'M STILL A NO, IT DIDN'T, NO OFFENSE, BUT IT DIDN'T, YEAH.
SO, UH, CHAIRMAN CALLERS, ARE YOU, ARE YOU SAYING, UM, IF, UH, SAY DEVELOPER CAME TO ME AND, UM, WANTED TO PUT HIGH DENSITY HOUSING SOMEWHERE IN BROWNTOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, YOUR DISTRICT? UH, IT, IF, IF THAT REQUIRED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHANGE, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD, IF I WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE AGENDA, I WOULD NEED TO GET ANOTHER SUPERVISOR TO, TO PROPOSE IT ON THE AGENDA.
BUT, BUT ALSO WE WOULD DO SURVEYS AT THAT POINT TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT THERE.
I WOULD THINK IF WE'D HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AT LEAST.
TO, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE PUBLIC.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE, 'CAUSE YOU'RE, THAT WOULD REQUIRE REZONING AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO YEAH, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THAT.
AND OF COURSE, I, I AM JUST MAKING THAT UP AS A HYPOTHETICAL.
NO, BUT THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE.
ANY OF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE SYSTEM THAT EVERYONE GETS INVOLVED IN THAT
[01:20:01]
TO THE LEVEL THE PUBLIC WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN.BECAUSE IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, I WOULD, UM, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IS, UM, THREE MEMBERS VOTING FOR A CHANGE IN A FOURTH OR FIFTH MEMBER'S DISTRICT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHOUT ANYONE STANDING UP AS THE, THE SPONSOR FOR THAT.
THAT'S, UM, I THINK THEY EVEN, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DID IT THIS TIME.
'CAUSE IT, IT, THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WENT ON FOR SO MANY YEARS.
UM, BUT I THINK, UH, THEY HAVE TRIED TO HAVE MEETINGS IN EACH DISTRICT, UH, AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
SO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY TRIED TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS THEY COULD.
AND I KNOW THE TOWN DID THE SAME THING.
I'M LOOKING AT MR. WOOD OUT THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF, UM, INFORMATION AND DATA GATHERING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE'S, UM, THOUGHTS AND WANTS AND DESIRES AND OPINIONS AS THEY COULD GET.
THAT, THAT WAS DONE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.
EVERY REVIEW PROCESS, UH, BEEN THROUGH IT TWICE, AT LEAST TWICE, UH, IT GOT DELAYED DURING COVID.
UH, BUT AT THE REVIEW PROCESS, THEY, YOU KNOW, KEEP ROCKING RULE.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A GROUP THAT COME IN, THEY HAD SOME IDEAS, OH, IT WAS SOME STUFF PROPOSED IN BROWNTOWN MM-HMM
THAT I DIDN'T THINK WAS GONNA BE HOT TOPIC MM-HMM
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT WAS, AND WE GOT THAT OUT THERE PRETTY QUICK.
UH, AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO TYPICALLY IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR A REVIEW.
AND THEN IF IT NEEDED CHANGE IN BETWEEN REVIEWS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY OFF THE STREET'S GONNA SAY, HEY, LET'S PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA TAKE AT LEAST TWO BOARD MEMBERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S ALREADY A PROCESS TO GET THAT DONE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S ALREADY PROTECTED.
I THINK YOU'RE, WE'RE ALREADY PROTECTED THAT WAY.
SO, UM, LOOKING AT, TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS.
SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THE ITEMS THAT, UH, MR. CARTER HAS PUT FORTH? UM, YOU MAY WANNA PRESENT 'EM.
UM, DO YOU WANNA PRESENT 'EM OR DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THEM? I CAN DO IT.
UM, YEAH, THE, THE, THE FIRST ONE WAS JUST ABOUT THE CLOSED SESSION, WHICH I THINK THERE WERE SOME CONFUSION TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE TALKED ABOUT GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
AND I THINK, AND THERE AGAIN, I LEARNED THE PROCESS.
I THINK THE, UM, PRELIMINARY AGENDA WENT OUT FROM ZACH AND THEN WE HAD THE NEXT DAY.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS A LITTLE BIT LATE TO IT.
BUT, UH, WE'LL TRY TO DO BETTER ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE TO ME THAT THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S ALMOST A MOOT POINT.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE, IF YOU INCORPORATED INTO THE PROCEDURES, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED THAT WAY.
'CAUSE THERE MAY BE A FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR WHERE THERE NEEDED TO BE A CLOSED SESSION.
SO THAT SHOULD BE, LIKE I SAID, A MOOT POINT.
UM, THE OTHER THING WAS THE MEETING START TIMES, AND IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT, UM, AND TRYING TO, UH, AND THAT GOES IN CONJUNCTION, NOT TRYING TO JUMP AROUND, BUT, UH, GOES TO EITHER HAVING TWO PUBLIC PRESENTATION PERIODS AND ONE AT THE BEGINNING, ONE AT THE END.
AND I THINK, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS IN AGREEMENT JUST TO HAVE ONE ONE HOUR AND HAVE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
AND THE WAY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT WOULD BE TO HAVE THE, UM, THE MEETING START AT SIX CALL ORDER, AND THEN GO IMMEDIATELY INTO BASICALLY THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY, ANY WHAT THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA.
AND THEN GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LET THAT GO FOR THE HOUR.
AND THEN DO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT SEVEN AND GO THAT FOR, LIKE I SAID, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT WAS MY, MY THOUGHTS THERE.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE, UH, UH, YOUR OTHER DID THAT TOO, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT FROM ANYBODY.
OH, MY ONLY CONCERN FOR DOING PRESENTATIONS AND THEN PUBLIC HEARINGS, ALL IF WE, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISE, WE'LL DO THEM IN SIX AND WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA START THE MEETING AT SIX AND DO THE PRESENTATIONS FIRST AND NOT ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARINGS UNTIL SEVEN AND ONLY THREE PEOPLE SHOW UP.
WELL, YOU GOT, YOU GOT SOME TIME WHERE IF WE DID THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THE START OF THE MEETING AND THEN THE PRESENTATIONS AFTERWARDS, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IF WE HAD 45 MINUTES TO GO TO SEVEN O'CLOCK, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DISCUSS TO TAKE UP THAT TIME? WE CAN, BUT THEN, BUT THEN WE'LL BE JUMPING AROUND IN THE AGENDA.
WELL, I'M BEING FACETIOUS, BUT NO, WE GO BY, WE COULD GO BY THE ORDER OF THAT AND TAKE CARE OF THE, YOU KNOW, NEW BUSINESS, UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR WHATEVER.
[01:25:01]
MAJORITY WANTS.I CAN, I CAN DO IT EITHER WAY, BUT I, THE TWO OF THEM NEED TO GO FIRST.
SO, PRESENTATIONS OR HEARINGS, RIGHT? UH, I MEAN, WHAT, WHATEVER'S I, I COULD DO WHICHEVER, BUT, UH, I JUST HATE TO WRITE AN AGENDA DOWN AND KNOW THAT RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE THAT I'M GONNA JUMP AROUND IN IT.
UH, WHERE IF I WRITE PUBLIC HEARINGS FIRST AND THEN PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, OH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE AFTER THE CALL TO ORDER AND ADOPTION AGENDA.
BUT IF I PUT THOSE TWO IN THAT ORDER, I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TO JUMP AROUND THEM.
BECAUSE IF WE, UH, WE START THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, IT'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO JUMP DOWN THROUGH THE AGENDA TO FIND SOMETHING TO FILL THE TIME UP.
AND THEN WHEREVER WE'RE AT IN IT, WE'LL HAVE TO QUIT RIGHT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK OR NEAR SEVEN TO, TO PUT IT BACK.
SO, BUT, UM, WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY IF THAT'S, IF IT, UM, AS FAR AS ADVERTISING, IF THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
BUT I, I JUST THOUGHT IF WE SWAPPED THE TWO, WE WOULDN'T, UH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH THE AGENDA TO FILL UP A BLOCK.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T, IF WE ADVERTISE THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT SEVEN AND WE START THE MEETING AT SIX, WE CANNOT START THE PUBLIC HEARINGS UNTIL SEVEN.
OR IF WE ADVERTISE 'EM FROM THE TIME WE START TO MARRY, DO 'EM, I THINK IT WOULD UP OUR EFFICIENCY A LITTLE BIT, TO BE HONEST.
YOU'RE PROPOSING WE START THE MEETING AT SIX? WHAT? I DON'T CARE WHICH TIME, SIX OR SEVEN.
IF YOU WANNA DO SIX, I'M FINE WITH SIX, BUT AS FAR AS THE ORDER, YOU KNOW, CALL THE ORDER RIGHT.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA, PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THEN PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS ONE HOUR BLOCK ALTOGETHER, THAT COULD ACTUALLY WORK BETTER.
'CAUSE WELL, I WAS TRYING TO LET FOLKS GO HOME AND GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY
WELL, AND AGAIN, AND I, I'VE WITNESSED SOME OF YOUR MEETINGS AND SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS GO ON 'CAUSE THEY'RE VERY INVOLVED IN DETAIL.
AND IF WE STARTED AT SIX OR SEVEN, IF WE STARTED AT SIX, WE START SIX.
YOU KNOW, YOU'D STILL GET 'EM, IT'D BE THE SECOND MAJOR THING ON THE AGENDA.
THEY WOULDN'T BE FIRST, BUT THEY'D BE SECOND.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY WOULD STILL GET 'EM HOME AT A REASONABLE TIME.
BUT IF YOU HAD THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, I DON'T MEAN TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE, BUT IF YOU HAD THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS FIRST, YOU'VE GOTTA SET TIME, THEN, YOU KNOW THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THAT HOUR.
WELL, UNLESS IT'S LESS THAN AN HOUR, WELL, LESS THAN.
THEN YOU GOTTA REACH BACK IN THE AGENDA AND PULL STUFF BACK UP TO FILL IT.
I WILL, I WILL SAY, MR. HENDERSON, YOU TOLD ME WE HAVE WHAT, EIGHT ON OUR NEXT MEETING? PUBLIC? UH, YES.
BALLPARK, SEVEN TO EIGHT PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THE 20TH.
WE DID TALK MADAM PRESENTATIONS FIRST AT THE, AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THEY LASTED FIVE OR 10 MINUTES.
BUT WE STILL ADVERTISED EVERYTHING AT SEVEN AND STARTED IT AT SEVEN.
IF I MAY, JUST TO KIND OF CLARIFY, I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK FOR MR. HENRY, BUT I THINK JUST TO CLARIFY HIS POINT AND TO HIGHLIGHT THAT YOU CAN ADVERTISE TO, TO MR. HENRY'S EARLIER POINT, YOU CAN, YOU CAN START THE, UH, HEARINGS, UH, LATER, BUT NOT EARLIER.
SO IF, EVEN IF WHATEVER TIME YOU START THE MEETING, SAY YOU'RE GONNA START IT AT SIX, HAVE THEM OUT, ALWAYS ADVERTISE FOR SIX.
THAT WAY YOU CAN NEVER START THEM PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED TIME AND STICK TO THAT LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND THEN HA HAVE THE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, AT, AT ANY TIME DURING THAT, DURING YOUR MEETING.
UM, AND THAT IS TRUE, EXCEPT IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WITH LAWYERS SITTING THERE, THEN THEY'RE PAYING A LAWYER.
UM, A IT'S A, IT'S AN HOUR MAX.
SO, YEAH, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
YOU STILL, WHATEVER TIME WE START THE MEETING, WE ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT TIME AND IF, LIKE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IF WE'VE ONLY GOT THREE PEOPLE SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, IT'S NINE MINUTES AND THEN WE GO RIGHT INTO PUBLIC, UH, HEARINGS.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT IT THAT WAY, UM, KNOWING THAT IF WE GOT A FULL HOUSE ON PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, THE PEOPLE DOING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE A LITTLE ANTSY WAIT IN AN HOUR, BUT IT'S AN HOUR MAX.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HOW MANY'S HERE, IT'S ONE HOUR MAXIMUM.
I, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S BETTER.
EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.
UH, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WOULD BE THE DAY MEETING.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE WITH THIS, BUT NOW YOU SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THESE MEETINGS GOING.
I THINK THE ONLY OTHER ONE I HAD, AND THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT, AND AGAIN, I GO BACK TO, AND I THINK THAT STARTED BACK
[01:30:01]
IN THE NINETIES AND THEY HAD THE, UH, A DAYTIME MEETING AT THAT TIME.IT WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH, IT WAS AT 9:00 AM AND THE GIST OF THAT MEETING WAS TAKE CARE OF HOUSE CLEANING ITEMS. THERE WAS NOT GONNA BE ANY PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT.
I MEAN, NO, THERE WOULD BE A PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS UNLESS THERE WAS SOME EMERGENCY THAT CAME UP.
I THINK THIS IS BENEFICIAL, UH, FOR STAFF FOR THEM TO GIVE THEIR REPORTS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE TILL ODD HOURS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO, IF THEY DO FLEX TIME OR WHATEVER, THEY CAN MAKE IT UP, BUT STILL, I THINK THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, BUT, BUT ONE OF MY MAIN FOCUSES WOULD BE TO HAVE REPORTS FROM MAYBE SOME OUTSIDE AGENCIES, I-E-D-S-S, UH, AND PARTICULARLY VDOT.
'CAUSE I KNOW ED CARTER'S COME HERE ON OCCASION, BUT HE TRIES TO SHY AWAY FROM THE, UH, NIGHT MEETINGS.
HE'S GOT LIKE A TWO HOUR ROUND TRIP.
AND IT WAS ALWAYS BENEFICIAL FOR HIM TO COME BEFORE OUR BOARD TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON VDOT S GOING ON.
BUT IT ALSO GAVE US THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HIM FACE TO FACE, WELL, OUT IN MY DISTRICT, WE'RE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE ROAD, COULD YOU LOOK INTO IT? OR WHATEVER.
AND I THINK THAT'S BETTER THAN, UH, IT CAN ALWAYS BE DONE THROUGH EMAIL AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT AT LEAST THAT WAY HE HEARS IT AND HE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH AS FAR AS QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN THERE AGAIN, WE WON'T START AT NINE.
WE'LL START AT, UM, ONE, I THINK EVERYBODY'S AMENABLE TO THAT AND THEN IT SHOULDN'T LAST FOR THAT MEETING, BUT MAYBE A COUPLE HOURS IF THAT.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE A WORK SESSION, UM, POSSIBLY FOR UPCOMING ITEMS COMING UP FOR THE AGENDA.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE CAN ALWAYS FIND ITEMS TO DISCUSS FOR WORK SESSION.
I I WOULD, WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE, UH, THE VD GUY'S HARD TO GET AHOLD OF
OH, I, I, I HAD INDICATED THAT MORNINGS WOULD BE HARD FOR ME 'CAUSE UH, THIS JOB DOES NOT PAY ENOUGH FOR ME TO SUPPORT MYSELF OBVIOUSLY.
SO I DO HAVE TO WORK FOR A LIVING.
UH, BUT, UH, CONSTRUCTION, WE USUALLY START EARLY AND, UH, I CAN GET THE WORST OF THE DAY IN AND MY HELP COULD PROBABLY FINISH MY DAY FOR ME AT THAT POINT.
UM, SO I, YES, I WOULD SUPPORT A, A ONE O'CLOCK DAY MEETING AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY HERE TO BE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO KNOCK OUT WORK SESSION.
AND THEN THEY'LL, I'M SURE STAFF, MOST STAFF WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF NOT HAVING TO HAVE TWO, TWO LATE NIGHTS TOMORROW, JUST ONE.
BUT, UH, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS IF WE HAD SOME SUPER LONG HOT TOPIC ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMEBODY DID DO DATA CENTER AND WE KNEW WE WAS GOING TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, IF WE GOT ALL THE DA ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN ONE NIGHT, ALL, I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO A SPECIAL MEETING.
YOU KNOW, LIKE IF, IF WE HAD SOME BIG MM-HMM
JUST KIND OF KEEPING THAT IN MIND, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE POLICY.
WE KNEW WE HAD AN APPLICATION COME IN AND WE'RE GONNA ADD IT TO A REGULAR PUBLIC HEARING NIGHT AND WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT A POWERPOINT AND RIGHT.
UH, MAY JUST KEEP IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IF WE GET ONE OF THOSE, A STAFF OR SOMETHING TO, UH, HEY, LET'S PUT THAT ON A SPECIAL MEETING.
COULD I ASK A QUESTION AS FAR AS, AND I DON'T KNOW, I I, I KNOW AS, AS THE AGENDA IS NOW YOU CAN HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, I THINK EITHER THE FIRST OR THE THIRD MEETING AT NIGHT.
BUT DID I HEAR SOMETHING OR AGREEMENT THAT DID, DID Y'ALL AT LEAST AT ONE TIME GO TOWARDS HAVING JUST A PUBLIC HEARING MEETING ONLY? RIGHT.
WE DID THAT, UM, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH A LOAD OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, AND THEN THEY WANED OFF AND WE PULLED THAT BACK.
SO WE GOT THE FLEXIBILITY IN ALL THESE THINGS.
SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS, WE CAN ALWAYS ADAPT.
SO, SO ONE O'CLOCK IS, IS THE TIME.
AND THAT'S PM SO
AM I CORRECT IN THAT? CORRECT.
NOW, DOWN TO MR. HAMS. UM, AND I THINK THOSE ARE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HAM ON THOSE? UH, I DO.
UM, THERE'S A CHANGED CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS AT SECTION THREE 14.
UM, THE WAY THIS WAS WRITTEN, UH, BASICALLY AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE INTENTION OF THE, OF THAT SECTION IS TO, UH, PREVENT A WHIP SAWING OF RESOLUTIONS OR ORDINANCES.
SO THERE'S A STABILITY FACTOR WHERE IT SAYS THAT, UM, ESSENTIALLY, UH, UM,
[01:35:01]
ANY MOTION RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE OR QUESTION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT MAY BE RECONSIDERED ONLY ONCE PER CALENDAR ON THE MOTION OF ANY MEMBER WHO VOTED WITH THE PREVAILING SIDE.UM, AND THEN LATER IT SAYS THAT A MOTION BY A MEMBER OF THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL VOTE.
SO I WANTED TO ASK MR. JA, MR. HAM, UH, WHY YOU SUGGESTED THIS CHANGE, UH, FOR THIS SESSION.
SO THE LANGUAGE I'VE ADDED IS, AT ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD WHERE ANY VOTE UPON ANY MOTION RESOLUTION ORDINANCE OR QUESTION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, IT MAY BE RE RECONSIDERED ONLY ONCE PER CALENDAR YEAR ON THE MOTION OF ANY MEMBER WHO, AND THEN THIS IS THE LANGUAGE I ADDED EITHER, AND THEN BACK TO WHAT WAS BEFORE VOTED WITH THE PREVAILING SIDE, AND THEN THIS IS THE KEY LANGUAGE OR WHO ASSUMED OFFICE ON THE BOARD AFTER SUCH VOTE.
AND SO, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE WHIPSAW EFFECT AND THE REASON FOR THIS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW BOARD MEMBER ON THE BOARD WHO DID NEITHER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER RULE FURTHER ON, ON, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IS MR. CARTER ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OR THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE? I THINK THAT HE'S ON NEITHER AND THEREBY CAN AND SHOULD, UM, UH, BE ENTITLED TO, UH, BRING THAT UP AGAIN.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE JUST HAD A MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE IN THIS BODY LARGELY OVER ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND I CAN FORESEE THIS SECTION BEING USED TO PREVENT, UM, ANY OF THE, ANY CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED THE LAST YEAR WITH RESPECT TO THAT ISSUE, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS WHAT THIS PROCEDURAL RULE WAS MEANT TO DO.
I DON'T THINK THIS PROCEDURAL RULE WAS MEANT TO PREVENT THE VOTERS FROM VOTING IN A NEW BOARD AND THEN THAT NEW BOARD BEING ABLE TO INITIATE THEIR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.
AND IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANNA LEAVE IT THAT WAY.
IT SEEMS THAT, THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE DONE THOUGH, THE WAY YOU JUST DESCRIBED IT.
I HAVE BROADENED WHO CAN RECONSIDER MOTIONS TO INCLUDE NEW MEMBERS.
RIGHT? AND SO THE, THE, THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT HOW LONG THIS RESOLUTION'S BEEN OR THIS SECTION'S BEEN IN PLACE AND FOR WHAT REASON AND IT'S THE STABILITY FACTOR IS WHAT IT IS.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY KNOWLEDGE.
RIGHT? I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT WASN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN THIS WAS WRITTEN, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS INTENDED TO SHUT OUT A NEW BOARD MEMBER FROM COMING UP WITH IDEAS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE PRIOR BOARD.
I THINK IT WAS INTENDED TO STOP PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT FROM BEING ABLE TO KEEP BRINGING IT UP AGAIN.
UM, AND IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST IT, WHY SHOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO BRING IT UP? AND IF YOU'RE NEWLY APPOINTED TO THE BOARD, RIGHT? AGAIN, THIS IS MY SUGGESTION, AND IT'S UP TO THE BOARD TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANNA DO WITH THAT.
SO BASICALLY IT LABELS THE NEW GUYS ALL GIVES THEM THE RIGHT AS IF THEY HAD SUPPORTED IT TO BRING IT BACK UP.
SO, SO THEY WOULD, UH, WHERE IF HIS COUNTERPART WAS THE OPPOSITION ALL AND HAD WON THE ELECTION, HE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT THE NEW BOARD MEMBER WOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SUPPORTED IT.
UM, MR. HAM WITH REGARD TO, YOU SAID THE ELECTION, UH, AND THE NEW MEMBERS WERE LARGELY HAD ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE LIBRARY.
UM, BUT THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS CREATED ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2024.
SO A YEAR'S ALREADY PASSED SINCE THEN.
SO THAT, THAT CAN BE RECONSIDERED REGARDLESS.
UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT, THERE WERE MULTIPLE BEARING THAT HAS RESOLUTIONS.
THIS IS BLANKET, IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO THAT.
UM, THERE WERE MULTIPLE FUNDING RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN THE FALL.
THERE'S THERE, UM, ALSO AS A REQ UH, CONSIDERATION RECONSIDERATION SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT.
UM, AND ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, IS THIS A SUGGESTED CHANGE THAT YOU'VE MADE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT YOU REPRESENT? DO THE, DOES THIS ALIGN US WITH THE TYPICAL SITUATION OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING SUGGESTED FOR WARREN COUNTY NOW THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS? GENERALLY? I DON'T RECALL SITTING RIGHT HERE WHAT NEW MARKET IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY AND THE FIRM'S OTHER CLIENTS DO ON THIS.
I WOULD ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT A NEW BOARD MEMBER NOT BE PROHIBITED OR NEW BOARD MEMBERS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS
[01:40:01]
BE PROHIBITED FROM UNDOING THINGS THAT THEY MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN VOTED INTO OFFICE.AND AGAIN, I THIS APPLIES TO MORE THAN THAT.
THIS APPLIES TO EVERYTHING AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT Y'ALL DECIDE TO DO IS WHAT YOU ALL DECIDE TO DO.
BUT TO HAVE A PROCEDURAL RULE THAT WOULD STOP A NEWLY ELECTED, UH, PUBLIC OFFICIAL FROM, YOU KNOW, DOING ANYTHING THAT THE OLD BOARD, UH, DID WITHIN A YEAR DOESN'T FEEL DEMOCRATIC TO ME.
UM, AND, UH, CERTAINLY IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY, YOU CAN.
MAY I SAY SOMETHING? I THINK WE'VE HAD IT IN PLACE, POSSIBLY ALL THE WAY BACK TO TOWN COUNCIL.
AND THE REASON BEING IS SOMEBODY ON THE SIDE THAT, UH, THEY VOTED AGAINST IT AND THEY, WE, THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULDN'T NEED, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BRING IT UP EVERY MONTH OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE PROHIBITION CAME FROM.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU CAN'T BRING IT UP MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR, UNLESS A MEMBER OF THE PREVAILING SIDE BRINGS IT UP THEMSELVES.
BUT THAT'S A CALENDAR YEAR AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST 2025, WE'RE IN 2026 NOW.
SO ANYTHING, EVERYTHING COULD BE BROUGHT UP.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING? IS EVERYTHING CON CONSTRAINED TO THE CALENDAR OR THE BUDGET ITEMS CONSTRAINED TO CALENDAR, I THINK.
OR DID THEY JUST SAY YOUR WELL, THE LAST SECTION SAYS A MOTION BY A PERTINENT MEMBER OF THE NON PREVAILING SIDE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL VOTE.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT A CALENDAR OR IN THAT CASE, UH, CALENDAR IS MENTIONED IN THE, IN THE PRIOR, IN THE UPPER, BUT IT BASICALLY IS, UM, ALMOST LIKE DISCRIMINATING THE NEW MEMBERS FROM HAVING ANY SAY IN SOMETHING FOR A YEAR.
AND IT DOESN'T PLAN TO STUFF THAT'S, THAT'S DONE ON THE CALENDAR YEAR, BUT STUFF THAT'S DONE ON THE YEAR, IF IT WAS LAST MONTH AND IT WASN'T UNDER A CALENDAR YEAR, IT, WE'D HAVE TO WAIT TILL MUCH LATER.
I, I SUPPORT THE RED LINE ITEMS BEING THE NEW GUY.
'CAUSE IT, UH, PUTS THE BALL BACK IN MY COURT.
IT, IT, SUPERVISOR CARTER, IT DOES SAY IT MAY BE RECONSIDERED ONLY ONCE PER CALENDAR YEAR, BUT AGAIN, ON, ON THE MOTION OF ANY MEMBER WHO VOTED WITH THE PREVAILING SIDE.
BUT BUT WHAT IF YOU JUST MADE IT THE CALENDAR YEAR PERIOD AND NOT FROM ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, WOULDN'T THAT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE OF THE NEW GUY OR WHATEVER? UH, IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.
UH, THAT WOULD WORK WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUE OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO CREATE AN ODD SITUATION WHERE YOU COULD MAKE A DECISION IN DECEMBER AND THEN GET IT RECONSIDERED AGAIN THE VERY NEXT MONTH IN JANUARY.
I THINK THE SOLUTION I'VE WRITTEN IS OKAY, IS BETTER.
AGAIN, HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
UM, LOOKING FOR ANY, ANY, UH, GAPS IN THIS? WHAT, UH, WITH REGARD TO PREVAILING AND NON-PRO PREVAILING, HOW WOULD YOU CONSIDER SOMEONE WHO WAS ABSENT OR ABSTAINED, UH, DURING THE VOTE? I, I THINK I WOULD ABSTAINING THAT BASICALLY IS A VOTE TO NOT VOTE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LEGAL HERE.
THANK GOODNESS IF YOU ABSTAIN IT, IT'S A TIE, IT'S A NOTE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT AN ABSTAIN VOTE IS A NO VOTE EITHER.
IF YOU ABSTAIN, YOU WOULDN'T BE ON A PREVAILING SIDE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF, YEAH, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO, UH, HAVE A DEFINITION FOR SOMEONE WHO ABSTAINED OR WAS ABSENT.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE OUT FOR AN ILLNESS OR SOMETHING YEAH.
AND THEN YOU WANNA BRING IT BACK OR YOU LABELED AS THE PREVAILING OR THE NON-PRO PREVAILING.
WELL, WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT EVENTUALITY IF, IF YOU WANT, UH, AND WE CAN DEAL WITH IT ANY WAY YOU LIKE.
WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN ABSENT MEMBER SHALL BE CONSIDERED, UH, A MEMBER WHO IS ALLOWED TO BRING IT UP AGAIN.
UM, OR NOT, UH, IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.
SO DO WE WANT AN ABSENTEE TO BE PART OF THE PREVAILING OR THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE? I WOULD THINK THE NON-PRO PREVAILING, BUT I'M, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? THE NON-PRO PREVAILING 'CAUSE IT DIDN'T VOTE.
[01:45:01]
CONSIDERED ABOUT THE SAME AS THE NOTE.I HOPE IT DOESN'T BITE US LATER, BUT YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY SO AN ABSENT OR ABSTAINING MEMBER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, YES.
AND THE ONLY OTHER REMEDY HE COULD BE TOO, SOMEBODY KNOWS THEY'RE GONNA MISS A, A CERTAIN MEETING WITH A CERTAIN VOTE.
MS. MOORE COULD ALWAYS POSTPONE THAT VOTE FOR THE NEXT MEETING OR SOMETHING IF YOU WANNA DO IT THAT WAY.
WE COULD ALWAYS TABLE AN ITEM.
IF I WAS A CLIENT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS CLOSE I'D, I'D WANT IT TABLED, RIGHT? MM-HMM
TO GET THE FULL BOARD IF I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE CLOSE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OTHER PART? UM, I OH 'CAUSE I WENT OUT ORDER WHEN I WAS GOT TIED UP IN THAT OTHER DISCUSSION.
ARE WE OKAY WITH PUTTING THE, UH, BOARD AND STAFF COMMENTS TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING? I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I THINK EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR, UH, MR. HENDERSON'S SAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN THERE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A STRICT DEADLINE TO GET AGENDA ITEMS FROM STAFF AND SO FORTH TO HIM, UH, TO MAKE THE EXPEDIENCY FOR BOTH HIM AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON, UM, THE AGENDA.
AND I'M GONNA, MR. HENDERSON, IS THAT IN HERE THE WAY THAT YOU HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE? UH, CURRENTLY I THINK THE POLICY IS, UM, THE END OF THE DAY ON MONDAY, A WEEK PRIOR I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UM, MEMBERS OF STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION THAT I WAS GOING TO MOVE THAT UP TO WEDNESDAY AT ABOUT NOON.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, ON TUESDAY, ABOUT 24 HOURS PRIOR, I WILL SEND OUT ROUGH DRAFTS OF THE AGENDA TO THE BOARD AND TO DEPARTMENT HEADS ESSENTIALLY SAYING, THIS IS WHAT THE AGENDA LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONS, PLEASE HAVE THEM TO ME BY WEDNESDAY AT NOON AFTER THAT.
WEDNESDAY IS YOUR DROPDOWN, WEDNESDAY IS THE DROP OFF.
SO, SO MY ORDER OF BUSINESS STUFF WAS ALL, YOU KNOW, I I I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CHOOSES IT'S ORDER OF BUSINESS.
UM, HAS ANYBODY KEEP TRACKING ALL WHAT WE GOT BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE FAR? I THINK MR. HAM HAS.
UM, SO, UM, IS IT WORTH HIM READING WHAT HE'S GOT TRACK OF SO FAR? I THINK HE'S GONNA NEED TO DO THAT AND THEN WE VOTE ON IT.
SO IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MEETING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.
IF Y'ALL WANNA FOLLOW ALONG, YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO TURN TO PAGE SIX AT THE TOP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SHALL BE ITEM C.
SO IT'S AFTER CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ADOPTION AGENDA CLOSED MEETINGS.
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS MOVED AFTER THAT FOR THE NIGHT MEETINGS.
UM, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AGAIN IS MOVED TO ITEM C AND FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH IS ITEM D.
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS AFTER THAT.
AND SECTION THREE DASH 14, CAN YOU GIMME ONE SECOND? GIMME ONE SECOND.
SECTION THREE DASH 14 AT THE END WE WOULD ADD AN ABSENT OR ABSTAINING MEMBER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NON-PRO PREVAILING SIDE.
AND WHAT DID YOU HAVE? TH THOSE ARE ALREADY AS PROVIDED CO COMMENT PERIOD AT THE END.
SO THOSE WERE CHANGES FROM WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
[01:50:07]
TAKE A MOTION.THIS IS JUST ON MR. HAM'S AMENDMENTS.
NOW WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST OKAYING WHAT HE PUT FORTH RIGHT THERE.
WE'RE NOT DOING THE WHOLE POLICY AND PROCEDURE.
'CAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS TO GO THROUGH TOO.
JUST MAKE BEING CLEAR, DID THIS ADD TONY'S STUFF? NO, THIS IS JUST, YES, THIS, OKAY.
IT DOES, THIS ADDS EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE MR. CARTER.
WITH THE CHANGE ON THE TIMING TO, UH, THE, THE THIRD TUESDAY MEETING WOULD BE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
TO ACCOMMODATE THE FACT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BEING AT SEVEN 30 AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
SO OTHERWISE IT'S, IT'S INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT I DIDN'T READ YOUR STUFF OUT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU PROVIDED THAT TO ME AT THE VERY EARLY STAGE AND HAD ALREADY MADE IT INTO THAT DRAFT.
THERE'S JUST ONE THING AND, AND, AND MAYBE I MISSED THAT.
UM, ON SECTION ONE MEETINGS, IT'S, IT'S SHOWING THAT WE CHOOSE, UH, THE FIRST TUESDAY'S AT 1:00 PM THE, THE REDACTED CROSSED OUT JUNE, UM, IN THE AUGUST FOR WHAT? YEAH.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT NIGHT OUT, FIRST NIGHT OUT.
THAT'S FIRST NIGHT OUT AND THAT'S GOOD.
THE THING THAT I SEE MISSING POSSIBLY, AND IT DID AGAIN, IT USED TO BE, I THOUGHT WE ONLY HAD ONE MEETING IN JULY AND I DON'T SEE THAT LISTED HERE.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE HAD ONE MEETING AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO DO.
I DUNNO IF YOU'VE DONE THAT BEFORE OR NOT.
'CAUSE I GUESS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SUMMERTIME AND VACATIONS AND WHATEVER.
BUT I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE MEETING A MONTH ANYWAY, SO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HISTORY'S BEEN.
BUT I, I THOUGHT WE USED TO JUST HAVE THE ONE MEETING IN JULY.
IT SEEMED LIKE YOU HAVE THE DAY OR THE NIGHT YOU'D HAVE THE NIGHT MEETING.
BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE PENDING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SUCH LIKE THAT.
AND IT'S THE SAME THING I THINK WITH THE DECEMBER MEETING TOO.
THAT'LL BE HELD AT NIGHT AS WELL SINCE THERE'S ONLY ONE MEETING.
BUT I JUST DON'T SEE THE JULY IN THERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST OR NOT.
ARE WE DOWN TO ONE MEETING IN JUNE? WAY THIS IS WRITTEN? THAT'S HOW IT WAS WRITTEN INITIALLY, BUT I THINK THAT WAS, AND I THOUGHT INITIALLY IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A TYPO, BUT I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
OH, BECAUSE OF THE PRIMARY, SO YES.
LA LAST YEAR YOU DID HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN JULY.
BUT THE BOARD CAN DO WHATEVER THE BOARD WANTS TO DO.
LIKE I SAID, I JUST THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO DO.
WELL WE COULD, WE COULD TAKE IT OFF NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENED.
WE COULD, AS LONG AS WE HAD ENOUGH TIME, WE COULD ALWAYS ADVERTISE IT FOR A SPECIAL MEETING IF WE NEEDED IT BACK.
SO DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE CHANGE OF NO REGULAR MEETING IN THE FIRST TUESDAY OF JULY? YES.
SO SOMEONE WANTS TO ADOPT THAT.
AND OUR RECORD IS CLEAR ON WHAT YOU'RE ADOPTING.
IS, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
[F. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
UH, MR. JAMESON, ONLY THING I HAVE TO REPORT IS THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UH, THE, THE RECONCILIATION BANK RECONCILIATIONS ARE READY FOR THE AUDITORS TO, TO MEET THEIR, APPOINT THEIR, UH, JANUARY 12TH APPOINTMENT.A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING HARD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND, UM, SO WAITING FOR THE AUDIT, MR. HENRY.
OH, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY TONIGHT FOR ALL THAT, UH, HARD WORK AND AUDIENCE FOR THE PATIENCE.
AND, UH, GLAD TO SEE ANYBODY OUT FOR OUR SUPPORT.
UH, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A GREAT YEAR AND APPRECIATE YOU MR. CARTER.
UH, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, THE SUPPORT I HAD, UM, IN THE ELECTION AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH, MOVE FORWARD AND, AND, 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF TO DO.
I THINK MR. GUSFIELD, AND THEY MAY HAVE BEEN OLD YOU, I THINK YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, UM, GOALS OR THINGS TO WORK ON FOR 2025.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THINGS KINDA GOT LOST SHUFFLE AND THAT'S GOOD THAT IT MAYBE PUT AN INITIAL LIST TOGETHER.
[01:55:01]
I THINK, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOUR PLAN WAS ANYWAY, ONCE EVERYBODY HAD THEIR INPUT, THEN WE'D HOLD A, UH, A WORK SESSION TO KIND OF PRIORITIZE THINGS.BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BESIDES THE LIBRARY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I KNOW I'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT.
THE FISCAL IMPACT MODEL, WHICH HADN'T BEEN UPDATED FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, UH, I THINK THIS PLACE HERE NEEDS A NEW ROOF.
I KNOW ONE OF THE SCHOOLS NEEDS A NEW ROOF.
MY UNDERSTANDING NOW IS THAT THE REGIONAL JAIL NEEDS A NEW ROOF.
AND WHAT WE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO IN THE PAST WAS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THAT MONEY ALL AT ONCE.
SO SOMETIME WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON, WE NEED TO KIND OF PRIORITIZE THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS, UH, I, I I I, I WOULD REQUEST THAT POSSIBLY, AND THEN WE CAN DO IT EITHER WAY, WHATEVER FITS HER SCHEDULE.
BUT I, I THINK WE SHOULD INVITE, UH, MS. OATES TO COME TO OUR MEETING, MAYBE A DAY MEETING, UH, AND THEN, AND WE COULD THINK ALONG OUR GOALS.
IF THERE'S ANY MONEY OUT THERE, OF COURSE WE DON'T NEED MONEY, UH, BUT IF THERE'S ANY MONEY OUT THERE FROM THE STATE, THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
AND THE BRIEF CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HER, SHE HAD MENTIONED THAT I GUESS THE STATE HAD AVAILABLE A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO HELP COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF.
SO IF THE MONEY'S OUT THERE AND THERE'S NO STRINGS ATTACHED, WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE IN THE RUNNING AND TRY TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT COULD ALSO GO ALONG WITH OTHER POSSIBLE PROJECTS WITHIN THE COUNTY, IE LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT MAY NEED ATTENTION.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I, I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY MR. STANMORE PICK PICKING UP RIGHT FROM THAT.
UH, WITH REGARD TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND MONEY FROM THE STATE, UH, TODAY I ATTENDED THE AIRPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN MEETING, UH, OVER AT FRONT RENTAL AIRPORT.
AND, UM, MR. BARRY WAS THERE, UH, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER STAFF.
UM, THERE IS, UH, A LIST OF THINGS THAT, THAT ARE IN THE PLANNING AT THE AIRPORT, INCLUDING BOX HANGERS, RUNWAY OVERHAUL, TAXI OVERHAUL, TAXIWAY, OVERHAUL, ET CETERA.
UM, AND THERE IS A LOT OF FEDERAL, UH, AND STATE MONEY OUT THERE.
UM, SOME OF THESE GRANTS, UH, HAVE ALREADY BEEN, UH, APPROVED, BUT THEY HAVE EXPIRATIONS AND WE'RE ALREADY AT RISK OF HAVING $145,000 DISAPPEAR IF WE DON'T ACT ON SOME OF THIS BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, JUNE 30TH.
SO JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE TO DROP THE SEAT IN YOUR MIND BECAUSE, UH, I KNOW IT'LL BE COMING UP IN A FUTURE MEETING.
UM, AND, UH, WITHOUT JAY BUTLER HERE, HE WAS, YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT AND FLYING WAS HIS PASSION.
UH, BUT I, I DON'T WANT THE MOMENTUM THAT HE BUILT UP TO JUST GET SQUANDERED.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND THAT'S ALL VERY GOOD.
UM, I'M GONNA CUT MINE KIND OF SHORT.
I DID WANNA, UH, MENTION TWO THINGS.
I, THERE WAS A LOT OF VINCE I DIDN'T GET TO OVER CHRISTMAS 'CAUSE I GOT THE CRUD THAT PROBABLY A LOT OF YOU GOT OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOUR BETTER AS WELL OR YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE.
UM, I DO WANNA COMMEND, UH, THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, SHERIFF KLINE AND HER STAFF.
THEY PUT ON A WONDERFUL DINNER FOR, UM, THE STAFF AND BROUGHT IN RETIREES.
I SAW PEOPLE I HADN'T SEEN FOR YEARS AND THEY REALLY HAD A WONDERFUL TIME THAT NIGHT.
THAT'S A REAL MORALE BOOST THAT THEY ALWAYS NEED.
UM, MAYOR COROLL DID A COFFEE AND CONVERSATION THAT I, I ATTENDED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND SHE DID A REALLY NICE JOB.
SO, UH, IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN TO THOSE, IT'S THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AT ON QUEUE AND ROB MCDOUGALL IS THE MODERATOR THERE.
IT'S, UM, VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE TO GO TO THAT COVER.
I, I READ 'EM, I DON'T COMMENT ON 'EM 'CAUSE IT'S A HOLE YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF.
BUT THERE WAS A LOT, UH, RECENTLY ABOUT TRASH ALONG THE ROADWAYS.
SO, UM, THAT'S ONE OF MY PET PEEVES BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TRASH CANS AT HOME.
WHY WE THROW THINGS OUT THE WINDOW, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS FAILURE TO SECURE YOUR LOADS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE THOSE TRASH BAGS ON THE BACK OF YOUR VEHICLE.
AND LET'S FACE IT, THERE ARE POTHOLES ALONG THE WAY AND THEY BOUNCE OUT AND EITHER A CAR HITS, SOME ANIMAL GETS INTO 'EM OR THEY JUST BURST ON IMPACT AND IT'S A MESS.
AND WE HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTY THAT, THAT TRASH AND WE'RE TRYING TO BOOST TOURISM.
AND THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO RIDE DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE TRASH EVERYWHERE.
AND OF COURSE THE TRANSFER STATION'S AND MY END OF THE COUNTY.
BUT I TRAVEL A LOT OF THE ROADS AND IT'S NOT JUST MY END OF THE COUNTY.
SO I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE, I KNOW I TALKED TO SHERIFF KLEIN AND SHE IS
[02:00:01]
ACTUALLY HAVING HER STAFF PUT ON SOME GLOVES AND START DIGGING FOR ID OUT OF PEOPLE'S TRASHES AND THEN GO ON AND TELLING 'EM YOU MIGHT WANNA GO BACK AND PICK UP YOUR TRASH.UM, WHICH I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH 'CAUSE I KNOW I'VE STOPPED AND DONE THAT.
IT'S NOT THE MOST PLEASANT THING TO DO, BUT IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
I'M NOT ADVOCATING TICKETS, BUT IF YOU GET PULLED OVER, IT'S LITTERING.
WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, THEY GOTTA SEE YOU DO IT TO GET LITTERING.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY HEFTY FINE, SECURE UNSECURED LOADS.
ALL THEY GOTTA DO IS SEE IT BOUNCING AROUND AND THEY CAN STOP YOU FOR UNSECURED LOADS.
SO I HAVE, WHICH I MEANT TO PUT UP HERE, MR. CARTER GONNA TRIP ME UP THIS BAG, I'M SORRY, UM, CARGO NETS, I GOT SOME, SO IF YOU WANT SOME, PLEASE STOP BY.
I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LEADERSHIP AND IT'S FREE.
UM, I'M SURE TAX DOLLARS SOMEWHERE PAID FOR IT, BUT THEY'RE FREE TO YOU TONIGHT.
UM, SO I DID WANT TO, UM, BRING THAT UP AND JUST, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, NOBODY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY PLANS TO DUMP YOUR TRASH OFF, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TAKING A MATTRESS TO THE LAND, THE TRANSFER STATION, AND YOU DROP PAST IT ON THE WAY HOME, YEAH, YOU MIGHT WANNA STOP AND PICK IT UP AND IT'S DANGEROUS.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU SEE IT'S YOUR TRASH AND YOU PICK IT UP, PLEASE BE.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS I'VE BEEN SEEING IS DRIVER SAFETY AND I TRAVEL THREE 40 FROM FRONT WORLD TO HOME TO FROM HOME TO LURAY AND BACK.
AND THERE'S NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT SOMEBODY'S NOT PASSING ME ILLEGALLY AND I'M DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT GENERALLY.
UM, I'VE, I AM NOT ONE THAT GOES 35 DOWN THREE 40, SO I DON'T GO 65 DOWN THREE 40 EITHER.
BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S GOTTEN REALLY BAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SO I JUST URGE YOU TO DRIVE SAFELY AND BE CAUTIOUS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
AND, UM, WHEN I'M NOT DRIVING, I'M TAKING PICTURES OF LICENSE PLATES.
I HAVEN'T SENT THEM TO ANYBODY YET, BUT I DO DO THAT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DANGEROUS.
I HAVE BEEN PASSED IN SOME PLACES THAT HAVE SCARED ME TO DEATH HONESTLY.
AND I WORRY ABOUT, UM, THE TEENAGERS AND SO FORTH THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING AS LONG AND HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS.
SO IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS IN YOUR HOMES, GIVE THEM SOME, UM, CAUTION THERE PLEASE TO, THEIR DRIVING MAY BE PERFECT, BUT THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM IS NOT ALWAYS AND I DON'T WANNA SEE ANYBODY GET HURT.
SO THAT'S, UM, MY THOUGHTS FOR TONIGHT.
UM, MR. HAW, UH, YES, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS, BUT FIRST BEFORE I, UH, DIG INTO THOSE, I DID JUST WANT TO KIND OF, UM, UH, PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK TO, UH, SUPERVISOR CARTER, UH, JUST SO WE DON'T LOSE THOSE POINTS.
UM, WITH REGARD TO YOUR GOALS, WE DO, YES.
AND HAVE, UH, IN FACT HAVE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE, UH, BUDGET PREPARATION PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET, UH, INCLUDED IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET, UM, A, UH, UH, AN APPROPRIATION FOR A BOARD AND STAFF, UM, RETREAT, OR NOT RETREAT, BUT ADVANCE.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL, UH, GET APPROVED BY THE BOARD WHEN, WHEN WE INDEED, UH, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET TO ALLOW US TO, TO BEGIN TO KIND OF FORMALIZE THAT, THAT PROCESS.
AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, UM, WITH REGARD TO, UH, GETTING UPDATES FROM LEGISLATORS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD ON MY RADAR AND, AND ON MY LIST OF GOALS TO DO AS YOUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR, UH, IS TO DO SOMETHING THAT I DID IN MY LAST JURISDICTION, WHICH IS TO HOLD WITH THE BOARD, UH, KIND OF QUARTERLY OR SOME OTHER TIMEFRAME, UH, LEGISLATIVE ROUND TABLES, UH, WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, UH, TO INCLUDE, OF COURSE, DELEGATE OATS, BUT ALSO YOUR, YOUR, UH, AND FORGIVE ME, I, I'M BLANKING ON HIS NAME.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE OCCASION YET TO MEET HIM, BUT YOUR, YOUR STATE SENATOR AS WELL.
UH, UH, SENATOR FRENCH, UM, BUT ALSO, UH, BUT ALSO YOUR, YOUR CONGRESSIONAL, YOUR FEDERAL, UH, LEGISLATORS AS WELL, TO BRING THEM HERE, UH, AND TO LISTEN, UH, TO THE BOARD, UM, REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE TOP OF THEIR MIND AS THEY GO TO RICHMOND OR, UH, OR, UH, WASHINGTON, UM, WARREN COUNTY.
SO I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE TO WORK ON THAT VERY SHORTLY.
MY REPORT, UM, WE CONTINUE WITH, UH, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET MEETINGS PRETTY FAST AND FURIOUS.
UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH, UH, SUPERINTENDENT, UH, DR. WRIGHT THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON, UH, TO, UH, DISCUSS FURTHER, UH,
[02:05:01]
THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET PROCESS.JUST AS A REMINDER, I DID MENTION IT TO THE BOARD, BUT, UH, PUBLICLY AS WELL HERE.
UH, THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED JANUARY 13TH JOINT BOARD AND SCHOOL BOARD, UM, BUDGET WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELED AS THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, REALIGNS THE BUDGET CALENDAR, UH, BASED ON THEIR NEW LEADERSHIP THERE.
UM, SO MORE TO COME ON THAT AS THE SCHOOLS PUTS TOGETHER THEIR FORMAL BUDGET CALENDAR, UM, THEIR, THEIR, THEY ARE, DR. WRIGHT IS TWEAKING IT A BIT FROM WHAT HAD BEEN, UH, FORMERLY, UH, RELEASED TO THE BOARD, THIS BOARD.
SO, UH, MORE TO COME AS I LEARN MORE FROM DR. WRIGHT.
UH, ALSO, UH, LASTLY, UH, WE HAVE CONCLUDED INTERVIEWS, UH, FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR.
UH, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH A CANDIDATE.
UH, SO I'M QUITE HOPEFUL AND VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE NEW DIRECTOR, UH, INTO ONE OF THESE, HOPEFULLY VERY SHORTLY UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS TO, TO INTRODUCE THAT, UH, CANDIDATE, UH, TO THE BOARD AND AND TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HAM.
I HAVE, I HAVE NO COMMENTS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IS YOUR QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR? I DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, MYSELF, AND THEN I'LL ASK, UM, OKAY.
UM, AFTER CONSIDERATION, AND I THINK I'VE, I'VE VOICED THIS TWICE MYSELF IN TALKING TO SOME OF THE OTHER SUPERVISORS, UM, WE WOULD LIKE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO PRESENT THEIR BUDGETS TO US AS FOR THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF THE WAY YOU HAD, UM, SAID THAT YOU WERE GONNA DO IT, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH THEM DIRECTLY INSTEAD OF QUESTIONING YOU.
IT'S JUST, IT JUST DOESN'T FLOW WELL AND DOESN'T SEEM AS EFFICIENT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE, UM, THAT TO BE A DIRECTIVE FOR YOU TO SET THAT UP FOR US TO, UM, HAVE A BUDGET MEETING WHERE THEY PRESENT TO US AS A GROUP.
I, I, I WILL, UH, I'LL AMEND THE BUDGET, UH, UH, CALENDAR AFTER CONFERRING WITH THEM, UH, BASED ON THEIR SCHEDULES TO, TO, UH, GET YOU AN UPDATE.
UM, AFTER READING THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY ARTICLE ABOUT THAT REFERENCED, UM, THE AUDIT AND THE SAFER GRANT, AND I DID CHECK, UM, THE SAFER GRANT IS THE FIRE AND RESCUE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S ARE KIND OF MY WHEELHOUSE IN MY VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM AND THE SAFER GRANT AND KEEPING UP WITH THAT FOR YEARS.
AND I, I THINK A RETRACTION NEEDS TO BE PUT THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THAT INDICATES THAT OUR AUDIT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH US NOT GETTING THAT SAFE GRANT.
AND I THINK THAT WAS AN INCORRECT STATEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, CORRECTED.
AND I DID TALK WITH, UH, CHIEF BONNO AND ASSISTANT CHIEF MYKO TO ASK, WAS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT? BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, IT'S, YES, YOU GET IT, OR NO, YOU DON'T.
AND I'VE ALWAYS ASKED THE QUESTION OF, DO THEY GIVE US ANY IDEA OF HOW TO STRENGTHEN OUR REQUEST? WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER WHEN WE'RE REQUESTING THESE GRANTS? AND IT'S ALWAYS, NO, IT'S, THEY DON'T INDICATE ANYTHING.
SO I, I THINK THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CORRECTION WITH THAT.
YES, OUR AUDIT IS A PROBLEM, BUT WE DO DON'T NEED TO ESCALATE IT BY MAKING IT SOMETHING THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, UH, I BELIEVE IN MY REPORT, I'D, I'D HAVE TO PULL IT UP TO ACTUALLY GET THE, MY CORRECT, MY EXACT QUOTE.
BUT, UH, AS MY RECOLLECTION SERVES, UH, WHAT I HAD WRITTEN IN THAT REPORT HAD INDICATED THAT A, AN INFERENCE, UH, UH, HAD BEEN MADE BY A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, UH, ON WARREN COUNTY'S GRANT APPLICATION.
AND THE FACT THAT THAT EMPLOYEE HAD, UH, HAD THOUGHT OR BELIEVED THAT ONE POTENTIAL, UH, REASON FOR THE COUNTY NOT RECEIVING OUR SAFER FUNDING WAS BECAUSE OF OUR AUDIT SITUATION.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DOCUMENTATION.
IT IT, IT WAS A VERBAL CONVERSATION, MA'AM.
AND, UH, SO, UH, AGAIN, MY REPORT DID NOT SAY THAT THAT WAS EMPHATICALLY THE REASON, BUT IT SAID THAT IT WAS AN INFERENCE MADE BY A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE.
SO I, I, I, I RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND APPRECIATE THAT, BUT, UM, SIMPLY PULLING THAT FROM THE REPORT WOULD NOT, UH, FULLY DESCRIBE THE, UM, THE SECTION OF THAT REPORT, WHICH WAS TO DESCRIBE IN ITS ENTIRETY THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY FOR A DELAYED AUDIT.
SO REMOVING THAT SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, REDUCES THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A DELAYED AUDIT REALLY COST THE COUNTY.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO DO IT, BUT I, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED.
DO YOU THINK IT'S FACTUAL TO HAVE
[02:10:01]
A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY? AND IT SAYS THAT YOU SAID, OH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT TERM.IT WAS LIKE QUOTE, UM, LIKE YOU HAD INSIDER INFORMATION IN THE VIRGINIA DAILY THAT FACTUALLY THAT OUR AUDIT DELAY HAS COST US THAT SAFER GRANT.
NOW FOR, OF COURSE, THAT WAS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY, INTERPRETED AGAIN BY A NEWS REPORTER.
BUT, UM, THE WAY IT'S PRINTED IN THE PAPER, IT SEEMS IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BEEN A PROBLEM OR COULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THEY HAVE QUOTED YOU AS HAVING FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT WE LOST THAT SAFER GRANT BECAUSE OF OUR AUDIT PROCESS.
AND THAT IS A PRETTY HOT TOPIC ITEM.
AND THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION TO SHARE THAT AS BEING FACTUAL, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE ABSOLUTE PROOF OF THAT AS FACTUAL, I WILL SUPPORT YOU IN A PAPER WITH ME.
BUT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A, IT'S JUST BAD PRESS.
I'D BE VERY, I'D BE VERY CAUTIOUS THAT I, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, WHETHER YOU THINK YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE A RETRACTION OR AN MENTION TO THE PAPER THAT IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY THAT IT BE ADDRESS SO FACTUAL.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE MAN THAT, BUT IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD LOOK IF THE WAY IT'S IN THE PAPER.
WELL, I, I'D HAVE TO READ, SIR.
UM, I, I, I'M NOT, I I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY READ THE, UH, NEWS ARTICLE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
SO I, I, I'LL, I WILL CHECK ON THAT AND, AND SEE WHAT THE, THE, THE PRESS SAID ABOUT IT.
BUT I'LL, I'M READING NOW DIRECTLY FROM MY REPORT, UM, QUOTE, THOUGH NOT OFFICIALLY STATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, COUNTY STAFF THROUGH CASUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME IN THE KNOW, WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE NOT AWARDED THE GRANT DUE TO OUR UNDER TO OUR OUTSTANDING AUDIT DELAY.
WHILE THIS IS ANECDOTAL, IT IS WORTH REPORTING HERE.
SO I THINK I MAKE VERY CLEAR THE FACT THAT I AM NOT REPORTING ON, UH, ANY SORT OF OFFICIAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATEMENT OR, UH, GRANT DENIAL LETTER, BUT RATHER A CASUAL CONVERSATION THAT, UH, COUNTY STAFF HAD WITH FEDERAL STAFF WITH REGARD TO OUR GRANT APPLICATION.
SO, UM, I, I, YOU, THAT WAS, FOR YOU, IT WAS REPORT WORTHY? CERTAINLY, I, I, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T, I, I DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE DAILY, UM, TO THE DAILY TO, TO MAKE A PRESS STATEMENT.
I, I BELIEVE IF, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THE, THE, THE PRESS MAY HAVE PICKED UP ON MY REPORT.
UM, BUT I, I PERSONALLY DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE PRESS TO, TO MAKE A COMMENT OR A STATEMENT TO, TO ANY FACT.
I FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT THAT, THAT THEY JUST SNATCHED YOUR REPORT UP IT.
COULD I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THE BUDGET PROCESS? UM, AGAIN, I, I, I, I LIKE THAT, THAT, UM, WE'LL BE ADOPTING THE BUDGET ON SCHEDULE APRIL 21.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THE PAST TO GET THAT DONE FOR THE SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY LEFT THEIR CONTRACTS OUT IN MAY.
AND THIS MAY BE AND MAY MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN, UH, CALLING IT THAT FOR SOME TIME, BUT YOU SAY PARTNER AGENCY PRESENTATIONS, WE ALWAYS CALL IT OUTSIDE AGENCY.
SO IT'S THE SAME THING, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, UH, I KNOW YOU GOT THAT SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3RD.
UM, AND I THINK, I THINK WE MAY HAVE DONE THAT THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT I KNOW THERE, AGAIN, LIVING IN THE PAST, WHAT WE USED TO DO, THEY'D COME IN THAT, UH, ROOM.
EVERYBODY ELSE WILL WAIT OUT HERE.
BUT I THINK IN THE, RECENTLY THEY'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM, UH, THE BOARD WOULD BE IN THE OR OR TABLES DOWN THERE, SO WE'D BE ON THE SAME LEVEL.
AND THEY COME UP AND THEY HAD BASICALLY A 15 MINUTE PRESENTATION, WHICH ENLIGHTENED US.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THOSE AGENCIES TOO, BECAUSE IT'LL BE VIDEOTAPED AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THESE AGENCIES DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THAT.
AND THEN WHO KNOWS, THEY MAY VOLUNTEER, THEY MAY GIVE MONEY AND THE WHOLE THING.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.
NOW, THE OTHER THING, I THINK MS. COLORS, YOU BE CALLED MS COLORS OR CHAIR WOMAN'S COLORS OR WHATEVER, JUST DON'T CALL YOU LATE FOR SUPPER.
UM, SO YOU HAD ON HERE FEBRUARY 24? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
UM, WHERE WAS IT? OH, MARCH FOUR THROUGH SIX, NINE TO FIVE, YOU SAID STAFF AVAILABILITY FOR INDEPENDENT BOS UH, REVIEW.
WHAT DID YOU ENVISION FOR THAT? IF, IF ONE OF THE MEMBERS WANTED TO MEET WITH, SAY, SHERIFF KLEIN? WE COULD, AND THE SAME THING, IS THAT THE INTENTION THERE? UH, YES, SIR.
UH, THAT WAS THE INTENTION, YES.
UH, SO TO HAVE, UH, BASICALLY HAVE DURING THAT PERIOD
[02:15:01]
OF TIME, UH, STAFF, UM, BASICALLY BLOCK THEIR CALENDARS TO, TO ALLOW FOR KIND OF WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS, UH, WITH, WITH SUPERVISORS, UH, THAT, THAT WAY THEN YOU CAN HAVE AT YOUR LEISURE FOR AS LONG AS YOU'D LIKE, UH, INTIMATE TIME TO GO THROUGH, UM, THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL AND, AND ASK QUESTIONS AND, AND INTERROGATE THEM.I KINDA LIKE THAT ON ONE RESPECT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A TWO DAY PERIOD AND THEY SCHEDULE IT, BUT I STILL THINK IT, IT, IT, IT, IT'S BETTER.
AND THERE AGAIN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ON US, BUT TO HAVE WORK SESSIONS WITH EACH, UH, STAFF, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES OUT, WELL OUTSIDE AGENCIES BE TAKEN CARE OF ON THEIR OWN, BUT HAVE THEM COME BEFORE THE FULL BOARD IN THE WORK SESSION TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT'S OKAY IF ONE OF US WANTS TO MEET WITH THEM, AND WE HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS AS THE OTHER ONE, SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY EAT UP SOME OF THEIR TIME.
PLUS, IN THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION, MAYBE, UH, UH, JOHN WOULD HAVE A, A QUESTION AND THAT WOULD, UH, JAR SOMETHING TO ME, AND I'D HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION THAT I WOULDN'T THINK OF LATER.
SO IF WE CAN ARRANGE THAT SOME WAY THAT WE COULD JUST DO THAT AND FOREGO THE OTHER, I THINK IF, IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT TO, TO DO IT THAT WAY.
UM, I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME CONSUMING IN A WAY, BUT IT ALSO GETS IT OVER WITH.
BUT NO, I THINK, I THINK IT'S A GOOD SCHEDULE, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
UH, MR. CARTER, IF I MAY, UM, UH, JUST TO NOT LOSE THE POINT WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, PUBLIC, UH, TO THE PARTNER AGENCIES, OUTSIDE AGENCIES, UM, WE'D ALSO PUT IN, AND I JUST WANNA BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS.
I I DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE THIS POINT.
I, I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER ON, YOU WEREN'T NOT YET ON THE BOARD, BUT, UM, WE, WE WERE ALSO LOOKING TO PUT IN, WE, WE STAFF HAD PUT IN A POLICY, AND I MENTIONED IT TO THE BOARD, UM, REGARDING A THRESHOLD.
UM, I THINK WE STUCK, I'D HAVE TO PULL THAT OUT, BUT I THINK WE STUCK AT 25,000.
SO ANYTHING $25,000 OR LESS, UM, UH, THAT A PARTNER AGENCY WOULD BE REQUESTING IN THAT BUDGET PROCESS, UM, WOULD SIMPLY MAKE IT ONTO THE, UH, BUDGET, UH, UH, PROPOSAL, THE ADMINISTRATOR'S PROPOSAL, UH, AND THEN ANYTHING 25,000 OR MORE, THOSE PARTNER AGENCIES WOULD COME IN AND DO THEIR, THEIR, THEIR PUBLIC PRESENTATION.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO TRY TO DO WITH THAT WAS LIMIT THE, THE NUMBER OF PARTNER AGENCIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND, AND, AND SPEND AN HOUR HERE PRESENTING, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR $2,000 REQUEST.
THAT POLICY, IN ADDITION TO, UM, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I TRIED TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUDGET, UH, PROPOSAL PROCESS, IS REALLY AN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT STRATEGY AND LONG-TERM PLAN AND DESIRE AND BOARD PREROGATIVE, YOU HAVE A HUNDRED PLUS MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
AND IN, IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, HAVING DONE THIS MANY YEARS, AND ALSO HAVING SAT IN YOUR SEAT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, DOING WHAT YOU DO TO SPEND, AND I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN, TO SPEND FIVE HOURS DISCUSSING THE THOUSAND DOLLARS APPROPRIATION TO, YOU KNOW, TO FIX A PARK IS A, AN INCREDIBLE, UH, LACK OF, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO INSTEAD FOCUS ON STRATEGY.
AND SO WHAT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO WAS TO STRUCTURE THE ENTIRE PROCESS WITH, THROUGH THE LENS OF STRATEGY AND OVERARCHING BOARD PREROGATIVE.
UM, AND SO, UM, WELL CERTAINLY, UH, YOU'VE, YOU'VE SPOKEN TONIGHT WITH REGARD TO YOUR DIRECTIVE AND WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
BUT, UM, I, UH, UH, I, I THINK, UM, UH, I'M GONNA WORK AS MUCH AS I CAN WITH THE BOARD TO, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, WE, WE REDIRECT CONVERSATION, UM, TO, TO STRATEGY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE STAFF UNDERSTANDS WHAT, UM, WHERE THE, THE LARGE, UM, BOARD, UH, DESIRE LIES.
SO, UM, I, I DID WANNA MENTION THAT, THAT THAT PARTNER AGENCY POINT, JUST, UH, SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE A, UH, A, A DIFFERENT, UH, NOW AS A COLLECTIVE BOARD, UM, IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THAT POLICY I'D, I'D BE HAPPY TO TO CHANGE THAT AS WELL.
BUT I, I DIDN'T WANNA LOSE THAT POINT.
AND LIKE I SAID, THE MAIN THING IS TO HEAR BACK FROM SIT DOWN WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, AND LIKE YOU SAID, THAT'S THE, THE, THE, THE MAJORITY, BIG MAJORITY OF, UH, WHERE OUR BUDGET MONEY GOES.
SO ANYWAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
DID, DID WE, AS A BOARD, I DON'T REMEMBER US VOTING ON THAT POLICY AS A BOARD FOR THE 25,000 UNLESS, OR 25,000 ABOVE? YEAH, I, I, I DID NOT LAY IT BEFORE THE BOARD FOR, TO, TO TAKE ACTION.
I, UM, I HAD MENTIONED IT, UH, WHEN I FIRST LAID OUT THE, THE BUDGET.
UM, AND, UM, I, I, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER NOW IF, UH, WHAT
[02:20:01]
THE DISCUSSION AROUND THAT WAS.BUT, UM, YOU, YOU MA'AM MAY HAVE HAD A COMMENT ON THAT.
DID YOU, DID, BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE IT DID, CERTAINLY.
I'M NOT SURE THOUGH, THAT ANY OTHER MEMBER HAD COMMENTS, UM, AND CERTAINLY DID NOT LEAVE THAT MEETING WITH THE DIRECTIVE TO, TO CHANGE THAT, THAT PURSUIT.
SO I JUST ASSUME ANY POLICY LIKE THAT GETS VOTED ON FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.
UM, SO I, I WASN'T SURE AND HADN'T HEARD ANYMORE ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND I GUESS FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING BEEN HERE, NOT AS LONG AS YOU, BUT I'M KIND OF STUCK IN ROUTINES AS WELL.
AND, UM, I'M OPEN TO NEW THINGS, BUT I, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET, IT'S COMPLICATED ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH IT.
AND WHEN IT GETS IN TOO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, UM, I, I WANNA KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON AND I WANNA BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
UH, WHETHER IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR $10,000, IT, IT ALL ADDS UP TO A LOT IN THE END.
UM, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THAT.
UM, AND I WILL GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER THE MAJORITY DECIDES THERE, BUT DEFINITELY WANT TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, UH, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS PRIME MINISTER'S, UH, QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
UM, BUT THE, UH, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, IF THE BOARD, NOT NECESSARILY, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TONIGHT IF YOU HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT THAT, BUT, BUT I, WE KIND OF DO NEED AN ANSWER ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT, UM, AS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, SO THAT WAY WE CAN, UH, NOTIFY THE PARTNER AGENCIES AND, AND LET THEM, AND, AND SCHEDULE WITH THEM, UM, UH, THEIR, THEIR SESSIONS BEFORE THE BOARD, IF YOU WANNA CHANGE THAT POLICY.
UM, WHAT IS THE FEELING OF THE BOARD ON THAT? WELL, I, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT BID AGAINST IT IN SOME, YOU KNOW,
AND SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE REALLY STUFF EFFICIENCY.
I DON'T, I DON'T MIND THOSE BEING LOCKED TOGETHER OR I'M JUST NOT SURE WHERE THE THRESHOLD SHOULD BE.
I DON'T, I MEAN, I DEFINITELY WANT 'EM INDIVIDUALLY.
YOU, I WANT 'EM, IT, AND, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER FOR 25 ITEMS, YOU KNOW, I WANT 'EM LISTED, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING IN FOR EACH LITTLE THING BEING THAT SMALL.
BUT, UH, WOULD YOU BE MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE JUST LOWERED THE NUMBER? YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM, UM, WHETHER, I MEAN, NOT, NOT EVERYBODY COMES IN EVERY TIME ANYWAY.
UM, THEY'RE USUALLY, YOU KNOW, LISTED OUT, BUT SEVERAL LAST YEAR DIDN'T COME.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY, WHEN THEY DIDN'T COME, THEY DIDN'T GET THEIR MONEY.
UM, BECAUSE TO ME, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IF YOU NEED THE MONEY, YOU NEED TO SHOW UP.
UM, IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP, HOW BAD DID YOU NEED THE MONEY? AND WITH THE, THE TIGHTNESS OF THE BUDGET AND THE DECISIONS WE HAVE TO, IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY TO THE PEOPLE WHY WE'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY THE WAY THEY ARE.
AND WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, THE BUCK STILL STOPS HERE IN THE END.
AND I, LIKE I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE HERE, I DON'T LIKE SAYING I DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE.
I, I WANNA BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON, WHY I'M VOTING ON IT, AND TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY IT WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS ME UP AND SAYS, I SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA, WHY? AND I SAY, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S NOT, UH, NOT AN ANSWER.
I WANT TO HEAR IT MYSELF, SO I DON'T WANNA GIVE IT.
WELL, I THINK THE ADMINISTRATOR, WE BE PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST, AND I KNOW IN THE PAST, AGAIN, UH, FOR THE NEW BUDGET YEAR, WE'D HAVE A LIST OF THE AGENCIES, WHAT THEY WERE, UH, GIVEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHAT THEY HAD WERE REQUESTING THIS YEAR AND THE WHOLE THING.
AND AT ONE POINT, I THINK WE EVEN PUT A, UM, UM, FREEZE ON ANY NEW AGENCY REQUESTS MM-HMM
SO, AND THEN AGAIN, I THINK, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT SOME OF THE AGENCIES WITH THE THINGS THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GIVING THEM SO MUCH MONEY, IF THEY WEREN'T, IF THEY WEREN'T IN EXISTENCE, THAT MAY BE PASSED ON TO DSS OR SOME OTHER AGENCIES AND COST US A WHOLE LOT MORE.
SO I THINK THEY'RE VERY, UH, WORTHWHILE ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THIS COMMUNITY.
SO, BUT WE CAN THINK ABOUT THE THOUSAND, 2000, WHATEVER AND, AND GET DOWN TO THAT.
BUT I THINK IF WE SEE THAT LIST FIRST, WE MAY BE ABLE TO JUST GO THROUGH THERE AND SAY, YEP, I THINK THEY WOULD BE OKAY FOR THIS MUCH.
SO, BUT, BUT IF Y'ALL WANNA HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, NO.
MA, MA'AM, THE, THE, UH, YES, NOT, I, I'M STILL GOING TO BE THE THROUGH AND
[02:25:01]
NOT, NOT ONLY INCLUDING THE PARTNER AGENCIES, BUT, BUT THE, THE BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY, I HAD NOT ANTICIPATED.NOR WOULD I EVER SUGGEST THAT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT THE BOARD GETS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
SO I'M, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GET A LINE ITEM BUDGET, UM, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AS SOON AS ON, ON JANUARY 27TH, WE'RE GONNA BE RELEASING TO YOU A LINE ITEM BUDGET, UM, THAT YOU'LL HAVE IN YOUR HANDS.
UM, BUT, BUT WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, THE, THE MOMENT THAT THE, THE, THE FIVE OF YOU GET TOGETHER IN A ROOM TO FOCUS YOUR, UM, YOUR QUESTIONING ENERGY AND YOUR, AND YOUR, UH, UM, UH, ANALYSIS, THAT IS THE, THE MOMENT THAT WE NEED THE BOARD TO BE PREPARED TO DIRECT THEIR FOCUS ON STRATEGY.
SO, UM, YOU WILL CERTAINLY GET A LIST OF THE PARTNER AGENCIES AT ALL LEVELS, UM, IN YEARS PAST AND, AND, AND MOVING FORWARD STILL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? IF NOT, MOVING ON TO
[G. Approval of Minutes - December 9th 2025]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 9TH, 2025.ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9TH, 2025.
MR. CARTER ABSTAINED SINCE I WASN'T HERE.
[H. R2023-07-01 - Tax Map #12---------9, 12---------6, and 4--------41 - Rezoning from Agricultural (A) to Industrial (I) and Commercial (C) - A request to amend the Warren County Zoning Map and rezone approximately 448.21+/- acres from Agricultural (A) to Industrial (I) and Commercial (C). The property identified as Tax Map 12, as lot 9 is requested to be rezoned from Agricultural (A) to Commercial (C) is 4.47 acres. The properties identified on tax map 12, as lot 6 and tax map 4 as lot 41 are requested to be rezoned from Agricultural (A) to Industrial (I) and are 443.74+/- acres. The properties are located off Winchester Road in the North River Magisterial District. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator]
BUSINESS, UH, H AND THAT'S R 2023 DASH OH SEVEN DASH OH ONE.TAX MAP NUMBER 12 DASH NINE 12 DASH SIX AND FOUR TO 2041.
REZONING FROM AGRICULTURAL A TO INDUSTRIAL I AND COMMERCIAL C, UH, REQUEST TO AMEND THE WARREN COUNTY ZONING MAP AND REZONE APPROXIMATE 448 POINT 21 PLUS ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL A TO INDUSTRIAL I AND COMMERCIAL C, THE PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAX 12 AS LOT NINE AND IS REQUESTED TO BE ZONED FROM AGRICULTURAL A TO COMMERCIAL C AND IT IS 4.47 ACRES AND THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 12 AS LOT SIX AND TAX MAP FOUR AS LOT 41 ARE REQUESTED TO BE REZONED FROM AGRICULTURAL AID INDUSTRIAL I AND OUR 443.74 PLUS ACRES.
THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED OFF WINCHESTER ROAD IN THE NORTH RIVER, UM, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS REASONING REQUEST ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2025.
THE APPLICANT HAD SUBMITTED A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 1ST, REQUESTING THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON THE NINTH, BUT FOR THE BOARD'S DECISION TO BE TABLED UNTIL THE FIRST MEETING OF JANUARY FOR TAXATION PURPOSES.
FOLLOWING THE CLOSING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 9TH, THE BOARD PASSED A MOTION TO TABLE THE DECISION FOR THIS REASONING REQUEST TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.
UH, UNLESS THE BOARD WOULD LIKE ME TO, I WILL FOREGO GOING BACK THROUGH THE SUMMARY OF THE REQUEST SINCE MR. HENRY WAS ALREADY ON THE BOARD AND MR. CARDI WAS, WAS ACTUALLY IN THE, UH, AUDIENCE THAT NIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 9TH.
BUT THE APPLICANT IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY LINGERING QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE.
FINDING THAT THE REQUEST, THE REQUEST OF RE IS APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC NECESSITY AND IS GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ACCEPTS THE CROP DATED DECEMBER 9TH, 2025 AND APPROVES THE REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZANE MAP CLASSIFICATION TAX MAP.
12 DASH SIX TAX MAP FOUR DASH 41 FROM AGRICULTURE AGE TO INDUSTRIAL AND TAX MAP 12 DASH NINE FROM AGRICULTURE TO COMMERCIAL.
MR. CARTER DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? I DID CALL FOR DISCUSSION.
I JUST HEARD HIM READ THE MOTION.
[I. Consent Agenda]
BUSINESS, THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION? UM, MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE ROAD NAMING REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ABSENCE OF ITEMS THREE? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, EXCLUDING
[02:30:01]
ITEM THREE.[I.3. New Road Naming Request for properties accessed off of Gooney Manor Loop. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator, Cory Griffith, GIS Coordinator ]
THREE.SO ACTUALLY HE PULLED IT FIRST, BUT I I I'M SURE WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING.
THERE WAS, UH, SOME CONFUSION OVER THE ROAD NAME.
IT WAS, UH, WE GOT AN EMAIL AND, UH, EDWIN HAD SPOKE ABOUT IT THAT, UH, IT COULD ACTUALLY MIS MIS MISLEADING FOR 9 1 1.
AND, UH, DELIVERIES AND, UH, TOURISTS AND THINGS ALL, IF IT, UH, WE NEED TO PICK A NEW NAME MM-HMM
I DUNNO WHO DOES THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE CLIENT OR, OR WHO WOULD DO IT.
BUT I WOULD, UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, PICKING A NAME THAT WOULD BE LESS CONFUSING BECAUSE IT'S SOMEWHERE TO ANOTHER LANDMARK IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE, THAT AREA.
ESPECIALLY THE PUBLIC SAFETY INTEREST.
UM, AND I, I THINK THE MR. WRIGHT IN PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT DID SAY THAT THE, THE APPLICANT SEEMED AMENABLE TO OTHER OPTIONS.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON NOT TO TABLE THIS AND LET PLANNING TAKE IT FROM THERE.
AND, AND KNOWING, UM, ONCE YOU GET INTO THAT AREA, COMMUNICATION IS REALLY BAD.
SO BEING ABLE TO CALL BACK, THEY'D ALMOST HAVE TO LEAVE THE AREA AND GO WHERE THEY HAVE ABILITY, UM, TO COMMUNICATE, TO FIND OUT WHY THEY'RE IN THE WRONG PLACE.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY, UM, SO THE MOTION IS TO SEND THIS BACK TO PLANNING.
AND THANK YOU MR. WRIGHT FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
[J. Reconsideration of Resolution — Legal Services Transparency and Review Policy]
J, CONSIDERATION OF, UH, RESOLUTION, LEGAL SERVICES, TRANSPARENCY, RE REVIEW POLICY THERE.YEAH, I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS WORTH LOOKING AT AGAIN.
AND, UH, I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE INTERNET TO BRING UP THE, UH, STUFF, BUT, UM, I DON'T BRING IT UP.
NO, I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S SOME, I THINK WE ALL WANNA BE TRANSPARENT AND I THINK, AND I WAS LOOKING BACK, FOR INSTANCE, THE MEETING TONIGHT WAS A CLOSED SESSION.
THERE HAD BEEN A COUPLE CLOSED SESSIONS IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE THEY WENT THERE TO, UH, TO DISCUSS POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
AND I THINK THE GIST OF IT IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS MUCH DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT SOME OF THE, THE, THE, THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE LOCAL, UH, PAPER ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE NON-TRANSPARENT.
IT'S JUST, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WANT TO LIMIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UNNECESSARY, UM, CLOSED SESSIONS.
AND I THAT, AND I, I I, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CLOSED SESSIONS WE WENT INTO OR YOU ALL WENT INTO DID NOT VIOLATE FOIA.
AND THAT'S ONE THING WE WANT TO DON'T WANT DO, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE COUNSEL TO GUIDE US THROUGH THAT.
AND I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT BEING MORE SPECIFIC AS FAR AS GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CLOSED SESSION.
YOU, YOU ONLY BE AS SPECIFIC AS THE FOIA ALLOWS, BUT I THINK THE TWO EASY ONES ARE PERSONNEL MATTERS.
AND YEAH, I THINK, UH, IF YOU LIST IT, YOU LIST MAYBE WHO THE, UH, PERSONNEL MAY BE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU'RE, UM, NEGOTIATING WITH A PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND YOU DON'T WANT ANY, THEY'VE GOT NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT, OF THOSE SUCH.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IS IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO LOCATE PANEL 5 22 AND WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THEM AND THE WORD GETS OUT, ANOTHER LOCALITY MAY COME IN AND OFFER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OR INCENTIVES, AND WE MAY LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH CUT AND DRY, BUT I THINK THE, THE GIST OF, UH, OF, OF DOING THIS IS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED, BE TRANSPARENT, BUT STILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE BUSINESS AT HAND.
I I, I, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
AND I WOULD JUST ADD THAT, UH, UM, YOUR POWER'S STILL IN YOUR VOTE IF, UH, IF IF
[02:35:01]
IT, UH, YOU FEEL IT'S A BAD IDEA TO TAKE IT TO CLOSED SESSION, YOU STILL HAVE TO VOTE THAT WAY.YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T NEED A RESOLUTION TO, UH, TO NOT GO TO CLOSED SESSION.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME, UH, SOME OTHER STUFF ABOUT YOUR WRITTEN DEPOSITIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME COSTING AND, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONES DID OR DIDN'T.
OH, I DON'T NEED A RESOLUTION FOR THAT EITHER.
IF, IF, UH, THERE'S A COMPLICATED LEGAL MATTER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GET IT IN A FEW MINUTES IN A CLOSED SESSION, AND, UH, WE WOULD WANT COMPLETE LEGAL WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THAT WE COULD, UH, SIMPLY ASK FOR COSTING, UH, AND THEN IF WE FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE, WE COULD JUST, UH, JUST VOTE ON AND, UH, AND COULD HAVE IT DONE THAT WAY.
SO I, I'M IN GRIEVANCE IF I COULD TRY TO RESPOND A LITTLE BIT A THAT'S NOT THE POLICY WE'RE LOOKING FOR, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE ACTUAL POLICY.
UH, I DO, I DID ASK, UH, TUCKER OR, OR, UM, ZACH TO MAKE THE POLICY AVAILABLE TO PUT ON THE SCREEN ITSELF.
UM, 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK YOU, YOU MENTIONED TO ME IS THAT YOU WANTED TO CLARIFY AND, AND DISCUSS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT POLICY IS, UM, THREE PRINCIPLE CATEGORIES.
ONE OF 'EM IS, IS THE IDEA OF, OF WRITTEN WORK.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A RIGHT ACTUALLY FOR, FOR THE CITIZENS TO KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL BASIS FOR OUR DECISIONS ARE.
ALL OF FOIA IS ORIENTED TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS EXPOSING THE DELIBERATION PROCESS AND THE LEGAL REASONING, NOT JUST TO US, BUT TO, TO CITIZENS.
AND A COUPLE OF INSTANCES HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR THAT, THAT I'VE WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT TRYING TO EDUCATE, UH, PUBLIC IN, IN DETAILS BEHIND WHAT THE POLICY ARE.
UM, AND IN CASE OF, OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ONE OF THE PARTICULAR CASES I'VE, I'VE MENTIONED IS THE, UH, STA THE, THE TAX AMENDMENT THAT CAME BEFORE US FOR THE TEXT, UH, FOR THE AGRITOURISM, UH, REGULATION.
AND WE WERE, WE HADN'T HAD, AND IT WASN'T PART OF OUR PACKET, ANY KIND OF LEGAL BASIS OR RATIONALE, UH, LEGAL ANALYSIS JUST TO EDUCATE US ABOUT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS, WHY IT WAS NECESSARY, WHAT, WHAT THE BENEFITS WERE, WHAT THE RISKS WERE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, AND SO, SO WHEN WE HAVE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT OR, OR PEOPLE IN THE HEARING, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENT WAS, WELL, WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THE DECISION MAKING? YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE STATE STATUTE'S VERY BROAD AND ENABLING OF AGRITOURISM, THE COUNTY, THE OBSERVATION WAS MADE, UH, BY THE, BY THE INDIVIDUAL AND PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY INVERTED THAT AND KIND OF MADE IT SEEM TO BE THAT HE HAD TO COME THROUGH THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TO DO THAT.
UM, AND WHILE WE WERE IN THE HEARING, WE WERE, WE WERE STOPPED FROM DISCUSSING THAT, OR IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE STOP DISCUSSING THAT.
AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO ANSWER SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATTER.
AND, UH, THAT WAS SORT OF THE BEGINNING OF MY, MY, UH, DESIRE TO KNOW, WELL, WHAT IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT THAT WE COULDN'T, UH, CONTINUE A CONVERSATION.
I WAS ASKING A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW THE ATTORNEY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD DEAL WITH THIS OBJECTIVELY, OR WHETHER, WHETHER IT WAS SUBJECTIVE.
AND, UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
AND IT, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MR. HAM BELIEVED THAT WE NEEDED TO, TO REALLY NOT DO THAT.
UM, SO IN ANY TIME, I I THAT WE NEED TO MODIFY THE ORDINANCE, TEXT AMENDMENT OR CREATE A LAW, UH, THE FOY LAW IS INTENDED TO HAVE THAT DELIBERATION TAKE PLACE IN PUBLIC WITH THE VERY NARROW EXCEPTIONS, UM, OFFERED BY FOIA.
UM, SO THE, THE FIRST PART OF THE, OF THE MATTER WAS JUST, AND, AND AGAIN, IF, IF WE READ IT, IT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA READ IT WORD BY WORD HERE, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE'S NO PRESCRIBED, UH, NO, THERE'S NO PRESCRIPTION FOR WHAT THAT LEGAL BASIS IS.
IT'S JUST THAT WHATEVER IT IS, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT IT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S NOT MEETING A FOIA, UH, DEFINITION.
SO, AND I, AND I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND AND CITED IN THE POLICY, AND IN OTHER WRITINGS I'VE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO, TO GET PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS, UH, THE, THE, THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL EXISTS TO INTERPRET STATUTE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS.
[02:40:01]
AND, UH, THERE IS AN OPINION FROM 2007 IN WHICH, UH, HAD SOME ANALYSIS AND OPINION BY THAT ADVISORY COUNCIL.AND THE FACT IS, MOST OF THIS, IN FACT, THE MOST SPECIFIC, UH, ALL, ALL THE, I'M I'VE MOVED ON FROM THE WRITTEN ASPECT.
I MEAN, I'M JUST, I'M, I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE CHANGED, THEN THE CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THAT WAS.
THERE'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S A, A, YOU KNOW, CULTURAL CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF, OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN WHEN WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE.
UM, THE LEGAL PART OF IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, AND IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A RIGHT TO KNOW.
UM, IN REGARDS TO, TO THE CLOSED SESSIONS.
UM, THERE, THE, THE CLOSED SESSION THAT I VOTED AGAINST ON TWO OCCASIONS.
ONE WAS FOR THE AGRITOURISM AND THE OTHER WAS FOR TO DISCUSS THE WELL WATER ORDINANCE.
IN BOTH CASES, I, I, UH, THE SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS CLAUSE WAS USED.
AND, UH, THAT IS THE ONE THAT I, I ACTUALLY IN THE POLICY WENT TO THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL AND, UH, FOUND A, A CASE THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR, UM, IN WHICH THE, THE LANGUAGE THE FOIA COUNCIL, THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL USED IS IN THE, IN THE POLICY.
SO, SO WHERE THE STATUTE ITSELF ALLOWS CLOSED SESSION FOR SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS, IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS ARE, BUT THE FOIA, UH, ADVISORY COUNSEL DOES SAY WHAT SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS ARE.
UM, AND IT'S VERY, IT VARIES SPECIFICALLY DEFINES TRANSACTIONS AND DISPUTES.
UM, SO, UH, THAT IS THE BASIS FOR, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TO, TO, TO, AS A, AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY, UH, TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, 'CAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THAT WONDER, WELL, THAT THEY, THEY LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY VAGUE REASON FOR GOING IN, UH, TO DISCUSS, SAY AGRITOURISM.
WELL, AGRITOURISM IS AN ENTIRE STATUTE OF STATE LAW, SO IS THAT SPECIFIC ENOUGH? DOES THAT INVOLVE A DISPUTE OR A TRANSACTION? UM, AND IF IT DOESN'T, THEN THERE'S A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD DO THAT.
ALL IT'S DOING IS PUTTING WHAT THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS STATED, BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR JOB IS TO RECEIVE FIELD THESE QUESTIONS AND GIVE THESE ANSWERS AS A PART OF WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER, UM, BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
AND, AND THE THIRD PART IS SIMPLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON LEGAL SERVICES, UH, WE WOULD BREAK DOWN THOSE CATEGORIES AND WE WOULD START TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHO, WHO'S STARTING THE CLOCK? WHAT ARE, WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICES ARE WE GETTING? ARE WE SPENDING ON LITIGATION? ARE WE SPENDING ON TEXT AMENDMENTS? ARE WE SPENDING ON CONTRACT REVIEWS? I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S JUST A COST MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO ON A PER PERSON BASIS, SPEND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH UNDERSTANDING.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR IT? IT'S MAYBE PERFECTLY FINE IF WE UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT IT, WHAT IT BOILS OUT TO IS WHY IS OUR, WHY IS OUR COUNTY, WHY IS OUR ADMINISTRATION, UH, CONSUMING LEGAL SERVICES AT A HIGHER RATE? CAN I ASK A QUESTION? PLEASE? COULD I ASK A QUESTION REGARDING THAT NUMBER THAT YOU CAME UP WITH? I KNOW IN, IN ONE OF YOUR ARTICLES OR SOMETHING, YOU COMPARED IT TO CHAND OR COUNTY, THE FIGURE YOU CAME UP WITH, IT SAID LEGAL SERVICES.
WHAT DID THAT ENCOMPASS? WELL, IT'S THEIR, IT IS JUST THEIR LINE.
I NOW, WHAT DID YOUR NUMBER FOR WARREN COUNTY, WHAT DID THAT ENCOMPASS? OUR, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, OUR, OUR LEGAL SERVICES LINE ITEM BUDGET.
'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT MR. HAM'S FIRM IS ONE, UH, I DUNNO IF IT WAS BROKEN DOWN OR NOT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'VE GOT, UH, MR. HAM AND HIS FIRM AS PART OF THE LEGAL COSTS.
DID THAT NUMBER INCLUDE THE PARALEGAL WE HAVE ON STAFF? I PROBABLY DID, YEAH.
DID THAT INCLUDE THE CPMT LEGAL? 'CAUSE IF YOU ADD ALL THAT STUFF IN TOGETHER, IT'S GONNA BE MORE THAN NANAW COUNTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IS MR. HAM'S FIRM CHARGING AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO SHANAN DOOR COUNTY THEN IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WELL, THE REF, THE, THE, THE IDEA OF REPORTING ON OUR LEGAL COSTS ISN'T JUST THE, THE ATTORNEY, IT'S WHAT OUR LEGAL COSTS ARE, PERIOD.
SO CATEGORIZING WHAT OUR LEGAL COSTS ARE AND REPORTING ON THAT IS ALL OUR LEGAL COSTS.
AND SO THE, THE, THE NUMBERS I COMPARED WERE THE LINE ITEM FOR LEGAL COSTS IN THE COUNTY BUDGETS THAT I LOOKED AT.
NOW, I AGREE WITH GETTING A BREAKDOWN, AND MY UNDERSTANDING TOO IS THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE MONTHLY EXPENDITURE
[02:45:01]
REPORTS THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, APPROVE IN ORDER FOR 'EM TO WRITE THE CHECKS.BUT AGAIN, THAT PROBABLY JUST SHOWS A LINE ENTRY OF HOW MUCH THAT'S RIGHT.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE BREAKDOWN, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT WHEN MR. HAM'S FIRM BILLS A BILL ACCORDING TO HOURS SPENT ON THIS, THIS, OR THAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF COULD ALWAYS LOOK AT AND BREAK IT DOWN AND ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE WELL WORTHWHILE TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
OH, THAT, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
OH, AS WE GET INTO MORE OF A NUTS AND BOLTS IN THAT WHEN WE SEE THAT NUMBER, MAYBE WE CAN WORK BACK THROUGH STAFF TO, UH, TO, TO GET SOME MORE DETAIL.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW FROM BEING ON PLANNING COMMISSION, I KNOW PLANNING, PLANNING USES UP A LOT OF LEGAL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT'S A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN I'M SURE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, IF IT'S NOT, IF IT'S NOT BROKE DOWN IN THE BILL THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GOING FORWARD WE COULD ADD A CODING SYSTEM TO WHERE IF MR. HAM'S DEALING WITH MR. LANCE PLANNING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LEGAL AT PLANNING EXPENSE.
AND THEN IF IT'S NOT ALREADY DONE THAT WAY, MAYBE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADD GOING FORWARD TO, UH, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY BEING DONE, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ADD GOING.
WELL, I THINK THE THING WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF TOO IS EVERY TIME ANYBODY, ONE OF US STAFF CALLS MR. HAM, THE METER STARTS RUNNING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD THINK THAT, AND I'M SURE YOU DO, MR. ELL, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOUR DEPARTMENT HITS OR WHATEVER, IF THEY HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION, I WOULD THINK THAT SHOULD BE FUNNELED THROUGH YOU RATHER THAN THEM CALLING HIM DIRECT.
I, I I ASSUME THAT'S HOW IT WORKS NOW, IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS.
IT, IT IS, UH, IT IS SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.
UH, BEYOND THAT THOUGH, UM, I'VE NOT NOTICED A OKAY.
AN ESTABLISHED, UH, POLICY OR PRACTICE ON THAT.
WELL, I DID GO IN, UM, TO MS. SHELTON WHO'S OUR PARALEGAL AND ASK THAT QUESTION TODAY IF, 'CAUSE I BELIEVE THE NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE SAID MANY TIMES IS $400,000.
SO I ASKED HER, I SAID, IS $400,000 THE BUDGET THAT INCLUDES YOU, UM, UM, MR. HAM AND MR. JORDAN, UH, OR BOWMAN THAT DOES PLANNING COMMISSION AND IT DOES ENCOMPASS ALL THOSE.
SO I ASKED HER, UM, HOW SHE, DOES SHE KEEP A RECORD AND SHE, AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET THESE IN TIME TO MAKE EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN GET COPIES FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING AT INVOICE THAT GOES FROM 7 1 21 TO 6 1 22 AND IT DOES GIVE, UM, THE AMOUNT AND THE LEGAL MATTER AND THE PRICE NEXT TO IT.
UM, THE TOTAL FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, 7 1 21 TO 6 1 22 WAS $192,554 TO DO ALL THE LEGAL WORK THAT WAS DONE.
AND IT'S LISTED THERE, UM, 11 1 22 TO 11 1 23, 253, 5 32 78, UM, LET ME GET 7 1 22 TO 6 1 23 202,000 3 56 AND 6 CENTS.
SO, UM, LAST YEAR, SEVEN TO 1 23 TO 6 24.
AND I THINK THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, UH, ADDED INTO THAT THREE HUNDRED AND TWO SIX THIRTY FIVE THIRTY ONE.
UM, SO THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM 400,000 AND EVERYTHING THAT'S LISTED THERE.
UM, SO THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.
AND IF WE WANT THAT TO BE GIVEN TO US IN SPECIFICS, SHE CAN DO THAT.
I ASKED HER ABOUT THIS AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES I GOT THIS.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE NEED THAT FOR INFORMATION IN THE BUDGET.
UM, I DID WANT TO READ, UM, MR. TON'S REPLY.
I THINK YOU SENT HIM, UM, MR. JAMON AN EMAIL ASKING HIM FOR HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS, UH, POLICY.
AND I ASKED MR. MO AND HE SAID I HAD PERMISSION TO READ IT.
JAMON, SINCE YOU ASKED FOR MY THOUGHTS ON THE LEGAL SERVICES TRANSPARENCY AND REVIEW POLICY RECENTLY ADOPTED BY THE THREE TO TWO VOTE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY RESPONSE WITH THE FULL
[02:50:01]
BOARD SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE.I'LL ADDRESS THIS SEPARATELY FROM THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED REGARDING MY LEGAL LEDGER RESEARCH.
UM, JUST TO GIVE REFERENCE, IF YOU NOTICE, MR. MOTON HAS, HAS GOTTEN QUITE INVOLVED WITH, UM, HELPING RESEARCH IN A LOT OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCES, WHICH I APPRECIATE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF, HE'S WAY OVER MY HEAD WITH HIS TECHNOLOGY AND I APPRECIATE IT.
BUT, UH, UM, I APPRECIATE THE INTENTION TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
MY CONCERN IS NOT WITH THE GOAL OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT WITH THE UNINTENDED LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL RISKS THAT THIS POSSIBLE POLICY CREATES FOR WARREN COUNTY.
FOR CONTEXT, I WRITE AS A RESIDENT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN COUNTY GOVERNANCE AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH ORGANIZATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY COUNTY DECISIONS.
I ALSO COLY SERVE ON A PUBLIC BODY AND HAVE PREVIOUSLY HELD PUBLIC OFFICE.
THIS IS NOT A LE THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, SIMPLY AN INFORMED OBSERVATION.
FIRST, IT IS HIGHLY UNCOMMON FOR A COUNTY TO ADOPT A POLICY STRUCTURE LIKE THIS.
MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RELY ON EXISTING STATE SUNSHINE AND FOIA STATUTES.
THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED BEST PRACTICE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH WRITTEN LEGAL ANALYSIS IS PRESUMED TO BE PUBLIC, UNLESS CHALLENGED IN WHICH ATTORNEYS ARE ROUTINELY REQUIRED TO JUSTIFY CONFIDENTIALITY OR IN WHICH INTERNAL PROCEDURAL OBLIGATIONS ARE IMPOSED BEYOND STATUTORY FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS.
THE POLICY AND THE WAY IT'S BEEN FRAMED IN RECENT DISCUSSIONS PLACES STRUCTURAL AND POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BY EFFECTIVELY REVERSING THE USUAL PRESUMPTION OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE REQUIRING EXTENSIVE RIGHT OF WRITTEN LEGAL ANALYSIS PAIRED WITH AN EXPECTATION THAT IT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED UNLESS ACTIVELY PROTECTIVE ELEVATES TRANSPARENCY ABOVE LEGAL PRUDENCE, WRITTEN LEGAL MEMO.
MIRANDA SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASES DISCOVERY RISK, DISCOURAGE CANDIDATE LEGAL GUIDANCE, AND MAY WEAKEN THE COUNTY'S POSITION IN FUTURE LITIGATION.
ADDITIONALLY, REQUIRING CONFIDENTIALITY TO BE JUSTIFIED BEYOND FO'S EXISTENCE STANDARDS CREATES THE IMPRESSION THAT PRIVACY ITSELF IS SUSPECT.
THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE EXISTS TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS BY ENABLING CANDID LEGAL ADVICE ON SENSITIVE MATTERS.
NOT TO SHIELD THE GOVERNMENT FROM SCRUTINY, BUT TO ENSURE SOUND DECISION MAKING.
THE 48 HOURS CLOSED SESSION REQUIREMENT IS ALSO CONCERNING.
IT LIMITS THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND PROMPTLY TO URGENT NEGOTIATIONS, LITIGATION DEVELOPMENTS, PERSONAL MATTERS, OR EMERGENCE THREATS.
IF REPEATED EMERGENCY MEETINGS BECOMES THE WORKAROUND, THE POLICY BECOMES SYMBOLIC RATHER THAN FUNCTIONAL, WHILE STILL EXPOSING THE COUNTY TO UNNECESSARY RISK.
THE COUNT, THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF LEGAL SPENDING IS A CONSTRUCTIVE CONCEPT WHEN FOCUSED ON FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT.
HOWEVER, CHARACTERIZING OR SUMMARIZING ACTIVE LEGAL MATTERS, PUBLICLY RISK UNINTENTIONAL DISCLOSING STRATEGIES AND CREATES PUBLIC MISUNDERSTANDING, PUBLISHING EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORTS SUPPORTS TRANSPARENCY.
PUBLISHING A LEGAL POSTURE CREATES VULNERABILITY.
THERE'S ALSO A FINANCIAL REALITY REQUIRING COMPREHENSIVE REGAL, UH, WRITTEN LEGAL WORK FOR MOST POLICY ACTION INCREASES.
ATTORNEY WORKLOADS SLOWS RESPONSIVENESS AND INEV INEVITABLY INCREASES, UM, AND RAISES COSTS, POTENTIALLY UNDERMINING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IF THE GOAL IS STRONGER, TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE ARE SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE OPTIONS SUCH AS ENCOURAGING RIGOROUS FOIA COMP, UH, COMPLIANCE AND ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION, CLEARLY LISTING CLOSED SESSION PARTICIPANTS AND JUSTIFICATION, BRIEFLY DOCUMENTING WHEN AND WHY INDIVIDUALS EXIT CLOSED SESSIONS.
E EARLY IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITHOUT DISCLOSING PRIVILEGE, LEGAL STRATEGY, MAINTAINING PHYSICAL OVERSIGHT WITHOUT COMP, COMPROMISING LEGAL POSTURE.
TRANSPORTATION TRANSPARENCY IS ESSENTIAL, BUT IT MUST BE BALANCED WITH RISK MANAGEMENT, ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, AND THE DUTY TO PROTECT THE COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS.
I HOPE THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER OR REFINE THIS POLICY TO BUILD PUBLIC TRUST WITHOUT CREATING UNINTENDED VULNERABILITIES OR OPERATIONAL STRAIN.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING INPUT FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
RESPECTFULLY, LOUIS E MOLTEN II II.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY I, MAY I, UH, READ THE RES THE RESPONSE THAT I, I WROTE TO MR. MOTON? CERTAINLY I, THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO MR. MOTON AND ALL OF THE, UH, OTHER SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE SUCH DETAILED WRITTEN
[02:55:01]
FEEDBACK ON THE LEGAL SERVICES TRANSPARENCY AND REVIEW POLICY.YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO OFFER SUBSTANTIVE FEEDBACK ON THE POLICY, WHICH PROVIDES ME WITH A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY WHAT THE POLICY ACTUALLY DOES AND TO ADDRESS MISCHARACTERIZATIONS THAT MAY CONFUSE OTHER SUPERVISORS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU PUT YOUR CONCERNS IN WRITING, WHICH STANDS IN NOTABLE CONTRAST TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM MY FELLOW SUPERVISORS OR FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
I AM INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL PRESS IN THIS REPLY.
AND THE SAME PRINCIPLE THAT YOU REPLIED TO ALL SUPERVISORS, THE WIDER THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION AND DIALOGUE, THE BETTER.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESPONSE IS NOT TO DISMISS YOUR CONCERNS, BUT TO EXPLAIN WHERE I BELIEVE YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE POLICY DIFFERS FROM WHAT THE POLICY ACTUALLY REQUIRES.
AND TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING IT, SEVERAL OF YOUR OBJECTIONS APPEAR TO REST ON FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSPARENCY AT CURRENT ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I HOPE THIS RESPONSE WILL BE HELPFUL NOT ONLY TO YOU, BUT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND TO INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BEFORE ADDRESSING YOUR SPECIFIC COMMENTS.
POINT BY POINT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE BIG PICTURE THAT UNDERLIES THE POLICY AND CLARIFY WHAT THE POLICY ACTUALLY REQUIRES SEVERAL DAYS LATER.
I THINK A WEEK LATER, I, I REPLIED ON A POINT BY POINT, UM, BASIS, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY LONG, AND I'M NOT GONNA EVEN READ IT HERE.
AND THE OTHER SUPERVISORS HAVE THE, THE POINT BY POINT BASIS, THE CORE DRIVER LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY, ELECTED SUPERVISORS BEAR ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY DECISIONS AFFECTING CITIZENS WE SERVE.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL REASONING UNDERLYING OUR VOTES, AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT REASONING TO CONSTITUENTS WHO INQUIRE THIS DUTY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO ADOPT ORDINANCES, AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OR MAKE OTHER SIGNIFICANT REGULATORY DECISIONS THAT BECOME THE LAW GOVERNING OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN THE BOARD CONSIDERS WHETHER TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, WE ARE ENGAGED IN LEGISLATIVE DELIBERATION, A FUNDAMENTALLY PUBLIC PROCESS UNDER VIRGINIA LAW, WE MUST WEIGH MULTIPLE FACTORS, FISCAL IMPACT, COMMUNITY NEEDS, PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION, AND YES, ALSO LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.
THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT MANDATES THAT THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO OUR DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AND THE FACTORS IN FORMING OUR DECISIONS, EXCEPT UNDER HIGHLY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES DEFINED BY STATUTE, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE PASSED THE LAWS THAT GOVERN THEM.
LEGAL ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION AS PART OF THAT PUBLIC DELIBERATION, NOT A CONFIDENTIAL MATTER REQUIRING PROTECTION FROM PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
THE FUNDAMENTAL DISTINCTION IS BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS AND PRIVILEGED ADVICE.
YOUR LETTER REPEATEDLY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
THESE CONCERNS REST ON A FUNDAMENTAL CONFLATION OF TWO DISTINCT CATEGORIES OF LEGAL COMMUNICATION.
CATEGORY ONE IS PRIVILEGED LEGAL ADVICE, LEGAL STRATEGY PENDING ACTUAL DISPUTES, PENDING LITIGATION, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, OR SPECIFIC LEGAL TRANSACTIONS.
THIS TYPE OF ADVICE MAY BE PROTECTED UNDER FOIA ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE EXEMPTIONS.
I'M NOT GONNA READ THE EXEMPTION NUMBER, UH, OR CLOSED SESSION TO, FOR THE PROVISION ON SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS.
CATEGORY TWO, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, LEGAL ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES, STATUTORY INTERPRETATION FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT OF REGULATORY APPROACHES AND GENERAL LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS INFORMING LEGISLATIVE CHOICES.
THIS IS PUBLIC POLICY DELIBERATION, NOT CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL STRATEGY.
MY POLICY ADDRESSES CATEGORY TWO, FOIA ALREADY PROTECTS CATEGORY ONE.
THE ERROR IN RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE LETTER IS RETREATING ALL LEGAL ANALYSIS AS IF IT WERE PRIVILEGED LEGAL ADVICE.
IT'S NOT WHEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ANALYZES WHETHER WE HAVE A STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO ADOPT A GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE OR EXPLAINS THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR REGULATING AGRITOURISM OR COMPARES ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO HIS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.
HE'S PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS TO INFORM POLICY CHOICES THAT WILL BE MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS IS NOT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION, IT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC DELIBERATIVE PROCESS BY WHICH WE MAKE LAWS.
FOIA ALREADY DEFINES WHAT'S PROTECTED.
YOUR LETTER SUGGESTS THAT MY POLICY SOMEHOW UNDERMINES OR REVERSES ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY MISUNDERSTANDS HOW FOIA OPERATES AND WHAT MY POLICY REQUIRES.
VIRGINIA CODE 2 2 3700 B ESTABLISHES THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE.
THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHAPTER SHALL BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED TO PROMOTE AND INCREASED AWARENESS BY ALL PERSONS OF GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND AFFORD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CITIZENS TO WITNESS THE OPPOR OPERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
ANY EXEMPTION FROM PUBLIC ACCESS
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TO RECORDS OR MEETINGS SHALL BE NARROWLY CONSTRUED UNDER FOIA.EXEMPTIONS ARE NARROW EXCEPTIONS THAT MUST BE SPECIFICALLY JUSTIFIED.
MY POLICY OPERATES ENTIRELY WITHIN THIS STATUTORY FRAMEWORK.
SECTION 1D OF THE POLICY STATES THAT WRITTEN LEGAL WORK SHALL BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT UNDER FOIA.
AND THAT WORK PRODUCT MAY BE WITHHELD FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE WHEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SPECIFICALLY CITES AN APPLICABLE FOIA EXEMPTION WITH EXPLANATION ON HOW THE EXEMPTION APPLIES TO THE PARTICULAR CONTENT.
THIS DOES NOT REVERSE ANYTHING.
IT CODIFIES EXACTLY WHAT FOIA ALREADY REQUIRES.
PUBLIC ACCESS IS THE DEFAULT AND ANY EXEMPTION MUST BE SPECIFICALLY JUSTIFIED UNDER STATUTE.
MOREOVER, THE VIRGINIA FOIA COUNSEL HAS BEEN EXPLICIT ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS ON USING LEGAL MATTERS, AN EXEMPTION TO CLOSE MEETINGS IN ADVISORY OPINION AO 0 1 0 7, WHICH IS FROM 2007, WHICH INCIDENTALLY WAS A TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, UH, CLOSING RECESSION TO TALK ABOUT WATER AND SEWER POLICY.
MOREOVER, THE VIRGINIA FOIA COUNSEL HAS BEEN EXPLICIT ABOUT USING LEGAL MATTERS ACCORDING TO THE A OH OH 1 0 7, THE COUNSEL STATED IN A 1986 OPINION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATED THAT THE LEGAL MATTERS EXEMPTION REQUIRES MORE THAN A DESIRE TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS AND MAY NOT THEREFORE BE USED AS A CATCHALL EXCEPTION TO THE FOIA ACTS OPENING MEETING REQUIREMENT AND DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE DISCUSSION OF GENERAL POLICY MATTERS AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ABSENT AN APPROPRIATE LEGAL ISSUE.
THE COUNSEL FURTHER EXPLAINED THE LEGAL MATTERS EXCEPTION APPLIES ONLY TO DISCUSSIONS OF SPECIFIC LEGAL TRANSACTIONS OR DISPUTES AND MAY NOT BE USED TO JUSTIFY CLOSED MEETINGS INVOLVING MORE GENERAL ISSUES.
EVEN THOUGH THOSE ISSUES MAY EVENTUALLY HAVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, THIS IS CRITICAL.
ISSUES THAT MAY EVENTUALLY HAVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES DID NOT QUALIFY FOR CLOSED SESSION.
PROPOSED ORDINANCES ARE PRECISELY SUCH ISSUES.
THEY ARE POLICIES WITH LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, NOT LEGAL DISPUTES REQUIRING CONFIDENTIAL STRATEGY.
MY POLICIES, CLOSED SESSION PROCEDURES LITERALLY QUOTE THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL GUIDANCE.
I'M BEING CRITICIZED FOR CODIFYING WHAT THE FOIA COUNCIL HAS ALREADY TOLD US IS REQUIRED.
YOU WRITE THAT THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE EXISTS TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS BY ENABLING CANDID LEGAL ADVICE ON SENSITIVE MATTERS.
NOT TO SHIELD THE GOVERNMENT FROM SCRUTINY, BUT TO ENSURE SOUND DECISION MAKING.
I AGREE WITH THE SECOND PART OF THE STATEMENT, BUT NOT THE FIRST ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE EXISTS TO PROTECT THE COUNTY'S LEGAL POSITION IN ACTUAL DISPUTES AND TRANSACTIONS.
IT DOES NOT EXIST TO ENABLE CANDID ADVICE ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS BY KEEPING THAT ADVICE FROM PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC WHOSE LAWS ARE BEING WRITTEN.
YOU ALSO WRITE THAT THE POLICY PLACES STRUCTURAL AND POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
THIS CHARACTERIZATION REVEALS A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL RULES.
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SERVES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
HIS ROLE IS TO PROVIDE US WITH LEGAL INFORMATION WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES.
THE BOARD, NOT THE ATTORNEY, DETERMINES WHAT INFORMATION THE BOARD NEEDS AND WHAT ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS.
HAVING OUR ATTORNEY FOLLOW AN EXPLICIT FORMULA FOR CLOSED SESSION MOTIONS SETS A HIGH BAR IN PUBLIC FOIA NARROWLY CONSTRUED AND A DOCU AND A DOC.
AND TO DOCUMENT HIS LEGAL ANALYSIS FOR SIGNIFICANT MATTERS IS NOT PRESSURE, IT'S REASONABLE PROCESS.
IF THESE BASIC PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONSTITUTE PRESSURE, THEN ACCOUNTABILITY ITSELF IS BEING FRAMED AS PROBLEMATIC.
NOTHING IN THE POLICY REQUIRES EXTENSIVE WRITTEN LEGAL ANALYSIS, CREATES PRESUMPTIVE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF PRIVILEGED ADVICE OR PREVENTS USE OF CLOSED SESSIONS.
THE POLICY REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION FOR SIGNIFICANT MATTERS, BASIC FISCAL OVERSIGHT AND EXPLICIT COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOIA ADVISORY COUNCIL'S ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSIONS.
I DO APPRECIATE THE LETTER THAT YOU SENT.
IT WAS, IT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND IT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPLY AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS, MR. SAMR? YEAH, I'LL JUST SAY A FEW COMMENTS.
UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED IN DECEMBER HAD THREE CORE COMPONENTS, THE WRITTEN WORK PRODUCT, UH, CLOSED SESSION
[03:05:01]
PROCEDURES, AND THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF, OF, UH, EXPENSES.I THINK NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER THREE ARE SORT OF A PRAGMATIC DEBATE AND THERE THERE'S PROS AND CONS.
NUMBER TWO, THE CLOSED SESSION PROCEDURES, I, I THINK IS FOR ME, PRETTY NON-NEGOTIABLE.
UH, THAT IT'S, IT'S THE FOIA STATUTE, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO THE INTERPRETATION THAT THE FOIA COUNSEL HAS CLARIFIED AND THE LEGAL MATTERS EXCEPTION.
IT'S, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE COUNCIL THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ACTUAL, YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ACTUAL, UH, OR IMMINENT CASE WITH A, A KNOWN LITIGANT.
UM, SO THE, THE GENERAL VAGUE THREAT OF A LAWSUIT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, IF WE DISCUSS A CERTAIN POLICY BY THE FOIA COUNCIL'S OWN WORDS, THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU JUSTIFICATION TO GO INTO CLOSED, UH, SESSION.
AND NOT, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE A A RIGHT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WITH POTENTIAL LEGISLATION.
IF, IF IT'S NOT COVERED BY FOIA, THEN THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW.
UM, SO WHETHER IT'S AGRITOURISM OR GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE, UM, TO BE THE, THE, THE RECENT EXAMPLES THAT, THAT SORT OF KICK THIS OFF, UM, I, I THINK WE, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT.
AND I, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN SECTION TWO HERE THAT I WOULD ROLL BACK.
UH, IT, IT ALL MAKES SENSE AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST TAKING WHAT THE, UM, IT'S TAKEN WHAT THE FOIA COUNCIL HAS SAID TO CLARIFY FOIA, AND IT'S MAKING THAT OUR POLICY BY RESOLUTION.
AND I, I, SO I DON'T SEE A A, A GOOD REASON THERE TO ROLL THAT BACK.
UM, ON THE WRITTEN WORK PRODUCT, THERE'S, THERE'S PROS AND CONS AGAIN, BECAUSE SOME OF THE TOPICS, UH, DISCUSSED ARE POTENTIALLY, UH, POLICY RELATED MORE THAN THEY ARE SPECIFIC, UH, CASES.
UH, I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ALL THE TIME, UM, BUT, UH, WHEN WE'RE PAYING SIGNIFICANT MONEY FOR, FOR AN OPINION TO HELP GUIDE US, UH, I THINK IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THAT GET DOCUMENTED, UM, FOR THE, EVEN FOR THE SAKE OF FUTURE BOARDS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, WHY WAS SOMETHING DONE? UM, FINALLY, UH, FOR THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF EXPENSES, IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THERE ARE, UM, RECORDS AVAILABLE THAT WITH THE RIGHT, UM, RIGHT STAFF, STAFF WORK, UH, COULD BE PRESENTED TO US EITHER MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY.
AND, AND WITH THE LEVEL OF GRANULARITY WE NEED TO, TO SUPERVISE, UM, WHICH, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE IT IN THE RESOLUTION.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, IF, IF WE CAN COME TO SOME AGREEMENT THAT WE, WE HAVE THAT SORT OF DETAIL AVAILABLE READILY, UH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, OVERALL THOUGH, I THINK, UH, THE HEART OF IT IS THE CLOSED SESSION PROCEDURES.
AND I, I DON'T SEE, I MEAN, IF YOU WENT TO THE ACTUAL TEXT, I DON'T SEE IN THERE WHAT WE COULD IN GOOD CONSCIENCE ROLL BACK.
I, I, I, I THINK THAT THIS BABY IS GETTING THROWN OUT WITH THE BATH WATER OF, UH, MR. JAMESON HAS, HAS ANGERED SOME PEOPLE ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
UH, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYTHING HE, HE COMES UP WITH IS, IS WRONG.
THIS, THIS TO MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU MR. CARR.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT'S THE THING TOO.
AND I THINK YOU'VE, UH, HEARD MR. JAMESON, HE SAID BASICALLY THE RESOLUTION MIRRORED FOR YOU FOR THE MOST PART.
AND SO IF IT MIRRORS FOR YOU, WE ALREADY GOT THAT IN PLACE.
THE THING IS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES, UH, THE WHOLE THING.
AND AGAIN, UH, BEING ON THE OUTSIDE, UH, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, UM, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS PRIOR BOARD GOING TO CLOSED SESSION FOR ANYTHING.
WHERE IT CAME UP WAS WITH THE AGRITOURISM AND THE WELL SEPTIC OR THE WELL THING.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF WHY OR WHAT HAPPENED, I DON'T REALLY WANNA KNOW AT THIS TIME, BUT I THINK THAT I SUPPORT THOSE ORDINANCES.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS, AND I MAY BE OFF BASE ON THIS OR NOT, BUT FOR AN ORDINANCE, IF ANY OF, UH, IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER OR THE COLLECTIVE GROUP AGREED TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT ORDINANCE, TO ME IT SHOULD GO AND HE'S GONE.
IT SHOULD GO TO ZONING OR PLANNING AND LET THEM HASH IT OUT AND WORK ON IT.
LET THEM HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, LET THEM HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE FIRST BASIS.
SO, UM, LET THEM HEAR, HEAR ABOUT IT, AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TO OUR LEVEL, WE CAN, UM, WE CAN TWEAK IT IF NECESSARY.
BUT I THINK THOSE TWO ORDINANCES AND ESPECIALLY THE, UH, THE WELL 'CAUSE WATER IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, UH,
[03:10:02]
ALL OVER THE COUNTY WITH WELLS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.SO I, I THINK THAT MAYBE, WELL, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GONNA BE REBUTTAL, BUT I THINK THAT MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO TONIGHT, UH, UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO ORDER IN PIZZA, UH, WE COULD GO AHEAD AND, UH, MAYBE TABLE THIS AND WORK ON IT SOME MORE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ARE THE GUIDELINES, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE FOIA UH, STATUTES.
'CAUSE IT, IT IS, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WE WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE, UH, TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW, UH, THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S WHY WE STARTED THE MEETING TONIGHT WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RATHER THAN GO TO A CLOSED SESSION.
WE DID IT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS.
SO WE WANNA CONTINUE THAT TOO.
I I THINK ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE RESOLUTION IS EASILY DONE WITHOUT THE RESOLUTION.
WE GOT FOUR YEAR RULES IN PLACE THAT'LL BE ENFORCED UPON US IF WE DON'T DO IT RIGHT.
WE'VE NOT BEEN IN TROUBLE FOR CLOSED SESSION BEFORE.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T, IF WE WANT A WRITTEN LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF A ITEM, WE CAN ALWAYS ASK FOR IT.
WE CAN GET PRICING, VOTE FOR IT.
UH, BUT I I, I'D DO AWAY WITH THIS THING AND THEN AS, AS NEEDED, WE COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ESPECIALLY ON THE QUARTERLY REPORTS OR SOMETHING, I THINK WE COULD ADDRESS IT IN THE BUDGET SEIZING SEASON AND UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT DIFFERENT CLARITY OR IT PRESENTED DIFFERENTLY, WE COULD ASK FOR THAT AT THAT TIME.
UM, JUST ONE, JUST IF I OH YEAH, SURE.
I MEAN, JUST ONE THING IS ANY, ANYTIME THERE'S ANY POLICY, IT'S JUST FOR, FOR OPERATIONALIZATION OF SOMETHING, IT'S THROUGH TO ME, I DON'T LIKE BUNCH POLICY.
SO, SO IT'S JUST, IT'S ALSO A, A, A REPRESENTATION TO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT POLICY IS.
THAT'S, THERE'S TWO, TWO PARTS OF IT.
THAT'S MY ONLY RESPONSE TO THAT.
CU CAN I SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THIS? SO I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE IN PRIOR MEETINGS ABOUT MY DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY TO THE BOARD.
AND THAT IS, IS A WRITTEN RULE THAT NOT JUST I, BUT EVERY, ANY LAWYER THAT WOULD EVER WORK FOR WARREN COUNTY HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE VIRGINIA RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.
AND SPECIFICALLY WITH RELATION TO THIS ISSUE, CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION.
A LAWYER SHALL NOT REVEAL INFORMATION PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR OTHER INFORMATION GAINED IN THE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP.
THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD, WOULD BE EMBARRASSING OR WOULD BE LIKELY TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CLIENT UNLESS THE CLIENT CONSENTS AFTER CONSULTATION.
SO I CAN'T SAY THINGS THAT ARE EMBARRASSING ABOUT WARREN COUNTY OR LIKELY TO BE DETRIMENTAL UNLESS YOU THE BOARD CONSENT AFTER CONSULTATION.
AND WITH A PUBLIC BODY, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONSENT AFTER CONSULTATION IS TO KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, UM, IN PRIVATE AND WITH RESPECT TO WRITTEN WORK PRODUCT.
AT ANY POINT, IF THE BOARD WANTS ME TO DRAFT SOMETHING, I I WILL DRAFT IT.
UM, I DO, UH, MINOR PROJECTS FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, A VERY LARGE PROJECT I WOULD CHECK WITH THE CHAIR OR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, AND I DID AND, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, DID NOT, UH, UH, DRAFT A, A VERY LONG MEMO, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN A HUGE PROJECT IN RESPONSE TO THE WELL ORDINANCE.
BUT AGAIN, UH, AT ANY POINT IF THE BOARD WANTS TO SPEND COUNTY FUNDS DOING THAT, THE BOARD JUST NEEDS TO DIRECT ME TO DO SO.
I WAS HERE FOR THE WELL ORDINANCE AND I DID THE AGRITOURISM AT THE PLANNING LEVEL.
WE ARE VERY VULNERABLE BECAUSE THE AGRITOURISM THING HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED UP IN, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THERE WOULD'VE BEEN LITIGATION OVER THE WELL ORDINANCE, I WAS TOLD IF IT PASSED TO LET HIM KNOW AND HIS ATTORNEY WOULD BE HERE WHEN WHOEVER PUT THE KEY IN THE FRONT DOOR, IT WAS NOT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO PLANNING THIS TYPE OF RESOLUTION BLOCKS MR. HAM'S ADVICE.
THAT YOU WOULD'VE NEEDED TO DO THAT.
UM, I, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IF WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING POLICY WISE, I THINK IT'S A START OVER.
AND I, I I, I, I THINK WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH IT AND START OVER IF, IF IT, AND, AND PICK OUT KEY POINTS TARGETS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE WELL ORDINANCE, UH, SHOULD HAVE WENT TO PLANNING.
IF, IF WE'VE GOT A, A POLICY ISSUE ON CLOSED SESSION, UH, WE
[03:15:01]
CAN WORK ON IT TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT.BUT, UH, MR. HAM, OH, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS, YOU INDICATED TO ME 28 YEARS.
UH, HAS YOUR FIRM OR HAVE YOU BEEN IN TROUBLE IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, WARREN OR ANY OTHER PLACE THAT YOU'VE WORKED FOR VIOLATING FOIA THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? NOT IN 28 YEARS, SIR.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD.
SO I WOULD, UH, I WOULD LEND TO MR. HAM'S PROFESSIONALISM ON THAT.
IF NOBODY'S GOT ANYTHING ELSE.
I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO REPEAL THE RESOLUTION FOR LEGAL SERVICE TRANSPARENCY AND REVIEW POLICY.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND ROLL CALL.
MR. CARTER? AYE MR. SANDMEYER NO.
MOTION PASSES AGAIN THOUGH, WE WANT TO REVISIT TO SOME EXTENT 'CAUSE I THINK, UH, JOHN HAD SOME GOOD POINTS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES OR WHATEVER, EVEN THOUGH IT MIRRORS.
BUT JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, AND I THINK AT THE VERY LEAST THIS HAS BROUGHT THE ATTENTION AND WE NEED TO, UH, UH, FOREGO CLOSED SESSIONS.
I GUESS WE, WE CAN LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT IF IT SUGGESTS WE GO IN CLOSED SESSION, WE, WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT VERY THOROUGHLY AND SAY, DO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THIS? WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC? SO I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND I THINK, UH, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER STUFF TO DO.
[K. Additional New Business]
WE ARE AT ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS AND FOR ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS.JUST WANNA MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE.
UM, MR. HENDERSON, THE DATE NEXT WEEK FOR THE LIAISON MEETING, I DON'T WANT TO GET IT WRONG.
UH, THE NEXT TOWN COUNTY LIAISON MEETING IS NEXT THURSDAY ON THE 15TH.
THE TOWN COUNCIL WILL BE HOSTING THIS TIME AND IF JUST ANYONE HAS ANY ITEMS OR ANYTHING SPECIFIC THEY'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, I FORWARDED WHAT THE TOWN WISHES TO DISCUSS AND IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING THAT THEY WANNA MENTION, I'M NOT SURE WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BOARD REPS COMING THIS TIME.
UH, JUST SEND THEM TO ME TOMORROW.
I THINK THEY WANT TO GET THIS DONE AND PUBLISHED AT THE MAXIMUM ON MONDAY, SO AS SOON AS WE CAN.
YEAH, AND IF YOU WOULD COPY ME ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, UM, WILL YOU SEND OUT THAT LIST OF ALL THE COMMITTEES OR HAVE YOU ALREADY DONE THAT? THAT IS ON THE WORK SESSION PACKET THAT I PUBLISHED THIS AFTERNOON.
AND THEN IF EVERYONE WOULD SEND ME YOUR REQUEST, UM, FOR COMMITTEE SO WE CAN GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR WHAT I HAD.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? IF NOT, WE'RE AT THE SECOND
[L. Public Comment Period - General Comments (30 Minute Time Limit)]
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WHICH IS, UM, 30 MINUTES THAT YOU CAN SPEAK ON ANYTHING YOU WANT TO.HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THAT? UH, YES MA'AM.
GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE SEVERAL KEY POINTS SUPPORTING MY REQUEST FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT OF WARREN COUNTY'S FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, BUDGETS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS AS REPORTED IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 AUDIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR THE FOURTH TIME AND IT'S NOW SCHEDULED FOR MARCH OF THIS YEAR, RESULTING IN A 15 MONTH DELAY.
THIS IS ALSO PUSHED BACK FEE 24 20 AUDIT BY SIX MONTHS.
THERE'S ABOUT $2.7 MILLION IN UNCLEAR CHECKS.
SOME DATING BACK TO 24 14 REMAIN UNRECONCILED AS OF THE 2324 AUDIT.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS STAFF HAS USED QUICKBOOK ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN LEAKED TO THE COUNTY FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
ALSO, MOODY'S WITHDREW, WITHDREW WARREN COUNTY CREDIT RATING BECAUSE THE 2324 AUDIT DELAY LEFT THEM WITHOUT ENOUGH INFORMATION.
SINCE 2018, THE COUNTY'S AUDIT REPORTS HAVE INCLUDED A DISCLAIMER ABOUT MISSING EDA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
BECAUSE OF THIS, THE COUNTY CANNOT USE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL TESTS TO ACCESS APPROXIMATELY SEVEN K TRUST FUND.
AND CURRENTLY THE CURRENT, UH, THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS TO THE SCHOOL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ARE NOT RECORDED IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
THE VARIANCE CAUSING THE CASH RECONCILIATION ISSUE BETWEEN THE LEDGER AND THE BANK RECRE, UH, BANK STATEMENTS HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN ADDRESSED.
[03:20:01]
OR IS IT NEGATIVE? AND WHAT IS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT? IS IT ONE MILLION THREE MILLION FIVE MILLION? THE COUNTY ALSO HIRED BARRY DUNN TO PROVIDE CASH RECONCILIATION SERVICES AND MATERIALS FOR A COUNTY MONTHS FROM JANUARY 1ST TO THE 30TH OF 2024.THE CONTRAST EXHIBIT A SAYS THAT IF THE FUND, IF THEY FIND MATERIAL ERRORS, FRAUDULENT FINANCE REPORTING OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF ASSETS, THEY WILL NOTIFY THE RIGHT LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT.
SO WHAT'S THE RIGHT LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT SINCE THERE'S NO PACIFIC WORK PRODUCTS LISTED? WILL THE FINAL A REPORT, WILL THERE BE A FINDING REPORT WITH FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, OR LESSONS LEARNED? WHICH FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS ARE INCLUDED? WILL THE RESULTS OF THE RECONCILIATION AFFECT PASS AUDITS? WILL THE BOARD SHARE ANY CONTRACT REPORTS WITH THE PUBLIC? I INVITE THE BOARD TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT ON OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY AS THE COUNTY COMPLETES THE 2324 AUDIT AND SHARE ITS POSITION INITIATING A FORENSIC AUDIT.
PLEASE ALSO EXPLAIN HOW THESE INTERNAL CONTROL ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED AND DESCRIBE THE METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING EXPECTED TAX REVENUE, BUDGET AND RATES FOR THE 26 27 UH, BUDGET PROCESS.
I THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BOARD'S RESPONSE.
SO I, UM, FROM THE CONVERSATION I HEARD TODAY, I'M A LITTLE LATE IN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YES, NAME AND, OH, I'M SORRY.
UH, ER I LIVE UP ON, UH, 5 81 HIGH TOP ROAD.
UM, IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WELL SHORTAGE.
UM, I HAVE A LOT OF WATER IN THE MORNING AND NOTHING IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO, UH, I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD INDEPENDENT STUDY DONE LAST YEAR ON THE 29TH OF SEPTEMBER LOOKING INTO WATER ISSUES.
AND THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT VIRGINIA HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASINGLY FREQUENT AND SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN RECENT YEARS WITH UNDERGROUND RECHARGE RATES DECLINING ACROSS THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGION.
VIRGINIA TECH RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO UNDERGROUND DEPLETION AS THEY LACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUNDANCIES AND ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES, UH, AVAILABLE TO THE URBAN AREAS.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT'S ON YOUR WEBSITE, SO I DO HAVE A LINK IF YOU NEED IT.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE DROUGHT HAS REALLY HIT, I'VE ALREADY SPENT $2,000 AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S GONNA FIX MY ISSUE.
THEY'RE TELLING ME I NEED TO SPEND ANOTHER $5,000 TO ADD A RESERVOIR IN MY HOUSE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN HAVE WATER TO TAKE A SHOWER.
UM, MY WELL IN THE PAST HAD BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY WATER ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE A SHOWER AND THEN MY MOTHER TO FILL THE TUB AT THE BACK TO BACK.
NOW I'M LUCKY TO GET A FIVE MINUTE SHOWER AND SHE'S LUCKY TO GET FIVE MINUTE, UH, UH, FIVE INCHES OF WATER IN OUR TUB.
UM, THE AQUIFER AND GROUNDWATER, A US GE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SAYS THAT PUMPING TOO MUCH WATER TOO FAST DRAWS DOWN THE WATER IN AN AQUIFER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE WELL YIELD TO WELL TO YIELD LESS AND LESS WATER TO, AND EVEN IT FROM IT TO RUN DRY.
IN FACT, PUMPING YOUR WELL TOO MUCH CAN EVEN CAUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR'S WELL TO RUN DRY IF YOU BOTH ARE PUMPING FROM THE SAME AQUIFER, YOU KEEP GIVING BUILDING PERMITS AND MORE AND MORE WELLS ARE DRAWING FROM OUR AQUIFER ON HIGH TOP ALONE.
WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT WITH 60 ON ONE SIDE AND THE, THE, UM, DEVELOPER KNOWS IS CUTTING INTO 200 PLUS MORE LOTS THAT THEY'RE GETTING READY TO BUILD ON, ON HIGH TOP.
THAT'S A LOT OF WATER AND IT'S JUST ALL GOING AWAY.
SO, UH, FOR WITH WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I'M AFRAID THAT OUR AQUIFER CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT MANY HOUSES AND WILL DRY UP WHILE NEW HOUSES COMING IN BRING IN MORE REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY, WHICH IS GREAT.
HOMES WITH NO WATER WILL CREATE A DETRIMENT TO THE COUNTY AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS FOR THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THEM.
I'VE HAD JR SNYDER COME LOOK AT MY HOUSE.
THEY SAID THEY BEEN ALL OVER THESE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE HOUSES ARE RUNNING OUTTA WATER.
I ALSO SEE, UH, MANY POSTS ON FACEBOOK, OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING THEY DID.
A SONAR FOUND THAT I HAS AT 60 FEET AT 8:00 AM AND BY FIVE O'CLOCK I HAD FIVE INCHES IN A TUB.
AND THAT'S ALL THE WATER I GOT.
I GOT AIR OUT OF IT AFTERWARDS.
SO I WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE TO IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT MAYBE OPTIONS OF, UM, REDUNDANCIES LIKE COMMUNITY WELLS AND CISTERNS FOR THESE LARGER DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN.
IT'S NOT, UH, IT'S NOT ATTAINABLE FOR SOME OF THE SMALL BUILDING PROJECTS, BUT THE LARGER ONES IT CAN BE.
GOOD WITH THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAFE SAMUELS LIBRARY PAC.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAD THE HOLIDAY THAT YOU DESERVED.
[03:25:01]
UM, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, UM, SUPERVISOR CARTER FOR BEING NOMINATED AS VICE CHAIR AND I'D LIKE TO CONGRAT CONGRATULATE SUPERVISOR COLORS FOR BEING NOMINATED AS CHAIR AN HONOR, WHICH SHE MOST CERTAINLY HAS EARNED.UM, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAS COME OUT AND SUPPORTED SAMUELS AND CAME OUT TO VOTE.
YOU ALL DID SO MUCH WORK FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS.
THE COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN UP TO FIGHT FOR SAMUELS.
WE SENT EMAILS, WROTE LETTERS, MADE PHONE CALLS, AND SPOKE TO THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS COUNTLESS TIMES THAT YET THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN.
WE SHOWED UP YET AGAIN AND SELECTED SUPERVISORS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKING POSITIVE STRIDES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE SH TO SHOW UP TO ENSURE THAT OUR LIBRARY IS FUNDED.
AND I REALLY WANTED TO BE POSITIVE TONIGHT, BUT MAN JAMISON, YOU JUST EVERY FREAKING TIME WITH THE HYPOCRISY.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? YOU NOW YOU WANT OPEN SESSIONS.
HOW MANY CLOSED SESSIONS DID YOU HAVE ABOUT THE LIBRARY? HOW MANY TIMES? SO WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU, YOU WANT, YOU WANT OPEN SESSIONS WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU, YOU WANNA SAVE LEGAL FEES.
YOU SPENT OVER $75,000 FIGHTING AN AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY.
MR. BARNES WAS EXACTLY CORRECT.
YOU MAY HAVE GOOD IDEAS, BUT NONE OF US CAN TELL BECAUSE WE CAN'T TRUST YOU BECAUSE YOU TELL LIE AFTER LIE BECAUSE YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS.
AND MR. MEYER REALLY, LET'S SEE, MORE POLICY RELATED, NOT TO SPECIFIC CASES, THAT'S WHAT THE CLOSED SESSIONS ARE ABOUT.
Y'ALL HAVE BEEN IN CLOSED SESSIONS.
YOU TWO FOR OVER SAMANTHA, THREE YEARS.
I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE, BUT PULL IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
YOU HAVE BEEN OVER FOR, FOR OVER THREE YEARS DOING CLOSED SESSIONS ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT DID THINGS IN THERE THAT WERE ILLEGAL, I WOULD BET MONEY ON IT.
AND MR. GOTTCHA, LET ME JUST REMIND YOU THAT YOUR JOB IS NOT TO RUN THIS COUNTY.
SO YOU DON'T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.
THEY TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, THEY DO THE POLICIES, THEY WRITE WHAT THE GOALS ARE, YOU DON'T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOUR AUDACITY, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED SINCE YOU AND JAMESON, I MEAN I'VE HEARD ALL OVER TOWN THAT YOU AND JAMESON ARE BUDDY, BUDDY.
I MEAN YOU TRIED TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN TODAY.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY FREAKING SENSE? AND ROBERT'S RULES REALLY, YOU DIDN'T EVEN CONSULT WITH MR. HAM, YOU JUST DECIDED YOU WERE GONNA DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED.
AND I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MR. DONLEY.
I DID READ YOUR EMAIL AND I APPRECIATED ALL OF YOUR INPUT AND I'M GLAD THAT HE SENT IT TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE HE WAS EXACTLY RIGHT.
ALL YOU'VE DONE TONIGHT IS TRY TO UNDERMINE THE MAJORITY ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
HI THERE, I'M KATHLEEN MANCINI.
UM, FIRST I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I HOPE Y'ALL FULLY FUND THE LIBRARY.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HIGH TOP ROAD.
UM, SOMEBODY ELSE JUST SPOKE ABOUT HIGH TOP ROAD AND THEIR WELLS RUNNING DRY.
IT'S NOT THE ONLY NEIGHBOR UP THERE WHOSE WELL HAS RUN DRIED DRY.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDING 63 HOUSES AT THE END OF HIGH TOP ROAD.
THE ONLY INGRESS AND EGRESS WILL BE HIGH TOP ROAD.
I HAVE PHOTOS IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THEM AFTER THE MEETING OF HIGH TOP ROAD.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT PLACES IT IS A ONE-LANE GRAVEL ROAD, VERY HILLY ON A MOUNTAIN.
IF YOU ADD 63 HOUSES, THAT'S GONNA BE AN AT LEAST 120 CARS GOING IN AND OUT.
THAT'S 240 CAR TRIPS DOWN THAT ROAD A DAY.
HOW CAN YOU DO THAT ON A ONE LANE GRAVEL ROAD? WHEN CARS GO ON THAT GRAVEL ROAD, THEY STIR UP GRAVEL DUST.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR YOUR LUNGS TO BREATHE THAT 240 TIMES A DAY.
THERE'S A, A REALLY STEEP HILL.
I HAVE A PICTURE I'LL SHOW YOU THAT IS ONLY NARROW ENOUGH FOR ONE CAR TO GO THROUGH IF ANOTHER CAR IS COMING.
YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER UNTIL THEY COME DOWN THAT HILL BEFORE YOU CAN GO UP THERE.
HOW CAN YOU DO THAT? 240 TIMES A DAY.
[03:30:01]
A VERY AT THE, JUST WHEN YOU UM, GET OFF OF HIGH TOP ROAD, THERE'S A VERY STEEP LONG HILL THAT WINDS AND EVERY TIME THERE'S SNOW OR ICE, SOMEBODY WILL GET STUCK ON THAT HILL.AND THEN YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY EMERGENCY VEHICLES GET IN OR OUT AND YOU'RE GONNA ADD 63 MORE HOMES IN THIS PHASE AND MAYBE 200 ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIGH TOP ROAD IS THE NEXT PHASE.
HOW CAN YOU DO THAT? NOW I HEARD, OH WELL THIS WAS APPROVED YEARS AGO AS PART OF THIS BIG PLAN.
WELL THERE USED TO BE A ROAD CALLED SWITCHBACK ROAD, WHICH WAS ANOTHER WAY IN AND OUT.
WELL THAT IS COMPLETELY OVERGROWN.
SOMEBODY SAID IT'S NOW PRIVATE PROPERTY SO IT CAN'T BE USED.
THERE USED TO BE AN A BACK WAY IN AND OUT.
YOU CANNOT ADD ALL OF THESE HOMES WITH NO OTHER WAY IN OR OUT, BUT A ONE LANE GRAVEL ROAD AND A HILL THAT EVERYBODY GETS STUCK ON.
NOT TO MENTION THE WELL ISSUE NEXT STEP IS BEN WEBER.
I'M WITH FREDERICK COUNTY OR THAT'S WHERE I LIVE I SHOULD SAY.
UH, SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE BLUE RIDGE CARE, UH, CHANGED ITS NAME FROM BLUE RIDGE HOSPICE LAST MAY.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT ALSO BE FAMILIAR, VERY FAMILIAR I HOPE, WITH OUR THRIFT SHOP HERE IN TOWN AND WE HOPE THAT YOU GO THERE OFTEN AND DONATE OFTEN.
WE ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW TONIGHT THAT THERE'S A NEW DIVISION OF BLUE RIDGE CARE AND IT'S CALLED PACE, A PROGRAM OF ALL INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING 79 PEOPLE OF WHICH 20 ARE FROM WARREN COUNTY.
WE ARE SERVING THEM WITH DAILY CARE, FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES, PERSONAL HYGIENE.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING THEM MEDICAL CARE AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY ON A DAILY BASIS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HERE IN WARREN COUNTY AND WE HOPE TO BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, THROUGHOUT ALL THE VOLUNTEER AS WELL AS THE PAID AGENCIES HERE.
SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BLUE RIDGE CARE IS HERE AND AS YOU SAID MADAM CHAIR, WE'RE SHOWING UP.
I'M SORRY THAT, UM, YOU DIDN'T GET ON IT AS A PRESENTATION AND YOU HAD TO SET HERE ALL THIS TIME, BUT VERY NOT AT ALL.
VERY GRATEFUL YOU'RE HERE AND I'VE UM, WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH HOSPICE IN THE PAST WHEN I WAS AT UM, DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT A FACILITY AND FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, UM, GROUP AND I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THE SERVICES AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT ADDITION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE, 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE MINUTES, I THINK ANYONE ELSE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK? YES MA'AM.
UM, WHEN I WORKED MANY YEARS AGO, IF YOU WERE THE LAST SPEAKER ON THE SCHEDULE, THEY SAID YOU WERE THE LAST THING BEFORE THE BEER.
SO I'M NOT HAVING A BEER AT 11 O'CLOCK WHEN I GET HOME.
BUT I DO WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, HAVING DONE A LITTLE WORK AND I SAY VERY LITTLE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING FOR THE LIBRARY, I HAVE TO SAY ZA AND UNBELIEVABLE WORK THAT CITIZENS DID TO GET THAT LIBRARY BACK.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE PEOPLE AND VERY PROUD OF ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, AND WELCOME TO THE NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BOARD.
UH, I'M USUALLY NOT UP THIS LATE EITHER, SO, UH, I GOTTA MAKE THIS REALLY SHORT.
HOWEVER, UM, THAT FRONT ROYAL WAS GONNA HOST THE STATE LITTLE LEAGUE IN JULY AND I IMPLORE THE BOARD, THE TOWN, WHOEVER'S INVOLVED TO MAKE THIS PRETTY GREAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH TOWN I SEE HOUSES THAT ARE IN LOOK LIKE CRAP AND PLACES THAT ARE CLOSED AND VAPE SHOPS.
THIS COULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR THE COUNTY.
ALSO, WHAT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTY IS THAT WE'RE
[03:35:01]
GONNA HAVE A LIBRARY OPEN AND NOT A SIGN THAT SAYS CLOSED.ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
I HOPE ANYONE WANTS A BEER BEFORE, AFTER I FINISH.
BUT REALLY THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS LIBRARY.
ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M LINDA MCDONOUGH AND IT'S, I'M IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT ON HIGH TOP AND UM, I HADN'T BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE BUT I WAS HERE QUITE OFTEN, UH, OVER THE LAST 18, 19 YEARS.
AND UM, THE WATER SITUATION THAT WARREN COUNTY IS, IT'S NOT JUST US RURAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST AFFECTING US.
THE TOWN HAS ISSUES TOO WHERE MAYBE THE HOUSES AREN'T CONNECTED UP TO THE CITY WATER.
UM, WE ALREADY HAD TO DIG A NEW WELL BECAUSE OF THE FACT A HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, THEY DUG THEIR WELL AND OUR WELL WENT DRY OVERNIGHT AND OUR WELL WAS OVER 200 FEET AT THE TIME.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY, THE BUILDERS, THEY DON'T CARE.
THE UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THEM, THEY'RE ALL COMPLETELY INVOLVED.
THIS COUNTY IS RUN BY THE BUILDERS.
ANYTHING THEY WANT, THEY GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING.
UM, I MEAN IT IS DISGUSTING TO WATCH THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES DRIVE BY KNOWING, I MEAN, I'M, I'M NOT ANYBODY.
I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO, PERMITS ON TREES, ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
I MEAN I'VE CALLED, I MEAN AFTER DOING IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS, YOU GET REALLY SUPER TIRED OF IT.
AND THEN I KNOW ABOUT THE UM, VIRGINIA TECH, HOW THEY DID A STUDY JUST LAST MONTH OR NO TWO MONTHS AGO OR SO ABOUT THE WATER IN WARREN COUNTY.
WHEN MY WELL WENT DRY, I HAD THE NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PEOPLE COME UP.
IT WAS PRETTY EASY 'CAUSE THEY WERE THERE LOOKING AT THE SINKHOLE THAT ARE CAUSED BY THE WATER BEING GONE.
NOT THE SINKHOLE FROM THE BUILDERS PUTTING ALL THEIR, THE ROOTS AND EVERYTHING IN THE GROUND, BUT ACTUAL REAL SINK HOLES BECAUSE THE WATER IS DISAPPEARING.
THEY CAME TO A MEETING HERE, THIS IS PROBABLY, OH, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO.
MR. REZA WAS ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME, OR I MEAN, SORRY.
MR. CARTER WAS ON THE BOARD AND UM, HE CAME AND HE SPOKE.
HE GAVE THE INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN TELLING WARREN COUNTY HOW THE WAY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES THE WELLS AND HOW THEY DO THEM AND EVERYTHING, THAT IT'S VERY EASY FOR WHEN THEY PUT A NEW HOUSE IN THAT YOUR WELL WILL GO DRY.
THEY GO, THEY'VE BEEN TALKING TO 'EM FOR YEARS.
THERE WAS A, A STUDY PUT OUT YEARS AGO THAT'S SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING THAT VIRGINIA TECH JUST SAID A COUPLE MONTHS IN 2025.
SO I DID HAVE THIS COPIED OFF.
AND ALSO YOUR WEBSITE, YOUR WARREN COUNTY WEBSITE SAYS WELLS HAVE TO BE A HUNDRED FEET APART UNLESS YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY BAD OR WE HAVE TO DIG A NEW WELL.
BUT THESE NEW HOMES, THEY GET WELLS PUT IN ANYWHERE RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE ROAD.
SO I THOUGHT I'D PUT THIS TO THE CLERK AND THEN I GIVE YOU ANOTHER COPY THAT MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE AND I HIGHLIGHTED WHERE YOU CAN GO AND LOOK THIS STUFF UP.
I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.
THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'RE AT ADJOURN THAT, BUT BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I NEGLECTED TO THANK MY BOARD MEMBERS TO WELCOME THE TWO BOARD MEMBERS AT FIRST 'CAUSE I WAS IN A RUSH TO GET THE MEETING STARTED AND TO THANK EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING ME AS CHAIR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE THIS YEAR.
UM, I WANT TO HAVE GOOD OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH EVERYONE AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE POSITIVE YEAR, UM, WITH ALL OF YOU AND WITH ALL OF YOU.
SAFE TRIP HOME AND I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO, ALL IN FAVOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.