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Welcome to the Virginia Department Of Forestry

Board of Forestry
Minutes
July 13, 2004

The Board of Forestry met on July 13, 2004, in the Virginia Inland Port Office at Front Royal, Virginia. Chairman Turner expressed his appreciation to Dr. White for working on arrangements and hosting the Board.

Convene Meeting

The formal Board meeting began at 9:00 a.m. on July 13, 2004. Those present were: Mary T. Bates, Anitra Webster, Judy Guse-Noritake, C. Harrell Turner, William T. Carden, McChesney Goodall, Melvin L. Harrell, R. Easton Loving, Michael G. McGlothlin, E. Lee Showalter, Alpheus L. White, and James Garner and Donna Hoy with the Department of Forestry.

Chairman Turner welcomed Ms. Guse-Noritake to the Board.

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. Garner asked that a presentation by Mr. Garrison, Charlottesville Regional Forester, on DOF Strategic Initiative be added to the agenda.

Recognition of Guests and Visitors

Chairman Turner welcomed Paul Howe, Virginia Forestry Association

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Turner asked if there were any corrections/deletions to the May 25, 2004 minutes distributed earlier. Hearing none, Chairman Turner asked for a motion that the minutes be accepted as published. Mr. Showalter made the motion. Mr. Loving seconded. The minutes will stand approved as recorded.

Hearing of Citizens and Delegations

Chairman Turner welcomed Mr. Howe, Virginia Forestry Association to the meeting. Chairman Turner mentioned the discussion on severance tax and asked if an article could be included in Virginia Forestry Association newsletter about severance tax and who should be paying it. Mr. Howe stated there is a subcommittee that will look at ways to determine if there are holes in collecting the tax. He stated there was concern that the State was not matching its part of the RT funding. Mr. Howe stated he had a conversation with Senator Ticer about RT and cost-share. He recommends that the Board or Department of Forestry develop a packet for Senator Ticer on incentive programs.

Mr. Howe expressed his appreciation to the Department of Forestry for loaning the Virginia Forestry Association chairs for their new building. He extended an invitation for the Board or other forestry groups to use their facility.

Mr. Howe reported Virginia Forestry Association is working on:

Mr. Garner will check to see if the Secretary of Commerce and Trade would be available for a meeting with Board members prior to the July 28 public information session to discuss the position of Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

Information Items

None

State Forester's Report

Chairman Turner recognized Mr. Garner for 45 years of service with the Department of Forestry.

Mr. Garner thanked Mr. Showalter for taking the time to spend a day in the field with him visiting the New Kent Forestry Center and the Sandy Point State Forest. Mr. Garner extended an invitation for all Board members to spend a day or more in the field to see what the Department does.

Mr. Garner reported that the Reforestation of Timberlands Board has sent a letter to forest products industry leaders about forming an industry task force to review the tax structure and required paperwork. The task force plans to look at the payment based on weight to determine if it is realistic. This task force will review the severance tax code. They will work with the Department of Taxation to see if it can be streamlined and rewrite that section of the code. This will not be a tax increase, but will make it easier on those that pay the tax. Mr. Garner stated the tax income does not match the harvesting records. Chairman Turner questioned if new forest industry businesses and businesses that are acquired by others are aware of the severance tax. He suggested that an article be include in Virginia Forestry Association’s newsletter explaining the severance tax and who is responsible to pay.

Mr. Garner shared copies of the budget conference reports. He included a report for Department of Conservation and Recreation that showed $7,500,000 funding for water quality improvement fund. The Department of Forestry will receive $500,000 of this funding to continue work on riparian buffer program.

The Department did get some funding back for the RT program. All of this funding will go to landowners for cost-share; none will be used for administrative costs.

$159,000 for the purchase of firefighting equipment for the Department was restored.

The language for the Department’s radio system stating replacement is contingent upon passage of the Governor’s tax proposal was stricken. This funding will be provided through the master equipment lease program, to ensure the required system changes are funded. The Department was give authority to borrow from the Department of Treasury.

The bill passed for a Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. No word on details of the position at this point.

The Department received funding to construct the Abingdon Shop and Cold Storage and a multi-county facility in Galax.

Mr. Garner stated the Department is in the process of completing a conceptual plan for the Matthews State Forest. The Department currently owns three parcels and is working with the Trustees to get a fourth parcel transferred to Department of Forestry. There are a lot of facilities, houses, and open land on the property.

There was some discussion during the 2004 General Assembly about maintaining the agricultural cost-share BMP practices. Mr. Garner has been questioned as to why forestland owners can’t get cost-share for BMP’s. The question is coming primarily from loggers, but some landowners have also asked the question.

The Department has established a Forest Spatial Analysis Team. This Team consists of GIS (Mindia Brown) and Remote Sensing (John Scrivani). The purpose of this Team is to have a resource for the public to obtain a wealth of forest resource data kept by the Department (data input, data control, spatial data, etc.).

The Department’s Strategic Plan is operational.

Each member was given several printouts of information on Department of Forestry employee information (total employees, race, gender, age range, years of service, turnover, etc.). Mr. Garner stated this information is an excellent management tool for the Department to use in planning for the future.

Mr. Garner thanked Chairman Turner and Mr. Loving for attending the Southern Group of State Foresters meeting.

Mr. Garner will testify before Congressman Goodlatte’s committee next Tuesday for FLEP funding for Virginia and National programs.

The Department of Forestry will put one piece of legislation in the 2005 General Assembly to transfer regulations from Department of Conservation and Recreation over to the Department.

Action Items

Critique of July 13 Town Meeting

Ms. Webster felt the presentation was done very well. She would recommend that Mr. Carroll make a verbal hit with each bullet on the slide, even go a little slower. Ms. Webster questioned if there should be a method of capturing continuing comments. Addresses and phone numbers for each speaker would be helpful when the report is being compiled in case contact is necessary for clarification or additional information. Mr. Forehand will add phone number and e-mail address to speaker sheets used at future meetings. Ms. Webster also suggested that the question be left on the screen during the entire information session.

Dr. White recommended that if speakers use acronyms (DOF, RT, etc.) they should be explained. A lot of individuals in the audience may not know what they mean.

Mr. Goodall recommended that the meeting attendees be told their questions would be answered at a future date.

Dr. White suggested that a press release be prepared in advance of the meetings to give to reporters so that key points will be included in the paper. Mr. Carroll reported that a press release had been prepared in advance and mailed to the media last week.

Ms. Guse-Noritake recommended that if the speaker list is small, the facilitator get consensus from the audience to increase time limit to 5 minutes. Chairman Turner had spoken to the facilitator about how to handle the time, and there will be some leeway at individual meetings, but the time limit will be consistent for the 8 meetings.

The facilitator will be more specific up front about the rules. Speakers will be told to mention their major points up front because of the 3 minute time limit. Individuals need to know that they can submit written comments and mail or e-mail to the Department of Forestry. Chairman Turner recommended some self-addressed envelopes be available for those individuals that want to give additional comments. Ms. Guse-Noritake recommended that contact information be available for individuals to take home and mail back in with comments.

Mr. Showalter stated there was 50 percent verbal response from the audience, which he thought was very good.

It was suggested that a sign-up sheet be available for all individuals that attend the meetings. This would be in addition to the speaker sign-in sheet. Mr. Carroll stated this could be done at future sessions.

Mr. Carden stated he thought it is important for those individuals attending the meetings to receive a timely response of information. Chairman Turner stated it needs to be clear at each meeting that this is an information gathering session and that the resolution calls for the report to be done by the end of the year. It also needs to be clear that the information from the meetings, written comments, e-mail comments, etc. will be compiled and the Board will come back with a recommendation to the General Assembly by the deadline established in the resolution.

Review and Update SJR 75 Action Plan

Chairman Turner reviewed the meeting list and which Board member would be in attendance (Northern Virginia-Ms. Bates/Ms. Guse-Noritake; Abingdon-Mr. McGlothlin; Roanoke/Salem-Ms. Webster/Mr. Loving; Southside-Mr. Loving or Ms.Webster; Chesapeake-Mr. Harrell/Mr. Turner; Richmond-Mr. Goodall/Mr. Loving/Mr. Showalter; Charlottesville-Mr. Loving/Mr. Goodall.

Mr. Forehand questioned the Board on how the information should be formatted. Should the information be summarized or categorized into themes from the meetings. Members felt the information be categorized by issues and no names be used. It was suggested a matrix be used with check marks indicating issues that keep coming up in each meeting.

The group discussed the use of the Department’s website for posting information from these meetings. One thing that needs to be listed is the closing date for comments. As comments are summarized, they should be posted to the website no later than 10 days after the meeting.

Ms. Webster asked the question about interpretation of the information gathered. Chairman Turner stated he would work with Mr. Carroll and Mr. Forehand on interpretation of the information gathered from the meetings.

The Board decided to have one focus group session in Charlottesville on September 21. This focus group will be by invitation only and will include individuals from diverse groups: forest industry, associations, conservation groups, county planners, developers, etc. Draft recommendations will be developed from information gathered at the individual sessions and will be available at the focus group session for participants to review/comment, etc. Mr. Garner was asked to develop a list of stakeholders to be invited to participate in the focus group session. He will send to the Board for review/comment/additions/deletions, etc. before the invitation letters are mailed. The full Board will participate in the focus group discussions.

Mr. Forehand is in the process of doing research on other state’s programs. Mr. Loving stated that the sub-committee (Ms. Bates, Ms. Webster, Mr. Loving, and Mr. Goodall) would meet at the end of the Board meeting to talk with Mr. Forehand in detail about type of research needed and format of information.

Board Member Participation for Policy Group

Mr. Garner stated that the development of an unofficial forest policy is listed in the Department’s Strategic Plan. The Commonwealth does not have an official statement that the forest resource of Virginia is recognized as having significant value. Mr. Garner had asked Mr. Garrison to put together a framework for initiating a forest policy in Virginia. Mr. Garrison made a presentation to the Board entitled “DOF Strategic Initiative”providing information on Goal 4: Facilitate the development and implementation of a statewide forest policy. Mr. Garner stated the focus of a forest policy for Virginia would be on the natural resource, its future and health, and not the agency.

Mr. Loving recommended that the Board not do anything at this time, but wait to see what unfolds with the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry position. Ms. Webster and Mr. Loving volunteered to work on a committee to study this issue further.

Committee Liaison Report

Forest Council: The Forest Council will meet in August. A letter will go to legislators inviting them to attend the meeting or let group know of issues of importance to them.

Loggers Association: Mr. Loving gave an update on Mr. Goodbar, President of the Loggers Association, who had recently suffered a stroke.

National Governor’s Association: Chairman Turner attended the “Strengthen the World’s Economy through Working Forest”in Tennessee. He had the opportunity to talk with State Forester’s from other states. Chairman Turner stated it was a good meeting with a lot of good information.

SGSF Meeting: Chairman Turner reported this was another good opportunity to talk with State Foresters. The meeting provided a lot of good information.

Legislative Sub-Committee: Chairman Turner asked Ms. Guse-Noritake if she would be willing to replace Ms. Whitmore on the Legislative Committee. Ms. Guse-Noritake agreed to serve on that committee.

Other Business

No other business.

Scheduling of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be September 21, 2004, at the Department of Forestry Central Office in Charlottesville. The focus of this meeting will be SJR75 Study.

The fall meeting will be held at the Cumberland State Forest on October 19, 2004, 1:00 p.m. A joint meeting with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Board has not been confirmed. If a meeting with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Board is not possible, the Board suggested a joint meeting with the Reforestation of Timberlands Board.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Turner made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was officially adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hoy
Recording Secretary

c: Board Members

Dr. Gregory Brown, VPI

Mr. J. R. Bush, VFPA

Mr. Paul Howe, VFA

Mr. Cliff Rexrode, ACF

Ms. Maxine Kenny, WMMT News

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

NOTE: Tapes of Board meetings are on file in the Office of the State Forester.

Last modified: Friday, 07-Mar-2008 19:13:23 UTC