OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - January 7, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, January 7, 2025
BodyGastonia, North Carolina
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, January 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:45:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

25 meeting.

0:01

I will now call the meeting to order.

0:05

And at this time, we will have an invocation by Councilwoman Jennifer Step.

0:10

Thank you, Mayor.

0:12

If you would like to join me in prayer, please do so.

0:16

Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful crisp winter day.

0:20

We thank you for the provisions you have given us to keep us healthy and warm.

0:24

We pray for those who may not have a warm place to be, and that they will find the help and resources they need to be safe and warm, and that we will be your instruments to help those that are suffering and the opportunities that you may provide for us.

0:38

We thank you for those who are working to help, to the nonprofits, the churches, and the government staff.

0:44

We thank you for First Methodist Church for opening their doors to be a cold weather shelter, and all those who are volunteering their time to help there.

0:53

We pray for those who are sick and suffering from disease.

0:56

We ask that you, the great physician, place your healing hand upon them and make them whole.

1:02

We thank you for the holiday season.

1:04

We were just able to celebrate with our loved ones, the fellowship, the parties, the family get togethers, the food, the worship, the traditions and celebrations.

1:13

Thank you for our time to remember and to rejoice.

1:16

For some, the holidays are a hard time of the year as they may have not had the resources, or they may be suffering or lonely or dealing with recent loss.

1:24

For those, we ask a special measure of your love, mercy, and peace.

1:28

Let us be ones who may reach out to show love and care to those who are hurting.

1:33

Now, as we enter a new year, we ask you for your blessing.

1:36

May we use our talents and resources in a way that would honor and please you.

1:41

May we learn from lessons of past mistakes and move forward with a fresh perspective in the new zeal.

1:47

May we learn to forgive those who may have wronged us and seek forgiveness for those we may have wronged and to work to restore broken relationships.

1:57

Help us to move forward from our losses, though some may seem unbearable at times.

2:02

Give us rest and peace and restore our joy.

2:05

We pray for your protection on our city, our state, and our country, our citizens, our staff, and especially those who serve to keep us safe.

2:14

We ask for a great awakening and revival throughout our land.

2:17

May we turn our hearts back to you and seek you and your kingdom first.

2:21

And Lord, may we put aside our pride and our selfish ambitions and learn to truly love one another as part of one family, your family.

2:28

Let us show kindness, understanding, and patience.

2:31

And now as we enter into this meeting to represent our great people, and as we do this city's business, we ask you grant us wisdom and give us discernment.

2:40

Let us serve with pure motives and according to your word.

2:43

Let us find favor in your sight.

2:45

We ask all these things in your name.

2:47

Amen.

2:51

And Lonnie Sted, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please?

3:02

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

3:07

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice.

3:17

Thank you, sir.

3:23

Everyone should have the agenda in front of them.

3:27

And we actually have a memorandum noting that we need to amend the agenda to include a budget, a budget amendment with item G9 on the consent agenda, and to add item H to nominations and voting to fill ward for vacant city council seat to the regular agenda.

3:48

So moved.

3:49

Second.

3:50

We have a motion, we have a second.

3:51

All those in favor.

3:55

Next, we need to approve the minutes from December 17th, 2024.

4:01

And uh we just have that one set.

4:04

Move to approve.

4:06

Second.

4:07

We have a motion, we have a second.

4:08

All those in favor.

4:10

It's unanimous.

4:17

Now all these lovely people get to stand up and introduce themselves.

4:22

We will have the presentation of the 2025 City of Gastonia, Municipal Citizens Academy participants.

4:28

Our presenters will be Mr.

4:30

Quentin McFadder, he is assistant city manager, and Mr.

4:33

Tyler Davis, he is our neighborhood plant program administrator.

4:39

Good evening, uh Mayor, City Council members.

4:41

Um it's that time of year uh where we actually kick off the municipal uh government academy where uh our participants actually get a chance to get an understanding of local government, uh, learn about the duties of our various departments and meet the people that make our great city.

5:00

Um during these 10 sessions, and I do mean 10 sessions, uh, they get a chance to interact with our very various personnel, uh, meet with special guests, um, and basically take the time to cover a variety of subjects right in front of the municipal election process all the way down to inner workings of our public safety departments.

5:14

Uh through this experience, we hope that our participants will gain valuable experience and knowledge of operations of our great city and learn about their importance and the uh governmental process.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████████29%
Public Safety██████████████████████22%
Public Works██████████10%
Procedural██████6%
Community Events██████6%
Municipal Leadership█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - January7, 2025

The Gastonia City Council met on January 7, 2025 (agenda time 6:00 PM, transcription timestamp 11:15:00+00:00) in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included an invocation, pledge of allegiance, approval of minutes, presentation of the 2025 Municipal Citizens' Academy participants, public expression, consent agenda approval, a regular agenda item on the Real Time Crime Center contract, and appointment to fill the vacant Ward IV council seat.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from December 17, 2024.
  • Adopted the consent agenda (items G.1–G.10) unanimously after discussion on G.10 regarding demolition of properties at 2956 & 2964 Union Road. The City Attorney clarified that demolition costs will become a lien on the property, which has $90,000+ in taxes owed and no estate filed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Melvin Herring thanked Cheryl Littlejohn for mentoring his family.
  • Cheryl Cooper praised Cheryl Littlejohn’s integrity and community impact.
  • Jessica Marcial shared how Littlejohn mentored her daughter, helping her avoid a troubled path.
  • Dr. Doris Sanders presented a complaint about water damage from a City water main repair on October 18, 2024, which caused a burst pressure valve and extensive damage to her home. She stated she was displaced, incurred $45,000 in costs, and requested a fair settlement, accountability, and investigation into unrepaired water leaks in the city.
  • Mayor Franks read a letter from Anderson D. Warlick (CEO of Parkdale Inc.) endorsing Cheryl Littlejohn for the Ward IV vacancy, citing her community work and business acumen.

Discussion Items

  • Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) Update and Contract Award (Presenter: Dr. Tonya Taylor). The RTCC will ingest and analyze surveillance data (LPRs, gunshot detection, etc.) to strengthen community safety. A contract with Relevant AV Solutions for $571,388.53 was presented, funded by a federal COPS grant. Discussion included the facility layout (40x30 ft room, 8x2 video wall), staffing plan (4 positions in FY26, expanding to 24/7 by FY27), and integration with existing cameras (DOT, Flock Condor, license plate readers). Council members asked about crime reduction data (difficult to quantify), civil liberties protections (encrypted, password-protected), and future drone integration. The contract was approved unanimously.
  • Appointment to Fill Ward IV Vacancy. After interviewing five candidates the prior evening, Councilwoman Stepp nominated Cheryl Littlejohn. The motion was seconded. A vote was taken: 4 in favor, 2 opposed. Littlejohn was sworn in by the City Clerk.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the consent agenda (G.1–G.10) unanimously.
  • Approved the Real Time Crime Center contract with Relevant AV Solutions ($571,388.53) unanimously.
  • Appointed Cheryl Littlejohn to the Ward IV City Council seat (vote 4–2). Littlejohn took the oath of office.
  • City Manager reported on solid waste collections, progress on the Trenton Franklin mast arm project (4–6 weeks), and Sims Park mitigation project (state-funded, completion by June 6, 2025). Noted upcoming good news from USDOT (not yet public).
  • Council members announced upcoming events: MLK Day celebrations (Jan. 20), cold weather shelter volunteer needs, ribbon cutting for Caramont Belmont hospital, Citizens’ Academy sessions, and various committee meetings.

Meeting Transcript

25 meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. And at this time, we will have an invocation by Councilwoman Jennifer Step. Thank you, Mayor. If you would like to join me in prayer, please do so. Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful crisp winter day. We thank you for the provisions you have given us to keep us healthy and warm. We pray for those who may not have a warm place to be, and that they will find the help and resources they need to be safe and warm, and that we will be your instruments to help those that are suffering and the opportunities that you may provide for us. We thank you for those who are working to help, to the nonprofits, the churches, and the government staff. We thank you for First Methodist Church for opening their doors to be a cold weather shelter, and all those who are volunteering their time to help there. We pray for those who are sick and suffering from disease. We ask that you, the great physician, place your healing hand upon them and make them whole. We thank you for the holiday season. We were just able to celebrate with our loved ones, the fellowship, the parties, the family get togethers, the food, the worship, the traditions and celebrations. Thank you for our time to remember and to rejoice. For some, the holidays are a hard time of the year as they may have not had the resources, or they may be suffering or lonely or dealing with recent loss. For those, we ask a special measure of your love, mercy, and peace. Let us be ones who may reach out to show love and care to those who are hurting. Now, as we enter a new year, we ask you for your blessing. May we use our talents and resources in a way that would honor and please you. May we learn from lessons of past mistakes and move forward with a fresh perspective in the new zeal. May we learn to forgive those who may have wronged us and seek forgiveness for those we may have wronged and to work to restore broken relationships. Help us to move forward from our losses, though some may seem unbearable at times. Give us rest and peace and restore our joy. We pray for your protection on our city, our state, and our country, our citizens, our staff, and especially those who serve to keep us safe. We ask for a great awakening and revival throughout our land. May we turn our hearts back to you and seek you and your kingdom first. And Lord, may we put aside our pride and our selfish ambitions and learn to truly love one another as part of one family, your family. Let us show kindness, understanding, and patience. And now as we enter into this meeting to represent our great people, and as we do this city's business, we ask you grant us wisdom and give us discernment. Let us serve with pure motives and according to your word. Let us find favor in your sight. We ask all these things in your name. Amen. And Lonnie Sted, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice. Thank you, sir. Everyone should have the agenda in front of them. And we actually have a memorandum noting that we need to amend the agenda to include a budget, a budget amendment with item G9 on the consent agenda, and to add item H to nominations and voting to fill ward for vacant city council seat to the regular agenda. So moved. Second. We have a motion, we have a second. All those in favor. Next, we need to approve the minutes from December 17th, 2024. And uh we just have that one set. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion, we have a second. All those in favor.

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