Town of Onançock Town Council Meeting August 24, 2015 7:00PM  Call to Order and Roll Call:  Mayor. Jones called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and roll was called. Mayor Russell Jones and Councilmembers' T. Lee Byrd, Catherine Krause, Joshua Bundick and Fletcher Fosque were present. Councilmember. John Morgan arrived at 7:02 PM: and Councilmember Sandra Fox was absent. A  majority of members were present and a quorum was established.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Consideration and Approval of the Meeting Minutes from the. July 27th 2015:  Mayor. Jones asked if there were any corrections, changesoradditions: to the meeting minutes from the With none, Councilmember Byrd made a motion to approve the minutes se submitted. Councilmember  July 27", 2015 meeting.  Bundick seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.  Public Business:  A. Prcingmethodology for fuel at the wharf:  Mayor. Jones shared that a pricing scheme had been devised for gas at the wharf but had not yet been adopted by Town Council. The methodology is as follows; the customer is charged $.50on Councilmember Byrd made a motion to adopt the methodology for pricing gas and diesel products at the town wharf as outlined in: staff's recommendation in this memorandum. Councilmember Bundick: seconded the motion. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Mr. Bobby Isdell, Accomack Community Band, asked Town Council for their approval to hold their annual haunted house this year at the Old Onancock High School. Mr. Isdell explained to Council that this is their request for a variance to Town Ordinance 16-9; Relating to Halloween, which states that Halloween activities may only occur on Halloween, must end by 8 PM, and no one over 13 years of age may participate. Mr. Isdell shared that they have a verbal agreement inp place with the Accomack County Sheriff's Department for a deputy to onsite. There will also be volunteers to assist with maintaining crowd control and, in the past, the Onancock Police Department also made it a priority to patrol the area more frequently during the event. Mayor. Jones asked what the average attendance of the event is nightly. Mr. Isdell shared that on average they have 200 people go through the Haunted House and that last year, on the last Mayor Jones asked if Council grants the variance for the Accomack Community Band sO that they may hold their annual Haunted House event at the Old Onancock High School. All were in  top of the cash price and then another 3%1 for credit card purchases.  B. Accomack Community Band:  evening, they had over 400 attendees.  verbal agreement.  1    BZA Appointments:  Mayor. Jones explained that the Town is required to have al Board ofz Zoning Appeals (BZA) which isa quasi-judicial committee, appointed by the Accomack County Circuit Court. The purpose of the BZA is to hear Landowner appeals to the Town's Zoning Ordinances. Town Council has been asked to get al list of potential names together for the Circuit Court. Judge. Mr. Lawton: shared that the Board needs to be reconstituted quickly since the Town currently has one request fora Councilmember Krause made a motion to request the appointment of Mr. Caleb Fowler, Ms. Carolyn Richardson, Ms. Maphis Oswald, Mr. Tom Reinerth and Mr. Duke. Shanahan for afour year term on the BZA. Councilmember Bundick seconded the motion. The motion passed by  variance that needs to be heard.  unanimous voice vote.  Public Comment:  Mr. Rick Turner, Onancock Street, asked for clarification regarding the rental spaces at the Town' Wharf. Mayor. Jones shared that this issue is discussed yearly at the Waterfront Committee Meetings and that the previous revenue from yearly rentals was not in the Town's best interested to continue. Mayor Jones encouraged Mr. Turner to come to the Waterfront Committee Meetings since hei is positive that Mrs. Janet Fosque, Market Street, expressed her concern for landowners allowing short term rentals in Mayor. Jones shared that he was not certain thati iti isa violation but that the Town Staff and the Planning  Mr. Turner had heard that long term rentals were no longer available at the wharf.  this issue will be discussed again for the next season.  Town. Mrs. Fosque feels that it violates Town Code and needs to be corrected.  Commission could looki into the issue further.  Planning Commission: No Meeting. Marketing Committee:  Councilmember Morgan shared that the meeting was centered around Mrs. Fosque's presentation on Mrs. Fosque asked Town Council if the purchase of the brackets for the banners could come from another line item in the budget so that the Christmas Decorations Committee would have more funds available to purchase the skyline that will go on Market Street and Marshal! Street. Also, Mrs. Fosque mentioned that the brackets would be up year-round so the Town will be able to purchase season Town Council agreed to allow the purchase to be taken from another budget line item other than Mrs. Fosque continued on to share that with the Marketing Committee's! help they were able to nail  updating the Town's Christmas Decorations.  appropriate banners for times other than for the Christmas! Season.  Christmas Decorations 107068.6015).  down a slogan fort the Holiday Banners, "Season's Greetings".  Personnel Committee: No meeting  2    Waterfront Committee:  Councilmember Byrd shared that the Committee met on August 11".c Councilmember Byrd shared that the gas tanks at the Wharf are finally up and running and sales have been great. There had been a small issue with the hoses on the tank but they have since been repaired and alli is working as it should. Councilmember Byrd explained that the Town will need to purchase some additional signage for the dingy sock as well as to remind residents and visitors that parking trailers on the grass is not permitted. Councilmember Byrd also shared that Mrs.. Jean DiDanielle has recently become the new Harbormaster Councilmember Bundick asked ift there have been anyi issues with cars parking in the trailer parking designated spots. Councilmember Byrd confirmed that there has been some issues and that the Harbormaster has been working with the Onancock Police Department in correcting that issue. Councilmember Krause thanked Mrs. Fosque for all of her work on the Christmas Decorations Committee. Councilmember Krause also thanked Town Council for allowing the purchase oft the brackets to come from another linei item in the budget sot that they would have the funds needed to  Assistant.  Christmas Committee:  purchase the skyline. Mayor's Report: No report.  Town Manager's Report:  Taxes: Mr. Lawton shared that Town staff has made several attempts to collect on certain tax delinquencies in Town without success although overall collections are up. Mr. Lawton wanted to alert Council to thei issue because it may take further more severe action get certain businesses into compliance. Several instances our correspondences are being ignored. Decal notifications werea Unison: Mr. Lawton shared that this Company would like to purchase the current leases on the water tower and share a portion of any future leases. AT&T, a current leaser, has the option to deescalate the cost of their rent based ona number factors such as traffic flow. There is a concern that they will do this again ini the future. Unison is offering the Town $268,000 to take over the leases on the water tower. That money can go a long way especially for matches to potential grant monies. Mr. Lawton explained that they see the water tower as the future of telecommunications. Mr. Lawton also suggested that Town Council contact Mr. Wilson Hogan, Unison, for any questions or clarifications they might want. Mayor. Jones further explained that Unison will actively look for others companies who may want to rent space on the water tower and the Town would get 60%1 for the lease but Unison will manage it. Councilmember Fosque mentioned that the Town would be foregoing $30,000i in annual revenue if the Town aliowed Unison to take over the water tower leases. Councilmember Fosque is concerned that Mr. Lawton explained that the initial payment of $268,000 from Unison should cover about ten yearsof  success. Utility collections processes are in place and working well.  the Town may not be able to cover that loss of annual revenue.  that "lost" revenue.  3    Mayor. Jones explained that the offer from Unison is not on at time constraint and that Council willl have Road Issues: Mr. Lawton shared that Town staff recently got quotes for repairing three town owned roads, the cheapest being $40,000. The Town is starting to see more infrastructural issues with Town owned roads. Mr. Lawton further explained that there are also substructure issues with the roads. Mayor. Jones asked if the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will take over roads that have Mr. Lawton shared that it will have to be ofa certain quality for VDOT to take it over. Mr. Lawton also shared that the Town roads are deteriorating So much that vehicles are starting to become damaged on these declining roads. Mr. Lawton explained that conçrete would be more ofa a long-term Band-Aid. Overgrowth in Town: Mr. Lawton shared that recently some landowners in Town were sent notices, requesting that their overgrowth be taken care of before the Town steps in. To date, all who received notices were receptive toi fixing the problem. Most called to verify where the issues were in their yards. Watermen Slips: Mr. Lawton shared that through his conversation with Preston Smith that the only concern they have is with how many slips are reserved for transient boaters. According to Preston Smith ifar rental lasts longer than 15 days iti is no longer considered transient. The three boat slips reserved for the watermen was actually a Town request when drafting the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG). Mr. Lawton explained that the only obligation the Town has to BIG is that 15 slips are reserved for Councilmember Krause shared that she was glad to hear that the overgrown trees and bushes in Town Councilmember Byrd encouraged the audience to attend the next Waterfront Committee. The Committee is open to alli ideas on how to proceed with slip rentals in the coming years.  time to review and take action as they see fit within Counçil's timeframe.  Town staff has started to look into using concrete for patching the roads.  been patched with concrete.  transient boaters. Mayor and Town Council Comments: willl be taken care.  Closed Session, if necessary: None required. Adjourn:  Councilmember Byrd made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Krause seconded the motion. The  motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.  Clerk  #  du  4