Charlotte County Board of Supervisors elects Walter T. Bailey chair, affirms rules and schedule for 2026

The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors elected Supervisor Walter T. Bailey chairman for 2026 and Supervisor Noah Davis vice-chair during its organizational meeting on Jan. 2 at the county Administration Building.

Clerk Landon B. Green announced the results after a nomination from Supervisor Henry Carwile and a second by Supervisor Miller Adams: "With 6 Aye and 1 No, Supervisor Bailey was elected to serve as Chairman for 2026." The vote recorded Supervisor Davis, Supervisor Campbell, Supervisor Adams, Supervisor Carwile and Supervisor Tharpe as voting aye and Supervisor Toombs as voting no.

The meeting opened with the Clerk calling the session to order at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. The Board first approved the meeting agenda on a motion by Supervisor Noah Davis, seconded by Supervisor Derek Toombs.

The Board also adopted procedural rules for 2026. Vice-Chair Noah Davis moved and Supervisor Miller Adams seconded adoption of Robert’s Rules of Order for Small Groups ‘Boards’, with an amendment requiring that all motions receive a second; the motion carried unanimously.

On policy matters, the Board reaffirmed its Resolution on Participation in Meetings Through Electronic Communication Means, originally adopted Aug. 8, 2022, citing Section 2.2-3708.2 of the Code of Virginia. The reaffirmed policy reiterates that remote participation is permitted for specified reasons (personal matters, medical conditions or disabilities), limits personal-matter remote participation to two meetings per calendar year, requires a physical quorum at the primary location, and directs that the remote participant's voice be audible to attendees at the central location. The Board recorded the reaffirmation as adopted with all members voting aye.

The supervisors next endorsed a Code of Conduct & Performance to set expectations for attendance, preparedness, courteous behavior, adherence to law, and impartial exercise of duties; the code was adopted unanimously. The Board also approved an inclement weather resolution establishing the chair (or vice-chair) authority to continue meetings to the next business day if hazardous conditions exist, requiring web posting and press notification of cancellations and reschedules, and directing that previously advertised hearings be held on the new date.

The Board set its regular 2026 meeting schedule to the second Wednesday of every month, with odd-numbered months beginning at 9:00 a.m. and even-numbered months beginning at 6:00 p.m.; Clerk Landon B. Green noted, "The next regular meeting will be held Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m." Chairman Bailey then adjourned the organizational meeting.

Actions taken at the meeting were procedural and organizational; no substantive policy votes or budget decisions were recorded at this session. The Board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.