Agency
2006 Minutes
Virginia Racing Commission
September 20, 2006
VIRGINIA CROSSINGS RESORT
1000 VIRGINIA CENTER PARKWAY
GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA
In Attendance
Commission Members
Mark T. Brown, Chairman
Peter C. Burnett, Vice Chairman
David C. Reynolds
I. Clinton Miller
William H. (Trip) Ferguson
Commission Staff:
Stanley K. Bowker, Executive Secretary
Kimberly M. Carter, Office Administrator
Dr. C. Richard Harden, Commission Veterinarian
David S. Lermond, Jr., Director of Pari-mutuels
Joseph M. Roney, Director of Operations and Enforcement
Marvin A. Sniegon, Director of Finance & Planning
Attorney General’s Office:
Teresa C. Griggs
Frank Ferguson
Sara Allen
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An appeal hearing in the matter of Dr. William Heffner was considered and then continued until the Racing Commission’s October meeting.
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At 11:26 a.m., Chairman Brown called the regular monthly meeting of the Commission to order.
The minutes of the August 16, 2006 meeting were approved.
Chairman Brown said he had been at Colonial Downs for the opening of the harness meet and complimented track management on the improved security.
Chairman Brown announced that he was making the following committee chairman assignments:
Code Revision Committee—Miller
Rules Committee—Burnett
Thoroughbred Breeders Fund—Ferguson
Wagering Technology--Ferguson
Commissioner Reynolds, Chairman of the Racing Industry Partnership Task Force, reported the Task Force had interviewed three finalists on Thursday, August 17, 2006 in response to the RFP. He said the Task Force selected CRT/tanka to develop the marketing plan for the Commission.
He said CRT/tanaka has developed two phases that would lead to the implementation of the marketing plan—research and development of the plan. He said the cost of the first two phases would not exceed $57,200.
Commissioner Burnett suggested that during the research phase that Commissioners and Staff be included on the interview list.
Commissioner Reynolds introduced Julie McCracken of CRT/tanaka and then moved to approve the agreement with CRT/tanaka at a cost not exceed $57,200 for the first two phases. The motion was unanimously approved.
Acting on the recommendation from Mr. Bowker, the Commission approved Colonial Downs’ October simulcasting schedule.
Iain Woolnough, Vice President and General Manager of Colonial Downs provided an update on the 2006 live harness meet. He said more horses are arriving almost daily and a $100,000 race for trotters has been scheduled for October 13.
Colonial Downs President Ian Stewart said the pilot program for account wagering at Chevys in Chesapeake involving TVG’s remote control wagering program had been discontinued. He said Colonial may take another look at it in the future.
The Commission set the next meeting for October 18, 2006.
Chairman Brown then made the following motion:
“In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2-3711 (A)(7) of the Code of Virginia, I move that the Commission go into closed meeting for the purpose of consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the Commission, and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by the Commission regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advise by such counsel regarding
1. YouBet
The motion was seconded and was unanimously approved.
Coming out of closed meeting, Chairman Brown offered the following resolution:
“Whereas, the Virginia Racing Commission has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote in accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
“Whereas, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this Commission that such closed meeting was conducted inconformity with Virginia law;
“Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Virginia Racing Commission certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Commission in the closed meeting.”
The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Burnett and the vote was as follows:
Burnett, aye; Ferguson, aye; Reynolds, aye; Miller, aye and Chairman Brown, aye.
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Working Session
Following the monthly meeting, the Commission began a Working Session that had been continued from July 22, 2006.
Mr. Bowker led a discussion on the updated draft of a Governance Manual being developed by the Commission; Industry stakeholders provided input into the discussion involving ex parte communications A number of additions and changes were made and the Commission voted to combine Code Revision and Rules Committee with Commissioners Miller and Burnett as co-chairman.
After the changes are made in the document and Commissioners take a final look, Mr. Bowker will distribute the document to industry stakeholders; It will then be on the agenda for final approval at the October meeting.
The Commissioners also have begun a review of its Code of Ethics and Conduct.
There being no further business, the working session was adjourned.