2002-03-13March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 1)
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on March
13, 2002, at 7:00 p.m., Room 241, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia.
PRESENT: Mr. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Mr. Charles S. Martin, Mr. Walter F. Perkins, Mr. Dennis S.
Rooker and Ms. Sally H. Thomas.
ABSENT: Mr. David P. Bowerman.
OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Robert W. Tucker, Jr., County Attorney, Larry W. Davis,
and, Clerk, Ella W. Carey.
Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by the Chairman, Ms. Thomas.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 2. Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item No. 3. Moment of Silence.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 4. From the Public: Matters Not Listed on the Agenda.
There was no one who wished to speak at this time.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 5. Consent Agenda. Motion was offered by Mr. Rooker, seconded by Mr.
Martin, to approve Items 5.1 and 5.2 on the Consent Agenda, and to accept Item 5.3 for information.
Roll was called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman.
__________
Item 5.1. Appropriation: Education, $242,418.53 (Form No. 2001-058).
It was noted in the staffs report that Murray Elementary School received a donation in the amount
=
of $100.00 from Nancy Letteri and a donation in the amount of $1000.00 from Dr. David Hamer. These
donations will be used to help finance the arts and cultural enrichment programs, the chess club and the
media center.
Broadus Wood Elementary School received donations in the amount of $7695.49 from the
Broadus Wood PTO. These donations will be used to help with over staffing. Broadus Wood Elementary
School also received a donation in the amount of $600.00 from Elizabeth Turrisi and Coy Hawkins, III. This
donation will be used to purchase instructional materials for use in the classrooms.
Jack Jouett Middle School received a donation in the amount of $1500.00 from the Jack Jouett
PTO. This donation will be used to help with the purchase of a laptop computer to be used in the computer
lab.
Meriwether Lewis Elementary School received a donation in the amount of $11,101.00 from the
Meriwether Lewis PTO. This donation will be used to pay the cost of additional teacher's assistant time for
the school.
Reappropriation of $158,633.00 of school carryover funds and $27,911.00 of building rental funds.
Policy DB-E allows schools to carry forward up to 10 percent of their operational budgets from year to year.
Policy KG-R allows 40 percent of the base fees collected for building rental to be returned to each school.
Reappropriation of $14,000.00 from Fund Transfers. At the beginning of the 2001-02 School Year,
the Department of Technology set aside $14,000.00 in fund transfers for the Information Technology
Department. Through a mutual agreement, these funds were to be used in support of education personnel
on the third floor of the County Office Building. As the Department of Technology will be assuming support
for the third floor beginning at the end of January, these funds need to be reappropriated to the
department's budget.
Title VI, a federally-funded program of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, provides
supplemental assistance to students considered at-risk of not meeting established performance goals.
There is a local fund balance in the amount of $3394.91 and a State retained fund balance in the amount
of $6874.96 from FY 00-01 to be appropriated for FY 01-02. In addition, funding for FY 01-02 was
increased by $7330.00 from the original amount of $47,598.00. These funds will pay for salaries and
equipment.
The Eisenhower Grant provides Federal assistance to improve teaching and learning through
sustained and intensive high quality professional development activities in the core academic areas of the
Virginia Standards of Learning. There is a fund balance retained by the State in the amount of $1526.34
from FY 00-01 to be appropriated in FY 01-02. These funds will be used to help with conferences for
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 2)
teachers.
The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 provides funding to local school
divisions for operating substance abuse programs to schools. There is a fund balance in the amount of
$2951.83 from FY 00-01 to be appropriated for FY 01-02. These funds will be used to help pay for
professional services.
The Center for Environmental Education of Antioch New England Institute has made a grant award
in the amount of $1000.00 to Monticello High School. The funds will help the Human-I-Tees Program to
assist the Monticello High School community in the use of their land as an environmental resource, learning
space and a marker of their school identity.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has made a grant award in the amount of $2500.00
to Albemarle County's Special Education/Student Services Department. These funds will be used for the
Interpreter Training and Assessment Program.
The Optimist Club of Blue Ridge has made a grant award in the amount of $200.00 to Woodbrook
Elementary School. This grant award will be used to help fund the Woodbrook Remedial Reading Home
Program.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts made Teacher Incentive Grant Awards (AIETIG) to
Meriwether Lewis Elementary School in the amount of $600.00, Stony Point Elementary School in the
amount of $3900.00, Woodbrook Elementary School in the amount of $3300.00, and Henley Middle School
in the amount of $300.00. The Teacher Incentive Grant Program was established to help strengthen
education in and through the arts in elementary and secondary schools.
Staff recommends approval of Appropriation No. 2001-058 in the amount of $242,418.53 as
detailed on the appropriation form.
By the recorded vote set out above, the Board adopted the following Resolution of
Appropriation:
APPROPRIATION REQUEST
FISCAL YEAR: 2001-02
NUMBER: 2001-058
FUND: EDUCATION
PURPOSE OF APPROPRIATION: VARIOUS SCHOOL GRANTS, PROJECTS AND
DONATIONS
EXPENDITURE
CODE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
1 2215 61101 601200 Books/Subscriptions $ 500.00
1 2215 61101 580000 Misc Expenses 600.00
1 2201 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 6,600.00
1 2201 61101 132100 P/T Teacher 1,572.76
1 2201 61101 210000 FICA 122.73
1 2253 61411 800101 Mach/Equip-Rpl 1,500.00
1 2100 61565 114100 Salaries-Teacher 10,251.77
1 2100 61565 210000 FICA 849.23
1 2201 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 5,315.00
1 2202 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 344.00
1 2203 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 305.00
1 2204 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 5,561.00
1 2205 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 12,535.00
1 2206 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 10,281.00
1 2207 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 6,793.00
1 2209 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 2,466.00
1 2210 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 11,330.00
1 2211 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 10,246.00
1 2212 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 10,742.00
1 2213 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 4,440.00
1 2215 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 5,653.00
1 2251 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 3,986.00
1 2252 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 1,557.00
1 2253 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 15,526.00
1 2254 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 12,144.00
1 2255 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 14,753.00
1 2301 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 46,068.00
1 2302 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 1,607.00
1 2303 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 2,990.00
1 2304 61101 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 1,902.00
1 2115 93010 930000 Fund Transfers (14,000.00)
1 2115 61320 540301 Lease/Rent-Software 14,000.00
1 3102 61311 111400 Salaries-Other Mang 7,584.73
1 3102 61311 210000 FICA 580.23
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 3)
1 3102 61311 800100 Equipment 9,434.91
1 3203 61311 580500 Staff Dev 1,526.34
1 3107 60000 312700 Prof Services 2,951.83
1 3104 60604 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 1,000.00
1 3140 61102 580500 Staff Dev 2,500.00
1 3104 60212 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 200.00
1 3104 60206 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 600.00
1 3104 60211 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 3,900.00
1 3104 60212 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 3,300.00
1 3104 60252 601300 Ed/Rec Supplies 300.00
TOTAL $242,418.53
REVENUE
CODE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
2 2000 18100 181109 Donation $ 21,996.49
2 2000 51000 510100 Approp Fund Balance 186,544.00
2 3102 33000 330105 Title VI Grant 14,204.96
2 3102 51000 510100 Approp Fund Balance 3,394.91
2 3203 33000 330200 Eisenhower Grant 1,526.34
2 3107 51000 510100 Approp Fund Balance 2,951.83
2 3104 18000 181219 Environmental Ed Grant 1,000.00
2 3140 24000 240358 Sp Ed Interpreter Grant 2,500.00
2 3104 18000 189900 Optimist Club Grant 200.00
2 3104 24000 240332 Va Comm AIETIG 600.00
2 3104 24000 240355 Va Comm AIETIG 3,900.00
2 3104 24000 240344 Va Comm AIETIG 3,300.00
2 3104 24000 240331 Va Comm AIETIG 300.00
TOTAL $242,418.53
__________
Item 5.2. Authorize County Executive to execute Service Agreement with Crozet Volunteer Fire
Department, Inc., advancing $234,612.50 to purchase new pumper.
It was noted in the staffs report that several years ago Albemarle County established a revolving
=
fund to be used by the ten volunteer fire and rescue companies in the County. This fund, currently funded
at two million dollars, provides the volunteer companies a means of acquiring needed firefighting and
rescue squad equipment and buildings, interest free, with repayments being deducted from their annual
County appropriation. Requests for disbursements from the fund have previously been monitored and
approved by the Jefferson Country Fire and Rescue Association (JCFRA). This process has recently
changed and is now being monitored by the Albemarle County Fire & Rescue Advisory Board (ACFRAB).
The current amount available in the revolving fund is $431,761.98. Crozet Volunteer Fire
Department has requested, through JCFRA/ACFRAB, an advance of $234,612.50 to be used for the
purchase of a tanker and has executed the standard service agreement approved by the County Attorney's
office. This advance can be disbursed upon approval of this agreement by the Board of Supervisors.
Repayment of the allocation will be over an eight-year period beginning in FY 2002-03. JCFRA/ACFRAB
has approved this request, and staff recommends authorizing the County Executive to execute the Service
Agreement.
By the recorded vote set out above, the Board authorized the County Executive to execute
the following Service Agreement with the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department on behalf of the County:
SERVICE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made this ____ day of March, 2002, by and between the
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE, VIRGINIA, a political subdivision, (the "County"), and the
CROZET VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC., a Virginia Corporation, (the "Fire
Department").
WHEREAS, the Fire Department agrees to continue to provide valuable fire
protection services in Albemarle County in its delineated service area as set forth on the
Response Area Maps located at the Emergency Communications Center ("Service
Area"); and
WHEREAS, the Fire Department desires the County to contribute Two Hundred
Thirty-Four Thousand Six Hundred Twelve Dollars and Fifty cents ($234,612.50) for the
purchase of a fire pumper for providing fire services.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the above stated premises, the
County and Fire Department agree, as follows:
1. The County shall contribute to the Fire Department Two Hundred Thirty-Four
Thousand Six Hundred Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents, ($234,612.50) to be used
for the purchase of a fire pumper. The funds shall be allocated from the
County's Fire Fund ("Fund") and shall be made available upon execution of this
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 4)
agreement.
2. The Fire Department agrees that the County will withhold Twenty-Nine Thousand
Three Hundred Twenty-Six Dollars and Fifty Cents ($29,326.50) from the
County's annual appropriation to the Fire Department's operating budget
beginning July 2002 through July 2008 and ending after a final withholding of
Twenty-Nine Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Seven Dollars ($29,327.00) in
July 2009. Thus at the end of eight (8) years, which is the term of this
Agreement, a total of $234,612.50 shall be withheld. This withholding may be
used by the County to replenish the Fund for so long as the County, at its
discretion, continues such Fund. This withholding is in addition to the withholding
for all prior advances under the prior service agreement with the Fire Department
dated June 10, 1997. The Fire Department agrees that any amount of this
repayment that may exceed the County's annual appropriation will be remitted to
the County no later than July 31 of each repayment year.
3. The Fire Department agrees that the Two Hundred Thirty-Four Thousand Six
Hundred Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents ($234,612.50) contribution shall be used
only for the purchase of the fire pumper to be used to provide fire services in
Albemarle County. The Fire Department further agrees that it shall not convey
the fire pumper or any interest therein to any party other than the County without
the County's prior written consent during the useful life of the fire pumper or the
term of this Service Agreement, whichever is longer. For purposes of this
Agreement, the useful life of the fire pumper shall be fifteen years from the date
the fire pumper is placed into service. In addition, the Fire Department agrees
that any insurance proceeds received from a claim related to any damage to the
fire pumper shall be used entirely for the immediate repair and improvement of
the fire pumper unless the County expressly authorizes in writing a different use
for such funds.
4. The Fire Department agrees that at such time as it no longer provides volunteer
fire protection services in Albemarle County while operating under the jurisdiction
of the County that it shall convey all of its interest in the vehicle described in
paragraph 1 to the County at no additional cost to the County upon the County's
request.
5. The County and Fire Department agree that the covenants set forth in their prior
agreement dated June 10, 1997, to the extent they are not in conflict with this
Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect.
6. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent additional appropriations
by the County to the Fire Department, at the discretion of the County Board of
Supervisors, to support, enhance, or augment the services to be provided by the
Fire Department.
Witness the following signatures and seals:
03-14-02 Robert W. Tucker, Jr.
Date Robert W. Tucker, Jr.
Albemarle County Executive
03-05-02 Preston Gentry
Date By: Preston Gentry
Crozet Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
__________
Item 5.3. Documentation of Local Resource Commitments for Whitewood Village Apartments.
It was noted in the staffs report that local funding and other committed resources are critical in
=
maximizing scoring for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Albemarle Housing Improvement
Program (AHIP) will submit an application for tax credits requesting approximately $3.6 million in credits for
the estimated $9.0 million project.
Albemarle County has all ready contributed significant resources during the pre-development
phase including annual support to AHIP for development activities. In addition, the Housing Choice
Voucher Program (HCV) can commit direct assistance to not more than 25 percent of the units in a
development. This assistance, committed for 10 years, is counted toward local commitment and is
contingent on future funding from HUD. Albemarle County has committed a variety of locally controlled
resources for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Whitewood Village.
Three dwelling units in each of eight buildings will receive project-based assistance (rental
assistance tied to the unit rather than the tenant). AHIP will be required to lease these units to households
with incomes below 30 percent of the area median income. After occupying the unit for one year, the
tenant can choose to move and will receive a voucher if they remain eligible and wish to continue receiving
assistance. This commitment, allowed under that tax credit program, is valued at more than $1.6 million
over a ten-year period.
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 5)
This report is provided for information only.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 6. PUBLIC HEARING to receive comments on the County Executive's
Recommended Operating Budget for FY 2002-2003. (Notice of this public hearing was published in the
Daily Progress on March 10, 2002.)
Mr. Tucker said he would give some statistics about the County before getting into a summary of
his recommended budget for FY 2002-03. He said the population from the 2000 census was 84,122. That
is an 18 percent increase from the previous census. He said the Countys population has actually doubled
=
since 1970, and 70 percent of this increase was from in-migration. School enrollment increased over this
ten-year period about 25 percent, but the last several years the rate of increase has been fairly flat.
Albemarle is becoming more diverse. There has been a 158 percent growth in the Hispanic population.
The median age in the County is now 37.4 as compared to 31.7 in 1990. The fastest growing segment of
the population is people aged 65 and older. Calls to the Police have increased. Fifty-one percent of the
population is now located in the designated development areas.
Mr. Tucker said State fiscal adversity is a long term and multi-year reality. There are uncertain and
critical impacts on local government and school funding, for not only this current year, but next fiscal year
and possibly beyond. There will be pressure to replace lost dollars for education, and a lot of regional and
community agencies are facing severe cuts in State funding. Budget goals for this budget were: to
maintain the property tax rates at the current levels; basic local government services be maintained;
education and public safety are major priorities; employee compensation and benefits are major priorities;
and capital infrastructure improvements are programmed in this budget.
Mr. Tucker said revenues total $193.8 million or a 5.2 percent increase over the current year. The
Revenue-Sharing Agreement with the City of Charlottesville now totals $6.7 million. Regional and
community agencies, on the average, increased about 2.5 percent. In this proposed budget, a Landfill
Fund has been created due to the closing of the landfill on September 1, 2001, by the Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ). The General Fund transfer to the Stormwater Fund and the Debt Service
Fund has increased primarily due to school needs. The new Monticello Fire Station has been funded. It will
be a major asset to the fire and rescue system, and will be staffed by a combination of volunteer and paid
firefighters.
Mr. Tucker said Health Care costs have increased significantly. Benefits have been maintained
with the increased cost being covered by the County. The budget provides a two-percent staff
compensation increase, although the Board of Supervisors and the School Board will revisit this issue
during their work sessions next week. Development review fees have increased by about 25 percent.
These fees have not been increased for approximately ten years. These fees do not include building
inspection fees.
Mr. Tucker said he has provided a Board Reserve Fund of $405,000 in recurring funds for the
Board to have for other initiatives, as well as a $700,000 Reserve in non-recurring funds for one-time
expenses. Some priorities related to Public Safety, Human Services and quality of life are: one new police
officer has been funded along with associated equipment, it is hoped that the new Blue Ridge Juvenile
Detention Center will be open by January, 2003 (time delay caused by State funding cuts). The ground
breaking ceremony was held this morning for the new Monticello Fire Station. It should open about January
1, 2003. A thermal-imaging camera for volunteer stations will complete this initiative for all fire stations
system-wide. The fire/rescue expenditures are up about 10 percent or $329,000 over last year.
Mr. Tucker said an increase is anticipated in CSA funding, although State funding may be altered
for this program. Additional funds are provided to Region 10 for mental health and mental retardation
services; additional funding for CTS (bus service) for existing urban bus routes; and additional funding for
JAUNT. Funds are provided for a part-time WEB content manager to assist with E-government
applications. This will provide citizens the ability to apply for building permits, file job applications and pay
taxes, etc., on-line.
Mr. Tucker said the School Division requested a budget of $110.9 million which includes almost
$100.0 million in the School Fund budget, and $11.0 million for the Self-Sustaining budget. Major
components of the request are: start-up costs for the new Baker-Butler Elementary School (he has
recommended that the Board provide $125,000 to help with that initiative); operating costs for Baker-Butler;
and, funding to maintain competitive compensation at two percent, but that number will be revisited by both
boards next week. There are no significant new initiatives in the School budget other than the opening of
Baker-Butler Elementary.
Mr. Tucker said that under the Quality of Life category, funding of the Groundwater Study is
A@
continued. The Landfill Fund is new. Additional therapeutic recreation funding and State-board park
operations, and the bulky waste amnesty days which is a popular program will be provided two times
A@
during the year. There is a new Senior Planner for the next Neighborhood Master Plan, with the position to
begin in January. Funding has been provided for the second Neighborhood Master Plan to follow the
Crozet Plan. There is also funding provided to support local festivals and cultural activities which are
important to the whole community.
Mr. Tucker said the estimated expenditures for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) from FY
2002 through FY 2006 amounts to $113.0 million. Fifty-seven percent of that amount will go to Schools.
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 6)
Public Safety will receive about 15 percent, with Administration and Courts getting about 13 percent. There
have been some amendments recommended for the CIP, basically a revision of the funding for the
Juvenile Court project (jointly funded with the City); an increase in funding for the new public safety facility;
added funding for the new SPCA Shelter; funds for resurfacing Darden Towe Park tennis courts; added
funds for renovation of the elevators in the County Office Building on McIntire Road; funds to design the
Monticello High School classroom addition; delayed construction of a new southern elementary school (this
was done at the request of the School Board); and the ACE program will be revisited during work sessions.
Mr. Tucker said in summary, the local economy is very solid, and is providing a growing revenue
base. Essential services are preserved without a property tax increase, although the cost of some services
will be recovered through increased fees. Employee compensation and benefits are a priority. Funds are
committed to infrastructure, services and facilities required by the urbanizing community, and the Boards
=
Capital investment strategy is being maintained.
Mr. Tucker said if there are those who wish to remain involved with this process, after tonights
=
hearing, work sessions will begin on March 18 where General Government departments and agencies will
be discussed. On March 20, the work session will revolve around the CIP and the School budget. On
March 25, there will be a finalizing of the budget work sessions. April 10 will the official public hearing on
the Boards budget. On April 17, the Board will approve the 2002-03 Budget and the CIP budget, as well as
=
set the tax rates for the 2002 Calendar Year.
Ms. Thomas explained the Boards rules for conducting public hearings, and then opened the
=
hearing to the public.
Ms. Babette Thorpe was present to make a statement on behalf of the Piedmont Environmental
Council (PEC) (copy of full statement is on file with the Boards records). She said that PEC has worked for
=
30 years to promote and protect the countryside and neighborhoods people cherish in Albemarle County.
Working with conservation-minded landowners and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, PEC has helped
secure one of the largest assemblies of privately protected land in the country. In Albemarle, landowners
have protected over 33,000 acres using conservation easements, voluntary contracts that protect land
permanently from large-scale commercial and residential development. Sometimes it does not make
sense for a landowner to give away their development rights. In the case of an inheritance, some family
members may need cash, where others might want to stay on the land. Before the ACE program, the only
option a family had under those circumstances was to sell the land, or at least a part of it. That is why PEC
urges the Board to continue its support for ACE by allocating $1.0 million to buy development rights, as the
Board has done in the past two years.
Ms. Marcia Joseph said she was present to represent the Southwest Mountains Coalition. That
neighborhood is fortunate to have a number of residents with large enough parcels and income to have
placed their land under permanent conservation easement. To date, these landowners have placed
8643.87 acres under easement. However, neighbors also include farmers without the income to benefit
from the tax incentives to place their land under easement. Two of these landowners have requested and
received offers from the Countys ACE program to place an additional 519.86 acres under easement.
=
Without the program, it is likely that these properties may have been pressured to subdivide off a few
parcels to help support the farming activities on this acreage. The Coalition is grateful to the County for
helping preserve the beauty of this neighborhood. It encourages the Board to continue to fund the ACE
program to preserve the important agricultural and tourist attractions that are the essence of Albemarle
County.
Ms. Pat Napolean said she is a concerned taxpayer, educator, and proponent of sensible
conservation practices. She said that within five years, the flight of veteran teachers will have arrived in
force. The employees who will receive the least amount of an insignificant step increase will face financial
pressures for the rest of their lives. She does not think the proposed teacher raises are acceptable.
Attempts by the County to convince the public that teacher salaries are competitive with other areas of the
country are not believable. She obtained a copy of all employee salaries in Albemarle County and found
that those who extol equality for all are not treating all employees fairly. This document shows that neither
degree or experience assures continued advancement in all departments, especially education. How can
the County justify paying newly hired people, many without a college degree, more than teachers who have
acquired degrees and also worked for many years? Many of these individuals also receive compensation
for after-hours work. Why isnt the AEA questioning this practice. She suggests that the County look to
=
better management practices within the Schools and within the top tier of County government. She thinks
money is available for needed programs and salaries. She was told that teachers will not leave the school
system, but will stay for the quality of life and the beautiful views. She thinks that towers and sprawl may
drive people north where they will be paid well to look at ugly clutter. Environmental programs should not
be cut to get money for the schools, the ACE Program should be funded in this budget. She said there are
tough choices to make, but veteran teachers will be leaving, and employee salaries are not being
distributed fairly. She said to look to the future for more effective management of the budgetary process.
Mr. Brian Wheeler said he is a parent of a fourth grader at Murray Elementary School, Vice
President of its PTO, a taxpayer and a voter (copy of full statement is on file in the Clerks Office). Two
=
years ago, the Board responded to citizen concerns by raising the real estate tax to fully fund the education
budget. It allowed the addition of class size emergency relief, something the school took advantage of to
gain a few additional fractions of a teaching position. He said there is a vicious cycle between Albemarle
County and the state. There is also a vicious cycle between the Supervisors and the School Board. He
does not think the parents will settle for a second-rate school system, and if the state wont pay its way, then
=
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 7)
the Supervisors need to take revenue matters into their own hands. Nobody thinks the states priorities will
=
be straightened out quickly. This years school budget has no new initiatives.
=
Mr. Wheeler said he is not here tonight to ask the Supervisors to raise taxes. However, if it were the
only way to fund an exceptional education system, he would support the Board in that decision. Things are
very different now than they were two years ago. The state is in worse shape and Albemarle is in better
shape because it placed a priority on funding education. He said Albemarle should set its own agenda for
quality education. The states agenda in the form of the Standards of Quality, and their lack of funding even
=
minimal goals, is totally inadequate. He asked that the Supervisors not back off from the 3.3 percent
compensation increase the School Board determined would make Albemarle competitive. He asked that
the Supervisors support the School Systems complete request for one-time money to open the Baker-
=
Butler School. He asked that the Supervisors not back off from the ACE program as recommended by the
Daily Progress, but that it put excellence in education on the priority list for this budget.
Mr. Peter Hallock said he lives in the Southwest Mountains. He said that economic development
and land value in this area is predicated on the open space views. In his area, land prices have
skyrocketed. The ACE Program does not take away anyones property rights. It buys the development
=
rights, and is a good system. It will help working farmers keep their farms. He encourages the Board to
fund this program for another year.
Mr. Woody Baker said he is Vice-President of the Albemarle County Farm Bureau, and General
Manager of East Belmont Farm. He is concerned about the lack of commitment to the ACE Program in this
proposed budget. This program took years to develop and was scrutinized by the public through many
hearings. He said ACE was adopted, funded, and staffed for two years and it is a waste of County
resources to withhold funds just as it is getting up and running. One of the hopes in developing this
program was to attract Federal money. This is not likely to happen if it is not supported with local funds.
When he served on the Agricultural and Forestal Industries Support Committee formed by the Supervisors
in the early 1990s, it was charged with developing recommendations for ways to support and promote
agriculture in Albemarle County. One of these recommendations was protection of the resource base.
They suggested that the County promote and use voluntary conservation easements, which has been done
through the ACE Program. The giving or selling of easements provides short-term benefits to the donors,
but they give up a lot over the long term. The foresightedness and commitment of the agrarian way which
these people display carries very long guarantees which will effect the way the County looks and functions
in as little as 30 years. If the agricultural heritage, and farms, are to be preserved as the public has
demanded, then the Supervisors must be willing to support over time programs and policies that foster
through voluntary participation, preservation of the greatest natural resource, land. One of the Albemarle
County Farm Bureaus resolutions calls for the County to live within its means. He knows that is tough to do
=
in this day and age. Perhaps a challenge should be added to stick with those programs the Supervisors
and the citizens of Albemarle County have spent years developing.
Mr. Billy Ballard said he is the President of the Cale Elementary PTO. He is present tonight for the
Albemarle County Schools Parent Council. The Council is made up of representatives from each school in
Albemarle County and is the voice for the parents of 12,000+ public school students. As parents, they want
the best possible education for their children. They acknowledge the value of a school system committed
to excellence. The Parent Councils missions mirror the goals and objectives set forth by the School Board,
=
the creation of a dynamic learning environment that offers every child and youth in Albemarle County the
highest advantage in public education. To support this mission the School Board has adopted visions and
goals and priorities which provide a clear measure of accountability for schools and educators. They are
aggressive goals and clearly raise the bar of expectations for teachers and staff, as well as continue the
tradition of excellence the school system provides. Some examples are: full state accreditation in 2002 for
all County schools (that means bringing eight schools up to state requirements this year); decreasing the
achievement goals in reading and math by 25 percent per year until the gap is closed in 2004. Perhaps the
most aggressive goal is a 100 percent graduation rate for high school seniors which means that starting
with this years tenth grade, each student must pass a minimum of six SOL end-of-course tests. As
=
partners with the School Board and administration, the Council supports these and all the goals and
priorities that have become the framework for the success of the schools. As parents they expect the
School Board and the Supervisors to ensure that the human and financial resources are sufficient to
support achievement of these goals and priorities. The Council asks that the Supervisors: commit to
competitive compensation for teachers and staff; maintain small class sizes; provide adequate instructional
materials to support quality education to address the SOLs; and, support educational programs that serve
student needs; maintain the infrastructure of school facilities. In difficult economic times, County
government must set priorities and make choices.
Mr. Charlie Trachta spoke next (copy of full statement is on file in the Clerks Office). He said when
=
the urban ring was designed, the residents were told that for giving up of space and accepting high density
they would receive better services and have neighborhood schools. Today, there are still residents in the
urban ring without public water or sewer. In the Raintree Community the developers left the County with a
half-million dollar clean-up and repair bill concerning its sewers and retention ponds. Although gas pipes
go through the neighborhoods, they have been denied gas service. As for the neighborhood schools, the
School Board does not recognize agreements made by the Supervisors. Nor will VDOT stand behind the
Supervisors concerning road improvements.
Mr. Trachta said the Board once asked communities in the Rio Urban Ring to work out an
agreement with the developers of Still Meadows. The community appointed two members to negotiate with
the developers attorneys. After much hard work, a meeting was set up so the two groups could publicly
=
accept the agreement, and Mr. Bowerman attended the meeting. Two of the main points of the agreement
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 8)
were that the number of homes allowed would be 130, and the developers would pay the county $1000 per
home. The money was to offset any impact upon the schools of the district. It was to be used for capital
improvements. At that meeting, the developers requested an additional five homes, and offered to raise
their payment to $1500 per home. The community rejected that request and the agreement was approved
as it was presented. The Supervisors subsequently disregarded the agreement and granted the extra five
homes without taking the extra $500. They also redirected the money into the Schools CIP Fund. Now,
their children are being bussed out of the district to which the money is allocated.
Mr. Trachta said his three minutes are probably up so he will not be able to speak about the cost of
the landfill, the reservoir, roads and other matters of infrastructure. He said the citizens do not seem to be
able to speak loud enough to be heard by the Supervisors. He thinks it is time for the lies to stop.
Ms. Marjorie Shepherd was present for the Albemarle Education Association (a copy of her full
statement is on file in the Clerks Office). She asked why the Supervisors had dropped the method of
=
calculating compensation which was established by a Committee of the Joint Boards and County
employees. As soon as news from the state looked bad, it went right onto employees. She asked why the
Schools had a seven and one-half percent holdback this year (actually it was 12.5 percent) when County
government got to spend as usual. In the past 30 years, the population of the County has grown by over
250 percent, and yet there is no plan to fund growth, or even a calculation for the cost of growth. She
asked why no one is working with the City to trim spending by combining redundant departments. She said
the Supervisors have not kept the revenue stream up in a realistic way. A check showed her that the fee for
building permits has not been increased in over 14 years, and the price of a car decal has increased only
$2.00 in 25 years. The cost of a fishing license has not increased in 20 years, and the cost of a dog tag is
the same as it was in 1977.
Ms. Shepherd that after disregarding its commitment to compensation, the Supervisors get to act
as if they are for increases in pay, as long as the money comes from other cuts - increased class sizes or
increases in health care. She said that if she is given a 3.3 percent raise, and half of that is taken back for
increases in insurance premiums, it is not a 3.3 percent increase. She has heard nothing about the
increases for classified employees going along with the benchmarks. What happened to those?
Ms. Cathy Link said she is a resident in Barboursville. She urges the Board to renew funding for the
ACE Program at $1.0 million as was done in 2001 and 2002. She said Albemarle County has
demonstrated impressive foresight and leadership in protecting important land and water resources through
its funding of the ACE Program. Throughout the Commonwealth, other municipalities are looking to the
Boards example and are considering similar programs in their localities. Through the ACE Program, the
=
Board has established a publicly-supported land conservation program which supplements private efforts
and which can be used to leverage existing, as well as potential, Federal and state conservation funds.
There has been local support for the ACE Program. In April of 2001, there was a statewide public opinion
poll taken by the Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Lands, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Eighty-nine percent of Virginians expressed support for preserving and protecting open space. Ninety-
seven percent believe that protecting air and water quality should be an important priority. When a similar
survey was taken in 1992, the level of concern about crime and public education was five times higher than
the concern for the conservation of natural resources. In the 2001 survey, concern for conserving natural
resources was about equal to the concern about crime and public education. As land prices continue to
escalate, there may not be the same opportunity as that available today to protect these assets. Ms. Link
said she is privileged to enjoy scenic vistas from her home in the Southwest Mountains. She resides within
the view of one of the four working farms that the ACE program helped to protect in 2001. She spoke with
this landowner and learned that the ACE Program has afforded him the means to remain true to his desire
and commitment to sustain his fields in agricultural production thereby contributing to the rural economy of
Albemarle County, and to preserve the integrity and value of the non-fragmented forest that graces the
slopes of Peters Mountain helping to protect the quality of the Rapidan River watershed, the drinking water
source for Orange County. She recommends that the Supervisors renew funding for the ACE Program at
its current level.
Mr. Reuben Clark, said he is Co-chair of the Albemarle Smart Growth Initiative, which is a Virginia
political action committee formed to encourage the implementation of smart growth principles in Albemarle
County and the surrounding region. They strongly support the ACE Program. They congratulate
Albemarle County and its Board of Supervisors on accomplishments in directing growth in ways that can
measurably preserve the quality of life valued so highly. Foremost among these achievements to date has
been the work of the ACE committee. Why is it so important to continue this program at this particular
time? Much is going on in the real world where private landowners are taking concrete steps to preserve
the countryside that surrounds the urban core. As the Board knows, this is being done through donation of
private conservation easements to public agencies like the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and sometimes to
the County itself, in ways that restrict future usage to agriculture and related activities. As just pointed out by
Babette Thorpe, over 33,000 acres in Albemarle County have come under easement protection. In the last
year, almost 4000 acres were added. This was the first program of its kind in all the counties in Virginia.
This year, there was a truly remarkable purchase by Mr. Dave Matthews, surely one of the most
community-minded citizens in our midst, of some 1200 acres surrounding Pine Knot, an historic landmark
that once was used by Teddy Roosevelt for recreation and shooting quail. He is now placing this property
under easement. Much is going on, and there is momentum that has never been seen before. This is to
the benefit of the County in preserving rural ambience. He said the private sector cannot do all of this by
itself. The donation of such easements which provide tax deductions under both Federal and state law are
simply not feasible for many relatively low-income family farmers who also want to preserve their lands for
their children. They must receive back the value of what they give away. That is where ACE comes in.
Since it is directed primarily at family farmers so they can have the same opportunity to keep their land in
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 9)
their family, free from development. This program was deliberately and innovatively designed to this end.
ACE is a program that is now widely noted elsewhere. He understands it is serving as an example in other
areas. It is a program of which the County should be very proud, an example of local government in
Virginia at its best. He asked that the ACE Program not be stifled shortly after its beginning by denying it
funding in the third year of its life.
Mr. Sherry Buttrick said she is Chairman of the ACE Committee. She is present to express the
hope that the Supervisors will be able to fund the ACE Program at a million dollar level for the coming year.
She said that two years worth of experience with the program have shown what was not known at its
beginning, which is that one million seems to be about the correct level of funding. It allows for healthy
competition without significant disappointment among the applicants. There does not seem to be any need
to go to referendum, thereby, incurring additional debt. Instead of using the pay-as-you-go method of
paying for easements, funding the ACE Program using bonds would double the cost of each easement.
When the program was first created, it was said that such a program relies on consistency in funding over a
multi-year period. This program has made a good start, and the committee asks that the Supervisors
allocate $1.0 million for its third year.
Ms. Marla Muntner said she is a fourth grade teacher at Stone-Robinson Elementary. She is also
Vice-President of the AEA. She has spoken to the Board many times over the years about school funding
issues. Daily, she tries to teach her pupils what it means to be part of a group and share responsibility for
the people and things around them. She is afraid she is failing because the community is their real
classroom. Everyone in the community needs to be part of a group and take care of the people and things
around them, including those who serve in the schools and the children being taught, otherwise she cannot
teach them this lesson. She said the Supervisors can help by not pitting fair pay against class sizes, against
health care, against student services and against the taxpayers. She then asked those who were present
who support her position to stand (about 25 people).
Mr. John Baker said he is a retiree. He is here to represent an organization of Senior citizens of
Virginia. He said their program last month was on public education and they asked representatives from
Albemarle and contiguous school districts to talk about public education. As retirees they have a vested
interest in insuring that public education is foremost in the quality of life considerations that all of the citizens
have. As a result of that forum, they understand and appreciate the Supervisors hardships in terms of
=
funding responsibilities foisted on them by the state. Nonetheless, they still support funding the public
education as retirees. They understand the responsibilities in terms of transportation and how unique that is
in the County. They are not devoid of interest and knowledge about how unique the funding of special
education is as compared to others who do not have to meet that responsibility. They understand the
national competitiveness to get competent, quality teachers into the school division. They ask that the
Supervisors not fund at a level called market, but to extend market beyond what the contiguous counties
=A@
provide. As retirees, they say they love the quality of life in Albemarle County and want to see it continue.
One of the representations of that superb quality of life are the outstanding schools and the school division.
He asked that the Supervisors continue to support that.
Ms. Nancy Damon said she was present tonight for the Virginia Festival of the Book. She thanked
the Board for continuing to support the book festival. Last year total attendance at all events was 15,700,
not counting the programs in the schools. There were visitors from 31 states and six countries. People
came, stayed in hotels, ate, bought books, etc. She thanked Doug Seldon and all the media consultants
and teachers in the County School System who helped to bring authors and illustrators to visit in the
classroom. She said it takes a lot of coordination to do this. The Book Festival is all about stories. She
thanked the Supervisors for their support and for their encouragement in bringing in all these stories to be
shared with everyone. She said the Eighth Annual Festival is next week. All programs, except those
involving food, are free and open to the public, and they hope to see everyone attend.
Mr. John Baldino said he lives in White Hall, just slightly outside of greater Crozet. He said that in
the next decade 2.0 million teachers will retire. A baby-boomer turns 50 years of age every seven seconds
which means that everybody is getting older, faster. In addition, about 1.0 million teachers will come and go
during that same period of time. The competition for people coming from colleges will be fierce. Recently
he got a telephone call from the superintendent of a local rural school division who wanted a list of
competitive salaries; those for Henrico, Hanover, Loudoun and Fairfax. This gentlemen said his division
used to set the standard, but is now trailing and not even close to the standard. Mr. Baldino said that earlier
tonight Mr. Bryan Wheeler mentioned a letter. He has also received a copy of that letter. He was
disappointed because the letter contained inaccurate information, and it was sent to the Supervisors without
the concurrence of the remainder of the School Board members. They did not know about the letter when
it was sent. That is not the usual way of conducting business in Albemarle. Normally, all try to work
together as a team. He hopes that if the Supervisors need information about the School budget, they would
ask the chairman because that is where to get reliable information.
Mr. Lanny Moore said he is the Chief of the East Rivanna Fire Department, and there are four other
chiefs present tonight. He is also Chairman of the Fire/Rescue Advisory Board. The Advisory Board had
ten items on its agenda which were requested for funding. Five of those items were not recommended to
the Supervisors. The only one that was recommended was Item No. 7, Recruitment for volunteers, which
was partially funded. He said local matching funds for potential grants were cut despite the post-9/11
publicity. Funding for an emergency vehicle mechanic and helper was cut. This is the second year that
was cut. The Advisory Board prioritized that high to keep the fire equipment in good working order. They
are questioning the long-range planning of the Fire/Rescue Office. Is there a problem there? He said
funding for the training instructor was cut for the second year. There is a training instructor, but there are
volunteers and they must be trained. Increased operating funding was cut for the volunteers, as were the
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 10)
flu shots for volunteers. Where is the commitment to the volunteers in this County? They represent almost
500 volunteers. They got $8000 for recruitment, but if they can't retain the existing volunteers, there must
be some way to train new ones. Even the contingency fund for additional paid firefighters should another
fire station need paid help during the daytime hours, was cut. How will this impact the volunteers who are
considering asking for paid firefighters for daytime calls? One additional thermal imaging camera was
funded and it was understood last year that there were to be five purchased each year so that all volunteer
companies would have at least two cameras, and there would be one for each rescue squad. The
volunteer recruitment service program was cut 13 percent. Many of the volunteer fire departments are now
struggling with daily costs. They do thank the Supervisors for the volunteer tax credit, and also for the forest
fire credit. They would appreciate anything the Supervisors could do on behalf of the Albemarle County fire
and rescue squads.
Ms. Liz Palmer was present to present a statement on behalf of the Charlottesville-Albemarle
League of Women Voters (the statement is on file in the Clerks Office). She said the Supervisors and the
=
Countys Water Resources staff have embraced the concept of Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) which
=
is a comprehensive planning approach that brings water supply, environmental resource protection, and
water conservation into one discussion. In keeping with the spirit of IRP, the League urges the Boards
=
continued support of three community projects important to that concept: 1) Funding for the next phase of
the County groundwater study; 2) Continued funding for the Acquisition of Conservation Easements (ACE)
Program; and, 3) Funding for the ancillary programs at the Ivy Landfill.
Mr. A. C. (Corky) Shackelford said he is a member of the ACE Committee, and is also involved with
a couple of other organizations which have to do with the rural, agricultural community. He wants to add a
word of support for the ACE Program. He said this is one thing that cuts across a lot of divisions of some of
the requests he had heard, based on what the program has accomplished. It is a control growth technique,
it saves money for schools by holding down population, it provides help for those involved in the farm
segment of the economy and the program is voluntary. As far as timing goes, he thinks it would be a pity to
cut off support now that this program has just gotten off the ground. The program is showing results after
A@
a long and hard working start. He said the Board knows how fast this County is growing. A program like
the ACE Program which helps to limit development rights is not something that should wait until there is a
surplus of funds. He hopes the Board can find the money for the program somewhere.
Mr. John Gallagher said he participated on the School Redistricting Committee, but is here tonight
as a private citizen and a concerned parent. He thinks the priorities are out of whack with regard to school
A@
construction. He asked why there is an expansion planned for Walton Middle School. The County is
spending over one million dollars on Burley Middle School, which is located in downtown Charlottesville.
There is no money planned for the Route 29 North corridor except for the new Baker-Butler Elementary
which is causing displacement of the older communities like Woodbrook, Raintree, Carrsbrook, etc. The
children have to be moved from their friends at Forest Lakes and Hollymead and bussed to a school
downtown. Their next stop will probably be to Monticello High School which is an even longer trip. He
suggested that the Board pay closer attention to development in the high growth area and fix some of the
problems which have been created. Schools in the remote areas, where there is no development, should
not be expanded. Money should be spent more wisely. He thinks schools should be built in the areas
where they are needed now.
With no one else rising to speak, Ms. Thomas said this hearing also included the Capital
Improvements Program. If anyone present was expecting to be allowed to speak again about the CIP, the
Board is willing to hear them now. With no response, both public hearings were closed.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 7. PUBLIC HEARING to receive comments on the FY 2002-03/2006-07 Capital
Improvements Program. (Notice of this public hearing was published in the Daily Progress on March 10,
2002.)
Comments taken during Agenda Item No. 6, included this public hearing also.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 8. Approval of Minutes: September 27(A), October 3 and December 12, 2001;
January 9, January 16 and February 13, 2002.
Mr. Martin had read the minutes of January 9, 2002, and found them to be in order.
Mr. Perkins had read the minutes of December 12, 2001, and found them to be in order except for
one name spelling correction.
Motion to approve the minutes which had been read was offered by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr.
Perkins, and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman.
_______________
Agenda Item No. 9. From the Board: Matters not Listed on the Agenda.
Ms. Thomas said, on behalf of the Board, she will be traveling to Florida on Friday to look at a
March 13, 2002 (Regular Night Meeting)
(Page 11)
development similar to what is being planned for the Sperry site (on Route 29 North). If anyone has
anything they would like for her to be on the lookout for, she asked that they send her an E-mail before
Friday.
Mr. Rooker said he has seen this particular development, but it was in a shopping mode, as
opposed to looking at it as development and its design. He is interested in the traffic network and it might
be helpful to have a conversation with someone from their Planning Department to discuss how the
development fits in with the community. He also suggested getting before and after traffic counts on the
road serving the development. Ms. Thomas said comments can be E-mailed to her prior to Friday.
_______________
Agenda Item no. 10. Adjourn to March 18, 2002, at 1:30 p.m.
With no further business to come before the Board, at 8:15 p.m., motion was offered by Mr.
Rooker to adjourn this meeting until March 18, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Dorrier.
Roll was called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman.
________________________________________
Chairman
Approved by the
Board of County
Supervisors
Date: 05/01/2002
Initials: EWC