The Gastonia City Council met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin presided in place of Mayor Richard Franks, who was excused due to illness. The meeting included a presentation on the 2025 Hope Fest event, public comments, committee reports, a consent agenda, a public hearing, and multiple votes on resolutions.
All consent items were approved unanimously.
Central City Revitalization & Housing / Community Engagement Committee Report (Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp, Chair):
Facilities / Management Committee Report (Councilwoman Donyel Barber, Chair):
Public Hearing - Facade Grant for 173 W. Main Avenue: Applicant Chris Davis (owner of Peter Wheel) and Alison Pell plan to open a new Italian restaurant called Tavern 1899. The facade grant request is for $7,964 (50% of $15,388 investment) for signage, paint, and lighting. The project is within the $80,000 budget for facades this fiscal year. The public hearing was opened and closed, and the grant was approved unanimously.
Appointment to Historic District Commission: Council appointed Ben Pruitt as new member, Caitlin Peeler as Chair, and Josh Houser as Vice Chair. Approved unanimously.
But I will welcome you all this evening as the Mayor Pro Tem Dave Curlin. Unfortunately, Mayor Franks is ill at this moment and not able to be here with us. And he sends his regards. So without further ado, we'll move on to the invitation. And actually, I'm up for that too. So if you are so inclined, please bow your heads. Lord, we come to you this evening to do your work in this world. We praise you. We bless you. We give thanks to you for you have many you have blessed us in many ways. All of us on this council have it in our hearts to do what is right and most pleasing to you and therefore our city staff and our citizens. Help us to work together, to listen and to understand each other. Lord, we need your guidance and wisdom to take the right path. Now we lift up the least of these our unhoused community, the infirm, the suffering, the oppressed, those in need of your love. Protect our first responders and those who serve in the military. Also be with Mayor Franks this evening as hopefully he is feeling better and on his way to recovery. So Lord, be with us at this time. Keep our minds and hearts open to the possibilities of great things for your city. All this we ask in your holy name. Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, delivery and justice for all. Thank you. At this time, um, if we can have the adoption of the agenda. Are there any Mr. Mayor Brotemple like to make a motion that we adopt the agenda as presented? I need to make an uh a motion for an amendment to the agenda if you don't mind. Okay. Can we let yeah? So I move that we adopt the agenda with one addition, okay, which is to add item 12 to the regular agenda, which would be to consider making a new appointment to the historic district commission and establishing which members will serve as chair and vice chair. I too. I'm sorry, I too. It looks like 12 on my thing. I too, thank you. Correcting me. Okay. Second. There's been a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please indicate so none opposed. The motion carries. All right. Moving right along to the approval of the minutes. We have the minutes from the regular city council meeting of August 19th, 2025. What are the wishes of the council? Mr. Mayor Pro Temp, I'd like to uh make a motion that we accept them as presented. Second. There's a motion second by uh councilwoman Step.