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Onancock Main Street lease draws mixed public comment; presenter later appointed to council
Summary
Lisa Fiege, president of Onancock Main Street, presented a three-year lease for 38 Market St.; supporters praised OMS' work while at least one resident objected to nominal rent and rental of the conference room. Later the council appointed Fiege to fill a council vacancy through Dec. 31, 2024.
Lisa Fiege, president of Onancock Main Street (OMS), presented a proposed three‑year lease for 38 Market Street beginning Dec. 1, 2024, during a public hearing that opened at 7:08 p.m. and closed at 7:14 p.m.
Multiple residents spoke in favor of OMS and its downtown initiatives. Priscilla Hart told the council she supports OMS' work but objected to aspects of the draft lease—saying she was surprised the lease would allow OMS access to nearly half the building's square footage and permit renting the conference room hourly to outside entities; Hart argued OMS should pay at least the rent it previously paid when located at the Historic Onancock School.
Other public speakers, including Margie Labadie, Thelma Gillespie and Bill Kretzer, expressed support for approving the lease and for OMS' contributions to downtown revitalization. In council discussion after the hearing, Councilmember Maphis Oswald said she did not agree to leasing the space for $1; Councilmember Sarah Nock noted OMS' low budget per capita and described the lease as a way to increase OMS support without pulling funds from other town expenditures.
The transcript records public comment and council discussion about lease terms but does not record a final council vote on the lease during this meeting. Later in the agenda the council appointed Lisa Fiege to the council to fill a vacancy through Dec. 31, 2024; that appointment passed 5-0.
The meeting record shows attorneys reviewed the proposed lease; the transcript does not provide the finalized rent amount, detailed lease financials or whether the council later adopted the lease.
