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03-19-2024 Work Session - FINAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ WORK SESSION March 19, 2024 VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors' ("Board") Work Session was held on March 19, 2024, in the Board Meeting Room, 39 Bank Street, SE, Chatham, Virginia 24531. CALL TO ORDER (4:00 PM) Dalton called the Meeting to Order at 4:00 PM. ROLL CALL The following Board Members were present: Darrell W. Dalton - Callands-Gretna District Robert M. Tucker, Jr. - Banister District Kenneth L. Bowman - Chatham-Blairs District Eddie L. Hite, Jr. - Dan River District William V. (“Vic”) Ingram - Tunstall District Murray W. Whittle - Westover District Timothy W. Dudley, Staunton River District, joined the Meeting at 4:05 PM. AGENDA ITEMS TO BE ADDED Motion to add Certified Crime Prevention Communities Program Discussion to the Agenda as item 6(e). RESULT: 6-0 (Approved) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Ingram AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Hite, Ingram, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve Agenda. RESULT: 6-0 (Approved) MOVER: Ingram SECONDER: Hite AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Hite, Ingram, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None PRESENTATIONS a. Old Calland's Post Office Rehabilitation Project Update Presentation Neil Martin addressed the rehabilitation needs of the Old Calland's Post Office. He stated there is plaster coming apart and a crack in the roof of the old Courthouse, as well as the steps, front porch, roof, small porch, and other items that need repairs. These repairs must be completed in a certain way due to these properties being Historical Sites. There was consensus of the Board to instruct County Staff to review the County's Budget related to funding to maintain/rehabilitate these historic buildings, and to add this item to the March Business Meeting Agenda. STAFF.COMMITTEE, AND/OR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER REPORTS a. County Tax Relief Programs for the Elderly, Disabled, and/or Disabled Veterans Review/Update Coard reviewed the County’s Tax Relief Programs. She stated that currently there are approximately 300 people in the Veteran's Program and 325 in the Elderly/Disabled Indigent Tax Relief Program. There are qualifications that must be met to apply for tax relief for the elderly, and there is an application that must be filled out every year, and it is due to the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office by February 15th of each year. This Program is income based, and currently, income cannot be over $25,000. The relief is applied to the primary residence and one (1) acre of land. Veteran's can apply anytime during the year for the Veteran's program. There is an application for this program as well, but there is no deadline for when it must be completed. There was discussion from the Board regarding the income limit and wanting to talk about potentially revising this in the future. b. Potential Beautification Committee Reinstatement Discussion Bowman recommended the Board reinstate the Beautification Committee to assist with litter clean up, as well as many other things. The Committee would be comprised of seven (7) members, one (1) from each District, and appointed by the Board. There was consensus of the Board to add this item to the March Business Meeting Agenda, and to instruct County Staff to take the appropriate steps to reinstitute the Beautification Committee and report back to the Board with specifics. Dalton also recommended Bowman be the Board liaison on the Committee. c. VDOT Smart Scale County Projects Update/Discussion of Potential Future County Smart Scale Projects Ragsdale reviewed the current VDOT Smart Scale County Projects and the process in which related projects are screened, selected, and funded. Potential projects are the Berry Hill Interchange (submitted by the MPO) and the 41/Franklin Turnpike Improvements. Her presentation can be found on the County's website at www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov. d. Towns/County Economic Development Summit Discussion Turille discussed with the Board the potential of scheduling a future Economic Development Summit between the Towns in the County and the County. He stated after attending a recent Chatham First meeting, meeting with the IDA, area Business Leaders, the Mayors of Chatham and Hurt, the Chamber of Commerce and CEOs of area businesses, it is clear to him that there are numerous individuals, entities, Towns, and organizations working on multiple economic development projects within Pittsylvania County. He proposed to begin a quarterly Economic Development Summit, where County can get updates on the region’s visions, projects, goals, strategies, issues, and challenges, workforce development progress, infrastructure needs, new grants, and begin communicating collaboratively to achieve economic and community development, benefiting the whole County, rather than in isolation. Turille believes a concerted effort will accelerate and improve our efforts to build community, create jobs and wealth in the County, and help to achieve more grants and new funding opportunities. No final Board action on this item occurred. e. Certified Crime Prevention Communities Program Sheriff Taylor briefed the Board on the Certified Crime Prevention Communities Program and reviewed the benefits to the community. Benefits include sending a clear signal to criminals that criminal behavior will not be tolerated, gives a community preference in the State criminal justice grant application process, the designation can be used as a marketing tool to attract families, tourists, businesses, conference planners, and others interested in finding a safe location in which to live and work, the designation can be used to seek premium reductions from insurance companies for policyholders living in a certified community, and the designation can enhance the professionalism of a City or County management and local law enforcement agencies by showing that the locality can meet rigorous standards related to community safety. There was consensus of the Board to add to the March Business Meeting Agenda to adopt the Resolution of Participation for the County/Sheriff to participate in the Certified Crime Prevention Community Program. BUSINESS MEETING DISCUSSION Hunt reviewed the items that would be added to the night's Business Meeting Agenda as follows: -Historical Building Maintenance -Re-establishment of the Beautification Committee -Certified Crime Prevention Communities Program CLOSED SESSION Motion to enter Closed Session. The Board entered Closed Session at 5:34 PM. RESULT: 7-0 (Approved) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Bowman AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Dudley, Hite, Ingram, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None a. Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. (1) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5) Subject Matters: Project Tiger Tail Purpose: Discussion concerning an existing business/industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business'/industry's interest in expanding its facilities in the community RETURN TO OPEN SESSION & CLOSED SESSION CERTIFICATION The Board returned to Open Session at 7:01 PM and the following Certification was recorded: PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ CLOSED MEETING CERTIFICATION BE IT RESOLVED that at the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ (“Board”) Work Session on March 19, 2024, the Board hereby certifies by a recorded vote that to the best of each Board Member’s knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from the Open Meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (“Act”) and identified in the Motion authorizing the Closed Meeting were heard, discussed, or considered in the Closed Meeting. If any Board Member believes that there was a departure from the requirements of the Act, he shall so state prior to the vote indicating the substance of the departure. The Statement shall be recorded in the Board's Minutes. Vote Kenneth L. Bowman Yes Timothy W. Dudley Yes Eddie L. Hite, Jr. Yes William V. (“Vic”) Ingram Yes Murray W. Whittle Yes Robert M. Tucker, Jr. Yes Darrell W. Dalton Yes ADJOURNMENT Dalton adjourned the Meeting at 7:02 PM.