The Greensboro City Council met in its first regular session of the month on July 9.
City Clerk Lorrie Cook then read over the bills due, which amounted to $117,954.32. Councilmember Bragg made a motion to pay the bills in the specified amount, with council members Shepherd and Curtis simultaneously seconding the motion.
The council then heard department head reports. Aaron Evans of the Street and Sanitation Department and Chief Willie Lewis of the Greensboro Police Department both indicated that their respective departments had no major reports outside of usual operations.
The city’s attorney, Carolyn Steverson, was on hand throughout the meeting, and presented two issues during the meeting that were of current interest to the council. Steverson began with addressing the issue of ownership with HERO’s municipal properties, as well as HERO’s plans to sell their properties, in part, to repair other real estate holdings that have fallen into disrepair under the nonprofit’s stewardship.
Steverson presented a series of questions she explored when examining the issue at hand, such as whether HERO could sell the property, or if the city could give away property.
Part of the deed between the city and HERO included reservations for properties under HERO’s stewardship to be used for public use. However, Steverson said that Puddle Jumpers, though it serves a public need, is operating on a forprofit basis. In addition, HERO has been collecting $900 in monthly rent from Puddle Jumpers, which Steverson said indicated that HERO was acting as a for-profit as well.
Steverson questioned what the $900 in monthly rent from Puddle Jumpers that was sent to HERO went towards. She also noted that HERO did not receive permission from the city to sell the properties.
Steverson stressed that the city could not give away property unless they declare the property as ‘unneeded’ based on certain legal parameters. She then concluded that the city could file for a declaratory judgement against HERO if the municipal properties are not handed back to the city.
Pride Forney, property manager for the nonprofit, argued that the municipal properties were not owned by the city, but deeded to HERO. Forney argued that there were no stipulations that prevented the nonprofit from renting their buildings to tenants. She stressed that Puddle Jumpers was operational in 2013, two years prior to the deeding of the property by the city, and that HERO would hand over $130,000 to the city per a real estate deal negotiated with both Puddle Jumpers and Project Horseshoe Farms.
Attorney Steverson and Mayor Washington both mentioned that Steverson attempted to contact Rev. Moore, chairman of HERO’s board, several times and have yet to make any contact with Moore over the issue. Steverson said she had never heard of the $130,000 offer until that evening.
Forney said Project Horseshoe Farms was assisting HERO in cleaning out both the Bunkhouse and FRC properties currently in their holdings to prepare for sale. Lennon Bonds, an employee at Puddle Jumpers, presented a series of questions to attorney Steverson that she said she would answer after the pair exchanged contact information.
Forney emphasized that HERO was neither asking the city to give away their properties, nor was the city going to be paying any of HERO’s bills. She went on to praise the accomplishments of the new HERO board, citing that under the new board HERO’s debts have decreased from approximately $1 million to approximately $300,000.
Washington called discussion to a close by stating that if Steverson could not get in contact with Rev. Moore, that the city would be forced to take another course of action.
Steverson then moved on to the issue of the Third Street Church of God’s rehabilitation and reentry program, in particular a halfway house which is currently in use despite a decision from the city to disallow any such operation at that address. The program, known as JumpStart, was the subject of much public criticism when it was proposed years ago. The council voted not to permit the program to operate at the proposed address, a Main Street home owned by the church.
Recent stories on local television stations highlighting the success of the program revealed that the church had elected to go forward with operating the program despite the council’s vote.
A legal issue with the location, pointed out by Steverson, is that it is located in an R1 residential district and is thus not zoned as a multi-family dwelling. Steverson wrote a letter to the Rev. Kervin Jones, who heads Third Street Church of God, requesting action on the matter but said she had received no response.
Councilmember Bragg said Jones indicated to her that the facility was not going to shut down. Steverson said Jones could have requested a zoning variance, despite there being public backlash to the facility’s proposal years prior. The next possible step, according to the city attorney, would be to file an injunction against Jones and the facility. It appears Jones was not seeking permission when he initially approached the city, rather he was informing the council of his church’s plans. Councilmember Curtis made a motion to file for the injunction, with Councilmember Lewis seconding the motion, which passed by unanimous voice vote.
Pride Forney then presented another issue regarding a HERO building to the council, which was an issue involving repairs to stairs outside a Main Street building. The owner of AHB Accessories, and HERO tenant, is looking to improve the stairs outside the building, however the city owns the patch of land beneath the stairs, stalling future work on the structure. The owner has also been unable to secure a mortgage with People’s Bank of Greensboro until the stairs are repaired. The council discussed the parameters of giving the property to the owner, with Steverson clarifying that the city would have to have an ordinance that deems the piece of property to have no value to the city before relinquishing ownership.
Cook announced that she could have an ordinance drawn up by the next meeting if the council voted to proceed. Councilmember Kyser offered a motion to draw up such an ordinance, with Councilmembers Lewis and Shepherd simultaneously seconding the motion.
Washington opened the floor to public comments. Councilmember Bragg brought attention to a rubbish pile on Cashew Road in her district that needed to be removed. Evans responded by assuring Bragg that the pile had been removed earlier in the day, however that area had been prone to similar problems.
Councilmember Shepherd mentioned similar problems with illegal dumping in her district, as well as with a ditch located on Ward Street. Councilmember Kyser discussed problems with garbage and junk behind the former Parr’s Chevron building, now called Black Bear Convenience. Officer Burch informed Kyser he had responded to calls there as well as at Family Dollar.
Councilmember Lewis then reminded citizens to stay vigilant in light of an increase in break-ins throughout the community. She also addressed Valerie Clements of Puddle Jumpers, assuring Clements that the city wanted them to retain ownership of the business and its building. Councilmember Curtis asked everyone to maintain respect towards each other when voicing opinions or concerns. Councilmember Shepherd encouraged citizens to continue coming to meetings and emphasized the importance of working together as a community on current and future issues. Councilman Kyser echoed these sentiments by indicating that he, as well as the city, want to work with HERO tenants.
City Clerk Lorrie Cook announced that July would be the month marking her birthday, which is Friday, July 19. Pride Forney commended the mowing done on Main Street by Aaron Evans and his department. Pattie Dismukes expressed her gratitude towards both the city and the citizens present, with Aaron Evans echoing these sentiments by reminding citizens to take pride in the city. Mayor Washington reminded everyone present that the city council was ready and willing to work, and encouraged citizens to meet with attorney Steverson in the future with any concerns. Councilmember Curtis offered yet another prayer before offering a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Councilmember Lewis and passed by unanimous voice vote.
