Bath Supervisors Meet To Set Rules For Meeting

Warm Springs, VA – On Wednesday morning, the Bath Board of Supervisors held its second work session this month and addressed a number of items including some that pertain to how regular monthly meetings will be conducted. The Board approved changing the by laws to include a second be required to every motion. Supervisor Kevin Fry said he was concerned that with that change, a motion could die without discussion if there was no second for it.

Supervisor Claire Collins said she felt the board should be using formalized parliamentary procedure and thus should include a second to each motion. Supervisor Cliff Gilchrest said he was ambivalent about it, but said he was leaning toward having a second. The change to include a second for every motion passed on a vote of 3 to 2, with Supervisors Bruce McWilliams and Kevin Fry voting no.

The Board also discussed the two public comment periods held at the regular monthly meetings. All board members supported continuing to have public comment, both at the beginning and at the end of meetings. The Board agreed that speakers will still need to sign in for the first public comment period, but they will now be able to speak on any topic, not just on agenda items. Speakers will also now be asked to come to the podium to speak.

County Attorney Mike Collins provided information to the Board about staggered terms. He said that state code gives counties the authority to put staggered terms in place. Staggered terms would avoid a large turnover with Board members and Constitutional Officers on the same election cycle.

He said the Board would first need to select which members will run on a two year cycle, then pass an ordinance for the two year terms, then hold a special election. After the first two Board members start the process with two year terms, then each member would be on a four year cycle. Terms on the School Board will also have to be staggered along with the Supervisor terms and would follow the same procedure.

At its previous work session, the Board discussed doing more of its work electronically and moving away from paper. The Board voted on Wednesday to buy tablet computers. The cost will not exceed $700 each and seven will be purchased: one for each Board member, one for the County Administrator and one for the County Administrator’s staff office.

And the Board also discussed the creation of a health insurance review committee, made up of ten members and two advisors from throughout county government and the community. And Supervisor Bruce McWilliams was appointed to serve on the Rockbridge Regional Library Board and Sherry Ryder was appointed to the Central Shenandoah EMS Council.