Onley Council adopts new internet policy and approves double time for holiday work

Onley, Va. — The Onley Town Council on Feb. 2 approved a package of personnel changes, voting to replace Section 9 of the town’s Personnel Policy with a new Internet Usage Guidelines policy and to pay employees double time when they work on official holidays.

Councilmember Brian Corbin moved to replace the existing internet-use section with a draft written by Councilman Daniel Bloxom; after procedural motions to rescind and re-adopt, council voted unanimously to adopt the replacement and require that all employees sign an acknowledgement within seven days. Councilmember Corbin said the updated policy should be read and acknowledged by staff; Council directed the clerk to collect signatures.

Earlier in the meeting the Employee Committee, led by Jason Campbell, presented a bundle of recommendations under consideration by the council, including increasing the vacation accrual cap from 40 to 120 hours, limiting consecutive vacation to two weeks except for approved special circumstances, removing a cap on sick-leave accrual, aligning cost-of-living increases with federal standards, and a one-time option to purchase back some vacation hours lost in 2025. Campbell noted that, because of the prior 40-hour cap, some officers lost accrued leave last year, citing a $2,003 estimated buyback cost applicable to one officer.

On the holiday pay change, Campbell moved that employees who actually work holidays be paid double time rather than receiving a substitute day off; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll-call vote.

The council did not adopt all Employee Committee recommendations at the meeting; Campbell said he will submit the committee’s proposals in writing for further review and separate consideration by the council.

The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.