The Stafford County Board of Supervisors ran into a surprise hurdle when attempting to approve an additional four hours of time off for county staff around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The additional holiday leave has been an annual “gift” to county staff over the last decade, usually voted on at a board meeting directly before the holidays. The state already provides four hours off on those dates. The proposed resolution would have approved the hours several weeks earlier than in the past.
But Garrisonville District Supervisor Pamela Yeung questioned why the county was closing offices on those additional days instead of remaining open for the public or making staff use their own personal time off.
Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch praised the county’s additional time off that goes “above and beyond what the state requirements are.”
“Not a lot of localities match our days off,” Vanuch said. She also said that the two half-days total around $100,000, “which would consequently pay for hearing aids on the health care plans,” referencing a previous board discussion on insurance for county staff.
Ultimately though, Vanuch concluded that since the board has raised taxes over the years, they should start looking at places the budget could be trimmed, like additional time off.
“I’m supporting this,” Hartwood District Supervisor Darrell English said. “We’ve done it in the past, and I don’t see where it’s a big issue.”
Falmouth Supervisor and Chair Meg Bohmke explained that the formal request from staff was in order to approve the additional hours ahead of time so employees could make plans for their holidays.
“I understand where my colleagues are coming from,” Bohmke said. “It’s not an easy decision, but I think in this case…I am going to support this.”
Bohmke also opined that she felt having two deputies on the board was a conflict of interest because they would be voting on something that directly impacted them. Both English and George Washington District Supervisor Deuntay Diggs serve with the sheriff’s office — and both were quick to make a rebuttal.
“This is not unusual what we’re doing as far as giving these half days. It’s nothing new…For you to say this is a conflict of interest, I take offense at that,” said English, who has worked for the county for four decades. “And I’m a part-time employee so I don’t get any benefit here.”
Diggs also took exception to the remark.
“This is the second time that it’s been brought up… the citizens elected us and put us in this seat knowing the positions that we held in the county as law enforcement officers,” he said. “And Supervisor English and I both operate with integrity.”
Ultimately, the vote ended in a 3-3 tie since Supervisor Tinesha Allen was stuck in traffic; the board will revisit the issue as an action item when all supervisors are present.
In other business, the supervisors decided to wait to make decisions on the design and location of a new courthouse facility.
Brian Counsell, chief director of infrastructure, walked the board through two conceptual plans for courthouse expansion. The first would revise the courthouse project as a new combined court facility on the previously designated Destination Stafford site. The other option would be to proceed with the addition of a circuit court building and renovations to the existing courthouse.
Both options exceed the current CIP funding.
The county staff is working with the consulting firm Dewberry on preliminary studies and cost analysis. The board opted to wait until they were deeper into budget discussions before making any decisions on the project.
The supervisors also decided to delay making a commitment to foot the bill for moving water and sewer infrastructure impacted by the design of a third track by CSC and the Virginia Public Rail Authority.
The county is required to relocate the infrastructure, and CSX has asked for a letter of no prejudice that authorizes the company to pay the cost and be reimbursed by Stafford County. The letter would authorize VPRA to perform design tasks up to $500,000 while a final agreement was being made.
“I’m kind of baffled a bit,” Vanuch said. “We get federal funding to expand a rail line. But then they don’t account for the localities who have easements with their utilities and then put the bill on the local residents to pay $5 to $8 million on that rail that they may or may not utilize?”
Counsell told the board that he would work with the county attorney to find out the county’s specific obligations. Other supervisors voiced agreement on taking the issue into a closed session to look at what assistance may be available to offset the cost.
The board also sent a resolution to the planning commission to develop stricter ordinances regarding tobacco and vape shops. Concerns had been raised regarding minors having access to the shops. There are currently 25 such shops in the county, located in both commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.
Proposed changes would increase the setback of these stores from schools, childcare centers and similar businesses so that minors could not easily reach them. The resolution passed unanimously, 7-0.
The board also passed a resolution to amend its bylaws and rules of procedure, which includes eliminating standing committees. The resolution passed 5-1 with Yeung voting against and Supervisor Monica Gary absent.
