Gastonia City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025

The Gastonia City Council met Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Public Forum Room of the Gaston County Courthouse. The meeting was dominated by the council's response to the February 18, 2025 incident in which Mayor Richard Franks threatened to have Councilwoman Donyel Barber removed from the dais. Mayor Franks apologized, and the council unanimously approved a resolution of censure. The council also presented a proclamation, heard 19 public expression speakers, approved the consent agenda, held a public hearing on a Unified Development Ordinance amendment, and discussed whether councilmembers should provide weekly updates on meetings with developers.

Proclamation: Omega Psi Phi 75th Anniversary

• Councilwoman Donyel Barber presented a proclamation recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Glenn McFadden, Basileus, accepted on behalf of the chapter. The council voted unanimously to accept the proclamation into the official record.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:
  • Resolution approving issuance by the Gastonia Housing Authority of not to exceed $35,000,000 in multifamily housing revenue bonds for The Lofts at Hudson, with no fiscal impact to the city. Attorney Nancy Pascal explained the housing authority issues the bonds, the developer is responsible for repayment, and neither the city nor the housing authority is liable. The 252-unit, mixed-income project would include a percentage of affordable units; she estimated 20 to 40 percent. Councilwoman Little John questioned whether that percentage was high enough given the size of the bond, but no change was made.
  • Final recording plat for Cramer Estates Phase 2 Subdivision.
  • January 2025 Monthly Financial Report.
  • Resolution accepting a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant of $351,900 for the Water Treatment Plant Resilient Power Project, including budget amendment and designation of agent.
  • Contract award to Blythe Construction, Inc. for $3,690,992.85 for the 2024 General Obligation Bond resurfacing program.
  • Resolution approving Tyler Technologies as a sole source vendor.

Public Comments & Testimony

Mayor Franks extended public expression from 30 to 60 minutes; 19 people signed up and each speaker was allotted three minutes. Many speakers addressed the February 18 incident.

• Pastor Justin Ross Hilliard commended the apology but said more was needed, including a private meeting with Councilwoman Barber and restorative work to prevent recurrence.
• Angela Drear, a lifelong resident, said the incident was embarrassing, asked for training on Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure, and stated that an apology without a change in behavior is not an apology.
• A resident identified as Anna expressed concerns about homelessness, affordable housing, and cultural activities, and said Mayor Franks's lack of preparation and behavior were unacceptable; she also said apologies were owed to deputies and constituents.
• Lisa Reynolds, a Gastonia resident, welcomed the apology and urged a commitment to respectful governance, saying national politics should not dictate local behavior.
• Walt Malloney, a former council member and mayor pro tem, said the mayor's role is largely ceremonial and he did not have power to remove an elected official; he called the attempt to weaponize law enforcement scary and asked the mayor to mean the apology.
• Deanna Graham, second vice president of the Gastonia NAACP, asked for public apology, formal censure, comprehensive training, and an apology from council members who did not call a point of order.
• Sean Bates, president of the Gastonia NAACP, said the apology and censure were given but the city needed a little more heart in making things right.
• Otis Davis commended Mayor Franks for taking accountability and said the moment should be used to learn and grow.
• Donna Elliott asked why councilmembers had not supported Councilwoman Barber on February 18 and said censure is not enough; we need real change.
• Todd Husteller called for Mayor Franks's resignation, called the apology fake, and criticized councilmembers for not intervening.
• James Kellogg, a retired public school teacher, praised Barber's accessibility, asked the council to revisit the DEI program, and referenced an email from Representative Donnie Loftus about council politics.
• Richard Reed, pastor and moderator of the Gaston County Missionary Baptist Association, said he represents 29 churches and about 20,000 constituents, described the video as going viral nationally, and offered clergy mediation.
• Gregory Floyd, chair of the Gaston County Progressive Coalition, asked the mayor to lead with dignity and said the coalition was watching.
• John Scheitler, a physician and business owner, said the behavior was unacceptable.
• Todd Akers and Juan Placencia of Stratis Construction presented the Hope Enterprise Program, a proposed public-private partnership for the Fourth Ward that would include single-family homes priced between $175,000 and $225,000, financial literacy and credit repair programs, and a neighborhood market. They said the company would formally respond to the RFP for 17 city-owned sites; Placencia noted the firm is already building homes on Rankin Avenue and East Hilltop Drive.
• Emily Parker, a lifelong Ward 6 resident, presented a petition with 1,236 signatures demanding a public apology and censure, criticized the council's vote to eliminate DEI, and warned that four council seats are on the ballot in 2025.

Committee Report: Central City Revitalization & Housing / Community Engagement

• Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp reported on the committee's February 24 meeting. The committee recommended approval of a resolution to spend $77,833 for consulting services with APD Urban Planning and Management, LLC to develop a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) plan for the Marietta Street Corridor, using Community Development Block Grant and Affordable Housing Program funds. Councilwoman Stepp moved approval; the council voted unanimously. Danette Dye said the area was selected because the city already has invested in Walker Park and the corridor is a blighted, low/moderate-income census tract; the NRSA designation would allow federal dollars to be concentrated there for five years and could be replicated elsewhere.
• The committee also discussed Christmas in the City, scheduled for December 7, 2025, with the parade start kept at 5:00 p.m., the Culinair conference center management contract, and the legal process for selling city-owned real property.

Public Hearing – Unified Development Ordinance Amendment (File #202500040)

• Senior Planner Maddy Gates presented the text amendment, continued from February 18. Part 1 would update the R2D2 revised residential development district and subdivision standards, including increasing minor modification allowances for yard encroachments from one foot or 10 percent to 20 percent; clarifying street stub connections; setting cul-de-sac length at 500 feet; expanding lot frontage flexibility; and requiring two entrances for subdivisions over 75 lots and three entrances for subdivisions over 150 lots, subject to administrator waiver.
• Part 2 would align the ordinance with North Carolina Chapter 160D by replacing special exception with special use permit and changing review body references from the board of adjustment to the planning commission in specified sections, or removing obsolete special exception references.
• Gates said the Planning Commission recommended approval unanimously, 7–0, and staff recommended approval. Staff confirmed that projects already submitted are grandfathered and may choose whether to use the new rules. Councilwoman Barber asked about due process; staff said appeals and variances remain available through the board of adjustment. After the city attorney noted that two motions were required, the council closed the hearing and voted unanimously to approve the ordinance amendment, then voted unanimously to adopt the statement of consistency and reasonableness.

Discussion: Weekly Updates of Meetings with Developers

• Councilman Gallagher asked councilmembers to share with the clerk information about upcoming meetings with developers so the full council could know about them; he invited colleagues to an upcoming meeting he planned with a developer. Councilwoman Barber, Councilwoman Stepp, and Councilman Koutsoupias opposed creating a formal log or weekly reporting requirement, citing the need to avoid the appearance of preferential treatment, the importance of directing developers to city staff, and concerns about creating burdens or gotcha politics. Councilwoman Little John said she already shares information, directs developers to staff, and works through the proper process. The discussion ended without a motion or formal action.

City Manager and Attorney Reports

• Interim City Attorney Charles L. Graham, Jr. had no report.
• City Manager Michael Peoples provided updates on the Sims Mitigation Project, Catawba Creek Greenway, Southeast Utility Extension Project, and Highland Creek Greenway; noted the Highland Development RFP is due Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.; announced Free Trash Week March 17–21; and warned of incoming inclement weather. He asked whether the mayor could sign a letter to the U.S. delegation about potential HUD impacts; Mayor Franks said he was comfortable signing it and councilmembers appeared to agree.

Council Reports, Announcements, and Adjournment

• Councilmembers gave individual reports covering police department awards, retirement of former City Attorney Ash, joint planning commission work, transportation and MPO meetings, a community mentoring meeting, sanitation efforts, ABC Board financial results, the Schiele Museum paleo project, and regional legislative outreach. Mayor Franks announced upcoming meetings, including attorney interviews on March 10, a stormwater workshop on March 18, a budget work session on March 25, and a joint meeting with the Gaston County Board of Commissioners on April 1. The meeting adjourned unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda amended to add the resolution of censure; adopted unanimously.
• Minutes of the February 18, 2025 regular meeting approved.
• Mayor Richard Franks censured unanimously for conduct tending to bring the city and council into disrepute.
• Proclamation for Omega Psi Phi's 75th anniversary accepted unanimously.
• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• APD Urban Planning and Management NRSA agreement approved unanimously for $77,833.
• Unified Development Ordinance amendment approved unanimously, with the statement of consistency approved unanimously.
• No formal action on weekly developer meeting updates; discussion only.
• Council placed a three-minute limit on individual council report remarks.
• Next regular City Council meeting scheduled for March 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.