HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/8/2017 - Regular
November 8, 2017
397
Roanoke County Administration Center
5204 Bernard Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day at the
Roanoke County Administration Center, this being the second Tuesday and the first
regularly scheduled meeting of the month of November 2017. Audio and video
recordings of this meeting will be held on file for a minimum of five (5) years in the office
of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES
Before the meeting was called to order, a moment of silence was
observed. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
IN RE: CALL TO ORDER
Chairman McNamara called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. The roll call
was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Joseph P. McNamara, Supervisors George G.
Assaid, Martha B. Hooker and P. Jason Peters
MEMBERS ABSENT: Supervisor Al Bedrosian
STAFF PRESENT: Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator; Daniel R.
O’Donnell, Assistant County Administrator; Richard
Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Ruth Ellen
Kuhnel, County Attorney; Amy Whittaker, Public Information
Officer and Deborah C. Jacks, Chief Deputy Clerk to the
Board
IN RE: PROCLAMATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
1. Recognition of Sgt. Jeffrey A. Johnson for his selection as a 2017
recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police "40
Under 40" Award (Howard B. Hall, Chief of Police)
Recognition was given.
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IN RE: BRIEFINGS
1. Briefing to update the Board of Supervisors on the Mountain
Valley Pipeline project (Richard L. Caywod, Assistant County
Administrator)
Mr. Caywood provided the briefing.
IN RE: NEW BUSINESS
1. Resolution adopting a Legislative Program for the 2018 session of
the Virginia General Assembly and petitioning the General
Assembly to favorably consider the topics and issues addressed
herein (Ruth Ellen Kuhnel, County Attorney)
Ms. Kuhnel outlined the resolution. Chairman McNamara commented he
felt it was a good resolution. There was no discussion.
RESOLUTION 110817-1 ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
FOR THE 2018 SESSION OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND PETITIONING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO
FAVORABLY CONSIDER THE TOPICS AND ISSUES
ADDRESSED HEREIN
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, has identified
major legislative issues of statewide concern to be considered by the 2018 session of
the Virginia General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the Board adopts this resolution as its Legislative Program for the
2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
County, Virginia, that the following legislative initiatives are submitted for its legislative
program for the 2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly for its favorable
consideration and adoption.
(1) Transportation.
a. The County continues to be concerned about funding for our public
highways and roadways, and respectfully requests continued efforts
on:
Widening and improving safety on I-81 between Exit 118 and Exit
150;
Improvements to State Route 419 between U.S. 220 and I-81,
particularly improvements that implement the draft 419 Town
Center Plan;
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Improvements to State Route 460 with emphasis on increased
capacity between I-581 and Alternate 220;
Safety improvements to U.S. 220 between State Route 419 and
Rocky Mount;
Funding for construction of I-73; (Resolution attached)
The County supports a robust revenue sharing program with
adequate funding to encourage localities to target and improve its
critical roadways.
b. Smart Scale
While the General Assembly through HB 2313 (2013) addressed
transportation needs throughout the Commonwealth (“Smart
Scale”), the County also urges a close and ongoing monitoring and
evaluation of the Smart Scale model to ensure that local needs are
met.
The County urges restored funding for the Six-Year Secondary
Road Plan to fill in the gap for general roadways to assist local
governments in assuring needed secondary roads to best serve
the localities unique needs.
Mandate that Total Cost be used in Smart Scale benefit/cost
calculations instead of Smart Scale Request Cost
(2) Telecommunications.
a. Broadband
The County strongly supports efforts to expand broadband
capabilities in underserved and rural areas including protecting and
enhancing local authority to deploy broadband or partner with
others, public or private, to adequately serve unserved and
underserved areas.
Efforts to enhance the deployments of 5G technology must include
expansion of high-speed service to rural areas.
b. Local land use and wireless
Retain local decision making and authority for siting of
telecommunications facilities, including small cell.
Retain local cost recovery fees to adequately review technical
industry applications.
(3) Opioids.
The County supports all efforts, both state and federal, to support
solutions to the opioid crisis facing our citizens.
(4) Children’s Services Act.
The County supports monitoring the implementation of policies by the
State Executive Council that provide guidelines for public participation
in its process of developing and adopting policy. The County supports
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equitable cost-sharing between the state and localities for the costs
involved in the placements of children in residential treatment facilities
for non-educational reasons. The County opposes proposals to limit
state participation in funding services for children and youth who are
mandated to be provided with special education and foster care
services.
(5) Advertising-Public Notices
The advent of social media and other electronic forms of
communication has fundamentally reshaped the means for
disseminating information to the public.
The County supports legislation that would grant localities greater
flexibility to meet certain legal notice requirements including the
authority to advertise legal notices on local radio, television or on the
locality’s website, in lieu of the newspaper advertisement requirement.
(6) Law Enforcement and Mental Health
The County strongly supports a sustained focus by the state on
Virginia’s mental health services system to ensure, through
evaluation and investment, that appropriate and effective outpatient
and in-patient services are available across the Commonwealth.
The County encourages reforms that provide for alternative
placement for local jail inmates with serious mental health issues
which should not be left to be addressed by jail personnel.
(7) Local Retention of Revenue for Internet based services
In January 2017, the Board adopted a resolution to support federal
legislation to collect and remit sales taxes structured on a system of
collection based upon the purchaser’s location.
The County has a duty to protect its local retailers by leveling the
playing field with Internet competitors most notably in the lodging or
ride-sharing services.
If the Commonwealth should take action to regulate private
enterprises employing a business model that emphasizes the use
of the Internet to provide retail or facilitate lodging or ride-sharing
services, then local governments should be included in the decision
making.
To include local government in the process ensures safety,
reliability and access for consumers, providers and the public.
Local governments should regulate the businesses equally whether
they are traditional, electronic, Internet-based, virtual or otherwise.
(8) State and Local Fiscal Relationship
As the Commonwealth and the Federal governments add new
programs, modify existing program guidelines and promulgate
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complex regulations and higher standards for local governments to
implement, then portions of funding inevitably revert to a local
burden, i.e. Stormwater regulations.
Local general fund revenue and special funds should not be
confiscated or re-directed to the state treasury. (i.e., proposed short
term rental taxing)
Specific local revenue authority should not be upended or restricted
without granting alternative revenue sources, including Business,
Professional, and Occupational Licenses tax and Machinery and
Tool tax discussion.
The County requests that local governments be included in study
commissions or other bodies formed to review local revenue
authority or governance.
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
2. Resolution requesting that the President of the United States and
the U.S. Congress continue the Federal Historic Tax Credit
Program (Jill Loope, Director of Economic Development
Ms. Loope outlined the resolution. There was no discussion.
RESOLUTION 110817-2 REQUESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS CONTINUE THE FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDIT
PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the federal Historic Tax Credit program (HTC) as we know it today
was put in place by Congress and the Reagan Administration to attract capital to historic
rehabilitation projects that help stimulate local economies; and
WHEREAS, since the inception of the HTC, it has created over 2.4 million jobs,
rehabilitated more than 42,000 buildings, and leveraged $131.8 billion in private
investment; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the importance of this successful federal economic
development program, more than 35 states have enacted complementary state historic
tax credit programs to help revitalize the commercial downtowns of their cities and Main
Street communities; and
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WHEREAS, federal HTC projects have a 99 percent success rate, leverage four
private dollars for every dollar of federal support, and are catalytic, building
neighborhood confidence and generating follow-on projects for blocks around; and
WHEREAS, over the life of this program, the HTC has generated $29.8 billion in
federal tax revenues compared to $25.2 billion in credits allocated—more than paying
for itself; and
WHEREAS, the federal HTC program, combined with the Virginia Historic Tax
Credit program is a powerful tool that has led to the development of such vacant and
blighted buildings in Roanoke County such as the former Roland E. Cook School
building and the former William Byrd High School. Because of these programs, these
buildings were returned to a productive reuse and taxable status.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
County in due regular and legal session convened, that the Roanoke County Board of
Supervisors supports the federal Historic Tax Credit program and urges the President of
the United States and the United States Congress to continue the federal Historic Tax
Credit program.
FURTHER, The Board of Supervisors directs the Clerk to provide attested copies
of this resolution to The Honorable Paul Ryan, Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives, The Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee, The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader of the United
States Senate, The Honorable Mark Warner, United States Senator, and The Honorable
Tim Kaine, United States Senator.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
IN RE: CONSENT AGENDA
RESOLUTION 110817-3 APPROVING AND CONCURRING IN
CERTAIN ITEMS SET FORTH ON THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AGENDA FOR THIS DATE DESIGNATED AS
ITEM G- CONSENT AGENDA
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, as
follows:
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That the certain section of the agenda of the Board of Supervisors for November
8, 2017, designated as Item G - Consent Agenda be, and hereby is, approved and
concurred in as to each item separately set forth in said section designated Items 1
through 3 inclusive, as follows:
1. Approval of minutes – September 26, 2017
2. Confirmation of appointment to the Clean Valley Council
3. Resolution expressing the appreciation of the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County to Kathryn S. Crawley, Business Systems Analyst III, upon
her retirement after more than ten (10) years of service
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
A-110817-3.a
RESOLUTION 110817-3.b EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION
OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ROANOKE COUNTY
TO KATHRYN S. CRAWLEY, BUSINESS SYSTEMS ANALYST
III, UPON HER RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN TEN (10)
YEARS OF SERVICE
WHEREAS, Ms. Crawley was employed by Roanoke County on July 23, 2007 on
a full-time basis; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Crawley will retire on November 1, 2017, after ten (10) years
and three (3) months of devoted, faithful and expert service to Roanoke County; and
WHEREAS, during Ms. Crawley’s tenure with the Information Technology
Department, she has served with professionalism and dedication in providing services
to the citizens of Roanoke County;
WHEREAS, throughout Ms. Crawley’s career with Roanoke County on the
Communications and Information Technology Application Services team, she provided
excellent support and development for Tyler Munis Tax, Cashiering, Animal License,
Citizen Self Service, Content Management and Real Estate and Personal Property
billing. She devoted many hours to conversion and testing for the HP to Munis migration
and subsequent upgrades, and challenging owner and billing data mismatches and
issues. She performed her work with dedication, humor and focus, and provided
expertise to newer co-workers on the Tyler environment. Her support of system users in
the Commissioner of Revenue, Clerk of Court, Finance and Roanoke and Town of
Vinton Treasurer’s offices was valued, as was her support of the team in CommIT. She
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was a trusted resource for working through complex vendor issues and business
process changes. She will be missed by all of her team and co-workers; and
WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of
Supervisors of Roanoke County expresses its deepest appreciation and the
appreciation of the citizens of Roanoke County to KATHRYN S. CRAWLEY for more
than ten years of capable, loyal and dedicated service to Roanoke County; and
FURTHER, the Board of Supervisors does express its best wishes for a happy
and productive retirement.
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
IN RE: CITIZENS’ COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Don Divers of 6112 Buckland Mill Road stated they had a situation; and if
he was a younger man he would either be in jail or dead. We have two neighborhood
people there that the properties are never taken care of. Three years ago, another
neighbor has since passed away and himself came down and talked to a gentleman
that he has forgotten his name and since then there have been several letters written
and the locations, he guesses it does not make any difference, 5932 and 5948
Buckland Mill Road. They have not been cutting their grass. They have cars sitting
there. They did have six (6) cars sitting there in one yard, right at the entrance to
Buckland Mill Forrest. They have, since we have raised Cain, depleted those cars
somewhat, but they have a ditch about four to five foot deep with water in it, mud in it
and it is right at the entrance to our neighbor. Down on the other end, there is a
gentleman, who has dementia like he is getting and he has two cars sitting there. One
has been sitting there for three years with a flat tire; and it is just grating on all of us.
Most of the people in the neighbor take care. We are trying to get something done and
unfortunately, with winter coming on, it will not show as bad as it does in the summer.
In the summer, the gentleman with the car with a flat tire, his grass gets up to two feet.
They say that the ordinance for the zone is the length that you have to your grass. He
cannot believe that you have to wait until the grass gets 12 inches high before cutting.
It is just getting to that point. He went around, and he has bad legs and fell three times,
and got about eighty (80) signatures when he quit and he did not have anybody to
refuse it. It was a letter explaining the situation, trying to get something done and he
had to quit because he had nobody to turn him down and he could have gotten probably
thirty (30) or forty (40) names. By the way, two years ago the gutter fell down and hung
there for three months. He finally called the guy who came out there and took the gutter
and put it back up, nailed, it would have cost $100 to do it because he owns some
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duplexes and he knows that it cost. They nailed it back, that is all they did and just
recently they confronted him and that is why he is old, he would have been in trouble if
he were a younger man. He does not know what nationality they are, but it must be five
or six families that live there. At one time, they had six cars and after we had this mouth
to mouth talk, they did move about four of them away from time to time. It is
embarrassing to the people. He hopes to live there the rest of his life, but it is going to
be hard for people to sell the house, if these people continue to do that. So, he does
not know what you people can do about it. He asked his neighbor if she wanted to
speak.
Chairman McNamara advised we would have staff look into and correct
any violations. Mr. Divers responded that they already looked into and reported there
were not any violations and he cannot believe if you go out there and look at that ditch
coming into the main entrance with water and mud in the road. He said that is not a
violation; he cannot believe that anybody that buys a house in that neighborhood cannot
afford to fix that ditch.
Mr. Gates responded that he has had conversations with Mr. Covey and
his staff. They have gone to the location and we have taken some action that we could
take under the ordinance and he has asked staff to continue to monitor the area so that
if there are additional violations, we are aware of them quickly.
LaVania Harrell of 6104 Buckland Mill Road stated the Hollins
representative is not here today, but they really just wanted to come and say could they
please not be forgotten in Buckland Forest. She appreciates the letter that she just
received, she was out of town in Arizona, and when she got back she had a letter from
Mr. Gates and she so appreciates responding to the letter and the signatures that she
mailed in to several in the County. We just feel like we have been sort of yelling for a
long time by phone calls and not getting much response. So, hopefully the wheels are
turning now, but we have a beautiful community; a quiet community. We do back up to
I81 that that is probably the only thing that people despair about when they come into
the community, otherwise, she has been told by people that come in that they are the
best kept secret in the County. It is a beautiful community, a peace-loving people, but it
seems for the last few years, we have been coming up against things as you can tell
that her neighbor has been here a lot longer than and she has, it has been about twelve
(12) years now, but she just refuses to see it go downhill and they are trying to do
anything they can and get some attention focused from the aspect of what the County
can do. We realize not everything can be done by the County. We are willing to jump
in even if it means offering our volunteer services to help some people who may not be
able to mow their grass, but we are not going to do it without going through the right
channels, we don’t want to have any liabilities. She appreciates the Board hearing their
concerns today. Whatever processes need to be followed we will follow and they just
ask that they not been forgotten.
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IN RE: REPORTS
Supervisor McNamara moved to receive and file the following reports.
The motion was seconded by Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded
vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
1. Unappropriated, Board Contingency and Capital Reserves Report
2. Outstanding Debt Report
IN RE: REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS
Supervisor Hooker stated she just had one quick comment. It is really just
a note of thankfulness because we are going into the season of thankfulness. She is
thankful that we live in a Country and a County were we can go through the election
process. Our citizens have spoken and she is looking forward to working with Mr.
North. So pleased that she gets to continue to work with Mr. McNamara and Mr.
Peters. We have a lot to do and she is looking forward to getting a lot done. Thank you
and congratulations.
Supervisor Peters thanked the citizens who came out yesterday and he is
very humbled by the support that he received yesterday throughout the day at the polls
and look forward to another great four years. Also, wants to thank all of our employees.
Everything you do each and every day to help us keep the County moving forward.
Supervisor McNamara stated he had a couple of quick things. He did
want to welcome Phil North, Supervisor Elect, who is in the audience today.
Congratulations, we look forward to having him join the Board. Congratulations as well
to the gentleman from Vinton on his re-election, Jason Peters. We are delighted to
have him on the Board as well going forward and looking forward to a wonderful holiday
season and budget time is right around the corner.
IN RE: CLOSED MEETING
At 3:35 p.m., Supervisor McNamara moved to go into closed meeting
following the work sessions pursuant to the Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3711 A 1.7.
Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining
to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting
would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. The
motion was seconded by Supervisor Peters and was carried by the following recorded
vote.
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AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
The closed session was held from 4:42 p.m. until 5:36 p.m.
At 3:36 p.m. Chairman McNamara recessed the meeting to work session
and closed session.
IN RE: WORK SESSIONS
1. Work session to review with the Board of Supervisors the
County's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) including fiscal year
2019-2028 project requests (Christopher R. Bever, Director,
Management and Budget)
Mr. Bever provided a PowerPoint presentation to the Board.
Supervisor McNamara commented on the balanced 10 year plan stating
he thinks it is good plan.
Supervisor Peters commented he is concerned inflation has not been
reflected.
Supervisor Assaid stated he is in agreement with Chairman McNamara.
Supervisor Peters inquired about protection for Fire and Rescue. Chief
Simon stated they have procedures in place based on situations in Las Vegas to be
able to go in and treat the injured.
Supervisor McNamara asked if we are penalized by existing procurement
laws with Mr. Bever responding in the negative.
The work session was held from 3:50 p.m. until 4:34 p.m.
IN RE: CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION
At 5:36 p.m., Supervisor McNamara moved to return to open session and
adopt the certification resolution.
RESOLUTION 110817-4 CERTIFYING THE CLOSED MEETING
WAS HELD IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia has convened
a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in
accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
408 November 8, 2017
WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by
the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, that such closed meeting was
conducted in conformity with Virginia law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County, Virginia, hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's
knowledge:
1. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting
requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting which this
certification resolution applies; and
2. Only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening
the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County, Virginia.
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Assaid, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bedrosian
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
Chairman McNamara adjourned the meeting at 5:37 p.m.
S 4 • itted by: Approved by:
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