Governor's comments on what government decisions should be considered an "emergency."

Comments from Governor Northam at his press conference last week. 

"We understand that while everyone is focused on this epidemic, the business of government must be able to continue. Attorney General Mark Herring has issued an opinion that says public bodies in Virginia may conduct business of meetings electronically if the purpose of the meeting is to address the emergency. That includes meeting to make decisions that must be made immediately and where failure to do so could result in unrevokable public harm." 

"General Herring's opinion makes clear that public bodies should ask themselves is the action we are taking truly essential? If not, they should defer it until they meet in person again. We're not throwing out public accountability and transparency measures because there is an emergency. Bad policies can happen that way. The regular features of public meetings remain critical including the need for public access, proper public notice, publicly available agendas, roll call votes and recorded minutes."

There is no reason to consider county land use decisions as "emergency" as described by former Planning Commission Vice Chair Jim Hart.