Mathews County BZA appoints nominating committee for officers; board discusses VCU certification training

The Mathews County Board of Zoning Appeals appointed a two-member nominating committee May 21 to select new officers after the board’s chair and vice chair left their positions. The board also discussed members attending a zoning certification program offered by Virginia Commonwealth University, pending budget and scheduling.

Board secretary Susan Thomas told the public the chair and vice chair were no longer on the board and that the board needed to appoint a nominating committee for new officers. A board member recommended “Mister Birkoff and Mister Gibbs” serve as the nominating committee; the motion was seconded and accepted by the board.

No detailed roll-call vote for the nominating committee appointment is recorded in the transcript, but the board proceeded to new business after the nomination motion was seconded. Thomas said she would read procedures aloud to inform the public of how the meeting would be run that night.

Later in the meeting, Thomas raised the possibility of board members attending a zoning certification program run by Virginia Commonwealth University. She said the training would be “a good idea for everyone involved on the board,” and that participation would depend on budget and timing. “We’ll just have to get up with budget and timing and when they have them and get back with you,” Thomas said. No formal action or allocation of funds for training was taken; the board said staff would follow up on scheduling and budget availability.

The board also briefly discussed the practical challenge of maintaining a full membership, with one participant noting there were only two members remaining at the moment and urging prompt appointment of new officers to restore leadership.

The nominating committee will prepare a slate for new officers and present it to the board; staff and members will coordinate on training scheduling and budget review before any classes are booked.