Tangier Town Council Minutes — published below is a draft – still to be officially approved by Town Council – of Council’s meeting’s minutes from the Jan. 6, 2025 meeting held at Tangier Combined School. Fifty adults and 13 teenagers attended the meeting.
Council Members Present:
• Beth Thomas, Vice Mayor
• Tommy Eskridge
• Sharon Haynie
• Anna Parks
• Tracy Pruitt
• Kelly Wheatley
Staff Present: Mayor James Ooker Eskridge
Call To Order:
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order at 6 PM and stated the meeting would be recorded.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The invocation was given by Mr. Duane Crockett and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tracy Pruitt.
Opening Statement:
Mayor James Eskridge welcomed everyone to the first Town Meeting for 2025. He opened the meeting by stating pursuant to the by-laws and Robert’s Rules of Order there will be no interjections from the audience unless granted permission by the Council. He stated that everyone must sign up to make public comments, and their comments will be limited to three minutes. He stated that speakers should state their full name and address, and if there are any interjections, you will be asked to leave.
Motion: To adopt the agenda of Jan. 6, 2025 by Anna Parks and seconded by Kelly Wheatley. Roll Call: Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Motion: To have and vote on the minutes for all future town council meetings made by Tommy Eskridge and seconded by Tracy Pruitt. Roll Call: Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Kelly Wheatley: Discussed what to include in the minutes the date, time, location, along with attendance, a summary of all matters discussed and any votes taken. She stated this will be done for the following reasons:
1. Transparency and Accountability: Citizens on Tangier want to see the issues being discussed, decisions we make, and who voted for or against certain things,
2. Legal Record: The minutes will act as a legal record of the council’s actions.
a. Evidence in Case of Disputes.
b. They will provide a clear record of the council’s decisions.
c. Compliance with Open Meeting Laws.
d. FOIA requires town councils to record minutes of their meetings and to make them available to the public.
Beth Thomas read the minutes from our meeting with Jen Merritton January 4, 2025. A special meeting of the mayor and town council members took place with Jen Merritt; it was called to order at 6:25 p.m. The discussion centers around Jen being a grant writer living in Pocomoke, Md. She is currently the grant administrator from The City of Crisfield. She is responsible for successful applications for $42 million in grant funding. Jen has offered her services to the Town of Tangier, and an anonymous donor has offered to pay her fees, which is $120 an hour. She is convinced that she can find the matching funds for The US Fish and Wildlife Grant.
The Town of Tangier is responsible for matching funds of $28,000. She explained that there are several ways this can be accomplished
1. Being in a partnership with a nonprofit such as the museum.
2. Since the grant is at the Federal level, she can check on state funding.
3. Also a large entity such as Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
4. There is also something called an in-kind match where someone is particularly interested in a cause, in this case, land preservation. If we decide on Jen Meritt, she will be doing all the legwork for the funding, and she will contact all parties. She requested a copy of the grant as it was written and signed.
Motion to approve the minutes of our meeting with Jen Merritt made by Kelly Wheatley and seconded by Anna Park. Roll Call: Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Old Health Center:
Sharon Haynie
The discussion centered around the fact it has been pointed out by the citizens that the old health center building is not being utilized to its full potential. This is in the center of town and with some renovations could be a town office /visitors center. This will be included in a one year plan.
Sharon Haynie: Motion to relocate the Town Office at the Old Health Center by Sharon Haynie and seconded by Tracy Pruitt.
Roll Call: Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes,
Parks-yes. Motion Passed
The Virginia Municipal League — Anna Parks
This Discussion centered around the benefits of joining the league. Municipal leagues are entities that aim to serve as advocates for municipal interests and as providers of training, technical assistance, research, and information to city and town officials. Anna discussed that when she served on the council in 2018 our town was a part of the organization and she is not sure when they stopped being a member.
Motion was made that we rejoin The Virginia Municipal League by Anna Parks and seconded by Tracy Pruitt. Roll Call: Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
New Business
Website — Sharon Haynie
Miles Layton could not be with us tonight but will be happy to inform us about the new website he created for Tangier. He has agreed to discuss what the website can do, how much it will cost, and how it can attract and inform tourists, as well as help inform Tangier’s residents about Council’s plans. Our website is tangiervirginia.org. This site has already had 2,700 hits.
Charter — Tracy Pruitt
The new council has been made aware that a new charter needs to be written up. That will be included in our one year plan.
Grant Writer — Beth Thomas:
This has been discussed, Jen Merritt has written over $44 million worth of grants.
Town Ordinances — Kelly Wheatley
In addition to the Charter we need to update the Town Ordinances.
Town Finances — Sharon Haynie
On Friday January 3rd, Laurie Thomas verbally gave me these Balances in the account.
The General Fund has a total of $12,770 and the Sewer
Plant has a total of $7,500. That gives us a total of $20,270 in both accounts.
However, the expenses include but are not limited to the cost of the Rented excavator from United Rentals for a total of over $20,000. Jimmy Bridell Drilling and Welding we owe over $80,000 and he hasn’t received payment since 2020.
Tangier Oil Finances — Tommy Eskridge
There are two outstanding oil bills, one was made on Dec.16th for the amount of $21,753 and another for Jan. 3rd for $20,000. To date our current balance owing PEP UP is $106,000 In addition to money owing Steven Thomas for transportation for at least 5 trips with his barge. We have the new roof at the oil dock with money owing Juke Marshall in the amount of over $14,000. The balance in the account is $13,000 in the checking plus 8 thousand I have in checks. However Pep-up has agreed to knock 50% off the finance charges.
Public Comments: The names were called up in the order they signed up and reminded they have 3 Minutes and should state their name and address.
- Nina Pruitt- she expressed concern over not having a cop, the condition of the wastewater treatment system,town ordinances especially concerning selling alcohol, and where do I go to see the ordinances. She also said she would volunteer for the town if she were told what to do.
- Lynda Clary- concerned about having a town audit. She would like to see what’s coming in and going out. Sharon Haynie replied it is in the works.
- Normand St. Pierre- stated a survey was sent out and never heard back from it. What were the results of that survey?
- Michael Parks- He stated the fire hydrants are in need of major repairs. Fire Department needs new recruits and he said to send it out with Sewer and Water Bills. He also mentioned that parking on streets was a problem for emergency calls and people were blocking lanes. He was contacting Dover plumbing for hydrants.
Closed Session
Motion: To go into closed session in accordance with Section 2.2-3711(A) Of the Code of Virginia as amended for the purpose of Paragraph 1: Discussion of Personnel Matters related to the Town by Anna Parks and seconded by Tracy Pruitt. Roll Call:Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Open Session and Certification of Closed Session
Motion: To return to Open Session by Kelly Wheatly and seconded by Tommy Eskridge. Roll Call:Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
A roll call vote was taken before reconvening in Open Session, at which time each member certified by his or her vote whether only the matters previously disclosed were discussed during Closed Session: Roll Call:Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Town Meeting — Anna Parks
A motion was made by Anna Parks and seconded by Kelly Wheatly that all future town meetings will be held the second Thursday of each month. The public will be given 3 business days prior to the meeting. Roll Call:Thomas-yes, Haynie-yes, Wheatley-yes, Eskridge-yes, Pruitt-yes, Parks-yes. Motion Passed
Tracy Pruitt — Motion that Tommy Eskridge, and Beth Thomas, in addition to James Eskridge’s signature, be added to all PNC accounts and Taylor Bank accounts as well. Motion by Tracy Pruitt and seconded by Kelly Wheatley.
Beth Thomas — Since there is no further business; the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Tangier Island, Virginia 