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Home My WebLink AboutDecember 12 2012 Minutes of Work Session (VACo-RuralRoads)A Work Session of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors was held on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 5:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Christopher E. Collins; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Bill M. Ewing; Gene E. Fisher; and Ross P. Spicer. ABSENT Gary A. Lofton. OTHERS PRESENT John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Kris C. Tierney, Assistant County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; Rod Williams, County Attorney; Eric Lawrence, Director of Planning & Development; John Bishop, Deputy Director of Planning- Transportation; Mark Cheran, Zoning Administrator; Director of Public Works Harvey E. Strawsnyder, Jr., and Public Works Committee members Jim Wilson and Whit Wagner. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Shickle called the meeting to order. BOARD RETIRED INTO CLOSED SESSION Upon a motion by Vice - Chairman Ewing, seconded by Supervisor DeHaven, the Frederick Cotmty Board of Supervisors convened in closed session pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2 -371.1 A (1) to discuss personnel matters, specifically, updates to the County Administrator's employment agreement. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Christopher E. Collins Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Ross P. Spicer Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Gary A. Lofton Absent BOARD RECONVENED INTO REGULAR SESSION Upon a motion by Vice - Chairman Ewing, seconded by Supervisor Spicer, the Board came out of closed session and reconvened in Regular Session. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Minute Book Plumber 38 Board of Supervisors Work Session of 12/12/12 Presentation by Ted McCormack of VACo -Rural Roads & Devolution 149 Christopher E. Collins Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Ross P. Spicer Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Gary A. Lofton Absent Upon a motion by Vice - Chairman Ewing, seconded by Supervisor Fisher, the Board certified that to the best of each board member's knowledge the Board discussed only personnel matters, pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2 -3711 A (1) personnel matters, specifically, updates to the county administrator's employment agreement. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Christopher E. Collins Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Ross P. Spicer Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Gary A. Lofton Absent UPDATES TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - APPROVED Upon a motion by Vice- Chairman Ewing, seconded by Supervisor DeHaven, the Board approved the county administrator's employment agreement, as amended. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Christopher E. Collins Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Ross P. Spicer Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Gary A. Lofton Absent RECESS The Board recessed until 5:30 P.M. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WORK SESSION Chairman Shickle convened the work session. PRESENTATION BY TED MCCORMACK OF THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ACO) REGARDING STATUS OF RURAL ROADS IN PARTICULAR THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVOLUTION County Administrator John R. Riley, Jr, advised the Public Works Committee discussed the status of private roads within Frederick County. The committee felt additional information was needed before their discussions could continue, so they decided it would be prudent to have Mr. Ted McCormack with the Virginia Association of Counties come to a work session to address the topic of private roads and the potential for devolution. Minute Book Number 38 Board of Supervisors Work Session of 12/12112 Presentation by Ted McCormack of'VACo -Rural Roads & Devolution 1501 Mr. McCormack discussed secondary road devolution. He noted that devolution was the process by which the Commonwealth of Virginia returns responsibility for the secondary road system to the counties. He went on to say Virginia is one of only four states where the Department of Transportation is responsible for most roads. Mr. McCormack advised the reason devolution could occur is due to a decline in State revenues for highways, including construction and maintenance. He noted in FY2011 $410 million or 14% of VDOT's total budget of $3.3 billion. He then reviewed the history of the development of the devolution policy. It was noted in 2011 the Governor's budget for the FY 2012 -2014 biennium required the Secretary of Transportation to study and make recommendations on the devolution of secondary roads to counties with populations exceeding 200,000 (Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Chesterfield Counties). Mr. McCormack cited a George Mason University study which stated Virginia's secondary roads are currently in poor condition. It also noted that devolution would require counties to use general funds to build and maintain their secondary roads. The George Mason study noted there were some benefits of devolution to counties. They included; - Significant opportunity to integrate decision making over transportation and land use. - Improve development outcomes in terms of quality and timeliness. . - Improved responsiveness and accountability. - Increased flexibility in establishing priorities and standards. He noted the over arching concern for counties, should devolution occur, is "counties would become responsible for the construction and maintenance of a badly deteriorated road network without sufficient revenue sources to do the job." Mr. McCormack concluded by saying "VACo opposes any legislation or regulations that would require the transfer of responsibility to counties for construction, maintenance, or operation of new and existing roads." Supervisor Spicer asked where Richmond was procedurally in getting this done. Mr. McCormack responded that legislation would be required. He noted the Governor would not pursue devolution this year. Deputy Director of Planning- Transportation John Bishop gave a brief inventory of roads within Frederick County. He noted there were: - 232.79 miles of Interstate/Primary Roads. - 655.62 miles of Secondary Loads, which could be passed on to the County should devolution occur. Minute Book Number 38 Board of Supervisors Work Session of 12/12/12 Presentation by Ted McCormack of VACo -Rural Roads & Devolution 151 471.2 miles of private roads. Supervisor Spicer asked if calls for devolution would go down with an increase in the gas tax. Mr. McCormack responded, "Going out on a limb, I would say yes." Administrator Riley asked if there was more study needed at the Public Works level. Chairman Shickle stated he was content with the Public Works Committee keeping this issue alive. There being no further business, the work session adjourned at 6:15 P.M. P 1 Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors z Q. - . j6h16 V. Rilei, Jr. Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: �, Jay E. fibos Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 38 Board of supervisors Work Session of 12/12/12 Presentation by Ted McCormack of'VACo -RuraI Roads & Devolution