Mathews County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Mathews supervisors hold closed sessions on waterfront grill litigation; planning commission to hear rezoning, cell tower requests

The Mathews County Board of Supervisors met twice in the past week, both times in closed session, and held a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority. No public decisions were made at any of these meetings; minutes have not yet been published. The upcoming Planning Commission meeting will feature two public hearings on land-use requests.

Board of Supervisors closed sessions

The board convened a special meeting on July 27 and reconvened on July 29, both focused on closed-session items. According to the agendas, the closed sessions covered:

• Disposition of publicly held real property at 384 Old Ferry Road
• Litigation involving Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC v. Mathews County Board of Supervisors and Ramona Wilson
• Legal advice regarding the lease between Mathews County and Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC
• Performance evaluation of the County Attorney

The July 29 session was held under three Virginia Code exemptions: litigation consultation (2.2-3711(A)(7)), legal advice on breach of contract regarding the lease (2.2-3711(A)(8)), and personnel evaluation (2.2-3711(A)(1)). No votes or decisions were reported.

Joint EDA and Board meeting

On July 29, the Economic Development Authority and Board of Supervisors held a joint meeting. The agenda included presentations by EDA Chair Joe Syslo, a CLG update by EDA Treasurer Dee Russell, and a discussion of county-owned properties. No action items were listed.

Planning Commission public hearings upcoming

The Mathews County Planning Commission will meet on August 11 at a regular session with two public hearings:

• A request to rezone 2.006 acres at 392 Mariners Point Rd from Rural (Ru) to Residential-1 (R-1)
• A conditional use permit for a 197-foot AT&T monopole wireless tower on Tax Map Parcel 30-A-121, located on a Rural-zoned parcel

The commission will also discuss reducing its membership from eight to seven seats, receive committee reports on workforce housing/accessory dwelling units and county properties related to the Comprehensive Plan, and hear a Planning Director's report including notice of a variance and an appeal.

Coming up

• **Planning Commission** – Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Public hearings on the rezoning and cell tower permit, plus discussion of commission size. Residents interested in these items may attend and provide comment.

No other meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days according to the provided agenda summaries.

Mathews supervisors scheduled closed sessions on waterfront grill litigation and property disposition

Mathews County's Board of Supervisors called two special meetings in the past week for closed-session discussions centered on litigation involving Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC, the disposition of a publicly owned property, and a performance evaluation of the County Attorney. Minutes from all three meetings held since July 27 have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed in the public record at this time.

Board of Supervisors special meetings

The Board scheduled a special session for July 27, 2026. The published agenda listed four closed-session items:

• Disposition of publicly held real property at 384 Old Ferry Road.
• Litigation regarding Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC v. Mathews County Board of Supervisors and Ramona Wilson.
• Legal advice regarding the lease between Mathews County and Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC.
• Performance evaluation of the County Attorney.

The Board then scheduled a reconvened meeting for July 29, 2026. That agenda listed three closed-session items, each citing a specific section of Virginia Code § 2.2-3711:

• Section (A)(7): legal consultation on the litigation with Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC v. Mathews County Board of Supervisors.
• Section (A)(8): legal advice on breach of contract regarding the lease with Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC.
• Section (A)(1): performance evaluation of the County Attorney.

Because only agendas are available and minutes have not been published, the outcome of each closed session — including whether any votes were taken on the property at 384 Old Ferry Road or any other matter — is not yet part of the public record.

Joint meeting: Economic Development Authority and Board of Supervisors

Also on July 29, 2026, the Economic Development Authority and the Board of Supervisors held a joint meeting. The published agenda listed three items:

• Presentations by EDA Chair Joe Syslo.
• CLG Update by EDA Treasurer Dee Russell.
• Discussion of County Owned Properties.

The agenda described the meeting as an opportunity to receive presentations and updates and to discuss county-owned properties. Minutes have not been published, so no actions or votes from this joint meeting are confirmed.

What this means for residents

The closed-session items involve a pending lawsuit and a lease dispute with a waterfront business, as well as the potential disposition of a county-owned property at 384 Old Ferry Road. Under Virginia's open-meeting law, boards may close meetings for specific purposes such as litigation, legal advice, personnel matters, and real property disposition, but any formal action must be taken in open session. Residents can watch for the published minutes to learn whether the Board took any public votes after returning from closed session.

Coming up

No public meetings are listed on the provided schedule for the next 14 days. Residents should check the Mathews County official website for any meetings added after this roundup was prepared.

Mathews County boards set agenda items on short-term rentals, salary increase, and litigation

Mathews County's Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors each convened last week, with agendas covering short-term rental regulations, a proposed salary increase for the Comp Board, and a closed session on pending litigation. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the meetings, so the items below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action — not confirmed outcomes.

Board of Supervisors — July 16

The Board of Supervisors met on July 16 with several items on the agenda. A proposed 3.5% salary increase for the Comp Board, effective August 1, 2026, was listed for discussion. The Board also had a supplemental appropriation of $5,896.50 for the Registrar's Office on the agenda.

A rezoning application, numbered 202600621, was scheduled for review. The application concerns property owned by James Callis, Jr., with tax map parcel 16-A-161, and proposes a change from the RU zoning district to R1.

The agenda included a closed session covering several legal and personnel matters:

• Performance evaluation of the County Administrator
• Disposition of publicly held real property at 384 Old Ferry Road
• Litigation: Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC v. Mathews County Board of Supervisors and Ramona Wilson
• Legal advice regarding the lease between Mathews County and Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, LLC
• Legal advice regarding the Virginia Freedom of Information Act

The Board also had surplus funds from the Department of Social Services and Public Schools listed for review.

Planning Commission — July 14

The Planning Commission met on July 14. The agenda centered on a public hearing for Ordinance No 26-07, which would amend special regulations for short-term rentals in the county. Short-term rentals have been a topic of discussion in many Virginia localities as officials weigh how to regulate properties used for temporary visitor stays.

The Commission also had the Callis rezone application, numbered 202600621, on its agenda — the same rezoning request involving James Callis, Jr. that the Board of Supervisors was scheduled to review.

A proposed by-law change was listed that would add "Public Hearing" to the Commission's Order of Business.

What to watch

Because minutes have not yet been published for either body's July meetings, residents should watch for the official record to confirm which items were acted upon and how any votes were cast. The rezoning application 202600621 appears on both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors agendas, suggesting it is moving through the county's review process.

Coming up

No public meetings are listed on the county calendar for the next 14 days. Residents interested in the short-term rental ordinance, the Callis rezoning, or the Board of Supervisors' closed-session matters should check the Mathews County website for newly posted minutes and any special meeting announcements.