AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS HELD ON THE 2nd DAY OF MARCH, TWO THOUSAND AND NINE AT TWO O'CLOCK
P.M. AT THE COURTHOUSE IN WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA
|
Present |
Present |
Absent |
|
Robert P Anderson, Chm. Ronald L Frazier, V-Chm. S. Bryant Lee Roger A Welch Edward D. Wayland |
John McCarthy, Co. Adm. Peter H. Luke, Co. Attorney Diane Bruce, Clerk |
None |
Chairman
Anderson called the meeting to order.
MINUTES: On motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by
Mr. Wayland, the minutes of the February 2, 2009 and February 12, 2009 meetings
were unanimously approved. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY:
None.
AGENDA: On motion of Mr. Lee,
seconded by Mr. Welch, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Final
Agenda. The vote was recorded as
follows: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: On behalf of the Board,
Vice-Chairman Frazier presented Chairman Anderson with a plaque recognizing Mr.
Anderson for 20 years of service as a member of the Board of Supervisors.
SCHOOLS: Dr. Robert Chappell,
Superintendent of Schools, made the following report: (See documents filed with papers of meeting.)
1) Competitive Grant Program:
Congressman Cantor's office has provided website information regarding
this program and has offered to submit a letter of support on behalf of the
school system. The information
will be given to the school's grant writer. (copy of email communication filed with papers of meeting.)
2) Quiz Bowl Team: The
RCHS team won the State championship.
A fund raiser will be held on April 4 to raise money to go to the
national tournament in Chicago.
3) FY10 Budget: The
public hearing will held on March 19, 2009.
4) Performance Contracting (Energy
Saving-ESCOs): Ameresco will make its proposal by
March 25, 2009. A joint meeting
between the School Board and Supervisors may be held to evaluate the proposals. The Superintendent suggested that there
be a project manager to oversee any work completed in this project.
5) RCES Roof: Dr.
Chappell reported that the shingles were improperly installed and the shingles
used may not have been those that were specified. He will inquire as to any warranty that may be
available.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jean
Lillard, Flint Hill, asked the Board to try to reduce its budget and suggested
looking at removing funds for the Athletic Director, decreasing the number of
employees in the Building Department and reducing the contributions to the Fire
Departments. She thanked the Board
for considering the Flint Hill School House as a possible office building and
encouraged the Board to research and carefully investigate the Washington Arts/
Kramer Building before making any decisions to purchase that property.
OLD BUSINESS:
Tourism
Update: Jim Offutt presented a slide show demonstration and reported
that the new website was launched March 1, 2009. The website is related primarily to the hospitality
industry. The maintenance costs
will be considered during the FY10 budget process. The website is visitrappahannockva.com
Emergency
Communications: The system is operating with an
anticipated 85%-95% coverage area.
The agreement with Fauquier County is ready to be signed.
Resolution: On
motion of Mr. Frazier, seconded by Mr. Welch, the Board voted unanimously to
adopt the "Agreement for Shared Use of Public Safety Radio System"
attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part of these minutes. The vote was recorded as follows: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
Scrabble
School: The completion date should be no later than May 1,
2009.
Landfill
Closure Update: The closure is complete except for
final seeding. The final billing
should be received by either the April or May meeting.
Mr.
Frazier noted that the closure came in under budget and on time.
Property
Acquisition, Kramer Building: An appraisal and termite inspection
have been ordered and further consideration of a purchase will be on the April
agenda.
Dominion
Power Transmission Line: Construction of the Rappahannock County
portion will begin in August.
Monopoles will carry both the new line and the existing line on
properties that have been placed in conservation easements. All other portions of the line will be
on traditional "lattice-work" towers.
Fire
Levy Policy: The Board considered three Member-Contracting Policy options
for the individual Volunteer Fire and Rescue Associations as set forth in a
draft proposal dated February 6, 2009 and filed with the papers of this
meeting. On motion of Mr. Frazier,
seconded by Mr. Welch, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the policy as set
forth below. The vote was recorded
as follows: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
Fire Levy Policy on Members' Contracting with
Companies
From time to time, individual fire & rescue companies may
determine to hire persons or firms to perform services for them. These services may include, but
are not limited to, grounds-keeping (including grass cutting and/or landscape
maintenance) equipment maintenance, and/or facility maintenance.
When no funds from the Rappahannock County Fire Levy are to be used in reimbursement of these expenses, the individual companies are free to contact with whomsoever they deem fit and proper, under whatever conditions they so choose.
Whenever funds expended for these purposes are proposed to be reimbursed through the Rappahannock County Fire Levy, and the expenditure to an individual contractor in any one calendar year exceeds $500, companies must procure at least three competitive sealed bids for the work to be performed, and award must be made to the lowest responsive bid. These services may be contracted to the successful bidder for as long as three years. In the event of failure to perform the services to the VF&R Company's satisfaction, it may contract with the next lowest-priced bidder for the remaining period of the award. Records of these procurements shall be kept for at least three years, and shall be provided to the County Administrator upon request.
Use-Value
Taxation Reauthorization: On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr.
Welch, the Board voted unanimously to reauthorize Use-Value Taxation (also
known as Land Use Taxation) for another six years. The following roll-call vote was taken: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
Reassessment:
The next general reassessment is due to be conducted in 2010. Proposals were received from four firms
that bid to conduct property reassessments in Rappahannock, Clarke, Shenandoah,
Page and Warren Counties. The five
county coalition hopes to obtain a more uniform process that will yield more
accurate values and fewer complaints. The Commissioners of the Revenue and County
Administrators of all five counties have evaluated and rated the proposals and
selected Wingate Appraisal as the top-rated firm. The cost to the county would be $20 per parcel or $115,000
for the total reassessment.
Wingate would open an office in and operate from Front Royal.
On
motion of Mr. Frazier, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to
authorize Mr. McCarthy to execute a contract with Wingate Appraisals for a cost
not in excess of $20 per parcel.
The following roll-call vote was taken: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
General
Assembly-Legislative Update: Mr. McCarthy reported on certain
legislative changes adopted during the past General Assembly.
Variances: A
language change regarding hardship confiscations leaves the BZA having to
determine what a hardship is.
HB2077 extends for 5 years the grandfathering of
subdivision, site plan and Special Use and Special Exception applications. It further increases the amount of time
someone can claim a vested interest.
HB1788
& SB1276: The ability to ban sewage has been
taken away.
Speed
Limits: Rappahannock County was not added into the special
legislation imposing a 35 mph speed limit on unpaved roads. Efforts will be made to include
Rappahannock County during next year's General Assembly.
Application
Fees: Carry over until April 2009 meeting.
Credit
Card Payment of Taxes: Carry over until April 2009 meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Economic
Development Advisory Committee: The Board discussed the need to appoint
an Advisory Committee to recommend ways that would encourage businesses and job
opportunities in the county. Be
general consensus, Mr. McCarthy was asked to prepare a Mission Statement for consideration
at the April or May meeting.
APPOINTMENTS: None.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Virginia
Biosolids News: The Expert Panel on Biosolids has
concluded that it uncovered no evidence or literature verifying a casual link
between biosolids and illness.
(Documents filed with papers of meeting.)
VDOT--Sperryville
Bridge: VDOT has identified historic properties in the village and
near the bridge. The letter also
describes the construction details of the present structure as well as the new
structure which will be totally financed with federal funds. (Letter filed with papers of meeting.)
INFORMATION:
Building Office Report: Total
construction from January 22, 2009 to February 21, 2009 was $2,450,000.00. The significant increase is due to a
permit for the Town of Washington Sewer Plant. Year to date totals: (See papers of meeting for additional detail.)
|
Year to date totals: |
2008 |
2009 |
|
New
Home Construction |
3 |
3 |
|
Commercial Buildings |
0 |
0 |
ACCOUNTS: On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr.
Welch, the Board voted unanimously to approve accounts payables dated March 2,
2009. The vote was recorded as
follows: AYE: Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland,
Frazier. NAY: None.
There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:40 o'clock p.m.
____________________________________
Robert
P. Anderson, Chairman