City Council

Regular Session 05/20/20 HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., WARD FOUR Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 May 20, 2020 The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a special session on Tuesday, May 20, 2020, beginning at 6:00 p.m. using electronic communication through GoToMeeting pursuant to and in compliance with the City Council Ordinance 20-05, an ordinance to address Continuity of City Government during the pendency of a pandemic disaster. City Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers, Jr., Council members Kerry P. Devine, Dr. Timothy P. Duffy, Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Council was led in prayer by Councilor Matthew J. Kelly followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Citizen Comment. The following speaker submitted a comment to be read in the citizen comment portion of this evening’s meeting. Clerk Lacey read the following comment into the record. Michele Chew (D20-165), 1007 Landrams Retreat, expressed her concern regarding the City withholding 25 percent of funding from the Fredericksburg City Schools FY 2021 20597 Regular Session 05/20/20 budget. Ms. Chew wanted to be sure the money would not be redirected to other departments or used for the program to assist small businesses. She also expressed her concern that the City’s contribution was below that of the surrounding jurisdictions. See D20- 165 for more information. Resolution 20-31, Second Read, Appropriating Funds for the Fredericksburg City Public Schools for Fiscal Year 2021 (D20-162 thru D20-164). Councilor Duffy disclosed that he was an employee of the Fredericksburg City Schools namely the principal at James Monroe High and he could participate fairly and objectively and in the public interest. Councilor Frye disclosed that his spouse is an employee for the Fredericksburg City Schools and he could participate fairly and objectively in the public interest. After staff presentation and some discussion Vice-Mayor Withers made a motion to approve Resolution 20-31, appropriating funds for the Fredericksburg City Public Schools for Fiscal Year 2021; motion was seconded by Councilor Kelly and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7). Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). COVID-19 Brief – Acting Director Dr. Donald Stern, Rappahannock Area Health District (D20-166). Dr. Stern was the area health director from 2001-2006. He said during that time he worked on the anthrax scare and he said COVID-19 represents something similar. Dr. Stern presented a PowerPoint presentation and in his presentation he discussed the background on COVID-19. He said COVID-19 was a new novel virus and it onsets within 2-14 days after exposure and it lasts between 7 and 14 days. This virus is severe for 20598 Regular Session 05/20/20 older adults and people with underlying conditions. As to date there were 1059 positive COVID 19 cases in the Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) and 101 of those cases were in the City of Fredericksburg. Dr. Stern stated that the number or actual infected individuals was much higher because many were asymptomatic and do not know they are infected. Dr. Stern presented graphs of the cumulative cases by date in the City and a chart showing how the new COVID-19 cases plateaued in mid to late April. He also reported that testing had expanded and that there were at least 24 testing sites in the RAHD. There were two types of test the diagnostic test, which identifies current infection and the serologic (antibody) test which identifies exposed or possibly recovered individuals. The hospitalization in Planning District (PD-16) were favorable. Dr. Stern also explained how to stop COVID-19 by boxing it in and the steps include testing widely, isolate all infected people, locate everyone who has been in contact with infected people and quarantine for 14 days. Dr. Stern reported on other RAHD COVID-19 special project which included monitoring hospital surge capacity, keeping check on long-term care facilities and correctional institutions, discharge planning for homeless and under sourced patients, outreaching to Spanish-speaking communities, plans for opening public schools and The University of Mary Washington, outreaching to group homes and expanding testing especially in homeless shelters, and low income communities. Dr. Stern reported on the current impacts on the Health Department and that 50 percent of the RAHD staff was working on COVID-19 as there had been an outbreak in the 20599 Regular Session 05/20/20 RAHD. Three staff members tested positive, 18 had been identified as at risk, and they would no longer have in person clinical services through May 28. Council had a brief discussion following the presentation. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Greenlaw declared the meeting officially adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Mary Katherine Greenlaw Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor Tonya B. Lacey Tonya B. Lacey, Clerk of Council, CMC 20600