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Record of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025: Mayor Pro Tem Appointment, Code of Ethics Amendment, and Committee Appointments

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyGastonia, North Carolina
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:22:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

That relevant part general statute 168-70 provides that in the event that both the mayor and mayor pro tem are absent from a meeting.

0:09

The council may elect from its members a temporary chairman to preside in such absences.

0:14

So that's the statutory guidance.

0:16

The election of a temporary chair would seem to be proper.

0:22

I'll make the motion since um Jim is our most senior council member that we allow him to preside over the meeting until we second.

0:32

Good.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

Appreciate that.

0:36

We have to vote.

0:36

I'll say just for the record.

0:38

All those in favor say aye.

0:40

Thank you.

0:40

Thank you.

0:42

On behalf of the city of Gastonia and the city council, I'd like to welcome you all to our December 2nd, 2025 meeting.

0:55

And the first order of business will be appointment of the mayor pro temp.

1:00

And the first item of business is to appoint the mayor pro temp.

1:03

Um I take do we have a motion to name an appointment for the mayor pro temp.

1:09

Presiding officer Gallagher, I promised the mayor as well that I would let you all know that he had requested that this be continued, and I've provided you each with a written copy of his remarks.

1:19

I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have about that.

1:22

Okay.

1:23

Thank you.

1:25

Um Attorney Edgerton.

1:29

At this time, I would um make a motion as Jennifer has already stated.

1:35

Our senior most member of this body is Councilman Jim Gallagher.

1:41

I make a motion that we um appoint him as the mayor pro tem at this time.

1:48

Is there a second?

1:49

Second.

1:51

Uh all those in favor, please indicate.

1:54

Aye.

1:54

Aye.

1:56

Thank you very much.

1:57

I appreciate it.

1:58

It's an honor and privilege to serve y'all.

2:01

Whenever I could be of any help, let me know.

2:03

Thank you, Glenn.

2:05

Appreciate that.

2:06

Um, thanks.

2:11

Oh, I should move over.

2:15

Yeah.

2:15

Okay.

2:19

He's looking all speaky tonight.

2:24

Thank you.

2:26

I'm trying to get my computer right there.

2:28

Next up.

2:30

Um at this time, we're gonna do the invocation.

2:33

Uh Councilwoman Danielle uh Barber.

2:38

You have the floor.

2:40

All those who are inclined to uh join me in prayer.

2:44

You can bow your heads at this time.

2:47

We come at this time to pause and give thanks and acknowledge that this is the season of thanksgiving.

2:55

This is the season of a time to give back to others, especially for those who uh may not be as fortunate as many of us may be.

3:05

So we pause to give thanks at this time.

3:07

We pause um to acknowledge um the power of God, and we show appreciation at this at this time.

3:19

I ask uh that God that you would bless our staff members, bless our public safety offers, especially those who put their lives on the line every day, walk out of their homes not knowing what they may face.

3:35

We ask that you will put a hedge of protection around them as they go and as they come.

3:41

Bless all of our staff members as they make critical decisions on our behalf on the behalf of our uh constituents each and every day.

3:58

I'm thankful for the new members that have been elected to this body, and I'm thankful for those who have been re-elected to this body, and I just ask for guidance for each and every one of us.

4:12

It is my prayer that we become a cohesive team as we lead and make decisions, make the best decisions on behalf of our constituents, give us wisdom, give us knowledge that we may make those best decisions based on the information that we receive for the constituents of this city.

4:31

Bless those who are maybe out in the cold, bless those who um may not even be able to wrap around in their mind that they need to come from out of the cold, touch them, God, and we ask you, Lord, to keep them all safe and wrap your loving arms around them.

4:50

All these things we ask and pray.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Community Events██████████████14%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Public Health█████5%
Arts And Culture████4%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Public Safety███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Gastonia City Council Meeting - December 2, 2025

The Gastonia City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting covered appointment of a mayor pro tem, adoption of the agenda with an addition, presentations on the upcoming Christmas in the City event, committee reports, consent agenda approvals, and regular agenda items including an amended Code of Ethics and Conduct, council committee appointments, and continued discussion on Senior Advisory Commission appointments. The meeting concluded with reports from the city attorney, city manager, and council members, and announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the October 2025 Monthly Financial Report.
  • Approved a contract with Batteries of NC for police patrol unit upfit equipment in the amount of $189,020.66.
  • Approved a contract with Motorola Solutions for replacement radios for Police and Fire in the amount of $999,888.37, with Budget Amendment 2620018.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up to speak; public expression was skipped.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem: Councilman Jim Gallagher was nominated and unanimously appointed as mayor pro tem for the meeting, after the mayor was absent and requested continuation of the item, which was not followed.
  • Agenda Adoption: The agenda was adopted with an addition of a resolution amending the City Council's Code of Ethics and Conduct, moved to item I.1.
  • Christmas in the City Presentation: Event planner Christine Ingle, Keep Gastonia Beautiful Administrator Juliann Lehman, and Gaston County Jaycees President Elizabeth Johnson presented details for the December 7 event, including parade (5:00 PM), tree lighting, marketplace with 40-50 vendors, street closures, and free activities. Council members asked questions about parade turnout and parking.
  • Arts Committee Report (G.1): Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp reported that the committee approved a resolution to fund three additional rotations of art by local artists at the Rotary Pavilion, costing $8,200 (honorarium $2,800, fabrication $5,400). The council voted unanimously to approve.
  • Code of Ethics and Conduct Amendment (I.1): Councilwoman Angela Dreher presented an updated code, originally based on Harrisburg's model, with new sections on honoring the mayor's role, avoiding personal comments, treating staff professionally, and setting professional boundaries for communications. Discussion focused on Section 3, Item 8 (refraining from contacting city manager outside business hours) and Section 3, Item 6 (attending staff meetings without city manager approval). Councilman Silverman and others expressed concerns about rigidity and unintended consequences. City Attorney Eric Edgerton proposed alternative language for communications respecting individual preferences. Amendments were made: changing "mayor" to "presiding officer" in several places, adding "or cleared by the city manager" to Item 6, and changing Item 8 to "shall respect each other's preferences for the timing of communications." A motion to approve with those changes passed unanimously.
  • Council Committee Appointments (I.2): Councilman Gallagher proposed a revised committee assignment list, discussed one by one. New members Councilwoman Dreher and Councilman Silverman were assigned to committees. Changes included Councilwoman Barber becoming chair of Awards Ceremony and Promotions, and Dreher joining Central City Revitalization and Housing and Personnel. The appointments were approved unanimously.
  • Senior Advisory Commission Appointments (I.3): City Attorney Edgerton listed nominees by ward and requested designation of 1-year vs. 3-year terms for each appointment. Ward 1: James Barber (3 years), Yolanda Miller (1 year). Ward 2: Cheryl Greenwood (1 year), Seth Kaufman (3 years). Ward 3: Mike Tamborella (1 year), Chip Ferguson (3 years). Ward 4: Catherine Pell (confirmed, term to be designated) and another nominee pending contact from Councilwoman Dreher. Ward 5: Teresa Sisson (1 year), Bill Blackwelder (3 years). Ward 6: Rhonda Biley (3 years), Genesia Dunbar (1 year). Designations were accepted; Councilwoman Dreher to confirm Ward 4's second appointee.

Key Outcomes

  • Mayor Pro Tem: Jim Gallagher appointed unanimously.
  • Arts Committee Resolution: Approved unanimously (funds $8,200 for art rotations).
  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
  • Code of Ethics Amendment: Approved unanimously with amendments to language on communications and staff meetings.
  • Council Committee Appointments: Approved unanimously as revised.
  • Senior Advisory Commission: Appointments and term designations agreed upon pending confirmation of Ward 4 second nominee.

Meeting Transcript

That relevant part general statute 168-70 provides that in the event that both the mayor and mayor pro tem are absent from a meeting. The council may elect from its members a temporary chairman to preside in such absences. So that's the statutory guidance. The election of a temporary chair would seem to be proper. I'll make the motion since um Jim is our most senior council member that we allow him to preside over the meeting until we second. Good. Thank you. Appreciate that. We have to vote. I'll say just for the record. All those in favor say aye. Thank you. Thank you. On behalf of the city of Gastonia and the city council, I'd like to welcome you all to our December 2nd, 2025 meeting. And the first order of business will be appointment of the mayor pro temp. And the first item of business is to appoint the mayor pro temp. Um I take do we have a motion to name an appointment for the mayor pro temp. Presiding officer Gallagher, I promised the mayor as well that I would let you all know that he had requested that this be continued, and I've provided you each with a written copy of his remarks. I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have about that. Okay. Thank you. Um Attorney Edgerton. At this time, I would um make a motion as Jennifer has already stated. Our senior most member of this body is Councilman Jim Gallagher. I make a motion that we um appoint him as the mayor pro tem at this time. Is there a second? Second. Uh all those in favor, please indicate. Aye. Aye. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. It's an honor and privilege to serve y'all. Whenever I could be of any help, let me know. Thank you, Glenn. Appreciate that. Um, thanks. Oh, I should move over. Yeah. Okay. He's looking all speaky tonight. Thank you. I'm trying to get my computer right there. Next up. Um at this time, we're gonna do the invocation. Uh Councilwoman Danielle uh Barber. You have the floor. All those who are inclined to uh join me in prayer. You can bow your heads at this time. We come at this time to pause and give thanks and acknowledge that this is the season of thanksgiving.

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