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Meet the 2017 Oriental Town Candidates
3 incumbents and 4 newcomers vie for 5 Commissioner seats
October 18, 2017

E
arly voting begins Thursday, October 18. There are seven candidates for five Town Commissioner seats. The Mayor is running unopposed for her second term.

Three of the current five Commissioners are in the running: Charlie Overcash, Allen Price, and David White. Four residents are running for Town Commissioner for the first time: J. Martin Barrow, Gregory Bohmert, Eric Dammeyer, and Dianne Simmons.

TownDock.net asked ten questions covering issues or concerns brought before the Board or raised by the public over the last year. Candidates received the list, by email or letter, on October 11th. All had their answers in by the October 17th deadline.

Candidate responses are grouped by question so a reader/voter can see the range of answers.

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order of last names and then staggered so that a different candidate’s response starts the subsequent rounds, just as is done at live forums.

As Mayor Sally Belangia is running unopposed for re-election, her answers appear at the bottom of each question regardless of order.

How and Where to Vote
Early voting for the Oriental Town Commissioner races starts on Thursday, October 19. Hours will be 9-5 weekdays thru November 3. Voters may also cast ballots on Saturday – November 4 – the final day of early voting. All early voting takes place at the Pamlico Board Of Elections in Bayboro at 202 Main St. Bayboro, NC 28515.

Election Day, November 7, 2017, you can cast your vote at the Oriental Fire Department at 6398 Straight Rd, Oriental, NC 28571.

1. Why do you want to be a Town Commissioner?


J. Martin Barrow: I filed for the Commissioner’s position to partner with others to continue and improve the positive direction for the Town of Oriental. As Commissioner, I will work to ensure fiscal responsibility in managing the Town’s operations and promote safe streets and secure neighborhoods. I believe we should maintain and develop strategies to promote a ‘business friendly’ environment while maintaining the ‘village charm’.

Gregory Bohmert: I want to fulfill my responsibility to the town of Oriental, because I am a citizen of Oriental and have benefited greatly from living here the past twenty-two years. I am deeply invested in Oriental as my business and my home are here; God willing and the Creek’s don’t rise, I want to spend all my remaining days here, in the company of my friends and neighbors, in a town I still recognize. I consider myself a stakeholder in Oriental and feel an obligation to contribute to the town in other ways than just paying my taxes, which have increased 700% since 1994. All the current town commissioners have displayed a similar deep concern for the town in the meetings I have attended, and they bring an impressive assortment of life skills and talent to the towns business. I believe that my life, business, and people skills would be a unique addition to the team, in that I am a working man, in what used to be a workingman’s town. My talents that I feel would be most helpful to the town are my business efficiencies, my large project management and construction skills, along with exceptional troubleshooting skills. My community spirit and my people skills have been honed by thirty years of strong volunteer commitments, mainly in our jails and prisons, but also extending to individual community members and their families.

Eric Dammeyer: After serving three years as the Town’s Planning Board Chair, there are some changes in the Town’s government that I would like to pursue. There are still major, progressive changes to our ordinances I would like to see continued, preserved and strengthened. I feel that we have an excellent planning Board, Town staff and the right Town Manager.

We have made so much progress. All these who have served are friends and neighbors, who are willing and experienced enough to make a careful and balanced progression in the quality and fairness of our GMO and ordinances. They need to be prepared to respond to the pressures and issues of future growth. We need support of the Town through a Board of Commissioners made of people who will vote and say yes to doing what is right, above-board and in the open. We do not need single-issue Board members.

The people of the Town need to retain the experienced commissioners who are now running for re-election, but adding others who fill the vacancies now open who have the same intentions to balanced progress as we have seen in the last three years.

Charlie Overcash: That is an easy question. I care for Oriental and want to continue to be a part of Oriental’s growth and town administration.

Allen Price: I have enjoyed my two years on the board and I would like to continue serving the town. I worked for 40+ years and most of my time was spent traveling so I had very little time to give back to a community in a meaningful way. Now I am retired with only part time work so it’s time for me to continue to give back to the community.

Dianne Simmons: I have given a lot of thought to what constitutes good government and I realize that participation of citizens is essential. Political offices in local governments are of primary importance; from these governing bodies proceed the workings of state and national government.

I decided that it was time for me to move from observer and voter to fuller engagement, so when two positions were vacated on the town board I decided to run for commissioner.

I believe that my experience, temperament and willingness to learn and work qualify me for this position.

David White: Oriental is an outstanding place to live. My wife Jean and I have found a wonderful community here and we are proud to call Oriental our home. We have been property owners since 2000 and started construction of our home in 2002. If there is something I have found to be true over my life, it is that change is inevitable, and I very much want to be a part of helping to manage change (whatever it may throw at Oriental) and to ensure that Oriental maintains its sense of community and quality of life for all.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): I love Oriental. I am a native of Oriental and I love all the people that live in our town along with our businesses. I have seen the Town of Oriental change during my lifetime through land development and along with many new residents moving in. I think we have done a good job of growing our town. We must make sure that we continue.


2. Is there an issue you think deserves more attention than it is currently getting?


Gregory Bohmert: Our town roads have been aging quickly in certain areas, along with the flooding at Broad and Hodges Street intersection, which has been going on since I moved here in 1994 and is now the worst I’ve ever seen it. Our Street deterioration and our poor drainage issues, in various places around town, are in many ways very interrelated with the poor drainage causing accelerated road failure. Almost all of us have notice while walking on our rain soaked lawns; how quickly it turns to muck while wet; the same happens to the ground under our secondary roads when the water gets under there from poor drainage. Also as we address our own home grown road issues, there are many new state storm water regulations and requirement’s that will need to be implemented in the near future and should be integrated with our road concerns so ideally, we can use one to make the other better, not worse, if we aren’t paying attention to the opportunities and / or problems before us.

Eric Dammeyer: There continues to be a need for education of the Town’s people as to the issues we face in advance of a crisis. The Town’s people by and large do not understand the GMO and feel frightened by its implications. We need to continue to expand the Town’s efforts of explaining and advising the people on various issues. An informative newsletter should continue and be even more frequent. Public comment and Public hearings should be held with Town’s people who can come to the meeting informed, so that they can voice their concerns more effectively.

I also feel strongly that we need to keep the spirit of the Town’s CAMA Land Use Plan and Long Range Vision balanced with the details. I know the planning board will update these documents, since a lot has changed since their last drafts. But there are competing, well-meaning views on several different points of view, all of which need to be respected and considered. But the era of doing nothing, for fear of some debate, should end and action needs to be taken that will lead to a balanced and fair outcome. We need to keep what is the essence of the Oriental we love, while resisting pressures that will turn us into a “metropolitan suburbia” or a neglected and abused back-water. Priorities should be set, as we have been striving to do these past three years – and then we need to stick to them!

Charlie Overcash: Yes, I would like to see Oriental have more green way area. Especially along the waterfront.


Allen Price: Attention to issues is a moving target. From a high level I believe the town is well managed and the attention to issues is well planned out. The town reacts to peoples request the best they can. Unexpected issues are addressed as they arise. The town does a great job trying to keep in front of the aging infrastructure but it is difficult to predict the next issue from an aging system until something breaks. When something goes wrong it can require a lot of time that is not scheduled. This can change the town’s priorities. When Bay River completes its project, we can take another look at our roads and sidewalks.

Dianne Simmons: The protection of our resources is an issue that deserves a great deal of attention and our constant vigilance. I am confident that those of us who moved here from somewhere else did so because of the river environment and the opportunities for fishing, boating and the sheer enjoyment of the natural beauty. Maintaining clean air and water are of prime importance, as well, to the local residents, businesses and tourists who choose to vacation here. Preserving the local wildlife and vegetation is also essential.

Unpolluted air and water are vital to local fishermen and to the businesses which rely on tourists. Taking care of what we have been given is good for all of us.

David White: As with many small cities or towns, Oriental is faced with a limited budget from which it needs to fund all Town activities, such as: current and future infrastructure; hurricane and storm preparation and recovery; storm water drainage issues; Town employees; day to day administrative work; the Water Plant; and debris, recycling and waste pick up services, just to name a few. It is very important for the Town to rank and pick the right set of activities to focus on in order to ensure that Oriental continues to function as effectively as it has done in the past. There has been excellent work done on Oriental’s Long Range Plan developed under previous administrations that needs to be referenced when discussing budgets to ensure the Town is on the right track. Additionally, each year the Town engages in a planning session, which is open to the public, to review the Long Range Plan and budget considerations and to set the Town’s priorities. I urge all to attend and participate in these meetings and all of the Town Meetings to make sure the policies and processes reflect what is in the best interest of the Town.

J. Martin Barrow: The attention to any issue varies based on urgency, impact, probable solutions, and reasonable execution.
I believe our streets are a priority. Some of our streets would benefit from permanent repairs that would replace the temporary gravel patches in several places. We need to be able to make timely repairs and improve the safety of those streets. Poorly maintained streets pose a risk to safety as much as a poor driver. Exploring all resources available for the cost of street improvements including both private and public grant funding should be a priority.

The recent annexation request by the Piggly Wiggly identified an absence of a Town annexation policy. I would like to see the Planning Board and the Commissioners address this issue.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): No.






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3. One hears it said we need more businesses in Oriental; what type of business(es) would you like to see?


Eric Dammeyer: I would like to see Oriental recover a pharmacy and participate in making an effort to get one in here. I look forward to the Piglet being part of the Town and having the Town consider a way to access that store by golf cart.

Charlie Overcash: In order to stimulate year around businesses, I believe we should encourage more tourist related businesses. This would bring more visitors to our great village. Many of those may chose to move here and, therefore, that would build a larger base of residents which would, in turn, result in more year around businesses.

Allen Price: I look for small businesses in or around Oriental that will employee a few people or bring people to Oriental for a need – Examples are a car wash, laundry mat, dry cleaners drop off, pharmacy, and/or team up with PCC and see what they have to offer. This traffic would help the local merchants, the needs of the community and generate revenue year round.

Dianne Simmons: Oriental is fortunate to have so many enterprises in such a small town and I urge everyone to support them. I am not opposed to more businesses in Oriental. I am a customer of almost every business in town – a frequent patron of quite a few of them. I try to do all of my shopping in Oriental, so I would personally like a drug store if the customer base would support it. I’m sure that more businesses will open as customer support grows.

David White: The Town needs to consider all types of businesses that wish to locate or set up facilities in Oriental. What types will be allowed is governed by the Table of Permissible Uses in the GMO and our local Ordinances, which encompass a broad range of businesses and services. With that said, improvements to our infrastructure (streets, waterways, harbor, communities, water accesses, etc.) only help to attract service industries and other types of business entities. We are a small community, but we have much to offer with our water vistas, great restaurants and bars, retail stores, waterways, wonderful sense of community, grocery store, hardware store, deli, post office, theater and many other services and facilities.

J. Martin Barrow: With the litany of possible businesses that might locate in Oriental, it would be difficult for me to identify or narrow the scope of the types of businesses we could support. However, I would put a local pharmacy at the top of the list. Before Denton’s Pharmacy closed, the pharmacy was convenient and it was nice to do business with people invested in Oriental.

We should develop and maintain an active ‘business-friendly’ environment, which encourages investments by new and existing businesses. The Board’s role is to ensure the type and scope of those businesses would be a positive addition to the town.

Gregory Bohmert: To preserve our small coastal fishing town, with a distinct country feel to it, we need to make sure small town country people can afford to live here and work here. In older pictures of Oriental, storefronts were noticeable with residences above the store. Oriental has been leaning towards a “Cottage Industry” economic for several years now. This concept of “Mixed Use” as well as other commercial opportunities is currently somewhat up in the air, during the ongoing proposed zoning changes. Besides our current fish houses and boat yards, no “industry” in their right minds would come to Oriental, we are too low to the water and too many things get wet in our hurricanes to jeopardize multi-million dollar enterprises. While I understand people don’t want Oriental to look like Bayonne New Jersey, I also get the feeling we do not want to look like “Cup Cake Connecticut” either. I have witnessed several upheavals concerning new business (Walmart) or current business expansion (Chris Fulcher) that have thrown Oriental into a knee jerk-reactionary flurry of new regulations. We can’t shape the future of the town with ever increasing regulations of “don’ts and cant’s”. We are a town of 800, but I have seen a rowdy crowd of 80 set in motion dramatic proposals for changes. As a town we should try to determine what areas of town we would like to see business flourish in, and to do that we need the input from at least 401 town residents to have a true consensus. I must admit that the participation of those 800 neighbors of mine, in town affairs, has diminished greatly in the past twenty-two or so years. So my hat is off to the gang of 80, they care, they get involved, and they speak their piece, and that I respect greatly. The trick will be to find the greatest consensus on just how we want business to be part of the Towns fabric, Only when we have that, can we chart the correct course within our zoning ordinances to encourage the types of business we want to come here, and realistically make it possible for them to flourish here. Our natural resources for business opportunities are; Agro-tourism, Transient Boating needs, local and in-state boating needs, boat charter and rentals, aqua-tourism / aqua-sport tourism, charter fishing, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, fine dining and laid-back living.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): Yes we need more businesses. Retail and Service Industry.




4. The Town has long discussed having a pedestrian/bicycle pathway near the headwaters of Whittaker Creek to connect two parts of town. What would you suggest be done?


Charlie Overcash: Since the town has a limited amount of money to spend on this project, we must actively pursue grant money to study, recommend and implement a pathway.

Allen Price: This has been on the drawing board for a long time and it is moving along very slowly. It will be very expensive for the town without a grant. I believe a TownDock article showed multiple paths that have been considered. One of these paths seems to be a good option. Recently the town manager and the Park and Rec committee reached out to the NCDOT. A representative visited Oriental and rode her bike around town. We have not heard back from them. I would be glad to listen to those interested in this project to discuss ways we can help and move it forward. We have three openings on the Park and Rec committee. Here is a chance for someone really interested in the bike path to get involved. I would enjoy working with them on this project.

Dianne Simmons: It’s a great idea and I support it. I am a cyclist myself and I would like to ride to Dolphin Point without having to get on highway 55 and Straight Road. I understand that there is a tentative plan in place and that some work has been done. I would suggest that a specific person or committee contact all those parties whose participation is necessary and hammer out an agreement. If that fails, we must seek a different plan.

David White: You are correct in that a bike path has been in the planning stages for many years. For this to become a reality, it needs to be elevated to a must-do project. As stated above, we have a limited budget and need to decide where those limited funds are to be spent. To make a bike path a reality, the Board, with public input, needs to vote to make this a priority, or not. If the vote is “no,” we move to other projects. If selected, the steps that need to be taken are: 1) develop a plan 2) determine the cost to complete, 3) build an implementation plan with steps or phases, 4) determine funding sources (grants, Town budget, private donations, business donations, etc.) and then finally construct.

J. Martin Barrow: I am in favor of developing bike and pedestrian trails and pathways. Like many, I enjoy both walking and biking and would like to see this project completed. The funding necessary to complete the pathway will need to be identified.

Gregory Bohmert: Most definitely not, the town has too many other concerns of much higher priority than biking trails. Grants are funny things in that they seldom pay for every nickel needed for whatever the grant is funding. And once something is build and becomes the responsibility of the town it must be maintained, insured and repaired, much like our collection of “Town Docks”. The additional cost continues to the town forever. If the project is so needed and such a good idea, then the town should grant a lease to a business to develop said great idea and turn a profit to the town or at least diminish the burden and keep taxes low as possible. I could see the town partnering with community groups that are so motivated they wish to bring the bike path project to fruition. The town could possibly use its expertise and experience in help facilitate the permitting and organizational process without indebting the town.

Eric Dammeyer: The Whittaker Creek pedestrian/bicycle pathway and other needed pathways, including golf cart access and safety, should be handled by a new committee appointed by the Town Board for that sole project, so that this concept is brought forward at a better pace by people who have volunteered to make it happen. It needs to be safe and it needs to get done.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): We must get a committee together and work on this project. Once designed then we must apply for a grant.



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5. The Town has received a grant to study the periodic flooding of Hodges St. What are your ideas for solving the flooding problem?


Allen Price: There have been several ideas floated around and I have talked to an engineer about the flooding. We should wait for the professionals doing the study to report their findings and then discuss options.

Dianne Simmons: My idea for solving the periodic flooding on Hodges St. would be to use the grant money to consult a qualified engineer who would determine the best steps for the Town to take. The Town could then seek out the most economical path to making the suggested changes. This would include finding out what government funds or grants might be available to offset the cost. Any work done on Hodges Street should be done with the least amount of interruption to traffic and local businesses.

The major problem with the flooding for most of us is that it presents an obstacle to getting to the Bean. If large engineering projects turn out to be too costly, perhaps the Town could consider a raised walkway to enable access to Bean. One must have one’s morning coffee and conversation.

David White: Our Town Manager Diane Miller has done an outstanding job in securing a grant to study our flooding issues in and around Hodges Street. I very much support this study and look forward to the final report. It would be easy to say let’s raise Hodges Street or enlarge the Duck Pond, but that would be very premature. I have dealt with water issues on my own property in the past and one thing I have found out is water will go where it wants to and fixing one problem area may quickly cause another water issue somewhere else. Let’s see what the study recommends and then make plans based on those recommendations.

J. Martin Barrow: Obtaining the grant was the first step in addressing the flooding. The second step should be using the grant funding to hire a licensed engineering firm to study and propose viable solutions to minimize or mitigate the flooding. As a Town Commissioner, I would expect the study to identify a range of possible solutions and associated costs to consider. As with other initiatives, priorities and funding sources would directly effect execution of any recommendations.

Gregory Bohmert: The flooding is being cause by two major factors; 1) somewhere in the early 60’s Hodges Street was extended across the old harbor mud flats. It appears that they back filled and made a berm type structure and put a stone faced retaining wall on the harbor side to hold it together. It does not appear to have any independent foundation and was built upon a “waterbed of mud.” That mud is still moving, back into the duck pond, and in to the harbor oozing under the stone wall which has had several failures since I’ve lived here. The best example of what is happening can be seen by looking at the house that used to be known as “Wits End”. The building is sinking down on its East side, and less than a dozen feet away you can see a wave or mount of soil that has been displaced to make room for the building sinking down. 2) Since a large portion of Oriental drains into what is called our “duck ponds”, pipe(s) must have been laid under the road to allow all the water to go under the road way and not to seek a way through the berm which would weaken it. These pipes have failed, the mud levels rising in the ponds covering the pipes and or them being crushed by shifting soils. Since the failure of these pipes water must drain over or through the roadway berm, causing additional material loss and instability. I am not a road engineer; but I’d run heavy duty vinyl bulkhead sheeting along both sides of Hodges street and drive it all the way down to good bearing soil, about 23-25 feet down. This would contain the waterbed of mud between four solid corners. A huge pipe would need to be included for drainage, and a spillway for the duck pond to pour into the pipe, without taking all the pond mud with it, would keep the pipe from clogging. Depending upon the desired soil water levels; dredging of the duck pond might be required for correct elevation of the drainage pipe to relieve upland drainage issues. Then the roadway surface could be raised to the top of the bulkhead sheeting and resurfaced. This type of repair would allow us to dredge deep, right to the harbor bulkhead and even widen Hodges for additional pedestrian usage; bench & tables.

Eric Dammeyer: The flooding of Hodges Street is another issue that needs the consideration of a special committee – with a time limit. We have many engineers in this Town. This is a project for them, first. But I would submit that while the project should not be postponed by a stop-gap or bandaid measure, it should also be carefully considered to have it be a solution that is either invisible or beautifully designed. It should not turn into a “highly functional eyesore”.

Charlie Overcash: This question has come up at each election. At this point the suggestions made, such as raising Hodges Street at the harbor have been unattainable because the town just does not have the money to spend. Money keeps coming back up, but it is a reality that Oriental just does not have that much extra money after all the “have to have” budget items are taken care of. I look forward to the results of the grant study and sincerely hope the results include ways to pay for those results.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): Hopefully the grant will help us design a plan for the flooding.




6. Does the Town need a new town attorney? Please explain why or why not.


Dianne Simmons: I don’t have enough information to answer this question. I would need to know a great deal more before giving a reasonable answer. I would have to have some official interaction with the town attorney before I would be in a position to respond adequately.

David White: I am not so interested in which law firm the Town engages, but more on the point that we have the right legal representation based on the issue(s) facing the Town. As with any service provider (such as law firms) the Town hires, we should constantly look to make sure we are spending our budget dollars wisely and getting results. Also, the type of legal services required is dictated by the type of representation needed. While at present there are no major issues facing the Town, if some should arise, we should make sure the best firm is engaged to represent our Town. During the budget process each year we look at all service providers and determine the best needed based on requirements. I encourage all to join in the budget process and attend the working sessions that are open to the public.

J. Martin Barrow: The Town Board must determine if the current services provided are adequate. The decision to make any changes would require an assessment of viable alternatives.

Gregory Bohmert: I am not current on the performance of the Town’s attorney or the lack of it. I would need more time to research the history of that relationship between the town and our current attorney before I could offer an informed opinion. It is my vague understanding that our town attorney has done most of his work advising the town on the legality of different ordnances, zoning regulations and other legal document interpretations through the many years he has served the Town. If my assumption is correct about the areas of concern, it should not be too expensive to have a qualified body, review his past work for accuracy and correctness, which would give us bases to evaluate his performance. Since I’m not a lawyer, and I hope no one else on the board is, we’d need some kind of yard stick to measure things by.

Eric Dammeyer: We need to consider a new Town Attorney, one that will advise us in advance of our decision making, not advising us after all the committee meetings have been held. The Town attorney’s voice should be at the beginning of the process instead of a barrier at the end. We need a Town attorney who will tell us what we are empowered to do instead of telling us what we cannot do. As an attorney myself, my strength is in the education of my clients. By helping them understand the issues they face, I help them to avoid being reactive to every issue, and to be able to see two or three steps ahead. Most importantly, the cost of constantly backing up and correcting a pathway is expensive to the Town and a huge waste of time. I have seen too many situations where the wind is sucked out of the Town’s efforts for lack of legal leadership and gumption. We need an advocate.

Charlie Overcash: The town should always be open to ways of improving services. With that said, it would be difficult to replace our current attorney with one who would have the same, or better, knowledge of town administrative laws, or one who has the same contacts in state and local government that are essential to being a good town lawyer.

Allen Price: No one has mentioned to me the need to have a new town attorney and I am ok with the current attorney. I would be glad to listen to those who think differently.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): No. I think the one we have does an excellent job.



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7. There has been talk of the Town acquiring the spit of land known as Whittaker Point. The proposal is for the town to obtain grant money to restore Whittaker Point, enabling the Point to protect Whittaker Creek channel. What are your thoughts about this?


David White: The Town is currently in conversations with the owners of Whittaker Point and those discussions should continue. Since the land is privately owned, our help now consists of assistance in identifying grant dollars that may be available, and, if needed, helping the owners apply for grants and assist with the distribution of grant funds. The next step currently planned is for a meeting to take place in the near future between the property owners, the Town and an engineering firm to determine the extent of the repairs necessary. From there the grant processes can be explored and applications can be submitted. This is an important initiative that needs to be a high priority for the Town. As of now, there has been no offer to transfer private ownership of Whittaker Point to the Town.

J. Martin Barrow: The restoration of Whittaker Point is a project whose completion would provide an improved level of protection to Whittaker Creek benefiting both homeowners and business owners alike. There is no public land access to the Point precluding public access except by boat. Without acquiring the adjacent lands, the point would be isolated. Funding for restoring the point may be possible from sources such as NCDEQ, NOAA Habitat conservation, private grant funding, and other state and federal entities. As much as I would be in favor of this initiative, I am not in favor of using general funds for this project and funding sources would need to be identified. I would also be reluctant to accept ownership of the Point on behalf of the Town without first securing funding for the completion of the restoration and a long-term plan.

Gregory Bohmert: This is an excellent opportunity for the Town to act as a “Facilitator” between public, private and business concerns. I have witnessed the rapid loss of land from that point and how greatly it has increased the storm exposure to all the marine business, real estate developments and private homes that line both sides of Whittaker creek. With so many and varied interests with ample skin in what is now a losing game, a coalition could easily be formed to research options and fund the project, with the goal of solving the problem with, ideally, no cost to the Town. In my other life “Up North” I worked in the heavy marine salvage and construction industry for twenty years and witnessed similar undertakings, one in particular called Hart-Miller Island in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Middle River would be a good example of what can be accomplished when the three entities of Public, Private and Commercial work with each other instead of against each other. The remnants of three small natural islands, Hart, Miller and Pleasure were surrounded and enclosed with vinyl bulkhead sheeting, and then lined with the appropriate filter cloth to prevent any of the dredge spoils put behind this bulkhead to escape. Private, public and commercial dredging projects paid fees to dump their dredge spoils inside this new larger island that encompasses the three smaller islands. The cleanest dredge spoils (sand and rock) was placed outside the bulkhead at various points to create beaches and restore as much of a natural shore line as feasible. Some areas were preserved as primary nursery shoreline etc. When the interior was full it was graded to the local ground contours, top soil added where needed and landscaped with local grasses, trees and vegetation. It was a well thought out project that when finished was turned over to the state as a campground recreational area where the concessions were leased to lower operational cost to the state. Hart-Miller Island was a huge project, but can serve as a blueprint for this much smaller version; everyone has to give up something to make it work. Everyone is going to have to pay something to make it work, but everyone is going to get something out of it, they would never be able to get on their own. The finished project would yield additional land suitable for many different uses.

Eric Dammeyer: Among the many issues we face, we have an emergency on the problem with the Whittaker Point spit of land. After watching the amazing presentation of my geologist friend, Jim Blackerby, about the risk and urgency of the problem, I am convinced this needs immediate attention. Whittaker Creek is having severe shoaling issues. But it is also a “nursery” for aquatic wildlife. The only thing that protects the Creek, the wildlife, and the marina harbors from disappearing is that spit of land. Without it, that entire area of Town would merely become a shore line to the Neuse, shoaling would close it. It is not slowly eroding away, it is rapidly eroding away. I am concerned that one major storm or just the neglect of a few more years will change the creek, and the Town, forever. And those of us who boat from Whittaker Creek beware, our access to the River is now in jeopardy.

Charlie Overcash: If grant money is available we should acquire that land. Jim Blackerby presented a very compelling study on what will happen to Whittaker Creek when, not if, that spit of land erodes away. As a town commissioner I met with the head of the Whittaker Point Association and we discussed the fact that saving the spit was in every ones best interest.

Allen Price: There was a study showing the decline in acreage of Whittaker Point which is contributing to shoaling in Whittaker Creek. This proposal also has several pieces that need to fall into place – A groin application has been denied – Why? This is being looked into and hopefully a new groin application will be approved. The property is currently privately owned and if the only way to get the grant is by donating the land to the town, it should be considered. First the town needs to have a clear understanding of what it will have to do, how the property can be used, any anticipated future cost, yearly maintenance cost if any, will the grant money cover all the immediate needs to stop acreage decline and shoaling in Whitaker Creek, etc.

Dianne Simmons: This is an interesting question and would require some input from the Whittaker Creek residents. Improving and protecting the Whittaker Creek channel might preserve the value of the property on Whittaker Creek and would be beneficial in keeping the marinas operating which rely on the Whittaker Creek channel. This project could also be beneficial for long-term growth and any expansion of the Town of Oriental.

If restoring Whittaker Point can be done with grant money then it might be well worth doing for Oriental. My questions are: 1)what would be the plan for the restoration? 2) who would have access to it? 3) what are the funding requirements for maintaining it?


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): I am all for protecting our channels and waterfront property. We want our pleasure boats and commercial boats to be able to use our creeks, channels, and river.




8. What life and or career experience(s) of yours could be valuable as a Town Commissioner?


J. Martin Barrow: I am an Eagle Scout, a Navy veteran, and a retired law enforcement officer and manager. My law enforcement management experience included budget, training, equipment, and the application of personnel laws. My experience as an officer, detective, and field supervisor provided me the opportunity to understand the delivery of services as it relates to public safety. This experience will be helpful in evaluating the Town’s police policies and structure as well as evaluating recommendations from the Town administrator including budget, personnel matters, public safety, and emergency preparedness issues.

Gregory Bohmert: Please see answer for question #1



Eric Dammeyer: I have been on the Town’s Planning Board as its chair for 3 years plus. We have revised the GMO to make it a much more clear and usable document. It is getting more effective and balanced. I know intimately the issues that remain to be worked out on the GMO, the Town ordinances, the Town Vision documents and the CAMA Land Use plan.

I am an attorney with 35 years experience in work that requires me to be an effective teacher and communicator. I am a strident advocate for an open political process and I am an enemy of behind-the-scenes governing.

I have served on the board of 4 non-profits for a total of a dozen years. I currently co-chair United Christian Network, a non-profit in Pamlico County, which has the mission to network Christian and civil organizations towards a coordinated effort to aid the people in need in greater Pamlico County, including the issues of poverty, addiction and race relations.

I am an ordained Christian minister. I am familiar with public communication. I apply principles of the gospel of love and peace while in office, but I do not force my religious views upon others. I am not ashamed of the gospel. I hope that my neighbors and friends will respect my rights as well.

Charlie Overcash: I have many reasons why my experiences can be, and are, valuable to be a town commissioner! I’ll state the ones that directly come from my time in Oriental. I have been a town ambassador when the small cruise ships docked here to let passengers walk the town. I have walked with them while Grace Evans told the history of the town and let then know how special it is to be in Oriental. I have learned about town government by being on the Board of Adjustment, almost three years of being Chairman of the Planning Board, two terms on the town board during which we hired an exceptional town manager and have updated much of the town infrastructure which had been neglected for many years. My wife and I, with help from many people, brought the Chinese Parade Dragon to Oriental. This dragon has brought joy to many gatherings as it appears at parades,special events such as starting off the children’s summer reading program at the library and New Years Eve. I am an active Ham Radio operator and, as such, am a member of the Amateur Radio Emergency team that practices every Wednesday night to prepare to be available during disaster events with emergency communications. I host an annual classic sports car event every August which brings many unique sports cars to town and ends up at the harbor for refreshments. As a town commissioner, I have been on the team that brought the cyclists back to Oriental. Also, I have been working with the county and town to develop a dog park that will open in early spring at the Recreation Center.

These are just a few examples of my value to the town as a town commissioner.

Allen Price: In my past job I represented our company calling on customers and dealing with various issues that occur between a supplier and its customers.  It required listening, gathering and analyzing data, and working out the best solutions for all involved.  My 40+ years of listening and working with customers has prepared me to listen and work with our citizens, even when we disagree.  Keeping opposing groups together is needed for future success.

Dianne Simmons: I have a BA and an MA in French Literature and an EdS in Educational Leadership. I was employed by the Atlanta Public Schools for 24 years – as a teacher for 21 years and a school administrator for the last three years of my career. Being a teacher in a large urban public high school is excellent preparation for a local government position. You develop an ability to be comfortable dealing with multiple issues and personalities at the same time. You also grow a thick skin and learn to rely on a well-honed sense of humor. A successful teacher must learn quickly to focus on what is important and what deserves emphasis. Knowing how to listen and maintaining good communication with staff, parents and students is key to school management. Flexibility and open-mindedness are essential in making fair decisions.

Goal-setting – and goal attainment – is another significant part of teaching or leading a school. One has to respond, as well, to changing government regulations and the occasional lawsuit.

School administration requires a great deal of work, study and patience – good preparation for the position of Town Commissioner.

David White: Before becoming a Town Commissioner, I spent four years on the Planning Board gaining an understanding of the Town’s operations and issues. Prior to this, I was with IBM for 39 years in their Public Sector area working with State, Local and Municipal Governments worldwide. I have worked with many Government leaders on infrastructure improvements, best practices implementations and governance models. My current focus areas as a Board Member are Human Resources, Finances and representation on the Planning Board and the Harbor Water Committee. Additionally, I have served on public boards either as Board President or a working Board Member with the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science, United Way of Florida’s Big Bend, Boy Scouts of America, United Way of America and various community outreach programs.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): I have learned a lot about the town from the last 2 years as being Mayor. I have 38 years of working at a local bank and 38 years of community service in Oriental and Pamlico County. I think it is important to remember our history of the town and to continue to grow and preserve our town.

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9. In the past year, several Special Use Permits (SUPs) have been applied for with most having been granted. With so many of them having been granted, what is ‘special’ about the Special Use Permit? Does the process need to be refined? If so, how?


Gregory Bohmert: Since morality and sincerity cannot be codified and rigidly enforced with a one size fits all document (although governmental agencies always seem to insist on trying) a human review is still needed. This is to see if a certain situation meets the “Spirit” of the law, code or zoning requirements. This is where we try to find out if someone is trying to pull a fast one on the town, or bend to rules a little too far. However, we no longer seem able to trust our public servants or leaders with any discretion or decision making leeway, lest evildoers betray our trust. The fact that many “special use permits” are being issues could actually be because the people who are applying for them are honest and sincere people who are actually attempting to stay within the requirements of the asked for permit. There could be some skullduggery at work; Lord knows I’ve seen some pretty sketchy looking characters on both sides of the fence, at the town hall, especially the guy who worked on the town hall generator. But until they screw-up, or evidence emerges of wrong doing, or we catch them in bed with a Russian, the special use permit review and compliance system is working OK, and they are doing a good job administering it.

Eric Dammeyer: Your question number 9 is a great example of the need for educating the public on how our ordinances and the GMO work. Let me tell you what is “special” about a “Special Use Permit”.

The GMO (Growth Management Ordinances) is what some would call “zoning”. It is designed to make sure that growth in the Town is fair, balanced, and peaceful, with standards that need to be followed when building or changing the lay of the land. For example, when building, there are places where commercial buildings are not permitted and others where it is encouraged. The GMO governs things like “setbacks” being the minimum distance between a new building and the neighbor’s property line or the water. Height limits and parking lot design and so forth are laid out in the GMO.

When a person or a business wants to build, they must have a plan that complies with these rules, so that they will be good neighbors and not wreck our Town. This is where their application for a Special Use Permit comes in. To get approval, they must make a drawing and give specifications that show that their plans will not violate the rules – and we will hold them to it. So, if they come in with a plan that is completely in compliance, their Special Use Permit Application is approved. If their plans violate any of the rules, they don’t. This goes through the Planning Board. Not only does the Town Manager look it over, but all the folks serving on the planning board meet and vote or approve the application, but only if it complies with the rules.

That is why “so many of them have been granted” as your question asked. They are granted because they comply with the rules and are reviewed. What you don’t see are the ones that are turned down. They don’t get approved so there is not hearing on them. They are stopped by the Town Manager, and usually modified into compliance and then sent on for approval. So, the Planning Board and the Town Manager are the filters, whose job it is to protect you all from violators of the rules.

We also need to remember that state law rightly says that if a property owner wants to build or change what is on their land, they have that right, so long as they comply with local laws and ordinances. If their plan and application does comply, their application must be approved, because they also have rights. That is why “so many of them have been granted”.

As to refining the process, the answer once was that it did need to be refined. However, over the past three years, the Town Manager and the Planning Board have in fact refined the application process.

Under my Planning Board Chair term, we have changed the nature of public comment. We have changed it from the way it once was, where public comment was invited after the vote, to where it is now, that public comment is invited before the vote. We recently tabled (put off) a vote on an important issue because of the public comment we received. We decided to re-visit the issues that were raised and incorporated more changes to the proposed GMO revisions, based upon public comment.

Charlie Overcash: Special Use Permits are a valuable tool to the growth of Oriental. The town’s Long Range Goals direct the town to grow in a manner that is favorable to both businesses and community. The SUP process is a tool that anyone can go through to bring attention to a need. That need may or may not be a good thing for Oriental. If it would prove a danger or a provable negative impact, it would not be granted. The process is involved, as it should be, to bring all the facts out. Also, if the terms of the SUP are not followed, the SUP can be revoked. I encourage everyone to read the Long Range Goals that are on the town web site to better understand the driving factors in the growth of Oriental.

Allen Price: The SUP is controlled by state statute. Last year we were considering changing some SUP’s to Land Use Permits (LUP) and people in town were against this because a SUP gives the community an opportunity to comment, challenge and put conditions on the SUP. To have part time rental in R2 & R3 you must have a SUP. Several homes were being rented without a SUP and the town manager contacted realtors and renters to have them obtain a SUP. This is one reason for increase in SUP’s. I agree it is a burden on the neighbors and community to show proof that would reject a SUP but that is the state statue. I will listen to any ideas.

Dianne Simmons: I have spent quite a bit of time poring over the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) and have read some articles on small town zoning issues. I have come to the conclusion that the procedures needed to keep Special Use Permits “special” can be found in our existing GMO.

A concern I had was that the burden of proof seemed to rest heavily on an opponent to the SUP, but there is a definite and well-described burden of proof on the applicant before the SUP is approved. The provisions found in the section on Permissible Uses are important. I understand that these had not been revised for quite some time, but the Town Planning Board is in the process of revising them at this time.

Another issue relevant to the procedure of granting SUP’s is timely notification to the citizens of the town. With adequate notification, citizens have the time to plan and prepare. I urge everyone to attend Town Board and Planning Board meetings. Show up and make your voice heard.

David White: Our current Special Use Permit (SUP) is a “quasi-judicial” process very much governed by State statutes. We have incorporated all the elements and points the State allows municipalities to use in determining the validity of an SUP request. These elements and points center on public safety, security and health issues, conformity to zoning regulations, adjacent property owners, residential property values and local ordinances. When we conduct an SUP hearing, all those presenting evidence are sworn in, much like a court hearing. The Board then hears the evidence and determines the outcome based upon how our SUP process is delineated in the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) and evidence presented. If we do decide to consider changes to the SUP process in the GMO, we need to conform to State statutes and conduct an open Public Hearing.

J. Martin Barrow: The entire SUP process should be analyzed to determine if it is providing the desired results. If not, identify its shortcomings and develop a revised SUP consistent with Town goals.

One identified issue with the ‘Special Use Permit” process which has arisen in several of the SUP applications lately, is the burden of evidence sections as it relates to empirical data (often difficult to establish prior to issuance of the permit) and the burden of persuasion. I would like to see some language in the ordinance that gives the Commissioners the latitude to provide ‘weight’ to testimony provided by a citizen even though it is not backed by empirical data.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): It is important to give the public, town’s planning board, the town commissioner’s and the person applying an opportunity to prove if there is a problem or not. They do take a lot of time but we have to follow the State Statue. We must have proof of evidence if there is a problem with the SUP.



10. How would you describe Oriental to someone who has never been here?


Eric Dammeyer: Oriental is both laid-back and intriguing. It is a shorts-and-sandals Town, but filled with many interesting people, from all walks of life, from educators to farmers to engineers, to artists and craftsmen, and a whole lot of boaters. Oriental is a Town which reflects the past yet reaches towards a stable and productive future. This is a quiet Town, but one that thrives on its many exciting festivals and activities, drawing people from all over the Eastern seaboard and beyond.

Oriental is my hometown.

Charlie Overcash: Oriental is a charming village with very friendly people. We offer waterfront activities, boating, great restaurants, festivals of all kinds and we are friendly. Oriental is a favorite vacation destination. We are close to many unique attractions such as a fossil museum, a maritime museum, a state port, a royal governor’s palace and many more. We are a hub where you can stay to enjoy our village yet have a wide variety of other interests close by. Oh yes, did I mention that we are friendly?

Allen Price: Have you ever had a dream where you lived in a small waterfront town that has no stoplights? Walk, ride a bike or golf cart to the restaurants, bank, hardware store, deli, shops, post office, grocery store, ice cream/coffee shop, art gallery, museum, churches or the water front? Fish from the town pier? Watch shrimp boats come in and unload their catch? Sail, fish, power boat, kayak, paddle board, be in a play or be in a musical group? Buy shrimp, fish, crabs, oysters and seafood from local fisherman? A town where restaurants, shops, and other businesses are locally owned where the owner is a friend and neighbor? Weekends filled with fun events? Go to the fitness center to work out or play tennis/pickle ball in the park? Take your kids to the beach or park to play? You know your neighbors and they know you. Have a problem and your neighbor will take care of it. A place where you meet a visitor every week and make a new friend. Congratulations you are in Oriental, NC.

Dianne Simmons: I usually tell my friends, relatives and anyone who asks that Oriental is a fishing/sailing village on the River Neuse. It is a center for outdoor life. It’s beautiful, calm and flat – perfect for cycling, kayaking, sailing, birding and walking. We have dramatic sunsets, lovely dawns and friendly people.

I am often asked what one does in Oriental. I have to laugh and say that sometimes it’s hard to say, but that the day goes by so quickly and evening finds me always behind in what I set out to accomplish.

There are good restaurants, (I’m sure I never fail to mention fried-chicken Thursdays at Brantley’s) a charming coffee shop on the harbor, frequent festivals and a top-notch musical society that brings wonderful musicians to town. We have a theater group, an arts council, book clubs, bicycle groups and residents who have a wealth of life and work experiences.

When my nephews were younger boys visiting Oriental from the big city, they called it paradise. I call it home.

David White: Perfect in all ways and no better place to live!!!! Come visit and you will quickly understand the beauty and appeal Oriental has to offer.

J. Martin Barrow: Oriental is a great place to live and visit. We owned a residence in Minnessott Beach since 2003 and enjoyed our time in Pamlico County. We have also enjoyed all Oriental has to offer including the shops, the old theater, waterfront, and restaurants. We always looked forward to events like Croakerfest, the Spirit of Christmas celebration, along with the other festivals and events in Oriental and attended most. When we contemplated where we wanted to spend our retirement, we decided Oriental was the place to be and never looked back. We enjoy our friendly neighbors, merchants, and reasonable governance.

Gregory Bohmert: Andy Griffith’s Mayberry, only on the water.
A place Norman Rockwell would come to learn; how to see all the things- he would later paint.
A place where the earth, water, and the sky join together in the depths your soul.
A place where a gentle river breeze; whispers old sailors’ songs, as it muses your hair into forgotten memories.
A town of festival, of carnival, of music, and of laughter; a place where friendship and worship thrive.
A town that is very easy, to call home.


Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): It is the most beautiful place in the world. It is a wonderful place to live, to retire, to raise your children, and enjoy our Neuse River and surrounding creeks. We are unique because we have sailboats, commercial fishing boats, recreational boats, and small businesses along with people who have retired from all over the Country. I remember when we had 100 people and today the total is over 900. If you come to Oriental you must learn to waive and speak to everyone because we are a friendly town, after all, we are known as the “Sailing Capital of North Carolina”. We all work together by supporting our local churches, community organizations, businesses, festivals, arts, music, and all other events of our community and county.

Posted Wednesday October 18, 2017 by Allison DeWeese


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