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Public divided over $800,000 in needed repairs at Historic Onancock School
Summary
A Sept. 22 public hearing on a proposed budget amendment highlighted disagreement over who should pay for roughly $800,000 in roof and HVAC repairs to the Town‑owned Historic Onancock School; speakers alternately urged town investment, lease renegotiation with Friends of Onancock School, and clearer accountability.
The Onancock Town Council on Sept. 22 heard competing public views about who should pay for major capital repairs to the Town‑owned Historic Onancock School (HOS). Town staff estimated the most pressing work — primarily a new roof and HVAC replacement — would cost approximately $800,000, which triggered a required public hearing under Virginia Code §15.2‑2507 because it would increase total expenditures by more than one percent.
Speakers at the hearing urged differing approaches. Rosemary Paparo urged renegotiation or cancellation of the current lease with Friends of Onancock School (FOS) and said the town should not simply give FOS $800,000. "The town can not give FOS $800,000," the minutes record Paparo saying, and she asked for greater accountability and a comprehensive plan before allocating such funds.
By contrast, Mary Burnham, co‑owner of a local business and a HOS supporter, described the school as a tourism asset with more than 20 rent‑paying tenants, a new music pavilion that drew roughly 400 people to a recent opening, and urged investment in heating and roofing to preserve revenue‑producing uses. Rick King, identified as a member of the FOS board, explained lease distinctions between lessee and lessor as they relate to repair responsibilities.
Several speakers asked for clear, written plans and audits before committing town reserves; others emphasized the social and economic benefits of preserving HOS. The council took no vote on a budget amendment that night; the public hearing closed at 8:17 p.m.
The minutes also reference discussion about a possible Economic Development Authority (EDA) loan or grant to FOS (amount appears in meeting materials but is not consistently legible in the minutes). Councilmembers and members of the public repeatedly requested clearer documentation about the lease terms, what repairs are the lessee's responsibility, and the long‑term plan for the property.
