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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-04-20150_ April 16, 1976 (Adjourned) April 20, 1976 (Adjourned) An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on April 19, 1976, at 9.:00 A.M. in the Federal Court, Post Office Building, East Market Street, Charlottesville, Virginia; said meeting being adjourned from April 16, 1976. Present: Mrs. Opal D. David (Arriving at 9:11 A.M.) and Messrs. Lindsay G. Dorrier, ~Jr. (arriving at 9:11 A.M.), Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., F. Anthony Iachetta and William S. Roudabush. Absent: None. The meeting was called to order by the Chairman who requested a motion to adjourn into executive session to discuss legal matters.~ Motion to this effect was made by Dr. Iachetta, seconded by Mr. Roudabush and carried: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Messrs. Fisher, Henley, Iachetta and Roudabush. None. Mrs. David and Mr. Dorrier. The Board reconvened at 9:05 A.M~ and recessed for the beginning of the "Fleming- Evergreen" trial. At the end of the day's proceedings, the Chairman noted that the Board would recess and reconvene again on April 20, 1976, at 8:30 A.M. in the Federal Court. On April 20, 1976, at 8:30 A.M. the Board reconvened in the Federal Court with the following: Present: Mrs. David and Messrs. Fisher, Iachetta and Roudabush. Absent: Messrs. Dorrier and Henley. Officer present: County Attorney, George R. St. John. Motion was immediately made by Mr. Roudabush to adjourn into executive session to discuss legal matters. The motion was seconded by Dr. Iachetta and carried: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Mrs. David and Messrs. Fisher, Iachetta and Roudabush. None. Messrs. Dorrier and Henley. At 8:~5 A.M. the Board reconvened and then recessed for the trial. At 2:20 P.M. the Chairman noted that this meeting would be continued in the County Executive's Conference Room at 7:30 P.M. this night. The Board reconvened in the County Executive's Conference Room, County Office Building, at 7:37 P.M. with all members present. Upon request of the County Attorney, motion was immediately offered by Dr. Iachetta, seconded by Mrs. David, to adjourn into executive session to discuss litigation. The motion carried: AYES: NAYS: Mrs. David and Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Iachetta and Roudabush. None. The Board reconvened at 8:02 P.M. sessions on the 1976-77 County budget. attendance) Items discussed were: Mr. Fisher called for a continuation of the work (Mr. James Bowling, Deputy County Attorney in 80 - Social Services Department 12 - Protection of Livestock & Fowl 7C - Volunteer Fire Departments 7A - Forest Fire Extinction Service 7B - Fire Department 10L - Parks and Recreation 6A - Policing and Investigation 10A - Engineering Department iF - Special retirement benefits for-law enforcement officers IF - Merit increases for County employees At the end of the work session, Mr. Allen Freemen of the Albemarle Education Association read the following statement to the Board: "Last Friday, this Board of Supervisors slashed approximately $370,000 from the proposed education budget. Each of you campaigned upon improving communications between this board, the public, the school board and its employees. Yet, the redactions in the school budget do not reflect that principle. The cuts were apparently made without public input. The cuts were made without consultation with the school administration or your appointees to the school board. Was the chairman or any member of the school board consulted prior to the changes? Has any member been consulted since the changes? School board members, employees, and the public received knowledge of this action through the public media. Lack of communication has been monumental. The Daily Progress has printed that the school budget was to have been presente~d at the public hearing as originally submitted. Apparently, this will not be so. We understand that there is sentiment by certain board members to cut the school budget. Yet, we were also led to believe that if and when cuts came this board of supervisors would do so only after public input at the public hearing. It seems that this board of supervisors should have confiden6e in its own appointees. Have you~ by your categorical cuts, expressed that confidence? Although your intentions were to save the taxpayer~ money, your actions will result in school employees paying, in effect, for the construction of the new April 20, 1976 (Adjourned) April 21, 1976 (Adjourned) There is a danger that school employees and the concerned public may lose confidence and trust in this board as a result of the obvious breakdown in communication. You can maintain confidence in the democratic process in Albemarle County.. The AEA suggests that this board hold these cuts in abeyance until the school board, its employees, and citizens have input. The board should determine whether cuts rare necessar~ Only after sufficient public discussion. The action we suggest would restore the optimism and trust generated by your election. Thank you for your consideration." Mr. Fisher said the meeting held on Friday was adjourned from Wednesday, April 14 in order to hold a further work session on the budget. The Board did not hide that fact and there was no attempt to abridge communications. The School Board had~ made their recommen- dations on a budget for 1976-77 and the Board had to decide if they would support the full amount of the request at a public hearing. It was decided that cuts would have to be made because a property tax rate must be advertised for that public hearing. Dr. Iachetta said in retrospect, he feels the Board may have been remiss in not having someone from the School Board present. However, the cuts proposed should not be interpreted as a no confidence act, but rather as an attempt to lower the property tax rate. He felt the Board should have a brief discussion with the Chairman of the School Board before going to public hearing. Mr. Dorrier said the Board had extensively debated the cuts made. He felt the minutes of April 16 should be distributed and then the School Board and the Board of Supervisors have a meeting to discuss the cuts made with a final decision to made after that time. Mr. Roudabush agreed that the reasons for the cuts should be made known to the School Board. Mrs. David felt the School Board members should be invited to a meeting to discuss the Board's actions of April 16. Mr. Henley felt the School Board, the Superintendent of Schools and/or the public should be allowed to comment on these cuts, if time permits, but did not feel items cut should be put back into the budget if they cannot be funded. He' said everyone will have a chance to speak at the public hearing. Mr. Fisher said he hopes there can be even further cuts made after the public hearing. He then suggested April 26, 1976, at 8:30 P.M. in the Board Room of the County Office Building as a time to meet with the School Board. On motion by Mrs. David, seconded by Mr. Henley, lottery permit for The Arnold Air Society, was approved in accordance with the Board's adopted policy. Motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Mrs. David and Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley and Roudabush. None. Dr. Iachetta. At 10:25 P.M. motion was offered by Dr. Iachetta, seconded by Mr. Dorrier, to adjourn this meeting until 9:00 A.M. on April 21, 1976, in the Federal Court, Post Office Building, East Market Street, Charlottesville. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: NAYS: Mrs. David and Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Iachetta and Roudabush. None. ~.~~~ ~C h~a i~~ An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on April 21, 1976, at 9:00 A.M. in the Federal Court, Post Office Building, East Market Street, Charlottesville, Virginia; said meeting being adjourned from April 20, 1976. Present: Mrs. Opal D. David and Messrs. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., F. Anthony Iachetta and William S. Roudabush. Absent: None. The Board convened at 9:00 A.M and immediately recessed for Court. At 5:00 P.M. the Board reconvened and immediately a motion was offered by Mr. Roudabush~, seconded by Dr. Iachetta to adjourn into executive session to discuss litigation. Also present in this executive session were Messrs. Stuart F. Carwile, William C. Thacker, Jr., Gordon L. Wheeler and Lloyd F. Wood, Jr., members of the previous Board of Supervisors. Motion carried by the folloWing recorded vote: AYES: Mrs. David and Messrs. Fisher, Henley, Iachetta and Roudabush. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mr. Dorrier. The Board reconvened at 5:30 P.M. and this meeting was adjourned.