Gastonia City Council Meeting – July 15, 2025

The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Public Forum Room at Gaston County Courthouse in Gastonia, North Carolina. Mayor Richard Franks presided. Councilman Gallagher was excused unanimously. Councilwoman Barber gave the invocation, and Mayor Franks led the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was approved unanimously after no changes were offered.

Consent Agenda and Opening Items

• Council approved the D.1 joint Gastonia City Council / Gaston County Board of Commissioners special meeting minutes from June 17, 2025, and the D.2 regular City Council minutes from June 17, 2025, as amended to include a letter from Mayor Franks stating that his vote in favor of the FY2026 budget was made in error and that his intended vote was in opposition. The city attorney advised the letter clarified intent rather than changing the record and created no legal problem. Both minutes approvals were unanimous.
• Council approved the 11-item consent agenda unanimously, including subdivision maintenance acceptance for Robinson Oaks Phase 4 Map 1, Westfall Phase 1 Map 1, and Nolen Farm Phase 4 Map 1; the Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; traffic ordinance amendments; a $523,000 stormwater asset inventory assessment contract with Freese and Nichols using $337,000 in North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality grant funds; two refuse truck awards ($347,433.65 to Amick Equipment Company and $270,924 to Carolina Environmental Systems, Inc.); police patrol vehicle upfit equipment for $179,499.46; a $679,000 POWER UP grant from the U.S. Department of Energy; CDBG/HOME allocation adjustments of $6,418 and ($15,167); $4,273 in HOME-ARP revenue; and a $950,866 NCDOT utility relocation contract for E. Franklin Blvd.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tracy Champagne, a Gastonia resident, described a complaint she filed with the state attorney general's office concerning GoGastonia microtransit. She said drivers or contractors are required to pay $200 per week to use city-owned vehicles, which she called unfair and concerning, and she raised privacy and transparency questions about the hiring process managed by VIA through River North Transportation, including collection of driver's licenses, debit card information, and insurance details.
• George Fulwood, center director at Irwin and Bradley Community Center and a Highland Festival committee member, reported a successful and revamped Highland Festival, including a new youth basketball tournament and educational and wellness opportunities. He asked the city for additional funding, resources, or a partnership. He said the mayor had made a $2,400 verbal commitment for security that initially appeared no longer available; Mayor Franks responded that the commitment was on the table and that he had the check in his car.
• Zion McKenzie gave personal testimony urging churches to network, invest, and work together instead of competing, citing roughly 700 churches in Gaston County and 192 in Gastonia, with five churches within a mile of his home.
• Pastor Moses Cobert of Faith, Hope, and Love Community Enrichment Ministries said his ministry feeds, clothes, and supports homeless residents, reported an alarming number of deaths in the last week and 135 deaths previously, and asked the council to help protect vulnerable and unhoused people.
• Paris Knight, a resident and entertainer, called for more investment in Ward 4, including road repairs, lighting, sidewalks, cameras, and youth programs, and supported cooling areas for homeless people and veterans.
• Sister Carolyn Cole, a 78-year-old community advocate, pressed for a homeless shelter, criticized what she described as unused government funds, reported Charlotte homelessness was up 15 percent since last year, warned of more people becoming homeless if Medicaid, SNAP, and taxes change, and asked churches and the city to come together.
• Mike Tamborella questioned why the cooling station had become a city issue, said private volunteer support is not sustainable, suggested businesses or Rotary sponsor the cooling station, and proposed a city-county-private coalition. He noted the city gives $50,000 a year to Rotary for downtown concerts.
• Deborah Currents, a Gastonia resident, criticized the two-fan cooling setup as disrespectful, called for a community wellness check and transparent public votes, asked how federal grant funds were spent, and raised Ward 4 code enforcement and trash concerns. She also said a resident told her the city manager had said Help Carolina could not come.
• Tony Stubbs, a recovering person and advocate for homeless and mental health services, criticized the lack of racial diversity on the council, called for consistent treatment of speakers, and pointed to uneven paving on Poston Circle as an example of inequity.
• Brandy Prophet, special needs coordinator at First Assembly of God and local coordinator for Make Em Smile NC, described the upcoming September 6, 2025 event at Caromont Health Ballpark. She reported over 600 attendees and 27 vendors at last year's event, said over 100 participants were already registered, and asked council members to attend and sponsor the event.
• An older speaker who uses the Adult Recreation Center said the current building has served as the ARC since 1980 and is the only place offering beginner pickleball. He asked the city to restore or incorporate the historic structure rather than tear it down.
• Linda Barber, a senior resident, said she was not necessarily opposed to relocating the ARC but was concerned that many programs, including senior pickleball, chair volleyball, badminton, monthly dances, bingo, and senior games follies, might not fit in the old Salvation Army building. She asked that the decision be delayed until the newly established senior council can provide input.
• Maurice, the final speaker, said many community problems should not be blamed entirely on the mayor or council, credited City Manager Michael Peoples for work on the Salvation Army building, and urged residents to get involved and hold officials accountable through voting.

Proclamations

• Council adopted a proclamation recognizing August 3-9, 2025 as National Health Center Week, presented to Albern Curry of Kintegra Health by Councilwoman Barber. The proclamation noted that community health centers serve one in five rural residents nationwide and that health centers have more than doubled their behavioral health workforce in the last decade.
• Council adopted a proclamation honoring Ernest Sumner for his retirement after 15 years as president of the Gaston Community Foundation. The proclamation noted that foundation assets grew from $49 million to nearly $145 million during his leadership. Both proclamations were approved unanimously and entered into the official record.

Committee Reports

• Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin reported on the Finance/Benefits Committee meeting held Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. No action was taken. The committee received a final purchasing policy and procedures review from Cherry Bekaert consultants and an update on the city's enterprise resource planning system. The current ERP system is being phased out, and the city plans to implement a new ERP before support ends in 2027, with an estimated implementation cost of $588,350 and annual ongoing costs of $268,812.
• Councilwoman Barber presented the Facilities/Management Committee recommendations. Staff reviewed the Adult Recreation Center condition study by Stuart Cooper Noel. The existing ARC building was constructed in 1935, sits on a 1.86-acre site, is approximately 1,500 square feet, and has asbestos, lead paint, roof issues, and accessibility challenges. Study options included correcting the existing building for $2.1 million, demolition for $325,000, apartment conversion for about $12 million, office conversion for about $12.8 million, and a performing arts center was considered not applicable.
• The proposal for 107 S. Broad Street would renovate and move the ARC to a building constructed in 1999 with 16,400 square feet on 1.56 acres, with a city-owned adjacent parcel bringing the total to 2.1 acres and 34 accessible parking spaces. Staff said no programs would be eliminated; larger events such as monthly dances, bingo, pickleball, and badminton would relocate to Bradley Community Center, and Tuesday evening pickleball would begin at Bradley on August 5. Staff positions would not be eliminated. About $25,000 had already been spent to stabilize the 107 building, including addressing a roof leak, mold, and pests. The proposal would be developed in phases, with a future senior committee involved in programming. Council approved two recommendations, each by a 5-1 vote: approval of the RFQ seeking private developer proposals for redevelopment of 101, 115, and 117 S. Broad Street, referencing 107 S. Broad as the future active living center, and approval to renovate and move the Adult Recreation Center to 107 S. Broad Street contingent upon budgetary requirements. Some council members raised concerns about the timing, senior input, protected activity times, and whether developing surrounding parcels could affect the 107 building.

Public Hearing: Unified Development Ordinance Amendment

• A public hearing was held on File #202500281, a Unified Development Ordinance amendment to allow certain uses classified as Manufactured Goods by right or by right with supplemental regulations in General Industrial Zoning Districts. Assistant Planning Director Joe Gates and Gaston County Economic Development Director Donnie Hicks explained that the amendment would move two NIACS categories into a more streamlined use-by-right class and raise the maximum industrial building height from 50 feet to 75 feet. Hicks said modern industrial recruitment often requires taller buildings and that site visits are typically very short. The Planning Commission had voted unanimously in favor of the amendment on July 10. Council asked about affected parcels; staff said most affected I2/I3 property is north of I-74, but no exact parcel count was provided. Council voted unanimously to close the public hearing and approve the ordinance amendment, and then unanimously adopted the statement of consistency and reasonableness.

Discussion: Jointly Sponsored Cooling Station

• City Manager Michael Peoples presented the cooling station history and costs. The city has not historically operated cooling stations; a partnership with Gaston County and GIMS was agreed upon June 26 and implemented June 27, with the city providing a location and HealthNet Gaston coordinating volunteers. The city opened 107 S. Broad Street indoors on July 8 after conditions exceeded North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services heat alert thresholds. Indoor operation cost approximately $1,700 per day, including three Parks and Recreation staff at about $40 per hour, two community engagement staff, one police officer at about $50 per hour, and two custodial staff at about $35 per hour. Outdoor operation cost about $160 per day, with portable restrooms provided by Gaston County. Utilization over five days averaged approximately 28 people, ranging from 58 to 11. The city manager's recommended plan was an outdoor cooling station in the parking lot at 107 when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, with other city and county facilities advertised, and a one-time capital cost of about $4,000 for tents, tables, chairs, and related equipment.
• Council debate included confirmation that the original two-fan setup was widely criticized, questions about which agency was responsible, concerns about restricted grant funds, the need for staffing and safety rules, and whether government should operate such a facility. Councilwoman Little John argued for indoor cooling at 90 degrees or above, while other members cited staffing, liability, insurance, and operational challenges. Competing motions failed before a final compromise motion was offered by Councilman Casupius and seconded by Councilwoman Stepp.
• The approved compromise, passed 4-2, directs the city, in collaboration with the Continuum of Care and Gaston County, to operate a cooling station outdoors when the temperature is forecast to be over 90 degrees and indoors when the temperature is over 95 degrees, through August 6, 2025, with the council revisiting the issue at its August 5 meeting. The station is intended to be a cooling station only, not a day shelter.

Discussion: Mayor/City Council Compensation

• City Manager Peoples explained that the adopted FY2026 budget included a 3.5 percent compensation increase for the mayor and council, but payroll did not implement it because the increase was not used. Council unanimously voted to keep mayor and council compensation at the FY2025 level and not accept the increase.

City Attorney, City Manager, and City Council Reports

• City Attorney Eric Edgerton reported that the senior advisory committee ordinance was complete, a policy for closing unopened rights-of-way was complete, and scheduling would occur for committee reviews and small-group comprehensive plan discussions. He noted he would be at the municipal attorneys conference at the end of July.
• City Manager Peoples gave no report.
• Councilwoman Stepp reported on the Charters of Freedom dedication on July 3, the July 4 downtown event, and a fire truck push-in ceremony. She also clarified that GoGastonia vehicles are leased by a third party, that drivers rent vehicles at $4 per hour, and that the money goes to the third party for items such as insurance, not to the city.
• Councilwoman Little John praised the Highland Festival and city staff, raised ongoing Ward 4 maintenance concerns, asked for continued support for a senior community member facing eviction, and called for a review of the speed limit on Hudson Boulevard after the death of a child.
• Councilman Casupius gave no report but thanked the council for the discussion and said he hoped it marked a new start for collaboration.
• Mayor Franks praised the July 4 and Highland Festival events and announced upcoming meetings and events, including the JC 75th Annual Distinguished Service Awards on Thursday, the Arts Committee on July 21, the Transportation Committee on July 28, the next regular council meeting on August 5, a W.P. Greer Middle School groundbreaking on August 7, a Marietta Street corridor workshop on August 7, and the Center City Revitalization and Housing Community Engagement Committee on August 18.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda, minutes, proclamations, and the 11-item consent agenda were approved unanimously.
• The UDO amendment and statement of consistency and reasonableness were adopted unanimously.
• The Facilities/Management Committee recommendations on the 107 S. Broad Street RFQ and the ARC relocation were each approved 5-1.
• The cooling station compromise was approved 4-2: outdoor station above 90 degrees and indoor station above 95 degrees, through August 6, 2025, with council revisit on August 5.
• Council approved keeping mayor and council compensation unchanged for FY2026 by unanimous vote.
• Staff was directed to move forward with the S. Broad Street RFQ, ARC relocation planning, continued cooling station coordination, and preparation of a later RFP for the current ARC property. The next regular City Council meeting was scheduled for August 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall.