Bath Supervisors revise compensation for boards and commissions

The Bath Board of Supervisors approves changes in compensation for members of boards and commissions.  At it’s meeting on Tuesday night, the board voted to raise the salary for future members of the board of supervisors.  The change will take effect on January 1, 2016 when a new board is seated following the November 2015 election.  The new monthly pay will be $500 plus health and/or dental insurance, if a board member chooses it.  Currently board members make $400 a month and are eligible for health insurance, with Supervisor Bart Perdue being the only member who takes advantage of the offer of insurance.

During discussion, Supervisor Claire Collins said that members of the board of supervisors are spending more than they are making considering the hours required, the phone calls and the meetings that come along with the job.  She asked if the $500 amount under consideration should be increased.  County Administrator Ashton Harrison said he though $750 was a reasonable figure.  But Board Chair Bruce McWilliams said when considering health insurance, the figure for that could end up being very different depending on how many board members take insurance.  He said that amount is something the board has no control over.  McWilliams said he was hesitant to go too far on the salary figure, since the health insurance amount is an unknown number.  The board unanimously approved the monthly compensation amount of $500 for future members of the board of supervisors.  Supervisor Claire Collins said she was not opposed to the $500 amount, but did wish that it was a bit higher.

The board also approved changes on payment for members of other boards and commissions.  Beginning July 1, 2015 the county will only pay members of statutory boards.  That’s the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Building Code Board of Appeals.  Those are the boards that are subordinate to the board of supervisors.  Those boards are required by state law and have no independence and have a direct legal relationship to the board of supervisors.  The board also voted to approve that for all other boards and commissions whose members travel to meetings outside of the county, the county will continue the practice of reimbursement for mileage.

Also on Tuesday night, the  board voted unanimously to adopt the updated Comprehensive Plan for the county.  A public hearing was held on the update, but no one in attendance spoke.  County Planner and Zoning Administrator Sherry Ryder said work on the revision has taken over two years.  She said the plan can be amended at any time by going through the public hearing process.  The updated Bath County Comprehensive Plan can be found on the county’s website www.bathcountyva.org