Public to have say on Amherst County ethics code

AMHERST — The Amherst County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to let taxpayers have a say on a proposed code of ethics policy.

The board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing in September on the four-page document, which urges county officials and employees to “assure public confidence in the integrity of local government and its fair and effective operation.” Supervisors have been reviewing the proposal for several months now but have not agreed yet to adopt it.

During the board’s first lengthy debate on the proposed code since it was introduced, Vice Chairman Chris Adams said he has received some input on the proposal from members of boards and committees appointed by the supervisors. He said they have concerns and he raised his own doubts about some of its language.

“We’re trying to do too much with one document,” Adams said.

Chairman Leon Parrish said in a recent phone interview that the code would be a model to guide the supervisors and “keep us in line.” Supervisor Ray Vandall also said during Tuesday’s meeting the document “is directing us to act as a board.”

Adams said ethics and morals were included in the oath he took for public office and is included in state code. Adams referred to the proposed county code at one point during Tuesday’s debate as “a slap in my face.”

Supervisor Don Kidd said the policy could potentially tie board members’ hands in interactions with various departments.

Adams said he didn’t want to pass the document as a “knee-jerk” reaction to public criticism the board has faced in recent months over the departure of Rodney Taylor, the former county administrator who resigned in April following conflicts behind closed doors with supervisors that were recently made public.

“This was brought up long before Mr. Taylor left (on April 24),” Vandall replied.

The board is in the process of hiring a new administrator. Vandall said it could hire the best administrator in the world but if members bypass him in county affairs, it could render that person ineffective.

Several members also requested seeking input from the new administrator before passing the code.

In other business:

• Jeremy Bryant, director of planning and zoning, told supervisors that Synagro Central LLC has informed the county that it intends to spread biosolids on land owned by Wesley Wright in northern Amherst County and could start doing so as soon as October.

The spreading would be the first on county land, Bryant said.

Biosolids, referred to by some as treated sewage sludge, is a controversial form of fertilizer that supporters — usually farmers — prefer for its affordability. Opponents across Central Virginia for years have raised concerns about potential health effects.

Localities have no jurisdiction to prevent the spreading of sludge but can, as Amherst County has done, enact an ordinance to arrange for local monitoring and testing of the material.

The 132 acres of Wright’s property slated for spreading is adjacent to Piney River. It is also close to the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail, which Bryant said has caused some concern among citizens.

The county has a partnership agreement with Sweet Briar College for David Orvos, a professor, to serve as its local monitor.

Bryant said county staff is working on details of the agreement to ensure that liability insurance will protect local monitors from the college. He said the county is also exploring possible avenues of reimbursement from the state for time and effort put toward the testing of the biosolids.

“Some of these costs are reimbursable,” Bryant said. “We’re trying to work out those details.”

The board directed its attorney to research if any changes to the agreement would require holding a public hearing in the near future.

• The board voted to authorize the county attorney to write Circuit Court Judge Michael G. Gamble asking that a date be set for a special election later this year for the county treasurer. Donald Wood, the current treasurer who was first elected in 1971, plans to retire Dec. 31, 2009. His term lasts until 2011.