[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6621017,"mediaKeyId","5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9","parentId",5349799,"title","Votes at a glance: Accomack supervisors approve several routine and grant items including derelict‑building grant and disclosure code update","audioSeconds",156,"startMs",3642000,"endMs",3798000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9&start=3642&end=3798","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9/thumbnail_3642000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621017/Accomack-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Accomack-supervisors-approve-several-routine-and-grant-items-including-derelictbuilding-grant-and-disclosure-code-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621017-3235fabb8f392176b62377cd2632c960/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128322&Signature=VXOBbwEEyzhC2vxrxvcq-fA5oHXg57k7fy4OKI2NDAvBucN8zZUuT4nLkPIgXDBo-Ge7YS3Ck3w7TBBo25yZ-VrrpinYn8tPSlQTlJXJ27MWSV4hGt8MIcfwUmk6g-e-PzpwG9W7~1n~BGJpPLcwqQNBpcwI~0hc0llUluU-eKxPg-cQc2YTCM2-4UDuB69WrXGWX~PNLVUV1UBDf8N3s2vjtjPdVjxUcKnNAwj0~-SikV-kEQZd-bAIIfpBbiO3YR6G9nm19q9OZ23OM3LjCEuRK-eBg0mucQMjZA2P~GqgElvsW0ciLTsChzJun8gR6iHivg1GWwg0S07D7CcbsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Accomack County, VA","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Accomack County Board of Supervisors took several formal actions during its March 19, 2025 meeting. The board approved multiple consent and operational items, awarded a second derelict building removal grant, and passed an amendment to the county code governing disclosure forms for certain positions of trust.

Key actions (motions approved)
- Award second derelict building removal grant to AMPDC for work in Horntown (staff recommendation). Motion approved (all in favor).
- Repeal and reenact Accomack County Code section 2‑3 to narrow the list of positions required to file disclosure statements and to limit requirements to positions of trust; board opened a public hearing, received no public comment on the item, and adopted the amendment by vote (all in favor).
- Authorize county administrator to apply for Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority Cooperative Partnership grant (authorized; see separate article for details).
- Approved routine items on consent agenda, minutes from February meetings, and payables as presented.

Votes and immediate notes
All motions reported in this summary carried with the board voting “aye” and no recorded “no” votes at the March 19 meeting. Several actions were procedural (scheduling hearings, approving minutes and payables); the derelict‑building award and the code section amendment were substantive approvals that changed county commitments or codified a revised disclosure requirement. The opioid grant authorization is an application approval only; final funding will depend on the awarding authority.

Provenance: each item below cites the meeting transcript lines that record the board’s discussion and vote.

Ending: Staff will follow up on grant award administration, advertisement and scheduling for public hearings where required, and will bring any required budget adjustments or contracts back to the board for formal acceptance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors on March 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 19 meeting the board approved awarding a derelict building removal grant to AMPDC, authorized a county application for opioid‑abatement funding (see separate article), and approved a county code amendment on disclosure forms; other routine approvals were also carried unanimously.","taxTitle","Accomack County, Virginia","taxId",73497,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621021,"Accomack officials back new opioid‑abatement grant to continue school‑based Operation Prevention program",1339,1699000,3038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9&start=1699&end=3038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9/thumbnail_1699000.jpg","/articles/6621021/Accomack-County/Virginia/Accomack-officials-back-new-opioidabatement-grant-to-continue-schoolbased-Operation-Prevention-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621021-8deea9e955117496ba9f76beffdaba6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128322&Signature=RWLxJGAELkDtx1flKXaXPRM0iUlF3ucjTZCheqUq11UzvzsX6-a5-XWzi0-oqDG0GuNATGRJPt5sxH36JJdY56lb~wAIX~vTsDpLlrfcGv~za5VKXBJcIwQkeFsxQ5z6Rc8F9Pvz5mkGtER07y9Zg8P4F9lqcrXUBTmBMkZd5MVHb-xhd-iAawzUouk3OGiXJB-pjiol25hWu24nJqiHjd-wGmJSfXKY5Sy17msXZxXdHqMrI9nVuuWRTBoSpaDLirDvkS3f4DAbxkr40y4NOMBQvzl1lb0PqCDlio6wnsa47~8D9tQL9H5vYNXnpxWDe78Y6iSZG64Yr1fQEHwF-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted March 19 to authorize the county administrator to apply for a Cooperative Partnership grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to continue a regional opioid remediation program that includes the school‑based Operation Prevention curriculum.

County Administrator Mike Mason told the board the program is a tri‑party effort among Accomack County, Northampton County and the Eastern Shore Community Services Board and is funded by opioid settlement proceeds and grants from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

Carrie Phillips, senior prevention specialist with the Eastern Shore Community Services Board, told supervisors the Operation Prevention curriculum was delivered this school year in tenth‑grade classrooms in Accomack County Public Schools. Phillips said 194 tenth‑grade students were enrolled and 144 completed both pre‑ and post‑testing; the presenter reported an average pre‑test score of 3.44 out of 5 and an average post‑test score of 4.41 out of 5 across participating schools.

Phillips described the program’s instructional approach and objectives: creating a safe question‑and‑answer environment for students, explaining the difference between prescribed opioids and unregulated street drugs, discussing the dangers of fentanyl, and including messages about recovery and resources. ‘‘Ask me anything,’’ she said, describing how she frames classroom sessions to encourage student questions about substance use.

Becky Haney, a social worker with Accomack County Public Schools, summarized teacher and student feedback: teachers said session lengths (about 30–45 minutes) kept students engaged; students reported the material was relevant and that they welcomed more in‑depth information in tenth grade because they are driving and gaining independence.

Mimi Sajat, identified in the meeting as an executive director at the Community Services organization, gave outcome data supported by the grant funding: from July 1, 2024, to March 2025 the program expended $51,944 on clinical services and said it served 104 individuals against an original projection of 62; school‑based prevention spending was $34,538 and the program served 311 youth against a proposed 25. Those figures were presented to the board as program accomplishments under the current funding cycle.

Board action
Supervisor Crockett moved and the board seconded a motion authorizing the county administrator to apply for another round of Cooperative Partnership funding from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to support Operation Prevention and related services through fiscal year 2026. The motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters
County staff said the regional program’s aims are to increase access to treatment and support services, raise awareness of available services, and prevent opioid misuse. Presenters emphasized that school‑based prevention and recovery messaging are central components aimed at reducing experimentation and overdose risk among youth.

Next steps
If approved, staff will submit the grant application to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority for the partnership grant that funds the program’s services. Program staff and the county will continue to report outcomes to the board; staff recommended continuing the program in school settings and said they will return with budget and operational details if the grant is awarded.

Ending: The board’s authorization allows the county to seek the next funding round; the county plans to continue reporting program metrics and outcomes to the board.","Board authorized county staff to apply for a Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority Cooperative Partnership grant to continue a regional opioid remediation program that included the school‑based Operation Prevention curriculum; presenters reported positive pre‑/post‑testing results and higher‑than‑expected service numbers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621025,"Accomack supervisors agree to schedule public hearing on moving Matomkin polling place after phone‑service and safety complaints",1164,526000,1690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9&start=526&end=1690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5349799-0aadc15a991ec032321f4b7027ade1b9/thumbnail_526000.jpg","/articles/6621025/Accomack-County/Virginia/Accomack-supervisors-agree-to-schedule-public-hearing-on-moving-Matomkin-polling-place-after-phoneservice-and-safety-complaints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621025-ea9298610549b292496e7f470c991f9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128322&Signature=oRQR3WGkDptPBaQX5O7ax5ZA~PGcGX7JZXfsRjDa-DTSsO1ypoAP~UIhStjEzIsT5rPfMHGcq~EhUMJtTqwUOvZ5ioVAjT59O911yQ28akW07pRg3tnstoK7nE-kO3BW2pJLwaNqCzXt5gh5wyWnzuzpIverhnRceB1b8CSWKCDw1w-5JRtBz319Y4jMuFbhyp1L4cBXDGMEmybXQZzUHgT-oaR6Rp0H0vsqWQKEL2Xz8vFdJiItXD1MMNuonZf3ylCQ2iwDqpmrIDQQlhsWXDaf6uV-s8-oUh6nHU29iCnPUi81WeZFsX5UApnPEo7pzJxixcgWB1imcYXvci67OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Accomack County supervisors voted March 19 to let the county electoral board pursue a public hearing and formal process to consider relocating Precinct 502 from Matomkin Elementary School to the Mary Ann Smith Cultural Center, with the cultural center’s library as an alternate if needed.

Electoral board chair Elizabeth Bell told the board the Matomkin site serves “1,000 plus voters” but has recurring problems that make running elections difficult. Roger Amor, the electoral board’s secretary, told supervisors “the whole deal breaker on everything is phone communication,” saying the lack of reliable cell or landline service prevents poll workers from contacting the registrar’s office to verify same‑day registration and precinct assignments.

Bell and multiple poll workers who spoke during public comment described other problems at Matomkin: inconsistent entry points from year to year, cramped or shifting layouts that reduce voter privacy, limited parking and dim or absent lighting at an entrance used during evening voting. Volunteer poll worker Sue Mastel said workers had to leave doors open late in the day to accommodate voters arriving after sunset because there was no exterior lighting at one door.

Why it matters: under Virginia’s same‑day registration rules, poll workers must be able to contact the registrar to confirm an applicant’s address and correct precinct. Electoral board members said that inability to verify addresses on site has led to provisional ballots that later had to be disallowed, a risk they said could prevent eligible voters’ ballots from counting.

Board action and timeline
The board did not relocate the polling place at the meeting. Instead supervisors approved a motion to schedule the public hearing and begin the statutory notice and comment process that state law requires. County staff told the board that a formal move requires public advertisement (twice in the newspaper) and state review; one board member cited an estimate of about 135 days for the full timeline from scheduling to a final state determination.

Supervisor (name listed in meeting as) Washington offered the motion to move forward with the electoral board’s request, with the Mary Ann Smith Cultural Center as the proposed new site and the center’s library as an alternate. The motion was seconded and carried on a vote of the board (all in favor; no opposed votes were recorded).

Board members and staff repeatedly urged careful outreach. Supervisor Parks and others said the county should try to remedy fixable issues at Matomkin — including working with the school division on lighting and access — before making a permanent relocation, and asked staff to explore options such as providing county phones for poll chiefs to reduce reliance on private devices.

What the electoral board asked for and next steps
The electoral board asked that supervisors authorize staff to schedule the required public hearing at Matomkin Elementary (the boardroom noted Metompkin/Matomkin spellings in packet) so members of the public can testify. If the board confirms the hearing, staff will handle the required public advertisements and follow the state’s review procedures. The electoral board and county staff will further investigate phone, lighting and parking solutions during the public comment period.

The request and the board’s vote were part of the public‑comment and report of public officials portion of the March 19 meeting. No final relocation was approved at the meeting; any permanent change will follow the advertised hearing, public comment, and the state’s procedural review.

Ending: The county administrator and electoral board said they will return with the advertised hearing and additional information; supervisors instructed staff to coordinate notice and to report back on technical fixes (phone options, lighting and parking) while the hearing process proceeds.","On March 19, 2025 the Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted to allow the electoral board to start the public‑notice process to relocate Precinct 502 from Matomkin Elementary School to the Mary Ann Smith Cultural Center, citing persistent lack of cell phone service, lighting and privacy concerns at the current site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Accomack supervisors approve several routine and grant items including derelict‑building grant and disclosure code update

Accomack officials back new opioid‑abatement grant to continue school‑based Operation Prevention program

Accomack supervisors agree to schedule public hearing on moving Matomkin polling place after phone‑service and safety complaints