Council weighs engineering study and loan options for Historic Onancock School

The future of the Historic Onancock School (HOS) drew extended council discussion and public comment at the April 28 meeting, with residents urging the town to commission a current engineering study and council members debating whether to approve loan authority before ordering a new survey. Councilmember Joy Marino said the council has "been waiting six months for an engineering report," pressing the town to prioritize an updated assessment before committing large sums.

Public commenter and local resident Joseph Devaney urged the council to appropriate funds in FY2026 for "a comprehensive structural survey of the Historic Onancock School (HOS)" to ensure preservation and public safety; Devaney attached a 14-year capital-expenditure breakdown and translated a 2011 Becker Morgan Group estimate into a modern context to argue for updated figures. Town Manager Matt Spuck asked whether the council would approve a loan to fund repairs before spending $50,000 on a new engineering report and said he would prepare a financial plan for council consideration. The council did not authorize funding at the meeting and will review Spuck's proposed financing plan at a future meeting.

Why it matters: commenters and some councilmembers said foundations and large donors are hesitant to invest in non-profits that do not own their buildings, increasing pressure on the town to clarify ownership costs and liabilities before pursuing rehabilitation or grant applications. The discussion left the question of whether to pay for a new engineering report or to authorize loan financing unresolved pending Spuck's financial plan.