The Gastonia City Council met on November 15, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Gaston County Courthouse. The meeting began with an invocation by Ray Hamam of the Islamic Society of Gastonia, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Walker E. Reid III. The council adopted the agenda and approved the minutes of the November 1, 2022 meeting. A series of proclamations and recognitions were presented, including honors for Senator Kathy Harrington, Miss Gastonia 2022 Sharidan Amiya Costner, retiring Planning Commissioner Bob Cinq-Mars, the Season of Agape, the Gaston Day High School men’s soccer team, and two neighborhood associations for the ACE program. Interim Police Chief Trent Conard gave a presentation on Shop with a Cop and holiday theft prevention, noting 495 thefts from motor vehicles and 264 motor vehicle thefts year-to-date. The meeting included four public speakers, three annexation/rezoning public hearings, a report from the Recreation Advisory Commission, and approval of an engineering services contract for the General Obligation Transportation Bond resurfacing program.
My name is Ray Hamam. I'm from the Islamic Society of Gastonia. Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, let's pray. Smillah Rahman Rahim, was salatu was salamuada, Muhammad Sajak al-Amin. In the name of God, most compassionate, the most merciful, the Lord of all things that exist, the Lord of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, the Lord of all things, we pray in your name, our sustainer, our guide, ever present, never unaware, infinitely able, your servants and loving care, guide us, guide us to pure convictions that inspire in us the courage to match those convictions. We pray for love, not hate, benevolence, not greed, unity, not division, and we commit to you. Let us be for truth, no matter who or for it is against, and justice no matter who or for it is against, and hope no matter what obstacles lie ahead. Let us be emboldened by the love that God gathered us together to remember you. We ask you to guide the deliberation of our city council member to just decisions and bring forth prosperity and blessings to our city and citizens. And we ask you to guide our nation to the abode of reconciliation. May we honor one another, glorify you together, and inspire the world to be better. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Ray. A pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, in the visible, with liberty and justice for you all. You may be seated. Under item C, the adoption of the agenda, the additions, deletions, corrections to the agenda this evening. If not, what are we counseling? I move that we accept the agenda as presented. Of motion second, all in favor, please indicate. Thank you very much. And item D, approval of the minutes for the regular council meeting on November 1st. Are there any corrections? Changes, if not, for the wishes council. Mayor move to approve. Second. Over motion and a second, all in favor, please indicate. Thank you very much. On the item E, award ceremonies and promotions. Proclamation recognizes Senator Kathy Harrington, our recipient this evening. I will be presenting it to her. Ms. Harrington, if you're here, I ask that you come to the podium. Good to see you. Whereas the honorable senator Kathy Harrington grew up in Gastonia, is a graduate of Hunter Hus High School, and attended Gas and College, and has been involved in Gas County politics for decades, including many grassroots campaigns for local, statewide, and national Republican candidates. And whereas Senator Harrington, who is also a North Carolina real estate broker, was first elected to represent Gasson County in 2011, as center, as senator in the state of North Carolina General Assembly, and was elected Senate Majority Leader in 2020, making her the first woman elected to that position. And whereas Senator Harrington has received numerous awards from organizations in her district, including the Metro Mayor's Coalition Award for Transportation Policy, and because of her history of staying connected with her constituency, she has often been referred to as the People Senator, and whereas Senator Harrington gives back to her community in many ways, including being an advocate for abused and elected children, and a volunteer mentor and tutor at several elementary schools, as well as serving on several community boards, such as Gason County Museum of Art and History, Gas and Dance Theater, and Piedmont Community Charter School, where she served as chairwoman of both the governance committee and the interim high school board. Now, therefore, I walk E. Reed III, Mayor of the City of Gastonia, and the City Council of the City of Gastonia here do recognize and congratulate the Honorable Senator Kathy Harrington as she completes her final term in the Senate and thank her for her dedication and commitment to serving our community. A witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the city of Gastonia to be a fixed this the 15th day of November in the year of our Lord 2022. Walk E. Reed the third mayor, Suzanne Gibbs, City Clerk. I think we she deserved a great round of applause for her service. Now, now it's your time. I would just like to say that it's been an honor to represent the people of Gaston County and the City of Gastonia for these last 12 years. It's been a privilege and an honor, and I thank you so much for this proclamation. Thank you. You're welcome.