Citizens group requesting town hall meetings in NK

A New Kent citizens group is urging the county’s Board of Supervisors to adopt a resolution that would enact quarterly town hall meetings during which residents could discuss issues with county officials.

Members of the New Kent County Citizens Coalition voiced their proposal during the public comment session at last Wednesday’s board meeting. Supervisors, however, neither discussed nor took action on the request.

The coalition is the same group that filed suit in county circuit court in July seeking to overturn New Kent’s recent real estate reassessment. Ultimately, the suit was tossed out after the judge in the matter ruled no legal basis exists for a group to challenge assessments.

The group’s latest move, coalition officers say, is to foster positive relationships between the board and county citizens.

“It’s an honest attempt to be cooperative,” coalition chairman George Slemp told board members.

“A lot of people who have joined our organization are concerned about the direction of our county,” he said, adding that some have expressed distress and feel uncomfortable taking concerns to the county on their own.

Town hall meetings would be helpful, allowing county officials to hear residents’ concerns as well as distribute information on items of importance, he noted.

In a written proposal presented to board members, the coalition sets forth a list of recommendations on where and when to schedule meetings. Also suggested is a two-hour time limit per meeting, but with at least one hour designated for a question and answer session. Remaining time would be devoted to statements by supervisors and other county officials.

The group is also advocating that the quarterly meetings be advertised in local newspapers at least 10 days in advance and that a minimum of three supervisors attend.  Contacted the day after last week’s meeting, County Administrator John Budesky said he plans to informally review the group’s proposal with supervisors.

“We want to see if the concept has some merit and look at it further,” he said. “We need to determine if this is the most effective format or if there’s some other alternative.”

Budesky added that county residents can directly contact their representative on the board and that county staff is available at any time to make presentations before all groups and organizations.

In another matter at last week’s meeting, Budesky said the county’s financial picture remains solid, but added that steps are being taken to control expenditures in light of troubling economic times.

Two staff positions that opened in the past two weeks have been frozen, he said, and expenses for training employees are being reduced. County officials are also looking at deferring capital projects, he added.

“We need to be proactive to eliminate any impact,” he said, noting that upcoming budget preparation for the next fiscal year should prove challenging as officials search for ways to tighten belts and improve efficiency.

“I want to reassure citizens that the county is financially strong, but we’re looking at ways to alleviate any future burden,” he said, adding that officials are analyzing the economic situation on a monthly basis.

Also, supervisors voted 4-0 to approve a rezoning request that paves the way for a five-unit townhouse development on just under two acres located on North Henpeck Road, fronting Quinton Park.

Developer Pete Sweet has proffered to make two of the five units handicapped accessible as well as contribute $2,500 for each certificate of occupancy granted to offset potential impact on county schools.

Supervisors questioned the number of bedrooms planned for the development along with plans for upkeep and maintenance.

Sweet said he would be willing to proffer no more than eight bedrooms, meaning three two-bedroom units and a pair of one-bedroom units. As to townhouse upkeep, he said “pretty restrictive covenants” are designed to enforce proper maintenance.

He said he resides in the same neighborhood and added, “I intend for it to look the rest of my life the way it did when I opened it.”

Board chairman Jimmy Burrell did not participate in the vote, citing a previous contractual agreement with Sweet.