JCC Notebook: Supes Meeting Highlights and More

Thursday, June 16, 2011

This week's county notebook includes highlights from Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, the announcement of a new Building and Safety Permits Director, and an upcoming meeting of the Planning Commission's Policy Committee.

At their Tuesday evening meeting, Supervisors adopted a VRS change they had decided upon during budget discussions and they decided to switch insurance providers for Line of Duty Act claims. They also voted to purchase a conservation easement on private land and heard that there will be no new traffic light installed along Jamestown Road near Colony Square.

In April, the Board said it wanted employees hired on or after July 1, 2010 (Plan 2 employees) to pay the five percent employee share of their Virginia Retirement System contributions currently paid by the county. These employees will receive a 5.7 percent base salary increase to offset the impact, which will take effect July 1 this year. The Board voted Tuesday 3-2 to approve the plan, with supervisors John McGlennon and Jim Icenhour dissenting.

The Line of Duty Act is an unfunded mandate through the state that now requires localities to pay for death benefits for public safety officers killed in the line of duty. Local governments have until June 2012 to decide whether to continue to use the Virginia Retirement System trust fund to cover the benefit costs or to find another way. County staff suggested financing the liabilities through the Virginia Association of Counties beginning July 1. The estimated cost to the county for claims in fiscal year 2012 is about $110,000.

The Board also unanimously agreed to spend $300,000 through the Purchase of Development Rights program to buy a conservation easement on the 34-acre property of Dennis and Christine Weygand. The family offered to sell the easement to the county, and it will keep the mainly forested land from being developed.

Finally, county staff informed the Board that the planned traffic light at Colony Square Shopping Center on Jamestown Road will not be built. Many citizens didn’t want the Virginia Department of Transportation to install the planned light, and the Board asked VDOT to do another traffic study to see if it was warranted. VDOT decided to scrap the project as traffic no longer warrants it.

Citizens can view the agenda and Tuesday’s votes on agenda items online.

County Announces New Building and Safety Permits Director

James City County Development Manager Steven Hicks recently announced Thomas W. Coghill as the new Director of Building Safety and Permits.

In conjunction with the position, Coghill has been appointed by the Board of Supervisors as the County’s Building Official. He fills the positions left vacant after the retirement of Doug Murrow.

Coghill has over 30 years in the building industry. He began his career with James City County in 1996 as a building inspector. Through subsequent promotions he has also served as a plans examiner and most recently Chief Plans Examiner. Coghill has also completed several special assignments as Acting Director of Code Compliance, Acting Building Official and Damage Assessment Manager.

Hicks said, “Tom has long been recognized for his ability to resolve issues and work with community to ensure the safety of buildings in James City County. He is very qualified for this appointment and I look forward to him implementing some new ideas that will make this division more efficient and business friendly.”

Coghill is certified as a Building Official by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the International Code Council. He is also certified as a building plans examiner, fire protection plans examiner, building inspector general, mechanical inspector and plumbing inspector. In addition to his County duties, Coghill serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the Virginia Building Code Official’s Association (Region 8).

Planning Commission Policy Committee Meeting

The Planning Commission Policy Committee will meet Thursday at 7 p.m.

The commission will discuss Stage II Zoning Ordinance update draft changes, and specifically development standards, including parking, private streets, landscaping, tree preservation, sound walls and lighting.

The meeting will be held in Building A of the James City County Government Center on Mounts Bay Road. Members of the public are invited to attend and opportunities for comment will be available. Comments can be submitted online.

Meeting materials will be available online the week before the scheduled meeting.

For more information, please contact the Planning Division at 253-6685 or planning@james-city.va.us.