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t the February Town Board Meeting, Commissioners swore in a new Chief of Police, addressed drainage on Windward Drive, and heard the county Register of Deeds discuss avoiding property scams.

In attendance were Mayor Sally Belangia, Commissioners Paul Jordan, Iris Cooper, Lou Ostendorff, Dan McGuire, and Chris Moffat, Town Manager Diane Miller, Finance Officer Lisa Millington, and Police Chief Bill Wichrowski.

Meeting Recap:

• Officer Bill Wichrowski sworn in as new Chief of Police. Motion approved to hire an additional officer.
• Pamlico County Register of Deeds urged residents to sign up for the free Property & Mortgage Fraud Alert Notifications.
• Twice as much water in January (year-over-year) due to burst pipes caused by the recent cold snap and storm.
• Drainage issues on Windward Drive will require resetting the culverts.
• Changes to Chapter M, the Tree Ordinance were adopted.
• Public Works employee Jerry Fessenden certified as back-up ORC (Operator in Responsible Charge) for wastewater treatment plant, received pay increase.
• No auxiliary board reports, due to meeting cancellations caused by the January snowstorm.

Commissioners approved the consent agenda which included the following: General Board Meeting Minutes from January 29 and December 9, Closed Session Minutes from January 29 and December 9, and MS Cycle approved to use Lou Mac Park as a rest area.

Public Comments

Larry Summers
Summers suggested that Town Board members review a complete treasury report rather than a summary. “I do not know how you can keep track of the finances unless you have a complete one,” Summers said. “Getting a more advanced report will really help you to know what is going on on a monthly basis.”

Breena Litzenberger
Former Commissioner Litzenberger expressed gratitude to Public Works employees for their efforts during the recent snowstorm.

“I also wanted to thank the countless citizens,” she added, “who stepped up to provide services such as towing, and the businesses that went out of their way to help neighbors and customers—looking out for each other is what makes this town so special.”

Mayor Sally Belangia swears in Officer Bill Wichrowski while his granddaughter Alice McCall holds a Bible.

Officer Wichrowski sworn in as New Chief of Police

In January, Commissioners approved a motion promoting Officer Bill Wichrowski to Chief of Police and authorized the hiring of an additional officer. Manager Miller said the promotion allows Chief Wichrowski to work directly with the state police and relieves her of that responsibility.

Chief Wichrowski was sworn in by Mayor Belangia, with his granddaughter, Alice McCall, in attendance as witness.

Culvert Resets Required for Windward Drive Drainage Issues

Public Works Director Daniel Early identified drainage problems on Windward Drive. Manager Miller explained the homes were built individually and the driveway culverts were not all installed correctly by the original builders, leaving some unable to drain properly.

“We went out there and told them which way the driveway culverts were supposed to go, but they did not listen,” Miller said. “The driveways are all concrete, and if we cut the driveways to get drainage going in the right direction, our entire annual budget will be used up in repaving.”

Early suggested the Town could fix the drainage and reset the culverts, replacing the concrete driveways with gravel. “The cost of re-laying the cement is significant, and we could not absorb that cost,” Miller said. If property owners are willing to pay for the concrete work, she added, the drainage could be corrected.

Miller said she could draft a provision for Chapter K, the ordinance governing Oriental’s water systems, for the Board’s review in March. Commissioner Paul Jordan asked whether builders should bear responsibility for the faulty installation. Miller responded the builders sold the properties long ago. “If we had found the problem when the houses were being constructed, we could have done something,” she said.

Town Manager’s Report

Water Treatment Valve Project Bid
The water treatment valve project went out for bid. The original bid conference was canceled due to the storm; however, engineering consultant firm TRC held a virtual bid conference on February 11. Miller noted one bidder had already begun reviewing work conditions, which she described as a positive sign.

“Hopefully, the Board will be able to award the contract on March 10,” Miller said. “Bids are due February 25 and will be opened here with the engineer.”

Water Shut-Off Date Delayed Due to Storm
Water service to non-paying residents was scheduled to be shut off on February 5. However, with Town Hall closed for several days due to the snowstorm – and knowing residents who typically pay in cash at the end of the billing cycle were unable to do so – Miller said she exercised discretion and delayed the shutoff.

Miller suggested drafting an exception clause within Section K to allow flexibility in shutoff dates during Acts of God.

Water Use Doubled in January
Prior to the storm, Public Works offered to turn off water for residents at no charge. Only one resident accepted. Miller noted that only Public Works or a licensed plumber is authorized to shut off water at the street, and that house shutoff valves were not required by code until 1996.

Miller also called attention to dock meters and irrigation meters as items requiring monitoring during storms. “There are no adjustments made,” she said. “If they break and our clean, treated water runs into the Neuse River, you are paying for that.” She noted that homeowners receive one adjustment per year for house meters in the event of a break.

“We are still trying to track down what is leaking,” Miller said. “Do not leave town in winter without turning your water off.”

Finance Report
Property tax collections, which had been running at 58%, have now reached 86%. Miller noted this is typical—collections tend to lag until delinquent taxpayers are publicly listed.

Revenues over expenses are up by more than $287,000. “We do not spend unless we have to spend,” Miller noted.

The water fund is up in part due to the PFAS (forever chemicals) settlement. The $72,000 surplus is being deposited into the water savings account. However, the Town treated approximately double the normal volume of water during the storm, and the costs of chemicals for treatment must be covered.

The Town’s fund balance exceeds one million dollars. A tractor ordered in July 2025 is expected to arrive in May 2026.

New Tree Ordinance Adopted
The Board approved an ordinance revision for the Tree Board, Chapter M. Changes primarily affect the contractors and construction.

Penn State Service Monitors Social Media for Small Towns

Penn State University offers a service that monitors social media to identify trends relevant to municipalities, highlighting topics of public interest or concern. The service surveys small municipalities and suggests content similar to what comparable communities are publishing.

Manager Miller said the cost is $25 per month and includes a monthly report. She invited the Board to consider whether they wished to subscribe.

Commissioner Jordan Thanks First Responders

Commissioner Jordan expressed appreciation to public safety personnel for their efforts during the snowstorm, thanking Chief Wichrowski and members of the fire department and sheriff’s department for their service.

Manager Miller reminded everyone of the “first 72” principle—the expectation that residents be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours following a storm. “I think we got people prepared for the first couple of days, but not beyond 72 hours, and they were a little panicked about getting out and getting supplies. It is the same thing as with a hurricane,” Miller said.

Back-Up ORC Certified for Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Water Treatment Facility Operators Treatment Board requires both a primary ORC (Operator in Responsible Charge) and a certified back-up ORC to meet the state’s requirement for providing safe drinking water. Jeff Sanders serves as the primary ORC.

Manager Miller confirmed Public Works employee Jerry Fessenden has been certified as back-up ORC for the wastewater treatment plant. “It is required by the state, and now we have that,” Miller said.

Commissioner Jordan called the achievement “worthy of celebration.” A motion was approved to increase Fessenden’s salary by $1 per hour. Miller noted the raise should not affect the budget significantly until later in the fiscal year.

Pamlico County Register of Deeds Lynn Lewis tells Commissioners about Property Fraud.

Register of Deeds presents on Real Estate Scams

Pamlico County Register of Deeds Lynn Lewis addressed Commissioners on what she described as a nationwide increase in real estate fraud.

Lewis urged vigilance, noting the Register of Deeds does not verify the legitimacy of documents submitted for recording. “Our job is to put the document on record,” Lewis said, “as long as it meets the standards required by law. Unfortunately, in some counties across the state and the nation, forged documents have been recorded.”

Lewis said real estate agent Suzanne Gwaltney has found properties listed on Zillow for sale that were not actually for sale. She urged property owners to monitor online real estate sites to check if their property has been fraudulently listed and to use the PropertyCheck service. She added property owners cannot ‘lock’ or freeze titles.

“Bill 423 is pending in the State House but has not passed,” said Lewis. “It would make it easier for victims of real estate fraud to fight back.” Under current law, a property owner who discovers fraudulent activity must contact the sheriff’s office, file a claim, retain an attorney, and go to court to void the document – a process Lewis described as daunting, particularly for those without financial resources.

Lewis distributed a handout summarizing key warning signs and precautions of fraud. Included is a flyer on how to sign up for the PropertyCheck service.

Manager Miller added that Oriental is a target market due to its older population.

Police Report

Chief Wichrowski focused his remarks on the recent snowstorm. “I have lived here for ten years, and from what I understand, this was a once-in-a-generation event,” he said. “Everyone worked together to get Oriental and Pamlico County through it. With only two plow trucks for the entire county, I think we came through it pretty well – and I hope we learn from it.”

He reported very few incidents during the storm, noting one case in which an elderly resident needed to be brought food and warmth. He concluded: “Thanks for believing in me. I hope to live up to your expectations – I certainly plan to.”

Dates to Know

The next Town Board Meeting will be Tuesday, March 10 at 6p.

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Story and photos by Laurie Stahlmann

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Related Information

• February Agenda
• Consent Agenda
• Auxiliary Board Reports
• Oath of Office
• Manager’s Report
• Budget Amendment
• Strategic Planning Workshop
• Chapter M
• Register of Deeds Property Fraud Flyers
• Property Check Website

Posted Wednesday February 25, 2026 by Allison DeWeese