Occoquan council approves resolutions and ARB reappointments, defers Riverwalk decision over cost and tree concerns

Occoquan Town Council on Nov. 6 approved routine business, adopted two resolutions and several Architectural Review Board appointments, and postponed further work on a proposed Riverwalk expansion while staff clarify costs and the council ensures full membership is present.

Mayor Earnie Porta called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. in Town Hall. The council approved the consent agenda — which included adoption of the Oct. 15 meeting minutes and a resolution supporting Visit Occoquan MMS participation — after Councilmember Cindy Fithian moved and Councilmember Nancy Freeborne Brinton seconded the motion; the vote passed unanimously by voice.

Town Manager Adam Linn told the council staff had met with Prince William County about the Ellicott Street sidewalk portion of the Occoquan Greenway Trail connection. According to Linn, the county did not want to move the sidewalk from the west side of Ellicott Street to the east because of increased cost and loss of parking, and said the TAP Grant alignment needs to connect with Mill Street. Linn said the planned sidewalk would either reduce the travel lane and turn radius on Ellicott Street or require removal of the magnolia tree. Town Engineer Bruce Reese, after reconnecting to the meeting audio, explained that an on-road alignment would narrow lanes and turning radii, while an off-road alignment would likely require removal of the trees.

Councilmembers discussed alternatives and recommended staff speak again with Prince William County and the Virginia Department of Transportation about routing the trail onto existing sidewalks along Commerce and Union streets to avoid the Ellicott Street impacts. Mayor Porta said he will contact Supervisor Boddye’s office and County DOT to convey the council’s position.

On financial reporting, Town Treasurer Asma Rupani provided a written report through September and noted those figures represent about 25% of the fiscal-year budget. Deputy Town Manager Matt Whitmoyer said a difference in Meals Tax receipts this year versus last stems from delinquencies and that totals should be similar once taxes are collected.

Town Attorney Martin Crim reviewed ordinance-enforcement procedures, saying zoning violations and unpaid taxes must be addressed through the court system rather than by immediately revoking a business license. He also said the town could consider publishing a list of businesses that fail to pay taxes so long as confidential taxpayer information is not disclosed; staff noted that similar information appears in publicly available agenda packets.

Under regular business, the council adopted resolution R-2024-11 expressing appreciation for Bucky Brill’s nearly 21 years of service (motion by Councilmember Freeborne Brinton; second by Councilmember Fithian; roll call vote recorded in the minutes). The council also adopted resolution R-2024-12 authorizing the Town Manager to accept gifts on behalf of the town (motion by Councilmember Fithian; second by Councilmember Theo Daubresse; unanimous voice vote).

Councilmember Daubresse moved — and Councilmember Fithian seconded — a package of appointments and term extensions to the Architectural Review Board: reappointment of R. Lee Fitzgerald and Mary Craig as regular members (terms extended to Dec. 31, 2026), reappointment of Jennifer Shown as an alternate, extension of Brenda Seefeldt’s term, appointment of Michele White as an alternate to fill an unexpired term (ending Dec. 31, 2026), and appointment of Jordan Sanders as the ARB business representative to fill an unexpired term. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

The council reviewed a quote from Legacy Engineering for preliminary engineering and design work on the Riverwalk Expansion Project. After discussing proposed costs with Mr. Reese, the council unanimously deferred further discussion to obtain clearer cost information and to ensure all members of the council could participate in the next review.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Philip Auville, town clerk, certified the minutes.