Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – February 13, 2023
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – February 13, 2023
The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on February 13, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements and a proclamation honoring the Triple Nickel 555th Parachute Infantry Association, unanimous approval of the consent agenda, a public forum with seven speakers addressing public safety, infrastructure, and community concerns, and a series of failed votes to appoint a Public Works Commissioner.
Announcements & Recognitions
- Councilmember Hare announced a Mercury Road Corridor special projects meeting scheduled for March 2, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Council Chamber.
- The Mayor congratulated Josh Williams, a Fayetteville native and Kansas City Chiefs player, on his Super Bowl victory.
- Councilmember Banks McLaughlin presented a proclamation declaring February 2023 as Triple Nickel 555th Parachute Infantry Association Month. Trooper Tabron highlighted the association's scholarship program, providing 48–52 scholarships of $1,000 annually to Cumberland County high schools.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously by a motion from Mayor Pro Tem Dawkins, seconded by Councilmember Banks McLaughlin. Items included resolutions for the Phase 5 Annexation Utility Improvement Project, the State Action Plan for FY24, and bid recommendations for Greenock Avenue construction, pole mount transformers, generator replacement, and pad mount transformers.
Public Comments & Testimony
Seven speakers addressed the Council:
- Rick Iwanski urged accountability, transparency, and reform regarding mental health response, citing available grant funding and the HEARTS program data. He quoted Habakkuk to emphasize the need for action.
- Thureta Chance petitioned for city water and street lights on Moody Street, noting she pays for street lights out of her disability check. She expressed frustration with PWC charges for sewer without water service. The City Manager explained that Moody Street is in an unincorporated "donut hole" requiring a voluntary annexation petition.
- Brian Mello described a lack of water at his residence since December 6, 2022, due to his landlord turning it off. He reported a cycle of referrals between code enforcement and the health department. The City Manager promised follow-up.
- Angela Titan Milloy criticized the proposed hiring of a $71,400 assistant for the City Manager, calling it an institutional approach rather than a community-based solution. She advocated for the Office of Community Safety (OCS) and cited the HEARTS program as a model.
- Jose Cardona proposed a bullet control system using rubber bullets and ballistic signatures to aid crime prevention.
- Sean McMillan called for the establishment of a civilian-led Office of Community Safety, citing police violence cases and statistics showing FPD is among the most lethal in the state. He urged the Council to follow Greensboro and Durham's example.
- Christian Mosley questioned the annexation of land without tangible benefits for the black community, mentioning historical land theft and discriminatory covenants. He demanded ownership opportunities for residents.
Discussion Items
The only item of business was the appointment of a Public Works Commissioner. Councilmember Benevente nominated Joe Helichek. The vote failed 4–5 (Benevente, McNair, Hondros, Jensen in favor; Colvin, Banks McLaughlin, Dawkins, Hare, Thompson opposed). Councilmember Banks McLaughlin then nominated former Councilmember Ted Mohn. That vote failed 3–6 (Banks McLaughlin, McNair, Jensen in favor; Colvin, Hondros, Benevente, Dawkins, Hare, Thompson opposed). Councilmember Benevente moved to reconsider Helichek; the vote again failed 3–? (only Benevente, McNair, Jensen in favor). Councilmember Hare nominated Christopher Davis; that motion also failed 4–5. No appointment was made before the meeting adjourned.
Key Outcomes
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
- No appointment was made to the Public Works Commission after multiple failed votes.
- The City Manager's office committed to follow up with public forum speakers on housing and code enforcement issues.
- The next Mercury Road Corridor meeting was announced for March 2, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone would like to call our uh Monday, February 13th, uh Fairville City Council meeting in order. Welcome to those who are joining us in the audience, those who joining us uh remotely. At this time, we actually assistant Pastor Norris Bonner from Truvine Ministries uh will come to the podium uh for the invocation. Okay. Luckily, we have a lot of clergy on the panel here, so council member. You mind? All right, so if we could all stand for the prayer uh by Councilmember McNair immediately following the prayer, if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your love and your kindness, your tender mercy, your love. Uh forevermore. Father, we ask you to be in the midst of this meeting on tonight. And Father, we thank you for your advanced blessing that you have bestowed upon the city. Father, we accept and receive change in a positive manner. We accept love, God. God help us to join together that we might bring change in this community into Fairville, uh North Carolina. Father, touch every member on this board. God give us the heart to serve, to love, and to bring unity. And Father, touch everyone in this audience on today. Settle their minds and their hearts. Bring us closer together. Together we stand, divided, we shall fall. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you so much for the invocation. Amen. Uh at this time we'll move to the announcements. Uh, Councilmember Harry, you had an announcement. Thank you so much, Mayor. I do have a couple of announcements I would like to share. Um, for one thing, the because of this council and other councils, over the years, we have pushed forward for the Mercury Road Corridor to be a number one priority. I remember the days when it wasn't as much support. But thanks to this council and previous councils, I'm happy to announce that there's a lot of progress that's going on the Merks and Roll Corridor. And because those of us that directly uh represent the recorder, um, Councilwoman Jensen, Councilmember Ben Teddy, Benatelli, and Councilmember Ingram. We have come, did I say it right? Benevente. I'm sorry. I do sorry, sorry, Mario. Um, we will be having a Mercison Roll special projects meeting where all of the projects that's going on within the Mercury that the City of Fairville is involved in, financial assistance that the City of Fairville offers small business owners, along with uh Fairville State University being a part of that presentation. That's going to be on March the 2nd from 5 30 to 7 30. It's going to be right here in City Council Chambers. And I hope that everyone will that can please come and be a part of that meeting. And also, if you all just give me a personal note here, I wouldn't dare let this night pass without saying happy birthday to my beautiful wife this month and happy Valentine's Day to her and everyone else. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, and happy birthday to uh your lovely first lady as well. Uh at this time, um like to just before we uh move into the announcements, like to uh congratulate Fevil all uh Fevils on uh Josh Williams, a member of the Kansas City Chiefs for Victory Super Bowl, represented our city and our community in a in a great way, Fevil State graduate, Jack Britt uh graduate, and uh really represented us on a global stage yesterday victoriously. So, congratulations to uh Mr. Williams and and his team for great accomplishment. Uh though I know I have a colleague who uh is supportive in spirit, he's a Philadelphia Eagle fan. But uh great game and uh great representation of the city. At this time, we'll actually the leadership of Triple Nickel uh would come forth, have a presentation by Councilmember Banks McLaughlin. You meet her at the podium?
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