home

F

or the past twelve years, at least one Commissioner has been a constant presence at the Monthly Town Board Meetings: Charlie Overcash served six terms – 12 years – as an Oriental Town Commissioner.

As of December 2025, every face on the Board is new. Newly elected Commissioners greeted members of the incoming crowd, and in a change from the previous Board, Town Manager Diane Miller was once again allowed to address speakers’ concerns during Public Comments.

The main business of the evening was recognizing and retiring the outgoing Commissioners and swearing in the new Commissioners. It was standing room only.

Commissioner Allen Price speaks with Town Manager Diane Miller before the meeting starts.

The December Town Board meeting was 70 minutes. Present were Mayor Sally Belangia, outgoing Commissioners Breena Litzenberger, Allen Price, Charlie Overcash, Sandy Winfrey, and Bonnie Crosser and Commissioners-elect Paul Jordan, Iris Cooper, Lou Ostendorff, Dan McGuire, and Chris Moffat.

Also in attendance were Town Manager Diane Miller, Officer Bill Wichrowski and Finance Officer Lisa Millington.

Meeting Recap:

• Outgoing Commissioners’ service recognized
• Incoming Commissioners sworn in
• Mayor Pro Tempore, board liaisons and appointments chosen
• Pamlico Pickleball asks to expand courts at Lupton Park
• Commissioners adopt Code of Ethics
• Return of the 2-day Budget Workshop
• Finance updates: Property tax revenue down, water plant depreciation

A crowd packed town hall to witness the transition to the incoming Town Board.

Outgoing Commissioners Honored

Mayor Belangia recognized each of the outgoing Commissioners with a plaque commemorating their service to the Town of Oriental.

As their last order of business, Commissioner Winfrey adjourned the final meeting of the 2023-2025 Oriental Board of Commissioners.

Incoming Board Seated

Mayor Sally Belangia swore in the Commissioners-elect. Family members joined the new Commissioners.

Mayor Belangia’s niece brought the Belangia family Bible to use for the ceremony.

Public Comments:

Three public comments were made, two for the expansion of the Pickleball courts.

Pat Allen and Anthony Noel
Pat Allen represents Pamlico Pickleball. He shared that Pamlico Pickleball was “a fun fellowship of over 150 players” and is the ‘fastest growing sport in America.’ He said they have players from New Bern and Little Washington.

He asked Commissioners to support the expansion of the 2-courts at Lupton Park to create a 4-court space to attract tournaments to Oriental. Lacking a home court with 4 courts, Oriental cannot host tournaments.

The same equipment required to expand the tennis courts is the same used for road work. If Oriental undertakes road repair work in 2026, Allen said, the Town could kill two birds with one stone and “save $25,000 by not having to re-rent the same equipment at a later date.”

Anthony Noel (left) and Pat Allen request an expansion of the Pickleball courts at Lupton Park.

Anthony Noel is the president of Pamlico Pickleball and coordinator for Camp Caroline.

He said Pamlico Pickleball is willing to raise half of the cost of expanding the courts and “looking to partner with municipalities” and that the town of Oriental is “our first guinea pig.”

He added that his group willing to raise half the cost of expanding the courts from individuals and local businesses, if the Town will provide the other half.

There is grant funding available from the state, he said, however the “town needs to have a master recreation plan in order to get that grant.” Oriental does not currently have such a plan.

“Given the short timeline that the equipment will be here,” he said a faster solution may be required. Noel told Commissioners he was already working with Manager Miller, the Tree Board and the Parks and Recreation board to see that a plan is “thoughtfully executed.”

Noel said, “four courts will increase the playing in spring and summer when Camp Caroline is closed.”

Commissioner Ostendorff asked Noel to explain Pickleball in 30 seconds. Noel quipped, “it’s playing ping pong while standing on the table.”

Jessie Aldridge
Aldridge asked Commissioners to approve the use of John Bond Beach to plan the Special Olympics. The motion was unanimously approved.

Aldridge had an additional request. At last year’s event, a wheelchair bound athlete got stuck in the sand. Aldridge said there were a couple of options available to help out: either a beach wheelchair, or a type of matting which allows a wheelchair to navigate through sand. She said there are accessibility grants available. Town Manager Miller asked Aldridge to direct the request to the Harbor Waterfronts Board.

Town Board Organizational Assignments Chosen

Commissioners act as liaisons between the auxiliary boards and the Commissioners. In the words of Town Attorney Scott Davis, “the ‘liaison’ is someone who goes to an outside meeting and reports back to the Board (of Commissioners). The liaison doesn’t actually do anything that requires any legal authority.”

Each Commissioner has at least one, and often two, Board liaison assignments.

Iris Cooper is sworn in as Commissioner.

A motion was unanimously approved for the following assignments for the incoming Commissioners:

• Liaisons to the Planning Board: Commissioners Moffat and Cooper
• Liaisons to the Tree Board: Commissioners Ostendorff and Moffat
• Liaisons to the Parks and Recreations Board: Commissioners Jordan and McGuire
• Liaisons to the Water Advisory Board: Commissioners Ostendorff and McGuire
• Liaisons to the Harbor Waterfronts Board: Commissioners Jordan and McGuire
• Liaisons to the Tourism Board: Commissioners Cooper and Jordan

Some Commissioners also fulfill other roles to keep financial and administrative checks and balances. Those other assignments are:

• Bank Statement Opening and Closing and Bank Reconciliation: Commissioner Moffat
• Check Signing Authority: Mayor Belangia, Town Manager Miller and Finance Officer Millington
• Eastern Council of Government, Oriental Representative: Commissioner Jordan

Don McGuire is sworn in as Commissioner.

Auxiliary Board Appointments

Motion unanimously approved to backfill several positions vacated by incoming Commissioners.

• Board of Adjustment: Move vice-chair Ann Marie Rost to the chairman position vacated by Commissioner Moffat. Add Rob McDonald as a member.
• Harbor Waterfront Board: Add outgoing Commissioner Litzenberger as a member
• Water Advisory Board: Appoint Roger Huth to the chairman position vacated by outgoing Commissioner Crosser

Return to a 2-day Budget Workshop

Motion approved to cancel the January 13 meeting due to the workshop scheduled on January 29. That late January meeting will serve as the Monthly Public Meeting as well as the workshop. Town Manager Miller said town attorney Scott Davis will meet incoming Town Board at the January workshop.

Motion unanimously approved to return to a 2-day budget workshop, from the several smaller, one- or two-hour budget workshops over several days favored by the previous Board. The 2026 Budget Workshops are scheduled for March 26 and 27.

The following topics were approved for the January workshop:
• Tree Ordinance Revision
• Chapter E revisions from Harbor Waterfront
• Simplified Robert’s Rules of Order from the attorney

Motion Approved to Adopt the Current Board Code of Ethics

The current Code of Ethics was unanimously approved. Miller said it was “standard boilerplate” and included topics such as conflict of interest.

Commissioner Ostendorff asked if they needed to sign. Miller replied, “the Mayor and I sign, and the board abides.”

Chris Moffat is sworn in as Commissioner.

Audit Flags “Financial Performance Indicator”

A motion approved allowing the auditor to respond to the Local Government Council addressing “the low percentage of not depreciated assets in the water fund,” said Miller, “which we knew was coming.” Miller explained the current water plant assets are fully depreciated and triggered the Financial Performance Indicator.

“This why Oriental got the $5 million (water plant) grant,” said Miller, referring to the water plant grant received in 2024. She said Town “spent the last year doing the engineering to do those changes and to build the buildings. Those numbers will come up appreciably because those (current) assets are fully depreciated.”

Pamlico Tax Office Explains Evaluations December 16

Pamlico Tax Office hosts a meeting at Town Hall at 7p on December 16 to share a short presentation on the re-evaluation of property taxes that take effect in 2026.

The company that conducted the home evaluations will be there to explain their methodology. A question and answer session will follow. Finance Officer Lisa Millington hosts in Town Manager Miller’s scheduled absence.

Paul Jordan is sworn in as Commissioner.

Service Monitors Social Media for Municipalities

Manager Miller advised the Board of a service offered by Penn State University, scouring social media and honing in on trends that would appeal to or concern municipalities, or highlight items the public may want to pay attention to.

Manager Miller said the cost is $25 per month and provides a monthly report. She advised the Board to consider whether they had any interest in the service.

Officer Wichrowski Shares Reporting Format

Officer Bill Wichrowski explained the police reporting format for monthly incidents and events in and around Oriental. He said he would highlight one or two trending topics during his verbal reports to the Board.

Officer Bill confirmed the Santa Ride with the Fire Chief is scheduled for December 18, 19 and 20 with the 21 as a rain date.

Town Manager’s Report

Gibson Achieves Lifetime Membership in NC Rural Water Association
Josh Gibson is a member of Oriental’s Public Works department and has been a Town employee for 27 years.

Because he has been a member of the North Carolina Rural Water Association for 25 years, he has earned lifetime membership in the Association and the Town no longer has to pay his membership dues.

Among Gibson’s other duties, he flushes the water system, opens hydrants and conducts water testing if ORC Daniel Early is not available.

Lou Ostendorff is sworn in as Commissioner.

Commissioners and Staff Attend Seminars in New Bern
• Commissioner Jordan and Ostendorff accompanied by outgoing commissioner Overcash will attend a paving forum to see “if we can get more for our paving dollar,” said Manager Miller.
• Finance Officer Millington and the Town Manager Miller attended a seminar for the North Carolina Coastal Management Trust.

Property Tax revenues are down
Miller said the finances “look good,” although she was concerned about property tax. “Property tax is behind,” she continued, “ (it was) due in September—we should be closer to half way.”

Sales tax and state shared revenues are two months behind in reimbursements. Miller said she is not worried, and the State will catch up.

The interest accrued by the General Fund is down compared to last year. That, Miller said, “was a good year for interest.” It will not necessarily be the case going forward, she advised.

Revenue over Expenses Comparison
In the previous fiscal year, Miller said the Town had $2,700 more in revenue than in expenses. This year, she said the town has $86,000 more in revenue than expenses. Miller cautioned, “don’t get too excited. $72,000 (of it) is the FEMA reimbursement payment from Hurricane Florence.”

The Water Fund is covering operating costs now that prices were raised on the highest tiers and dredging at Whittaker Creek is almost complete.

Mayor Sally Belangia thanks the Oriental Woman’s Club for providing the Town Hall Christmas Tree.

Auxiliary Board Reports

• Harbor Waterfronts Committee: Member Jim Kellenberger thanked Commissioner McGuire for his years of service as a member on their board.
• Planning Board: Chairwoman Allison DeWeese said there is no Planning Board meeting in December

Commissioner Comments: “Ears are Open”

I want to thank everyone who came out tonight,” said Commissioner Jordan. The Town has demonstrated its deep concern about the government here in Oriental.” He continued,” I think I can speak for everyone else up here. We will do our level best and keep our ears open.”

Mayor Sally Thanks the Woman’s Club of Oriental for the Christmas Tree at Town Hall. “Thank you, Oriental Woman’s Club, for giving us something pretty to look at.”

Commissioners adjourned to a closed door session to privately discuss matters. Upon returning, they closed the December Town Board meeting.

Dates to Know

The next Town Board Meeting will be Thursday, January 29 at 9a – a joint monthly meeting and Workshop.

---

Story by Laurie Stahlmann, photos by Laurie Stahlmann and Allison DeWeese

---

Related Information

• December Agenda – Old Business
• December Agenda – New Business
• Consent Agenda
• Oaths of Office
• Mayor Pro Tempore Oath
• Committee Assignments
• 2026 Meeting & Holiday Schedule
• Code of Ethics
• Auxiliary Appointments Revised
• Performance Indicator Response to LGC
• Police Report
• Manager’s Report
• Auxiliary Board Reports

Posted Friday December 19, 2025 by Allison DeWeese