1978-04-05NApril 5, 1978 (Regular-Night Meeting)
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held
on April 5, 1978, at 7:30 P.M., in the Albemarle County Courthouse, Charlottesville,
Virginia.
Present: Messrs. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr.,
F. Anthony Iachetta, C. Timothy Lindstrom (arriving at 7:54 P.M.), and W. S. Roudabush.
Officers present:
County Attorney.
Messrs. Guy B. Agnor, Jr., County Executive; and George R. St. John,
Agenda Item No. 1. Call to Order. Meeting was called to order at 7:38 P.M., by
Chairman Gerald E. Fisher. Mr. Lindsay G. Dorrier led the Board and public in a short
prayer.
Agenda Item No. 2. Public Hearing: Albemarle County Budget for year ending June 30,
1979. (Advgrtised in the Daily Progress on March 25, 1978.)
Mr. Fisher complimented the county staff for their efficient preparation of the budget,
and for getting it before the public much earlier than in years past. Mr. Agnor summarized
the revenue and expenditure estimates. Mr. Fisher then declared the public hearing opened.
First to speak was Mr. Ed McCue, Chairman of the Joint City/County Committee on Tmurism.
Referring to Code i8A15.1 of the Budget, and a report prepared by the committee on Tourism,
he requested the Board to'appropriate funds equalling about 50% of the present transient
lodging tax for this purpose.
Mr. Leigh Middleditch, representative of the Chamber of Commerce, said he supported
Mr. McCue's request for support of tourism in the community.
Ms. Margaret Melcher speaking for the League of Women Voters, complimented the Board
and county staff on preparation of the budget, and keeping the budget within reasonable
limits. She noted the League's support for money allocated to the Thomas Jefferson Planning
District for programs of a regional nature; also for Offender Aid and Restoration; low
income housing; community use of the schools; and the Jefferson Madison Regional Library.
Ms. Melcher said the League hopes the budget the Board was presenting met the needs of
sound education and the wide variety of needs for each student.
Mr. Dallas Crowe, President of the Mental Health Association of Charlottesville./
Albemarle, requested the board to approve their area of the budget for the full amount
requested, and to add back in the $6,200 dropped from their funds during budget work sessions.
Mr. Robert Humphries, representing the Albemarle County Taxpayers Association,
congratulated the Board and staff on the budget presented. He commented that he was d~isturbed
about the increase in the school budget without any increase in student enrollment.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rosenblum said Mr. Agnor has effectively restored public confidence in
local government, and has presented a very easily understandable budget. She supported
additional funds for education stating that the children of tomorrow will be our future
leaders.
No one else wished to speak either for or against the budget presented, and Mr. Fisher
declared the public hearing closed. Mr. Fisher commented that hE was not willing at this
time to take funds from other areas in order to add $26,000 to a Tourism budget.
Mr. Roudabush concurred with Mr. Fisher and said he would prefer to see the matter of
funding for tourism considered upon receipt of' the comfmittee's final report. Dr. Iachetta
said he would need more information' on' how the funds were to be spent before supporting the
additional funds. Mr. Dorrier said it was not that he did not want to support tourism, but
wanted to insure that all allocated funds were going to be wisely spent.
Regarding the request by the Mental Health Association, Mr. Dorrier said he was aware
of how closely they had analyzed their budget. He said the money is being spent wisely. He
hoped that the $6,200 could be restored, possibly taking those funds from the general manage-
ment area of the budget. Dr. Iachetta suggested that Mr. Agnor try to locate an area in
the budget that could take a reduction in funds in order to add the additional money requested
by the Mental Health Association, and report back to the Board next Wednesday.
At 8:45 P.M., Mr. Fisher called a five-minute recess. Meeting was reconvened at 8:53 P.M
Mr. Lindstrom offered the following motion for the Board's consideration: "Authorize the
County Engineer to represent the Board of Supervisors at the April 12, 1978, hearing at
9:30 A.M. in Culpeper at the office of the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation2
and that he be sent with the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Albemarle County area north of the city limits of Charlottesville
is the most rapidly growing area of the County, with the co~unity of Hollymead,
north of the South Fork Rivanna River, expected to grow to a population of 12,000
within the next 20 years; and with the area on the west side of Route 29 toward the
Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport expected to see a substantial amount of growth; and
'WHEREAS, a ~ajority of the citizens in the northern part of Albemarle (as well
as citizens from neighboring jurisdictions) use the Route 29 corridor for trans-
portation to and from their places of employment, for shopping, medicai and
recreational needs; and
WHEREAS, this Board has recommended in the County's Comprehensive Plan which
Was adopted on October 19, 1977, that two additional lanes be constructed in the
median of Route 29 north from the Route 250 By-pass to the South Fork Rivanna River
to help increase the carrying capacity of this road until such time as an alternate
route can be completed.
April 5, 1978 (Regular-Night Meeting)
AYES:
NAYS:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Albemarle County Board of
Supervisors does hereby request the Virginia Department of Highways and
Transportation to consider extensive improvements to Route 29 north of
Charlottesville in the near future so as to improve its use as a major
thoroughfare.
Motion was seconded by Dr. Iachetta and carried by the following recorded vote:
Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Iachetta, Lindstrom and Roudabush.
None.
There being no other business to be considered, Mr. Fisher requested a motion to
adjourn the meeting to 4:30 P.M. on Monday, April 10, 1978, at the Holiday Inn South.
The purpose of the meeting is to meet with the school board in public session to dis-
cuss matters of concern that have arisen during the last several months. Motion to
this effect was offered by Dr. Iachetta, seconded by Mr. Lindstrom, and carried by
the following recorded vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
Messrs. Dorrier, Fisher, Henley, Iachetta, Lindstrom and Roudabush.
None.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.
Chairman