Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Annual Organizational Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Board of Supervisors held its annual organizational meeting on January 7, 2026, to elect officers, adopt rules and policies, set the meeting calendar, appoint members to boards and commissions, and appoint a new Fire and Rescue Chief. The meeting began at 1:00 PM in Lane Auditorium and included a closed session.

Election of Officers and Appointments

• Chair: Supervisor Ned L. Gallaway (Rio District) was elected Chair for 2026. Motion by Ann Mallek, second by Bea LaPisto-Kirtley. Vote: 6-0.
• Vice-Chair: Supervisor Fred A. Missel (Samuel Miller District) was elected Vice-Chair. Motion by Supervisor Gallaway, second by Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley. Vote: 6-0.
• Clerk: Claudette K. Borgersen was appointed as Clerk. Motion and second, vote: 6-0.
• Senior Deputy Clerk: Travis Morris was appointed as Senior Deputy Clerk. Motion and second, vote: 6-0.

Calendar Adoption

• The board adopted the 2026 meeting calendar (including January 2027) with amendments: February 4 meeting time changed from 10 AM to 1 PM, and February 18 start time changed to 3 PM. Motion by Fred Missel, second by Ann Mallek. Vote: 6-0.

Adoption of Board Rules, Policies, and Operating Guidelines

• Board Rules of Procedure: Adopted unanimously with an amendment suggested by County Attorney Andy Herrick to revise Rule 6F1C to allow the chair to stop speech that "actually disrupts or significantly threatens to disrupt" the meeting, addressing First Amendment concerns. Vote: 6-0.
• Board Policies for 2026: Readopted without change. Vote: 6-0.
• Board Operating Guidelines: Adopted without change, noted as best practices since 2016. Supervisors Mallek and Pruitt offered perspectives on the staff-board relationship. Vote: 6-0.

Final Agenda and Announcements

• The final agenda was adopted unanimously. Vote: 6-0.
• Board Member Announcements:
  • Ann Mallek welcomed new supervisors, emphasized rural/urban balance, and highlighted issues including cemetery access, boil water alerts, sidewalk shoveling ordinances, and a safer chemical policy.
  • Michael Pruitt noted the board now has a 3-3 split on certain votes and encouraged public engagement.
  • Bea LaPisto-Kirtley announced the Fire Rescue Foundation achieved 501(c)(3) status, and looked forward to zoning modernization, economic development, and broadband completion by spring 2026.
  • Fred Missel thanked the board and focused on smart growth, housing partnerships, and transparency, noting the AstraZeneca opportunity.
  • Sally Duncan expressed excitement to serve and learn.
  • Ned Gallaway thanked the community for support during a personal event in 2025, emphasized regional collaboration, and noted the value of local governance across partisan lines.

Public Comment

• Gary Grant (Rio District): Expressed disgust at a supervisor using profanity in a joint meeting with the School Board, frustration with a form letter about personal data security, and criticized rising real estate taxes alongside county partnerships with INGIC, DIA, and AstraZeneca.
• Alicia Lenahan (Scottsville District): Urged the board to adopt a resolution condemning non-transparent federal immigration enforcement and affirming community safety principles. She praised current police and sheriff policies not inquiring about immigration status and called for moral leadership to protect immigrant and refugee neighbors.

Closed Meeting

• The board convened a closed meeting under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) to discuss appointments to numerous county bodies and to consider the appointment of the Fire and Rescue Chief. Motion by Sally Duncan, second by Ann Mallek. Vote: 6-0.
• The board certified the closed meeting was lawful. Vote: 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment of Fire and Rescue Chief: David Puckett was appointed Fire and Rescue Chief. Resolution adopted unanimously. Vote: 6-0. Chief Puckett has 27 years of service, most recently as Deputy Chief of Operations. The board expressed confidence in his leadership.
• Appointments to Boards and Commissions: The board approved a list of appointments to various authorities and committees, including the Albemarle Conservation Easement Authority, Albemarle County Service Authority, Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, Economic Development Authority, Equalization Board, Piedmont Family YMCA, Places 29 North Community Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, and Police Department Citizens Advisory Committee. Vote: 6-0.
• Board Member Committee Appointments: Supervisor assignments to advisory committees and liaisons were approved, including assignments to the ACE Committee, Agricultural and Forestal District Committee, Broadband Authority, Audit Committee, Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah Park Relations, CACVB, Chamber Public Policy Committee, Economic Development Authority, Hazardous Materials Local Emergency Planning Committee, High Growth Coalition, Historic Preservation Committee, JABA, Police Citizens Advisory Committee, Regional Housing Partnership, Regional Transit Authority, Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee, and Virginia Career Works Piedmont Council. Vote: 6-0.

Adjournment

• The board adjourned to January 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM in Lane Auditorium.