OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Installation Ceremony of Greenville Mayor and City Council - December 11, 2023

City CouncilMonday, December 11, 2023
BodyGreenville, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 11, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
1:52

All right, good evening, everyone.

1:54

Uh, I'm Mayor PJ Connolly.

1:56

I'll be presiding over the installation ceremony uh for Monday, December eleventh, two thousand twenty-three.

2:03

First, I'd like to call on our city clerk for the roll call.

2:06

Yes, sir, Mayor Connolly.

2:08

Here.

2:08

Mayor Pratem Glover.

2:10

Here.

2:10

Councilmember Daniels.

2:12

Present.

2:12

Councilmember Blackburn.

2:14

Present.

2:14

Councilmember Smiley.

2:16

Here.

2:16

Councilmember Robinson?

2:17

Here.

2:18

Councilmember Bell.

2:19

Mayor Connolly Ever.

2:21

Thank you very much.

2:22

Now, first I would like to uh ask Father Roman from Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church to come forward for the invocation.

2:36

Please bow your hands and join me in prayer.

2:40

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

2:48

When there is doubt faith, where there is despair hope, where there is darkness light and where there is sadness joy.

3:14

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

3:17

Amen.

5:00

What so proudly we let the twilight's last gleaming who's brought stripes and bright stars through the flight for the were so gallantly streaming and the rock's bombs bursting in gave proof through the night that our flag was still in say does that way for the land of the free and the home of the Thank you very much.

6:37

Next I would like to call up Mary K.

6:41

Connolly, Caroline Connolly, Jalen Robertson, JCon Jones, Joan Bradley, Aliah Telfair, Mia Coates, Emmy Scully, Ireland Scully, Anna Gray Scully, Michaela Warren, and Kennedy Willis for the Pledge of Allegiance.

7:23

Of the United States of America, and to the Republicans, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty.

8:20

Next, I will call on our city manager, Michael Cowan for the Board of Election certifications.

8:27

Thank you, Mayor.

8:28

Based on the certified election results provided by the Pitt County Board of Elections for the elections held November seventh, two thousand twenty-three, the following candidates received the highest number of votes.

8:41

Mayor, PJ Connolly, at large, Portia C.

8:45

Willis, District One, Monica Daniels, District Two, Tanya Foreman, District Three, Marion Blackburn, District Four, Matthew Scully, and District Five, Les Robinson.

9:01

Now, Mayor, at this point, I would like to call forward Judge Mario Perez to provide the oath of office to Mayor Lett Connolly.

9:09

And I would also like to invite Mayor Connolly and his family to come forward for the oath of office.

9:35

Oh, yes.

9:38

We have another iPad.

9:44

It's a modern city.

9:45

And Mayor, if you indulge in one minute, I just want to say a few things quickly.

9:48

First of all, you heard the saying that all politics is local.

9:53

You can't get more local than the city council of Greenville.

9:56

And again, my name's Mark Fred.

10:00

I've been asked, and I'm proud to give the oath of office to these young men and women who are now public servants of our community and as public servants, the truth test of a public servant if their customers are happy, the citizens, so are the potholes being filled, are the neighborhood say for the economic development, the daunting task, but I know these men and women will fulfill it.

10:20

Thank you, Pan for letting me give it to Mark.

10:26

All right.

10:27

Do you, PJ Connolly, solemnly swear that you will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States?

10:35

And the Constitution and Laws of North Carolina, not inconsistent therewith.

10:40

And that you will faithfully discharge the duties of your office as mayor, so help you God.

10:46

I do.

10:47

Congratulations.

11:01

She's walking up.

11:02

I've known Monica for about a hundred years.

11:08

Fortunately, for her, she doesn't change.

11:10

She looks the same.

11:11

I've changed.

11:12

And Monica actually worked with me in my law office a number of years ago.

11:18

And back in the 90s.

11:19

Back in the 90s.

11:20

And I will say this that back then she was a single mom raising six, five children, uh, was working full-time, and she was trying to get herself educated going to school.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Economic Development████████14%
Election Integrity█████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Installation Ceremony of Greenville Mayor and City Council - December 11, 2023

The City of Greenville held its installation ceremony for the newly elected Mayor and City Council on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The ceremony included invocation, presentation of colors, national anthem, pledge of allegiance, certification of election results, administration of oaths, election of the Mayor Pro Tem, and an opening address by Mayor P.J. Connelly. All council members were sworn in and a light reception followed.

Invocation and Pledge

  • Father Romen Acero of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church delivered the invocation.
  • The Greenville Police Department presented colors.
  • Ruffin Keys of Greenville Fire/Rescue performed the Star Spangled Banner.
  • A group of children led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board of Elections Certifications

  • City Manager Michael Cowin certified the election results from the November 7, 2023 election, confirming the winners: Mayor P.J. Connelly, At-Large Portia C. Willis, District 1 Monica Daniels, District 2 Tanya Foreman, District 3 Marion Blackburn, District 4 Matthew Scully, and District 5 Les Robinson.

Oath of Office Administration

  • Judge Mario E. Perez administered the oath of office to each elected official. Family and friends were invited forward for each swearing-in. Councilmembers took an oath to support the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions and faithfully discharge their duties.

Election of Mayor Pro Tem

  • Councilmember Monica Daniels was nominated for Mayor Pro Tem. No other nominations were made. The council voted 6-0 in favor, passing unanimously. Councilmember Daniels accepted the position.

Opening Address

  • Mayor P.J. Connelly delivered an opening address, thanking attendees and congratulating council members. He highlighted past achievements in economic growth, quality of life, and Greenville's role as an economic, medical, and educational hub. He expressed hope for continued economic development, job creation, and fostering an inclusive community. He called for unity and collaboration among council members.

Adjournment

  • A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels. The motion passed 6-0. The meeting adjourned with a light reception in the Third Floor Gallery Room.

Key Outcomes

  • All elected officials were sworn in.
  • Monica Daniels was elected Mayor Pro Tem by a 6-0 vote.
  • The meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everyone. Uh, I'm Mayor PJ Connolly. I'll be presiding over the installation ceremony uh for Monday, December eleventh, two thousand twenty-three. First, I'd like to call on our city clerk for the roll call. Yes, sir, Mayor Connolly. Here. Mayor Pratem Glover. Here. Councilmember Daniels. Present. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Smiley. Here. Councilmember Robinson? Here. Councilmember Bell. Mayor Connolly Ever. Thank you very much. Now, first I would like to uh ask Father Roman from Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church to come forward for the invocation. Please bow your hands and join me in prayer. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. When there is doubt faith, where there is despair hope, where there is darkness light and where there is sadness joy. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. What so proudly we let the twilight's last gleaming who's brought stripes and bright stars through the flight for the were so gallantly streaming and the rock's bombs bursting in gave proof through the night that our flag was still in say does that way for the land of the free and the home of the Thank you very much. Next I would like to call up Mary K. Connolly, Caroline Connolly, Jalen Robertson, JCon Jones, Joan Bradley, Aliah Telfair, Mia Coates, Emmy Scully, Ireland Scully, Anna Gray Scully, Michaela Warren, and Kennedy Willis for the Pledge of Allegiance. Of the United States of America, and to the Republicans, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty. Next, I will call on our city manager, Michael Cowan for the Board of Election certifications. Thank you, Mayor. Based on the certified election results provided by the Pitt County Board of Elections for the elections held November seventh, two thousand twenty-three, the following candidates received the highest number of votes. Mayor, PJ Connolly, at large, Portia C. Willis, District One, Monica Daniels, District Two, Tanya Foreman, District Three, Marion Blackburn, District Four, Matthew Scully, and District Five, Les Robinson. Now, Mayor, at this point, I would like to call forward Judge Mario Perez to provide the oath of office to Mayor Lett Connolly. And I would also like to invite Mayor Connolly and his family to come forward for the oath of office. Oh, yes. We have another iPad. It's a modern city. And Mayor, if you indulge in one minute, I just want to say a few things quickly. First of all, you heard the saying that all politics is local. You can't get more local than the city council of Greenville. And again, my name's Mark Fred. I've been asked, and I'm proud to give the oath of office to these young men and women who are now public servants of our community and as public servants, the truth test of a public servant if their customers are happy, the citizens, so are the potholes being filled, are the neighborhood say for the economic development, the daunting task, but I know these men and women will fulfill it. Thank you, Pan for letting me give it to Mark. All right. Do you, PJ Connolly, solemnly swear that you will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States? And the Constitution and Laws of North Carolina, not inconsistent therewith. And that you will faithfully discharge the duties of your office as mayor, so help you God. I do.

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