Board of Supervisors: April 18, 2007

April 18, 2007

Virginia:

AT A CONTINUED MEETING of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors at 5:00
P. M. in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Courthouse, Lovingston Virginia.

Present:     Thomas H. Bruguiere, Jr., Chair
       Thomas D. Harvey, North District Supervisor
Harry S. Harris, South District Supervisor
       Constance Brennan, Central District Supervisor
       Allen M. Hale, East District Supervisor
       Stephen A. Carter, County Administrator
       Debbie McCann, Director of Finance & Human Resources
       Kevin Wright, Virginia Dept. of Transportation


I.   Call to Order

Mr. Bruguiere, Chair, called the continued meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. with all members present to establish a quorum and Ms. Candice McGarry, Administrative Assistant/Deputy Clerk being absent.

Chairman Bruguiere noted that in light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech this week, he is very thankful that the students from Nelson County attending school there are all well and accounted for. He noted the events there being inconceivable for us here and in America and stated his sorrow for all of those who have been affected by these events.

II.   VDOT – Secondary Six Year Plan Work Session

Prior to the starting the work session, the Board commented on the big dip that has developed at the intersection of the hill coming up to the Courthouse from Front Street.

Mr. Wright noted the materials in the packet he provided as being a funding update letter from Pierce Homer, the list of current priorities for the Secondary Six-Year Plan, and the actual current draft Secondary Six Year Plan. He noted that the third page of the Pierce Homer letter shows an increase in Federal Funding of $1,008 from current funding, an increase in State Funding of $276,233 from current funding and an increase in unpaved funding of $53,952 from current funding for total proposed additional dollars of $331,193.

Mr. Wright suggested using the handout of current priorities grouped by Regular Construction, Budget Items, and Unpaved Road Construction as a starting point. Mr. Wright noted that Rock Spring Road, listed under Unpaved Road Construction, is fully funded and under construction right now and priorities 2 -7 (Centenary Drive, Virginia Lane, Peavine Lane, High Peak Lane, Bowling Drive, and Battery Hill Lane) have accumulated full funding and will be built with State forces this spring. Based on the revised budget numbers, funding is available in FY08 to do the next three priorities on the list (Chapel Hollow Road, Glenthorne Loop and Wheelers Cover Road).
Mr. Wright noted that all of Glenthorpe Loop should be done, not just one end and recommended that the Board consider amending the Six Year plan to include this whole section of road.

Ms. Brennan made a motion to amend the Six Year Plan to include the whole section of Glenthorne Loop Road, the motion was seconded by Mr. Harvey and the motion passed.

Mr. Wright noted that out of the two Budget Items related to Route 665, Wilson Hill Road, item one to widen and overlay the first 1.7 miles can proceed after July 1, 2007 if the budget numbers hold true. The next portion, 0.9 miles of widen and overlay will be done next year, FY 09.

The six priorities under Regular Construction were discussed with Mr. Wright stating that the Route 827 bridge replacement will be underway; the Arrington Bridge project is under construction and will be done in two months. Mr. Wright noted that the third priority, Route 617, Rockfish River Road through Schuyler is now up to around $3 million dollars in cost for .7 miles of road and the accumulated funds over the next six years will be short by around $37,000. He noted that the Board may want to reconsider and move up the next three priorities, which are safety improvements, ahead of constructing Route 617. Mr. Hale noted his preference for talking to those who live along Route 617 to investigate how they felt about the project; although he noted his agreement that there were serious safety issues that addressing the next three priorities first could resolve within the accumulated/available funding. Mr. Wright noted that keeping Route 617 at its current position in the priority list would mean there wouldn’t be any new roads built in Nelson County for six to eight years.

The Board discussed the Route 617 project with Mr. Wright noting the design work has started on this but the Board can halt the work on the project at any time. The drainage problems were discussed with Mr. Wright stating that the only way to fix these issues is to re-build the road. Mr. Wright advised the Board that the project currently has around $300,000 allocated to it now and some has already been spent, leaving a balance of around $250,000. He also noted that the Board did not have to approve the plan at this time, but rather by late May.   Mr. Wright noted he would look into whether or not doing a deep overlay would alleviate the drainage issues on the Route. The Board deferred a decision on this pending further investigation by Mr. Hale to be reported on at the regular May meeting.

The Board then discussed re-prioritizing the Route 56/647 Findlay Mtn. Road Intersection and the Route 6/634 Old Roberts Mtn. Road Intersection, with the Board requesting safety/accident data on these two items before taking any action. Mr. Carter suggested that the Board ask Mr. Wright to look at the roads that would lead into the proposed Massies Mill convenience center for potential improvement.

The Board’s consensus was to have any proposed changes in priorities for Mr. Wright by the May 8, 2007 regular meeting to facilitate approval of the six year plan priorities by the end of May deadline.

Mr. Wright reported that the clear cutting of trees in the median half in Albemarle and half in Nelson at the Northeast border is being looked at; with the landscaper taking responsibility and proposing to replant some dogwoods and redbuds right where the trees were cut down.

III.   FY 08 Budget Work Session

The Board started the work session by looking at prioritizing the Non-Departmental Agencies for funding using a worksheet provided by Ms. McCann. Ms. McCann noted that the net new revenue, contingent upon increasing the Transient Occupancy Tax to 5%, available for allocation by the Board is approximately $62,000 as previously discussed. It was noted that if the Board increased the Transient Occupancy Tax 1%, the Board would have a net deficit situation.

The Board discussed the senior meals and Ms. McCann noted having received a revised request amount for meals from the Rockfish Valley Senior Center in the amount of $9,440. This reflects a decrease of $3,558 from the keyed in request of $12,998 that included a full cost accounting including in-kind donations for travel and time to pick up food etc. She also noted that funding the senior meals at the JABA rate of $4.75/meal would yield $7,272 in reduced expenditures, and level funding would yield around $4,500.

The Board discussed maintaining funding for the Thomas Jefferson Economic Development Partnership and the cost/benefit for Nelson in doing so. Mr. Carter and the Board noted there not being much benefit for the cost and the formula used to calculate the contributions by members is unreasonable. The major benefit of maintaining the membership noted by members was the inclusion of Nelson in the partnership’s marketing efforts.

Mr. Hale made a motion to withdraw from the Thomas Jefferson Economic Development Partnership.

The Board discussed this further with some members stating that the money is better spent on local economic development efforts and some stating the benefits of the partnership’s broader reaching abilities. Mr. Carter suggested he wasn’t advocating complete withdrawal but that the Board take a year’s break from the partnership and perhaps allocate funding on a quarterly basis and see how it goes, noting that Nelson wasn’t the only locality concerned about the partnership. Mr. Carter noted that the County could still be a non dues-paying participant, but wouldn’t have a vote. The Board discussed getting input from the EDA and Maureen and potentially having the new Director of the Partnership to come and speak to the Board.

After Discussion, Mr. Harvey seconded the motion. Clarification was made that the County would not have to be in the TJEDP in order to obtain information from State agencies about prospective businesses. Mr. Carter cautioned the Board against a formal withdrawal.

Mr. Hale amended his original motion to say that the Board does not budget funding for the Thomas Jefferson Economic Development Partnership for the coming year. Mr. Harvey seconded the amended motion. Further discussion included Mr. Carter noting that if they do a better job, the Board has the discretion to put the money back in.

Following discussion, Chairman Bruguiere called for the vote and Supervisors voted unanimously (5-0) by roll call vote to approve the motion to not fund the TJEDP in the upcoming budget year.

Mr. Carter noted that there is still $6,000 in quarterly payments remaining in this fiscal year slated to go to the TJEDP and asked for direction from the Board on these funds. Mr. Carter and Ms. McCann noted that the Board did approve the funds and appropriated them with the expectation from the Partnership that they would receive these monies. The Board’s consensus was that there is a moral obligation to pay the Partnership these monies for FY07.

The Board then discussed how to fund the Agencies overall, with initial discussion of funding 3% for all agencies that have been previously funded for approximately $25,000 and revisiting the Nelson Volunteer Coalition’s request. Using a straight percentage method was not preferred by some members so the Board decided to work their way down the Agency worksheet making the following funding allocations:

Agencies receiving a 3% increase in funding from FY07 for FY08:

Health Dept. - $215,707 FY08 allocation
Region 10 Community Services Board - $70,665 FY08 allocation
JABA - $86,371 FY08 allocation
JAUNT - $55,826 FY08 allocation
MACAA- $35,156 FY08 allocation
Shelter for Help - $7,493 FY08 allocation
OAR/Community Corrections – $1,607 FY08 allocation

Agencies receiving a flat dollar amount increase in funding for FY08:

Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District - $ 25,000 FY08 allocation
Regional Library - $231,776 FY08 allocation
TJEMS Council - $19,244 to fund full request for FY08
Sexual Assault Resource Agency - $750 FY08 allocation
Piedmont Housing Alliance - $5,000 level funding for FY08
Dental Health Program – Health Dept. - $35,980 to fund full request for FY08
Dental Health Program – RHOP - $9,690 FY08 allocation
Volunteer Coalition (RHOP) - $5,000 level funding for FY08

Total funding added to Non-Departmental expenditures for FY08 = $34,011. The Board’s consensus was to put any remaining un-allocated funds into the General Fund contingency.

The Board then discussed next meeting dates for another budget work session, deciding on Wednesday May 2, 2007 at 5pm.

IV.   Other Business (As May be Presented)

Mr. Harvey stated that at the recommendation of Mr. Payne and Mr. Guynn, the Board needed to appoint a representative to sit at the table with Mr. Guynn during the upcoming legal proceedings.

Mr. Hale made a motion that Mr. Harvey serve as the Board’s representative during the upcoming trial. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harris and the Board approved the motion.

V.   Adjournment

At approximately 7:15 PM, Mr. Harris moved to adjourn and continue the meeting until Wednesday May 2, 2007 for the purposes of a budget work session and any other such business as may be presented, at 5 PM at the Lovingston Courthouse. Mr. Harvey seconded the motion and Supervisors voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the motion.