Occoquan officials plan to hold a scheduled town hall meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 17, according to a statement from town mayor Earnie Porta.
Seating inside the town hall will be limited. The town does not provide a streaming option for residents to listen to and/or watch the meeting in real-time.
The meeting will move ahead after both President Donald Trump and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam have banned public gatherings of 1o or more people.
Porta penned this about the upcoming meeting in an email to constituents:
The Town Council plans to proceed with its scheduled meeting this evening. Public seating will be limited, and chairs for both council members and the public will be separated by the recommended distance. Relevant surfaces will be sanitized.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside town hall, located at 314 Mill Street.
On another note, Porta says he’s heard from many of the small business owners in the town who are seeking economic relief from the impacts of the Chinese coronavirus. Some of those businesses have already closed.
Porta pens in an email:
A number of business owners have contacted me requesting information on potential federal, state, and county loan or tax deferral programs available to assist small businesses during this time. I have been in touch either directly with our elected representatives at all three levels, or their offices and they are all working to secure assistance or implement relief policies through the relevant agencies. While the federal government is working on providing such aid through the Small Business Administration (SBA’s COVID-19 website), Virginia is not yet one of the eligible areas.
[Prince William County] Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny A. Boddye has a page on his website dedicated to updates and resources on COVID-19 where he plans to post information on business relief when such information becomes available.
Dominion Virginia Power, PWCSA, and Washington Gas have all suspended disconnection actions during this period. At the Town level I have asked the Town Attorney to investigate whether or not the Town has the authority to defer BPOL tax payments (currently due May 1) and will be raising this issue with the Town Council.
For employees, the Commonwealth of Virginia has waived the normal waiting period for those seeking to file unemployment claims. This is available to individuals who have been laid off or have had their hours reduced as a result of COVID-19. Information on this is available online.
As of today, Porta says the town is working to reserve parking for businesses and restaurants that choose to remain open. Those businesses include Third Base, Grind N Crepe, Bar J Chili, Bann Thai, and the Spot. Others like Madigan’s, the Secret Garden Cafe, the Tap Room, the Virginia Grill.
Author
Recent Stories
Author Uriah Kiser I’m the Founder and Publisher of Potomac Local News. Raised in Woodbridge, I’m now raising my family in Northern Virginia and care deeply about our community. If…
(Insidenova.com) – The Prince William County Planning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for a Sonic drive-thru restaurant at the Barracks Row at Quantico shopping center along Va. 234….
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors began its first meeting of 2025 with a significant leadership transition. Supervisor Deuntay Diggs was elected chairman in a 4-3 vote, succeeding outgoing Chairwoman Meg Bohmke. Diggs addressed his new role during the meeting and outlined his expectations for the year ahead, emphasizing transparency and teamwork.
Supervisor Diggs took a moment to reflect on the responsibilities of his new position and the values he brings to the role. “The citizens in the George Washington District knew that I was a law enforcement officer in this community. I love my job. And part of being a law enforcement officer is conducting ourselves with integrity. And so I will continue to do so, and I can serve in this role and do that as well,” Diggs said.
He further expressed a strong desire to foster collaboration among the board members. “The goal is that we’re gonna work together as a team. I’m not asking, I’m demanding that. That’s the expectation,” he stated. Diggs’ remarks came as a call to unity, encouraging board members to prioritize cooperation and accountability.
The board also elected Supervisor Tinesha Allen as vice chair in a 5-2 vote.
On January 7, the U.S. House of Representatives convened for the first session of the 119th Congress and passed H.R. 29, the “Riley Laken Act,” with bipartisan support.
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
