Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting January 27, 2020 7:00 P.M.  Call to Order and Roll Call:  Mayor Fletcher Fosque called the meeting to order at 7:001 P.M. Mayor Fletcher Fosque and Councilmembers Robert Bloxom, Ray Burger, Catherine Krause, Joy Marino, Maphis Oswald and Matt Spuck were present. All members were in attendance and a quorum was established.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Consideration and Approval of the Meeting Minutes from the December 16, 2019 Regular Town Mayor Fosque asked for any changes, corrections or additions to the meeting minutes as Councilmember Robert Bloxom made a motion 10 approve the minutes as submilted. Councilmember Catherine Krause seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous voice  Council Meeting: submitted.  vote. Public Business:  a. Onancock Main Street Initiative Update - Carol Tunstall  Carol Tunstall introduced the board members in attendance; Janet Fosque, Barbara Johnsen and Catherine Krause then gave an update on the Main Street Initiative. Highlights included data collection, partnerships with Eastern Shore organizations, creating a sustainable organizational structure which included creating an OMSI Board, acquiring 501 (c)3 status, developing a mission, vision and strategic plan, creating aj position for OMSI Program Manager and the opening ofa an office in March 2020. Future goals include receiving a Virginia Main Street Designation, increasing organizational capacity, developing and implementing a comprehensive funding strategy, partnering with the Town to develop branding for the Town of Onancock and prioritizing grant opportunities and applying for at least two grants in the next two years.  Council discussion followed.  b.S State oft the Town Address - Town Manager William Kerbin  Mr. Kerbin gave his State of the Town Address. Highlights included the formation ofa a steering committee to consider joining the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, the Christmas Homes Tour celebrated its' 20th anniversary with a new tree lighting ceremony and decorating contest, the Eastern Shore Home and Garden Tour was held in Onancock in May and the Central Accomack Little League girls team won the state championship and the boys team went to the  world series after winning the state and regional championships.  Council discussion followed.  1    c.Revised Road Maintenance Plan - Town Manager William Kerbin: Mr. Kerbin reviewed the road maintenance plan with council.  Council discussion followed.  d. Northeast Project Update - Town Manager William Kerbin:  Mr. Kerbin updated council on the recent community meeting that was held at the AME Church on. January 24, 2020. Surveys have been handed out to the residents in the Northeast Section and are to be returned to Town Hall. The next step will be to perform a window survey. Mr. Kerbin  stated iti isal long process and derelict buildings may have to be addressed.  Council discussion followed.  e. VPA Application Grant Match for Ramp Repairs - Mayor Fletcher Fosque: Mr. T.Lee Byrd, resident and Waterfront Committee Chairman, updated the council on the Virginia Port Authority 2020. Aid to! Local Ports Grant Presentation and shared with the council that he and the mayor will attend a meeting on Tuesday February 11,2020 to present their need based presentation to the Virginia Port Authority for funding to replace the boat ramp. Mr. Byrd thanked David Pryor and Alison Weeks of Clark Nexson for their help preparing the  presentation.  Council discussion followed.  f.Town Council Meeting Schedule for Calendar Year 2020 - Town Manager William  Kerbin:  Mr. Kerbin presented the 2020 calendar year schedule. Council verbally agreed to the meetings as presented.  Public Comment:  Janet Fosque announced the opening of the Onancock Winter Market on Saturday February 8, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. until 12:00 noon extending the market to year-round for the food vendors. Councilmember Bloxom thanked resident Jim McGowen for his help with the Comprehensive Plan and reported to council that at their Tuesday January 21, 2020 meeting the Commission members and two members oft the Main Street Group had a visioning session and came up with a  Planning Commission Report:  vision statement for the Comprehensive Plan which he read aloud.  Waterfront Committee Report: Personnel Committee Report: be no floating holiday.  No report  Councilmember Krause reported to the council that the committee met and decided there would  2    Sewer Transmission Line Steering Committee Report:  Councilmember Bloxom recognized and thanked members of the committee Carol Tunstall, T Lee Byrd, Eric Dodge, Duke Shannahan, Alan Silverman, Keith Colona, Matt Spuck and himself. He stated the group was established by the council in August of2020 to evaluate the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) regional sewage project preliminary proposal. He stated they split into three subcommittees; Finance, Operations and Legal Procedural to divide the work. He stated the conclusion the group reached was that the HRSD regional plan was going to be the best lower cost solution for all Town residents. One important fact he stated was the USDA Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) bonds must be extinguished in order to transfer the WWTP to HRSD. He also stated that in their interviews with other small communities all were very pleased with their relationship with HRSD. Councilman Bloxom stated the Operations committee was tasked with determining capital and operating costs ift the Town keeps the plant. The Town hired independent engineering firm Davis, Bowen and Friedel (DB&F) to help and' based on their preliminary information on just capital expenditures the costs ofai retention scenario are double that of a transfer scenario. He stated that our present model is untenable because we have not budgeted for any replacements or capital improvements. Councilmember Spuck then addressed the council about the cost (the math) of water and sewer if Onancock owns, maintains and manages the sewer system ori ifHRSD owns, maintains and  manages the system. Council discussion followed.  Mayor Fosque thanked the group for their great work and professionalism.  Mayor's Report:  Mayor Fosque reported to council that elections were scheduled for May 05, 2020 and the Mayor Fosque reported that he attended a board meeting of The Friends of Onancock School. They have an event coming up on Saturday February 01, 2020 called Ragtime, a speakeasy. He reported one problem they are having is no handicap access. They are looking at putting in an elevator to the second floor at a cost of approximately $100,000.00 to 150,000.00. They will try to fund it through a capital campaign. They are also looking at a dog park somewhere on the He also reported on the progress oft the Civil War Trail Sign. The group that handles the Civil War Trail Signs had some trouble with the wording; they did not like it. The group also did not like the location, they would rather have it at the Wharf. Mayor Fosque asked if the Council had any concerns about changing the wording or changing the location of the sign.  deadline to be on the ballot is March 03, 2020.  grounds but are not interested in the planning or funding.  Council discussion followed.  Council agreed tol have Mayor Fosque speak with them and Council will make the final decision.  3    Town Manager's Report: Mr. Kerbin read his aloud.  St. Patrick'sF Parade: Planning has started for the St. Patrick's Parade. Town staffi is working with the new coordinator, Claire Marie Smith to make plans for the parade. Mr. Kerbin thanked Claire Marie  for assuming this leadership role.  Town Code Review Update: Staff and the Town Attorney are finishing up review of the Town Code and will be forwarding a draft ofthe code for review to Town Council around February 1. Tree Grant Proposal: The Virginia' Trees for Clean Water proposal was submitted in early. January. The proposal includes tree plantings for the Outlaw Building property. The award should be announced in  early February 2020.  VPA Grant Application: T.Lee Byrd and Clark Nexson have been coordinating to prepare a VPA application for ramp repairs. The application presentation is set for February 11, 2020 in Norfolk. Mr. Kerbin thanked both' T. Leeand Clark Nexson for their volunteer hours on this project. Northeast Section Project: Mr. Kerbin has been working with Bobbie Wert from the ANPDC to fulfill requirements forasa0,00Communiy Development Block Grant Planning Grant. The requirements include a public meeting, a window housing survey and an infrastructure assessment. All activities must Mr. Kerbin announced to the council that he had accepted a position as Municipal Manager for the Village ofWoodstock, Vermont and his last day with the Town of Onancock would be March 20, 2020. Mr. Kerbin asked council ift there were any questions. Councilmember Spuck asked why the water repair and maintenance line item was over budget. Councilmember Spuck expressed his concern that the overage in Water Expenses Section / Repair & Maintenance SVC needs to be  be complete by February 7,2020.  Financial Report:  addressed in the minutes for future budgeting purposes.  Follow-upon Council Action Items:  No report. Council Comments:  Councimember Spuck stated the Sewer Line Steering Committee was a truly remarkable group. Councilmember Oswald wants to see the old and new wording when the council gets the new Town code. She stated the Onancock Fire Department banquet was very nice and thanked them for inviting the Town Council. She asked that the Fire Department be invited to a meeting to share with the public a short film that shows how they respond when called. Councimember Krause thanked everyone for their hard work on the wastewater treatment  project.  4    Councilmember Marino agreed and stated she had attended many of the meetings and was very impressed with the intelligence oft the group and the time they put in to reach a very researched  data-driven product. Closed Session:  Councilmember Krause made ai motion that Town Council convene a Closed. Meeting for the purpose ofholding a discussion ofthe personnel, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) ofthe Code ofVirginia of1950, as amended. Councilmember Marino seconded the motion. The motion  passed with a unanimous voice vote. Closed session started at 8:45P.M.  Councilmember Krause made a motion that the Town Council reconvene in Open Meeting, and that a roll call vote be taken and recorded. on this motion. sO that each member who votes in favor shall, thereby, certify compliance with all of the matters identified in Section 2.2-3712(D) ofthe Code ofVirginia of1950, as amended. Councilmember Bloxom. seconded the motion.  Roll Call Vote Bloxom ESNO Krause ESNO Oswald SNO  Marino Burger Spuck  Open session reconvened at 9:28 P.M.  Adjourn:  Councilmember Bloxom made a motion t0 adjourn. Councilmember Marino. seconded. the  motion. The motion passed with a unanimous voice vote.  The meeting adjourned at 9:28 P.M.  IMU  luslin  Fletcher  Mariellen Mearsheimer,. Assistant Deputy Clerk  MT  5