AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD ON THE 4th DAY OF JANUARY, TWO THOUSAND AND TEN AT TWO O'CLOCK P.M. AT THE COURTHOUSE IN WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA

Present	Present	Absent
Roger A Welch, Chairman S. Bryant Lee, V-Chairman Ronald L. Frazier I. Christopher Parrish Michael J. Biniek	John McCarthy, Co. Adm. Peter H. Luke, Co. Attorney Diane Bruce, Clerk

The meeting was called to order by County Administrator John McCarthy. All members were present. Mr. McCarthy welcomed new Board members I. Christopher Parrish, Stonewall-Hawthorne District and Michael J. Biniek, Piedmont District.

RESOLUTION, ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Mr. McCarthy thereupon declared all positions vacant and opened the floor for nominations and election of officers for calendar year 2010.

Planning Commission: Ronald F. Frazier was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Wayland. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission: Roger A. Welch was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Lee. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Rappahannock River Basin Commission: I. Christopher Parrish was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Welch. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Rappahannock River Basin Commission Alternate: S. Bryant Lee was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr Welch. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Public Safety Committee: I. Christopher Parrish and Michael J. Biniek were elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Frazier, seconded by Mr. Lee. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Fire Levy Board: Ronald L. Frazier was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Lee. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Vice-Chairman of Board: Ronald L. Frazier was nominated by I. Christopher Parrish. Mr. Frazier declined the nomination.

S. Bryant Lee was elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Parrish. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Chairman of the Board: Roger A. Welch elected unanimously upon motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Parrish. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Following nominations, on motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Biniek, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Organizational Meeting Resolution, electing officers, making appointments, setting dates, establishing meeting guidelines and memorializing its votes, as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part of these minutes. The following roll-call vote was taken.

Aye Nay Absent

Roger A. Welch None None

S. Bryant Lee

Ronald L. Frazier

I. Christopher Parrish

Michael J. Biniek

Whereupon Mr. Parrish inquired as to whether the Board would consider vacating the August meeting on a permanent basis. Following discussion relating to payment of bills and general administration of government during a period of "vacation," the Board asked Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Luke to research the matter and make recommendations at a future meeting.

MINUTES: On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Biniek, the draft minutes of the December 7, 2009 meeting, as amended, were unanimously approved. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

AGENDA: On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Parrish, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the revised Final Agenda. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

SCHOOLS: Dr. Robert Chappell, Superintendent of Schools, made the following report:

(1) Adjustment-Supplemental Basic Aid: Confirmation has been received that the $240,003.00. "Supplement to Basic Aid" based on the Rappahannock-Madison Cost Saving Agreement has been included in Governor Kaine's proposed budget for FY11.

Proposed Budget Reductions: The Governor's FY11 budget also includes a reduction of $300,000 in basic aid. With the Supplement noted above, the net reduction in aid to schools as it appears in the proposed FY11 budget is $60,000 instead of $300,000.

The proposed FY11 budget must be acted upon by the General Assembly and the new Governor. (see letter with papers of meeting.)

(2) Capital Improvement Plans: School Board member Aline Johnson commented on the School Board's proposals for improving aging facilities, as set forth in School Board Chairman Wes Mill's letter dated January 4, 2010. She asked for the support and approval of the School Board's recommendations and noted that the Spring 2010 VA Resources Authority application deadline for low interest funding is February 15. The Fall 2010 application deadline is August 15, 2010. (See documents filed with papers of meeting.)

Following considerable discussion regarding the Energy Performance Contract, Ameresco, Mather Architect Facilities Audit and the proposed Capital Improvement Plan, Chairman Welch noted that the Board appointed a committee that hired an engineering firm last month to study facility needs and that the county will await the recommendations of the committee and will then consider a joint meeting with the School Board.

VDOT REPORT: David Cubbage, Residence Engineer, reported as follows:

Speed study on Route 522 in Sperryville will be conducted in 60 days.

Signage on Fodderstack : A 90-day speed study will be conducted.

Route 729 Bridge: Public hearing will be held in the Spring.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Art Candenquist, Jackson District, announced that the next Public Safety Committee meeting is Monday, January 11 at 7 pm at the Courthouse.

Don Loock, Jackson District: Funds in the amount of $50,000 have been received to fence livestock from rivers of riparian landowners. The Board was invited to a meeting at 6:00 PM on February 4 at the Washington Fire Hall to describe the new program on fencing.

OLD BUSINESS:

E-911 Adresses-Posting: Notices requesting property owners to post their E-911 addresses will be included with the personal property filing forms that will be mailed on February 6.

Arts, Cultural, Tourism Zones, Tax Increment Financing: Mr. McCarthy will draft a proposal as to how this proposal might work in the county and place it on the February agenda. (See documents filed with papers of meeting.)

Reassessment Update: Harold Wingate of Wingate and Associates reported that the reassessment and appeal process is nearly complete and that the books will be signed by the end of January 2010. He noted that there is less than a 5% decrease in assessments and that there have been fewer than 100 complaints considered by the Board of Assessors. Reassessing in Rappahannock County is more difficult than most counties because there are so few comparable sales. He noted, however, that no comparables for properties outside the county are used.

Equalization Board: The Circuit Court will appoint the Equalization Board.

Local Aid to the Commonwealth: Mr. McCarthy reminded the Board that the county must return a portion of the aid received from the state. That annual payment this year is $55,612.

Governor's Budget Proposals: The Governor's new budget reduction proposals will impact both schools and Constitutional Officers. Among the proposals are certain VRS requirements imposed on employees as well as a one-day furlough. The picture will be clearer at the March meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

Appropriations--E911 Program: Grant funds in the total amount of $34,837 have been received. On motion of Mr. Frazier, seconded by Mr. Lee, the Board voted unanimously to make the following supplemental appropriations. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

Revenue line #240219 $34,837.00 Expense line #3402-5202 $24,837.77

Expense line #3402-7002 $10,000.00

APPOINTMENTS: None.

CORRESPONDENCE: (All letters filed with papers of meeting.)

Child Care and Learning Center Request for Tax Exemption: See letter from Rose Ann Smythe, filed with papers of meeting, requesting that the apartment building portion of the Old Washington School House, now owned by CCLC, be exempt from local taxes. Mr. Luke explained that the building cannot be exempt unless it is part of the school. Currently CCLC is exempt from taxation on the portion of the building that houses its school activities.

Mr. Parrish noted that the building may be eligible for tax exemption is it were used as a non-profit organization to house its own teachers or if it were co-owned with the county.

INFORMATION:

Building Office Report: Total construction from November 22, 2009 to December 21, 2009 was $525,702.23. Year to date totals: (See papers of meeting for more detail.)

Year to date totals:	2008	2009
New Home Construction	34	21
Commercial Buildings	3	2

Statement of Economic Interests: Board members were reminded to file these statements prior to January 15, 2010.

ACCOUNTS:

On motion of Mr. Biniek, seconded by Mr. Lee, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Accounts Payables dated January 4 , 2010. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Welch, Lee, Frazier, Parrish, Biniek. NAY: None. ABSENT: None.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:00 o'clock p.m.

_________________________________________

Roger A. Welch, Chairman