Jul 13, 2021 Board of Aldermen

JUDGE MORGAN, AUTUMN AND BENGAL.

UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU ENLARGE THAT FROM THERE, THIS BUILDING THIS COURTROOM, THIS CITY WOULD NOT HAVE MEANING IF IT NOT, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE LEADERS AND THE STAFF THAT HAVE SERVED HERE TONIGHT, WE AS A CITY HONOR TO TRAILBLAZERS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR LEANDER MORGAN, SENIOR AND ELLA BANGLE, THEY BOTH TOOK THE STEP TO HOLD THE OFFICE.

OTHERS SAID THEY COULD NOT, OR SHOULD NOT HOLD THEIR DESIRE TO SERVE WAS HARD DRIVEN FOR A CITY AND PEOPLE THEY LOVED.

AND WHO ONLY WANTED A BETTER WAY FOR THOSE WHO LIVED AND WORKED HERE ON MAY 15TH, 2019, THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT HELD A HISTORIC SESSION HERE IN THIS COURTROOM IN HONOR OF JUSTICE, MICHAEL MORGAN, THE PORTRAIT OF HIS FATHER THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY WAS HUNG BEHIND A SEAT AS A FITTING AND MEANINGFUL TRIBUTE AT THE MAY 28TH, 2019 BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING.

IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED THAT THE PORTRAITS OF BOTH MARE MORGAN, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR AND THE PORTRAIT OF MAYOR ELLA BENGAL, WOULD BE HUNG IN THE COURTROOM, CELEBRATING THESE TWO FIRSTS FOR CITY FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN, WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME THE MORGAN AND BENGAL TO THIS DEDICATION.

OUR CITY CONTINUES TO BENEFIT BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS THAT MAYORS MORGAN AND BENGAL TOOK.

AND WE OFFICIALLY DEDICATE THESE PORTRAITS TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR HISTORY.

NOW, MORGAN WAS A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON DC.

HE RECEIVED HIS SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND LATER MATRICULATED AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY MINORS, TEACHER COLLEGE, AND RECEIVED A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, DC.

HE WAS EMPLOYED IN THE DC SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A TEACHER, PRIOR TO HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND RETURNED TO TEACHING IN 1962.

HE AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO NEWBURN WHERE MAYOR MORGAN TAUGHT IN THE NEWBURN CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A TEACHER PRINCIPAL.

AFTER A FEW YEARS, HE JOINED THE FACULTY OF CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN SERVICE DIVISION.

MAYOR MORGAN BECAME A FUNERAL DIRECTOR IN 63 AND IN 68 ATTENDED MCALESTER AMERICAN ACADEMY FOR HIS FORMAL FUNERAL SERVICE TRAINING IN NEW YORK CITY.

IN 1969, HE BECAME A LICENSED EMBALMER IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN 1971.

HE WAS HISTORICALLY ELECTED TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN'S BOARD OF ALDERMAN BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK TO SERVE IN SUCH A CAPACITY.

HE FURTHER MADE HISTORY WHEN IN 1977, HE WAS ELECTED AS MAYOR THE FIRST AND ONLY BLACK TO LEAD NEWBURN IN ITS MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

MANMAR MORGAN SERVICE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURGH AND ELECTED OFFICE INCLUDED THREE TERMS AS ITS MAYOR.

AND TWO TERMS AS ITS MAYOR PRO TEM.

HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS, NAMELY THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS AWARD, THE GEORGE HENRY WHITE AWARD OMEGA PSI PHI SERVICE AWARD ALPHA PHI ALPHA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, AND THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR THE MID ATLANTIC REGION.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE JUSTICE, MICHAEL MORGAN, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HIS FAMILY,

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TRIBUTE AS WELL AS FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

UH, THIS IS MR. MAYOR AND BOARD, UH, OF GORGEOUS MAGNIFICENT FACILITY.

AND I CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHT IN YOUR WISDOM IN INVESTING IN THIS GREAT EDIFICE THAT REPRESENTS OUR GREAT CITY, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR GRACIOUS WORDS, AS I SAT THERE AND REMINISCED ON HOW YOU AND I WERE IN THE CLASS OF 1972 TOGETHER, I REMEMBER FONDLY OUR TIME TOGETHER.

I, YOUR FATHER, VERY FONDLY AS WELL, AND HIS GREAT SERVICE TO THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF NEW BERN.

UH, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMEMBRANCES OF THAT FATEFUL DAY IN JANUARY OF 1971, UH, A LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS AGO, UH, WHEN IT WAS A DARK DAY IN NEWBURN AND MY FATHER HAD A CHANCE TO STEP FORWARD AND HEAL TO HEAL THE CITY AT A TIME WHEN HEALING WAS NECESSARY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL OCCASION, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE AS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO BE IN MY HOMETOWN OF NEW BERN, WHEREVER I GO.

AND I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO TRAVEL THIS STATE QUITE A BIT AS A MEMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF OUR GREAT STATE, UH, ALWAYS CARRY NEW BERN WITH ME AND ALWAYS BRAG ABOUT NEW BIRD AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY.

SO, UM, AND BEING HERE TONIGHT, THIS REMINDS ME OF WHY I CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

UH, I REPRESENT MY FAMILY.

A NUMBER OF US ARE HERE TODAY IN PERSON.

UH, SOME OF US ARE UNABLE TO BE HERE, UH, BUT WE ARE WATCHING, UH, THROUGH THE LAST SCREEN.

BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT MY MOTHER, BARBARA MORGAN, UH, WHO JUST TURNED 86 YEARS OLD TWO DAYS AGO, UH, IS WATCHING, UH, SHE SENDS HER FINE, UH, REMARKS AND HELLOS TO ALL OF YOU.

AND SHE WANTS ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROUD OCCASION FOR HER THIS EVENING, AS I THINK ABOUT WHAT ALL OF THIS REPRESENTS.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT LEE MORGAN LOVED NEWBURN.

HE OBVIOUSLY LOVED NEWBURN BECAUSE HE RELOCATED HIS FAMILY HERE FROM HIS HOMETOWN, WASHINGTON DC IN ORDER TO RAISE HIS YOUNG FAMILY IN THIS GREAT CITY, THE HOMETOWN OF MY MOTHER, HIS WIFE, BARBARA MORGAN.

HE ALSO LOVED SERVING PEOPLE.

AND IN THAT RESPECT IS NO SURPRISE AT ALL, THAT HE FOUND A WAY TO COMBINE.

THE TWO LOVES THE LOVE FOR NEW BURN AND THE LOVE FOR SERVING PEOPLE AND SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THIS RACE, THIS CITY, THIS CITY, HE IS A GREAT ONE.

AND AS I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION FOR OUR FATHER, OUR GRANDFATHER, OUR HUSBAND, ONCE UPON A TIME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FASHIONABLE TO THANK THE CITY FATHERS FOR THIS.

BUT THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO BEING HONORED TONIGHT IN THE PERSON OF ELLA BANGLE, WHO'S SAW FIT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A PIONEERING SPIRIT AND A RECOGNITION OF THE DIVERSITY THAT MY FATHER PROMOTED, THAT SHE ALSO PROMOTED.

AND IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT, AS I CONGRATULATE AND FIND THE BAGEL FAMILY AS WELL ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF THE REMEMBRANCE AND SALUTE TO MAYOR BENGAL IN LOOKING AT MY FATHER.

AND I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

IT'S HARD TO NOT REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT WHEN HE COMBINED HIS LOVE OF THE CITY, AS WELL AS HIS LOVE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, THAT I REMEMBER BEING BARELY A TEENAGER AND HEARING HIM TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE STREETS OF NEW BERN WERE CURB AND GUTTER.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT PHRASE MEANT, BUT I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IT MEANT WAS THAT ALL OF THE STREETS OF NEW BERN NEEDED TO BE PAVED AND ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THIS GREAT CITY, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHERE ONE LIVED IN THIS GROWING CITY, THERE WAS A NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOT STANDING WATER THAT CAUSED PERIL AND INCONVENIENCE

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NO MATTER WHERE ONE MIGHT LIVE, WHERE THE RANGE WOULD COME AND LITERALLY HAVE STANDING WATER IN THEM FOR DAYS AND EVEN WEEKS AFTERWARDS, HE HAD A VISION TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW BIRD RECOGNIZED ALL OF ITS POTENTIAL, NOT ONLY FOR ITSELF AS A MUNICIPALITY, BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE AND EVERY THING COULD REACH ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL.

AND TO FULFILL THIS DESTINY, I WOULD HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR EQUAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE WHEN IT CAME TO EMPLOYMENT.

BECAUSE AGAIN, IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT THE DIVERSITY THAT THIS GREAT CITY ENJOY THROUGH MAY OF BENGAL AND THROUGH MY FATHER MAY OR MORGAN, THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS AN INTERRELATIONSHIP.

IF THE PEOPLE PROSPERED, THE NEW BURNER WOULD PROSPER.

AND IF NEWBURN PROSPERED, THEN THE PEOPLE WOULD PROSPER.

THAT WAS WHAT HIS VISION WAS FOR NEWBURGH.

THAT'S WHERE THIS VISION WAS FOR ITS CITIZENS.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE WORKED HARD AND SACRIFICE MUCH TO MAKE SURE THAT HE CONTRIBUTED ALL THAT HE COULD.

SO THAT, THAT VISION THAT HE HAD WOULD HAVE HIS FOOTPRINT AND HIS IMPRINT ALL OVER IT, TO THE EXTENT THAT HE COULD ALLOW IT TO OCCUR.

HE LOVED THE CITY, HE LOVED HIS PEOPLE.

SO I THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR MY FATHER AS THE DECADES GO BY.

AND AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO FULFILL THIS DESTINY TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AS MAYOR BANGLE BROUGHT FORTH AND AS MAYOR MORGAN POURED FORTH, AND AS ALL OF US CONTINUE TO BRING FORTH, THERE'S A STRENGTH IN NEWBURGH.

THERE'S A HERITAGE IN NEWBURGH.

THERE'S A JOY IN NEWBURGH.

LEE, MORGAN LOVE NEWBURN AND LEE MORGAN LOVED HIS PEOPLE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING HIS PORTRAIT TO OCCUPY A PROMINENT PLACE IN THESE HALLOWED HALLS.

AND AS HE LOVED NEW BERN, AND AS HE LOVED HIS PEOPLE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU BOARD FOR SHOWING HIM LOVE ALL THIS TREASURED AND MEANINGFUL OCCASION.

2010 BY GOVERNOR BEVERLY PERDUE DURING NEW BERN'S 300TH CELEBRATION.

BYE ELLA BINGO WAS BORN IN TRENTON, NORTH CAROLINA, AND MOVED TO NEWBURN WHEN SHE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

SHE MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE.

ARI BUDDY, BINGO, SENIOR, EXCUSE ME, JUNIOR.

WHEN SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND BECAME A WIFE AND A MOTHER TO FIVE CHILDREN.

SHE WAS EMPLOYED WITH RD BINGO SHEET METAL COMPANY.

AS THE BOOKKEEPER FOR 40 YEARS, HER LIFE WAS A LIFE DEDICATED TO SERVING HER LORD AND SAVIOR AND TO OTHERS IN HER COMMUNITY.

SHE NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD WITH THOSE WHO WOULD MEET AND WAS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS AS AN UNASHAMED WITNESS.

SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE TO CHRIST AT AN EARLY AGE AND FAITHFULLY ATTENDED CHURCH ALL HER LIFE.

SHE DID GOD'S WORK AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 40 YEARS.

AND AFTER A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND STARTED DOING A SLIDESHOW FOR MANY OF THE CHURCHES AND THE NEWBURN AREA.

AGAIN, SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF OUR LORD, HER LOVE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS YOUTH LED HER TO RUN FOR ALDERMAN OF THE FIFTH WARD IN 1973, WHERE SHE SERVED FOUR TERMS MARKED BY EXEMPLARY AND ENERGETIC LEADERSHIP AND THE VITAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BOARD.

IN 1985, SHE WAS ELECTED AS NEW BERN'S FIRST WOMAN MAYOR SERVING TWO TERMS AND WAS A POWERFUL INFLUENCE FOR GOOD IN THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WON AND WAS ONE OF NEWBORNS PROMINENT AND INFLUENTIAL RESIDENTS.

SHE EARNED THE RESPECT OF ALL WHO SHE CAME INTO CONTACT AND THE LOVE AND AFFECTION OF A HOST OF FRIENDS.

ELLA RECEIVED MANY AWARDS DURING LIFE.

SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF RECEIVING THE WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 1976, THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY AWARD WHILE SHE SERVED AS MAYOR.

AND FINALLY, THE ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE AWARDED TO HER IN

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I'D NOW LIKE TO ASK MY HUSBAND, STEVE BENGO REPRESENTING THE BEING OF FAMILY.

COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

IS IT OKAY IF I SAY, THANK YOU, DEAR, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

UH, MY NAME IS STEVE BENGAL AND ALONG WITH MY THREE SISTERS, LINDA WHITE, PAT BOYD AND SANDY SIBLEY, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, CITY OFFICIALS, STAFF, EMPLOYEES, ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS RIGHT RENOVATION OF THIS BUILDING.

WE ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE MORGAN FAMILY, MAYOR MORGAN'S PORTRAIT AND DEDICATION.

BOTH OF THESE LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS SHARE THE LOVE FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

I THINK THEY ALSO HAD TO HAVE A LOVE TO SERVE THE, THE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS TO ITS CITIZENS.

AND THEY ALSO HAD A LOVE FOR THE HISTORY OF NEIGHBOR, SOME OF THE APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE THAT THEY ARE NOW, AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PART OF OUR LOCAL HISTORY IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT I MIGHT SAY ABOUT OUR MOTHER.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SAY OR TELL YOU PERHAPS WHAT IF SHE WERE HERE, WHAT SHE WOULD WANT TO SAY TO YOU, AND PERHAPS SHE WOULD TELL YOU HOW SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED.

AS I LOOK AT HER PORTRAIT, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT SHE WOULD HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE PORTRAIT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR HAIR OR GRASS OR BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT QUITE BE RIGHT, BUT PORTRAIT, BUT ALSO THINK THAT SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING IS MISSING FROM THIS PORTRAIT.

AND WHEN I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK SHE WOULD SAY IS MISSING FROM THE PORTRAIT, MY SISTERS ARE GONNA NOD THEIR HEAD.

YOU'RE OUTLAWS FROM THAT.

NOT HIS, AND YES, I'LL ASK HER IF HE WERE, HE WOULD ALSO NOT HIS HEAD.

I THINK ANYONE THAT KNEW MY MOTHER FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES WOULD ALSO NOD THEIR HEAD.

AND WHAT I THINK SHE WOULD SAY IS MISSING FROM HER PORTRAIT WOULD BE HER BIBLE.

SHE CARRIED THAT BIBLE EVERYWHERE WITH HER.

AND I KNOW THAT WHEN SHE CAME INTO THIS ROOM IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER SHE WAS SITTING IN THE ALDERMAN FIFTH WARD, ALDERMAN SEAT, OR IN THE MAYOR SEAT, SHE WOULD HAVE THAT BOTTLE.

AND SHE'D SAID IT IN FRONT OF HER, THAT BIBLE WAS HER INSTRUCTION GUIDE FOR HOW SHE LIVED HER LIFE.

IT WAS HER REFERENCE BOOK FOR HOW SHE MADE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

AND I'M SURE SHE WOULD TELL US TONIGHT THAT IT WOULD BE HER DESIRE THAT EVERY LEADER ACROSS HIS COUNTRY WOULD FOLLOW HER EXAMPLE AND HAVING THAT VOWEL AND FOLLOWING THAT BIBLE.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT SHE WOULD NOT WANT YOU TO REMEMBER HER AS A POLITICIAN.

IN FACT, SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS NOT A POLITICIAN, BUT I DO THINK SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS A GOOD CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO LOVED THE LORD AND LOVED THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

SO THANK YOU FOR HONORING OUR MOTHER AND HIS PORTRAIT IN THIS DEDICATION.

AND PETITIONS OF CITIZENS.

MAYOR.

I WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATING IN THIS.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS FOR ALLOWING US THIS FEW MINUTES TO CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY.

I THINK IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HISTORY IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN, THAT'S 300 YEARS OLD THAT WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE THAT CAN PARTICIPATE IN CELEBRATED FIRSTS, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY WONDERFUL.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING OUT THE MORGAN FAMILY, THE BINGO FAMILY.

IT'S JUST NICE.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET MY CHILDREN IN THE SAME PLACE.

SO THIS IS REALLY NICE.

LIKE YOU ALL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, SO IT, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU.

AND AT THIS POINT, UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UM, RESA HAVE A BRIEF RECESS FOR RECEPTION IN THE HALLWAY.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS AND SEE OUR NEW MAYOR'S OFFICE AND ALDERMAN OFFICE

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens. (Part 1 of 2)]

[00:35:09]

AND THE FIRST ONE WE EVER WRITE IS SANDRA HARRISON, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND AS SHE WALKS THE BOARD, IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAY THAT I GREW UP WITH THIS PERSON IN NEW YORK CITY, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WELCOME SASHA, BUT IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN.

WE HEAR THAT FIRST.

I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE MORGAN AND BENGAL FAMILIES.

I'M GLAD I PICKED A NIGHT WHEN YOU GUYS ARE SERVING CUPCAKES.

AND, UM, JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF BRIEFLY, MY NAME IS SANDRA ERICSSON.

I'M AN INFANT TODDLER SPECIALIST AT CREATING SMART START.

AND MY GOAL TONIGHT IS TO FAMILIARIZE THE BOARD AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE WITH CRAVING SMART START, UM, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I CREATED A FACT SHEET.

UM, AND I HOPE YOU'LL ALL TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO LOOK IT OVER.

SO I'M HERE TO, UM, START AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS ABOUT ADVOCACY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

UM, THIS VIDEO IS, UH, SOMETHING I CREATED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

UH, AND WE'RE USING IT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SHOULD NEVER BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

UM, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS VIEWED AS KIND OF LOOSEY GOOSEY.

UM, SO I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYBODY HERE THAT I PRODUCED THIS VIDEO FROM A VERY CONSERVATIVE POINT OF VIEW.

UM, AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW CONSERVATIVE, WHEN, UM, I WAS INTERVIEWING FOR MY KINDERGARTEN MISSION TO SCHOOL AND ASKED WHAT I WANTED TO BE WHEN I GREW UP, I SAID A MOTHER AND A REPUBLICAN.

SO THAT'S MY FRAME OF REFERENCE.

UM, WE AT CRAVEN SMARTSTART HOPE THAT TONIGHT, UM, WILL BE A FIRST STEP THAT WE TAKE TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, TO PROMOTE OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS AND TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT ONE IS MARGO.

[00:40:03]

GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR AND BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MARGO FEST FROM IT, AND I LIVE AT FIVE 16 CRAVEN STREET DURING RECENT WEEKS, SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND ASSOCIATED DIVISIONS BLENDED IN PERFECT HARMONY, MUCH LIKE A WELL CONDUCTED SYMPHONY AS THE WIND INSTRUMENTS RISE TO MEET THE STRENGTH SECTION.

I'M REFERRING TO THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF OLD SIDEWALK SECTIONS HAVEN'T WE DAMAGED BY THE ROOTS OF TREES AND ALL THESE STEPS WERE PERFORMED IN FOUR MOVEMENTS, ONE SIDEWALK, REMOVAL AND INITIAL EXPOSURE ROOT SYSTEM.

PUBLIC WORKS STREETS DIVISION LED BY DARRELL NELSON, A RUB WITH HIS BABY BACKHOE AND GENTLY REMOVED EACH DAMAGE SECTION.

AND ARTFULLY PLACED THEM IN THE BED OF A TRUCK FOR TRANSPORT TO DISPOSAL.

THIS PROCEDURE EXPOSED THE DAMAGING ROOT SYSTEM, WHICH CLOSELY RESEMBLED SOMETHING LEFTOVER FROM JURASSIC PARK CITY EMPLOYEES.

AND PASSERBUYS WERE ALL STRUCK TO REMOVAL OF THE OFFENDING TREES.

MY COURTNEY TREE DIVISION OF PARK AND REC AND MATT SHELLEY OF HPC OBSERVED AND CONCLUDED THAT IF THE ROOTS WERE REMOVED FROM THE TREES, THEY WOULD FALL DOWN.

SO THEY HAD A HAZARD ENTER THE LEAF AND LIAM DIVISION TO REMOVE THE GUILTY TREES QUICK AND EASY FOR THE NEW, FOR THE CREW, WITH A BUCKET TRUCK AND CHAINSAWS, AS THEY ARTFULLY MANEUVERED AMONG THE LIMBS THREE ROOTS AND STUMP VERSUS MODERN MACHINES.

I FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AHEAD REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE STORMWATER DIVISION OF HYDRO EXCAVATION, HIGH PRESSURE WATER, AND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MUD SUCKED UP AND STORED IN TANKER STALL TRUCKS.

FINALLY, THE ROOTS LURKING, BUT INCHES BELOW GROUND FULLY EXPOSED.

AND THE WORK WAS NOW RISING TO A CRESCENDO ASKING, WELL, HOW WILL THE ROOTS AND STOMPS ACTUALLY BE REMOVED? THE MUSIC SWELLS AND THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW RETURNS THIS TIME WITH A FRONT END LOAD ARE EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR IN ONE BUCKET.

AND THE BATTLE BEGAN WHO WOULD WIN THE EQUIPMENT OR THE STOVE LIKE A BLAST OF THE HORN SECTION.

THE EQUIPMENT HELD HIS STUMP, ITS JOBS, AND DELIVERED IT TO THE DISPOSAL TRUCK.

AFTER A BRIEF INTERMISSION, THE GRAND FINALE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW SIDEWALK, THE SIDEWALK CREW RETURNED BRINGING GRAVEL, FILL DIRT AND FORMS FOR SITE PREPARATION.

OF COURSE, EVERY PERFORMANCE HAS A PRE-MADONNA AND APPARENTLY THIS WAS A CEMENT TRUCK WAITING AND WAITING FOR THE GRAND ENTRANCE.

ONCE POURED THE CONCLUDING MOVEMENT PRODUCED A SPECTACULAR, SMOOTH EVEN SIDEWALK.

NOW SAY FOR ALL WALKERS, EITHER RESIDENTS OR VISITORS, THANK YOU.

PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND REC AND ALL THE SUBDIVISIONS FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SURFACE WITH CREWS WHO ARE CAREFUL PROFESSIONAL, POLITE, AND A PLEASURE TO KNOW, PLEASE SHARE THESE ACCOLADES WITH THEM.

THEY ARE VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR THE CITY AND CITIZENS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

UM, UM, PETITIONING TODAY BECAUSE OF, FOR FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR.

I'VE ALSO BEEN AN EDUCATOR, UM, DURING THE WAKE OF COVID.

I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER THIS YEAR PROBABLY WANT TO GIVE AN EDUCATOR, THE PAUL'S MY SISTER AND I DECIDED TO GO IN TOGETHER AND BECOME ENTREPRENEURS TOGETHER.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A, UM, HOTDOG CART STANDING.

WE OWN TWO OF THEM.

UH, GOD GAVE US DOUBLE FOR OUR TROUBLE BECAUSE I ONLY WANTED ONE WITH THE MAN AND FOUR TO SAVE.

YOU GOT TO TAKE BOTH OF THEM.

SO WE TOOK BOTH OF THEM AND, UM, THE JOURNEY ITSELF TO OWN THE CARTS AND GETTING AN INSPECTION.

ALL OF THAT WAS FINE TO ME.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THE STATE COME AND INSPECT YOUR KITCHEN.

I HAD POPCORN AS WELL.

SO THIS PART THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WAS THE COMMISSARY PART, THAT PART.

AND FORGIVE ME IF I GET EMOTIONAL, THAT PART IS, WAS HARSH ON US.

I KEPT A JOURNAL OF HOW MANY BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA AND OUTSIDE OF THE AREA THAT TOLD US NO, AND IN TOTALLY CAME TO 15, THAT IS 15 RESTAURANTS THAT WE PATRON.

WE SPEND OUR MONEY THERE.

AND WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR US TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TOLD US NO, SOME OF IT WAS FAIR.

AND SOME OF IT WAS JUST LIKE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSARY IS.

SO I DON'T CARE.

GOODBYE.

I KNOW THAT THIS CITY IS THE OPPORTUNITY.

CITY JUSTICE MORGAN SAID THAT ABOUT HIS FATHER SPOT WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE IF I CAN THRIVE IN THE CITY, IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE LOOKING AT ME SAYING THE SAME THING.

NEWBURGH, YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE US THIS KITCHEN.

I LOOKED

[00:45:01]

ONLINE AND THE FARTHEST CITY KITCHEN THAT IS THRIVING.

ISN'T ASHBY.

THAT IS THE ONLY ONE IN THIS STATE AND ASHEVILLE, I WAS READY TO GO.

I WAS LIKE, LET'S GO.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE HOBBIES TRIALS IN THE CAR? AND LET'S GO, YOU NEED A SAFE KITCHEN FOR ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE GETTING DENIED.

COMMON SERIES NEED, BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU.

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

AND FORTUNATELY, WE GOT A COMMISSARY, BUT WE HAD TO GO MOBS OUT TO GET IT, WHICH MEANS WE HAD TO MEET THE INSPECTOR OUT THERE.

WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE EVERY TIME WE GOT TO PACK STUFF UP, GET ICE, AND THEN TRAVEL MILES OUT JUST TO GET TO OUR PLACE OF SALE.

THAT IS GAS MILEAGE.

AND I DROVE A TALL.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? THE POINT IS THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT'S COMING BEHIND US, THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS ENTREPRENEURS TO FIND HELP FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT.

AND WE BEAT THE TRAIL BY OURSELVES WITH HARDLY ANY HELP I DIDN'T TAKE NO FOR, I DIDN'T TAKE TOO MANY NOTES BECAUSE SOMETIMES I WAS LIKE, OKAY, BUT I KEPT GOING.

AND UNFORTUNATELY MY REQUEST TO FIND A COMMISSARY.

BUT IMAGINE IF THIS CITY HAD ONE WHERE ALL WE NEEDED TO DO WAS GO FILL OUT PAPERWORK, THE KITCHEN SET UP.

THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.

AND IT CUTS OUT HAVING TO NEGOTIATE YOUR GRANT BECAUSE WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE A RENT.

THEY WANTED US TO PAY 200.

I HAD TO GO DOWN TO 1 75 WITHOUT SAYING, WE WANT TO DO IT FOR FREE, BUT WE HAVE THERE, LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE MORE COMING.

AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO START THEIR BUSINESSES, THEN THEY GET DISHEARTENED.

I KNOW MY SISTER AND I, WE SPENT NIGHTS CRYING BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

AND WE PUT ALL OUR MONEY, RENT MONEY, LIKE BILL MONEY.

I PUT EVERYTHING I HAD INTO IT BECAUSE WE BOTH QUIT OUR JOBS BECAUSE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IS IN US.

WE'RE BORN INTO IT.

OUR FATHER WAS THAT WAY.

SO I PETITIONED FOR THIS CITY TO COME BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION OF HAVING A CITY COMMISSARY.

IT CREATES JOBS BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO LOOK IT, BUT MORE PARTLY THINKING ABOUT ALL THE LITTLE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN JUST COME RIGHT INTO YOUR SEAT, PAY YOUR RENT.

I STARTED RUNNING AND YOU CAN KEEP, YOU CAN KEEP THIS, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING IT KEEPS GIVING DON'T DO IT.

I GUARANTEE YOU.

I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO TAKE A CORRAL OF INDIVIDUALS AND GOING TO EITHER TRY TO PUT OUR MONEY TOGETHER.

AND WE GOING TO SEE Y'ALL AND SEE US AGAIN.

AND WE WILL ASK WHAT BUILDING, AND THEN WE WILL PUT A C COMMERCIAL IN THERE.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY IT TAKES.

YOU GUYS GOT A CHANCE, GET OPPORTUNITY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE IN A CITY THAT DOESN'T GET.

AT LEAST IT'S SMALL ENTREPRENEURS, THE SMALL FRIES, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS.

THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU GO LEAVE IT.

ANYWAY, STAYING IN WHITE AND YOU KNOW, I WANT IT RIGHT THERE WITH THAT.

I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR.

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD IS IN GREENVILLE, MIXED PETITIONERS.

NOW AT FIRST, I KNOW I HAVE TO GIVE ON THE GUY THAT'S GOING TO SET THE STAGE.

UH, I JUST WANT TO COME HERE AND TALK FIRST TIME.

I'M GLAD I WAS HONORED TO BE HERE FOR THE DEDICATION FOR MALE BENDER IN THE MIDDLE OF MARLA.

I ENJOYED IT.

AND OF COURSE THE CUPCAKE TOO.

BUT, UH, I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING AROUND AND I BECOME A DIFFERENT MEETINGS, BUT I DON'T SEE, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT POSITION, BUT OBVIOUSLY NONE OF US, YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED TO COME TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE SOME DECISIONS FOR OUR GROUP.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE WE BE HAVING DIFFERENT, UH, PROBLEMS AND DIFFERENT SESSIONS.

LIKE THE ONE WE HAD SATURDAY FOR THE PEOPLE WE ALWAYS INVITE ON THE BOARD.

YOU ALWAYS INVITE YOU THAT BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO SEE THAT REALLY JUST NOT SIT AT HOME.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE ABOUT.

WE TALK ABOUT COVID-19.

WE TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM.

I, WITH PEOPLE THAT'S NOT WORTH UNBROKEN, WE TALK ABOUT GETTING JOBS, HOW YOU CAN GET SOME TRAINING.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU ALL TO COME AND SOMETIMES COME TO GO TO THE AND CHAIRS.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH I STAY AT PLUS A HELIUM, MY WORRIES IS FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST WHERE I STAYED, BECAUSE I USED TO BE IN CRAMMED MATERIALS, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU CAN MOVE UP AND PLAY MATERIALS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT TAKES SOMETHING AND YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE SOMETIMES THEY WANT TO SEE YOU GUYS OUT THERE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THAT YOU ALL CARE ABOUT US.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT Y'ALL THAT DEPTH OF FIELD, NOT JUST ABOUT STANDING WHITE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT THAT'S MY PASSION

[00:50:01]

BUT COMING INTO THE FIELD, LOOK AT WHEN IT RAINED REAL HARD, COME AND SEE HOW TO DRAIN IT.

AND STUFF HAS BEEN ONE.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEBODY THERE TO TALK WITH US.

WE KNOW PEOPLE REPRESENT US ON THE BOARD, ALL OF THEM, BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE ONE THAT REPRESENTED US.

WE NEED EVERYBODY THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALL YOUR, ALL YOU ALL TOGETHER, THEN THAT'S EVEN MORE POWERFUL FOR US BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A MOVEMENT GOING ON, YOU KNOW, A BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT GOING ON AND A DO MATTER.

IT MATTERED TO ME THIS AMOUNT OF EVERYBODY.

NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE MONEY OR NET BECAUSE WE HAVE STYLIST.

BUT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LOVE IS WHAT MAKE THE WORLD GO AROUND.

SO THAT'S ALL WE WANT YOU TO DO IS COME OUT.

SOMETIMES WHEN THE PEOPLE, SOMEBODY IS HAVING SOME FUNCTION, THIS COME OUT THERE, SHOW THAT YOU CARE.

I SAY SOME WORDS OF ACCORDANCE TO US, YOU KNOW? CAUSE I'M GOING BE A CURSE ANYWAY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT THINK YOU GUYS FORGOT ABOUT THEM.

LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO THEM.

YOU'RE STILL LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.

YOU STILL WANT TO PUT THEM IN KEY POSITIONS.

YOU KNOW, LET US COME TO THE TABLE.

EVERYTHING'S ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

YOU DON'T WANT YOU TALKING TO US.

WE WANT YOU.

WE DON'T WANT Y'ALL TALKING AT US.

WE WANT, Y'ALL TALKING TO US AND TAKING SOME OF OUR PAYMENTS OR WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

AND THANK YOU, MS. MS. SAMSON.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU DID NOT.

I DID NOT SEE YOU AT THE THREE O'CLOCK SESSION ON SATURDAY, BUT I DID ATTEND THAT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO CALL NAMES AND STUFF WHEN THEY BEEN IN ONE, BUT THE ONES THAT CAME, YOU KNOW, THEY CAME, I WAS HERE AT THE SIDE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I TOLD YOU I WAS COMING.

I WAS THERE IN THE MORNING BECAUSE MY MOM WAS BEING DEAD.

THEY ARE ON HER TWO O'CLOCK.

SO I WAS GOING TO BE THERE, BUT I MADE SURE I MADE THE MORNING SO I COULD SEE WHO WAS GOING TO BE THERE WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN.

BUT , IT WOULD BE NICE BARBARA.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD A SCHEDULE BECAUSE I GOT A PHONE CALL ABOUT IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND I WAS OUT OF TOWN.

AND IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A SCHEDULE WHEN THE NEXT MEETING, THEN WE COULD PLAN FOR IT.

BUT REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE MEETING WAS HAPPENING UNTIL I GOT A PHONE CALL THE NIGHT BEFORE.

SO IF YOU KNOW, YOU ALL WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU ALL WHAT WE TRYING TO DO, WE'RE GIVING YOU SO THAT WE COME OUT EVERY TWO MONTHS, WE THROW, YOU KNOW, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M A, VICE-PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CALL IT OTHER PEOPLE NAMED, BUT I CAN CALL THEM MINE.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY NAME BEING PAUL, BUT I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT.

SO YOU'D WANT A NUTELLA.

I BE GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE COPPER, SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS.

GOING TO GET ANOTHER FILE.

THIS TIME WE'RE

[Consent Agenda]

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS WITH CONSENT AGENDA, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AND THEN GENDER AS IS MOTION.

AND SECOND IS THERE DISCUSSION MOTION CARRIES

[7. Presentation on Pembroke Infrastructure.]

I'M NUMBER SEVEN.

OF ROADWAY THAT HAD A FAILING CULVERT UNDERNEATH IT.

MAYOR OTTOMAN.

NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION ON THE PEMBROKE INFRASTRUCTURE AS REQUESTED BY ALDERWOMAN HARRIS.

GEORGE CHILDS WAS SHERIFF PRESENTATION TO REVIEW THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR FYI 22 WITHIN THE BENBROOK NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU GUYS LEFT OFF THE THEME MUSIC FOR HIM COMING UP WITH THIS PRESENTATION, GETTING THE BOARD.

UM, WE HAD A APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO WITH ALL THE WOMAN HARRIS TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE, WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING FOR THE PAPER COMMUNITY.

AND I'LL GO THROUGH THAT.

AND SOME THINGS THAT WILL FACILITATE FUTURE, UH, RESURFACING IN THAT AREA.

UM, WHAT WE CONSIDER THE PEMBROKE COMMUNITY, AT LEAST AS THE POLAR WORKS DIVISION IS FROM NEWSOME ON THE SOUTH ALL THE WAY UP TO HE TALKINGS TO THE NORTH BOUND IN MY COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TO THE EAST.

THERE'S POSSIBLY 45,000 LINEAR FEET OF ROAD WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, THE 2018 CURRENT, THE PAVING RATINGS FOR THAT COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IS A 94.

NOW, GRANTED, THAT WAS DONE IN 2018, THOSE RATINGS THAT WERE UTILIZED IN 2018 DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION RIDE QUALITY.

SO AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH NEW RATINGS, WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE RIDE QUALITY IN THAT, IN THAT GRADING SYSTEM.

SO THE CLOSER YOU GET TO A HUNDRED, THE BETTER OFF THE ROAD.

UM, THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD ONE, ONE BLOCK OF CHARLES STREET, WHICH WAS RATED AS THE 39.

THAT WAS THE SECTION

[00:55:01]

WE'RE ABLE TO IN THE, IN THE LAST YEAR TO REPLACE THE CULVERT, REPAVED, THAT BLOCK, WHICH WOULD TAKE, TAKE THAT RATING BACK UP TO THE NEW PAVEMENT CONDITION.

WHAT WE'RE PLANNING GOING FORWARD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THROUGH OUR MAINTENANCE AND OUR STREET DIVISION IS SOME WEEK CALLED NIPPING.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IN THE PEMBRO COMMUNITY ON A LOT OF THE ROADS IS ONCE WE PEEL THE GRASS BACK WHERE WE'RE EXPOSED TO ADDITIONAL 18 TO 24 INCHES OF ACTUAL ASPHALT.

SO THERE'S ACTUAL ASPHALT SHOULDER UNDERNEATH THE GRASS, WE'LL BE CONDUCTING A POTHOLE AND FAILING UTILITY CUP PATCHES AND INTERSECTION REPAIRS.

AND I'LL HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

ALL OF THIS WORK IS CURRENTLY MAINTENANCE WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE UNDER OUR CURRENT FISCAL BUDGET.

SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ADDITIONAL CAPITAL EXPENSE TO DO THESE MAINTENANCE THINGS.

THIS IS EMERSON STREET BETWEEN NEWBURN AVENUE AND AYCOCK AVENUE.

AND THIS IS A BEFORE PICTURE AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S, ONCE WE'VE NIPPED THE SHOULDERS OFF WHERE WE'VE PEELED THE GRASS BACK OFF OF THE ROAD, REWIND AND THE ROAD.

NOW, WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THAT ROAD IS A POTHOLE RIGHT IN THE CENTER.

WE'VE CURRENTLY, ALREADY REPAIRED THAT POTHOLE, BUT THAT IS SIMILAR TO SEVERAL PLACES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE DO HAVE.

THAT WAS AN OLD UTILITY CUT THAT THE PATCH HAD ACTUALLY LIFTED FROM THE SUFFERING, UM, JUST ST.

GEORGE MAURICE, ON THAT FOOT BACK, OBVIOUSLY TO THE LEFT, THAT'S WORSE STAINING.

ARE YOU ALSO WORKING? UM, THERE, THERE ARE SOME ANOMALY SITUATIONS THAT DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA AND THAT IN ITSELF, UM, IMPAIRS THE ROAD CONDITIONS.

SO ARE YOU ALSO INCORPORATING SOME CHINESE CONSIDERATIONS BECAUSE YOU, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE SHOULDERS THAT GET BUILT UP OVER TIME.

THIS IS COMMON THROUGHOUT CITY, THAT THE SHOULDERS WILL BUILD UP AND THEN IT'S NOT GONNA LET THE WATERFALL INTO THE DITCH.

IF THERE'S A DITCH AVAILABLE, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO FACILITATE TO MAKE SWALES TO GET THAT WATER TO THE DITCH.

CAUSE IT DOES, UH, DEGRADE THE PAVEMENT CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE NEW PAVEMENT AND THEN WE DON'T WANT SEPARATE WET ALL THE TIME.

UM, THIS IS A NEWBURN AVENUE WHERE WE DID ASSEMBLER A SHOULDER NIPPING AND YOU'LL SEE HOW MUCH ACTUAL PAVEMENT IS UNDER THE SHOULDER, WHERE THE GRASS IS NOW.

THIS IS, THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST INTERSECTIONS IN PEMBROKE.

AND WE'RE FULLY AWARE OF THIS ONE.

THIS IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF NEWBURN AVENUE AND COUNTRY CLUB ROAD.

THERE ARE SEVERAL UTILITY, BATCHES OR POT HOLES.

THE SUBGRADE IS FAILED.

UM, WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT FOR SHIPPING OUR NEW PAVING MACHINE IN TWO WEEKS AND 14 DAYS, WE ARE PLANNING TO, UH, REMOVE ALL THE ASPHALT FROM THIS INTERSECTION.

THEY REPAID THE INTERSECTION WITH STAFF IN PUBLIC WORK.

SO THAT THAT'S ONE WHERE PATCHES JUST NO LONGER WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO REPEAT, REDO THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION.

UM, THIS IS AN OLD UTILITY COLLECT THAT IS, UH, CONTINUED TO FAIL AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMERSON AND NEWBURN AVENUE.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL LIKENESS WHERE UTILITY CUTS SAY HAVE FAILED OVER THE YEARS THAT WE'LL NEED TO TAKE OUT ALL OF THE ASPHALT AND IMPROVE THE SUBGRADE AND THEN REPAID THE PATCH IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND THESE ARE UNFUNDED NUMBERS, JUST TO GIVE YOU IDEAS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REPAVE EVERYTHING IN THE PEMBROKE COMMUNITY, USING HER PRICES WITH AN INCH AND A HALF OVERLAY, AND ALSO USING THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO MILL THE SHOULDERS DOWN TO GET THE CROWN IN THE ROAD.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $1,350,000 WITH CURRENT PRICES.

AND THAT'S JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL SOME BUDGET NUMBERS.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE ALSO, I'M SPEAKING WITH ALL THE WOMAN HARRIS DISCUSSED INTERIOR SIDEWALKS.

SO WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OPTIONS AND WHAT SEEMED IN WITHIN OUR STAFF DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE MORE ACCOMMODATING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THIS WOULD BE TAKING FROM COUNTRY CLUB BALE MCKINLEY, COMING BACK, SOUTH BOUND, SYCAMORE, AND COMING BACK UP A COT BACK TO COUNTRY CLUB, RIGHT? SO YOU'D HAVE A, BASICALLY A CIRCLE IN THERE TO BRING YOU BACK OUT THE COUNTRY CLUB.

IF, IF THAT WAS SAY DESIRE, UM, IN DOING THAT, WHEN WE ESTIMATED THESE NUMBERS, THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT UTILITY RELOCATION.

WE'VE GOT SOME UTILITY POLES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

UH, WE MAY NEED TO DO SOME DITCH RELOCATION AND THERE IS SOME, THE BOUNDARIES OF IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ROADS ARE NOT ACTUALLY IN THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.

SO YOU'VE GOT SOME AREAS WHERE YOU GOT PROPERTY LINES THAT THEY COME UP TO THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT.

SO WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, SEE HOW WE'D HAVE TO SWAG THE SWIPE, THE SIDEWALKS THROUGH THEIR AREAS.

UM, WELL, WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO STRESS IN THIS IS THE REPAIRS THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR.

AND THIS IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WHAT, WHEN WE DO THESE REPAIRS, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING

[01:00:01]

AT DOING THE CUTTING THE SHOULDERS BACK, ALSO PATCHING DOING FULL FOLD-UP PATCHING, AND WE'LL HAVE A PAVING MACHINE.

THESE ARE ALL COSTS THAT WE WOULD INCUR WHEN THE ROADS ARE RESURFACED BY CONTRACTOR.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GIVING THE EXISTING ROADS A BETTER RIDE QUALITY WE'VE DONE WORK THAT WE'D BE CHARGED IN THE FUTURE BY A CONTRACTOR WHEN THEY RESURFACED IT, BECAUSE E-CIGARETTES WHEN YOU HAVE A POT HOLE, THAT'S IN THAT CONDITION, SIMILAR TO THE PICTURES, THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO CHARGE US TO DO SOME TYPE OF FOLD-UP PATCHING, WHICH WE WOULD REQUEST TO, TO MAKE THE RIGHT STABLE IN THE FUTURE.

SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES, WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I HOPE I ADDRESSED WHAT ALDERWOMAN HARRIS WAS LOOKING FOR IN SOME OF SOME OF OUR FEATURE TASKS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M SO EXCITED.

UM, IF YOU CAN SEND ME THAT IN, UM, LIKE A PDF SO I CAN FORWARD IT TO THE FIRM BROOK COMMUNITY.

UM, AND JUST SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE LAST TWO SLIDES IN REGARDS TO THE PAVING, ALL OF, UM, PERIN BROOK OR THE STREETS WAS JUST AN IDEA OR THOUGHT PROCESS.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT IT CAN DO LOOK TO GO FORWARD TO, OR WANT TO PETITION THE REST OF THE BOARD.

WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS WHAT CAN AND CANNOT ULTIMATELY BE DONE.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID.

I APPRECIATE IT.

DID I MISS THAT PETITION EARLIER? I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE ONE, BUT I'LL SPEAK FOR IT.

ANYTHING ELSE ON, LET HIM SETTLE IT? NO, SIR.

MA'AM

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens. (Part 2 of 2)]

AND IF YOU WOULD USE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MOLLY FERGUSON AND MY ADDRESS IS 2 0 5 LONGLEAF DRIVE, NEWBURGH CAROLINA.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON, IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

UM, I AM NOT FROM NEWBURN, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

UM, I'VE SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS FROM DOING THEATER DOWNTOWN TO, UM, VOLUNTEERING WITH RCS AND WORKING WITH MULTIPLE CHURCHES AND, UH, VOLUNTEERING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WORKING WITH A LOT OF YOUR CHILDREN.

UM, AND I'VE GROWN AN ABUNDANCE OF LOVE FOR THE, UM, BEING A FULLY INDEPENDENT 26 YEAR OLD ADULT.

UM, IT'S HARD.

UM, I WANT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PAY YOUR BILLS AND JUST KIND OF MAKE ENDS MEET AND SOMETHING THAT'S HELPED ME DO THAT IS CAKES.

UM, I DO CUSTOM CAKES AND HAVE FOR 10 YEARS, UM, MAYBE EVEN COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S HELPED ME WITH MY INCOME.

THE ONE THING WITH THAT WITH HAVING SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM MY COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD TO MEET THE DEMANDS BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY SMALL KITCHEN.

UM, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING AT THE FARMER'S MARKET, THERE ARE RULES THERE.

AND ONE OF THEM IS, IF YOU HAVE PETS, YOU CAN'T SELL THERE.

I DON'T HAVE PETS, BUT LIVING ALONE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME, SO THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE IF I HAD A KITCHEN WHERE I COULD GO TO, TO FILL AN ORDER FOR ALL FOUR TIER WEDDING CAKE IN SEVEN DOZEN SUGAR COOKIES AT A DROP OF A DIME HERE IN TOWN, THAT WOULD, GOSH, SAVE ME SO MUCH MONEY IN GIVING ME SO MUCH PEACE OF MIND.

YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THIS YOUNG LADY WAS SAYING BACK HERE, IT'S HARD TO FIND THOSE RESOURCES.

AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, YOU KNOW, UM, INEXPENSIVE, VERY EXPENSIVE.

I KNOW WE HAVE THE SUPPORT HERE, YOU KNOW, AND GREAT PRODUCTS HERE, BUT LIKE SHE SAID, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I LOVE NEWBURN.

I LOVE CONTRIBUTING HERE AND FEEDING AND GROWING HERE, BUT IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE HERE, IF THERE ARE NO RESOURCES, THEN WHAT CAN I DO? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I THINK IT WOULD TRULY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO JUST KIND OF COME TOGETHER AS A COALITION OF CHEFS AND BAKERS AND DO SOMETHING GREAT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND NOT JUST THAT I CAN SEE IT WITH CRAVEN TERRACE, BRINGING THOSE KIDS OUT AND COMING TOGETHER AS DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS AND TEACH THEM HOW TO COOK, YOU KNOW, TEACHING THEM DIFFERENT WAYS AND INSPIRING THEM TO DO SOMETHING BRIGHT WITH THEIR LIVES.

YOU KNOW, I TRULY BELIEVE IT WOULD JUST BE A GREAT THING FOR HERE.

YOUNG LADY.

WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? I'M SOME MARLEY FERGUSON MARLEY.

THE COST TO MOVE AND REHABILITATE THE STRUCTURE IS ESTIMATED AT $115,128.

MA'AM LIKE BOB MARLEY.

DID I MENTION ANY OTHER PETITIONS? OKAY.

IT LOOKS GOOD.

[8. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Donation of the Structure Located at 602 Gaston Boulevard to the Redevelopment Commission.]

REMEMBER EIGHT MAYOR.

NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THAT DONATION OF THE STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 6 0 2 GASTON BOULEVARD FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT IS FEBRUARY 10TH, 2021 MEETING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ENDORSED, EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF MOVING THE RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE TO NINE 11 UBANK STREET, WHICH IS A VACANT LOT OWNED BY THE COMMISSION.

[01:05:01]

THE COMMISSION HAS OVER 230, $2,000 AVAILABLE FOR REHABILITATION THROUGH THE APPROVED CDBG PLAN AS JUNE 9TH, 2021, MEETING THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY TO ACCEPT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE STRUCTURE WITH THE PURPOSE OF REHABBING AND INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.

AS DIRECTED IN A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN ON JUNE 22ND, THE CITY CLERK HAS PROPERLY NOTICED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

THE BOARDS INTEND TO CONVEY THE STRUCTURE.

A MEMO WAS ATTACHED TO IT FROM MR. RUGERI.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, MARIBEL, A MOTION.

WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DONATION OF STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 600 TO GASTON BOULEVARD TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

SECOND MOTION.

AND SECOND IS THERE DISCUSSION, ROLL CALL STARTED WITH ALDERMAN ADAMS. YES.

ALDERMAN BEST.

NOW YOU'RE THE NEXT ITEMS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO PREVENT A GRANT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM IN 2020, THE NEWBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAME THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LIAISON FOR REGION TWO AND PART THE LIAISON FORD AND ORGANIZES HIGHWAY SAFETY ACTIVITIES AND WORKS WITH PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE REGION TO COORDINATE SAFETY RELATED TRAFFIC EVENTS.

ALDERMAN KINSEY.

MAY OUR OUTLIERS OUT A WOMAN HARRIS.

[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Grant from the NC Governor' s Highway Safety Program.]

THIS POSITION ALSO HAS QUARTERLY MEETINGS FOR CLOSELY WITH THE HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHAT EQUIPMENT IS IS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO AGENCIES IN THE STATE AND ASSIST WITH EVENTS SUCH AS CONFERENCES, CAMPAIGN, KICKOFFS, AND STATE FAIR.

THIS POSITION COMES WITH A $25,000 GRANT, WHICH REQUIRES A NO MATCH.

THE GRANT WILL COVER ALL EXPENSES FOR TRAVEL TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT RELATED TO THE POSITION.

UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE CHIEF GALLAGHER HERE TO ANSWER THEM SPORT HAVE QUESTIONS.

YES, I DO.

UM, WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS ARE WE LOOKING TO BRING INTO THE APARTMENT AND HOW BENEFICIAL WOULD IT BE AREA? I'M SORRY, SIR.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE? WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS WILL THIS TYPE OF TRAINING AND LOOKING AT CRIME, THEN HOW WOULD THIS HELP TO DO REG THE OFFICERS TO, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS NEW BRAND? AND WITH THIS DISTRICT, IT WILL BE SPECIFIC ONLY TO TRACK RELATED INCIDENCES.

SO, UM, THE, THE BIGGEST IMPACT THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, WOULD BE IMPAIRED DRIVING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY IN TRAINING, UM, BUT TO PLACE OUR STAFF, UM, IN LOCATIONS TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PAIR, DRIVING SEATBELT VIOLATIONS AND OTHER TRAINING RELATED TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

SO WITH RESPECT TO CRIMINALITY, THIS GRANT WOULD NOT IMPACT THAT.

MAYOR OUTLAWISH ALDERMAN KINSEY.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS.

MAY I LIKE MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, APPROVING A GRANT FROM THE NC GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM, SATURDAY MOTION.

AND SECOND IS OUR DISCUSSION.

OTTOMAN ITEMS. YES.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE CHIEF, UM, AND HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. AND I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY, LIKE I SAID, I'M VERY TRANSPARENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND JUST THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND IS GOING TO BE A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

LET'S GO DOWN TO NUMBER 10.

[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Addition of Streetlights on Stimpson Street.]

STARTING WITH OUR ODOM? YES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF STREETLIGHTS MRS. SIMMONS AT THE 2306 STINSON STREET HAS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHTING.

THE AREA WAS EVALUATED AND DETERMINED TO NOT MEET THE CITY'S LIGHT STANDARD STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED TWO STREET LIGHTS BE INSTALLED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 1060 $3 80 CENTS.

THE MONTHLY UTILITY CHARGE WOULD BE PAID BY PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE $16 AND 88 CENTS.

WE'VE GOT A MEMO FROM CHARLIE BOUCHARD.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION, THE ADDITION OF STREET LIGHTS ON SIMPSON DENISON, VINCENT STREET MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF US HAVE A ROLL CALL

[01:10:01]

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving an Agreement with NC Railroad Company to Extend the License Agreement for the Union Station Train Depot.]

NUMBER 11.

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF PROVEN AND AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD TO EXTEND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THE UNION STATION, TRAIN DEPOT, THE CITY PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE RAILROAD FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATING, THE DEPOT, THAT AGREEMENT EXPIRED ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.

AND IT'S PROPOSED.

THE AGREEMENT IS TO EXTEND UNTIL DECEMBER 30.

FIRST OF THIS YEAR, THE NUBER PRESERVATION FOUNDATION HAS MADE PROGRESS IN THE PRESERVATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE EXTENSION WILL ALLOW MORE TIME TO PURSUE THOSE EFFORTS.

YEAH, LIZ SHE'S OVER LIKE COMMENT, UH, REVEREND APPRECIATE YOURSELF, UH, THING GOING TO RALEIGH, UH, AND PARTICULARLY ON THE MALES, LEADERSHIP AND KNOWLEDGE BASE OF QUITE A FEW DYNAMIC ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH RAILROAD HERE, NEWBURN.

AND, UM, I THINK WE HAD A VERY, UM, BENEFICIAL MEETING.

AND SO, UH, AGAIN FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE RENTAL RAILROADS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE'S JUST THE YOU'D HAVE TO BE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION, UH, WANT THANK THE STAFF AND ALL MY BINGO, PARTICULARLY FOR A LEADERSHIP ROLE SHE'S TAKEN IN THIS CLEAN CASE.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THIS, UM, SCOTT, UM, ON THIS LEASE, UM, WHY IS IT ONLY ONE YEAR? IS IT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO REVISE IT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? IS THAT THE REASON IT'S ONLY ONE YEAR IF I WAS TO US? OKAY.

I CAN DEAL WITH THEM FOR EXTENSIONS AS WE GO FORWARD.

RIGHT.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THE ISSUE HAS BEEN IS THAT, UM, THE RAILROAD OWNS THE DEPOT.

THEY OWN THE BUILDING, THEY OWN THE LAND AND HAD LEASED IT TO US WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WOULD ONLY LEASE IT TO THE CITY.

AND THEN THE CITY IN TURN, SUBLET IT TO PRESERVATION WHO RAISED ALL THE MONEY, GOT THE GRANTS, DID THAT TO RESTORE THE BUILDING FOR USE.

BUT THE LITTLE CATCH WAS THAT THE TOTAL BUILDING HAD TO BE DONE TOTALLY BEFORE THEY COULD LEASE OUT ANY OF THE SPACE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED THE BOTTOM, A PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FOUR, IF THEY COULD RENT THAT OUT AND HAVE THAT BE USED, THEY COULD GET MORE INCOME IN TO USE, TO CONTINUE TO, TO REHABILITATE THE BUILDING.

THE LEAST DOES NOT CALL FOR THAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN DOING THIS, I BELIEVE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK OR ON THE FIRST ONE WE WENT UP THERE IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE WORKING TOWARDS EITHER THAN GIVING US THE DEPO AND WE WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT OR SOME OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW PRESERVATION TO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK AND REHABILITATING THIS BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, SO AT THIS POINT WE'VE GOT A ONE YEAR LEASE, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE STAY ON THE TREADMILL TO GET IT DONE.

AND THE, THE GOAL WAS ACTUALLY TO, THIS IS A SIX, SIX MONTH EXTENSION.

AND THE GOAL, THE GOAL WAS TO COME TOWARD A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION WITHIN THAT TAB THAT, OKAY.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M SEEING NUMBERS HERE, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION, APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY TO EXTEND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THE UNION STATION, TRAIN DEPOT MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF US HAVE A ROM-COM STARTED WITH ALMA MINGLE.

[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Approve an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Property with the NC Railroad Company.]

ON.

THANKS ENOUGH.

TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD.

THIS ITEM AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD FOR THE PARTIAL LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH FRONT AND HANCOCK STREETS.

THE PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS TAX PARCEL ID EIGHT DASH 0 0 1 DASH C DASH 0 71.

AND THE PURCHASE PRICE IS $227,000.

MOTION CARRIES APPOINTMENTS

MAY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RAISE.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD.

SO MOTION AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING THOSE HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING TO FOLLOW THE NOVUM OKAY.

[01:15:01]

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Designating Deputy Finance Officers.]

13.

START WITH ALDERMAN ODOM APPOINTMENTS.

I'LL GET THE, OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, CONSIDER ABANDONING A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICERS.

I'M 13.

SORRY.

I HAD TO GO.

SO MAYOR NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 1 59 DASH 28 REQUIRES THAT ALL OBLIGATIONS BE PRE-AUDIT PIT TO ENSURE THERE IS EFFICIENT BUDGET TO PAY THE SUMS OBLIGATED.

THE PRE-AUDIT IS PERFORMED BY THE FINANCE OFFICER OR A DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD.

ANY CONTRACT AGREEMENT OR PURCHASE ORDER THAT IS NOT FREE.

AUDITED IS INVALID AND MAY NOT BE IN FORTH OR IN MERLOT CAN.

OUR PREVIOUS ACCOUNTING MANAGER HAS RETIRED.

UH, AND SO, UM, OUR GOAL WAS TO MAKE OUR CURRENT ACCOUNTING MANAGER, KIM OLSTRUM AND THE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, TONYA HARMS IS FINE.

DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICERS ALSO HAVE NOTED.

SONIA HAYES, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES WAS NAMED AS THE DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICER AT 2014 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRE AUDITING SALARY CHANGES.

AND YOU HIRE SALARY AND WAGE ARRANGEMENTS.

MS. HAZEL REMAINED AS A DIGIT MEETING FOR THAT PURPOSE.

I CAN MAKE A MOTION.

WE HAD DOUBLE THE RESOLUTION DESIGNATED DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICERS MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTED WITH ALL OF THEM.

MAYER, OUTLAW OUTER ORDERING KANZI OUTER MENDEZ ALDERMAN ITEMS. YES.

[14. Appointment(s).]

ON ODOR.

UM, YES SIR.

MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, UM, TO THE HPC OF MR. JOHN BLACKWELDER WHO'S THE OWNER OF THE AIRBNB, UH, REVIEWED HIS RESUME.

HE'S GOT, UM, A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, UH, BOTH PRIVATE SECTOR AND ALSO SERVING ON BOARDS SUCH AS HPC AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR THE MOTION.

SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED SAYING YOU HAVE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS.

I'LL REMEMBER THIS KINSEY NONE TONIGHT, SIR.

OLDER WOMAN HERE.

YES, MAYOR.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO A POINT.

I, THEY HAD DANIELS TO THE NEW BERN POLICE, CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

UM, HE IS, UH, A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN, A COMMUNITY LEADER.

UM, HE HAS, UM, A BACKGROUND WITH SCHOOL AND, UM, I THINK HE WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE BOARD.

SO I'M EXCITED TO BE, TO MAKE A MOTION.

SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR MOTION, SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS.

UM, AT THIS TIME I'LL LET YOU DO SOME NOTABLE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE AUDIENCE OR WE JUST GET TO, WELL, WE SHOULD ALWAYS WELCOME WHEN WE HAVE A VISITING COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER B STUFF.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY WITH US.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

AND I SEE IN THE BACK, UH, TIFFANY ASK YOU WHO WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE STILL HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR VISITING US AGAIN TONIGHT.

SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT ONE THING MAYOR WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT CITY EMPLOYEE, ERIC GLENN PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

AT THIS TIME ATTORNEY'S REPORT

[15. Attorney' s Report.]

ON THEIR CITY.

MANAGER'S REPORT

[16. City Manager's Report.]

ERIC WAS AN INVENTORY CONTROL CLERK.

HE WORKED FOR US FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.

UM, UH, HIS FUNERAL WILL BE THIS WEEKEND AND KENT JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW.

SKIP TO NEW BUSINESS? UM, YES SIR.

ANYTHING ELSE

[17. New Business.]

TWO THINGS.

UM, THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE PUT OUT BY MVPD REGARDING GOLF CARTS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ILLEGAL ON CITY STREETS.

ALDERMAN ASKED HER AND I, UM, COVER THE ONLY GOLFING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF MUNICIPAL LIMITS.

UH, ATTORNEY DAVIS HAS TOLD US THAT HE CAN DRAFT, UM, AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HELP ALLOW GOLF CARS TO BE USED WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

UH, SO ALDERMAN ASKED HER WHO OBVIOUSLY IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, ASKED ME IF I WOULD BRING THIS BEFORE THE BOARD.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA TO GET THAT CLARIFICATION IN FRONT OF THE BOARD SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT GOLF COURTS CAN LEGALLY BE DRIVEN WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES ON THE STREETS.

SWEEP OR CAMPAIGN ABOUT STREETLIGHTS THAT ARE OUT.

UM, THE SECOND ITEM I HAVE, UM, I WAS GOING TO MENTION IT WHEN WE DID ITEM NUMBER 10, BUT I FIGURED I WOULD JUST WAIT UNTIL A NEW BUSINESS.

I'M WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OR THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE COULD DO A CITY-WIDE

[01:20:01]

UM, I'VE GOT ABOUT SEVEN, A LIST OF SEVEN.

IT'S A MIXTURE OF DUKE AND CITY OF UBER.

AND SO IT'S NOT ALL OURS.

UM, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO? UM, OFTENTIMES OBVIOUSLY IT'S THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

YOU HAVE TO BE OUT LATER WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON TO SEE THAT THEY'RE NOT.

UM, I KNOW MCKINSEY HAS MENTIONED THE PAST ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY TWO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT AND ABOUT WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S NIGHTTIME.

BUT, UM, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE CHARLIE OR HIS DEPARTMENT OR SOMEBODY COULD SUGGEST BECAUSE WE SIT HERE AND WE HAVE THESE EVALUATIONS AND WE SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A, WE'RE NOT MEETING THE CITY STANDARD FOR STREET LIGHTS.

SO WE MAKE THE INVESTMENT SORT OF LIKE WE DO WITH SIDEWALKS AND THEN WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

SO I WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WANT TO OBVIOUSLY MAKE A DECISION AT NIGHT, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT BUG IN EVERYONE'S EAR.

MAYBE THE NEXT MEETING WE HAVE SOME, I CAN COME WITH A GENIUS IDEA ON HOW WE CAN TRY AND GET THESE THINGS.

THE LAST TIME HE ASKED CHARLIE SAID THAT BASICALLY IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO COME TO US AND TELL US, UM, THEN TO, YOU KNOW, DO IT.

I'M IN THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ALREADY INSTALLED.

GOTCHA.

IS THERE A PLACE ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO THE WEBSITE AND REPORT SOMETHING THAT'S BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASY AS WELL, BECAUSE WE COULD PUT A CALL OUT TO CITIZENS TO AT LEAST HELP US TO IDENTIFY OUTAGES AND AREAS.

IF IT WAS EASY, THERE IS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT AND THE CITIZENS DID HE USE THAT, THAT SERVICE FOR NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OTHER REQUESTS AS WELL.

AND WE CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE PROPOSE.

WE'LL WORK WITH STAFF ON THAT.

THEY WERE WORKING ON GRANTS TO TRY TO UPFIT THAT KITCHEN.

THAT'S ALL MAYOR.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE 460 EMPLOYEES AND SEVEN OFFICIALS.

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AS MANY OF THEM WERE OUT AS THEY'RE OUT, BUT I'M AT A ONE, ONE NIGHT THAT I WALKED AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE YOUR PHONE AND ON EVERY TELEPHONE POLE IS A DEPRECATION, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT, EMAIL IT TO ANYBODY UP HERE OR TO STAFF OR TO OUR WEBSITE AND IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

BUT I DID THINK WE COULD DO MORE OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS THAT HAVE ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT SEES A STRAIGHT LINE REPORTING BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, ABOUT THE CITY OF CALGARY TOGETHER AND A MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MORE WORK OPPORTUNITIES, MORE SAFETY OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT.

OH, AND BEST I DO.

I HAVE TWO THINGS MIRROR.

UM, AND ONE IS, AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL SEEN IT ON THE NEWS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT TO OUR CITIZENS.

PLEASE LET'S TALK TO OUR CHILDREN IS HOTMAIL.

AND I KNOW A LOT THEM WANTS TO GO JUMP INTO SOME WATER, BUT PLEASE TALK TO THEM AND TELL THEM DON'T BE JUMPING INTO OUR LAKES AND RIVERS AROUND HERE BECAUSE OF THE ALLIGATORS, UM, IS HOT.

AND I KNOW I HAVE SEEN CHILDREN IN THE PAST JUMP INTO TO THE CREEKS INTO THE, INTO SOME OF OUR CREEKS AROUND HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE, UM, TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BABIES.

UM, ALSO, UM, I WANT TO BRING BACK TO THIS BOARD A DISCUSSION BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, APRIL 13, OUR BOARD OF ALL OF THE MEETING.

AND WE HAD OUR VERY OWN DOCTOR ON STATS FROM CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD AND MADE A PRESENTATION TO US IN REFERENCE TO, UM, THE COMMENTS, THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND ALSO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THIS COLLEGE TO TAKE COMPLETE POSSESSION OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS.

SO NOW THAT LEASE HAS NOT COME BACK BEFORE THIS BOARD YET.

SO I JUST WANT US TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

WE HAD TWO YOUNG LADIES HERE TONIGHT.

IT SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE DIRE NEED OF A COMMISSARY KITCHEN.

AND I TOO FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, I WAS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT IT.

AND SO WAS ALDERMAN HARRIS AND MCKINSEY IS WELL ABOUT HAVING THAT FACILITY THERE, WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES FOR OUR CITIZENS.

NOW AT THAT MEETING, I ALSO MADE A STATEMENT THAT I KNOW THAT AMANDA AND HER STAFF AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WAS WORKING ON TRYING TO LAND SOME GRANTS.

AND, UM, ALONG WITH OUR CITY GRANT WRITER, MS. MARGARET SHIELDS,

[01:25:02]

AND, AND THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE.

IT'S IT'S, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT PROJECT JUST BE THROWN AWAY BECAUSE WE, AS A CITY, WE WORK FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND IF WE CAN HAVE SO RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH BRANDS AND A PARTNERSHIP, MARGARET, SHE HAS PROVIDED TO ME A LIST OF THE POTENTIAL GRANT AND A, A PARTNERSHIP WITH CAROLINA EAST.

NOW, I THINK THAT RIGHT THERE WITH CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE CITY AND CAROLINA EAS I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR US TO OBTAIN AN UPFIT, BUT KIDS, UM, I HAVE A LIST HERE OF THE POTENTIAL GRANTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PASS OUT TO EACH ONE OF YOU.

AND PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THIS.

YOU CAN PASS THOSE DOWN.

WE'LL APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

MISS SHU WAS HERE.

SO WE HAVE HER COMO WELL, IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO, SHE CAN, BUT I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW MORE THINGS, AND THEN I'LL LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO CHIME IN, AND I WANT TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IF WE CAN POTENTIALLY GET THESE GRANTS, HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH CAROLINA EAST, I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE, WE CAN GET THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO UPFIT THAT KITCHEN, WHICH IT WILL PROVIDE.

AND WITH THE CRA WITH THE COLLEGE BUSINESS CENTER DID SMALL BUSINESS CENTER THERE, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE EDUCATION, THE SKILLS THAT'S NEEDED.

AND THEN ALSO WE ALL KNOW THAT WITH CAROLINA EASE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, WITH THIS, WITH THE CAFETERIAS, FOOD PREPS, UM, UM, AREA THERE, THERE LION COATS.

THIS PROJECT AT THE VOTE CENTER MANAGED BY THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

WE'LL GIVE OUR CITIZENS A START, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS.

THEY CAN COME THERE, THEY CAN PREP THEIR FOOD, THEY CAN MAKE THEIR FOOD, THEY CAN SELL THEIR FOOD RIGHT THERE ON CAMPUS.

AND THE REASON WHY I WANT THE CITY TO UPFIT, IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW DR.

STATS SPECIFICALLY TOLD US THAT GRAYBAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS NOT IN THE BUSINESS FOR PROFIT.

BUT IF WE, AS A CITY OF FIT THIS BUILDING, PROVIDE THOSE PROGRAMS, PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO OUR CITIZENS.

SO IF ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

YOU THOUGHT SHOULD CONCERNS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT.

UM, AND I ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION, BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM THE INFORMATION, UM, THAT MONTERREY AND AMANDA HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR WITH F THE HOSPITAL.

SO THIS PARTNERSHIP CAN BE A VERY VITAL TOOL FOR US TO AID ON TO THE COLLEGE AND THE CITY.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY RIGHT NOW.

I WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO CHIME IN AND RAISE YOUR CONCERNS.

AND WHERE DO YOU FEEL THAT IF THIS IS NOT A PROJECT THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN HELP AID OUR CITIZENS, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO UPDATE YOUR LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS, UM, I'VE BEEN AT, FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T ALWAYS GET THE, UM, INVITES TO TELL ME WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE, BUT THEY PROBABLY STOPPED DURING COVID CORRECT.

SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE BEFORE COVID SO ANYWAY OR ARRIVED WHEN PART OF THAT STAKEHOLDERS GROUP AND MY MAIN NOT INCLUDED ON THE LIST.

UM, BUT I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS AND, UH, MY NAME SHOULD BE IN THAT LIST.

UM, I FEEL THE SAME WAY YOUR NAME SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST.

, UM, I DID PREPARE IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M QUITE SURE THAT IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, BUT I'M SURE.

WELL, I'LL, I'LL HAPPEN THERE.

UM, OBVIOUSLY AT THAT MEETING, I WAS, I'M A BIG PROPONENT AND SUPPORTER OF THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

UM, I THINK IT WAS AN AMAZING, AND ACTUALLY AN ON-TIME STATEMENT FOR, UH, JUSTICE MORGAN TO COME HERE AND SPEAK ON, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR AND THEN ALSO, UM, MISS BINGO WHEN SHE SPOKE ABOUT HER, MOTHER-IN-LAW BEING THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR AND THEN, UM, BARBARA LEE AND, UM, MS. ORANGE, HER, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE A CITY THAT HAS A FOUNDATION OF FIRST.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT

[01:30:01]

THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THESE THINGS FIRST.

AND AS WE HAD THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME HERE AND SPOKE ABOUT IT, BREAKS MY HEART AS IT DID ON APRIL 13TH, THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS IN SMALL BUSINESS THAT DEAL WITH, UM, NEEDING TO BE ABLE TO USE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

UM, I LOVE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH, UH, DR.

STACKS.

UM, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT, WHICH THAT PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE WITH THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS AN AMAZING HOSPITAL THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY.

AND, UM, WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO CREATE, UM, INCOME FOR THE CITY ON THAT CREATE JOBS AND ALSO ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN AND STABLE THEIR BUSINESSES.

UM, SO I DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS LOOK AT THIS INFORMATION BRIEFLY OR NOW, BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND REALLY LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, THE CITY UPFITTING THIS KITCHEN AND LETTING US GO AHEAD AND LETTING OUR STAFF THAT WE HIRE, THAT WE INTEREST WITH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT SO THAT IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE THE LEAST THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE THAT IS NOT HERE CURRENTLY, TECHNICALLY IS NOT A WIN FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE LEAVING OUT SMALL ENTREPRENEURS THAT NEED COMMERCIALIZED KITCHENS.

UM, YOU, YOU WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE TO SAY NO TO YOU.

IF YOU LIVED HERE, YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

WE DON'T WANT OUR INDIVIDUALS TO LEAVE.

SO I'M JUST ASKING, UM, ALONG WITH, UM, MY COUNTERPART MIS, UM, OTHER MEN, UH, BEST IN REGARDS TO, WE KNOW, SUPPORTING A MOTION THAT WE GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ALLOWING THE, UM, THE CITY STAFF, JEFF AND AMANDA, UM, AND, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SO THAT WE CAN UPDATE IT AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR CITIZENS.

AND MOST DON'T LEAVE OUT OUR GRANT WRITER, OH, MISS BARBARA SHOW HER, YOU KNOW, SCOUTING OUT THERE TRYING TO FIND THESE, GET THESE GRANTS.

IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS HERE IN THIS CITY THAT WOULD, YOU LOVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

WE'LL LOVE TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT, BUT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, AND IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT WE CAN UPFIT THIS BUILDING THROUGH GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDE THAT SPACE FOR, THEY CAN START UP THEIR BUSINESS.

I THINK IT'S, UH, IT, IT'S JUST, UH, A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A BOARD TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.

AND IT'S ENOUGH SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO COME IN.

AND BE ABLE TO DO THOSE CLASSES.

SO IT DOES BECOME A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

SO, AND IF THE COLLEGE WANTS TO COME THERE AND I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO JEFF OR AMANDA ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THAT.

END OF IT.

IF THEY WANT TO UTILIZE THAT AND BUILT THAT KITCHEN TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK, OR HOWEVER, THE SCHEDULE OR WHATEVER WE WORKED OUT WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

WE'RE IN TO WIN IT.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE OUR SLOGAN IS EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER HERE.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

AND AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOUT OUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU SAID, ON, IN BINGO, YOU HAD ALISON DUNN AND SHOUT JIM'S SHOWER.

WE HAVE BECKY WRITERS, ANTHONY HARRISON, UM, MS. LEBAY SINGLETON, UH, SWEET POTATOES FARM TALENA MASSEY SCOTT MURPHY, BERNARD GEORGE, UM, MR. AIPAC, CHAD DAVIS, CORY PARTY, UM, ROBERT JOHNSON SHOW SHEILA HENDERSON REED SHOW WHO WAS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERSHIP BECAUSE THEY ALREADY ENGAGED PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND YOU HAVE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROMISE PLACE, MERCY CLINIC CAROLINA, EAST ONE OF OUR OWN SITS ON THE BOARD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, NEWBURGH AREA, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND THEN YOU HAD CRAVEN COUNTY AG EXTENSION.

SO THESE ARE JUST ALL OF THE GREAT, AMAZING STAKEHOLDERS.

LET THE CITY BE A PART OF THAT.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE GRANTS.

LET'S GET THESE GRANTS.

LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THAT'S HOW I FEEL OLDER KIDS WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, UM, WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO NOW WITH THIS SITUATION HERE, SINCE TO COLLEGE SAY THEY WAS GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE, UH, UH, CONTACTED US SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SPOKEN.

SO WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THE BALL ROLLING? CAN I INTERRUPT YOU BEFORE YOU GO THERE? GO AHEAD.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING ONE OF THE PETITIONS TONIGHT ABOUT THE COMMISSARY BEING A REQUIREMENT WHO REQUIRES A FOOD TRUCK TO HAVE A COMMISSARY AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE CRAVEN FUNCTION.

[01:35:06]

IT'S THE COUNTY.

SO IT'S THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT REQUIRES IT.

IT'S NOT A CIVIC.

OF LETTING THESE GRANTS GO THROUGH.

WELL, IT'S THE SAME GUIDELINE, BUT IT'S ALSO A GUIDELINE FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO GET TO, UM, WE HAVE TO GET TWO INSPECTIONS.

ONE IS THE, UM, INITIAL, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS A 30 DAY FOLLOW UP.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AT THE COMMISSARY TO GET THAT 30 DAYS.

BUT WHEN YOU START, YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT YOUR COMMISSARY.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, THEY WON'T EVEN LET YOU SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK.

HAS ANY OF THIS REQUESTS BEEN PUT BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT? IT CAN BE BECAUSE HERE'S WHY I'M SAYING THAT YOU GOT OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN IN CRAIG COUNTY THAT NEED, NEED A KITCHEN.

I KNOW A LADY IN CAR WRECK, SHE CAME AND SHE WORKS AT CAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SHE CAN'T EVEN USE THEIR HOSPITALITY KITCHEN.

AND THIS LADY HAS AMAZING, AMAZING TALENT WITH FOOD AS A WHOLE BUSINESS.

SHE NEEDS A KITCHEN AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHO ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN BOUNDARIES TO GET IT.

IF YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE GUIDELINES ARE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE, THE COUNTY HAS GUIDELINE.

THE STATE HAS ONE.

MY, UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE ANYBODY SOLD THAT IT HAS TO BE IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION? JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR SPACE SAMENESS FOR SPACE WISE, IT'S, THAT'S A SAFE PLACE.

HERE'S WHY YOUR STORAGE SPACE, YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.

YOU NEED A DRY SPACE AND A COLD SPACE, UM, RESTAURANT KITCHENS.

UM, IF THEY MODIFY IT FOR US, THEY HAVE TO BUILD SHELL SHELVES THAT, UM, HAVE A DRY SPACE FOR US.

AND YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF BREAD AND THEN A COLD SPACE.

IF THEY HAVE LIKE THREE OR FOUR FREEZERS, THEY HAVE TO PUT SPACES FOR JUST OUR PRODUCT.

SO A SMALL KITCHEN WOULDN'T SUFFICE.

WE'VE BEEN IN BATTLE WITH THE STATE AND A COUNTY INSPECTOR.

WHEN IT CAME TO A PERSON WE CHOSE AT THE FIRST BEGINNING WHO COULDN'T MODIFY IT BECAUSE IT WAS SMALL.

A BIG SPACE ALLOWS MORE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME IN.

THEY CAN SECTION OFF THEIR SPACES.

THEY CAN HAVE LOCK BOXES FOR THIS STUFF, BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE A BIG, BIG PART OF THE, ON THE BINGO AND ARMIN, KINSEY, AND MAYOR OUTLAW HAVE TO SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE IT STARTED BEFORE THE REST OF US WERE ON BOARD, BUT THE DEPO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PROJECT TO BRING ACTIVITY TO THAT PART OF TOWN.

THEY HAVE STRUGGLED TRYING TO FIND TENANTS, TRYING TO FIND FUNDING TO GET THE DEPOT FINISHED.

IS THERE A WIN-WIN HERE THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE SAME GROUPS TO GET THE DEPO FITTED AND HAVE A KITCHEN IN THE DEPOT AND BRING THE OTHER PLAYER IN, WHICH WOULD BE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T COME IN, BUT THE HIP, UH, IS SHE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH HIM FOR APPROVAL? YES.

SO WE COULD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE DID NOT NEED TO STAY FOR OUR INSPECTION.

WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO WE HAD TO SUBMIT PAPERWORK.

WE HAD TO SUBMIT SCHEMATICS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ONLY THE ONLY THING WE DID WITH THE STATE WAS GET OUR ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION, OUR LLCS AND STUFF.

THAT'S IT.

SO, SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MEET WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COME TOGETHER, SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FROM THERE RESPECTFULLY.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN REGARDS TO DOING THAT IN THE CITY.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY AND WE ALSO ARE REPRESENTED BY A COUNTY, THIS IS A DECISION THAT WEEK TO ME, DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD BE PUSHING OFF.

WE SHOULD, AS A CITY, LIKE WE STATED IN THE LAST MEETING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THIS SERVICE BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE, WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKS AND CARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHERE THE YOUNG LADY, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE OUR KITCHENS.

AND WHEN WE GET YOU TRYING TO MAKE A WIN-WIN AND MOVING IT, IT'S NOT WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT.

THE VOTE CENTER, THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM THERE FOR THE COLLEGE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND DO THEIR CLASSES.

AND THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH, YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH REGARDLESS WHERE IT IS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP OR NOT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS OUR PAYING CITIZENS.

WHETHER YOUR COUNTY OR CITY HAVE A RIGHT FOR THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO GO TO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THEM.

AND THERE IS A CRY ONLY TO KING, BUT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE WE'VE SEEN IT DURING JUNE TEAM WHERE WE HAD INDIVIDUALS THAT NEEDED VENDOR LOCATIONS, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMUNITY KITCHEN FOR THEM TO PREP.

THAT WAS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.

SO THEREFORE WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THESE THINGS.

IF ONE SUPPORT OF COMING TOGETHER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL WE NEED TO GO AHEAD TONIGHT AND MAKE THAT MOTION THAT WE ALLOW OUR STAFF WITH THE ORIGINAL PROCESS

[01:40:01]

THEY'RE SITTING THERE WAITING FOR US TO TAKE THEM UPFITTED AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE, RIGHT.

YOUR PLAN IS SPELLED TAKEN, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH, I WILL SAY THAT YOU CANNOT GO AROUND THAT.

AND HERE'S WHY BETWEEN FOOD, TRUCK AND FOOD CART, A FOOD TRUCK USES, UM, AN EXTRA SET OF GAS TANKS TO REGULATE THEIR PURPOSE, THEIR BURNERS, THE WOMAN WHO I SPOKE WITH WITH THE COUNTY SAID, WE WOULD ONLY USE THE STATE JUST FOR YOUR GAS, UM, EXPO, UM, FOR IF THERE'S A GAS LEAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE TO CHECK BACK, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A FULL PASS ON YOUR INSPECTION.

YOU STILL NEED THE COUNTY OUT.

EVER.

THE COUNTY IS SOMETHING WHERE EVEN IF YOU USE THE CITY, IF YOU THE CITY KITCHEN UP, THEY GOT TO COME IN AND SEE IT.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT KITCHEN AND WE PUT THAT ON OUR PAPERWORK AS A COMMISSARY AGREEMENT, ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THEM TO JUST TO COME OUT AND SAY, WELL, LET'S LOOK AT IT.

AND THEY GO THROUGH ALL THE PAPERWORK, BUT TO GET AROUND THEM.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE ASKING ME TO GET AROUND THAT.

AND MY ANSWER TO THAT PROPERLY FOR YOU TO GET AROUND THEM OUT.

YOU CAN'T GET AROUND THEM.

THEY HAVE TO INSPECT IT, RIGHT? SO YOU BRING THEM AND MAKE THEM A PART OF THIS.

UM, WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE THEM OUT? LET ME, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION.

I WISH AMANDA WAS HERE TO JUDGE.

DO YOU HAVE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YOU CAN SHINE ON THIS SUBJECT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT'S REQUIRED AND ALL OF THESE, OR CAUSE, UM, WE SEE, WE JUST WANT TO EXPLORE MORE, UM, THE, THE PORTAL THAT ALLOWED THE LANDED LADY TO SPEAK NOW, UM, WE'RE IN THE NEW BUSINESSES IS TYPICALLY WHERE ALL OF THEM LIKE OFFICIALS, AND THIS IS GREAT, WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

UH, IF IT'S, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE, BUT THIS BE OPEN TO A FORM DISCUSSION, THAT'S FINE.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT, UH, I APPRECIATE THIS BEING ROLLED OUT.

UH, I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF, OF OUR CITY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU BEFORE WE BELABOR THIS FOR THE NEXT HOUR, THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THREE ON A VOLUNTEER AND FORM AN AD HOC AND INMATE AND WORK OUT YOUR DISAGREEMENTS.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT HAD THE MEAT, THE, THE MOST CONCERN, AND MAYBE AROUND AND TOGETHER ON IT, MEAT, THEN GET INFORMATION FROM HEALTH PHARMA.

WE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT THAT, GET INFORMATION ABOUT IF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT AND PARTNER WITH THIS AND WHO IS GOING TO MANAGE THIS AND WHO IS GOING TO ALLOW WHAT VENDOR TO COME IN AT WHAT TIME OF THE DAY AND USE A OR B SIDE FOR STORAGE OR FOR PREPARATION AND WHAT TIME WE'RE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE OF THAT, THE NEXT VENDOR CAN COME IN.

AND IS THAT GOING TO BE ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW CITY TRUCKS ONLY? ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW SOMEBODY TO CATCH THEM TO COME OVER AND USE THIS PLACE FOR FOOD PREPARATION? OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A DESERT IN NEWBURGH.

THERE'S A NEED FOR NOURISHMENT.

I AGREE THAT AT SOME POINT, THIS CITY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF SIMON OF THE ELEMENT ON THIS BOARD, IN THIS AREA.

BUT TO SIT HERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, WHEN THERE'S QUANTITY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED WHERE'S THE LOCATION.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THIS AMOUNT OF PREPARATION OF THIS ITEM, WHERE ARE THE VENDORS ONCE THESE 15 VENDORS COMPANY, AND, UH, WE'RE ALLOWING THEM CITY AND NAZI FOLKS TO DO THIS, WHERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GOING TO SELL? THEIR WAIVERS ARE ALREADY GOING TO DO IT.

LAWSON CREEK.

ARE WE GOING TO USE AS AN AD HOC RESEARCH DONE, THEN THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ANY WORKSHOP WHERE WE CAN HAVE PROPER INTERACTION BETWEEN THIS BOARD AND CONCERNED CITIZENS AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, BUT THAT'S MY 2 CENTS WORTH.

NOW THE QUESTION, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED IS, IS A BOARD READY TO MAKE A MOTION.

SECOND TO ALLOW OTHER OTHER CITIZENS I HEARD TO SPEAK.

I, BEFORE WE DO THAT, I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO COME UP HERE AND CLARIFY IN THE MOVIE.

WORKSHOP OF CITIZENS AT THIS TIME WAS I HAD THAT MOTION, MOTION AND A THAT TO ALLOW INPUT FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THE SIREN IS A DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MAKE A, MY DISCUSSION IS I WOULD PREFER A WORK SHIFT WORK SESSION WITH, TO COME PREPARED WITH QUESTIONS AND MORE INFORMATION, AND THEN LET AS MANY PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOTIFIED.

THE GENTLEMAN HERE, UM, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ASKED HER, UH, ANSWERS FASTER TO ALLOW OPEN DISCUSSION

[01:45:01]

THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC.

IF THERE'S 50 FOOD VENDORS, THEN THE 50 SHOULD SHOW UP.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A WORK SESSION AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WORK SESSION THAT WE CAN GET ALL THE INFO NEVER AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY ON APRIL 13TH, WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO US AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.

AND YOU HAD DR.

STACKS COME IN HERE AND DO A PROPOSAL.

WHY IS IT WHEN IT'S THE NECESSITY FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY? WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO RESEARCH.

WE HAVE VOICE, WE HAVE A DIRECTOR THAT I WOULD PREFER TO WORK SESSION IF THAT'S NOT THE ROLE OF THE BOARD, RIGHT? I DON'T AGREE.

WORK SESSION.

WE HAVE A WHOLE DIRECTOR AT THIS TIME.

THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND, AND I THINK THAT THE, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

SO I'M GOING TO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY, AYE, I'LL POSE THE SAME.

GREGORY HUTCHINSON, FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

SO AT THIS TIME THE MAJORITY WAS TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT.

SO SIR, IF YOU WOULD SORT OF GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

UH, MY NAME IS DR.

UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH JEFF AND, UH, SOME OTHER AVENUES, UH, WE'VE ALREADY TOOK DOWN A BUILDING.

AND, UH, WHAT DO WE, WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD AN INCUBATOR PROCESS FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO, SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON THAT CORNER IS BUILD OFFICE SPACE TO BUILD A STOREFRONT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET GRANT MONEY, TO MAKE A RENT WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD AND TO START THEIR BUSINESSES.

SO, AND WE'RE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING GRANTS AND PUTTING OUR OWN RESOURCES TOGETHER TO PUT THAT INCUBATOR IN MOTION RIGHT BEFORE I MAKE A COMMENT, I NEED TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY IN QUESTION THAT THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS DONE ON APRIL 13TH DOLLARS HERE, WHEN IT WAS DONE, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE PRESIDENT OR THE COMMUNITY COUNTER SAID THAT ONCE THE CITY GAVE HIM THE BUILDING, NO ENTREPRENEURS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR BUILDING BECAUSE THEIR LAWS WOULDN'T LET THEM DO THAT.

CORRECT.

SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

I DON'T RECALL THOSE FINER POINTS FOR PROFIT.

HE SAID IT HAS.

SO SINCE THIS BOARD, THIS BOARD VOTED TO GO INTO CONTRACT WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HOW CAN THEY RESEND THAT? WE HAVEN'T SIGNED THE CONTRACT.

I'M ASKING THE CITY YOUR TIME, PLEASE BE RESCINDED WITHOUT IT BEING.

YES, SIR.

OFFICER TOLD YOU EXACTLY 3.1, TWO FARM NEW IS WHAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN GOD IN, MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER 3.1, TWO, 5 MILLION MIX, MAN, MR. WOODS, WE CAN'T USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

NOW, IF THE BOARD GOES AGAINST THEIR WORD WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU'RE TREADING ON THIN ICE.

YOU HAVE A BUILDING THAT'S GETTING READY TO BE TORN DOWN.

THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO A COMMUNITY KITCHEN.

I ASKED YOU GUYS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, TO PUT MONEY IN A DUFFIELD COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A BUILDING THAT WAS THE OLD GIFT SHOP SANDWICH SHOP THAT CAN BE RETROFITTED TO DO EVERYTHING YOU WANT IT TO DO TO DO WHAT THIS YOUNG LADY IS ASKING.

THE REASON WHY I DON'T HAVE A FOOD TRUCK AND I'M WENT OUT OF THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE COUNTY SAID, I HAD TO HAVE A COMMISSARY.

I TOLD MY WIFE, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A COMMISSARY SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND JUST USE IT.

BUT I COULDN'T FIND A PLACE I WANTED.

I WANTED IT TO BE IN A CERTAIN AREA WHERE THEY COULD, IT WOULDN'T COST THEM A WHOLE LOT TO GET A RUNNER, BUT I COULDN'T FIND THAT PLACE.

BUT YOU HAVE A BUILDING THAT YOU CAN MOVE THAT UP IF YOU WANT TO MOVE IT TO THE BOAT.

SO THEN MOVE IT TO THE BOAT CENTER.

BUT IT WILL ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

YOU'VE GOT A $3 MILLION A DAY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT MONEY? YOU CAN TAKE PART OF THAT MONEY, RETROFIT THAT BUILDING, AND GUESS WHAT? YOU SATISFY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND YOU SATISFY YOUR CITIZENS.

STOP BIG RENTAL, MONKS YOURSELF AND GET SOMETHING DONE.

I TALKED TO JEFF.

SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD IT.

WHY CAN'T THE CITY? GET THE BUILDING BACK AND DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A THOUGHT.

ALL IT WAS A RESTAURANT CONVERTED TO A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

YOU HAVE THE PHONES.

YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU DON'T BECAUSE I WAS IN THIS ROOM.

WHEN NICK, WHEN THE FINANCIAL

[01:50:01]

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

SO MAKE SURE YOU'VE CLARIFIED ON THAT.

PUT IT WHEREVER.

AND YOU CAN TAKE MONEY.

I'M TRUSTING YOU.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE MONEY FOR THE CITIZENS AND YOU CAN MOVE MONEY.

YOU'RE WILING TO GET WHAT YOU NEED DONE.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

MR. JERRY, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP? I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MR. WOODS, BUT THERE WAS COUNTLESS MEETINGS YEARS PRIOR OF STAKEHOLDERS, RIGHT? SO THEY WANT TO IN THE VOTE CENTER AND WE HAVE NOT SIGNED A CONTRACT, WE MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW HER, BUT WE HAVE NOT SIGNED UP OR WE DIDN'T SIGN A CONTRACT.

I'M PERSONALLY NOT BECAUSE I VOTED AGAINST MOVING FORWARD.

SO I I'M, I'M PERSONALLY STATING THAT WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT.

SO THERE'S NOTHING SIGNED THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO.

WE'VE ASKED TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT DAY FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, SEE MANAGER WHO WAS MARK AT THE TIME TO WORK OUT THESE DETAILS FOR THIS LEAF.

AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE YET, AND WE HAVE THESE GRANTS IN THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO I, I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BECOME AN ARGUMENT WITH ANYONE BECAUSE I JUST FEEL THAT THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT INITIALLY STARTED OUT AT THE VOLT CENTER TO BE AT THE VOLT CENTER.

AND I JUST WANTED TO, AND THE CITIZENS WANTED IT AT THE VOLT CENTER.

AND I JUST DIDN'T SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. WOODS IS SAYING, BUT INITIALLY THIS PROGRAM, MY OTTOMAN HARRIS SAID THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND OVERTOP.

AND I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW, JEFF, PLEASE REITERATE AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD ANY CONTACT OR TALKS WITH THE COLLEGE SINCE OUR APRIL 13 MEETING.

CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT US ON THAT? BECAUSE WE DON'T, AS MR. LOU SAID, I AM NOT FOR, FOR, UH, BREAKING OUR WORD WHEN IT COMES TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT CAN BENEFIT ME TO CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.

SO WHAT IS YOUR INPUT ON THIS? THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COLLEGE I'LL RUN BASKET.

THE ONLY THING SINCE THAT APRIL MEETING THAT I'VE SEEN HAS JUST BEEN A REVIEW OF THE LEASE, WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY AN ADAPTATION OF OUR MASTER LEASE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BOLTS IN THE TRAINING FACILITY.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS? I KNOW MISS AMANDA WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN THIS PROJECT, BUT WHEN SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, THIS COMMISSARY COMMERCIAL PATIENT COMMISSARY KITCHEN.

WE WANT TO STAY BEING LOCATED SOMEPLACE ELSE AND NOT EVEN FOLK CENTER, BECAUSE I JUST THINK HERE WITH THE COLLEGE THEATER, WITH THE BUSINESS CENTER THERE.

YEAH, IT'S A, THE SYNERGY OF THE SITE WORKS, UH, TOO.

IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY THE, UM, THE MOST, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN THAT AREA, WHICH WAS THE BASIS OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM TO START WITH WAS, UH, UH, POSITIONING, UH, ENTREPRENEURS AND FOLKS THAT WANT TO GET AN EDUCATION OR SKILL, UM, PUT THEM IN THE BEST POSITION TO SUCCEED.

SO THE LOCATION OBVIOUSLY IS ONE OF THE BEST LOCATIONS THAT WE COULD PROBABLY THINK OF TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH THE FRONTAGE ON A NEW INTERSTATE AND ON FIRST STREET AND ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THAT AREA, ALONG WITH THE BOLT CENTER AND THE COLLEGE AND ALL THE RESOURCES THAT IT OFFERS THERE.

SO AGAIN, THE SYNERGY OF PLACING IT THERE, UM, IS, IS PROBABLY SECOND TO NONE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, AS MR. WOODS SAID, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE, UH, IF WE THOUGHT ABOUT, UH, THE OTHER BUILDING AND WE, WE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING WITH THAT ALSO.

UM, BUT PLACEMENT AND LOCATION IS THE KEY THERE.

UM, SOME VERY HIGHLY VISIBLE AREA, AND ALSO IT'S ALREADY, IT'S BEEN BUILT FOR A KITCHEN.

SO WE USE THE, UH, WE USE RVDA FUNDS, UM, TO UPFIT AND, UH, FIX THE OLD WAREHOUSE FACILITY.

THE AREA HAS SITTING, WAITING FOR THE COOLEST AS THE YOUNG WAY TO SET ITS IT'S RATING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE STAINLESS AND ALL THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT.

SO IT'S, IT'S READY TO GO.

UH, TO PREPARE THEIR MEALS? OR IS IT A PLACE THAT FOR ONE YEAR OR SIX MONTHS, JUST LIKE A PERSON THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GETTING A SKILL OR A TRADE TO GO OUT AND LIKE A REASONABLE LIVING IS THIS, UH, A TEMPORARY, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO USE THIS KITCHEN TO LEARN THAT BUSINESS.

FROM THAT STANDPOINT, IT'S, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO GET A KITCHEN AT THAT PLACE THEN TO START SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I HAVE HEARD QUITE OFTEN THAT THIS WAS TO BE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL BASE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO THE FOOD BUSINESS, FOOD TRUCK, ET CETERA.

SO THE QUESTION I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS, IS THIS A PERMANENT, UH, LOCATION FOR A PERSON,

[01:55:01]

AND THEN AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD MOVE ON TO HAVE THEIR OWN PREPARATION PLACE AND THEN A NEW PERSON WOULD COME UP AND WITH HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO JUST ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE WORKSHOP INTERJECT, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED, EVERYTHING YOU SAID THAT FACILITY, THE VOLTS, AND THAT HOLD TOGETHER THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, BUT I HAVEN'T, BECAUSE THE QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MANAGEMENT.

HOW IS IT GOING TO BE MANAGED? WHAT ARE THE RULES? THE CONCEPT IS THERE.

I HAVE READ THE CONCEPT.

I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THE ORIGINAL GRANT, I'VE GOT ALL THAT.

WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IS THE FINER DETAILS THAT I DON'T THINK HAVE BEEN IN PLACE YET.

THAT MAY BE THE CASE THAT I AGREE THAT MAY BE THE WAY TO DO IT, BUT I, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT LAID OUT.

AND IF IT IS, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF IT.

IF JEFF HAS IT, JEFF, DO YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL THOSE DETAILS? OKAY.

HOW HARD WOULD IT BE FOR US TO PULL THE DETAILS TOGETHER OF FIGURING OUT WHO'S GOING TO MAINTAIN THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN? IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK THAT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WOULD DO WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, AMANDA IS NOT HERE.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE DID AND HAVE.

SO SHE MANAGED THEIR KITCHEN FACILITY IN THE CONVENTION FACILITY.

SO SHE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WITH OPERATING AND MANAGING A FACILITY LIKE THIS.

AND SHE DID SO AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF AVALON AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TDA.

SO I WOULD RELY ON HER EXPERTISE AS WELL AS LITTLE WASHINGTON IS ALSO GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG THAN US, AND THEY ARE BLIND FOR GRANTS AND UP SECURE FOR $45,000 FOR THE SAME KIND OF A CONCEPT UP THERE.

SO, UH, WE WOULD, WE WOULD REACH OUT TO THEM AND SEE HOW, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, A SCHEDULING ISSUE.

UM, WE HAVE DAYS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND DO CERTAIN THINGS.

IT'S ALL BEEN BEST AT THE, IF THE COLLEGE HAS A PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE RUNNING, YOU COULD RUN ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AND ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS, IT COULD BE A COMMISSARY.

UM, SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE ALL, UM, AGAIN, AS MR. WOODS SAID, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, UM, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT OBVIOUSLY.

AND I WOULD DO THAT.

WE WOULD LEAN ON AMANDA AND HER EXPERTISE IN THE PAST AND DOING SO FOR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS.

WOODS SAY, YOU ALREADY KNOW I'M GOING TO PROMOTE PROPONENT ON OUR FUND BALANCE.

I JUST THINK IT'S VITAL.

I APOLOGIZE MAY HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF HAVING THE COLLEGE, WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, CAROLINA EAST AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND HAVING TO LEARN IN REGARDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FOOD SERVICES.

MY THING IS THIS PAPER SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS WAITING FOR US TO GET, UM, WE HAVE A SITE VISIT THE MONEY IS THERE.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS STEP UP TO THE PLATE AS LEADERSHIP IN THIS CITY, AT THIS BOARD AT THIS TIME AND SAY, LISTEN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COLLEGE BECAUSE THEIR MAIN POINT WAS EDUCATION.

YOU CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE IN THAT BUILDING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT'S LOCATED FOR THEM.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THEM.

OUR PURPOSE IS THAT WE LIVE IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE CITY AND IN THE COUNTY.

AND AGAIN, THEIR TAX DOLLARS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE SPENT ON SOMETHING.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BENEFIT.

AND NOT JUST THE 15 PEOPLE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT RESIDE IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY THAT HAVE THE NEED FOR A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

AND IT'S A BENEFIT TO US.

IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE FOOD INDUSTRY BECAUSE YOU'RE TEACHING PEOPLE AND IT IS A STEPPING STONE BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A FOOD TRUCK AND ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE MY TRUCK HERE.

I WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE I CAN GROW, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT.

IF THE FOR-PROFIT STOPS AT THE EDUCATION, I NEED YOU TO EDUCATE ME TO BE PROFITABLE IN SUSTAIN.

THAT'S WHY WE PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS.

LIKE I WOULD SAY AGAIN, THE NONPROFIT, YOU HAVE THE CHAMBER, YOU HAVE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, YOUNG, URBAN PROFESSIONALS.

YOU HAVE WHAT PASTOR IS DOING.

ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL WITH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS FROM THE COLLEGE, IT IS A WIN-WIN HERE.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THIS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

AND THAT IS TO MOVE FORWARD.

TO ALLOW THE DEMARK, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM, THE EXPERTS.

WE HAVE AN EXPERT, AMANDA, TO DO HER JOB AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND ALLOW OUR GRANT WRITER TO GET THESE GRANTS.

THE MONEY IS RIGHT THERE IN LIKE OUR CITIZEN, MR.

[02:00:01]

WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SITTING IN THAT FUND BALANCE WHERE WE COULD WRITE THE CHECK OURSELVES WITH A STROKE OF A PEN AND SEVEN VOTES TO UPTICK THAT COMMUNITY FOR THAT, THAT, THAT VOTE CENTER.

AND WE CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE IT'S POLITICS LET'S TALK WELL ON MY HAIR.

SO IT'S, DON'T SAY THAT WE CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE, WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE DISCUSSING IT NOW AND THAT'S WHAT I BOUGHT IT FOR, BECAUSE IT WAS VERY PASSIONATE TO ME AND WE, AND I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD TO THE BOARD BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T LOOK AT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD WITH CAROLINA EAST.

I MEAN, YOU GOT FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST ENTREPRENEUR, JUST NOT JUST FOOD TRUCKS GONNA BE AT THAT, UH, UH, SERVICE BE PROVIDED FOR FOOD TRUCKS, THAT DEFAULT CENTER, YOU LOOKING AT THE, DO YOU KNOW, THE MAGNITUDE OF EMPLOYEES THAT THE HOSPITAL NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR KITCHEN, THEIR, THEIR LINE WORKERS UP.

SO IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

JOBS, SKILLED JOBS FOR AS FAMOUS SAID, WE NEED, WE NEED PEOPLE TO WORK IN OUR RESTAURANTS.

SO HERE WE GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR SKILL SO THAT THEY CAN COME BACK OUT AND WORK IN THE RESTAURANTS AND WORK IN HOSPITALITY.

THAT'S ALL I'M WANTING TO SEE THIS DONE.

AND IF WE GOT AMANDA HERE AND, AND JEFF AND HIS DEPARTMENT THAT CAN UTILIZE THIS AND OUR GRANT WRITER THAT CAN WRITE THESE GRANTS, GET THIS MONEY IN HERE.

WHY WOULDN'T WE AGREE TO AWFUL THIS PROJECT HERE TO OUR CITIZENS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU BROUGHT THIS UP TONIGHT.

SO HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS? I DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED AND I'M QUITE SURE I WAS GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO JEFF AND HIS DEPARTMENT.

I'M QUITE SURE THEY WOULD GO BACK AND TALK WITH THE COLLEGE TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK THIS THING TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THIS SERVICE, OUR CITIZENS TOGETHER.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE WOULD GO EVEN, I WOULD EVEN SUGGEST JEFF OR AMANDA GO FORWARD WITH THIS WITHOUT SPEAKING TO DR.

STATS OR THE COLLEGE.

WELL, I COULD, I COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF YOU HAD A BOAT, SOME INFORMATION THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I JUST REMEMBER EARLY ON THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAD ONE IDEA.

AND I LEARNED THIS FROM THE SIMULATOR THAT EITHER THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN WAS GOING TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PROVIDING SAFETY FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOR OUR SURROUNDINGS POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, BUT THEY HAD A WHOLE CHUNK OF CHANGE.

HORRIBLE WE DID.

AND SO IT GOT DOWN TO WHO WAS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE AND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH DECIDED TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DO IT.

AND WE OUTFITTED SO THAT WE COULD BRING THAT LEVEL OF SECURITY AND SAFETY AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NOW LET'S SEGUE THAT OVER TO THIS.

I DON'T SEE THE CITY OF DENVER, UM, BUT MAY MOVE TO, UH, AS YOU SAID, THE HOSPITAL AND ALL THESE OTHER, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE, UH, EDUCATED, EDUCATED LABOR FORCE FOR FOOD PREPARATION OR WHATEVER.

I DON'T SEE IT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES INVOLVEMENT, BUT TO BRING THIS UP THE NIGHT AND NOT, AND TRY TO BRING THIS TO CLOSURE WHEN I'M HAVING A WORKSHOP GOING TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON BOARD, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? WE HAD A QUESTION FOR JEFF.

JEFF, WHY IS IT THE KITCHEN IN THERE RIGHT NOW? UH, WE HAVEN'T, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING.

WE'RE SITTING ON YEAH.

SO WE'RE SITTING ON 70,000 RIGHT NOW, UM, WHICH IS A GRANT WE APPLIED FOR IT BEFORE THE CHANGE.

UM, SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH COVID AND THE DEADLINES, WE, UH, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE WERE PARTNERING WITH THE COLLEGE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT IN JANUARY, AND THEY, UM, PULLED OUT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHY AND HOW WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.

SO WE'VE JUST HAD A LOT OF ODD KIND OF SETBACKS FLORENCE, UM, IN COVID THE SHUTDOWNS REALLY HINDERED THAT EFFORT.

UM, BUT THAT THE REASON WHY WE WERE CHARGED WITH APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND FINDING GRANT MONEY TO DO SO.

AND, UH, AND IT'S JUST STARTING TO TRICKLE IN NOW.

SO MARGARET OR THESE NEW OPPORTUNITIES IT'S ON THE SHEET.

YEAH, NO, THEY'VE BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY ALL ALONG.

UM, WE JUST EITHER, UM, HAD TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, UM, ADF P UM, THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION TRUST, UM, WE NEEDED TO HAVE A, UM, WE EITHER NEED TO, TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY OR AG EXTENSION TO BE ABLE TO,

[02:05:01]

UM, APPLY FOR THAT.

SO, AND THAT'S ONLY AVAILABLE ONCE A YEAR IN DECEMBER.

UM, SO, UM, WE, AS JEFF SAID, UM, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF TRYING TO APPLY TO GOLDEN LEAF.

UM, AND THEN THE COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T, UM, PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED FOR, UM, THE, THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT.

SO THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE EQUIPMENT COSTS WERE GOING TO BE.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A BUDGET IN TIME TO SUBMIT THAT GRANT, THE EDA GRANT, UM, THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN MARCH, SAME SORT OF SITUATION.

SO GREAT.

GOING BACK TO THE KITCHEN, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN THE GRANT PACKET THAT YOU DID FOR, WAS IT THE TOBACCO, THE TOBACCO, REMEMBER YOU HAD A WHOLE PACKET AND THAT HAD VERY DETAILED INFORMATION THAT THE COST OF THE KITCHEN, EVERYTHING, COULD YOU NOT USE THAT INFORMATION? WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THE EQUIPMENT.

UM, OKAY.

I MEAN, DIFFERENT, OR JUST THE COST OF THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND YOU COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, RIGHT.

BECAUSE WE WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE COLLEGE OR AMANDA WAS THE, UM, WHETHER ENTREPRENEURS WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THAT EQUIPMENT.

SO THAT WAS PART OF THE DELAY IN GETTING THAT BUDGET DONE IN TIME.

SO WE FOUND OUT THEN THAT ENTREPRENEURS COULD USE THE EQUIPMENT IF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OWNED IT.

RIGHT.

CAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE BUCK STOPS WHEN IT BECOMES FOR-PROFIT.

AND SO, I MEAN, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AND, UM, MY, MY THING IS, IS I THINK WE NEED TO GET JESS AND AMANDA IN THAT DEPARTMENT, THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, JUST LIKE YOU WERE WILLING TO GIVE SOMEONE ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ALLOW JEFF MARGARET AND AMANDA AND THAT DEPARTMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THESE GRANTS.

AND THE FACT IN ALL THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UPFIT THE VOLT CENTER FOR THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN, THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, UM, MOVING FORWARD, AND ALSO TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, TO SEE IF THE COLLEGE WOULD STILL LIKE TO HAVE EDUCATION IN THERE AND IN PARTNER.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND, UM, LET THE CITY RUNNING IN, IN HANDLE IT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE MONEY SITTING RIGHT HERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FIT IT.

WELL, I CONCUR WITH YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

UM, AMANDA MAN, IN THAT DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON GRANT TRYING TO FIND GRANT FUNDING BEFORE COVID, BEFORE THIS, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY SINCE THIS WAS THE PART OF THE INITIAL PROGRAM, UM, IN PROJECT SO THAT YOU REMIND ME, UM, CANNOT RIGHT NOW THAT I'M NOT YIELDED.

SO YOU ARE STILL TALKING.

I WILL WAIT.

NO, I'M FINISHED.

UM, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SUPPORT AND HELP ON THIS.

UH, I DON'T, I DON'T HEAR A PREAMBLE OF SORTS AS TO EXACTLY HOW THIS THING IS GOING TO WORK.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS, IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WORKFORCE ABOUT THE CAMPUS.

UH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE BLESSING OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON US.

THEY'RE CONTROLLING IT.

UM, AND HAVING SAID THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOING TO HALF OF THE TIME I RUN A WORKFORCE OF ELLA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHATEVER THEY GOING TO DO AS FAR AS, UM, KITCHEN PREPARATION AND THINGS, AND THEN TURN THE KEYS OVER FOR THE OTHER HALF OF THE TIME TO WHATEVER ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, IS IT A TEMPORARY AREA, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FOOD PREPARATION? AND THEN IN A YEAR'S TIME, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR FOOD TRUCK OR WHOEVER THE CATERING BUSINESS OR THE NEW EMPLOYEE, THAT'S GOT SOME CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE HOSPITAL THAT THEY HAVE TO GO ON THEIR OWN AND PROVIDE THEIR OWN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

I JUST DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FACTS TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AT THIS TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT MOTION AND I WOULD BE MORE THAN GLAD TO BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SOME OF THE BOARD BOARD MEMBERS OUT THERE, ALL THE, THE PRECEDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

BUT I, FOR SOME REASON, FEEL LIKE THAT SOME FOLKS ARE GOING ONE WAY AROUND TO GET THIS DONE.

AND OTHERS

[02:10:01]

ARE NOT, I DON'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYBODY, BUT YOU CANNOT BRING THE FOOD DESERT TO AN END IN NEWBURN, UNLESS EVERYBODY IS ONE PIECE OF FABRIC AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CITY OF NEWBURGH AND SOME SUSTAINABLE INCOME, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS.

BUT THERE'S A, THERE'S A MUCH BIGGER RESOURCE OPPORTUNITY PARTNERING WITH THE KOREAN COLLEGE ON THIS.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT HAVING BEEN A FORMER COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT ON THAT CAMPUS, THAT THERE WERE FOOD TRUCKS AND THERE WERE SO MANY FOOD TRUCKS.

SOME OF THEM WORK ACROSS THE STREET LOST CREEK.

UH, MAYBE THAT BANK OF SPLIT WOP, CINDER BLOCK BUILDING THAT JIMMY DILLON UP, MAYBE AT SOME POINT THAT COULD GET USED FOR SOMETHING BESIDES NOTHING.

AND, UH, WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND THESE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT I CAN SUPPORT THE MOTION AT THIS TIME.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES YOU GET FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE DITCHING AND HOW YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO YOUR IDEA.

SO I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT IF WE ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW US THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING.

THAT'S ALL THE COMMUNITY'S ASKING IS SAY YES AND SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS GOING TO BE, HOW TO TRUST AND FAITH, JUST LIKE YOU WANT SOMEONE TO, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE DITCHES AND THE IDEAS THAT YOU COME UP WITH.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO, TO BE INSPIRED.

WE CANNOT BE PUT UP AGAINST THE WALL BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STOPS WHEN IT COMES TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT IF THERE IS A SECOND, THIRD.

AND TO THE COMMENT, WHICH IS GIVE, HAVE A BIG COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO BE A LEADER IN NORTH CAROLINA, IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH ALOUD WHILE OTHER COLLEGES THERE THEY'RE DOING AWAY WITH ROOM, OURS IS GROWING AND THE MORE PARTNERING WE CAN DO ON THAT CAMPUS AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY COWS HAPPY IS MORE EXPANSION OF, UH, JOB OPPORTUNITIES FROM CERTIFIED NURSE'S ASSISTANT TO, UH, ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, HVAC, TO FOOD PREPARATION, ET CETERA.

AND SO IF WE AVOID AT WORK AROUND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THEN THEY HAVE RESOURCE OPPORTUNITY EXPANSION, AND THEN THEY DID SAY THEY DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE.

TO ME, THE WHOLE IDEA OF THAT CAMPUS WAS IT WAS IN WALKING DISTANCE.

A LOT.

I KNEW BURNING INCIDENT NEEDED TO GET A CERTIFICATION OR A TRADE.

I DID NOT WANT TO PERSONALLY, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, DO ANYTHING TO EAT OR PRECLUDE THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS.

THAT, THAT THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE EDUCATION THERE BECAUSE WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE AS, UM, INSANE WITH THE COMMUNITY COMMUNISTS AS WE WERE WITH THE SIMULATOR, DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN SYNC WITH THE COLLEGE WHERE THERE'S THEY HAVE A FUND WHERE YOU'RE REALLY HAVING MONEY TO BE ABLE TO FIND BUILDINGS.

IT IS, BUT NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME.

THIS IS EDUCATION IS ACTUALLY EDUCATION FOR ALL OF US.

WE'RE EDUCATING OURSELVES TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO DO A TRADE.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS, YOU STARTED A RESTAURANT OR YOUR FAMILY STARTED A RESTAURANT.

YOU STARTED A RESTAURANT AND BECAME AN ENTREPRENEUR.

YOU ARE A SURVEYOR, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

YOU STARTED YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

I'M A REAL ESTATE AGENT.

I OPENED UP MY OWN FARM.

I STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS.

THERE ARE FOOD TRUCK, THERE ARE CARTS.

AND THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR DREAMS. BY BUILDING THE FOUNDATION, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PLANT THE SEED IN JEFF AND AMANDA AND THE REST OF THE WORKERS.

WE'RE LETTING IT GROW.

WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR A YES, TWO YEARS, GIVE US TWO YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO BE LESS THAN THAT, BUT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I SAY US, BECAUSE I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

YOU SEE ME IN THE STREETS, IN THE COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURS, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A PASSION, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK PAST.

WE'RE NOT GOING BEHIND THE COLLEGE.

WE ASKED THE COLLEGE ON APRIL 13TH, WE'LL PARTNER.

I'LL SUPPORT IT, BUT CAN WE HAVE A COMMISSARY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MONEY? AND THEY SAID, NO, THAT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE.

THAT IS ONLINE.

THAT'S ON YOUTUBE.

THAT'S ON CTB THROUGH PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

SO WE OWN THIS BUILDING.

WE HAVE THE FUNDS AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT'S MY EMOTION.

[02:15:01]

UM, I THINK WE'LL HAVE ROLL CALL ON THIS JUST TO BE CLEAR.

UM, START WITH OUR ONE MAN, WHERE YOU READ IT, THE MOTION.

I CANNOT READ THE WHOLE JEFF MARGARET AND AMANDA AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH UPDATING THE KITCHEN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PRIVATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IT'S JUST, YES, YES, YES.

UH, WOULD YOU OKAY.

YOU'VE GOT FOUR QUESTIONS.

SO SHE JUST GOT HER SECOND.

ARE WE IN DISCUSSION PHASE NOW? THAT WAS A SECOND ON THE CALL.

WE CLOSED.

SHE NEVER GOT A SECOND.

WHEN SHE MADE HER ORIGINAL MOTION, SHE GETS MY EMOTION.

AND BARBARA, YOU SAY SO THAT SHE SAID SHE SUPPORTED HER.

WELL THEN YOUR MOTION.

COMING IN, PARTICIPATING.

WE'RE BACK IN DISCUSSION.

SORRY.

UM, JEFF, WHEN DID THE VOLT CENTER PROJECT START? 2020 14, 14, 14.

WHEN DID WE START TO TRY TO GET FUNDING FOR THIS OF THE POST CENTER? 17.

SO TWO YEARS BEFORE COVID UM, YEAH, AND THEN WE HAD FLORENCE.

UM, UM, UM, I'M JUST GOING ON FROM, I DON'T KNOW, SPECIFICALLY.

UM, WE'VE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SO WE BUILT THE BOLT CENTER, ALWAYS KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO UPDATE IT FOR THE KITCHEN FOR THAT EQUIPMENT.

SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF A TIME MANAGEMENT ISSUE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO WE DID LINE UP, YOU KNOW, SOME FUNDERS AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND THEY FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, UM, FOR VERA, FOR OTHER OTHER REASONS, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS A BAD PROJECT OR, OR ANYTHING, OR PEOPLE REALLY DENIED IT.

EVERYONE THAT WE'VE TALKED TO WANTS TO SUPPORT IT.

UM, WE'VE HAD FUNDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO FUND IT.

SO I COULD, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND PROBABLY LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES TO GET THAT, UM, TO GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, FLORENCE HIT US AND THEN COVID HIT US.

SO THAT STOPPED ALL OF THAT EXTRA WORK THAT WE COULD PUT IN, YOU KNOW, AS WE WORKED WITH THE 4 0 4 AND THE FOREST SEVEN GRANTS, WHICH I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH NOW TODAY TO THIS POINT, I STILL GET PHONE CALLS, UM, ON THOSE GRAND PROBLEMS. BUT AT THAT TIME, WE, WE PROCESSED 175 APPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR THEIR ELEVATIONS AND THEIR BUYOUTS.

AND THAT WAS A LOT OF LEGWORK FROM ALL THE STAFF IN THE, IN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO, UM, THAT'S A LONG WAY OF SAYING, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET THAT BEFORE, BUT IT'S BEEN PROBABLY THREE YEARS.

CAN I SHOW YOU ANOTHER ONE YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK, UM, AS FAR AS POTENTIAL VENDORS, ENTREPRENEURS THAT WANTED TO USE THE COMMISSARY ASPECT OF THIS, HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE PETITIONED THE CITY OVER THIS TENURE OF THIS PROJECT? UM, THAT'S ANOTHER, I HAVE A, WE KEPT NOTES OF THAT.

UM, I REMEMBER AT ONE POINT MY LIST WAS AT LIKE FIVE, JUST RANDOM.

WALK-INS ESSENTIALLY PEOPLE WANTING IT AND SUPPORTING IT AND ASKING ME WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE READY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT ANSWER.

WE'VE HAD THE, THE, THE SUPPORTERS GROUP, I GUESS, THAT, UH, THAT ALDERMAN BEST HAS, UM, CIRCULATED WITH YOU.

WE HAD MEETINGS THAT WERE SCHEDULED.

WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH, WITH AG EXTENSION AND OTHER COMMUNITY, UM, FOOD PRODUCERS, SMALL AND LARGE.

UM, SO, UH, W I COULD REFINE THAT AND GET THAT LIST TO YOU, BUT EVERYBODY ON THAT LIST AND THOSE, UM, FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM PEOPLE BEING READ OFF, THERE WAS A FEW THAT WEREN'T INCLUDED THAT WERE KIND OF THE BEEF PRODUCERS AND, UH, IN KIND OF IN THE PRODUCE PRODUCERS THAT WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN BEING ABLE TO, UM, NOT USE THE KITCHEN, BUT TO USE THE SITE ITSELF BECAUSE, UM, OUR PROGRAM WAS NEVER FOCUSED ON THE KITCHEN, PER SE, AS A ONE ISSUE.

IT WAS ALWAYS A KITCHEN WAS PART OF THE LARGER CAMPUS AS IT BECOMING A MORE OF A MARKET, UM, VENDOR AREA IN CONJUNCTION WITH A KITCHEN THAT COULD BE USED AS A COMMISSARY OR FOR COOKING FOOD AND ACTUALLY SELLING IT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND LAWSON STREET PARK.

AND SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.

UM, SO AGAIN, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY.

I'D HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH MY NOTES.

I HAVE YEARS AND YEARS OF NOTES ON THEM ON, EXCUSE ME, DO YOU, YES, SIR.

WHEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE GOTTEN, BECAME INVOLVED WITH IT, THAT'S WHEN THE GAME PLAN START CHANGING.

CORRECT.

ULTIMATELY, AND ON THAT 30TH MEETING WAS ESSENTIALLY THE FIRST TIME I WAS KIND OF, UH, INFORMED ON THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE MET, WE THOUGHT THAT THE PLANE WAS GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH ALL THE VENDORS

[02:20:01]

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE COMMITTEE TO COLLEGE WANTS TO TAKE THE WHOLE THING AND MAKE A CERTIFY PERSON BECOMING THE VENDOR.

SO THAT CHANGED THE WHOLE GAME.

AFTER THAT APRIL MEETING, EVERYTHING CHANGED, EVERYTHING CHANGED RIGHT THERE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, A LOT OF BOAT TOO, BUDDY, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

AGAIN, IT'S AN EXCITING PROJECT AND IT REALLY CAN BE ANYWHERE, UM, TO POINT TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT FOLKS HAVE MADE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S A GREAT CAMPUS.

LET THE FAMILIES, AND HAD THESE MEETINGS, MISS DINNER, OR THROUGHOUT THE DAY WAS WORKING.

SOME COLLEGE, EXCUSE ME.

THE, YOU GO AGAINST THE COLLEGE.

WHAT, I'M NOT SURE WE WOULD EVER.

I MEAN, I DON'T, I DON'T, UH, CHERYL GO AGAINST THE COLLEGES IS THE CORRECT TERM.

WE LOOKED TO PARTNER WITH THE COLLEGE AS SOME OF THE ULTIMATE UPSET.

UM, WE'D HAVE TO SPEAK WITH THEM ABOUT UTILIZING THE SPACE.

THEY UTILIZE SPACE, ALL, A LOT OF PLACES, UM, FOR THEIR TRADES AND THEIR SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY, THEY ASSEMBLED, THEY USED TO ASSEMBLE GOODS OFFSITE.

UM, NOW THEY DO IT AT THE BOLT CENTER.

SO, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ANSWER IS IF WE CAN PARTNER AS FAR AS, UM, ALLOWING THEM TO USE IT A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK FOR THEIR SERVER PROGRAMS OR, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROGRAMS HAVE BUILT OFF THIS WHEN EVERYTHING W W WHEN, WHEN THE IDEA OF ENTREPRENEURIAL-ISM AND, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL PROFIT CAME INTO IT, UM, IT JUST, AGAIN, THAT'S, I GUESS THEY'RE PROHIBITED BY STATE STATUTE TO BE INVOLVED IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

THE, ALL THE GRANTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS TWO, THREE YEARS FROM NOW, THE GRANTS RUN OUT THE REP, WHAT REVENUE STREAM IS GOING TO SUPPORT THIS A HUNDRED, $150,000 A YEAR OVERHEAD.

WHAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT IT.

IF SITTING ON, GOING TO DO IT IS THE HOSPITAL DON'T DEBIT.

WHO'S GOING TO PICK A REVENUE STREAM BY THE YEAR FAULT.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO THINK POSITIVE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE WILLING TO HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, CARTS, CAKES, CANDY.

I CAN LIST A MILLION CHICKEN.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO COOKED ON CALVARY, UH, AUTHENTIC JAMAICAN FOOD.

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA THINK POSITIVE THAT WHEN WE DO BUILD IT, CAUSE WHAT DID THEY SAY? FEEL THE DREAMS. IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME AND IT'S NEEDED.

LET'S MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

OR YOU ARE NOT AGAINST THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WE'RE SAYING WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

AND THAT'S, WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

UH, NO, I'M NOT LOOKING AT IT.

IT'S FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THIS BEING A FREE PROGRAM.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A COST FOR, FOR THE SPACE RENT AND RENT, IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, WE HAVE TO GIVE THE JEFF AND HIS TEAM THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT PLAN AND TO DO THAT IS BY SAYING YES, TO ALLOWING THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH UPFITTING IT AND MAKING IT THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, GIVE OUR TEAM THAT HAS WORKED HARD.

AND OVER YEARS OUTSIDE OF COVID IN THE HURRICANE, THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED ARE TRYING TO COME BACK FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, FOR WHEN, BEFORE OUR CITIZENS AS WELL.

BUT, UH, AND THEN I JUST WANT TO THROW THIS IN THERE.

AND IN THE INSTANCE THAT THE COLLEGE, WHEN WE TALK WITH, WITH JEFF OR WHOMEVER TALKS WITH THE COLLEGE IN REFERENCE TO SHARON, IS THAT KITCHEN.

IF THE COLLEGE SAYS, UM, YES, WE WILL TRY IT.

OR IF THE COLLEGE SAYS, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THEN I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT A DIFFERENT AVENUE, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE NEED TO TALK WITH THE COLLEGE TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.

AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD BE VOTING NO TO THIS MOTION.

NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

AND I BELIEVE AFTER HEARING MORE INFORMATION TONIGHT, THERE IS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T SIT EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT IT.

AND I PREFER TO DO THAT.

SO I WOULD W I, I JUST GET, YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS RECORDED, BUT WE NEVER GET THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

ON APRIL 13TH, WE WERE HIT, WE STOPPED.

IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS PRESENTED.

JEFF HAS EVEN STATED THAT THE GAME HAS CHANGED.

THERE'S THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO BE CLIMBED, CLOSED DOORS.

I'VE SPOKE ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT.

THERE'S NO CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD.

IT'S EITHER A YES OR NO.

IF YOU SAY, NO, THAT'S FINE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO RESEARCH AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS ON TOP OF MEETINGS AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

WE WANT AFFORDED THAT ON APRIL 13TH, WHEN HE HAD A WHOLE PLAN FOR THE WHOLE BOAT CENTER, THAT WASN'T FAIR TO US.

AND IT WASN'T FAIR TO THE CITIZENS THAT WENT TO THESE MEETINGS,

[02:25:02]

THAT DIDN'T GET OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO COME TO FRUITION, BECAUSE THERE WAS POLITICS.

WE GOT TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED ON THE 13TH, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BECAUSE I NO CLUE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WHEN DR.

STATS CAME BEFORE US AND PRESENTED US WITH THAT PRESENTATION.

AND IT JUST SEEMED, IT JUST BOTHERS ME.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE LATE.

I'M JUST GETTING SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS BOARD.

IT'S JUST SEEMS LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, AND I'M SAYING IT IS, AND I REALLY DON'T SPEAK OUT OF CHARACTER A LOT OF TIMES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS BOARD HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT.

AND I JUST CAN'T SEE THAT.

WELL, WE HAVE DISCUSSED TONIGHT GIVING JEB AN OPPORTUNITY AND AMANDA AND THIS GRANT WRITER TO GO BACK AND TALK WITH THE COLLEGE BEFORE WE SIGNED THAT LEASE AGREEMENT AND SEE WHAT COMES OF IT.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO VOTE YES.

TO THIS TONIGHT? WHOMEVER GOING TO VOTE? NO.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO VOTE? YES.

TO THIS? IT'S JUST BEEN, I'M JUST GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH THIS WHOLE BOARD, BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE RACIAL TENSION HERE.

I'M SEEING THE RACIAL I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I'M NOT.

CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO ADD THAT TO CHARACTER HERE, BUT I HAD TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY TO HEAR THIS.

AND IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.

I DON'T SEE WHERE THIS IS.

WHERE WE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CREDIT WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE CITY OF NEWBURGH IN A HOSPITAL.

IF YOU SERVE ON THE HOSPITAL BOARD, I'LL ADDRESS THAT.

I'M THROUGH, I'M THROUGH BOUND DOWN.

I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU.

UM, MR. ATTORNEY, PLEASE KEEP ME STRAIGHT UP.

ALWAYS TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS, NOT TO INTERMINGLE, UH, FOR BOARDS WE SERVE ON.

BUT WHEN YOU ASK CAROLINA EAST TO SUPPORT THIS, DID YOU TELL HIM THAT IT WOULD BE A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY? NO.

UM, WE WENT TO TALK WITH MS. HUNTER WITH LESLIE HUNTER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR INTEREST IN TRAINING, UM, USING THE KITCHEN.

AND ALSO IT WAS STILL DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ASPECT OF TRAINING THERE AS WELL.

SO I'M JUST, I MEAN, IT'S, THIS HAS NEVER COME BEFORE OUR BOARD TO MAKE THIS DECISION, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD PROVIDE MONEY TO A FOR-PROFIT KITCHEN.

WHEN THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE COLLEGE WILL HAVE A KITCHEN, WHICH THEY HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR, WHICH IS A COUNTY, SOME COUNTY ENTITY.

AND WE WOULD SUPPORT THEM THROUGH A SCHOLARSHIP, JUST LIKE WE DO WITH NURSES.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT'S ON HERE.

AND THEN ALSO THE TOBACCO TRUST FUND.

DID WE NOT APPLY FOR THAT AND NOT GET THAT GRANT? CORRECT.

HAD MR. JERRY THERE HAVE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THERE.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

AS FAR AS THE TIMING GOES, I WILL NEVER DISCOUNT ANYBODY'S PASSION FOR WHAT YOU HAVE.

THAT'S THE REASON THAT YOU'RE ON THIS BOARD IS BECAUSE YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

I JUST WISH THIS PASSION FOR THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THIS BOARD GOT SET IN PLACE, INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL NOW, WHEN WE'VE ALREADY MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COLLEGE AND MY LAST QUESTION FOR INTERIM CITY MANAGER OR DIRECTOR, IF YOU WILL, ON THE SURFACE, WHY HAVE WE NOT SIGNED THE LEASE? ARE WE NOT WAITING FOR PAPERWORK FROM EDA THAT THIS BOARD MADE A DECISION ON? WE ARE STILL WAITING FROM THE, THE, UH, WE REACHED OUT TO THEM THIS PAST FRIDAY AND FIND OUT THE STATUS AGAIN IS STILL UNDER REVIEW, ACCORDING TO THEM.

SO BASICALLY EVER SINCE I WAS APPOINTED, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SO, SO THE DELAY IN US MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD DECIDED IS BECAUSE EDA IS WAITING TO APPROVE OR DENY THE CHANGE ORDER AND REGRETS.

ALDERMAN KINSEY, MAYOR OUTLAW OUT A WOMAN HARRIS OTTOMAN TABLE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE RIGHT TITLE.

IT'S TOUGH.

SO THAT FAILS.

NO, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE, SIR.

UM, MAYOR OUTLAW, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, BRING AN ALTERNATE MOTION FORWARD.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE MAKE AN AGENDA ITEM ON THIS AND WE GET ALL PARTIES PRESENT SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WE CAN DO IT IN, I'LL TAKE THE SUGGESTION.

THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A QUORUM.

IT COULD BE THREE OR WHATEVER TO BRING BACK TO THIS BOARD, BUT HAVE ALL PARTIES HAVE

[02:30:01]

AND UH, I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT AS SOMETHING, BECAUSE I AGREE WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT I WANT FACTS.

CAN YOU RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE FACTS.

WHY WE WEREN'T AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY ON APRIL 13TH WHEN HE CAME WITH US TO SAY THIS IN PUBLIC, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T TALK TO MR. STEVENS BECAUSE MR. STEVENS WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS AND IT WAS NOT MY PROBLEM OR YOUR PROBLEM THAT HE DID NOT GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU PRIOR BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO HIM IN A FULL REPORT BY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THINGS LIKE THAT IN PUBLIC, BUT YOU ASKED ME TO DO THAT.

SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT YOU KNOW THAT, OKAY, I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE A SECOND TO THAT SO THAT WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOING THIS? THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT TO DO, BE DEAD AND DYING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION, BARBARA.

I WILL SAY I FEEL A LITTLE, I'M NOT INSULTED, BUT I, I, I FEEL, I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I AM OFFENDED THAT YOU WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT I CARE ABOUT THE TOTAL OF THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO HELP.

AND THERE'S MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED HELP RIGHT NOW.

I JUST WANT FACTS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO.

THESE GRANTS ARE WHAT IFS AND ONE IS THE PERSON.

THE CANNON FOUNDATION IS COMING.

W WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF IT? WHAT W YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN HERE, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS THE SITE VISIT.

AND WE GET THE 75,000.

IS THAT CORRECT? MARGARET? SO IT'S NOT VOTED ON UNTIL AUGUST, BUT WE'LL KNOW IN AUGUST, TYPICALLY WHEN THE CANNON FOUNDATION COMES TO MAKE A SITE VISIT, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE SOME AGAIN, I WOULD JUST, I'M TRYING TO PUT THE BRANCH OUT THERE NOW TO SAY, LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING, BECAUSE THERE IS ENOUGH PASSION AROUND IT.

UM, EITHER YOU CAN LET IT DIE, OR WE CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO PULL ALL THE INTERESTED PARTIES IN AND TRY TO FIND SOME RESOLUTION, BECAUSE YES, THERE IS A WIN-WIN OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT THERE IS A WAY THAT'S ONE QUESTION, THE GREATEST STATE YOU APPLIED FOR, UM, CAN YOU USE IT FOR PROFIT OR NONPROFIT? DO YOU HAVE TO SPECIFY THAT SOME OF THE GRANTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH A NONPROFIT, BUT THE ONES THAT I'VE CITED ON THERE OR CAN ALL COME TO THE CITY? WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO APPLY TO THE CANNON FOUNDATION, MS. MARGARET, HE'S ASKING, DO THEY KNOW THAT, THAT WITH THIS MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE UPFITTED AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOR-PROFIT ASPECT TO IT.

THEY KNOW.

ALL OF THAT, THAT YOU HAVE TO COVER WITH FOOD AND, AND LIABILITY AND THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AGAIN, I'M JUST, I'M REACHING, I'M PUTTING THE BRANCH OUT THERE.

I MEAN, THE CANNON FOUNDATION IS, WOULD SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE, UH, IT IS, UH, PRODUCING, UH, ECONOMIC, ENTREPRENEURSHIP STABILITY.

SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SAY, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID IN THAT.

UM, ALTHOUGH I, I DISLIKED TO HAVE MEETINGS TO HAVE MEETINGS, BECAUSE I, I REMEMBER WHEN WE, WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE MEETINGS AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE NORTH CAROLINA TOBACCO TRUST FUND, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE POLITICS AGAIN, AND THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO REALLY COME TO THE TABLE, THAT THE END RESULT IS GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FOR-PROFIT OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE AGREEING TO.

HOWEVER, IT WORKS OUT.

THEN I WILL SECOND HERE.

WELL, I WANT SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROVIDE THAT, BUT I WANT FACTS.

I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND WE HAVE TO CHARGE SOMEBODY $500 A MONTH TO DO IT, I WANT TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEN THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE ENTREPRENEUR OUT THERE.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

RIGHT? SO WE'RE GOING DOWN THE STREET TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT THE EVERYDAY PERSON IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD.

THEN I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, BUT IF IT'S 500 AND THEY'RE MAKING $2,000 A MONTH OFF OF THE FOOD THAT THEY'RE NOW ABLE TO CREATE, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WHAT IF THEY'RE NOT? AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD THAT TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE TO SPEAK POSITIVITY.

UNDERSTAND.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS IS WE, WE HAVE TO TRUST, YOU KNOW, TRUST, BUT VERIFY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I AGREE.

I AGREE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE, YEAH, AGAIN, WHO'S GOING TO RUN IT.

I, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE GET INTO THIS AND DOWN THE ROAD, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE STAFFING EVERYBODY ELSE.

I WOULD RATHER OUTSOURCE IT AND LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT.

THAT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND THE COLLEGE OUTSOURCING IT SO THEY CAN DO IT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BE LAZY WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHER ISSUES THAT COME UP INSURANCE,

[02:35:01]

WE COULD'VE WALKED AWAY FROM THIS TONIGHT, SAID, SORRY, DAD ISSUE AND WALKED AWAY.

THEN.

I MEAN, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS OUT OF BRANCH BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

SO I BASED ON THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND I'M FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE.

UM, I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT MOTION THAT WE COME TOGETHER, THE KEY PEOPLE, THAT MEANS ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE 30, 40, 50 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS.

SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING, IF YOU'RE ON FACEBOOK, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, PLEASE GET IN CONTACT WITH US.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND LET'S, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.

IF THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION IS, I'M GOING TO STEP IN IT.

IS THAT A WORKSHOP? NO, I WOULD.

I WOULD SAY NON WORKSHOP BECAUSE I WOULD NOT INCLUDE IT.

LET ME JOIN YOU AT THIS POINT, I WOULD MAKE IT.

SO THERE WAS NOT A QUORUM.

SO WHO WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS BOARD? THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO BE, SINCE YOU BELIEVE IN CORRIDOR, PICK THREE, THREE WOULD NOT BE AFFORDED.

THAT'D BE FINE WITH ME.

I DON'T HAVE TO BE INVOLVED ON JUST AGAIN, YOU TWO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

PICK A THIRD PERSON AS YOU READ THE MOTION.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM COME BEFORE THE BOARD AND ALL PARTIES HAVE PRESENCE SUCH AS CRAVING COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

MR. VIRGINIA, MARY, SARAH, ARE YOU ADDING TO IT? THAT IT WOULD BE A WORKING GROUP, BUT NOT AN AGENDA ITEM.

I'LL WITHDRAW THE AGENDA ITEM AND AMY CAN MAKE IT BE A WORKING GROUP.

SO IT'S NOT CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

SO THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

AND THEN THAT WORKING GROUP CAN REPORT BACK TO THE PRESENTATION.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THIS IN OUR NEW CONFERENCE ROOM? I MEAN, IT'S THE PUBLIC, UH, UH, WORK IN BRITAIN.

IT WAS BIG IN HERE MAYBE, OR NO, NOT NECESSARILY.

YOU GOT TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE ATTENDEES OF THE PUBLIC.

WELL, I WOULD THINK, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BRING ALL THE PARTIES TO PROTECT THE WORKING PARTIES TO THE TABLE FOR JUSTICE FIRST TO GET THAT RIGHT.

AND THEN COME BACK TO A PUBLIC AND PRESENT WHAT WE SAID, WHAT YOU FOUND IN LIKE THE PARKING COMMITTEE.

DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL OR DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO SCHOOL OR TO SIT THROUGH GETTING, YOU KNOW, A TRADE, BUT THEY CAN COOK.

SO, UM, SO WE DON'T NEED A MOTION.

WE'RE JUST, WE'RE ALL UP.

WE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE AND I THINK YOU DO NEED TO MAKE SOME SORT OF, UH, CAN I ASK THE QUESTION? YES.

WELL, WE'RE UNDER DISCUSSION, SO YEAH.

UM, WHY, WHY IS THIS JUST FOOD TRUCKS, COOKING KITCHENS? WELL, IT'S NOT, WE WANT TO DO THE MARKET CENTER TOO.

CAUSE YOU HEARD THE YOUNG LADY SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF STIPULATIONS AT THE FOOD MARKET.

WE WANT THE ORIGINAL IDEA TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO YOU WANT A PLAN.

SO IF SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO START A SCREEN PRINTING SHOP AND THEY WANT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO SCREEN PRINT, BUT THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT IT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALL ENTREPRENEURS.

NO, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT COVERED THE YOUNG CENTER.

UM, THE VILLAGE THEY OFFER THAT THEY HAVE THAT THERE, THEY HAVE LIKE THAT PROGRAM THERE.

SO YEAH, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FOOD OF A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO BE ABLE TO FOOD PREP.

IT'S APPROVED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

CAUSE ONCE IT'S BUILT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TO COME AND CERTIFY THAT KITCHEN AND THEN THEY CAN GO AROUND.

WAIT, MAYBE I'M JUST OFF GETTING LATE.

MAYBE I'M OFF TRACK.

MY POINT IS, IS IF SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE OR WATCHING TONIGHT SAYS, WELL, I HAVE THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT TOO.

AND I WON'T HAVE A PLACE TO DO MY, MY BUSINESS.

BUT ALL THIS TALKING CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN ASPECT.

WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE? BECAUSE JEFF SAID HE'S HAD FIVE OR SO PEOPLE WALKING OFF THE STREET AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, THERE WAS TWO HERE TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THERE'S 20 PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY WANT TO SAY, WELL, WHY ISN'T THE CITY GOING TO SUBSIDIZE ME? BECAUSE, AND MY POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO, IS THAT NOT WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE ENTREPRENEURS CENTER THAT WENT SOUTH BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T UTILIZE IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN A GOOD LOCATION AND THAT'S POLITICS TOO.

MR. HOLD'EM.

SO YOUR QUESTION THAT YOU SAID IS THAT IF WE SAT HERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE EVERYTHING, THEN IT STOPPED WHEN WE SAID YES OR THE MAJORITY OF YOU SAID YES, ON APRIL 13, BECAUSE THE COLLEGE ONLY WANTED TO DO THE THINGS THAT WERE A BENEFIT TO THE COLLEGE AND YOU LEFT OUT ENTREPRENEURS.

SO THESE ARE A FORM OF ENTREPRENEURS.

AND THEN WE HAVE A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A VILLAGE THAT PICKS UP AND FILLS IN THE GAP, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THEM THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COMBAT THE FOOD ISSUE.

SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT IN A SHORTAGE OF SHIRTS, WE'RE IN A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE EARNING MONEY THAT

[02:40:01]

THEY GOT THEIR GRANDPARENTS RECIPES OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR, ON A BAGEL, ALBERT WOMAN HARRIS.

YOU'RE GOOD WITH THE, THAT THE MOTION IS WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A GROUP OR WORKING WITH A WORKING GROUP AND THEN COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT WHAT WE'VE HAD COME TOGETHER WITH.

MAY YOUR OUTLAW ALDERMAN KINSEY ALDERMAN DESK.

OTTOMAN OWNERS MOTION CARRIES, UH, THE BUSINESS YES.

SO JUST TWO THINGS.

UM, I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK IN OUR LOCAL NEWS.

I WAS SO EXCITED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ARTICLE ABOUT FORMATIVE ACTION.

UM, MS. BARBARA, SAMSON CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE ON IT AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, BEEN SAYING SINCE 2018, ESPECIALLY GETTING WITH YOU AND MS. BARBARA ABOUT THE DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION OFFICER.

AND I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT BEHIND IT.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER ANOTHER WORKING GROUP, WHICH BRINGING THE, SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT ORGANIZATION TO THE TABLE, WITH THE CITY, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT CREATING AND MAINTAINING AND FUNDING IN HIRING A DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION OFFICER FOR OUR CITY.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MS BARBARA EXPRESSED, UM, YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW.

I, I HAVE A STRONG FEELING IN, IN THOSE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS THAT GO ON WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN THE CITY, WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING, UM, WE BAN THE BOX AND WE NEED TO SEE A BENEFIT OF BEING IN THE BOX AND BASED ON THE CENSUS, BASED ON THE NUMBERS, IT DOESN'T, THE MAP IS NOT MATH.

AND WHEN IT COMES UP TO THE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY, WE'RE NOT SAYING HIRE PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE MINORITY HIRE THE BEST CANDIDATE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEEK THEM OUT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE RELATABLE PEOPLE.

WE NEED A LIAISON.

SO WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK THIS OUT SO THAT WE CAN FUND THIS POSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

WE WANT ALL CITIZENS TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE CARED ABOUT.

WE DON'T NEED MISS MAMA SAMPSON COMING UP HERE AND SAYING THAT SHE FEELS THE CITY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T WANT ALL THE MEN SITTING ON THE BOARD THAT ARE OFF COLOR THAT REPRESENT MAJORITY MINORITIES FEEL LIKE, OH, WE'RE ALWAYS FIGHTING.

WE NEED TO START DOING THE RIGHT THING AND NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT, BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THESE RIGHT DECISIONS.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER.

WHOEVER WANTS TO, OR HAVE A WORKING GROUP, OR THIS MAY BE A WORKING SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER IS, WHAT THEIR JOB DUTY WILL DO AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

DO YOU, DO YOU GUYS STAY, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE OR DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING, UM, IS, IS THE COMMITTEE GOING, I FELT FROM READING THAT ARTICLE YOU, AT SOME POINT THEY WERE GOING TO COME FOR AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD VOMIT IS THAT I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM.

I'M SPEAKING FOR THE EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2018.

AND IN LIGHT OF THAT ARTICLE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

AND SO, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THE LEGWORK AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AND I'VE DISCUSSED AND SENT ARTICLES.

NOW IT'S TIME TO SAY, YES, WE DO.

WE HEARD YOU LET'S COME TOGETHER AND WORK THIS TOGETHER AS A WORKING GROUP WITH THEM ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

NOT JUST THEM WORKING ON IT AND BRING IT TO US.

WE'RE AT THE TABLE WITH THEM AND TALKING TO THEM.

I ASK YOU A QUESTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY IS HE SEE YOUR BATHROOM.

YOU GOT THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT AND I'LL BE GLAD FOR YOU TO ANSWER, BUT I DON'T PARTICULARLY PUT YOU ON THE SPOT IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER RECOVER.

I KNEW I JUST WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT'S THE PRESENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY OF THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

I WANT TO ASK THAT QUESTION TO MAKE SURE I'VE SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE ATTORNEY.

SO I DIDN'T SEE.

I MEAN, THAT'S EXACTLY, THAT'S THE CENTER OF HR.

DO YOU NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT? COULD, COULD I TAKE A SUGGESTION? YES.

COULD, COULD WE GET SONYA OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING AS AN AGENDA ITEM AND LET HER MAKE A PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT ON WHAT OUR POLICY IS, WHAT THEY DO NOW TO RECRUIT.

CAN WE DO THAT FIRST? OKAY.

[02:45:01]

THIS A WORTHY CAUSE ON THE HAIRS, YOU ONLY THING I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU IS THAT YOU ARE COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY THIS? BECAUSE I, A LOT OF ADMIRATION FOR SONYA HAYES, UM, I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF HR DIRECTORS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUSINESS BUSINESSES AND, UM, SHE IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE ANYBODY I'VE EVER WORKED WITH SONYA.

YOU ARE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL WOMAN.

SHE'S A WOMAN OF COLOR.

AND I THINK OUR CITY, THERE'S A FINEST EXAMPLE RIGHT THERE THAT WE HAVE THAT PERSON LEADING OUR CITY WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING EMPLOYEES.

AND AGAIN, I'VE WORKED WITH MANY ACROSS THE BOARD AND, UM, SHE HAS HEADING CHILDREN'S, YOU KNOW, ABOVE ANYBODY I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.

SO I THINK TO HEAR FROM HER AND WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY WOULD, YEAH, I DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT.

AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY RIGHT NOW SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR IN MANAGEMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO SPEAK ABOUT.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HER ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

DO WE NEED TWO PEOPLE OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO FOR THE 26TH? IS THAT ENOUGH TIME YOU GOT YOUR DIRECTION OR THEY WON'T SAY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY, UH, DETAILED ARTICLE TODAY.

UH, I'LL ADD SOME VERY VALID CONCERNS AND POINTS.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS ABOUT 10 ITEMS OR WHAT, BUT IT WAS A GOOD NUMBER.

AND ON THE HEAD, I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY GOOD ARTICLE.

WELL, WELL RESEARCHED AND PUT TOGETHER.

AND THEN CHARLIE HALL ACTUALLY CALLED ME AND, AND, UM, MY COMMENTS TO HIM WERE IS THAT ANYTIME ANYBODY, UH, HE THINKS ABOUT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CITY, YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE PRAY BEFORE A BOARD WILL GET THEM AN ANSWER.

UH, JUST LIKE HIS SAGE WILL NEXT MEETING, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.

AND, UH, I MET HIM ON MANY OCCASIONS.

I CALL HER AND, AND I WILL PUT YOU ON SPOT, BUT I KNOW I ASKED YOU, I WOULDN'T SAY ANNUALLY, BUT OFTEN IS THE CITY OF NEWBURGH IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER ITEMS LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN, UM, I, I WAS A LITTLE CAUGHT OFF GUARD THERE, 20%, 20%.

AND THAT SIDE OF THAT, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT, BUT YOU'RE STILL UNDER MY NEW BUSINESS.

THE LAST THING, UM, IS THAT, UM, UH, I HAVE TO HAVE, UM, ONE MORE SURGERY.

UM, SO YES, SO THIS IS MY LAST MEETING.

I GET EMOTIONAL CAUSE IT'S A LOT TO GO THROUGH, BUT THIS IS MY LAST MEETING PHYSICALLY HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I WILL BE ON PHONE.

I HAVE NOT MISSED A MEETING AND I DON'T PLAN TO IF THERE IS COMMUNITY EVENTS AND I CAN NOT MAKE THEM TRUST AND BELIEVE THERE IS SOMEONE THAT IS THERE FOR MY TEAM, FROM MY VILLAGE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, I HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT TEAM.

SO, YOU KNOW, ANYONE THAT DOES KNOW MY STORY, THE BOARD, I ASKED FOR YOU TO JUST KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS, BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SURGERY, UM, TO FIND A LIES, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH.

SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT ME.

I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR, ALWAYS CALLS ME AND CHECKS UP ON ME, MR. AND EVERYBODY MS. BARBARA.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

UM, THIS IS ONE LAST BATTLE I NEED TO TACKLE AND THEN I CAN GET MY LIFE COMPLETELY BACK AND THEN I'LL BE BACK BETTER THAN EVER THE, PROBABLY THE LAST MONTH OF OCTOBER.

SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY, I WON'T BE HERE, BUT I WILL BE HERE VIA PHONE.

SO YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME THAT EASY.

BUT BESIDES THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.

AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BE PRAYING FOR YOU.

THE POWER OF PRAYER.

I'VE SEEN IT WORK IN PEOPLE'S LIVES ANYTIME.

SO, UH, UM, YOU WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS AND WE, ANYTHING WE CAN DO, PLEASE PICK THE PHONE UP IN A, I MEAN, ANYTHING, JUST GIVE ME ON WHATEVER.

UM, YOU, YOU, YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT TO ME TONIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU MENTIONED MY PASSION FOR DRAINAGE AND DITCHES AND, AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO RESPECT YOU AS MUCH AS YOU DO ME ON THAT FOR YOUR ACTIONS TO KNOW ALL MY BAD SIN AND VIEW, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS.

AND, UH, I'LL PRAY ALSO THAT THIS BOARD WILL WORK THROUGH THE CONCERNS OF, OF, UM, PROVIDING MORE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL PROFITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCOME, UH, AND FOR FAMILIES AND EVERYTHING.

AND AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZE THERE IS FOOD DESERT IN THE CITY.

AND, UH, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BRING THAT TURNING IN, IS

[02:50:01]

AMEN.

UM, JUST REALLY QUICKLY.

UM, AND IT IMPACTS ALL OF ALL THE WARDS TECHNICALLY, BUT, UM, DUT MODE LAST WEEK AND DID A TERRIBLE JOB BECAUSE THERE WAS TRASH ALL ALONG THE THING AND JUST MOWED ALL OVER.

SO WE GOT COMPLAINTS.

UM, FOSTER DID AN AMAZING JOB IN REACHING OUT TO DEITY, WHO SAID, SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY.

WE'RE NOT PICKING IT UP PRETTY MUCH.

WHO'S THAT? THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID, IS THAT CORRECT? SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF NEW BERN WHO TODAY SENT THEIR PUBLIC WORK STAFF OUT AND CLEANED UP OUR HOT.

I SAW THAT, UM, WAS OUT THERE PICKING UP AND CLEANING UP BECAUSE REALLY THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CITY AND WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT TRASH OUT ON THE HIGHWAY.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I MADE A PHONE CALL TO REPRESENTATIVE TYSON TODAY, AND HE IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO YOUR TEAM.

CAUSE WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

OR WE MAY HAVE TO SEND THEM THE BILL BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PICK UP WHAT THEY MADE A MESS OUT.

I HAVE TO.

UM, THAT'S IT.

AND THEN, UM, I DO WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY IF SHE CAN HEAR ME OR NOT, THERE'S BEEN A PROBLEM ON FACEBOOK ALL NIGHT LONG AND PEOPLE COMPLAINING SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE AND THAT'S BY NO MEANS WHAT THE CASE IS.

WE HAVE A NEW SET UP HERE.

IF YOU CAN COME TO THE COURTROOM AND SEE IT, ALL THE WIRES ARE GONE, ALL OF THAT.

AND THEY'VE DONE SOME REALLY AMAZING UPFITS HERE AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE KINKS.

SO WE APOLOGIZE.

UH, COLLEEN HAS FULLY VIDEOED THE MEETING.

YOU CAN GET THE FULL BLOWN, ALL THE COMMENTS, UM, ON OUR WEBSITE OR CITYTV FACTORY.

SO, UM, I APOLOGIZE THAT.

DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT? YES, SIR.

MR MANAGER, COULD YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE STANDING LIGHT PROJECT WITH FEMA? YES, SIR.

SO AS WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS, UH, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PHASE, UM, THAT THAT ASSESSMENT WAS TURNED INTO FEMA.

THEY HAVE COME BACK WITH US ON A CONTINUAL BASIS ASKING US TO GIVE UPDATES.

UM, THEY'VE ASKED US FOR ANOTHER UPDATE AS RECENTLY AS, UM, LAST FRIDAY, HOWEVER, LAST WEEK FEMA ALSO REACHED OUT AND SAID, THEY'RE READY TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING.

SO THE DATE WE DISCUSSED WAS JULY 29TH, THURSDAY NIGHT.

WE DISCUSSED IT BEING AT THE OMEGA CENTER, WHICH IS WHAT FEMA REQUESTED 7:00 PM.

HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT CONFIRMED.

FEMA HAS NOT CONFIRMED THAT DAY.

WE HAVE CONFIRMED WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, THAT THE MEGA CENTER IS AVAILABLE.

SO THE BALL'S IN FAMOUS CORE.

WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM.

IT'S FAMOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVERTISE THIS MEETING.

THIS IS FAMOUS MEETING, SO WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO HELP THEM IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.

BUT AT THIS PUBLIC INPUT MEETING, IF WE MOVE, WE'LL MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN THEY WILL TAKE, UH, COMMENTS FROM ANY CITIZENS WHO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS PROJECT.