Michael Hipple (Powhatan) assumed his seat on the James City County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to pull the five-member board to a Republican majority, resulting in Stonehouse Supervisor Jim Kennedy’s appointment to chairman of the board.
At its Jan. 2 organizational meeting, Kennedy suggested John McGlennon (Roberts) and Mary Jones (Berkeley) remain as chairman and vice chairwoman, respectively, until the board had five elected members. At the time, there was no Powhatan supervisor due to a trickle-down effect caused by redistricting.
With Hipple seated as the fifth elected member of the board, Jones nominated Kennedy for the chairmanship at Tuesday’s board meeting. On a 3-1-1 vote, with McGlennon opposed and Jim Icenhour (Jamestown) abstaining, Kennedy was voted chairman of the board. McGlennon passed Kennedy the gavel to carry out the chairmanship for the remainder of the year. Icenhour is currently appealing the James City County Board of Elections for a recount in his race against challenger Kevin Onizuk, who defeated Icenhour by 30 votes in the official vote count last week.
Some board members also requested a number of issues that had come before the board in the past year be re-examined in the future.
Jones asked for the chicken-keeping issue to be recalled and for it to be taken up by the Planning Commission Policy Committee and then the Planning Commission. She asked for a draft ordinance to allow chicken keeping, also referencing some plans submitted by citizens that could be considered. Jones also said she understood some violation letters recently went out to citizens keeping chickens in areas they aren’t currently permitted, and asked that any legal action be postponed until the issue is reconsidered by the Planning Commission and policy committee.
In July, the supervisors chose not to pursue an ordinance change regarding chicken keeping when three members — McGlennon, Icenhour and Andy Bradshaw (Powhatan) — spoke against a policy change.
Jones also suggested the county work with community organizations and churches to bring more “positive energy” to New Town on the weekends in order to make it friendlier to families. She said safety in the area is important for businesses, kids and people who don’t want to be around issues. Hipple agreed with Jones, saying New Town has issues and he does not go to that area on the weekends.
“It’s an area I think we need to look at and find out what’s going on down there and straighten some of that out,” Hipple said.
McGlennon, on the other hand, does not believe there are problems in New Town and said two businesses that recently opened there — Retro Daddio and Beyond Bricks — have reported high satisfaction rates. There are not a high number of incidents in New Town, McGlennon said, adding that it is a safe, family-oriented area.
The supervisors did not make any decisions regarding New Town at Tuesday’s meeting.
Hipple requested a public hearing be held on uniform terms for supervisors. In October last year, the board voted to bring back staggered election terms. At the time, the board comprised two Republicans, two Democrats, and one supervisor who did not claim a political affiliation. In December 2011, when Republicans last had a majority on the board, they voted to end staggered terms.
Additionally, Kennedy asked the board to revisit the possibility of taping closed session meetings in the future.
The earliest a currently unadvertised public hearing could be held by the board is at its Dec. 10 meeting.
Other Board Matters
The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2, with Jones and Hipple opposing, to accept a $195,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for Freedom Park Trail. The supervisors previously accepted $200,000 for the same grant.
Jones said she believes the citizens should pay for amenities it requests rather than having the county secure outside funding.
The board approved several items on a unanimous vote: grant awards for bulletproof vests and the Dam Safety Assistance Fund for the Warhill Eastern Pond Dam; revisions to the county policy regarding leave; a contingency transfer of $120,000 for the Human Services Building; and a height waiver for Busch Gardens’ planned 2015 Festa Italia attraction that would be almost 160 feet tall.
Moving on to board considerations, the board approved a Mooretown Road Extended Corridor Study on a 3-2 vote with Icenhour and McGlennon opposed. A $399,967 contract for the study was awarded to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. The company will study the Mooretown Road Extended corridor between Lightfoot and Croaker roads.
Funding for the road and a potential road construction company have not been identified at this time. The study would examine whether the road could be built in the proposed location, county staff told the board.
County Administrator Robert Middaugh said this proposed road was first brought forward by his predecessor, Sandy Wanner, when a hurricane caused traffic flow issues along Route 60; the proposed road could be a way to alleviate traffic issues.
The board was slated to consider applying for VDOT’s revenue sharing program to request up to $465,000 for the Forest Heights and Neighbors Drive project, specifically for the Neighbors Drive portion. The funds, if granted, would require no local match. A grant the county has already received from the state could be applied as the local match. Because Hipple did not know enough about the project to be comfortable making a decision tonight, he asked for a deferral, which was granted with no vote.
The board’s agenda from Tuesday’s meeting is available online. The meeting is available for streaming online and will be replayed on the county’s Community Channel, Cox Cable channel 46 at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
