OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Regular Meeting - June 12, 2025

City Council — Thursday, June 12, 2025
BodyGreenville, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, June 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
1:18

All right, good evening.

1:19

I'd like to call the June 12th, 2025 meeting of the Greenville City Council Order.

1:23

I'm Mayor P.

1:23

J.

1:23

Conley and be presiding over tonight's meeting.

1:25

First, I'd like to call on Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels for the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:31

Heavenly Father, we gather here tonight and thank you for the opportunity again to do your work.

1:37

Father, may we put um approach our discussions tonight with open minds, humble hearts, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all those who call the city home.

1:46

May wisdom guide our decisions, courage, strengthen our convictions, and compassion ground our actions.

1:52

Let us be mindful of those in our community who are struggling, and may our leadership help create a more just, safe, and thriving city for everyone.

2:00

Thank you.

2:00

Thank you.

2:01

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:09

And to the Republic for which it stands under God.

2:21

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

2:23

Yes, sir.

2:24

Mayor Connolly.

2:25

Here.

2:27

Present.

2:27

Councilmember Foreman.

2:29

Here.

2:29

Councilmember Blackburn.

2:30

Present.

2:31

Councilmember Scully.

2:32

Here.

2:32

Councilmember Robinson.

2:34

Councilmember Wellis.

2:36

Here.

2:36

All right, Mayor Connolly of a quorum.

2:37

Thank you very much.

2:38

Mr.

2:38

Manager, any recommended changes tonight?

2:40

I have no changes, but the city attorney has an addition.

2:42

Mr.

2:42

Attorney.

2:43

Thank you, Mr.

2:43

Mayor.

2:44

Uh Mayor and Council members.

2:45

I recommend that council add to the agenda a closed session motion to be read at the end of the meeting.

2:52

Second.

2:53

All those in favor say aye.

2:55

Aye.

2:55

Opposed saying nay.

2:56

Motion passes five zero.

2:58

Thank you very much.

2:59

We'll move on to special recognition.

3:23

So usually I do my city manager shout out at the end of the meeting, but I'm gonna I'm gonna move it to the to the front.

3:36

And this is a this is a very, very special.

3:39

This is a very special one because uh Daryl uh Darrell uh portrayed a a very uh heroistic act act uh uh uh not too long ago and would love to recognize Darrell uh for that.

3:54

On the morning of April 2nd, 2025, Darrell Norris from the City Engineering Department was on his way to work just west of Washington when he came across a truck that had turned over in on its side in the intersection.

4:09

As he passed by, he noticed there was no other vehicles around the truck.

4:14

No police, fire, EMS, tow truck, or anyone.

4:18

Just the truck on its side in the road.

4:20

Derek quit Daryl quickly made a U-turn and went back to the truck.

4:25

He ran up to the truck and found two men inside and asked if they were okay.

4:45

Darrell grabbed the glass and pulled the windshield off the truck so that he could help the men get out of the truck.

4:51

Darrell then advised them to step away from the truck as he noticed gas leaking from the from the wreck.

5:00

A passing EMS EMS truck stopped, and the man identified himself as an EMS and began uh treating the two men for cuts to their faces.

5:06

At this point, Darrell handed the situation over to the EMT and proceeded to go to work.

5:12

Darrell was gone before the police or fire or uh fire rescue made it to the scene and never got the men's name in the truck.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████40%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Zoning And Land Use███████████████████19%
Historic Preservation██████████████14%
Public Safety████4%
Economic Development██2%
Public Health██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Regular Meeting - June 12, 2025

The Greenville City Council met on June 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor P.J. Conley presided. The meeting included special recognitions, a public comment period, appointments to boards and commissions, public hearings on annexation and a demolition repeal, adoption of the FY 2025-26 budget, a resolution for cemetery relocation, and a closed session. All votes were unanimous (6-0) except where noted.

Special Recognitions

  • Daryl Norris (Engineering Department): Recognized for stopping to help two men trapped in an overturned truck on April 2, 2025. He removed the windshield and guided them away from leaking gas before an EMS crew arrived. Mayor Conley praised his heroism.
  • Host City Planning Committee for 2025 N.C. League of Municipalities CityVision Conference: Recognized for planning and executing a highly successful conference that showcased Greenville. Committee members were named and thanked.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kells Kelly (resident, U.S. Navy veteran): Spoke about the oversized flag at Camping Worlds that is allegedly in violation of local ordinance. He argued the flag is a meaningful symbol for veterans and shared a personal story about a fallen friend. He asked the council to reconsider the citation, emphasizing the flag’s emotional significance.

Appointments

  • Board of Adjustment: Jeremy Jordan reappointed.
  • Greenville Utilities Commission: David Southworth reappointed; David Newman appointed; Simon Swain appointed; Dr. Robert Shaw appointed.
  • Environmental Advisory Commission: Craig Becker appointed.
  • Pitt-Greenville Convention and Visitors Authority: Brett Morgan and Diane Taylor reappointed.
  • Several other appointments were continued to a future meeting.

Public Hearings

  • Item 4 – Annexation of Savannah Place, Section 5: Ordinance to annex 6.523 acres at the current termini of Camille Drive. Presentation by Chief Planner Shante Kuba. The property will yield approximately 17 single-family lots with an estimated tax value of $6.3 million. No public speakers for or against; council moved to approve, seconded, and passed unanimously.
  • Item 5 – Repeal of Demolition Ordinance for 1112 Dickinson Avenue (Higgs House): Ordinance to repeal Ordinance #24-005, which ordered demolition. Andrew Moorhead (Historic Preservation Commission chair) and Maggie Craig (Preservation North Carolina) spoke in favor of repeal, citing the property’s historic significance, new protective covenants, and a rehabilitation agreement. No opposition; council voted unanimously to repeal.

Discussion Items

  • Pirate Fest and Rum Cake Demonstration: Margot Clark (special events coordinator) briefly discussed the upcoming Pirate Fest and conducted a rum cake demonstration as a lighthearted interlude. No formal action was taken.
  • FY 2025-26 Budget Adoption: The combined budget totals $504.5 million ($185 million city operating, $314 million Greenville Utilities Commission, $2 million CVB, $2.9 million library). Councilmember Foreman highlighted that the GUC rate increase is largely due to Duke Energy coal ash costs and that GUC is absorbing about 75% of the increase, passing on only 25%. The budget was approved unanimously.
  • Resolution Authorizing Relocation of Randolph Cemetery: Director of Public Works Kevin Mulligan presented a request from Renaissance Lifestyle to relocate 77 abandoned graves from Randolph Cemetery to Queen Anne Cemetery in Fountain, NC. The process follows NC State Code. Rezoning had already been completed. Council voted unanimously to approve.
  • City Manager’s Report: Request to cancel the June 23, 2025 City Council meeting. Motion approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All appointments, annexation ordinance, demolition repeal, budget adoption, cemetery relocation resolution, and cancellation of June 23 meeting passed by votes of 6-0.
  • Councilmember Foreman requested that the city manager prepare a five-year lookback at GUC rate changes.
  • Councilmember Blackburn offered remarks for Pride Month, listing notable LGBTQ figures.
  • Multiple councilmembers wished a Happy Father’s Day and highlighted upcoming Juneteenth events.
  • Councilmember Robinson announced that GUC General Manager Tony Cannon received the Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award from the American Public Power Association.
  • The council unanimously approved a motion to hold a closed session to discuss real property negotiations.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening. I'd like to call the June 12th, 2025 meeting of the Greenville City Council Order. I'm Mayor P. J. Conley and be presiding over tonight's meeting. First, I'd like to call on Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels for the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Heavenly Father, we gather here tonight and thank you for the opportunity again to do your work. Father, may we put um approach our discussions tonight with open minds, humble hearts, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all those who call the city home. May wisdom guide our decisions, courage, strengthen our convictions, and compassion ground our actions. Let us be mindful of those in our community who are struggling, and may our leadership help create a more just, safe, and thriving city for everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands under God. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes, sir. Mayor Connolly. Here. Present. Councilmember Foreman. Here. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Scully. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Councilmember Wellis. Here. All right, Mayor Connolly of a quorum. Thank you very much. Mr. Manager, any recommended changes tonight? I have no changes, but the city attorney has an addition. Mr. Attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh Mayor and Council members. I recommend that council add to the agenda a closed session motion to be read at the end of the meeting. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed saying nay. Motion passes five zero. Thank you very much. We'll move on to special recognition. So usually I do my city manager shout out at the end of the meeting, but I'm gonna I'm gonna move it to the to the front. And this is a this is a very, very special. This is a very special one because uh Daryl uh Darrell uh portrayed a a very uh heroistic act act uh uh uh not too long ago and would love to recognize Darrell uh for that. On the morning of April 2nd, 2025, Darrell Norris from the City Engineering Department was on his way to work just west of Washington when he came across a truck that had turned over in on its side in the intersection.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com