1975-05-05SPECIAL5-7-75 (Special Day)
Pursuant to the following notice, which was certified and mailed on May 1, 1975, the Board of
Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, met in special session at 10:00 a.m. on May 7, 1975, in
the County Office Building Board Room, Charlottesville, Virginia, with the following members:
PRESENT: Messrs. Stuart F. Carwile, Gerald E. Fisher, J. T. Henley, Jr., William C. Thacker,
Jr., Gordon L. Wheeler, and Lloyd F. Wood, Jr.
OFFICERS PRESENT: T.M. Batchelor, Jr., County Executive, James Bowling and Frederick Payne,
Deputy County Attorneys.
"This is to give notice of a special meeting called by Mr. Gordon L. Wheeler and Mr. William C.
Thacker, Jr. for the purpose of discussing the following:
l)
2)
3)
5)
6)
7)
County employees authorized to take home County cars.
Request to set public hearing date on proposed Zoning Ordinance.
Appropriation: Purchase Elk's Building.
Request to review Crozet Moose Lodge site plan.
Report of County Executive month of March, 1975.
Literary Fund Loan~
Youth and Government Day discussion.
Students from the Albemarle County High School were present at the meeting, observing Youth and
Government Day.
No. 1. County Employees authorized to take home County cars. Mr. Batchelor said it would save
the County money and time and allow employees who work in the field to accomplish more work if they
are allowed to take county owned vehicles home. He added that the work schedules are worked out so
the person spends less time on the road and more time on the job. Building Inspectors have radios
in their cars, whereby they can be contacted anytime when needed.
Mr. Fisher asked if the County had a written policy on the use of County vehicles. Mr. Batchelor
said a written letter of justification is submitted by the Department Head stating why the employee
need take the county vehicle home at night. This justification is reviewed by Mr. Batchelor and
approved or denied. Mr. Fisher then asked if the list of employees bringing home county cars is
reviewed periodically. Mr. Batchelor said it was in the process of being reviewed presently, and a
study was also being conducted to see if it would be cheaper to pay an employee a base and amount
per mile to use his own vehicle than have the county purchase a car.
Mr. Wheeler said he was disturbed by the Justification submitted by Mr. Hartwell Clarke for his
Zoning Inspectors. He quoted Mr. Clarke's memo stating he considered the use of a county vehicle a
"fringe benefit promised to his employees at time of hire". Mr. Clarke said he would not be able to
hire an inspector unless they had the use of a County vehicle, and that each inspectors work is
scheduled so he can visit jobs on the way to and from the job. Mr. Fisher said he did not remember
vehicles being considered a "fringe benefit" when the Board set up the costs and salaries of the
Zoning Department.
Mr. Henley asked Mr. Clarke if any spot checks have been conducted to be certain inspectors are
observing regulations on uses of county vehicles. Mr. Clarke said he felt certain that they were
not using cars for personal use and that work sheets are kept on each man.
Mr. Fisher said that the Land Use Department field inspectors use of county vehicles is only
temporary. Miss Godsey said they hoped to complete inspections in late June.
Mr. Thacker asked if any employees in the Real Estate Department had the use of County vehicles
Mr. Batchelor said no real estate employees were allowed to take county vehicles home at night. Mr.
Fisher said he feels there are a number of people on the list presented who warrant the use of a
county vehicle 24-hours a day, but that most did not, and that he resented the fact that these
vehicles are considered a fringe benefit.
Mr. Carw±le suggested that the Board set a policy on the use of count~ vehicles and the County
Executive could then make decisions based on that policy. Mr. Fisher and Mr. Thacker agreed with
Mr. Carwile's suggestion. M~. Wheeler then suggested establishing a committee to write such a
policy. Mr. Carwile offere~motion to appoint Messrs. Batchelor, Fisher and Thacker to a committee
to study the.~use and needsor county vehicles, and bring their recommendations back to the Board for
a decision. Motion was seconded by Mr. Wood, and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker, Wheeler and Wood.
None.
No. 2. Request Go set public hearing date on proposed Zoning Ordinance. Mr. John Hunphrey,
County Planner, was present and requested the Board to set the public hearing date for the proposed
Zoning Ordinance, as the Planning Department is ready to print notification cards to be mailed to
property owners and wants the public hearing date to be printed on said cards. Mr. Fisher said no
date can be set until the Board receives copies of the proposed Ordinance and maps. He then sugges-
having the notification cards printed as scheduled, and include an insert stating when the Board
will hold their public hearing at times to be established and published later in the year.
Mr. Wheeler told Mr. Humphrey to bring the proposed Zoning Ordinance and Map to the Board of
Supervisors, after they have reviewed them, they will then set the public hearing date.
No. 3. Appropriation for Purchase of Elk's Building. Mr. Thacker and Mr. Wheeler abstained
from discussion and vote on this matter. Mr. Carwile took the chair. Mr. Wood presented the
Committee's final report, recommending the purchase of the Elk's building, and requesting an appro-
priation to exercise the option. Mr. Ray Jones, Assistant Director of Finance, said the total
purchase price is $261,500 which is split 50/50 between the County and City of Charlottesville.
That would make the County's share $130,750. The County has already appropriated $1,150 for ar-
chitect fees and building structure tests. It is estimated that total costs for purchase and
refurbishing will be $400,000. Mr. Jones then recommended the County appropriate $198,850 ($200,0~
less $1,150). Mr. Wood offered motion to adopt the following resolution.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County,
Virginia, that $198,850 be, and the same hereby is, appropriated
~rom Revenue Sharing Funds and_~ransferred to the General Operating
5-Z-75 (Special Day)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the deed for purchase of the Elk's
Lodge Building on East High Street be exercised as soon as possible
in accordance with the option agreement to avoid default of the
agreement.
The foregoing motion was seconded by Mr. Fisher, and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley and Wood.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: Messrs. Thacker and Wheeler.
No. 4. Request to review Crozet Moose Lodge site plan. Mr. Wheeler presented a letter from
the Greenwood Citizens Council requesting the Board of Supervisors to review the Crozet Moose Lodge
Site Plan. Mr. Henley, who represents the district in which the Crozet Moose Lodge is to be located,
stated he felt the Citizens Council wished to establish an access road which would possibly effect
several pieces of property. Mr. Humphrey said he did not know if this could be legally done. Mr.
Henley offered motion for the Board to review the site plan on June 11, 1975, and that Mr. St. John
review the matter and establish the legality of requiring service road. Motion was seconded by Mr.
Fisher, and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Messrs Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker and Wheeler
N~B'~,'.-'~ No~e.
ABSENT: Mr. Wood.
No. 6. Literary Fund Loan. Mr. Ray Jones, presented a loan application for a Literary Fund
Loan in the amount of $750,000, at the rate of 3% for the new Westside Senior High School. Mr.
Jones summarized the County's long term indebtedness as of June 30, 1975, as follows:
1) Total existing long-term debt is $13,056,430 which represents 8.2%
of the current tax base.
2) Ail but $400,000 (Joint Security) of the total debt is for school
buildings.
3) The annual debt service (includes principal and interest payments) is
$1,081,770.60.
With the issuance of the 6.5 million on Westside High School:
1) The long term debt will be 19.5 million
2) The debt will represent only 12.2% of the tax base. This is low on a
statewide basis - especially compared to cities and urban counties.
3) The per capita debt will be approximately $45~~.
Mr. Wheeler read the following resolution from the Albemarle County School Board:
"BE IT RESOLVED, that the Albemarle County School Board does hereby
request the Board of County Supervisors to join the said School Board in
making application for a Literary Loan of $750,000.00 for the purpose of
building Westside Senior High School located at Brownsville in.Western
Albemarle County. The clerk and the chairman are hereby authorized to
prepare and sign the necessary documents. The wording of the formal
resolution normally required for loans from the Literary Fund is hereby
approved for this project by the Albemarle County School Board."
(certified and signed by Thomas W. Hur~burt, Clerk, May 5, 1975)
~r. James Bowling prepared the following resolution for the Board of Supervisors to adopt:
"RESOLVED that the application of the County of Albemarle to the State
Board of Education of Virginia for a loan of $750,000 from the Literary Fund
is hereby approved, and authority is hereby granted the said County to'borrow
the said amount for the purpose set out in said application.
The Board of Supervisors for said County will each year
during the life of this loan, at the time they fix the regular levies,
fix a rate of levy for schools or make a cash appropriation sufficient
for operation expenses and to pay this loan in annual installments and
the interest thereon, as required by law regulating loans from the
Literary Fund."
Mr. Carwile offered adoption of the above resolution.
~rried by the following recorded vote:
Motion was seconded by Mr. Thacker, and
~ES:
~YS:
~SENT:
Messrs. Carwile, Fisher, Henley, Thacker and Wheeler.
None.
Mr. Wood.
No. 5. Report of the County Executive for the month of March, 1975, was read by Mr. Batchelor
matter of information for the Board.
Not Docketed. Mr. Wheeler presented a letter received from the State Water Control Board
ating "At its meeting on November 7, 1974, the Board adopted a Metropolitan Regional Water Quality
.nagement Plan for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. The plan has been filed with the
cretary of the Commonwealth and becomes effective on May 18, 1975".
Not Docketed. Mr. Wheeler presented a letter of resignation from Mr. John Smart of the Thomas
fferson Soil and Water Conservation District Commission. Mr. Wheeler requested this be placed on
e May 15, 1975 agenda.
Mr. Wheeler requested the students present for Y~outh and Government Day
answer session. Mr. Wheeler gaveled the meetin~iadjourned at 11:00 A.M.
to remain for a question