The Board of Forestry met on Thursday, July 31, 2008, at James Madison Montpelier, in Montpelier Station.
Convene Meeting
The formal Board meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on July 31, 2008. Those present were: C. Harrell Turner, Anitra B. Webster, David Blount, R. Easton Loving, Marvin P. Wilson, III, E. Lee Showalter, David Wm. Smith, Judy Guse-Noritake, Floyd Miles, Hillary Little, and Carl Garrison, III and Donna Hoy with the Department of Forestry.
Call to Order
Chairman Turner called the meeting to order.
Ms. Hoy called roll.
Changes and Adoption of Agenda
Chairman Turner asked if there were any changes that needed to be made to the agenda. Mr. Blount asked to add an update on Steve Morris to the State Forester’s Report. The agenda was changed to reflect those additions.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Turner asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the April 28, 2008 minutes. Ms. Webster made the motion for the minutes to be approved as written. Mr. Blount seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Recognition of Guests and Visitors
Chairman Turner welcomed Mr. Bud Watson, Small Forest Landowner/Executive Director, Virginia Forest Watch; Mr. Ron Jenkins, Mr. John Carroll, and Ms. Debbie Howe with the Department of Forestry.
Hearing of Citizens and Delegations
None
Information Items
None
State Forester's Report
Regional Mergers and New Division
Mr. Garrison announced the creation of the Division of Forestland Conservation at the Central Office. This Division includes individuals formerly on the Resource Management Division. Positions within this new division include Utilization and Marketing, Forestland Conservation, Ecosystems Services, and Marketing of Credits.
The Department will continue to look at consolidation of regions. Merging of regions has proven to be more efficient, creates the opportunity for more positions, and the possibility of increasing coverage in critical areas. With the upcoming announcement of additional budget cuts, it may be necessary for the Department to move faster with other regional consolidations. Additional mergers may take place as early as October.
Future plans are to merge Regions 1 and 2 (Eastern/Coastal Region) and Regions 5 and 6 (Western/Mountain Region), in addition to the previous merger of Regions 3 and 4 (Central/Piedmont Region). No decision has been made on a specific name for the new regions yet. Mr. Garrison reported that under the new regional structure, the previous regional offices would be used as sub-offices for fire dispatch, etc.
2008-09 Strategic Plan
All Board members were given a copy of the Department’s strategic plan: Strategy 2009 – Harnessing the Winds of Change, July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009. Board members were asked to review the plan and let either Mr. Garrison or Mr. Jenkins know of any comments, concerns, etc. with the plan.
Farm Bill Required State Assessment
Mr. Garrison reported that the Farm Bill now requires that each state complete and submit a State Assessment. The Department has formed a committee, and the process of developing a State Assessment for Virginia has begun. He asked Board members to review the plan once it is complete. Other stakeholders will be included in the review process. The assessment completion date is May 2010.
Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Pace & Parsons: Trespass Case
The Department attempted to amend Section 10.1-1113 in the 2008 session to clarify its right of entry on private owned land to conduct silvicultural harvest inspections for water quality compliance. The Farm Bureau opposed the bill and suggested changes. No agreement was reached on language for the bill, so it was continued until the 2009 session.
Earlier this year, two Department employees were issued a criminal suit by the landowner for trespassing while inspecting a harvesting job. The landowner asked them to leave his property and later brought a criminal suit against them. The case was heard in Highland County Circuit Court and was stricken at the request of the attorney assigned to the Department employee’s case. The Judge did not think that Forest Wardens had an inherent right to enter upon privately owned property to inspect harvest sites for water quality. The attorney felt other cases like this will occur in the future without some amendments to the current law.
Department staff met with Farm Bureau representatives following the trial. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for listening and discussions to better understand the position of the Department and Farm Bureau. It was agreed that 10.1-1181.2 language needed to be codified to express its intent to notify the landowner, or authorized agent, prior to making the harvest inspection; amend the code to allow the Department to seek a warrant for inspection; provide an internal guidance document explanation of the agency’s intent to notify procedures; let SB308 die.
The Department has submitted a modified version of the law to Secretary Bloxom. Mr. Showalter suggested a white paper be developed for the Attorney General’s Office to modify the bill. The Board requested a copy of the proposed language for this bill and other legislation for the 2009 session. They requested the opportunity to review and express any comments/concerns to the State Forester.
Budget
Mr. Garrison reported that agencies have received word that additional budget cuts are being considered. Currently, the Department has taken a total of 6 ½ percent budget cuts since December. Additional budget cuts will mean cutting programs/services, training, and possibly personnel. The Department currently has 10 positions frozen and not funded to compensate for budget cuts already taken.
Updated Work Force Plan and Salary Competition
Ms. Howe presented the Board with an updated Workforce Plan and a Salary Study Summary for the Department. The agency’s first plan was developed in August 2004. The Department now has five fiscal years of personnel data which gives us information on trends within our workforce. She reviewed some of the highlights of the findings with the Board. Ms. Howe pointed out that Department salaries were not in line with other state agency salaries.
Ms. Howe stated that 61 percent of the agency’s budget is dedicated to personnel expenses. The Board voiced their support of the Department’s budgetary needs for positions. The Board felt they should form a sub-committee to offer ideas/suggestions to the Department on where to take additional budget cuts and offer assistance in the decision making process. The sub-committee consists of Mr. Turner, Mr. Loving and Mr. Blount. The sub-committee will meet via conference call at a later date.
Update on Steve Morris
Mr. Garrison reported that Steve Morris was back to work on restrictive duties and was doing extremely well. He also reported that the investigation of the incident revealed that all parties involved on the fire did everything they were supposed to do in the situation.
Action Items
None
Committee Liaison Report
Nominating Committee
Mr. Little reported that the Nominating Committee recommended Chairman Turner and Vice-Chairman Loving serve as Chair and Vice-Chair during the next year. Mr. Blount made the motion for the Board to accept the nominations. Mr. Miles seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Other Business
None
Scheduling of Next Meetings
The next meeting of the Board will be October 23-24, 2008 at Bear Creek State Park.
The following meeting will be via conference call on December 18th at 10:00 a.m. Details of the conference call will be sent via e-mail prior to that date.
Details of future meetings will be sent out at a later date.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairman Turner accepted a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was officially adjourned at 3:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary
c: Board Members
Dr. J. Michael Kelly, Dean, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech
Mr. J. R. Bush, Virginia Forest Products Association
Mr. Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association
Mr. David E. Anderton, Jr., Association of Consulting Foresters
Ms. Tammi Belinsky, WildWood
Mr. Steve Brooks, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Ann Duff, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Mr. Jim Mooney, Virginia Loggers Association
Mr. Gerald Gray, Virginia Forest Watch
Ms. Donna Pugh-Johnson, Virginia Agribusiness Council
Ms. Martha Moore, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Mr. Roger Sherman, MeadWestvaco Corporation
Ms. Staci Henshaw, Auditor of Public Accounts
Mr. Charles F. Finley, Jr., Forest Landowners Association
Mr. Andrew Smith, Virginia Farm Bureau
NOTE: Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Office of the State Forester.
Last modified: Monday, 19-Oct-2009 15:03:07 EDT
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