The Gastonia City Council met on November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Gaston County Courthouse. The meeting included recognitions for outgoing council members, a proclamation for Genesis Church Outreach Ministry, public comments on neighborhood development and animal control, discussion on a consent agenda item regarding housing bonds, and a public hearing on an economic development agreement for 212 W. Main Avenue. The council approved several consent items, moved one item to the regular agenda for discussion, and unanimously approved both the economic development amendment and the housing bond resolution after clarifying discussions.
The meeting also included farewell statements from outgoing council members and Mayor Pro Tem.
Good evening, my name is Richard Franks. I'm the mayor of the great city of Gastonia. On behalf of myself and the city council, I'd like to welcome you to the November 18th, 2025 meeting. I will now call the meeting to order. And Mayor Pro Tim Curlin will lead us in the invocation. Thank you, Mayor. Would you bow your heads with me if you so choose? Well, Lord, this is my last opportunity to reach out to you in this setting. I want to thank you first and foremost for surrounding me with wonderful servants that are serving your city here on earth ably with the dedication and commitment every day. Our citizens have been protected by our first responders, our utilities folks have kept the lights on, water running, and our public works folks have provided us with good safe roads. Thank you for blessing us with great management and amazing employees. As we approach Thanksgiving, may we express our gratitude for all we have by reaching out to those less fortunate. Our days are getting shorter and our nights are getting colder, so help us to provide shelter, clothing, and food to the unhoused to volunteer at the warming shelter and to supply our food banks as our neighbors are in more need than ever before. Bless this council and our mayor, as well as those who will join them in the coming weeks. Give them the wisdom to make prudent decisions, the demeanor to receive all comments, suggestions, and criticisms with grace and decorum, as we all deserve to be treated as we would have others treat us. Gastonia is bound for continued growth, which will challenge us all. I beseech you to help us work together to embrace that growth as an opportunity to build a better community enriched by new businesses, citizens, jobs, and neighborhoods that will make this place even greater for us, our children, and future generations. Now be with us as we continue to do your work this evening. We give you all the glory as you are our Lord and Savior. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Our Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. Each of you should have the agenda in front of you. Are there any corrections, additions, or deletions at this time? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we adopt the agenda as presented. Well, we we need to remove one item, which is item F1. The people from Heatherlock are not going to be here tonight. That's correct. Then I'd like to make a motion that we uh take out F1 and approve the agenda as presented. We have a motion. Can I have a second? We have a second by Councilwoman Littlejohn. Next up is the approval of minutes. We have one set to vote. Oh, vote on. Okay. That's right. All those in favor? It's unanimous. Next up is the approval of the amendment. We have one set of minutes to approve. That is from the regular city council meeting of November the 6th, 2025. Can I have a motion to accept? So moved. Having the motion by Councilwoman Barber, can I have a second? Second by Councilwoman Steph. All those in favor? It's unanimous. Next up, we were going to have Councilwoman Barber is going to do a proclamation for the recognition of the Genesis Church Outreach Ministry.