Questions about Historic Onancock School spur new engineering review; FOS disputes debt claims

Town of Onancock officials agreed Oct. 28 to seek a broader engineering assessment of the Historic Onancock School (HOS) after public commenters raised concerns about the building's condition and finances.

The council directed Town Manager Matt Spuck to repost the existing request for proposals with a scope that explicitly includes a structural evaluation, saying the town wants additional technical proposals to identify maintenance priorities. Spuck said the reposting aims to produce a clearer assessment of what repairs and funding will be required.

The issue drew multiple public commenters. Mark Sinclair said he had a 2011 engineering report for HOS and described “remarkable” changes since then. Rosemary Paparo urged hiring a hydrologist to assess possible saltwater intrusion if new housing is built outside town limits. Kerry Baird sought to correct what she described as misinformation about insurance and roof condition, saying the roof is not currently leaking after recent patching and sealing funded by HOS.

Friends of Historic Onancock School submitted a written, numbered statement to the council and public that addressed several specific items. The group said the town’s decision to include hazard insurance for town‑owned properties on the town policy does not mean HOS could not afford insurance. FOS said it pays required liability insurance under its lease and also carries directors’ and officers’ coverage. The statement noted recent maintenance costs: more than $3,300 for two roof patch-and-seal efforts in the last year and a major resealing of the original building footprint in 2021 that FOS paid for ($18,000).

FOS also disputed a public figure offered at the meeting. "The community member's claim of ‘over $113,000’ in debt is not true," the group wrote, noting it repaid a $50,000 loan in January 2024 and reporting an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) balance of $59,046.92 as of Sept. 30, 2024. The group said two outstanding pavilion invoices total $7,880 and that donations for the pavilion were restricted for that purpose and could not be used for building repairs. The organization provided a link to its plans and reports and offered to supply engineer reports on request.

Councilmember Sarah Nock and others said the town needs a clearer scope and independent structural input before committing town funds for repairs. No formal funding decision was made at the meeting; the next step is the reposted RFP and any subsequent proposals the town receives.

The council packet also includes references to engineering reports and other documentation that staff said they will make available. FOS said copies of its lease, strategic plan and Form 990s are published on its website.

What’s next: Town staff will repost the HOS engineering RFP with a structural-evaluation scope; the council will review any proposals and supporting engineering documentation at a future meeting. FOS offered to provide copies of the Macintosh and Becker Morgan engineers’ reports on request.