Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting, March 6, 2024
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting, March 6, 2024
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met on March 6, 2024, at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium. The meeting included proclamations, a budget work session, a claim presentation, a closed meeting, and three public hearings. Key decisions included approval of the consent agenda, appointments to boards and commissions, and approvals for three public hearing items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from April 20, May 5, May 18, and May 25, 2022.
- Approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the County and the Albemarle County Parks Foundation.
- Approved a Special Exception for Afton Scientific Loading Space (SE202300035).
- Received the Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee Semi-annual Report (July–December 2023) and the School Board quarterly report.
Public Comments & Testimony
- George Stevens (Chief, North Garden Volunteer Fire Company, Samuel Miller District) spoke during the first "From the Public" session. He expressed deep concern over critical staffing shortages at the North Garden Fire Station, which responds to over 800 calls per year. He noted that the county had denied their request for 24/7 career staffing. He formally requested the Board to: (1) determine the financial impact of the request, (2) ask ACRFR to evaluate redistributing resources, (3) inquire about a deployment plan without the staffing increase, and (4) consider reversing staffing recommendations and funding 24/7 staffing in the FY25 budget.
Discussion Items
- FY 2025 Operating and Capital Budget Work Session: Assistant CFO Andy Bowman presented an overview of the recommended budget. The total all-funds budget increases by $74 million (13%), driven largely by capital projects. General fund revenues and expenditures are balanced at $432 million, with real estate taxes remaining at 85.4 cents per $100 assessed value and personal property tax at $3.42. Key expenditure drivers include workforce stabilization (classification and compensation study, COLA), health fund contributions, and public safety investments. Staff noted 6.6 new FTEs (3.6 cost-neutral) and that revenue growth is slowing compared to recent years. The Board discussed fund balance policies, reserve levels, and potential adjustments. No action was taken; further work sessions are scheduled for March 11 and March 13.
- S.L. Williamson Claim Presentation: Eric Lammers, attorney for S.L. Williamson, presented a claim for additional compensation under a paving contract for the Ivy Road Sidewalk Improvements Project. The claim consists of $91,000 for cost escalation due to project delays and $238,207 for corrective work ordered by the county after the original paving was completed. The contractor argued that the county’s directive to mill 1.5 inches full depth was unnecessary and that the work as performed met project requirements and improved drainage. The county refused payment. The Board later went into closed session to consult with legal counsel on this matter and other litigation.
- Closed Meeting: The Board convened a closed meeting under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A) subsections (1), (7), and (8) to discuss appointments to boards and commissions, actual litigation (Ragged Mountain Natural Area case), probable litigation (S.L. Williamson claim), and legal advice related to that claim.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: Unanimously adopted proclamations recognizing March 2024 as Women’s History Month and March as Red Cross Month. Representatives from the Charlottesville National Organization of Women and the Red Cross Central Virginia Chapter accepted the proclamations.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously by recorded vote.
- Closed Meeting Certification: The Board certified by recorded vote that only matters lawfully exempt from open meeting requirements were discussed.
- Appointments: Approved appointments to the 5th & Avon Community Advisory Committee (Matthew Siebert), Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (Jose Gomez, Peter Thompson), Crozet Community Advisory Committee (Costas Albertus), and Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee (Christine Hirsch Putnam and Kaylee Renault).
- Public Hearing – Arbor Life Professional Tree Care (SP202300006): Approved a special use permit for a landscape contractor on a 4.02-acre lot in the Rural Areas district at 163 Patterson Mill Lane, with four conditions addressing buffers, restroom facilities (composting toilet permitted), and a VSMP permit. Vote: unanimous.
- Public Hearing – 4102 Dickerson Road Rezoning (ZMA202300011): Approved rezoning 2.22 acres from Rural Areas to Light Industrial, consistent with the Places29 Master Plan. The property will continue using well and septic; future water/sewer connection may require a separate special use permit. Vote: unanimous.
- Public Hearing – Woodridge Solar Siting Agreement: Approved a solar siting agreement with Hexagon Energy LLC for the proposed Woodridge Solar project. The agreement ensures the county receives the greater of the machinery and tools tax or the solar revenue share, with supplemental payments to be used for permitted purposes (mitigation, CIP, fiscal budget, reserve funds, broadband). Vote: unanimous.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. I'm going to call to order this, please to call to order this regular meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on the 6th of March in 1 p.m. in Lane Auditorium. I'd like to note at the diest we have Supervisor Ann Malik of the Whitehall District, Supervisor Ned Galloway of the Rio District, Supervisor Diantha McKeel of the Jack Jewett District, Supervisor B. Lapisto Kirtley of the Ravanna District, the Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District, and myself, Jim Andrews representing the Samuel Miller District. The quorum is present. We're also joined here by our county executive, Mr. Jeff Richardson, our county attorney, Mr. Steve Rosenberg, and our clerk, Miss Claudette Borgerson and Senior Deputy Clerk, Mr. Travis Morris. Please also let me welcome Albemarle County Police Officers present, Lieutenant Angela Jamerson, and Officer Matt Middleton. And we thank you for your service here and across the county every day. Thank you for our safety and security. Fall present could now stand as you were able and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. If you would know, please join us in a moment of silence. Thank you. Board will now move to adoption of the final agenda for today. I have not heard of any suggested amendments. So if there is a uh if not, if there's a motion to adopt the final agenda. So moved. Second. So we have a motion from Supervisor Malik, a second from Supervisor Lapisto Kurtley, without objection if the clerk will call the roll. Ms. LePisto Kirtley, aye. Ms. Mallet, yes, Ms. McKeel. Yes. Mr. Pruitt? Aye. Mr. Andrews. Yes. Mr. Galloway. Yes. Thank you. Board will now move to brief announcements by board members. And our order today will start with Supervisor Malik. Thank you very much. Someone else may be going to speak to, but I know in April there will be the IVMUC materials utilization center will be all sorts of dates for hazardous household waste, appliances, tires, and electronics. So please consult the Ravana.org website to learn about those. And also we know that April is the day for plant sales and garden tours, and there'll be more information about that in the first April meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor Pruitt. Yes. So I've become the guy who talks about election days every time.
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