Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting Monday, January 27, 2025 7:00 PM 1) Swearing in newly elected Town Mayor: Talia Taylor, Accomack County Clerk of Circuit Court swore in Mayor Fosque. Fletcher Fosque, Term Expires 12/31/2026 2) Swearing in newly elected Town Council members: Talia Taylor, Accomack County Clerk of Circuit Court swore in Councilmember Fiege, Councilmember Grubb and Councilmember Oswald. Lisa Fiege, Term expires 12/31/2028 Omar Grubb, Term expires 12/31/2028 Maphis Oswald, Term expires 12/31/2028 3) Call to order and roll call. - Mayor Fosque called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and roll was called. Councimembers Lisa Fiege, Omar Grubb, Cindy Holdren, Joy Marino, Sarah Nock, Maphis Oswald and Mayor Fosque were present. Town Manager Matt Spuck and Town Clerk Debbie Caton were also present. 4) Pledge of Allegiance 5) Elect Vice-Mayor - Councilmember Oswald moved to nominate herself as the Vice-Mayor. Councilmember Fiege seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. 6) Vote on December 16, 2024, meeting minutes. Councilmember Oswald moved to approve the meeting minutes. Councilmember Fiege seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. 7) Public Hearing None scheduled. 8) Public Presentation Onancock Main Street (OMS) - Cindy Mackey did a three-part presentation and discussed Community Survey Results, Business Recruitment and Retention Plan, and lastly the 2024 Year-in- Review. After the presentation, Councilmember Fiege explained the Downtown Investment Grant (DIG) previously applied for was a 2:1 match. The application was submitted for $75,000 for four specific projects. The Town of Onancock appropriated $32,500 as matching funds. Virginia Main Street only funded three out of the four proposed projects. This made the required match $16,750, which left a balance in OMS' grant match 1IPage Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting Monday, January 27, 2025 7:00 PM appropriation of $15,750. OMS is asking that these funds be reappropriated for a new program called "Open for Business." Councilmember Holdren moved for approval of the $15,750 for the "Open for Business" program for FY2026. Councilmember Nock seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Councilmember Fiege aye Councilmember Grubb - abstain Councilmember Holdren - aye Councilmember Marino - aye Councilmember Nock - aye Councilmember Oswald -nay The motion carries. 9) Council Action Appoint Commissioners to the Town's Planning Commission - Councilmember Nock moved to appoint Jeff Adler, John Labadie, Jim McGowan, and Paul Weitzel to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Holdren seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. Appoint member to the Onancock Economic Development Authority - Councilmember Fiege moved to appoint Kendra Stern to the Onancock Economic Development Authority. Councilmember Oswald seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. Assign Council members to Committees. Councilmember Fiege moved to appoint Councilmember Holdren to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Marino seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. Councilmember Marino moved to appoint Councilmember Fiege to the Personnel Committee. Councilmember Holdren seconded the motion. Town Manager Spuck noted that Councilmember Fiege was a town employee for eight years and her appointment to the Personnel Committee might cause a conflict of interest. Mayor Fosque noted the concerns. The motion carried with a 6-0 vote. 10) Council discussion: None scheduled. 2/Page Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting Monday, January 27, 2025 7:00 PM 11) Committee Reports Economic Development Authority (Lisa Fiege) - Councilmember Fiege reported the OEDA did not meet. 12) Community Reports Onancock Main Street (Cindy Holdren) - The earlier presentation by Cindy Mackey serves as the report for this month. Historic Onancock School (Sarah Nock) - Councilmember Nock reported the Artisan's Market in December was well attended. HOS' Instagram (HOS_1921) posted ariel footage of the sledders from this month's snow days. Upgrades to the electrical system are continuing to allow secondary heat if the boiler fails. The boiler is still working. The search for an Executive Director continues. The board has seven new members as well as some rotations of previous members. Councilmember Nock thanked Cyndi Downing who served as the board president. Kerry Baird is the new board president and Majorie Labadie is the new board vice president. Pavilion construction is ongoing. The following upcoming events are scheduled: Wine Wednesday - Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Field Day Fiesta - tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025. Blooms and Brushes tentatively scheduled for late May 2025. 13) Public Comment Rosemary Paparo - Ms. Paparo's full statement is attached. Kasey Grier - Ms. Grier would like to see planning for sidewalk improvements in the Northeast neighborhood. Ms. Grier noted the OEDA was not listed as a partner with OMS. OMS boundaries leave out a huge part of town and a second business group because it only includes the historic district. OMS, OEDA and the Planning Commission should be working together on the economic future of Onancock as opposed to units moving ahead and creating plans for attracting businesses without consulting the appointed commissions that are responsible fort this type of planning. Ms. Grier would like a periodic meeting that includes the Planning Commission, OMS and OEDA because the OEDA can address the outer business district. Margie Labadie - Ms. Labadie's full statement is attached. Priscilla Hart - Ms. Hart thanked Town Manager Matt Spuck and the Department of Public Works (DPW) for working over the weekend to repair the Ames Street Bridge water pipe 3Page Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting Monday, January 27, 2025 7:00 PM break. Ms. Hart asked if there is any unallocated ARPA money that could be appropriated to infrastructure. Ms. Hart requested a copy of the updated OMS lease. Glenn Smith = Mr. Smith thanked Town Manager Matt Spuck and the Department of Public Works (DPW) for working over the weekend to repair the Ames Street Bridge water pipe break. Mr. Smith suggested regionalization with Accomack County and other neighboring towns for police coverage. Many cars on Ames Street were broken into again over the weekend. Jeff Barrett - Mr. Barrett asked if a gasoline powered generator is designed to back up the pump at the water tower. Town Manager Spuck answered yes. 14) Mayor's Report -Mayor Fosque thanked Town Manager Matt Spuck and the Department of Public Works (DPW) for working over the weekend to repair the Ames Street Bridge water pipe break. 15) Town Manager's Report Financial - see attached report. Manager's Report = Town Manager Spuck gave updates about ongoing projects. Town Manager Spuck spoke to the water pipe break over the weekend. The pipe broke under the Ames Street Bridge causing loss of water pressure to the tower. The system was never compromised. The pipes were capped restoring water pressure, and all health department water tests came back negative for contamination. Police Report - see attached report. 16) Town Councilmember comments - Councilmember Fiege Councilmember Fiege asked for an update from the wayfinding signs committee. Councilmember Nock responded she plans to start collaborating with the committee soon. Councilmember Fiege asked for Eric Luchansky with ANDPC to attend the February Town Council meeting for updates on the Northeast Revitalization Project. Councilmember Fiege asked for a council decision on the matching funds for OMS grant request at the February meeting. Councilmember Grubb - Councilmember Grubb is excited to serve as a new council member. Councilmember Holdren - Councilmember Holdren responded to Kasey Grier's comments in reference to the OEDA. Councilmember Holdren encouraged the OEDA to bring forth a meeting report on activities. Councilmember Holdren asked if the police would consider relocation of the security cameras as some areas in town are having ongoing issues. 4IPage Town of Onancock Town Council Meeting Monday, January 27, 2025 7:00 PM Councilmember Marino - Councilmember Marino thanked Mayor Fosque for his help with the Ames Street Bridge pipe break. Councilmember Marino recognized the former mayor, Russell Jones, who recently passed away. Councilmember Nock = Councilmember Nock asked for an update on the Queen Street parking lot. Mayor Fosque responded that an updated drawing is expected from Hill Studios this week. Councilmember Oswald - Councilmember Oswald asked if HOS has researched renting boilers per Glenn Smith's suggestion at the December 2024 Town Council meeting. Councilmember Oswald thanked the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department for hosting an annual dinner where they shared training procedures and updates on staffing and other needs. 17) Closed Session a. None scheduled. 18) Adjourn - Councilmember Fiege moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Nock seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 6-0 vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM. n / - Ouesah a laton Fletcher Fosque, Mayor Debbie Caton, Town Clerk 5IPage I am Rosemary Paparo and I live in the Town of Onancock. Notwithstanding the water supply issues these past few days, 1 want to address the motion made at a recent Town Meeting that that the Town take out a $542,000 loan at 4% for 40 years to fund the cost of new windows, an electric upgrade and installation of a heat pump system (aka a split system) at the HOS. I don't know if the Town or FOS has yet retained a full service architectural or engineering firm to assess the entire school facility. That engineering study would include mechanical, electrical, plumbing as well as the building envelope which is the masonry, roof and windows. Such studies, although they come at a cost, are essential for prudent planning. The Council and the Mayor have a fiduciary responsibility to all of the residents and taxpayers in the Town. The proposed loan, which would run until 2065, would come at a total cost of $1,087,308.80. During that 40 year span, the heat pump units and interior air handlers would have to be replaced at least two or three times and the windows would be at the end of their useful life. We have already been told, at a number of Town meetings, that the school roof is at the end of its useful life sO would that trigger a further loan? This Council would be burdening future residents and taxpayers with useless debt and that is a travesty. Two further considerations: The cost of electricity to run the split systems will be substantially greater than an oil or propane system. Although electric systems are better for the environment, operational costs to the FOS will increase by approximately 40% which may be difficult to cover on a lean budget. Also, the FOS has said it will pay half the debt on the loan, however, that is not assured as the FOS still cannot afford the property insurance on the school which it is required to pay under its lease with the Town. It has been repeatedly said that the Town should pay that insurance as the school is town property but that is a specious argument at best as the lease is very clear that it is the FOS's obligation. I would like these comments added to the record of this meeting. Thank you. 6 f 2725 An Invitation from the Friends of Onancock School's Board of Directors to the Onancock Town Council The Board of Directors of the Friends of Onancock School understands that the Onancock Town Council is still deciding how it wants to move forward with major repairs at the Historic Onancock School and that is crucial to do this with as much information as possible. These repairs are critical to the success of the Historic Onancock School Community and Culture Center. So I have several questions for Town Council members if you don't mind me asking. And a show of hands is fine if you wish. How many of you have walked through both floors of the Historic Onancock School in the last year? How many of you have stepped into each artist studio, business, non-profit or club? How many of you have been in the boiler and mechanicals rooms? How many of you have stood in front of the Pavilion? How many of you have walked to the playground or hiked our nature trail or rested on the creek observation deck? If you have not raised your hand or answered no to any of these questions, then the Friends of the School, Board of Directors would like to invite you for a comprehensive tour, either as a group or individually, to see our facilities. We give these kinds of tours daily to visitors (although not the boiler and mechanics rooms) and we are pretty proud of what we have to offer at Historic Onancock School. Please contact Destiny Jennings or Joani Donohoe at 757-302-1331 to schedule a tour or stop in during regular ousiness hours. Thank you, Margie Labadie, Vice President - request that this be entered into the record for tonight's meeting.