CEA_05-25-06_Meeting_MinutesMEETING MINUTES
• OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at
107 North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on May 25, 2006.
PRESENT: Richie Wilkins, Chairman; Bud Good, Vice Chairman; Diane Kearns,
Treasurer; Phil Glaize, Todd Lodge, and Barbara Van Osten
ABSENT: John Light, Jim Lawrence, and Robert Solenberger
STAFF PRESENT: Kris Tierney, Assistant County Administrator, Susan Eddy, Senior
Planner; and Kevin Henry, Planning Technician
PUBLIC MEETING:
Item 1 - Minutes
Members approved the minutes of the April 27, 2006 meeting with one minor
amendment.
Item 2 — Board of Supervisors Action of May 24, 2006
• Planner Eddy updated members that the County Board of Supervisors had tabled the
proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF)
for 60 days.
Planner Eddy passed around written comments from Member Lawrence who was unable
to be in attendance.
Member Van Osten suggested further diologue with Clarke County. She also suggested
that the Authority prepare a written justification for co- holding to be distributed to Board
Members. Planner Eddy noted that an email with reasons for co- holding easements,
prepared by Mr. Robert Mitchell, had previously been distributed to Board Members.
Assistant County Administrator, Kris Tierney mentioned some reasons for not co- holding
easements, particularly staff time. He saw that the county could be a last resort easement
holder, if no other organizations were willing to hold the easement. Member Glaize
brought up the desire of some county landowners to work with the county as opposed to
outside organizations. Members were unsure how receptive the Board would be to solely
holding an easement that many other organizations would likely be willing to hold.
Member Kearns still saw an important educational and liaison role for the authority. The
goal was to promote easements, no matter who held them.
•
Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority _ 9 _
Minutes of May 25, 2006
A discussion of unique easements that other organizations would not be willing to hold
• took place. Planner Eddy reminded the members that a minimum number of points are
needed for acceptance into the county's easement program.
Assistant County Administrator Tierney advised that the county might be more receptive
to holding easements if the staff workload was reduced. Planner Eddy relayed the VOF's
reasons for the having counties assume the primary role in monitoring and enforcement.
Many members expressed the view that the VOF should be more flexible in crafting
agreements with counties. Members Van Osten and Kearns suggested other
organizations that might be willing to help with the monitoring of easements.
Member Good stated that he was withdrawing his two easement applications as the
county had no agreement with the VOF in place, and he is ready to go before the VOF
Board in June. He stated his reasons for having sought the county as a co- holder.
Member Van Osten suggested a joint work session with the Board and the Authority
before the Board takes up this item again. Staff was directed to work with the VOF to
seek more cooperative terms for the memorandum. Meetings with Clarke County were
also encouraged. Staff agreed to seek a meeting with the VOF to which authority
members would be invited and to possibly set up a work session with Board Members if a
new agreement with the VOF could be reached.
ADJOURNMENT
• There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James R. Wilkins III, Chairman
Susan K. Eddy, Secretary
is
Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority -20-
Minutes of May 25, 2006