A special called meeting of the Goochland Board of
Supervisors was held at 2 p.m. on March 26, 2020 via conference call. Neil
Spoonhower, District 2 offered a prayer asking special blessings on health care
workers, first responders, those in law enforcement, and others on the front
lines of the pandemic crisis.
Board Chair Susan Lascolette, District 1 thanked county
staff for their hard work to keep Goochland government operating under these
difficult conditions. She acknowledged the resignation submitted by County
Administrator John Budesky on March 25, effective June 30, following his
appointment as Hanover County administrator. “The Board of Supervisors is fully
engaged in finding a qualified replacement for Mr. Budesky as quickly as
possible,” she said.
Lascolette also thanked the county information technology
staff for setting up a test of new technology to conduct meetings remotely.
County attorney Tara McGee explained that the emergency
declaration made by Budesky, who is also the county’s Director of Emergency Management
(DOEM), on March 13 must be confirmed by an adoption of the declaration by the
supervisors. It can be ended by the supervisors at any appropriate time in the future
based on prevailing public health constraints.
John Lumpkins, District 3 asked if there are any local
financial consequences of adopting or failing to adopt the declaration.
McGee said that state law provides an opportunity to incur
costs and sign contracts to assist with emergency actions, relaxing procurement
polices when responding to emergency conditions when an emergency declaration is
properly in place.
Budesky added that the declaration makes the county eligible
for federal reimbursements, should they become available, for increased public safety
costs and other extraordinary emergency expenses during the Covid 19 pandemic.
It also provides some flexibility for actions taken to respond to the emergency.
The supervisors said Budesky, will always be kept informed of these.
The supervisors unanimously approved the emergency declaration.
The Board then addressed an emergency ordinance to allow for
the continuity of government operations during the pandemic. It includes revision of the process for
conducting public meetings; restricting use of public buildings or facilities;
providing additional powers to the DOEM to incur costs, waive procedures and
fees, and take other temporary actions; and suspend deadlines and procedures.
The ordinance authorizes flexibility to hold meetings of
public bodies with citizen participation through electronic means. It also grants
the DOEM the authority to take actions to deal with the crisis as needed including
incurring obligations; suspending procedures, and entering into contracts, which
would be ratified by the supervisors at a later date.
The ordinance encourages county employees to attempt to meet
established deadlines and time frames but allows for their suspension if
necessary. This action is intended to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare
of citizens and county employees while fulfilling the functions of local
government.
The emergency ordinance is in effect for 60 days unless
readopted by the board after public notice. In no event shall the ordinance be
effective for more than six months following the conclusion of the declared
disaster. By law, said McGee, no public hearing is required before adoption of
this ordinance. However, the wording used when the supervisors unanimously adopted
the ordinance authorized advertisement of a public hearing on May 5 in the
interest of transparency.
If circumstances do not warrant the continuation of this
continuity ordinance by May 5, the Board may repeal it or choose not to readopt
it.
Ken Peterson District 5 asked if “all public bodies”
includes the school board and Constitutional Officers. McGee said that the
school board does not have the authority to adopt its own emergency declaration
and operates under the umbrella of county ordinances as do bodies such as the
Board of Equalization and Board of Zoning Appeals. She did not have time to consult
with Constitutional Officers.
The board turned its attention to an emergency ordinance
amendment to delay levy of the Bridgewater Service District tax from 2020 to
2021. As the necessary roadwork for the Bridgewater subdivision, to be funded
partly by tax revenues generated by a service district, have not met VDOT
standards, the board voted unanimously to delay the tax and advertise a public
hearing on the matter for its May 5 meeting. McGee explained that the item had
been moved off the regular board agenda and could not be addressed before the
end of April when tax bills are prepared.
Budesky said that since the initial emergency declaration on
March 13, he and other members of county leadership, including Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Jeremy Raley Sheriff Creasey, and Fire-Rescue Chief Ferguson
have been closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with regional
partners several times a day. He said that, based on current conditions, social
distancing and other self-quarantine measures will be in effect until April 17.
If this changes, the community will be notified.
Deputies and first responders are taking extra care to
protect citizens and themselves as they render service. Dispatchers are using
extra screening of 911 calls also to protect all involved.
The convenience centers, which remain open, are being
overloaded as people use time off to clean out their homes. This, said Budesky,
is putting a strain on the system making it harder for people to drop off
routine trash. He asked people to “dial back” the extra trips to the
convenience center, especially with large items, so the workers and haulers can
handle the volume of trash.
Outdoor facilities of parks and recreation remain open, said
Budesky. He asked everyone to continue to observe social distancing, even
outside, and cautioned against basketball and football games.
Budesky said that he and Dr. Raley will hold a Facebook Live
discussion about the county and school budget on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m.
“Slides” of the discussion will be posted online before the event to help
viewers follow along.
Peterson requested a forecast of the fiscal impact of Covid
19 on the county budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years could be
ready by the April 7 audit committee meeting.
Budesky said that it has been a real honor to have been
entrusted with the position of county administrator. He said that there is a
lot of hard work to be done on behalf of the citizens to work through the
crisis and that he will be here through the end of June.
The public hearing on the FY 2021 budget will be held
electronically on Tuesday April 7. Citizen comment made by email, by phone, or
by phone message will be added to the meeting record. More information about
this new procedure will be available on the county website.
