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Oak Ridge Council approves appointments, reappointments and $300 donation; updates fidelity bond
Summary
The Oak Ridge Town Council on Feb. 6 approved several committee appointments and reappointments, a $300 donation to the Oak Ridge Horse Show, accepted the monthly finance report and adopted a resolution updating fidelity-bond coverage for town finance officers; the council set a special capital-improvement workshop for February.
The Oak Ridge Town Council approved multiple personnel appointments and financial items during its Feb. 6 meeting, including a resolution to increase fidelity-bond coverage for town finance staff.
Council appointed Patrick Fiorentino to the Board of Adjustment, Craig Rosenfeld to the Planning and Zoning Board, Holly Stewart to the Finance Committee and Todd Dean as an alternate to the Finance Committee. The motion to approve that slate passed by voice vote. A separate slate of reappointments — Stuart Meece (finance committee), E. D. Bryant (finance committee), Daniel Walraven (finance committee alternate) and Debbie Schoenfeld (historic preservation commission) — passed on a 3-to-2 vote.
Council also approved a $300 town donation to the Oak Ridge Horse Show by a 3-to-2 vote after public discussion over whether the event benefits Oak Ridge residents. Councilors split on whether taxpayer funds should support an event currently held outside Oak Ridge.
The council accepted the finance officer’s monthly report and approved resolution R2025-01 updating fidelity-bond requirements for the finance officer and two assistant finance officers. Town Manager Bill Bruce told the council the change increases the bond from $200,000 to $500,000; he said the increased premium would cost the town about $750 annually. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote.
Finance highlights presented at the meeting included an ACH property-tax transfer of $83,155 and motor-vehicle taxes of $10,657 from the Guilford County Tax Department, monthly sales-tax and property-tax disbursements, tap fees and water-usage fees, and ABC revenue sharing reported earlier in the meeting. The finance officer said bond-related paperwork would be completed the next day.
The council announced a special called meeting at 10 a.m. in February for the annual capital-improvement planning workshop and received an update on the water-tower project. Town staff said Caldwell Tanks is fabricating the tank, deep foundation work will begin in March, the steel tank will be erected in August–September and final completion was expected by Jan. 31, 2026.
Votes at a glance: - Appointments (Patrick Fiorentino; Craig Rosenfeld; Holly Stewart; Todd Dean): approved (voice vote). - Reappointments (Stuart Meece; E. D. Bryant; Daniel Walraven; Debbie Schoenfeld): approved, tally 3 yes, 2 no. - $300 donation to Oak Ridge Horse Show: approved, tally 3 yes, 2 no. - Acceptance of finance officer’s monthly report: approved (voice vote). - Resolution R2025-01 (update fidelity-bond coverage to $500,000): approved (voice vote).
Council discussion included questions about receiving materials earlier; a councilor asked for future items to be distributed several days in advance. Several councilors spoke in favor of modest community support for local or regional heritage events while others opposed using taxpayer funds for activities that do not directly benefit Oak Ridge residents.
The council also approved a set of committee reappointments and will publish the official vote records with meeting minutes.
