Residents say mayor rescinded HRSD Phase II sewer award by email; council hears complaints and seeks clarity

Mayor Charles Elliott opened public comment at the July 10 Wachapreague Town Council meeting, and several residents used the three-minute public-comment period to press the council for answers about the HRSD (sewer) Phase II project.

Resident Steve Joseph told the council that property owners had voted unanimously to award the Phase II contract to Grizzly and that "the Mayor was in attendance at that meeting and did not speak," but that on July 13 the mayor emailed Grizzly to rescind the Award of Bid. Joseph said the rescission occurred without notice to the project manager or Councilman Bob Bilicki, who he said was out of town at the time.

Another resident, Bob Means, said the action appeared to have been taken "behind closed doors," questioned whether the mayor had authority to pull the award without a public meeting, and asked where the town attorney was when the decision was made. Several other residents echoed concerns about process and transparency.

Linda Jones, a resident, said she had been told earlier that commercial properties would receive sewer hookups at no cost; she expressed alarm that Phase II had reportedly shrunk from about 22–23 properties to 17 and urged involvement of the Accomack County Health Department in the project. Alena Elliot raised contract- and pricing-related concerns, citing gaps in contractor estimates, owner-meeting scheduling during daytime hours that she said excluded working owners, and a stated 2.5% interest charge for payments not completed within 30 days of completion.

Councilman Bilicki said he has been in contact with the Accomack County Health Department and obtained site plans that he shared with the contractor of record. Council members did not record a vote reversing or approving a contract at the July 10 meeting; instead, Bilicki moved to amend the agenda so the HRSD Sewer Phase II item would be considered before other maintenance items, a motion Vice Mayor Sandie Puchalski seconded and the council approved unanimously.

The minutes and attachments note that email correspondence from property owners and other documents supporting concerns were attached to the meeting record; residents asked that the council clarify how contract awards and bond concerns are being handled, whether the mayor acted within his authority, and how property lists and estimated costs were determined.

No formal council action to reinstate or cancel the Grizzly award was recorded in the July 10 minutes. The meeting record includes a referenced action item titled "Mayor’s Action without Town Council Authorization" that Councilman Bilicki requested be incorporated into the minutes. Councilmembers indicated they would review the attachments and correspondence filed with the minutes.

What happens next: the council moved the sewer item earlier on the agenda for discussion; the minutes do not record any final decision on the awarded contract at this meeting. Residents requested greater transparency on contractor estimates, bonding assurances, property inclusion lists, and whether the Accomack County Health Department will be involved in Phase II design and oversight.