Town of Onancock March 12, 2020 4:00 p.m.  Town Council Special Meeting & Budget Workshop  Call to Order and Roll Call:  Mayor Fosque called the meeting to order and roll was called. Mayor Fletcher Fosque and Councilmembers Robert Bloxom, Joy Marino, Catherine Krause, Ray Burger, Maphis Oswald, and Matt Spuck were present. All members were present, and a quorum was established.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Public Business:  Mayor Fosque opened public business with a discussion of the St. Patrick's Parade event, which was to take place Sunday, March 15th. Mr. Kerbin explained that with the growing concern over the COVID-19 virus and the tightening restrictions on public events hei is recommending that the St. Patrick's Parade be canceled. Mr. Kerbin shared that the Governor Northam did declare a State of Emergency early today. Mr. Kerbin also shared that he spoke with Mr. C. Rayl Pruitt, Director of Public Safety for Accomack County, and he said that the trend for these types ofe events is to cancel.  Council discussion followed.  Mrs.. Janet Fosque, Market Street, suggested that instead of canceling the event, that it be postponed. Mayor Fosque asked the St. Patrick's Parade committee what they thought. Mr.. JeffVernimb shared that although sad to see it canceled that it was probably in the publics best interest to do so. The committee stood behind Mr. Vernimb' sa assessment. The event was canceled. Council thanked the committee for all their hard work and asked them back again next year.  a. Appointment of Interim Town Manager = Mayor Fletcher Fosque: Mayor Fosque explained that this was discussed in their closed session meeting with Mr. Bill Whitley. Mr. Whitleyadvised Councilmember Bloxom made a motion to appoint Mrs. Lisa Fiege as the interim town manager until a permanent town manager is hired and in place. Councilmember Krause. seconded the motion. Councilmember Bloxom then amended his motion to add an effective date of March. 20, 2020. Councilmembers Bloxom, Marino, Krause, Burger and Spuck were in favor of the motion. b. Budget Workshop: Mayor Fosque explained that this is a preliminary budget discussion and no votes will be taken on any measures dealing with the budget. Mr. Kerbin read Mrs. Fiege's budget review aloud. Some budget highlights included 2% cost-of-living increase for town employees, 3% water/sewer rate increase, $10,000 expenditure for1 the Historic Onancock School, increased real estate assessments, a managed IT package, as well as various grants.  them oft the need for an interim Town Manager.  Councilmember Oswald opposed. The motion passed five to one.  1    Council discussion followed. Some items discussed were using the transient occupancy tax revenue to help fund the Onancock Main Street Initiative, asking the employees to start payinga percentage oft their health insurance cost, raising the wages of some of our lower paid employees to keep up with the minimum wage changes that are coming, and the need to raise the water/sewer rates more to start to build up funds for capital improvements. One item not budgeted but needed soon is repainting the water tower, inside and out. Mr. Bryan Horton, Public' Works Director, estimated a need of approximately $100,000 fort that project. Council asked the painting can be just the inside or outside and if so, would it reduce the cost. Mayor Fosque asked Mr. Kerbin to get Mr. Horton to looki into this issue and get back  with Mrs. Fiege.  Public Comment: None.  Closed Session.ifneeded:  Councilmember Krause made a motion that Town Council convene a Closed Meeting for the purposes of holding a discussion, of the personnel, pursuant to. Sertion22371A/4Jo the Code oft the Virginia of 1950, as amended. Councilmember Oswald. seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous  voice vote.  Closed Session began at 6:00p p.m.  Councilmember Bloxom made a motion that Town Council reconvene in Open Meeting, and that ai roll call vote shall be taken andi recorded on this motion. so that each member who votes inj favor shall, thereby, certify compliance with all of the matters identified in Section. 2.2-3712(D) of the Code of  Virginia of 1950, as amended. Councilmember Krause seconded the motion.  Roll Call Vote:  Robert Bloxom Catherine Krause Maphis Oswald  ESNO SNO ESNO  Joy Marino Ray Burger Matt Spuck  ESNO NO YES/NO  Open Session reconvened at 6:38 p.m.  Adiourn:  Councilmember Krause made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Bloxom seconded the motion. The  motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. EpN  lage  Fletcher Fosque,  Mayor  iege, Deputy Clerk  2