New year new faces

The Goochland Board of Supervisors held its first meeting of 2020 on January 7 with two new faces, Neil Spoonhower, District 2, and Don Sharpe, District 4. Choosing leadership for the calendar year was at the top of the board’s agenda. Susan Lascolette, District 1, was elected as board chair and John Lumpkins, District 3 as vice chair. This will be the second time that Lascolette, the first woman ever to lead Goochland’s supervisors, has served in that capacity. 

John Lumpkins and Susan Lascolette

Annual housekeeping followed including adoption of the board’s code of ethics, standards of conduct, rules of procedure, and approval of the meeting calendar for 2020.

After far too many public hearing marathons that lasted well past midnight in 2019, the board unanimously adopted new meeting times as part of its rules of procedure. Afternoon sessions, starting February 4, will begin at 2 p.m., and at 6 p.m. in the evening. The supervisors also approved language that expresses the intent not to begin public hearings after 11 p.m. and limit public hearings to one hour.

This was a good move and long overdue. No one makes good decisions after midnight. It is unfair to county staff and, most important of all, citizens, who take time from their busy schedules to attend board meetings to express their opinions about agenda items. The policy can be waived by a majority vote of board members as circumstances warrant.

Third Tuesdays are now designated as a reserve date.  “Any public hearing originally publicized for that month’s regular meeting may be carried over or moved to the Reserved Date without further advertising when the date and time of the reconvened meeting is publicly announced at a preceding meeting” The Chair may cancel any meeting because of inclement weather. This is prudent and will help to accommodate and encourage citizen participation in local government. Cancelled meetings may also be moved to the reserved date.

Chair comments

Lascolette thanked her fellow supervisors for their confidence in her and pledged to fulfill the duties of chair to the best of her ability. She welcomed Spoonhower and Sharpe to the board. “Our commitment to excellence has not changed and we live by that.”

Don Sharpe District 4

Neil Spoonhower District 2

She also welcomed new Constitutional Officers, Treasurer Pamela Duncan and Sheriff Steven Creasey as well as three new school board members. “We look forward to working with you.”

The Virginia General Assembly is in session, observed Lascolette. “We are keenly aware of existing proposed legislation that can seriously impact the county and our citizens. We will continue to be diligent in monitoring and working on legislation as appropriate.”  Lascolette urged everyone to stay engaged in the legislative process and make their views known to our General Assembly delegation: 

Sen. Mark Peake (district22@senate.virginia.gov; (804) 698-7522; Del. Lee Ware DelLWare@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1065; and Del/ John McGuire DelJMcGuire@house.virginia.gov (804)698-1056. Go to https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/ for complete information including live streaming and recorded videos of both chambers and committee meetings.

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Honors

Lascolette congratulated County Attorney Tara McGee for being named a 2020 fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, a group of nearly 500 of best and brightest legal practitioners in in Virginia committed to the highest deals of law and the concept of citizen lawyer. Fellows, who are nominated anonymously, are recognized for leadership both in their practice of law and their communities. Local government lawyers make up 13 percent of the 2020 class. (See https://www.virginialawfoundation.org/ for complete information.)

Goochland County Attorney Tara McGee

County administrator comments

“These are exciting times,” John Budesky said as he welcomed the new supervisors, who have already spent “a substantial amount of quality time” with county staff during an almost full week of orientation. “There were a lot of questions and solid information shared. We look forward to working with you,” Budesky said.  He echoed Lascolette’s sentiments about the current General Assembly “long session” with the need to be vigilant about the many bills submitted.  Administrative Services Manager Paul Drumwright works with McGee and Budesky to monitor bills for their possible impact on Goochland and its citizens in many ways and act accordingly.

The budget season is well under way, said Budesky. He will present his recommended budget in February. This is a balanced set of expenditures and revenues for fiscal year 2021, which begins on July 1. As the largest expenditure in the county budget is education, Budesky works closely with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeremy Raley and county and school division financial staffs also collaborate on the final product. One of the largest commitments this year will involve the capital improvement plan, which includes funding for the new Goochland Elementary School.

Budesky said that all budget meetings are public and encouraged citizens to be engaged in the process and make their views known on the matter. In addition to workshops there will be public hearings and three town hall meetings before the budget is adopted and tax rates set in April.

Citizen Comment

Sheriff Steven N. Creasey thanked the board for its support and said he looks forward to working with them in the future. He introduced some members of his team: Chief Deputy, Major Mike East; Lieutenant Jason Behr; and newly promoted sergeant Ryan Leabough.

East began his law enforcement career as a Goochland 911 dispatcher, then became a deputy and investigator before serving seven years with the CSX Railroad Police as a Supervisory Special Agent. In that capacity, East supervised agents in seven-state territory and interfaced with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. He brings this wide range of experience, including a master’s degree in criminal justice, to his role as Chief Deputy.

Maj. Mike East

Baehr comes to Goochland from the Henrico County Police Department where he was a lieutenant familiar with the most innovative and up-to-date law enforcement training. His knowledge and experience will further enhance the excellent skills of our LEOs. Behr also has a strong background in accreditation of law enforcement agencies.

L.t Jason Baehr

Newly promoted Sergeant Ryan Leabough, has been a Goochland deputy for 7 years, serving most recently as a school resource office “keeping watch over our kids for us.” He is a Goochland native, coach of the Lady Bulldogs varsity basketball team, and holds a criminal justice degree from North Carolina State University at Charlotte.

Sgt. Ryan Leabough

Wendy Hobbs of Sandy Hook reminded the supervisors that the elections are over, and they represent all citizens regardless of political affiliation. She mentioned that Dominion Power s upgrading its area internet and urged the county to investigate partnership with Dominion to expand Broadband. She said that appointees to boards and commission should be selected based on their willingness to serve rather than party affiliation.

Hobbs said that the December 3 public hearing on gun control was “scary” and contended that people the room were hostile. She said that people have differing views but do not have the right to impose their views on others. Hobbs also commended Ken Peterson, District 5, for stating during the discussion, that we do not have the right to pick and choose which laws we will follow.

VDOT

Routes 250 West Broad Street and 288 World War II Veterans Memorial Highway Signals; advertised October 8, bids opened December 18, four bids received, Curtis Construction was the apparent lowest bidder with low bid within budget.

VDOT Ashland Residency Administrator Marshall Winn said that construction is expected to begin in March and be complete by Thanksgiving. This will mean more construction in the area in the near term, but hopefully it will make the area safer.

Assessments

Real estate assessments for 2020 will be mailed on January 15. Property owners have until February 18 to appeal assessments. Rates for calendar years 2020, which are used to calculate real estate property tax bills, will be set by the supervisors in April. See http://www.goochlandva.us/318/Real-Estate-Assessments for more information.

Public hearings

The supervisors approved a conditional use permit filed by Cellco Partnership d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless to build a 229-foot lattice wireless communication tower near the intersection of Forest Grove Road and cozy Acres Lane in District 1. This tower will complement the signal propagation of a tower approved last year, which has not been built, and is expected to improve the wretched wireless service in the area.

A rezoning application filed by Patrick and Lorraine Clifford to create an additional residential lot from a ten-acre parcel on Whitehall Road west of Dogtown Road was approved.

Centerville’s Broadview Shopping Center will soon include an Enterprise Leasing outlet to rent cars and small trucks thanks to approval of an application for a conditional use permit. The Enterprise sales office will be located on the western “corner” of the shopping center. A detailing facility will be built facing the self-store and use state-of-the art filtration system to contain fluids and prevent them from entering groundwater.