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Regular Meeting
January 5, 2000
7:00 p.m.
Meeting Convened. A Regular Meeting of the York County Board of
Supervisors was called to order at 7:01 p.m., Wednesday, January 5,
2000, in the Board Room, York County Finance Building, by Chairman
Sheila S. Noll.
Attendance. The following members of the Board of Supervisors were
present: Walter C. Zaremba, Sheila S. Noll, Donald E. Wiggins, James S.
Burgett, and Melanie L. Rapp.
Also in attendance were Daniel M. Stuck, County Administrator; and
James E. Barnett, County Attorney.
Invocation. Mr. Lynn Howard, Crossroads Community Church, gave the
Invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Chairman Noll led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORGANIZATION OF THE 2000 YORK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ESTABLISH RULES OF PROCEDURE
Chairman Noll indicated that one of the proposed changes to the
Rules of Procedure was to limit Citizens Comment Period to York County
citizens, property owners or to individuals who own businesses in the
County. She questioned why the Board would want to place such a
limitation inasmuch as the Board prides itself on open government, and
she asked that the Board reconsider the proposed change.
Mr. Zaremba stated he felt the amendment was appropriate in that
the Board wanted to tell the citizens of York County that it works for
them and those who have an interest or business in the County. The Board
doesn't work directly for people in other communities, and the proposed
change would not be precedent-setting. He indicated that in Williamsburg
individuals cannot address the Council without the permission of the
mayor unless they live in the City. He stated that with the approval of
the Board, outsiders would be allowed to speak.
Mr. Barnett explained that he and his assistant had done some
quick research concerning whether or not such a restriction might be
challenged, and he apprised the Board of cases where a similar
restriction was struck down by the courts.
Miss Rapp stated she spent the last two days calling five of the
surrounding jurisdictions on the Peninsula and asking how their
governing bodies handled speakers. She indicated that the City of
Williamsburg's clerk told her three times that the Council does not
limit its speakers to citizens. She also noted that none of the other
jurisdictions she contacted limit their speakers. Miss Rapp stated she
had also researched the last two years of the Board's minutes on the
website, and only 8 people spoke before the Board in 1999 who did not
live in County. One of those individuals would have met the criteria of
business owner, so the Board only spent 21 minutes of its time listening
to non-citizens. She stated she would not vote to deny freedom of speech
to anyone.
Mr. Burgett expressed his agreement with Mr. Zaremba's comments,
stating the citizens of the County are the people the Board should be
giving its time to hearing. He stated the wording allows, with the
approval of the Chairman, others to speak before the Board, and he did
not feel the amendment would deny anyone the right to speak. He stated
if York County is to spend taxpayers' money, then he did not believe a
resident of another locality should be commenting on how the Board
should spend it.
Chairman Noll stated she did not feel that non-citizens use so
much of the Board's time as to warrant such a rule prohibiting their
speaking during regular meetings of the Board.
Mr. Wiggins recalled that when the Christopher Newport University
performing arts center issue came up there were several speakers from
Newport News discussing the widening of Warwick Boulevard, and he asked
why the Board should have to listen to residents of Newport News about
their problems. He expressed his support of the proposed change.
Chairman Noll then questioned Mr. Zaremba's proposed change to
eliminate Agency and Staff Presentations from the regular meeting agenda
and conduct these types of presentations at work sessions.
Mr. Zaremba noted that the late agenda material prepared by staff
outlined all the proposed changes, and he asked Mr. Stuck to provide
clarification.
Mr. Stuck indicated that in order to accommodate the intent of Mr.
Zaremba's proposed change, Agency and Staff Presentations was deleted
from the Order of Business, and Citizens Comment Period was moved up on
the order as requested. He also noted there was currently a section
called Employee Recognition and Presentations by Citizen Boards and
Commissions which was changed to simply read "Presentations"
in order to provide a category for those presentations of any type which
the Board wishes to be held at the regular meetings. Mr. Stuck noted
that the language requested by Mr. Zaremba had been added to the end of
Section 5-1 to require coordination with the Chairman on agenda items
prior to the agenda book being published. Section 6-2 was deleted in its
entirety and replaced with the wording submitted by Mr. Zaremba. He also
provided clarification as to the amendment to Section 1-1 concerning the
dates of the regular meetings. Because the State Code requires that the
Board specify the time and place of its regular meetings, staff felt
that just stating that the Board would change its meetings to Tuesdays
after moving into York Hall was too ambiguous. Staff felt the best way
to address the Board's wish to meet on Tuesdays and meet the statute was
to specify that the regular meetings would continue to be held on
Wednesdays through the month of March, and that they would be held on
the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays for the remainder of the year. In the event
York Hall is ready for occupation earlier, or later, than April 1, the
Board can adopt another resolution amending Section 1-1 of the Rules of
Procedure to move the meetings to the new dates.
Chairman Noll stated she felt that if the Board was going to have
the agenda approved prior to publication it should be approved by each
member of the Board.
Mr. Zaremba indicated that Mrs. Noll could make a motion to amend
the proposed language, but the proposed wording would stand unless the
Board agreed to change it.
Chairman Noll moved that the proposed addition to the end of
Section 5-1 requiring the agenda to be approved by the Chairman prior to
its publication be deleted.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (2) Rapp, Noll
Nay: (3) Zaremba, Wiggins, Burgett
Chairman Noll then reviewed the current wording of Section 6-2 and
Mr. Zaremba's proposed replacement. She stated she felt that the current
language better served the people and the staff, as well as protecting
the rights of the Board members to the votes the citizens have given
them to use. She stated no action can be taken without the entire Board
ratifying the action.
Mr. Zaremba stated he felt the current language was an affront to
his responsibility, maturity, and accountability. To not allow a Board
member the ability to interact with County employees makes it look as
though a Board member might do something out of line with respect to the
employees. He stated the new language was an attempt to put
responsibility where it belongs with the Board and not with the County
Administrator.
Mr. Burgett stated he felt that the Board members were expected to
carry out the responsibilities of the office to which they were elected.
He stated he felt the new language was proactive, and he supported it.
Mr. Wiggins expressed his agreement with Mr. Zaremba and Mr.
Burgett. As Supervisors, the Board members were elected by the people,
and they have a duty to work with the County Administrator and
employees. He stated the Board members have a lot to offer, and he felt
the proposed language was perfectly legitimate, and it was right for the
Board of Supervisors to want to give its input to the County
Administrator.
Chairman Noll indicated the Board has always provided its input.
She suggested that if it was felt the language in Section 6-2 needed to
be clarified, it should be clarified through an amendment to the current
wording. She stated the current language protects the Supervisors and
the citizens, and she did not feel there should be undue pressure on
staff because a particular Board member does not like the language. Each
Board member needs to protect his or her vote, and they must not give up
their authority to use that vote by giving the Chairman the authority to
take action on behalf of the entire Board.
Mr. Zaremba stated the Board has given that authority to the
Chairman to represent York County in any number of forums in the past,
internally and externally.
Chairman Noll indicated that being an ambassador for the County is
one thing, but exerting undue authority is another.
Miss Rapp stated she supported parts of the proposed language for
Section 6-2, but she also liked the wording of the current section. She
indicated she would like to be assured that whoever is on the losing
side cannot go to staff and ask them to do something different than was
voted on by the Board as a whole. Miss Rapp noted that the County
Administrator works for the Board of Supervisors, and if the Board can't
trust him, then they won't keep him. She noted that if the current
language is adopted, then next year and in the years following she would
continue to state that she does not like abdicating her one vote. She
stated she believes in openness and honesty, and she will continue to
want to change this restriction and the restrictions placed on Citizens
Comment Period.
Mr. Barnett stated that the position of the County Administrator
is a statutory creature in that the Code of Virginia recognizes the
position. The Board can delegate as much or as little authority as it
wants, but it is also true that the County Administrator and the County
Attorney relate to the Board as a whole. He stated the new language
would give the Chairman the discretion to have the County Administrator
take interim measures until the Board as a whole meets again. There is a
line that could be crossed here that could cause the Board some trouble
in that there is no definition of "interim measure," and he
suggested that the term be clarified. He suggested that wording such as
"However, the Chairman shall not direct the County Administrator to
take any such interim measures which may be unlawful without further
Board action" be added to the section.
Mr. Zaremba stated he did not feel the addition was necessary. He
stated there was enough responsibility on the Board not to misuse its
authority. The whole purpose behind the Rules of Procedure are to let
the citizens know that they are why the Board exists, and the
responsibility lies with the Board. He stated if the Board misses the
mark on any of its procedures, nothing keeps them from going back and
amending them.
Chairman Noll expressed her concern that the citizens might read
more into the Rules of Procedures than was intended by the Board.
Miss Rapp asked if the other Board members had considered the idea
of the Board scheduling one Regular Meeting and one work session per
month. Regarding Section 3-1 and the deletion of Agency and Staff
Presentations, she stated the County's volunteers, the Board members,
and the staff make the County what it is, and she did not want to move
those presentations to work sessions because it might be looked at as
giving them 3rd rate status. Miss Rapp indicated that she would continue
to try and make these changes in the future.
Mr. Wiggins then moved the adoption of proposed Resolution
R00-1(R) which reads:
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE YORK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' RULES
OF PROCEDURE FOR 2000
BE IT RESOLVED by the York County Board of Supervisors this 5th
day of January, 2000, that the following Rules of Procedures be, and
they are hereby, adopted for 2000:
RULES OF PROCEDURE YORK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS As Amended
through January 5, 2000
SECTION 1 - MEETINGS
Section 1-1 When and Where Regular Meetings are Held
The time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors
shall be established at each annual meeting. Regular meetings for the
months of January, February, and March shall be called to order at 7:00
p.m., EST and DST in the Board Room, York County Finance Building, on
the first and third Wednesdays of each month.. Regular meetings for the
remainder of the year shall be called to order at 7:00 p.m., EST and DST
in the Meeting Room, York Hall, on the first Tuesday of each month, with
the exception of the first Tuesday in the month of July, and on the
third Tuesday of each month. Should the Board subsequently prescribe any
meeting time or place other than that initially established, it shall
comply with Section 15.2-1416 of the Code of Virginia, as amended.
If the Chairman, or the Vice Chairman if the Chairman is unable to
act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that
it is hazardous for board members to attend a regularly scheduled
meeting, the meeting shall be continued to the following Wednesday
during the months of January, February, and March at 7:00 p.m., in the
Board Room, York County Finance Building, and to the following Tuesday
at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room, York Hall, during the remainder of the
year. Such finding shall be communicated to the members of the Board and
the press as promptly as possible. All hearings and other matters
previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting, and
no further advertisement is required.
Section 1-2 Special Meetings
The Board of Supervisors may hold such special meetings, as it
deems necessary, at such times and places as it may find convenient; and
it may adjourn from time to time as it may find convenient and/or
necessary. As a general rule, no work sessions will be conducted during
the months of July or August other than those which may occur at the
beginning of a regular meeting. A special meeting of the Board of
Supervisors shall be called pursuant to Section 15.2-1416 of the Code of
Virginia, as amended.
Section 1-3 Annual/Semi-Annual Meetings
The first meeting held after the newly elected members of the
governing body shall have qualified and the first meeting held in the
corresponding month of each succeeding year shall be known as the annual
meeting; and the first meeting held in the sixth month thereafter shall
be known as the semi-annual meeting.
Section 1-4 Quorum and Method of Voting
At any meeting a majority of the supervisors shall constitute a
quorum. All questions submitted to the Board for decision shall be
determined by a viva voce vote of a majority of the supervisors voting
on any such question, unless otherwise provided by law. The name of each
member voting and how he or she voted must be recorded. The Board of
Supervisors has elected not to have a tie breaker as provided for by the
Code of Virginia, and a tie vote on any motion shall be considered
defeated as provided for in Section 15.2-1420.
Section 1-5 Procedure for Roll Call for Board Members
(1) The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors shall cast the last
vote.
(2) The Members of the Board of Supervisors shall cast votes in
district order on a rotating basis.
Section 1-6 Members Absenting Themselves from Meeting Prior to
Adjournment
After the name of any member of the Board has been recorded as
present at any meeting of the Board, the member shall not leave the
meeting previous to adjournment unless by consent of the Board.
Section 1-7 Board to Sit with Open Doors
The Board of Supervisors shall sit with open doors, and all
persons conducting themselves in an orderly manner may attend the
meetings. However, the Board may hold closed meetings as provided in the
Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Section 1-8 Closed Meetings
A closed meeting shall be held when necessary.
SECTION 2 - OFFICERS
Section 2-1 Election and Term of Chairman and Vice Chairman
At the annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the Board shall
elect from its membership a Chairman and Vice Chairman, each of whom
shall serve for a term of one year expiring on December 31, or until
their respective successors shall have been elected. In the case of the
absence from any meeting of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the members
present shall choose one of their number as temporary Chairman.
Section 2-2 Chair May Administer Oaths
The Chairman shall have power to administer an oath to any person
concerning any matter submitted to the Board or connected with its
powers and duties.
Section 2-3 Clerk
The Clerk of the Board shall be the County Administrator, whose
duties and responsibilities shall be those set forth in State law or
delegated by the Board of Supervisors.
Section 2-4 Parliamentarian
The County Attorney shall serve as the Parliamentarian.
Section 2-5 Preservation of Order
At meetings of the Board, the presiding officer shall preserve
order and decorum.
SECTION 3 - CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Section 3-1 Order of Business
At regular meetings of the Board, the order of business shall be
as follows:
(a) Call to Order
(b) Invocation
(c) Pledge of Allegiance
(d) Roll Call of Members
(e) Highway Matters
(f) Presentations
(g) Citizens Comment Period
(h) Reports, Requests, and Recommendations of the County Attorney
(i) Reports, Requests, and Recommendations of the County
Administrator
*(j) Matters Presented by the Board
(k) Public Hearings (8:00 p.m.)
(l) Unfinished Business
(m) Consent Calendar
(n) New Business
(o) Closed Meeting
*This time is generally used for individual Board members to share
information with other members of the Board and the public. Items
presented under this heading requiring action will be for future agenda
items or for additional information from staff members only. No item
presented under this heading or at any point during the meeting will be
acted upon at the meeting at which presented unless it is with the
unanimous consent of the Board that the item be put on the floor for
action.
Prior to the agenda being prepared, a member of the Board may
contact the Clerk and have an item included under this heading. The
County Administrator shall prepare a memorandum which will inform other
members of the Board of the particulars pertaining to this item.
Section 3-1.1 Consent Calendar
The Consent Calendar shall be introduced by a motion "To
approve the Consent Calendar," and shall be considered by the Board
as a single item.
There shall be no debate or discussion by any member of the Board
regarding any item on the Consent Calendar, beyond asking questions for
simple clarification.
On objection by any member of the Board of Supervisors to the
inclusion of any item on the Consent Calendar, that item shall be
removed from the Consent Calendar forthwith. Such objection may be
recorded at any time prior to voting on the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar. All such items shall be considered individually, in
the order in which they were objected to, immediately following
consideration of the Consent Calendar.
Approval of the motion to approve the Consent Calendar shall
constitute approval, adoption, or enactment of each motion, resolution,
ordinance, or other item of business thereon, exactly as if each had
been acted upon individually.
Section 3-2 Manner of Addressing Board Generally; Speaking Only on
Question Before Board
(1) Any person, including Board members, who speaks to the Board
shall address the Chair and shall confine comments to the question
before the Board.
(2) No person in attendance at a meeting of the Board shall be
permitted to address the Board while the members are considering any
motion, resolution or ordinance preliminary to a vote on the same,
except at the discretion of the Chair.
(3) During those times when the public is addressing the Board,
the Chair shall appoint a timekeeper who shall notify speakers and the
Board that the allotted time for addressing the Board has expired.
Speakers shall conclude their remarks at that time unless the consent of
the Board is affirmatively given to extend the speaker's allotted time.
(4) All presentations to the Board shall normally be limited to no
more than 10 minutes, except as hereinafter provided.
Section 3-3 Use of Offensive Language or Gestures; Sectarian or
Political Discussion
No member of the Board shall in debate at any meeting of the Board
use any language or gesture calculated to offend or insult another
member. No discussion of a sectarian or partisan character shall be
allowed at meetings of the Board.
Section 3-4 Priority in Speaking to Board
When two or more members of the Board wish to speak at the same
time, the Chairman shall name the one to speak.
Section 3-5 Speaking More than Once on Same Subject
In any debate before the Board, no member of the Board shall speak
more than once on the same question until all the others have spoken who
desire to do so, nor more than twice on the same question, unless by
consent of the Board.
Section 3-6 Form of Petitions, etc.
Every petition, communication, or address to the Board shall be in
respectful language and, except in cases where it is otherwise allowed,
shall be in writing.
Section 3-7 Motions
No proposition shall be entertained by the Chairman until a motion
for the same has been duly made. No motion shall require a second. The
Chairman may make a motion without vacating the Chair.
Section 3-8 Decision on Points of Order
The Chairman, when presiding at a meeting of the Board, without
vacating the Chair, may give reasons for any decision made by the Chair
on any point of order, and such decision shall be made without debate.
Section 3-9 Same; Appeal to Board
Any member of the Board may appeal to the Board from the decision
of the Chairman on any question of order, a majority vote of those
present being necessary to over-rule the Chairman.
Section 3-10 Motion to Adjourn
At a meeting of the Board, a motion to adjourn shall be always in
order and shall be decided without debate.
Section 3-11 Motions While a Question is Under Debate
When a question is under debate at a meeting of the Board, no
motion shall be received unless it be one to amend, to commit, to
postpone, to ask for the previous question, to make a substitute motion,
to lay on the table, or to adjourn.
Section 3-12 Reconsideration of Motions, etc., Upon Which Vote Has
Been Announced
At any meeting of the Board, when any vote upon any motion,
resolution, ordinance, or question has been announced, it may be
reconsidered on the motion of any member who voted with the prevailing
side, provided that such motion shall be made at the session of the
Board at which it was decided. Such motion shall be decided by a
majority of the votes of the members present, unless a greater number of
votes was required to pass the measure, in which event the motion to
reconsider shall not prevail, except upon the vote of as great a number
of members as was required to pass the measure.
For the purpose of this Section, "session" shall include
any adjourned or special meeting occurring prior to the next Regular
Meeting.
Section 3-13 Suspending Rules
The rules of the Board may be suspended with the unanimous
concurrence of the members present.
Section 3-14 Robert's Rules of Order
The proceedings of the Board, except as otherwise provided in the
Rules of Procedure and by applicable State law, shall be governed by
Robert's Rules of Order.
SECTION 4 - PUBLIC HEARINGS
Section 4-1 Speakers
At every public hearing, speakers wishing to address the Board
shall clearly state their name and address. All speakers, except as
hereinafter provided, shall limit their remarks to three (3) minutes.
Speakers may not yield any unused portion of their speaking time to
others. Staff presentations should be concise and normally limited to no
more than ten (10) minutes except when necessary to properly inform the
public of the issue before the Board. The applicant in a land use case
or his/her representative(s) shall be allowed a maximum of ten (10)
minutes to present their case. Each speaker shall be limited to one
appearance at each public hearing, except at the discretion of the
Chair, and only after all other speakers have been given an opportunity
to be heard on the subject being considered.
The order of business for public hearings shall be:
-- staff presentation
-- applicant's presentation (if any)
-- public comments
Section 4-2 Members' Participation
Board members shall limit their comments in public hearings to
insure participation by the public without Board interference.
Section 4-3 Close of Hearing
When a public hearing shall have been closed by the order of the
Chairman of the Board, no further public comments are in order.
SECTION 5 - AGENDA
Section 5-1 Preparation
The Clerk shall prepare an Agenda for each regular meeting
conforming to the order of business specified in Section 3-1 under Order
of Business. Except as permitted at the discretion of the Clerk, every
item to be placed on the Agenda shall be received in the Office of the
County Administrator before the close of the work day on the Thursday
two weeks prior to any regular meeting of the Board. Prior to
publication of the agenda, the Clerk shall coordinate recommended agenda
subjects for approval with the Chairman, or with the Vice Chairman in
the Chairman's absence.
Section 5-2 Delivery
The agenda shall be received by each member of the Board and the
Attorney to the Board at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Section 5-3 Posting
A copy of the Agenda shall be posted on the bulletin board at the
door to the Board Room, York County Finance Building, during the months
of January, February, and March, and shall be posted on the bulletin
board at the door to York Hall during the remainder of the year at least
48 hours prior to the meeting.
Section 5-4 Copies
The Clerk to the Board shall prepare or cause to be prepared extra
copies of the Agenda and shall make the same available to the public in
the Office of the County Administrator at the same time the Agenda is
posted pursuant to Section 5-3. The Clerk shall also have copies
available at each meeting.
Section 5-5 Request to Appear Before the Board of Supervisors
Any citizen (individual, firm, association, or corporation)
desiring to appear before the Board of Supervisors shall make a request
to the Clerk or the Clerk's designee and receive approval; however, no
written application or approval shall be required in order to speak to
the Board during Citizens Comment Period or at public hearings.
Section 5-5.1 Citizens Comment Period
During Citizens Comment Period, speakers wishing to address the
Board shall clearly state their name and address. Unless approved by the
Chairman, or by the Vice Chairman in the Chairman's absence, only York
County citizens or persons who own property or businesses in the County
shall be allowed to address the Board during the Citizens Comment
Period. Speakers shall limit their remarks to three (3) minutes and may
not yield any unused portion of their speaking time to others. Each
speaker shall be limited to one appearance at each Regular Meeting of
the Board. Speakers shall be limited to speaking on the same subject not
more than three times within any 12-month period.
SECTION 6 - GENERAL CONDUCT AND DECORUM
Section 6-1 Conduct of Public
The efficient and dignified conduct of public business is the
ultimate concern of the Board. Accordingly, it is the policy of the
Board that its meetings be conducted with the highest degree of order
and decorum. The Board's integrity and dignity will be established and
maintained at all times during the conduct of public business, and the
Board will permit no behavior which is not in keeping with this policy.
The soliciting of funds, the use of abusive or profane language,
personal attacks on Board members, the failure to comply with time
limits on speakers, or other forms of offensive conduct will not be
tolerated. The Chairman will maintain proper order at all times during
all meetings of the Board and shall effect the removal from any meeting
of any person guilty of offensive conduct if the offending party fails
or refuses to cease such conduct.
Section 6-2 Board Action; effect
The Board of Supervisors is charged with administering County
functions. Primary among these many functions is making policy with
majority vote required to effect policy implementation.
The County Administrator is employed by the Board to supervise the
execution of County functions in the interim between meetings of the
Board. The County Administrator may be delegated as much or as little
authority as the governing body desires.
The Board of Supervisors bears the responsibility for successful
operation of County government and its functions. Each supervisor is
responsible for knowing Board policy and its intent.
The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is directly responsible
for overseeing the implementation of policy by the County Administrator
and ensuring that implementation is consistent with the spirit and
intent of the Board's actions. In the event that an action or actions
may be necessary without the ready consensus of the Board, the Chairman
shall have the discretion to authorize the County Administrator to take
interim measures until the Board can meet and make any necessary
decision.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (3) Zaremba, Wiggins, Burgett
Nay: (2) Rapp, Noll
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Noll opened the floor to nominations for the office of
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2000.
Mr. Burgett nominated Walter C. Zaremba.
Mr. Zaremba moved that the nominations for the office of Chairman
of the Board of Supervisors for 2000 be closed.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (5) Wiggins, Burgett, Rapp, Zaremba, Noll
Nay: (0)
Miss Rapp stated she would hope that no one on this Board would
accept the position of Chairman if they were not willing and able to
meet the obligations of the position. Everyone on the Board wants to
serve; but if a member does not have the required time to fulfill all
the obligations, they should decline the position.
Chairman Zaremba stated there would be times when the Chairman
would not always be available or able to attend everything on the
calendar. As with other levels of government, there will be times when
the Vice Chairman will sit in for the Chairman. He stated he was
confident that everyone on the Board was aware that they had the
privilege of being elected to this office to fulfill all duties of his
or her office.
Mrs. Noll moved that Walter C. Zaremba be elected as Chairman of
the Board of Supervisors for 2000.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (5) Burgett, Rapp, Zaremba, Wiggins, Noll
Nay: (0)
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN
Chairman Zaremba opened the floor to nominations for the office of
Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2000.
Mr. Wiggins nominated James S. Burgett.
Miss Rapp moved that the nominations for the office of Vice
Chairman be closed.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (5) Rapp, Noll, Wiggins, Burgett, Zaremba
Nay: (0)
Miss Rapp moved that James S. Burgett be elected as Vice Chairman
of the Board of Supervisors for 2000.
On roll call the vote was:
Yea: (5) Noll, Wiggins, Burgett, Rapp, Zaremba
Nay: (0)
CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD
No one appeared to speak at this time.
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORTS AND REQUESTS
Mr. Barnett stated his office makes quarterly reports on the
status of litigation to the Board, but they are running a little late
this quarter. He stated the Board could expect to hear about several
cases being filed concerning certain personal property that can only be
charged by the State and not the County. Suits have been filed by Pepsi
and Exxon, and other companies are looking to file suits hoping to win
in the Supreme Court in the spring. He stated he had just filed a
response to the Pepsi case.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS AND REQUESTS
Mr. Stuck updated the Board members on the Y2K compliance. He
stated the Emergency Operations Center was partially staffed during New
Year's, and nothing happened. All the emergency equipment was tested,
and it checked out fine; no Y2K problems were identified. Mr. Stuck
thanked all the staff who worked on the compliance project, particularly
the staff of Computer Support Services who made this a non-event. He
noted that the computers of Mrs. Noll and Mr. Zaremba were down until
they could be made Y2K compliant, and that the computers of the other
members of the Board should be installed in the next few weeks. He also
informed the new Board members to watch for information on using their
voicemail, and he asked that they let Mrs. Simmons know when they had it
working. Mr. Stuck then indicated he had contacted each Board member
about a date for a retreat, and stated the facilitator had asked if the
Board members could move the date back to February 5.
By consensus the Board members agreed to holding their retreat on
Saturday, February 5.
Mr. Stuck also noted he had provided the Board members with the
first of their Board Calendar and Schedules, stating that it was
provided so that the Board could reserve certain meeting dates, and it
is updated periodically as necessary. He noted that Tuesdays have been
reserved for meeting dates after the first of April.
MATTERS PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
Chairman Zaremba stated there might be some electricity at Board
meetings from time to time during this year and perhaps the next four
years because the citizens have elected five people who have the best
interest of the citizens of this County in mind. Each Board member
brings a different philosophy tempered by years of experience. He stated
he was proud to be a part of the County and its administration, and he
felt very privileged to be a part of the next four years for York
County.
Mrs. Noll stated it had been a wonderful four years, and she was
looking forward to the next four. The previous Board had very good and
open government and a lot of communication with the citizens over the
last four years. It had been a privilege and honor to work for the
citizens, and she thanked the voters for allowing her to serve them for
a another term.
Miss Rapp thanked her family, friends, and over 100 volunteers for
helping her get elected. She stated she believes in open government
which was why she got involved in politics. She provided her voicemail
number and encouraged citizens to call her, and she stated she would
like to see the voicemail numbers and email addresses for all the Board
members run across the bottom of the television screen periodically
during the meetings. Miss Rapp stated she looked forward to learning how
government works, and she expressed her hope that if the Board
disagrees, it will disagree agreeably.
Mr. Wiggins thanked his supporters and the citizens who voted for
him. He stated he would work diligently on the issues brought before the
Board. Mr. Wiggins then indicated the previous Board had voted to allow
the YMCA to build a community facility in the southern end of the County
next to the new library. He stated he was opposed to the project because
it failed to provide recreational facilities to all York County
citizens. The Board had also voted to subsidize the citizens in the
northern end of the County in order for them to use the James City
County/Williamsburg facility, yet both new projects fail to provide for
most of District 3 residents. Mr. Wiggins asked that Mr. Stuck arrange
for a meeting to be held as soon as possible with the rest of the Board,
the School Board, interested parents, representatives of the Parks and
Recreation staff, and others in order to receive information on
designing a gymnasium at the Seaford Elementary School that will serve
the children of Seaford as well as be used for a community center for
after school hours.
Mr. Zaremba noted that the project was on the agenda for the
Board's budget deliberations, but he did not feel any of the Board
members would have a problem with the coordination of such a meeting.
Mr. Burgett stated he was very pleased to be on the Board,
indicating these were very exciting times to live in York County. There
were a lot of good ideas brought to light while he was campaigning, and
this Board brings with it a new enthusiasm. There will be no such thing
as business as usual. He stated the Board possesses a very common thread
that runs among them, and there is a mutual determination to listen to
the citizens and govern accordingly while raising government service to
a higher level. Mr. Burgett thanked his campaign team and the voters of
District 4 who have given him the opportunity to serve.
Chairman Zaremba again addressed statements made earlier
concerning the handling of citizens comments by other jurisdictions,
stating he knew from first-hand knowledge that the City of Williamsburg
Council has denied non-citizens the right to address it body. He stated
the citizens of York County should have the primary privilege of
addressing the Board, but the Board would not deny others the ability to
address the Board. The message should be clear that York County citizens
have top priority, and the Board encourages their participation.
Meeting Adjourned. At 8:22 p.m. Chairman Zaremba declared the
meeting adjourned sine die.
____________________________
_____________________________
Daniel M. Stuck,
Clerk
Walter C. Zaremba, Chairman
York County Board of
Supervisors
York County Board of Supervisors
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