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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 27, 1985 Regular Meeting32 A Regular Meeting of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors was held on February 27, 1985, at 7:15 P.M., in the Board of Supervisor's Meeting Room, 9 Court Square, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT Kenneth Y. Stiles, Chairman; Will L. Owings, Vice- Chairman; Robert M. Rhodes; Rhoda W. Maddox; Thomas B. Throckmorton and C. William Orndoff, Jr. CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order. INVOCATION The invocation was delivered by the Reverend J. William Hough of the Braddock Street United Methodist Church. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mr. Stiles stated that he had a second letter of request to go under Tab B. Mr. Riley stated that the Board would need to vote on the Welfare Budget and on what increase was to be used in figuring the merit increase for employees. Upon motion made by C. William Orndoff, Jr., seconded by Will L. Owings and passed unanimously, the Agenda was adopted as amended. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Upon motion made by C. William Orndoff, Jr., seconded by Thomas B. Throckmorton and passed unanimously, the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 9, 1985 were approved as submitted. Mrs. Maddox stated that on Page 2 of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 23, 1985, it should read, "Rhoda W. Maddox to Replace Robert M. Rhodes on the Court Services Administrative Board ". Upon motion made by Rhoda W. Maddox, seconded by C. William Orndoff, Jr. and passed unanimously, the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 23, 1985 were approved as amended. SHENANDOAH AREA AGENCY ON AGING PRESENTS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE BOARD Dr. Mary Spencer, Director, appeared before the Board to answer any questions the Board might have on the Agency's Annual Report. ANDOAH AREA AGE NCY ON AGING REQUEST TO OPERATE THE - KE FEKKED TO THE PUBLIC WORK Dr. Spencer stated that her Board became interested in this program last year when it was discontinued for various reasons by the State and her 33 Board felt it was a very worthwhile program and were very much interested in seeing it continued. The Board discussed with Dr. Spencer exactly how the Agency planned on administering this program and ',although she was not quite sure at this time, she felt the work would probably have to be done by outside contractors. Mr. Throckmorton asked Dr. Spencer if the Agency's main reason for wanting to operate this program was to keep the program from going under. Dr. Spencer stated that was correct. It was noted by Mr. Stiles that a similiar request had been received from O.I.C. to operate the weatherization program. Mr. Riley inquired as to whether the Area Agency could be the contractor and O.I.C. be the subcontractor. Mr. Stiles stated that he felt this would be double administration. After Board discussion it was the consensus of the Board to refer this to the Public Works Committee for their review and recommendation. T BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND 714 - Upon motion made by Robert M. Rhodes, seconded by Rhoda W. Maddox and passed unanimously, the request of the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation to temporarily close a section of Route 714 for repair work was approved. INFORMATION SERVICES ',COMMITTEE REPORT Mrs. Rhoda Maddox, Chairman of the Information Services Committee, presented the following report and stated that it was for the Board's information only and no action was necessary: The Information Services Committee met on Tuesday, February 19, 1985, at 10:00 A.M. , in the Conference Room. Present were Rhoda W. Maddox, Thomas B. Throckmorton, Stanley Kukanich, Donald Johnson, Helen Locke and John Riley. The Committee submits the following report: Discussion of Committee Agenda The Committee met with the Director of Information Services, Helen Locke and County Administrator, John Riley to discuss the role of the Committee. It was the consensus of the Committee that they would meet on a quarterly basis on the third Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. The format would remain the same in that the Committee will review new requests for use and equip- ment and will be updated through quarterly reports submitted by the Depart- ment. 34 MISCELLANEOUS BOARD CORRESPONDENCE Mr. Stiles noted that this correspondence was being presented for the Board's information. He requested that a staff member be present at the Highway Department Hearing in April in order to protect the County's interest. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY BOARD MEMBER WILLIAM ORNDOFF ADDRESSING TAX COLLECTION IN THE COUNTY - REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Mr. Stiles stated that Mr. Orndoff had received information with regard to tax collection procedures and that he, with the consensus of the Board, would like this referred to the Finance Committee for their review and recommendation. BUDGET DELIBERATIONS Chapter 10 Board Mr. Stiles stated that this increase was 10 %, approximately $5,716 in new County money. Mr. Owings stated that after hearing Mr. Fanning's presentation he felt that he better understood this program and that he would like to move for approval. Upon motion made by Will L. Owings, seconded by Robert M. Rhodes and passed unanimously, the budget request for new County money by the Chapter 10 Board in the amount of $5,716 was approved. Board Votes to Close Gainesboro and Gore Elementary Schools Mr. Stiles asked Dr. Walker if he had any additional information that he would like to make the Board aware of prior to the Board discussing and voting on this issue. Dr. Walker stated that the School Board felt it was not feasible to remodel either Gore or Gainesboro School. Mr. Stiles stated that the funds for the purchase of the land for a new School would be advanced by the County with the understanding that once the funds become available from the State, this money will be repaid in full to the County. At this time Mr. Stiles opened the floor for discussion of the request of the School Board to close the Gainesboro and Gore School and build a consolidated School. Mr. Frederick Vondy, resident of Back Creek District, stated that he was opposed to the closing of these two Schools and did not feel that the children in this area of the County would receive any better education with 35 a new consolidated School than they are currently receiving with the two Schools. Mr. Arthur Wilson, resident of Gainesboro District, stated that he felt the two Schools should remain and further that School Board members were appointed and not elected by the people as the Board of Supervisors were, and he did not feel the School '', Board should be telling the taxpayers what was best for them, and he urged the Board not to approve this funding. Mr. Tom Bennett, resident of Gainesboro, stated that he was in favor of a new School as he felt the educational needs of the children in this section of the County could be ',better met with a new School. Mr. Rhodes asked Mr. Bennett how long he had lived in Gainesboro District. Mr. Bennett replied six months. Mr. Rhodes asked Mr. Bennett if, when he had lived in the Middletown area, and when they were faced with their School being closed, and didn't he feel at that time that their School should remain open. Mr. Bennett replied yes he did, but for different reasons than he felt were to be considered in this situation. Ms. Mindy Halek stated that she was in favor of the new School for many reasons and she felt Gainesboro School did not have the space that is needed. Ms. Pam Bursey, President of Gore PTA, stated that she felt that reno- vation of the two Schools was the answer and that the site chosen by the School Board for the new School was not in a centralized location of the two districts, but in the Southwestern end of the County. Mr. Rick Johnson stated that he felt a new consolidated School would entice more development to the Western section of the County and he was in favor of remodeling the two present Schools. Mr. Robert Gaines, School ''Board Member from Back Creek District, stated that he felt there was a genuine show of concern by the citizens of this area for the education of their children and he wanted the excellence in education to continue as it had' in the past. Mr. Lou Costello, School Board Member, stated that the cost difference in renovating the two Schools and building a new consolidated School was not that much, but there would be quite a difference, structurally, once the project was completed. He also addressed the Special Ed students and the fact that the Gore and Gainesboro Schools, as they are now, cannot 36 accommodate these special students, therefore they have to be transported to other Schools for their classes. Mr. John Todd, resident of Cross Junction, stated that he was in favor of a new School. Mr. Owings asked if the School Board could guarantee the citizens that the consolidated School would take care of all their Special Ed children and they would no longer need to transport them to Apple Pie Ridge and Bass Hoover. Mr. Stiles asked if the consolidated School is scheduled to have enclosed classrooms and not open space. Dr. Walker replied that was correct. Mr. Stiles asked Dr. Walker what the School Board would do if the Board only approved funding for remodeling of the two Schools. Dr. Walker replied they would not remodel the Schools. Mr. Rhodes stated that the problem he had with this proposal is the growth rate, which at this time is in the Southern end of the County, which means more Schools in this area in the very near future and he did not feel the County could afford these payments. Mr. Rhodes also questioned as to why these older Schools were allowed to get in this run down condition and why something wasn't done before they reached this point. Mr. Throckmorton stated that he would like to request that the School Board have input in planning as far as the County subdivisions, etc. are concerned. He stated that he felt the School Board should be part of this process. Upon motion made by Rhoda W. Maddox and seconded by Thomas B. Throck- morton, to accept the following resolution as presented by the School Board: WHEREAS, the County School Board of Frederick County, on the 25th day of January, 1985, presented to this Board an application addressed to the State Board of Education of Virginia for the purpose of borrowing from the Literary Fund $2,000,000 for the new School building in the Gainesboro /Gore area, to be paid in 20 annual installments and the interest thereon at 4 percent paid annually; WHEREAS, the County School Board has submitted a request to apply for Virginia Public School Authority bonds in the amount of $1,686,000 for the new School building; and WHEREAS, the County School Board has requested funds to purchase land on which to build the new School building; RESOLVED, that the application of the County School Board to the State Board of Education of Virginia for a loan of $2,000,000 from the Literary Funds is hereby approved and authority is hereby granted to said County School Board to borrow the said amount for the purpose set out in said application; 37 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County School Board is authorized to secure Virginia Public School Authority bonds in the amount of $1,686,000 for the new School building; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County School Board is authorized to purchase a tract of land on which to build the new School. The Frederick County Board of Supervisors will each year during the life of these loans, at the time they fix the regular levies, fix a rate of levy for Schools or make a ',cash appropriation sufficient for operation expenses and to pay these loans in annual or semiannual installments and the interest thereon as required by Law regulating loans from the Literary Fund and bonds secured through the Virginia Public School Authority. The above resolution was passed by the following recorded vote: Aye - Kenneth Y. Stiles, Will L. Owings, Rhoda W. Maddox, Thomas B. Throckmorton and C. William Orndoff, Jr. Nay - Robert M. Rhodes. Mrs. Maddox, in casting her vote, stated that she had looked at this situation for a long time and that she had talked with a lot of people. She stated she was disappointed tol see that the School Board's plans call for the School to be located closer', to the Southern end of the County. She further stated that she did not! feel that the flexibility that was needed in the two Schools was there and that she would like to see all children of the County have the same type of ',facilities made available to them as those of Apple Pie Ridge School. Mr. Orndoff stated that it was a hard decision to make but he felt there were advantages to consolidated Schools. Mr. Owings stated that this was the toughest decision that he had had to make since serving on the Board. He noted that anytime you close a School it does affect the community and he could address this knowing the outcome when the County closed the Middletown School. He further stated that he felt there were benefits of a consolidated School in that they offered a more diversified program. Mr. Stiles stated that he had given this question more time and thought than any other issue that has come before the Board in his eight years as a Board Member. He further stated that he could see both sides of this issue and that he was adamant in h!,is feelings that the consolidated School be built for the figure that had ben given by the School Board, and that they not come back to the Board for ''additional funds. The Board recessed at this' time. Budget Request by School !,Board for 1985 -86 In New Count The Board and Dr. Walk discussed the School Board's request for $490,000 in new County money. Mr. Stiles asked Dr. Walker what the impact would be if the Board would fund the School Board at the current level. Dr. Walker replied that the School Board felt their request was a sound budget and they would appreciate the Board funding their request. Mr. Orndoff stated that he felt the County could not afford to continue increasing these various budgets every year and he felt the School Board would be in good shape with the current year's funding. Mr. Orndoff made the motion that the County fund the School Board budget at the current level. This motion died for the lack of a second. Upon motion made by Will L. Owings and seconded by Thomas B. Throck- morton, that the Board give the School Board $250,000 in new money. After discussion by the Board, Mr. Owings amended his resolution for the Board to give the School Board $250,000 in new money with the County retaining $40,000 for construction and debit service, which will result in $210,000 in new money from the County. The above resolution was approved by the following recorded vote: Aye - Will L. Owings, Robert M. Rhodes, Rhoda W. Maddox and Thomas B. Throck- morton. Nay - Kenneth Y. Stiles and C. William Orndoff, Jr. Mr. Stiles stated that the Board would delay any further action on the Ridge Campus Outddor Athletic Facilities until the County heard from the National Guard. Board Approves $15,000 in New County Money for Social Services Department Mr. Orndoff stated that he had received the salary schedule of the Social Services Department employees and he would say they are trying to catch up with the Teachers. Upon motion made by Thomas B. Throckmorton, seconded by Robert M. Rhodes and passed unanimously, $15,000 in new County money for the Social Services Department for the 1985 -86 budget was approved. County Employees to Receive a 7% Salary Increase Upon motion made by C. William Orndoff, Jr., seconded by Thomas B. Throckmorton and passed unanimously, a 7% salary increase for County employees for the 1985 -86 budget year was approved. Mr. Stiles requested that the Personnel Committee look into the merit system as far as the older employees (years of service) are concerned for as 39 it stands now, depending on their years of service. PUBLIC HEARING ON 191 eir quartile, they are being penalized for -1986 BUDGET SET FI APRIL 10, 1985 Upon motion made by C. William Orndoff, Jr., seconded by Thomas B. Throckmorton and passed unanimously, that the Public Hearing for the 1985 -1986 Budget be scheduled, for April 10, 1985, in the Board of Super- visor's Meeting Room, 9 Court' Square, Winchester, Virginia, with rates as follows: Reat Estate at 58� pier hundred, Merchants Capital at $4.35 per hundred and Machinery and Tools at $4.00 per hundred. UPON MOTION DULY MADE, SECONDED AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, B IT WAS ORDERED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADJOURN.