Board of Supervisors Organizational Meeting   1/3/2024

I will call this meeting to order.

This is the 1 p.m.

January 3rd annual organizational meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

I will be presiding.

My name is Jeff Richardson.

I will be presiding over the meeting until the election of the chair of the board at which time I will pass the meeting over to the elected chair.

I'd like to recognize several people who are with us today, in addition to our board.

We have with us Steve Rosenberg, our county attorney, Claudette Borgerson, our county clerk, and our senior deputy clerk, Travis Morris, who are all with us today.

In addition to that, I would like to thank and recognize our two police officers who were with us this afternoon,

Lieutenant Angela Jamerson from the Albemarle County Police Department, as well as Master Police Officer Dana Reeves.

at this time, if you would please join me in a moment of silence.

The first item for our annual organizational meeting, item four, is election of the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Richardson.

There's a nomination for Mr. Andrews as chair.

We have a nomination and a second.

I will ask the board, are there any other nominations for chair of the board?

There being no further nominations, the nominations are closed.

Is there a motion?

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek?

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel?

Yes.

The motion to elect Supervisor Andrews as chair passes.

Congratulations, Supervisor Andrews.

I will now invite you over and I will return your seat to you as chair and allow you to take over the remainder of the meeting.

I would like to second that.

Okay, Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley nomination and Supervisor Mallek second.

Any other nominations?

If there are no further nominations, nominations are closed.

I think we actually do usually a motion to elect the Supervisor McKeel's vice chair.

So go ahead.

And same motion and second.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway.

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel.

Yes.

That fast is, and congratulations.

Congratulations.

I'm very happy to have you here there.

Next to me.

At this time, I think we can pause for a moment to go through our order.

Any comments that anyone would like to make?

Oh, first to speak this year.

Well, I would like to wish everyone, staff, and on the board a Happy New Year.

Oh, thank you.

In the Good Oma Department for 2024, a pair of adult bald eagles have been in our neighborhood December 30th through January 2nd.

And I'm always an optimist and always looking for any kind of good news I can find.

So in addition to the rain, we now have eagles resident.

And I was 55 years old before I ever saw an eagle in the wild.

So I go completely nuts when I still see them flying around.

And I think that gives us great good hope going forward.

We have lots of good work to do this year.

The Comprehensive Plan, AC44, has been an important phase all along, but it is a really important phase coming forward with the startup of the rural area chapter and all the other different issues which we'll have to address.

And I really want to encourage citizens to participate.

It is incredibly important.

that you learn about all the elements and drafts and make your voices heard throughout this process.

And I thank you.

And the last Blue Star families are seeking names and will also ask for contact information for deployed service members and canine officers also for their packages to be sent this year.

I've heard that on the radio today.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

I want to begin by joining Supervisor Gallaway in congratulating the new members of leadership, Vice Chair McKeel and Chair Andrews, and of course, the folks who I had the pleasure of running a campaign alongside Supervisors LaPisto-Kirtley and Mallek.

And perhaps most importantly, I do want to just take a moment to

Thank and express my gratitude for the show of trust from the Scottsville Magisterial District for choosing to vote me in into this role.

I'm very excited to be stepping into this role, quite admittedly nervous, but I think that just means my heart's in the right place.

And I'm really looking forward to spending the next four years working with everyone up here on this dais, trying to build a community that's more

inclusive, affordable, equitable, and thriving.

And I'm excited to serve the county.

Thank you.

Yes, I join in with the others of congratulating Supervisor Andrews and Supervisor McKeel on their newly elected positions and also all of us that ran.

It was a good race and I think I'm glad to be back.

I did want to say that I sent something out to everybody regarding photo speed cameras.

It looks like our very own delegate, Amy Loffer,

will be a co-patron along with delegate-elect Mike Jones from Richmond regarding photo speed cameras.

And that's something, as you know, I think is near and dear to all of our hearts.

We want to be able to save lives

with these photo speed cameras and something I'd like to see this coming year.

I know we have the ability to have additional red light cameras and I would love to see perhaps the police department instituting or us instituting some additional red light cameras where appropriate.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Happy New Year to everyone.

And I hope that we had a great holiday season and everybody had the opportunity to have some downtime and some relaxation.

And I want to thank the folks at the Dias for their support.

And I look forward to the year we have lots on our calendar and our plate for this year.

but Mike, we welcome you.

Look forward to working with you and we'll put you right to work as quickly as we can.

So anyway, thanks to everybody.

Thank you very much.

I had my welcome to Supervisor Pruitt and my gratitude for being here.

I'm looking forward to

Hartford, and a lot to bring together over the course of the year.

Yes.

Thank you, Supervisor Andrews.

I just want to make sure that we are technically very correct

in the election of the chair.

This has consequences for the remainder of the year.

The chair does have certain responsibilities as provided in the state code, and we want to be certain that the chair's election is beyond contest.

And so that is a two-step process.

The first step is nominations and then the election.

And for Supervisor McKeel, that was done unquestionably in the correct order with each step distinct with a nomination.

and then technically there's no vote required on the nomination itself.

The vote is on the motion to elect.

And in the case of Supervisor Andrews, there was I think what confused matters was that there was a motion to nominate him for chair rather than just a nomination made.

And there was not

then a motion to elect him and a vote taken on that motion to elect him chair.

Second.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek?

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel?

Yes.

That was my fault that I did that, and I apologize.

I looked at my script and I just misunderstood that piece.

No apologies necessary.

I'm just here to make sure we were on firm footing.

which brings us to item number six, the appointment of clerk and senior deputy clerk.

I believe I can just go ahead and put these together as a motion to appoint Claudette Borgerson as the clerk and Travis Morris as the senior deputy clerk.

Is that a motion?

Second.

Okay.

So there's a motion and a second.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway?

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek?

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel?

Yes.

And that brings us to seven.

The board calendar for 2024, which sets the days, time, and place for regular meetings for this calendar year and for January of 2025.

I want to mention a few things about this before we discuss, is that you'll see that

We have proposed that the February 21st, 2024 meeting begin at 1 p.m.

in Lane Auditorium, which is a change from what was originally posted online because the light agenda expected that day.

We won't need to meet earlier, but I think that there's still an expectation that we would likely see the budget for the first time at that meeting.

of the Budget and Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2025.

So if the public is interested in that, that's when it will still be.

Also, just again for the public, we'll note that the regular meetings are first and third Wednesdays.

All right.

Switching the thunder.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays, except for this month, where we're 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesday.

And then in June, it turns out the 3rd Wednesday is a holiday.

And so we're going to meet the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays on this calendar.

And then, of course, July, we'll take the 1st Wednesday off as the holiday falls there.

And then in December, we'll do 1st and 2nd Wednesdays again.

to give staff a break for holidays.

The other slight difference, I think, in the calendar is that this calendar hopes to capture the budget work sessions right in the calendar so we won't necessarily need to call special meetings as we go forward.

Not that that isn't going to happen at some point inevitably, but it's a little better if that's right.

So are there any other comments?

I'll go through the order.

Supervisor Gallaway?

No, thank you.

I'm trying to find the draft that I couldn't find it just now, the July.

So there are three times then it sounds like where the second Wednesday will become a board or four.

So I mean, this is going to, the Crozet Community Advisory Committee will have to adjust its times because when the board shifted from second Wednesday to third Wednesday,

The CCAC moved from three to two, which means now I will miss four of the meetings.

So that's a real impact on them as far as my ability to participate.

So I just want to make sure.

So just only one meeting in July.

Okay.

Only one meeting.

Right.

So June and February and December.

January, June, December.

OK.

Thank you.

No.

I approve.

And Supervisor McKeel?

And I have no comments.

I'll make that motion to approve the Board 2024 calendar as amended.

Second.

As amended.

We have a motion by Supervisor McKeel and a second by Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway.

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel.

Yes.

Which brings us to item eight, Board Rules, Policies and Operating Guidelines for 2024.

We have in the packets

Thank you, Chair Andrews.

If the board would like, if it's the pleasure of the board, I'm prepared to just step through briefly some highlights of the changes that

are proposed for your consideration.

Let me start by saying and I've explained this to some of you that at your places are hard copies.

Those hard copies are exactly the same as the materials in the agenda package with one difference and that one difference is

that down the left-hand margin of each page, there are line numbers so that I can easily direct you to provisions that I would like to call to your attention so that we're not all fumbling to find

the right spot.

So I'll step through and if I skip over something that you want to talk about, you can either interrupt me or we can come back to it because it's not my intention to talk about every change that shows up in these documents.

I will tell you that when we

When we make changes to these documents from year to year, we are doing it largely on the basis of our experiences over the preceding year.

Places where we have run into little hiccups or bumps along the way and with input from the clerk and from the county executive's office, from members of the board,

and from the county attorney's office, you know, we come up with a set of revisions and they are all included in this document that you have in front of you today.

So with that background, let me first, starting with the rules of procedure, direct you to page four.

and line number four.

So at the top of the page, you'll see that there are instances almost throughout the entire page where we have added the words or proclamations.

And that was just to make applicable this paragraph one.

I think it was already implicitly the case, but to make sure that it was understood that

that this procedure applied not only to resolutions that may be requested by board members or proposed by board members, but also to proclamations.

And so that just carries on throughout the entire page.

At line 34, we have... So let me back up to line 31, which previously said

If all supervisors indicate support for the resolution, the resolution may be placed on the proposed consent agenda unless any supervisor requests otherwise.

So that same rule or procedure is now at line 34.

And we've added a new rule at line 38 to address circumstances in which there's no recipient of a resolution or proclamation who will be present at the meeting of the board.

and in that instance, the resolution or the proclamation will be placed on the consent agenda.

At the time the clerk's office is developing the agenda, that is what the clerk's office will do.

And then if a member of the board wishes to do something differently with it at the actual meeting, they may do so, but this is the clear instruction

to the clerk's office about how to handle resolutions or proclamations requested by board members for which there is no identified recipient.

Line 43 just makes it clear that there's an entirely different set of rules that apply to resolutions or proclamations that are requested not by board members but by members of the public.

And so then if we look at page 5, Line 13, that's where that procedure is set forth.

proclamations and recognitions proposed by residents.

And the addition on line 14 is to make it clear that this separate procedure applies to requests from residents, whether they make a request directly to the clerk's office or they make it to a member of the board.

So just because they make the request to a member of the board doesn't mean they get the preferential treatment

accorded to request by members of the board.

They get the treatment that is accorded to requests made by residents.

So that's what that addition does.

And then in lines 35 through 43, you see the same two rules about

Proclamations with unanimous support and proclamations for which there are no recipients.

Those are the same as the rules applicable where a member of the board is making the request.

Then, if you look on page seven,

You will see some changes on lines 11 through 15, and those address when items are removed from the consent agenda.

And it has been the case previously that if a board member wanted to remove an item from the consent agenda,

that that was done early in the meeting when the agenda is considered by the board for approval.

The full agenda is considered by the board for approval.

With this proposed change, the removal of an item from the consent agenda would occur at the time that the consent agenda is considered.

Online 41, you'll see the first of three instances, this is still on page seven, the first of three instances where we clarify that time may not be shared between speakers, whether it's during a public hearing, during matters from the public, time limitations apply per speaker, and they cannot be

reserved for or shared with another.

That occurs again on page 8, at line 45, page 9, at line 32.

and on page 13, line 9 and 10, I want to thank Supervisor Andrews for calling this to our attention.

There was a reference to an old

Section that no longer made any sense.

It's like clicking on a link on a website and going to you get a 404 error, right?

This is a 404 error.

So we're we're cleaning that up.

And I also just let me go back to

Page 7, line 31.

This is dealing with matters from the public.

And my understanding is that before I arrived, there was a considerable discussion amongst the board members about eligible topics for matters from the public.

this, the rule, the title of the rule, I think, accurately reflected the conclusion of the board concerning the scope of matters from the public.

But when the rule was revised at that time, the substance of the

of the consensus was not reflected in the rule.

And so that is the reason for the change on lines 30 and 31 to reflect what I understand that the consensus of the board to have been at that time about matters appropriately heard by the board during matters from the public.

So that's everything that I have to call to your attention on the procedures before I move on to the policies.

Are there any questions?

We'll go through in order.

So for the proclamations, I mean, I get it.

If there's nobody here to receive the proclamation of the resolution, it would go to consent agenda.

But there have been times where we've had some where it wasn't necessarily a person to receive.

I'm just assuming that item I under E, when it says unless any supervisor requests otherwise, can the gate having it go to consent if we want it read, allowed as a motion?

Are you on page five?

Page four.

Page four.

E, so it'd be your line 38 through 41.

Yes.

Well, that applies where there's unanimous support.

There's no similar language for lines 38 through 41.

So it's placed on the consent agenda by the clerk's office.

But when the consent agenda comes before the board at the meeting itself,

It's subject to the same rules that apply to any item on the consent agenda.

I would think we should add, unless any supervisor requests otherwise under item E2, then as well.

If we have a proclamation that we would wish to read,

I don't want it negated that it could be read aloud and voted on in the meeting, the action items under resolutions and proclamations, just because there's not a physical person here to receive the proclamation or resolution.

I think the easiest way to clean that up is us any supervisor requests otherwise, because then it's on the person asking for the resolution or proclamation to be made to say, I'd like this placed on the agenda where the proclamation or resolutions are typically read.

And then if it's

if it's a small item that somebody requests and they're fine with it going on consent, then it just goes per the rule there.

But I don't want to get into a place where we're having to change rules or pulling things from consent because we want it when it should have appropriately put in proclamations or resolutions.

I would suggest that if you're going to make that change there, that you also make it

Online 43 on page 5.

Well, I understand, but typically resolutions and proclamations occur before we get to consent.

So it seems to me that if there's a proclamation or resolution and I'd like it read, why would I wait till consent to have it done?

My apologies.

Yeah.

Okay.

I understand.

Thank you.

and I'll just make a comment on the consent agenda.

I mean, the common practice used to be when I first came on this board that we would pull items from consent at the consent agenda, because even when I was on the school board, we did it that way.

I cannot for the life of me remember why we switched it, but it was clearly a strict adherence to the agenda adoption.

So I mean, I think it makes common sense to do it the way that we're returning to, but it was passed kind of accepted practice to do it that way.

So I'm just making a comment.

Thank you, that's all.

Thank you.

As far as the terms proclamation and resolution, my understanding has always been that those words are restricted to, this is about the recognition type things, for where there's board action, approval, et cetera.

If one wanted to recognize the efforts of a thrift store, that would be a recognition from me that I would read in just

as a thanks to them, but it's not something that I'm asking the board to vote for, and I should never use the word proclamation or resolution in that context.

So I just want to clarify that that was correct from your perspective.

You've been very clear about proclamations and resolutions and proclamations, all which have motions and adoption votes, et cetera.

I agree completely that we need to make

of the, no, you had asked about the history.

The reason the notice to pull a consent item was moved to the earlier before the adoption was to have staff available some minutes later to be able to discuss, get information about a question.

Lots of times people ask those questions ahead of time, but it occasionally had come up where then it had to be dealt with at the end of the meeting instead of appropriately with the consent agenda.

So that was just what I remember about why.

I'm happy either way.

but I just wanted to share that and I guess my understanding of the topics for matters from the public

It'd be very hard to find something in local government sphere that was not before the board.

So I don't want people to think that somehow we're only going to be interested in what they have to say if it relates to something on some old agenda or some future agenda.

Comprehensive planning, planning in general, zoning decisions, all those kinds of things.

Climate Change.

I mean, these are all items where we've occasionally had very effective presentations from the public.

And often they're actually presenting something they really hope we will work on.

But we haven't yet.

Thinking about all those students from Peabody who came by the dozens and talked to us about the fact that we were not doing our job on climate change.

And it was very impactful.

But we didn't have a climate change ordinance before us at the time.

So I'm just trying to share what I would understand as what's written down here.

And if others don't agree, then we'll discuss that further.

But I just would like to make sure that people who make the 30-mile trek one way often to come downtown to talk to us do not get sent home because it's something that's not on the agenda.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I actually would like to pick up a little bit the issue that Supervisor Mallek was just touching on, and I apologize for not flagging this earlier.

I'm somewhat concerned about the item on lines 30 and 31 on page 7 that we were just talking about, about items before the public.

It seems to me like it puts the chair in the position of actively vetting while someone is speaking, whether or not something is falling within the, as a supervisor Mallek put, well, the considerable ambit of things that are before the board, or had previously been before the board, but it asks you to actively consider that, whether or not it's therefore a valid public statement.

and it also seems to significantly curtail what the public is able to, I'm not sure I fully ascribed to such a broad reading of what it's doing as Supervisor Mallek does.

It seems like it might considerably curtail what the public is able to speak about on public comment.

I might

think about things I've said in public comment and whether or not they are actually within the ambit of this as things that are coming before the board in the future have previously been before the board.

And given that we have between board leadership and county staff absolute control of the agenda, I'm concerned that that might shut out the possibility of public comment.

So I guess I'm a little curious what

maybe what cases this is trying to correct for.

Because if it is so broad as Supervisor Malek assumes, then I might think it doesn't need to exist.

And if there are specific cases it's trying to cut from public comment, I'd be curious what it is responding to.

I think undertaking something in foreign policy is not something that I would consider local government, you know, day to day operations impacted.

Well, if it's OK, we'll just continue in order.

Are you finished?

I'm finished.

Yeah.

Also, we've had instances where things were said online or before the public really were not appropriate also.

So that was a concern.

We've had them.

Remember when we first took office four years ago, there was someone who was an online person.

who was saying things very derogatory about one of our board members.

OK, so that would not be appropriate.

So we wanted the ability to be able to cut someone off like that.

Or I agree with, well, but I agree with Supervisor Mallek, things on maybe national significance that we can't do anything about that's not in our purview.

Supervisor McKeel?

Yes, just from my understanding, we're not really limiting the

comments from the public about issues in Albemarle County or our community or anything that we might be dealing with.

I think occasionally we have had someone that came to speak to us about a congressional, political, global issue that really was out of our sphere.

Mike, and I think that's, it's an attempt to get at that because that's not part of our

Pervue, and I think that, so to try and limit the discussions to climate change locally, and that certainly climate change is our purview, almost anything that I think of that most people have come to speak to us about, have been in our realm.

So I agree with you.

I don't think we want to limit what people, ideas and thoughts that people can bring to us at the same time trying to get at staying out of the global political realm that is very partisan and that we have nothing to do with.

and we're trying to live in that world as best we can, right?

But keep it away from the dias as much as we can because I think it's better for the organization.

I hear the points that are being made and I appreciate that.

I think, yes, we are a local government, things should be

matters that pertain to local government.

I am concerned that maybe this language is not responsive to that concern.

I might imagine we have entertained issues on ranked choice voting, but suppose we hadn't and a member of our public is interested on that because there's now enabling legislation.

I guess I would argue that it is covered by the language because we have been given express authority relating to that topic by the General Assembly, so I don't find that as an example.

I'd be worried about, there are examples, national politics, we are heading into an election year.

and we can anticipate that it will be a contentious election that there may be efforts to turn our matters from the public into a forum for things that are really far outside the realm of possible action.

Mr. Chair, may I join the conversation?

Please.

I'm satisfied that the language we've lived under has served our purposes.

I agree.

We haven't had issues.

We have operated on the on the expectation that we could limit discussion if we felt that the discussion was far from germane to the actions to be taken by the board.

And that's the I think the attempt here is by the county attorney to give us the clarity on that.

But if if we're willing to live with what we have, we'll go forward on that basis.

Any further comment by the county attorney or otherwise?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

I have one other question not related to what Supervisor Pruitt said.

I wanted a point of clarification regarding the recognition that Supervisor Mallek brought up.

Would that be under brief announcements by the board?

that is where I have entertained it in the past.

Okay, just wanted, okay.

Yes.

So I guess at this point we were to be entertaining a motion to adopt the board's rules and policies and operating guidelines 2024 board rules of procedures amended to reflect both in the

proclamations and recognitions proposed by the Board and by residents to allow them to be on the consent agenda if no one's receiving them unless a supervisor requests otherwise.

So a change to the title of the section that that applies to to make it mirror the change.

So, it is clear that we're looking at a

Amendment to the proposed rules of procedure that are in our packet to allow the supervisor to

have read a proclamation or recognition that is no recipient rather than being on a consent agenda.

So I move that we adopt the rules of procedure as presented

today with a change to E2 on pages 41 and 43.

So those are the amendments.

I'm sorry, not pages 41.

Yeah, numbers 41 and 43.

Yeah, numbers 41 and 43, which I believe that Steve was.

Yeah, so we will.

Let me do it this way.

I would propose that the board consider a motion to adopt the proposed rules of procedure as included in the board package with the following three revisions.

One, to add at the end of line 41 on page four the words

unless any supervisor requests otherwise.

To add at the end of line 43 on page 5, the words, unless any supervisor requests otherwise.

And on page 7 to

So moved.

Second.

We'll have a motion and a second.

As there's further discussion.

Do the pros approve it?

No other discussion?

No further discussion.

Okay.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway?

Yes.

Miss LaPisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek?

Yes.

Ms.

We'll next move on to adoption of board policies for 2024.

There's just one provision that I wanted to call to your attention on page four.

Lines 13 through 16, which provides that terms of citizen members of boards, commissions, and committees continue until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

My understanding is that there's been some confusion around that issue.

This is consistent with the general principles of law in local government concerning membership on boards and commissions.

Thank you.

I will go through the order to see if there are any questions.

Supervisor Gallaway, I don't have any questions.

No question.

I have no questions.

Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

No questions.

Thank you.

And I have no questions without objection.

So moved.

Supervisor McKeel moved.

Seconded by Supervisor Mallek.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

Which brings us to the adoption of the Board of Supervisors Operating Guidelines, which I believe have not changed from our previous year.

Again, if there are any questions, Supervisor Gallaway.

No questions.

No.

No questions.

Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

Nothing.

Mr. Chair McKeel.

No questions.

I just will say that I'm really proud of this board.

for adopting these high-quality governance guidelines.

Thank you.

I agree with that wholeheartedly.

I think these have served us very well in delineating our relationship with staff and with each other.

I move that we adopt the Avamar County Board of Supervisors operating guidelines for high quality governance.

We have a motion by Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley and a second by Supervisor McKeel.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway.

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

Thank you.

Well, we've been at it for a while here, but we're actually just now getting to adoption of the final agenda for a relatively short meeting.

Is there a motion to adopt the final agenda?

So moved.

Second.

Motion by Supervisor McKeel, second by Supervisor Mallek.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Ms.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel.

Yes.

Great.

It brings us to item 10, brief announcements by board members.

I think I made my comments at the beginning.

Thank you.

I did mine out of order as well.

Supervisor Pruitt.

Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley?

I actually had wanted to mention, because I don't think we had a chance to mention this in December, that the National Digital Inclusion Alliance recognized Albemarle County as a 2023 digital inclusion trailblazer.

Trailblazer for bringing together a coalition of digital, for digital inclusion, implementing the countywide supplemental affordable connectivity program and promoting enrollment in that program through an FCC grant.

And I just congratulate Mr. Culp and Mr. Influentes on their office for the tremendous work they've been doing.

Which brings us to

If we do have people signed up to speak, I believe we have one.

And we don't have anyone just in person.

All right.

We read the guidelines.

During the time set aside for matters on the agenda, but not listed for public hearing, individuals may address the Board of Supervisors concerning matters previously considered by the Board or matters that are pending before the Board other than items listed on the agenda for public hearing.

Individuals are allowed one opportunity of up to three minutes to speak at each board meeting.

Timekeeping is conducted through a timer, a light system, at the podium.

The green light will go on when you begin speaking, which begins your allotted time.

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When addressing the board, state your name, and if you live in Albemarle County, your magisterial district, address comments directly to the board as a whole.

Any written statements or other supporting material may be given to the clerk.

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Speakers may not share any unused time with another speaker.

Back and forth debate is not permitted, and do not speak from your seat or out of turn.

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Welcome, Mr. Estes.

Good afternoon.

Please adjust the microphone as needed.

I think you'll be good shape.

Check, check.

Thank you, first off, for this opportunity to speak.

I'm here today to discuss foreign policy.

Just kidding.

I'm here today, first off, I reside at 3914 Stony Point Road, Keswick, Virginia, born and raised in Elmora County, and the Rivanna District is where I reside under the supervision of Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, whom I voted for twice.

I'm here today to plead with all of you

about two major issues that affect all of us who live in the county.

Firstly, mail delivery has reached an all-time low, in my opinion.

I've been to the post office.

I have left messages with the higher ups at the state level, but lengthy delays and lost mail continues to degrade the quality of life for myself and my neighbors here in the county.

Speaking with my neighbors and family yesterday, it is clear that I am not alone.

While it could be said that this issue is beyond the control of the county, I feel that that would be shirking your responsibility to those who elected you to serve them.

Surely as supervisors, you have more influence than individuals like me.

I would certainly appreciate anything you all could do to improve mail delivery in Albemarle.

When you work with your hands like I do, and you have to have hand surgery like I did,

You find out just how stressful surgery is.

The only thing more stressful than surgery is paying for it, especially when you don't have health insurance.

The delay in getting bills from UVA, the delay in having my payments received by UVA has been really hard for me.

Next is the issue of police presence and enforcement of basic traffic laws in Albemarle.

Where I live in Stony Point, 20 North has become a dangerous thoroughfare.

Without police presence or enforcement, the speeding, the tailgating, the passing on a double yellow has become the new normal.

The solution to this problem is not speed cameras, in my opinion.

If speeding and dangerous driving is a problem, you put a cop there.

The lack of police presence and enforcement on 20 has created a real problem that needs to be addressed before more people get hurt.

We are all neighbors here, and I hope that my speaking here today will help make you all aware of issues that degrade county life and that you will work to make things better.

There are no further speakers.

So I do not have a formal report today.

I do have one matter that I'd like to ask for board guidance on.

And this would be a recognition of a general protocol.

I think this is the time that I would bring this up for the board as you've just gone through your organizational meeting.

You've gone through your protocols of revisiting your policies.

And this would be specifically regarding media requests of board members, which the board knows that we get those all during the year.

and so on.

about what our protocol, our general protocol is in the county executive's office and specifically in our community and public engagement division that's led by Abby Stump, who is our manager of CAPE.

And so at times we will have reporters, we ask our CAPE division, ask reporters that when they need

and an interview from a county employee or board member to please contact Cabe and they're going to coordinate that.

That's our request of the local media.

At times, reporters will send the same request to several people at the same time, understandably because they've got deadlines and they're hustling to get through their day and get their work done.

And so that can cause several folks in our organization to start working on the same issue all at once.

And so the protocol that we have is as follows.

If it is a matter of board business, and so if we receive it for board items, our practice is to first connect to the board chair.

and if the board chair is not available, we'll connect to the vice chair and if the vice chair is not available, then we're going to work down the list specifically looking for the next best supervisor and it most likely will be based on topic and how it connects to a specific district or to a board or a commission.

A good example would be a tourism related question and they want a board member

we would look to the board representative that is on the CACVB.

So we're looking for some logic and we've employed that on a regular basis to try to get the board member in front of the media, coordinate that, also make sure the board member has what he or she needs in preparation of the media interview.

So basically I'm just giving the board a reminder of the general protocol of this is how we receive this and does this meet the board's expectation as we move into 2024 that we would continue this process.

and Ms.

Chair, I believe all I need is just some general acknowledgement from the board that that sounds fair, that sounds practical.

Again, our goal is to get the best person from the county in front of the media to give the most detail and up-to-date information to our community on the topic of interest.

And so I was just going to ask the board if you're okay with that or if you have a guidance.

Thank you.

Yeah, I believe this is the practice you've been following.

I've been satisfied with it, so I would agree that it should continue.

Excuse me.

Yes, ma'am.

These were the policies that I was briefed on during my onboarding.

They seemed abundantly reasonable and prudent.

Then I had no questions on them then and I have no questions on them now.

Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

Yeah, I have no problem with them.

I think those are good policies.

Thank you.

Agree.

And thanks because if nothing else, this is just a reminder for us as well.

Thank you.

I just want to get one clarification.

First of all, obviously, I think as chair, I will want to ask the supervisor particularly interested in an issue to be the person, to be spokesperson if they're interested and willing to do that.

You mentioned when you started that sometimes these requests come in and get multiple people working on them.

So I want to make sure that we as a board direct

Our inquiries are requests appropriately when we want guidance as to many media inquiries that might come in.

And I suggest I would go through Cape, but who's the best person there?

Yes.

Thank you, Chair.

The board does a really good job of when the board is contacted by the media.

and again that could be in the context of them trying to contact several people at once with a deadline and they're trying to get someone on camera or a quote and the board does a really good job of pausing and then letting the staff know

and then there is the coordination where we begin to try to figure out who's the best person to go on if it's an operational item such as an incident, something in public safety, we probably are going to lean into police or fire to get the appropriate person on camera or on record.

If it's a board-related item, then we're going to work with the chair, the vice-chair, look to see if it's district specific, and the board chair, vice-chair, works with Emily Kilroy, Abby Stump, most likely, and we're looking to make sure that we're matching the topic up with the appropriate board member if it's district driven.

Oftentimes, it could be legislative priorities, or it could be budget.

It could be during our budget work sessions when you're coming out, and we're just trying to coordinate it.

accordingly.

So it's a work in progress.

I see Emily leaning in.

Maybe we have her a chance.

Good afternoon.

Emily Kilroy assistant to the county executive.

Mr. Andrews, as we've done in the past, when the board gets direct outreach, I'm your best first contact.

And then if I'm not available, then Abby.

And then for matters that come in other ways, we ask that folks contact Abby Stumpf directly.

But I'm always happy to take your call.

Thank you.

Nothing further, sir.

Just appreciate the opportunity to discuss that, revisit it.

It did recently come up with the orientation of our new supervisor, so I hope again the timing was good for us to go ahead and just make sure the board is generally comfortable with that process.

Thank you.

Yes, I would like to move that the Board of Supervisors convene a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2, TAC 3711, Parence A, of the Code of Virginia under Subsection 1.

To discuss and consider appointments to the Board, or, blame my last

to discuss and consider appointments of supervisors as members or liaisons to various county authorities, boards, and other public bodies, including without limitation.

The Acquisition of Conservation Easements Committee, the Audit Committee, Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee, the High Growth Coalition, the Regional Transit Partnership, the Rivanna River Basin Commission,

Albemarle Broadband Authority, the Piedmont Workforce Development Board Council, the Regional Housing Partnership, the Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee, the Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations, the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Historic Preservation Committee, the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority, the Albemarle County Economic Development Authority, the Police Department Citizens Advisory Committee, the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, the Hazardous Waste

Excuse me.

The Hazardous Materials Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee, and various community advisory committees, and to discuss and consider appointments to various boards and commissions, including Without Limitation, the Albemarle County Economic Development Authority, the Albemarle County Service Authority, the Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations,

We have a motion.

Motion from Supervisor Pruitt, second from Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

Mr. Andrews?

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek?

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel?

Yes.

Yes, I move that the Board of Supervisors certify by a recorded vote that, to the best of each supervisor's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Second.

Second by Supervisor Mallek.

Mr. Andrews.

Yes.

Mr. Gallaway.

Yes.

Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley.

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

McKeel.

Yes.

Mr. Pruitt.

And I believe we have a couple of motions coming out of closed meeting.

We do.

I'm first going to read our appointments to the boards and commissions in the reappointment list as a motion.

That's right.

And I will start with the Albemarle County Service Authority.

John Parcells, Clarence Roberts, and Richard Armstrong.

for the Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah Park Relations, Jonathan Rudy, Crozet Community Advisory Committee, Nathan Alderman, Economic Development Authority, Jeff Morel, and David Storm, Equalization Board, Bob Beard, and Evan Mayo.

Places 29, Hydraulic, Community Advisory Committee, John Lewis and Dennis King, Planning Commission, R. Corey Claiborne, Frederick Missal, Lonnie Murray, and Louise Coranza, Social Services Advisory Board, Sarah Harris.

So that completes that list.

So that was a motion.

Is there Andrews?

Yes.

Ms.

Lepisto-Kirtley?

Aye.

Ms.

Mallek.

Yes.

Ms.

So appointing Jim Andrews to Fifth and Avon Community Advisory Committee,

Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, Hazardous Materials Local Emergency Planning Committee, Piedmont Workforce Development Council of Local Elected Officials, Exofficio as Board Chair, Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee, or SWAC,

Ned Gallaway is appointed to Darden-Town Park Memorial Committee, Places 29, Rio Community Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, Regional Housing Partnership, Chamber Public Policy Committee

Bea LaPisto-Kirtley is appointed to Darden-Town Park Memorial Committee, Pantops Community Advisory Committee, Places 29 North Community Advisory Committee, Acquisition of Conservation easement ACE Committee, Economic Development Authority,

Rivanna River Basin Commission, Charlottesville-Almorel Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee, or SWAC.

Ann Mallek is appointed to Crozet Community Advisory Committee, Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah Parks Relation,

High Growth Coalition, Historic Preservation Committee, Piedmont Workforce Development Council of Local Elected Officials, Designee and Absence of Chair, Rivanna River Basin Commission, and Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.

Diantha McKeel is appointed to Places 29 Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee, Regional Transit Partnership,

Police Department Citizens Advisory Committee, Charlottesville, or Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority, and the Chamber Public Policy Committee.

That was a motion from Supervisor McKeel, second from Supervisor Mallek.

Mr. Andrews, Mr. Gallaway, Ms.

LaPisto-Kirtley, Ms.

Mallek, Ms.

Our next item is from the Board.

Committee reports and matters not listed on the agenda.

We'll go through our order.

Supervisor Gallaway.

Nothing to report.

Thank you.

Nothing to report at the moment.

Supervisor Pruitt.

I have nothing to report.

Thank you.

Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley.

Nothing to report.

Thank you.

Supervisor McKeel.

If no one has anything further, we will adjourn to our next regular meeting on January 10th, 2024, 1 p.m.

here in Lane Auditorium.

Opportunities for the public to access and participate in this meeting are posted on the Albemarle County website, on the board of the supervisors homepage and on the Albemarle County calendar.

Participation will include the opportunity to comment on those matters for which comments from the public will be received.