JCC Chair Goes Over Decorum Rules, Board Hints at New BG Ride

By Desiree Parker Wednesday, June 09, 2010

James City County supervisors had a meeting with not-too-contentious hearings and votes, though the chairman took time to highlight some rules of decorum for public comments and reiterated that the public comment period wasn’t a right and could be rescinded.

The rules of courtesy were invoked when speaker Robert Richardson, who speaks at most meetings and has long criticized Republican supervisors, was asked to stop a video portraying himself at a previous meeting criticizing former planning commissioner Chris Henderson.

Chairman Jim Kennedy read a statement at the beginning of the meeting in which he said the board encourages public input, but requests those addressing the board during the public comment sections “use decorum when speaking.”

He said courtesy is expected at all times; cursing and profanity aren’t allowed and “respectful language” should be used; and that speakers shouldn’t use their time to debate with staff or the board directly. He asked speakers to refrain from insults and personal attacks, and he pointed out that public comment periods were “provided as a courtesy” and weren’t required by law.

When Richardson started to play a video from a previous meeting during his time to address the board, Kennedy had the video stopped because it was viewed as a personal attack.

Richardson said he felt that his rights were being violated, and complained that the rules had been changed on the fly without giving the public notice.

At Kennedy’s request, county attorney Leo Rogers explained that the public comment period is regulated completely by supervisors and could be eliminated, and that the rules shared at the beginning of the meeting were well within the rights of the board to create.

Board business
Supervisors unanimously approved a height waiver for a new ride in the Germany section of Busch Gardens. Though scant information about the ride was shared, staff did say the ride’s “slenderness” would lessen its visibility from the road. Also, supervisor Bruce Goodson said that based on an earlier meeting with folks from the park he thought the ride wouldn’t have the noise impact of a regular coaster, and wouldn’t have a mass of people on one side or the other. Discussions suggested the rumor that the ride would be a drop-style type might be accurate.

One Kingsmill resident came to voice concerns about the added noise of the ride, but supervisor John McGlennon pointed out that two rides have recently been removed close to the same area, so the net result wouldn’t be worse noise.

Goodson agreed he thought it wouldn’t be as loud as a roller coaster.

Supervisors also approved a renewal of borrow pits used by two local companies to mine clay and other materials. The pits have been renewed in five-year intervals for about 14 years, and though staff didn’t agree with the applicants’ request not to have to reapply for the special use permit in the future, supervisors did agree to extend the interval to 8 years.

Supervisor Bruce Goodson abstained from discussion and the vote on one of the two borrow-pit applications due to a business relationship with the applicant in that case.

One resident complained that the traffic at the borrow pit was held up by trucks turning in and out of the location, which he said blocked traffic and could be a danger to emergency vehicles.

Supervisors also approved acceptance of a grant totaling nearly $500,000 from the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy for a new program to improve energy efficiency in the county. The money would help pay for a temporary staff position to help organize and implement the program as well as for loan money to help pay for energy efficiency retrofits, training for local contractors, and outreach to the community.

Supervisor Mary Jones voted against accepting the grant not because she doesn’t support a sustainable community and protecting the environment, she said, but because she didn’t agree with spending state taxpayer dollars on a project better left to the private sector.

An application for a cell tower on farmland on Camp Road was unanimously approved, and discussion on a cell tower at Hospice House was again deferred by the applicant.