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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Greensboro City Council Meeting April 7, 2026: Police Chief Hire Dominates Heated Public Comment

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, April 7, 2026

BodyGreensboro, North Carolina

SessionCity Council Meetings

DateTuesday, April 7, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:31:22

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:39

Council chambers.

1:41

And let the record reflect the members that are in attendance.

1:45

Council Member Marshall will be absent this evening.

1:49

And Mayor Pro Sam Roth, are you on Zoom?

1:54

Is she on Zoom yet?

1:56

She is great.

1:57

Thank you.

2:03

We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence.

2:08

Thank you.

2:23

Thank you.

2:24

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance if you are able.

2:27

And uh Mr.

2:28

Holston, would you lead us, please?

2:36

And to the Republic for which it stands.

2:39

One nation under God, individual with liberty, and justice for all.

2:50

Thank you.

2:51

Please silence all of your electronic devices.

2:55

The City of Greensboro strongly encourages input from all residents.

2:59

The council chambers serve as a welcoming and safe environment for all.

3:38

Each speaker signed up to speak will get three minutes to speak.

3:42

If there are more than twenty-five speakers, the time may be reduced to two minutes at the discretion of the presiding officer.

3:50

Speakers may address specific consent or business agenda items with three minutes allocated for remarks.

4:03

Any inappropriate or disruptive conduct will result in immediate removal.

4:08

A first removal carries a three-month suspension from in-person participation.

4:13

A second violation results in a six-month suspension, and a third violation or any instance involving physical altercations results in a twelve-month suspension.

4:24

Any violation of state criminal laws may also subject the individual to criminal charges.

5:00

Any videos, media, or supplemental documents utilized by speakers during this meeting, are not reviewed or verified by the city for accuracy, completeness, or authenticity.

5:06

The city does not endorse or adopt the content, and all opinions and views expressed are solely those of the speaker.

5:15

Speakers may not transfer their time to others, and the mayor or presiding officer will determine the speaking order based on the number of speakers.

5:23

The mayor may modify the time allotted to each individual and approaching the data, dais is not permitted.

5:31

Speakers may not address the audience nor employees of the City of Greensboro.

5:37

The public comment period is for speakers to address council members only with their comments and an opportunity for council to listen and take notes.

5:47

Any violation of this protocol and the speaker's time shall be surrendered.

5:52

Zoom participants must refrain from speaking until they are recognized and called upon.

5:58

State statute requires council members to vote on all matters unless a direct financial interest exists, or if the council member serves on the board of a nonprofit organization that receives the city funding.

6:12

All motions will be moved and seconded, and the presiding officer will announce the vote tally.

6:23

Consists of routine and non-controversial matters that are approved with a single vote.

6:28

Any council member may request the removal of an item due to a conflict of interest or to vote in opposition.

6:36

Items withdrawn for discussion will be carried forward to the next business meeting agenda.

6:42

If an item is found to be time sensitive, the mayor may request that a vote be taken.

6:48

Close captioning is provided for this meeting, and depending on the duration of proceedings, a brief recess is anticipated around 7:30 p.m.

6:58

Now is the time for our ceremonial and/or presentation items, and I will be reading E1, a resolution recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

7:12

Whereas resilient and thriving communities are vital to our state's future health, success, and prosperity, it ensures a strong foundation for everyone at all ages and stages of life.

7:25

Whereas the science is clear that resilience is built and that communities and systems play a key role in promoting safe, secure, nurturing environments for all.

7:36

Whereas children deserve to enjoy the simple joys of childhood without experiencing the stressors of adulthood, which is represented across the country through the symbol of the pinwheel.

7:47

Whereas families are the very fabric of our community and support the whole family unit and make an impact now and for generations to come.

7:57

Whereas the resilient Guilford Network, coordinated by the Kellen Foundation and inclusive of dozens of partner agencies, they work diligently to build safe, secure, and nurturing families and communities.

8:10

Whereas investing in policies, programs, and strategies that address adversity and focus on prevention, treatment, and healing are essential to the health of our community.

8:21

Whereas across the country, communities are recognizing that powerful childhoods start with us.

8:28

This is a reminder that we all have an essential role to play, and this builds strong children, strong families, and strong communities.

8:37

Whereas the City of Greensboro encourages individuals in all sectors, public and private, early childhood through older adult, faith-based organizations, health care systems, justice systems, social services systems, businesses, and elected leaders to collaborate to strengthen resources available to our families in our communities.

8:59

And now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that the Greensboro City Council recognizes the month of April as child abuse prevention month and commend its observance to all citizens.

9:14

Adopted this the seventh day of April 2026.

9:17

I would like to make this motion.

9:18

Do I hear a second?

9:20

Seconded by, I heard Mr.

9:22

Holston first.

9:23

Council, please vote.

9:41

Mayor Pro Demrough.

9:47

She may have voted on the screen.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety███████████████████████████27%

Procedural███████████11%

Workforce Development████████8%

Community Engagement████████8%

Public Engagement██████6%

Youth Programs████4%

Homelessness████4%

Immigration Policy████4%

Racial Equity████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Greensboro City Council Meeting April 7, 2026: Police Chief Hire Dominates Heated Public Comment

The Greensboro City Council met on April 7, 2026, for a meeting that began with several ceremonial resolutions but was ultimately dominated by over an hour of public comment and council discussion regarding the controversial hiring of a new police chief. Council Member Marshall was absent, and Mayor Pro Tem Roth participated via Zoom and was later excused. The meeting saw extensive public testimony criticizing the selection process and outcome, followed by a defense from the City Manager and closing remarks from council members.

Consent Calendar & Ceremonial Items

E1 Resolution (Child Abuse Prevention Month): Unanimously passed (8-0). Dr. Kelly Graves of the Kellen Foundation noted over 5,000 child abuse reports in Guilford County in the past year and distributed pinwheels as the national symbol.
E2 Resolution (Month of the Young Child): Unanimously passed. Heather Adams, Executive Director of the Guilford County Partnership for Children, provided extensive statistics: 32,000 children ages 0-5 in Guilford County, 69% in working households, 312 licensed early care facilities employing over 2,000 educators. She noted the average early childhood educator wage is $13.50 per hour and that every $1 invested in early childhood returns up to $16 to the community, calling child care "core infrastructure."
E3 Resolution (STEM Education Month): Unanimously passed. Accepted by Tiffany Jacobs of Forge Greensboro.
E4 Resolution (Family Forward NC Recertification): Unanimously passed. The city highlighted its recertification and a new partnership with Childcare Network providing employees with a 20% tuition discount and up to four hours of complimentary childcare during in-person interviews. Action Greensboro noted Greensboro has 81 certified employers covering 50,000 employees.
E5 Resolution (National Therapy Animal Day): Unanimously passed.
Consent Agenda: Items F4 and F5 were pulled for comment by George Hartzman (Public Integrity Watch), who questioned transparency regarding contributions to non-governmental agencies and funding for the Eugene Street Deck improvements. The consent agenda was subsequently approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

Police Chief Hiring (Dominant Topic):

Over a dozen speakers, including community leaders, neighborhood association presidents, and concerned residents, strongly criticized the selection of Cameron Absal from Dayton, Ohio as the new police chief over internal candidate Assistant Chief Stephanie Martis. Speakers included Rev. Dr. Greg Drumright (Pulpit Forum), Rev. Leah McNair, Monica Walker (Girl Street Neighborhood Association), Christopher Goldman, Jason Hicks, CJ Brunson, Gene Blackman, Dennis White, Lynn McCoy, Dr. Iri Spencer, and Paulette Montgomery.
Community Positions: The speakers unanimously argued the process lacked transparency and meaningful community engagement, failed to include finalist interviews despite community requests, and bypassed a highly qualified internal candidate with 21 years of service, deep community roots, and a strong record (Stephanie Martis). They cited the record of Chief Absal in Dayton, specifically criticizing regulatory stops and the recent fatal shooting of Reginald Thomas, a 44-year-old Black man killed by police during a traffic stop for a missing bicycle light. One speaker (Paulette Montgomery) displayed video footage of the incident and compared crime rates, noting Greensboro's crime rate is 52% above the national average while Dayton's is 200% above.
Demand: The unanimous demand from these speakers was for the city to rescind the offer to Chief Absal and appoint Assistant Chief Stephanie Martis.

Other Community Concerns:

ICE and Immigrant Safety: Billy Belcher, Kohai Loving Good, Kevin Rebel, and Marilyn Lacunza (members of the Working Class and Homeless Organizing Alliance) demanded the council adopt clear policies prohibiting city collaboration with ICE, describing the fear and risk to immigrant workers who maintain city infrastructure.
Homelessness, Housing & Shelter Crisis: Jennifer Rogers (UNCG, IRC) described a critical shortage, recounting a case where a mother of three slept in her car for three nights. She stated that out of 60 calls placed to find a shelter bed, only one was available across the entire state. Dr. Ahmad and Shirley Foster reported inadequate police responses to homeless encampments and persistent drug activity in their neighborhoods.
Black Patriots Commemoration Project: Eric Woodard and Dr. Brian Robison introduced a community-driven effort to honor African American soldiers in the American Revolution.
Youth & Workforce: Quinn Brown (GTCC Instructor) celebrated the college's SkillsUSA wins (HVAC 1st, Plumbing 2-peat / 5th nationally) and urged the city to hire local skilled graduates. Robert Oak proposed a monthly job fair for all citizens, including seniors.
Traffic Safety: Christine Hoffner urged a shift from regulatory stops to "safety stops" targeting speeding and reckless driving, citing widespread community complaints.
Other: Andreas Miles proposed a cannabis legalization plan; Fanta Dorley requested sensory equipment and lighting for neighborhood parks; Laura Jackson requested city fireworks be held at the Coliseum; Stephanie Lindley Gray criticized the Master Arts Plan process and the police chief selection.

Discussion Items

Police Chief Selection & City Manager Response:

City Manager Trey Davis: Acknowledged the strong emotions and opinions from the public. He detailed the hiring process, which he stated was a deliberate, month-long national search that included five community input sessions to develop a leadership profile. He cited state law granting the city manager authority to hire the police chief and stated definitively that Cameron Absal was the "most qualified candidate" after evaluating community input, professional experience, and alignment with the city's needs. He pledged that Chief Absal would be held accountable and would engage with the community from day one.
Council Reaction: The Mayor stated the hiring authority rests solely with the City Manager, the council supported him, and the decision would not be rescinded, asking the public to give the new chief a chance. Councilmember Thurm expressed trust in the City Manager, acknowledging the decision was difficult and unpopular. Councilmember Black expressed a desire to listen to public voices and work with the new chief to implement community agendas. Councilmembers Holston and Allen thanked speakers for their engagement and reiterated support for the City Manager's decision while acknowledging the difficulty.

General Business Items:

I1 Resolution: Sole source purchase of retroreflective traffic sign materials from 3M Incorporated (Passed).
I2 Ordinance: FTA grants for security and routine capital assistance (Passed).
Boards & Commissions: Several appointments and removals were approved, including appointments to the Commission on the Status of Women, Community Sustainability Council, and the GC Jack program.

Key Outcomes

Police Chief Selection Affirmed: The City Manager and City Council affirmed the hiring of Cameron Absal as the next Greensboro Police Chief, explicitly stating the decision would not be rescinded despite overwhelming public opposition expressed during the meeting.
New City Employee Benefits Announced: A partnership with Childcare Network was launched, offering city employees a 20% tuition discount and complimentary childcare during job interviews.
Resolutions Adopted: All five ceremonial proclamations (Child Abuse Prevention, Month of the Young Child, STEM Education, Family Forward NC, Therapy Animal Day) were adopted unanimously.
General Business Passed: The consent agenda and discussion items I1 and I2 were passed.
Directives & Next Steps: Several council members pledged to follow up on specific neighborhood concerns raised during public comment, including drug activity, traffic safety, and park conditions. The public was encouraged to engage with the incoming police chief.

Meeting Transcript

Council chambers. And let the record reflect the members that are in attendance. Council Member Marshall will be absent this evening. And Mayor Pro Sam Roth, are you on Zoom? Is she on Zoom yet? She is great. Thank you. We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence. Thank you. Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance if you are able. And uh Mr. Holston, would you lead us, please? And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual with liberty, and justice for all. Thank you. Please silence all of your electronic devices. The City of Greensboro strongly encourages input from all residents. The council chambers serve as a welcoming and safe environment for all. Each speaker signed up to speak will get three minutes to speak. If there are more than twenty-five speakers, the time may be reduced to two minutes at the discretion of the presiding officer. Speakers may address specific consent or business agenda items with three minutes allocated for remarks. Any inappropriate or disruptive conduct will result in immediate removal. A first removal carries a three-month suspension from in-person participation. A second violation results in a six-month suspension, and a third violation or any instance involving physical altercations results in a twelve-month suspension. Any violation of state criminal laws may also subject the individual to criminal charges. Any videos, media, or supplemental documents utilized by speakers during this meeting, are not reviewed or verified by the city for accuracy, completeness, or authenticity. The city does not endorse or adopt the content, and all opinions and views expressed are solely those of the speaker. Speakers may not transfer their time to others, and the mayor or presiding officer will determine the speaking order based on the number of speakers. The mayor may modify the time allotted to each individual and approaching the data, dais is not permitted. Speakers may not address the audience nor employees of the City of Greensboro. The public comment period is for speakers to address council members only with their comments and an opportunity for council to listen and take notes. Any violation of this protocol and the speaker's time shall be surrendered. Zoom participants must refrain from speaking until they are recognized and called upon. State statute requires council members to vote on all matters unless a direct financial interest exists, or if the council member serves on the board of a nonprofit organization that receives the city funding. All motions will be moved and seconded, and the presiding officer will announce the vote tally. Consists of routine and non-controversial matters that are approved with a single vote. Any council member may request the removal of an item due to a conflict of interest or to vote in opposition. Items withdrawn for discussion will be carried forward to the next business meeting agenda. If an item is found to be time sensitive, the mayor may request that a vote be taken. Close captioning is provided for this meeting, and depending on the duration of proceedings, a brief recess is anticipated around 7:30 p.m. Now is the time for our ceremonial and/or presentation items, and I will be reading E1, a resolution recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Whereas resilient and thriving communities are vital to our state's future health, success, and prosperity, it ensures a strong foundation for everyone at all ages and stages of life. Whereas the science is clear that resilience is built and that communities and systems play a key role in promoting safe, secure, nurturing environments for all. Whereas children deserve to enjoy the simple joys of childhood without experiencing the stressors of adulthood, which is represented across the country through the symbol of the pinwheel. Whereas families are the very fabric of our community and support the whole family unit and make an impact now and for generations to come. Whereas the resilient Guilford Network, coordinated by the Kellen Foundation and inclusive of dozens of partner agencies, they work diligently to build safe, secure, and nurturing families and communities. Whereas investing in policies, programs, and strategies that address adversity and focus on prevention, treatment, and healing are essential to the health of our community. Whereas across the country, communities are recognizing that powerful childhoods start with us. This is a reminder that we all have an essential role to play, and this builds strong children, strong families, and strong communities.

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