A AMHERST Covnry or Amnenst Amherst County Board of Supervisors: Pome ae 22 Ca, Tce Chi Diar2 Taroom oan Som Moo: own Bates Pian Ayes Sper: Dist 3 “am tn Sop: Ba ‘Aion Land, Cormissoner Cctober 23, 2020 Bop o cheval Heath & Developmental Services 120 Bark Sock PO box 1787 Richmond, VA 28218-1787 Dear Ms, Land, We are writing to express concern about the concition ofthe Central Vginia Training Center and express Amherst Couniy’s expectation thatthe Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (OBHDS) will continue to care for its property as all ther property ‘owners in Amherst Counly are expected to do. We are aware thatthe facity is minimally manned and thatthe grounds and buildings are deteriorating at an accelerating rate. We do not knaw whether you are aware that vandalism and theft of metals from the buildings has begun. We are concerned that homeless indwviduals, ‘may have begun moving in and there may be prostitution and drug use within the grounds. Furthermore, we have ceason to believe that DBHDS has not budgeted for groundskeeping or ‘maintenance beyond December 31, 2020, ‘Since the frst announcement of CVTC’s closure, we have expressed concern that this closure ‘would result in bight because the sources of funding and responsiblity for a successful transition of ownership do not fully connect between two separate state agencies. And now, we are watching the bight begin to occur. Why DBHDS does not transfer the property tothe Department of General Services (DGS), but continues to retain ovmership of property that is Cleaty excess to its needs, sa mystery. Whether the funding comes through DBHDS' or through DGS’ budget process, or which agency has operational and legal responsibly, is of no Importance to local government. Iti the outcome that matters. ‘To be absolutely clear, so long as DBHDOS is stil the owner of that property we expect itto provide funding to keep it safe and secure, Whether through its own contracts or through the property maintenance contracts and staff ofthe DGS, itis the Commonwealth’ responsibilty to ‘care for ts property just as other cilizens of our community are expected to ae for thors. Preventing and abating bight on state-owned property is simply nota local responsibiltyWe have engaged lobbyist, planners and the leadership ofall surrounding locales to do our part to prepare for DBHDS's departure. Our entre regional community is engaged withthe future ofthe campus as we assist our design contractor in creating a redevelopment plan forthe ‘ite. Now istime for the Commonwealth to undertake responsibilty for itself in our community ‘and not tum its back and assume some ‘other agency wil do the right thing. AS the curent Property owner, this responsibilty falls to you With utmost sincerity, Qu june a Claudia D. Tucker, Chair Jethifer R. Moore, Vice-Chair id W. Pugh, Jr. Distict2 District 5 District 4 Tom Martin t ‘L., Ayers il Distt 1 Distret 3 Ce: (via emai) Governor Northam Senator Warner Senator Kaine Representative Cine Senator Newman Senator Peake Delegate Campbell Director, OGS. ‘Sate Heath Commissioner Gity of Lynchburg Mayor Dotan GEO, Lynchbure Regional Business Alliance Director, CV Planning District Commission Lynchburg News & Advance woaL7 WSLS-10 wseT-13 WRKR-27