Town Of Oriental: Let's Have More Studies

Attending Town Board meetings in Oriental can be very frustrating. No one wants to actually take action.

Over the past several weeks, there has been an outcry against the plan announced by Walmart to put a Walmart express just outside the town limits.

The issue wasn't on the agenda for last Tuesday's Town Board meeting. That didn't keep a hall full of people from speaking out during public comment period, but the board maintained its customary silence toward the public.

Not entirely. One commissioner outlined a number of practical problems he saw as affecting the Town and explained what he is looking into - that was Larry Summers, whose points were met with studied indifference by the rest of the Board.

We have had months of agitation over the issue of controlling or regulating boats in the Anchorage. Quite apart from the issue of whether this is a real problem, the Board has seemed uninterested in taking action.

Except for Larry Summers. Larry talked to our state representative and was told he would be willing to sponsor a local bill modeled on one for Carolina Beach, that would grant the Town authority over adjacent waters out to 200 yards. Larry made a motion to go forward with that proposal. To actually act on the matter.

His motion did not receive a second.

Larry tried again to discuss the matter at yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Harbor Committee, explaining that the actual bill would be drafted by the legislative staff in Raleigh. Commissioner Venturi countered that we should refer it first to the Town Attorney (whose expertise in state legislative matters has been hitherto concealed) and who opined that we should first know what we want to DO with the authority before we ask for it. Presumably that would require some more surveys and a new ad-hoc committee.

Speaking of ad-hoc committees, the ad-hoc advisory committee on the water system has met and actually done something. Jim Barton, who has taken charge reported Tuesday night on the accomplishments to date, developing manuals and directives that the Town is required to have, but doesn't. He also pointed out that any ad hoc committee ceases to exist after the election.

The Town continues to speak of a "water board," which apparently never existed - at least there is no ordinance establishing one. On two recent occasions, Larry Summers attempted to introduce an ordinance and received no second.