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Fall has brought a decrease in police responses to Ellicott hotels used to house the homeless.
According to the minutes of Monday's Ellicott Town Board meeting, Dan Ingrao, Ellicott police chief, said there has been a slight decrease in responses to Ellicott’s hotels, while the Budget Inn not participating in the Code Blue program this winter could also help decrease calls for service over the winter months.
Code violations prompted the town to close part of the Clarion Pointe hotel on Route 60 in Ellicott earlier this year, with the closure shifting some of the homeless who had been staying at the North Main Street hotel into other hotels in the Ellicott/Falconer area, including the former Quality Inn and the Budget Inn. In addition to closing a portion of the Clarion Pointe Hotel, the former Econo Lodge on Route 60 in Fredonia, which was also a contracted location the county was using to house some of its homeless, was shut down. County Social Services Department staff members are required to inspect properties where the homeless are being housed every six months. Local code enforcement officers can check them more frequently – as has been the case in Ellicott.
The county has initiated a three-offense ticket system, but the hotel owners had previously told Brandon Shelters, town code enforcement officer, they would like to see those who violate their contract to be removed after one offense. Janet Bowman, town supervisor, said during Monday's meeting there are still issues with removing people from the hotel who need to be removed.
In other business, board members will hold a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 2, to get public input on a tentative 2027 budget that increases the town’s tax rate by 4% from 2026.
Amy Bellard, town clerk, told board members that the town is still about $200,000 over the tax levy needed to get underneath the state’s 2% tax cap. Medical insurance costs have increased by about 10% over the past year, she said, while new regulations regarding retirement and utility costs have also increased. The tentative budget was approved, 3-0, by board members after it was agreed to remove $13,500 for new software for code officers that will instead be paid from the town’s surplus rather than the 2027 budget.
Ingrao also said there is one full-time police officer who is out on worker’s comp, though Ingrao is trying to find part-time officers to help fill the gap.
Kathy Yanus asked board members if there was more information on short-term rental regulations in the town. Bowman said the town is researching what other towns have done, while Marilyn Fiore-Lehman, town attorney, said she has several examples of other regulations and could present a draft to the board during its November meeting.
Robert Pickett, highway superintendent, said work has started on the Fluvanna water and sewer extension, with work expected to continue until it begins snowing this winter. Work on side streets may continue throughout the winter.