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Onley council appoints committee to rewrite procurement policy after attorney flags gaps
Summary
Onley Town Council appointed a committee of the town manager and two council members to rewrite the town procurement policy after the town attorney said current language could allow splitting purchases to avoid competitive bidding and permit approvals outside public meetings.
The Onley Town Council voted Sept. 4 to create a committee to revise the town’s Procurement Policy after Town Attorney Carl Bundick said current wording may permit improper purchasing practices and risk violating public‑meeting rules.
Bundick told the council he was concerned the existing policy’s language allows purchases to be split into smaller transactions and permits approvals by limited combinations of officials in ways that could amount to an unadvertised meeting. He recommended reworking the policy to align explicitly with Virginia Code and to set clear staff spending limits and competitive‑bidding thresholds.
Jamye Salazar, the clerk/treasurer, explained the practical difference between soliciting written estimates and advertising formal bids, and said the thresholds in state procurement guidance determine which method is required. Council members discussed typical town manager spending limits; several said a $10,000 administrative threshold used in other localities might be appropriate for Onley.
On a motion by Vice‑Mayor Bill Ferguson, seconded by Councilman Woody Zember, Council approved forming a committee composed of Town Manager Susan Rillo and Council Members Brian Corbin and Daniel Bloxom to draft revisions. The roll call recorded two abstentions (Corbin and Bloxom) and four votes in favor; the motion passed.
Why it matters: procurement rules shape how public funds are spent and how vendors compete for town business. Council members said they want clearer language to avoid accidental violations of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and to ensure competitive bidding for larger purchases. The committee is expected to return recommendations to Council for formal consideration.
Next steps: The committee will review the town’s current policy, compare it to the Virginia Procurement Act and relevant state code, and draft proposed language on spending thresholds, emergency purchasing, and oversight. Council did not set a public deadline at the meeting.
Speakers quoted or summarized in this article are taken from the Sept. 4 meeting minutes and include Carl Bundick (Town Attorney), Susan Rillo (Town Manager), Jamye Salazar (Clerk/Treasurer), Bill Ferguson (Vice‑Mayor), Brian Corbin (Councilman), and Daniel Bloxom (Councilman).
