Goochland supervisors ratify emergency measures

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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.

Complete wording of the ordinances adopted on March 26 are included in the board packet available at http://goochlandcountyva.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1254&Inline=True.

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.