Charles City supervisors weigh-in on early talks of five-man board

Leadership for Charles City has consisted of a three-man board of supervisors. But a comment made at the June meeting prompted a call for feedback at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Charles City resident Kevin Sullivan used last month’s citizen comment period. During that time, Sullivan said that the county was one of very few in the state of Virginia that consisted of a three-man board. He reiterated those comments at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Word of Sullivan’s comments made their rounds in the county, with a few citizens calling up their respective county representatives to weigh in their opinion. Supervisors elected to comment during board directives on the issue.

“I have received around three calls, but no one has given me a reason to go to a five-man board,” commented District 1 representative and chairman Gilbert Smith. “They just tell me it’s a good idea.

“I am looking for more citizen input,” Smith added. “I know it came up in the 80s and citizens voted it down.”
District 2 leader Bill Coada said he’s not a big fan of the idea of going to a five-man board but said there may be conditions he could agree to.

“The only thing that I will say is that if it goes to that, I don’t want to see three members from one district,” he said, pointing to how Charles City’s School Board currently has three members from District 2. “That will give a quorum.”

District 3 representative Floyd Miles Sr. was adamant about his stance.

“As one board member, it is of my opinion that this is an attempt for individuals to backdoor their way onto the board,” he said, reiterating his opposition form comments made at the June meeting.

Supervisors agreed to spend more time receive feedback on the issue and doing additional research.