CEA_05-31-07_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 31, 2007 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Richie Wilkins, Chairman; Diane Kearns, Vice - Chairman; John Gavitt;
Barbara Van Osten; Robert Solenberger; Phil Glaize; and Todd Lodge.
ABSENT: Jim Lawrence, Treasurer; and John Light.
STAFF PRESENT: Susan Eddy, Principal Planner; Bernard Suchicital, Planner I.
PUBLIC MEETING:
Item 1 - Minutes
The minutes of the January 25, 2007 meeting were approved.
Item 2 - Minutes
The minutes of the February 22, 2007 meeting were approved.
Item 3 - Minutes
The minutes of the April 26, 2007 meeting were approved.
Item 4 — Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Funding
Planner Eddy reviewed the Virginia Office of Farmland Preservation's new grant
program for the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR). $4.25 million will be available
from the state for jurisdictions with a PDR program. Local matching funds are required.
The local PDR program must be certified and staff, per the direction of the Board of
Supervisors, will be pursuing certification. Local jurisdictions have until July 2, 2007 to
certify matching funding that will be available.
Members discussed a draft letter to the Board of Supervisors requesting that a line item
be established in the budget to accept private donations for the purchase of development
rights. This could be used as part of the County's matching funding. Some Authority
Members wanted to directly request that the Board of Supervisors appropriate $265,000
to serve as Frederick County's matching funds for this grant program.
Chairman Wilkins noted that at the Finance Committee meeting on April 18, 2007,
Committee members mentioned the possibility of earmarking funds without actually
appropriating funds. This would allow decisions to be deferred until greater details on a
specific property were available.
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Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority -36—
Minutes of May 3 1, 2007
Members discussed issues for inclusion in a letter to the Board of Supervisors. Members
unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Board with the following points:
1. To request that $265,000 be appropriated to serve as matching funds for the state
PER program;
2. To request that $265,000 be set aside in the budget so that the County can qualify
for the state program by July 1 but make a decision at a later date whether or not
to actually spend the money; and
3. To request that a line item be added to the general fund to allow the accumulation
of private donations for the purchase of development rights and the conservation
easement program.
Planner Eddy was directed to verify if donations to Frederick County were eligible for tax
deductions. Planner Eddy was directed to research cost of community services studies.
Planner Eddy will be attending a PDR Managers meeting on June I" to learn more details
about the state program.
Item 5 — Public Informational Meeting
The CEA members agreed to hold another public informational rneeting on Tuesday,
June 19, 2007. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Member Diane
Kearns. Authority Members are encouraged to invite members of the public who might
be interested in conservation easements.
Item 6 — Other
Members agreed to hold a meeting on June 14, 2007 to prepare for the informational
meeting on June 19 and to further discuss PDR funding.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James R. Wilkins I11, Chairman
J A � l fie Cx �l
Susan K. Eddy, Secretary
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Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority - 37—
Minutes of May 31, 2007