Gastonia City Council Meeting — February 17, 2026

The Gastonia City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the Public Forum Room at the Gaston County Courthouse. The meeting included public comment about the death of Derek Manigault and about a proposed charter amendment, routine consent approvals, several public hearings, and a sharply divided vote limiting the mayor's voting authority to tie-breaking.

Agenda Adoption and Minutes

• The council voted 7-0 to adopt the agenda after removing a consent item described on the record as a resolution authorizing a $381,050 local match for a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods planning grant application requesting $7.6 million for Marietta Street Corridor revitalization. Note: the transcript identifies the removed item as G.8, while the supplied agenda lists G.8 as the Baler Mills subdivision maintenance acceptance item. This discrepancy was not resolved on the record.
• The council approved the minutes from the January 23, 2026 and January 24, 2026 strategic planning sessions and the February 3, 2026 regular meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christopher Smith opposed the proposed charter amendment to limit the mayor's vote, arguing that the change should be placed before Gastonia voters rather than decided by the council.
• Lee Henderson, identified as a family member of Derek Manigault, said Manigault was killed by police on January 10, 2026. She said the family has seen surveillance video that does not match the Gastonia Police Department media release, claimed Manigault was unarmed and leaving the store when a plainclothes officer opened fire, and said officers should be fired and face criminal charges.
• Livia Henderson, also identified as a family member, repeated similar allegations, saying the family was shown compiled and edited footage and that the officer in a gray shirt fired nearly an entire magazine without commands or warnings. She referenced the Jason Lipscomb case and said there is a pattern of excessive force against African American men. She demanded accountability and transparency.
• Mark Sollers opposed the charter amendment, calling it a power grab and a reduction of representation. He argued it should not apply to the sitting mayor midterm and should be postponed until after the next mayoral election. He also said silence by residents should not be treated as consent.
• Pastor Rollinson, senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, opposed the charter amendment, asked "why now?", and said the decision should be made by citizens, including through a referendum or ballot question.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda 7-0 after the removal motion. Published consent agenda items included:
  • Proclamation recognizing February 20, 2026 as Government Communicators Day.
  • Resolution approving the Gastonia Housing Authority's issuance of up to $35,000,000 of multifamily housing revenue bonds for The Lofts at Hudson, with no fiscal impact to the city.
  • Resolution accepting a donated 2024 Ford Transit T-350 DX-1000 UAS Command Center from the Gastonia Police Foundation.
  • Resolution recognizing $22,572 in additional funds from the SCBA surplus sale, with budget amendment 2620033.
  • Resolution authorizing an agreement with One Stop Home Renovations, LLC for $1,505 in repairs at 309 Norment Ave.
  • Resolution authorizing an agreement with UES Professional Services 29, Inc. for lead-based paint clearance services under the Homebuyer Assistance Program.
  • Resolution authorizing a three-year email security software contract totaling $138,006.02.
  • Resolution to accept for maintenance portions of Baler Mills Phase 1 Map 1 Subdivision.
  • Resolution awarding the Avon Creek Greenway Extension contract to Quinn Sales, Inc. in the amount of $471,085.43.

Committee Reports

• Transportation Committee (presented by Councilwoman Jennifer M. Stepp):
  • Approved the 2026 resurfacing list, covering about five miles with an approximate total budget of $1.7 million, allowing bid documents to be prepared; committee vote was 3-0, council vote 7-0.
  • Authorized a Request for Proposals for disposition of surplus transit buses and permitted the Transportation Department to proceed under state statutes; council vote 7-0.
  • Approved a resolution supporting the city's application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2026 BUILD Grant Program for the same project submitted last year; council vote 7-0.
  • The committee also discussed transit fare structure, which will return to council later.
• Senior Advisory Commission:
  • The commission held its first meeting, received a program overview, toured the facility, and discussed renovation upgrades funded by grants.
  • It unanimously elected James Barber as vice chair by a 13-0 vote; the council affirmed the appointment 7-0.

Regular Agenda and Public Hearings

• H.1 - Street and alley closing: The council voted 7-0 to postpone the public hearing and consideration of closing portions of Adams Avenue, Robinson Street, and an alleyway near Parkdale Avenue, Garrison Boulevard, and Third Avenue to March 17, 2026.
• H.2 - Project DeLorean economic development agreement: Kristy Crisp, Economic Development Director, presented a retention project involving a $53 million investment and up to 400 jobs, including retained and new positions. The project currently has about 430 employees. The proposal included a standard level three or four local incentive grant and a two-year Construction in Progress (CIP) grant covering property taxes during construction. The incentive would begin after a certificate of occupancy and would not overlap with the CIP grant. The agreement is contingent on Gaston County approval. Council questions addressed grant timing, tax payments, and job counts. Councilwoman Stepp requested a spreadsheet showing the potential tax value cost, and staff agreed to provide it. The council closed the public hearing and approved the resolution 7-0.
• H.3 - Tucker Springhaven rezoning continuation: The council voted 7-0 to continue the public hearing to May 19, 2026. The request involves approximately 262.84 acres on Union New Hope Road, owned by Walton North Carolina, LLC, to rezone from PD-PRD to PD-RRDD (File #202400268).
• H.4 - Planning Commission appointment: Councilman Glenn Silverman nominated Deanna Murphy to fill the Ward II seat on the Gastonia Planning Commission for the remaining term expiring June 30, 2028. The council approved the appointment 7-0. Murphy was not present because of a prior Sports and Entertainment Commission meeting.
• H.5 - Zawyer Sports and Entertainment agreement amendment: City Manager Michael Peoples presented a request to reduce the agreed insurance level from $10 million to $5 million to match comparable facilities. Staff reviewed the request with Human Resources and legal. A council member noted the premium savings could be close to $20,000 per year. The council approved the amendment 7-0.

Charter Amendment Debate and Votes

• Item H.6.A was the ordinance amending Section 2.3 of the city charter regarding the mayor's voting authority. Councilman Silverman made the motion and cited North Carolina law, saying the statutory default is for the mayor to vote only in a tie and that only Gastonia and Newton among North Carolina municipalities allow the mayor to vote on all items. He argued the current situation has caused division.
• Mayor Richard Franks strongly opposed the change, saying it was personal, should not take effect midterm, and should be applied to the next mayor. He said he was elected when the mayor had the right to vote and that he had promised voters he would vote on every issue. He offered to accept the amendment if it took effect with the next mayor and said he would ask state legislators to restore the mayor's vote.
• Several council members expressed concerns about timing, process, consistency, and whether the change would reduce accountability. At least one council member said she personally prefers the mayor having a full vote for transparency and representation. Another said he agreed with tie-breaking but not with the timing or process and preferred revisiting the issue in fall 2027.
• The council voted 7-0 to call the question and end debate.
• H.6.A passed 4-3, amending Section 2.3 of the city charter.
• H.6.B, bringing Section 2-22(A) of the city code into conformity with the amended charter, passed 4-2 with the mayor not voting.
• After the vote, Mayor Franks called the outcome an injustice and said he would pursue restoration of the mayor's vote with state legislators.

City Attorney's Report

• City Attorney Eric Edgerton said the city generally cannot comment on pending litigation, but noted that the Jason Lipscomb case referenced during public comment was resolved by a federal judge dismissing it outright. He said the public can review such outcomes to evaluate statements made about police conduct.

City Manager's Report

• Leaf collection will end Friday, February 20, 2026, after being extended one week because of inclement weather.
• Free excess trash collection is scheduled for March 16-20, 2026.
• Residents can report potholes through the city's online form or by calling customer care at 704-866-6843. Staff are using a "Pothole Patrol" approach, and a dangerous pothole on Union Road has already been repaired.
• Goals and objectives and the advance agenda will be brought to council on March 3, 2026.

Council Reports and Announcements

• Councilwoman Barber announced a ribbon-cutting for the Highland Neighborhood Association public art plaza at Irwin Center on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
• Councilwoman Stepp reported on the joint council/planning commission meeting, Night to Shine, the Centralina council meeting, and upcoming arts events including the high school senior art show and the Arts Council breakfast.
• Councilman Silverman reported on the inaugural Arts and Sports and Entertainment Commission meeting, with 12 of 16 members present, and said the next meeting will be March 24, 2026, at Rankin Lake Park.
• A council member reported that federally secured funding totaling about $1.6 million will support a rapid DNA lab for the police department and a pump upgrade at Dewhart's Creek.
• Mayor Franks and other council members reported on community events including Night to Shine, the Least of These Carolinas $2,000 Chick-fil-A grant, and the upcoming farmers market season beginning April 4, 2026.
• Upcoming meetings announced include March 3, 2026, at Gastonia City Hall and March 17, 2026, at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Key Outcomes

• Removed one consent item from the agenda and approved the remaining consent agenda; approved all three sets of minutes.
• Approved the 2026 resurfacing list, surplus bus disposition RFP, and BUILD Grant application resolution.
• Affirmed James Barber as vice chair of the Senior Advisory Commission.
• Postponed the Adams Avenue/Robinson Street/alleyway closure hearing to March 17, 2026.
• Approved the Project DeLorean economic development agreement, contingent on Gaston County approval.
• Continued the Tucker Springhaven rezoning hearing to May 19, 2026.
• Appointed Deanna Murphy to the Ward II Planning Commission seat.
• Approved the Zawyer Sports and Entertainment insurance reduction amendment.
• Approved the charter amendment limiting the mayor's vote to tie-breaking on a 4-3 vote and the conforming city code amendment on a 4-2 vote, with the mayor not voting on the second measure.