The general government committee of the Winston-Salem City Council will consider a resolution tonight to dedicate a bust to honor Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke to be placed in City Hall.
Mayor Allen Joines requested the bust from his fellow council members in a Nov. 22 letter.
"Council member Burke has served admirably in her 36 years on city council and has been a trailblazer for electoral politics in Winston-Salem, serving as one of the first black women elected to city council and the first black mayor pro tempore," Joines wrote. "Mrs. Burke has worked tirelessly during her 36 years of service as a member of city council to elevate the condition of the disenfranchised and needy members of the community and has significantly improved relations between predominantly underrepresented groups through a number of initiatives which include the creation of the human relations department. Mrs. Burke's deep personal and professional commitment to advancing the community has resulted in her receipt of numerous local, state and national awards which have brought prominence to the city of Winston-Salem."
Joines recommended that a bust bearing Burke's likeness be permanently displayed in City Hall, adding that community leaders and personal friends of the mayor pro tem "have raised all of the funds necessary for the creation of this well-deserved honor."
Showing posts with label Vivian Burke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vivian Burke. Show all posts
Newly seated Winston-Salem City Council reshuffles committees
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| Vivian Burke was sworn in to her 13th term on Winston-Salem council |
And while the roster of the body reflected little turnover, a reshuffle of committee leadership as two council veterans stepped aside, signaled a fresh start for the council.
As chair of the finance committee, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel has been recognized by her colleagues for helping the city maintain the lowest tax and fee structure of any major city in the state through a succession of difficult budget years. Her retirement from council created a vacancy filled by Jeff MacIntosh, as the new representative of the Northwest Ward, but also created a leadership vacuum on the finance committee.
The council voted unanimously on the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke to appoint Robert Clark, a four-term Republican who represents the West Ward to chair the finance committee. The surprise was that the slate moved by Burke promoted Councilman James Taylor Jr. from vice-chair to chair of the public safety committee.
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| Robert Clark is the new chair of the finance committee. |
"I said, 'God has blessed me, and I'm not going to serve as chairman anymore,'" Burke recalled. "The mayor had made that recommendation that I would. And I called him and I said, 'I have something to say.' I said, 'I want to move away from being chairman of public safety.'... I feel that [Taylor] would do a good job. He is committed. I want you to know that it was a choice, and I think the city will be in good hands with James Taylor as our chairman."
Councilman Dan Besse will replace Clark as chair of the public works committee, and Councilwoman Molly Leight will replace Besse as chair of the general government committee. Besse said he requested the switch.
"I've had a particularly strong interest especially in our transportation infrastructure services ever since I've been on the council and wanted the opportunity to press forward in development on that end," said Besse, who is beginning his fourth term. "I thought I would have the strongest chance to do that as chairman of the public works committee."
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| James Taylor Jr. will chair the public safety committee. |
Clark said the city's roads and parks have been neglected because of budget constraints over recent years.
"I will be suggesting to this council that it is now time to seriously look at a general-obligation bond on a referendum," he said. "It has been 13-plus years since we've put a bond before voters and I think those resources are needed to get this city back to where it needs to be."
Joines said the new council needs to quickly put together a strategic plan and a capital improvement plan to prepare for a bond issue next year. The mayor, who has served three terms, has acknowledged the widening wealth gap in Winston-Salem over the course of his reelection campaign, and quickly pivoted to a gesture of economic reconciliation during his remarks.
"If Winston-Salem itself is to reach its full potential, we have to find a way to address the unacceptable levels of poverty in our city," the mayor said. "The poverty levels for families in our community were 21 percent last year, and 17 percent of our households qualify for food stamps. Certainly, educational attainment is a critical factor. For instance, the poverty rate for individuals with a bachelor's degree is only 5 percent, compared to 34 percent for individuals who do not finish high school. So dealing with this issue is certainly the right thing to do morally. But it's also the right thing to do because it affects us all and eventually becomes a burden on the taxpayer."
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| Dan Besse takes the helm of the public works committee. |
"So I propose that we create a poverty, work and opportunity task force to review the issues surrounding poverty, inventory the various programs in place now and to identify new programs that should be developed to address this issue," Joines said.
Leight, who has represented the South Ward since 2005, sketched similar contours in her remarks.
"I would like to see our city and council members not only continue our economic growth — the muscle of our city — but also put that growth to use for those amongst us who need the help the most: the hungry, the homeless, the have-nots," she said. "I pledge to direct my attention to the heart of our city, towards those poor and without homes and food, especially those children who go to school hungry. I also pledge to direct my attention towards quality-of-life issues — shall we call it the soul of our city. Those issues have had to take a back seat during the past few years. A quality city funds parks, libraries, museums, which in fact, in turn, become economic drivers for the city."
Councilman Denise D. Adams predicted "difficult decisions about taxes" to pay for raises for police officers and firefighters and to finance new infrastructure and quality-of-life initiatives. And consistent
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| Molly Leight is the new chair of general government. |
"Everybody wants to come home to a nice community block where there might be a coffee shop, or there might be some small businesses, or there might be some areas where children and families can come to do recreational things — nice sidewalks, more bike trails and greenways, better paving," she said.
While many council members reflected on two or three terms, Burke's comments summed up a record 12 terms in office.
Burke said that with the help of Assistant City Manager Greg Turner she calculated that she has spent 3,320 hours in official meetings to handle council business, not even counting community meetings.
"Tell me that I'm not committed and dedicated," Burke said. "There's no debate."
The Northeast Ward councilwoman talked about how during her tenure on council she has watched an area of Hanes Mill Road transition from a tree canopy to retail development.
"And some of you might not like to hear about Wal-Mart," Burke said. "But I tell you — I told the constituents I represented: 'I cannot say no; this time I'm going to say yes.' And we put Wal-Mart there. It created so many job opportunities. It made for people to have better homes. So we are interested in economic development."
MacIntosh, as the sole new member of the council, credited his colleagues with helping the city retain its AAA bond rating and steering Winston-Salem through the recession.
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| Jeff MacIntosh is the newest member of council. |
Merschel did not attend her final council meeting because of an unexplained medical issue, but City Manager Lee Garrity read from a written statement received by e-mail. Merschel thanked staff, fellow council members, her husband, family and friends and her successor, but singled out fellow council member Burke for praise.
"A special thanks and congratulations to my longtime friend, Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, on her historic election," Merschel said. "Her dedication to our community is legendary."
Winston-Salem council members threaten to hold up road project over contracting
In a split vote of 4 to 3 the Winston-Salem City Council scuttled an agreement with Charlotte-based Morris-Berg Architects to design the new City Yard on Lowery Street at a cost of $1 million to house sanitation, engineering, employee medical services and employee training facilities.
But then, at the urging of Southwest Ward Councilman Dan Besse, North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams switched her vote, flipping the result and allowing the contract to go through.
The three holdouts were Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who represents the Northeast Ward; East Ward Councilman Derwin Montgomery and Southeast Ward Councilman James Taylor. Taylor said the council members objected to the agreement primarily because of the process, which does not allow the city to select the company that is able to perform the work at the lowest cost to taxpayers. Secondarily, he said, council members would have preferred a local firm.
City Manager Lee Garrity said after the meeting that state law requires local governments to use a competitive request for proposals to advertise contracts for engineering and architectural services, ranking the responsive bids by competence and qualification. Under the state law, local governments must negotiate price with the first-ranked company, but if they are unable to reach an agreement they may move on to the second-ranked company.
In this case, staff selected the first-ranked Morris-Berg Architects.
"What we can do is provide more information [to council members] about those criteria," Garrity said. "As far as price goes, our hand are tied."
He added, "Local is not one of the criteria."
The resolution approving the contract cites a state law dating back to 1987, which reads in part: "It is the public policy of this state and all public subdivisions and local governmental units thereof, except in cases of special emergency involving the health and safety of the people or their property, to announce all requirements for architectural, engineering, surveying and construction management at risk services, to select firms qualified to provide such services on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required without regard to fee other than unit price information at this stage, and thereafter to negotiate a contract for those services at a fair and reasonable fee with the best qualified firm."
Relocation of City Yard from its current location on Rams Drive to the old Flakt-Bahnson plant on Lowery Street is necessary to allow the construction of Salem Creek Connector. The NC Department of Transportation selected Charlotte-based Blythe Construction to build the new road in January. Pat Ivey, District 9 engineer for NC DOT told YES! Weekly last week that the company is ready to begin work on the project. Completion of the new road is considered crucial before Business 40 is temporarily closed for renovation and bridge repair — currently scheduled for early 2017.
Adams thanked City Attorney Angela Carmon for offering to hold a workshop to explain the law to council members, after switching her vote.
"We just need to understand it," she said. "I know there's some council members that's been here and they may — but we need to understand that one."
Mayor Pro Tem Burke took shots at staff and her fellow council member, but ultimately acknowledged in her typical elliptical fashion that any fix would have to come from Raleigh.
"I don't think they understand it," she said. "They've just been going along, going along. And I think at least they know there's three of us are concerned that we wouldn't change. Maybe that will help them to understand it. And I'm going to go back to these laws. Those people can lobby effectively. And that's a shame. You have to challenge them."
On another item, the council voted to send a resolution allowing deed restrictions to be lifted from two properties owned by Judge Logan T. Burke, the mayor pro tem's son, in an urban renewal area back to the finance committee. Mayor Pro Tem Burke was excused from the vote. Councilman Derwin Montgomery said he had trouble with the resolution had not been previously reviewed considering that the last finance committee meeting was canceled, and was concerned with the precedent that would be set by approving it.
A summary provided with the item states that Logan Todd Burke, who is the councilwoman's late husband, purchased two parcels of land from the city in September 1988 in the East Winston Urban Renewal Project 3. The deed restrictions stipulated that "a building was to be constructed on each parcel."
Both parcels are vacant lots on corners of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, including a 1.2-acre lot at East 5th Street valued at $5,300 and a 0.2-acre lot at Lawrence Street valued at $39,000, according to Forsyth County tax records.
The resolution also affects a property sold by the city to William R. and Martha D. Carpenter in 1994 in the Kimberly-North Urban Renewal Project area.
The resolution reads, "Whereas these three properties were sold subject to deed restrictions stating that a building was to be constructed on the properties; and whereas, it became known that these deed restrictions were not fulfilled, but that now, the redevelopment plans under which the properties were sold have now expired; and whereas, since the redevelopment plans under which these three properties were sold have now expired, it is requested that authorization be granted to pursue the release of deed restrictions on these three properties.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council of the city of Winston-Salem, upon the recommendation of the finance committee and the community development/housing/general government committee, hereby authorize the release of all deed restrictions on [the three parcels] previously imposed upon them by the city relating to the East Winston Urban Renewal Project 3 and the Kimberly-North Winston Urban Renewal Project which have now expired."
The city council also voted to continue a rezoning request allowing Wal-Mart to build a neighborhood market on Country Club Road. Councilman Robert Clark, who represents the West Ward, said the delay would give developers and residents an opportunity to resolve differences.
But then, at the urging of Southwest Ward Councilman Dan Besse, North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams switched her vote, flipping the result and allowing the contract to go through.
The three holdouts were Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who represents the Northeast Ward; East Ward Councilman Derwin Montgomery and Southeast Ward Councilman James Taylor. Taylor said the council members objected to the agreement primarily because of the process, which does not allow the city to select the company that is able to perform the work at the lowest cost to taxpayers. Secondarily, he said, council members would have preferred a local firm.
City Manager Lee Garrity said after the meeting that state law requires local governments to use a competitive request for proposals to advertise contracts for engineering and architectural services, ranking the responsive bids by competence and qualification. Under the state law, local governments must negotiate price with the first-ranked company, but if they are unable to reach an agreement they may move on to the second-ranked company.
In this case, staff selected the first-ranked Morris-Berg Architects.
"What we can do is provide more information [to council members] about those criteria," Garrity said. "As far as price goes, our hand are tied."
He added, "Local is not one of the criteria."
The resolution approving the contract cites a state law dating back to 1987, which reads in part: "It is the public policy of this state and all public subdivisions and local governmental units thereof, except in cases of special emergency involving the health and safety of the people or their property, to announce all requirements for architectural, engineering, surveying and construction management at risk services, to select firms qualified to provide such services on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required without regard to fee other than unit price information at this stage, and thereafter to negotiate a contract for those services at a fair and reasonable fee with the best qualified firm."
Relocation of City Yard from its current location on Rams Drive to the old Flakt-Bahnson plant on Lowery Street is necessary to allow the construction of Salem Creek Connector. The NC Department of Transportation selected Charlotte-based Blythe Construction to build the new road in January. Pat Ivey, District 9 engineer for NC DOT told YES! Weekly last week that the company is ready to begin work on the project. Completion of the new road is considered crucial before Business 40 is temporarily closed for renovation and bridge repair — currently scheduled for early 2017.
Adams thanked City Attorney Angela Carmon for offering to hold a workshop to explain the law to council members, after switching her vote.
"We just need to understand it," she said. "I know there's some council members that's been here and they may — but we need to understand that one."
Mayor Pro Tem Burke took shots at staff and her fellow council member, but ultimately acknowledged in her typical elliptical fashion that any fix would have to come from Raleigh.
"I don't think they understand it," she said. "They've just been going along, going along. And I think at least they know there's three of us are concerned that we wouldn't change. Maybe that will help them to understand it. And I'm going to go back to these laws. Those people can lobby effectively. And that's a shame. You have to challenge them."
On another item, the council voted to send a resolution allowing deed restrictions to be lifted from two properties owned by Judge Logan T. Burke, the mayor pro tem's son, in an urban renewal area back to the finance committee. Mayor Pro Tem Burke was excused from the vote. Councilman Derwin Montgomery said he had trouble with the resolution had not been previously reviewed considering that the last finance committee meeting was canceled, and was concerned with the precedent that would be set by approving it.
A summary provided with the item states that Logan Todd Burke, who is the councilwoman's late husband, purchased two parcels of land from the city in September 1988 in the East Winston Urban Renewal Project 3. The deed restrictions stipulated that "a building was to be constructed on each parcel."
Both parcels are vacant lots on corners of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, including a 1.2-acre lot at East 5th Street valued at $5,300 and a 0.2-acre lot at Lawrence Street valued at $39,000, according to Forsyth County tax records.
The resolution also affects a property sold by the city to William R. and Martha D. Carpenter in 1994 in the Kimberly-North Urban Renewal Project area.
The resolution reads, "Whereas these three properties were sold subject to deed restrictions stating that a building was to be constructed on the properties; and whereas, it became known that these deed restrictions were not fulfilled, but that now, the redevelopment plans under which the properties were sold have now expired; and whereas, since the redevelopment plans under which these three properties were sold have now expired, it is requested that authorization be granted to pursue the release of deed restrictions on these three properties.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council of the city of Winston-Salem, upon the recommendation of the finance committee and the community development/housing/general government committee, hereby authorize the release of all deed restrictions on [the three parcels] previously imposed upon them by the city relating to the East Winston Urban Renewal Project 3 and the Kimberly-North Winston Urban Renewal Project which have now expired."
The city council also voted to continue a rezoning request allowing Wal-Mart to build a neighborhood market on Country Club Road. Councilman Robert Clark, who represents the West Ward, said the delay would give developers and residents an opportunity to resolve differences.
Winston-Salem council urges citizens to express outrage to state lawmakers on guns in parks
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| People stand to express opposition to a state law denying municipalities authority to regulate concealed guns in parks. |
The vote gave people on both sides of the gun-control debate an opportunity to vent their feelings.
City Attorney Angela Carmon said that under the state law passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly this year, the only areas that cities may prohibit concealed firearms are playing fields, and then only under certain circumstances such as when games are scheduled. She said that if the city failed to make the update, the entire ordinance could become unenforceable.
"This issue is not about the Second Amendment, which all of us up here support," said Councilman Dan Besse, a Democrat who represents the Southwest Ward. "It's not about the right to own guns to protect yourself in your home and your family. It's not even about the right to have a concealed-carry permit. This is about forcing concealed guns on the rest of the community in our parks and greenways and public spaces."
Besse called the state legislation "wrong-headed and dangerous." Councilwoman Molly Leight, a Democrat who represents the South Ward, piled on by saying it was "ignoble" and "goes against any logic."
Council approved the amendment to the ordinance by a vote of 7 to 1, with Councilwoman Derwin Montgomery, a Democrat representing the East Ward in dissent. Councilman James Taylor Jr., a Democrat representing the Southeast Ward, said he wished he could abstain, but his vote counted as a yes.
A dozen or so supporters of gun-owner rights, including Pat Kleinmaier, a Republican candidate for the North Ward seat on council, gathered outside City Hall before the meeting. Some wore stickers stating "Guns save lives." A security officer Lankford Protective Services told them they could not carry signs into council chamber, and some citizens voluntarily surrendered their poster-board props to him. The meeting drew both gun rights supporters and gun-control advocates, who filled council chamber and a committee room set up with a live video feed to accommodate overflow. Police said about 85 people showed up for the meeting.
Brian Reese of Kernersville, who said he spends time in Winston-Salem doing business, was one of the few gun-rights supporters who spoke during the public comment period.
"I see it as an individual's right to life," he said. "I as an individual want to make sure I stand a fighting chance to survive any encounter that I come across. So it's not the Second Amendment trumping property rights. To me, it's an individual's right to life.... It's that .38 revolver that gives a four-foot, 90-pound woman a fighting chance against a guy my size. It's a great equalizer."
The city council also passed a resolution expressing opposition to the state law. Council members note that the city's greenway system is composed of easements granted by private property owners, and City Manager Lee Garrity said the law is silent on whether the property owners retroactively ceded their right to prohibit concealed firearms on their property when they granted easements to the city.
The resolution reads, in part: "It is extremely imperative that citizens and members of the North Carolina General Assembly understand that Session Law 2013-369 not only arrogates control of municipalities over their own parks but it creates potential conflict between private property owners and greenway users wishing to carry concealed weapons."
Garrity added that the city parks are supported by city funds paid by city taxpayers, and that the city is liable if anyone is injured in a fall.
Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, a Democrat who represents the Northwest Ward, apologized to constituents who conveyed easements without knowing that they were potentially allowing greenway users to bring firearms on their property.
The resolution goes on to urge citizens who have expressed outrage over the city's inability to prohibit concealed handguns in its parks to share their concerns with state lawmakers.
Republican state lawmakers from Forsyth County, including Reps. Debra Conrad and Donny Lambeth, pledged to clarify the legislation as it affected greenways during a joint meeting with council members earlier this year, but stopped short of saying they would restore the city's authority to regulate guns in its park system.
Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, a Democrat who represents the Northeast Ward, expressed scorn for the Republican-controlled legislature, stating, "It's an embarrassment to say you're from the state of North Carolina because of the behavior of some of these people in Raleigh," but then went on to vote against the resolution. She joined Councilwoman Denise D. Adams, a Democrat who represents the North Ward, and Councilman Robert Clark, a Republican who represents the West Ward.
Clark, like many of his colleagues, said he objected to the state legislature seizing authority from local government, but explained his objection to the resolution as tactical.
"Charlotte picked a fight with Raleigh, and they no longer control their airport," he said. "Asheville picked a fight with Raleigh, and they no longer control their water system. If we pick a fight against Raleigh, we could end up losing control of our parks. I just think the old adage applies that you don't bring a knife to a gunfight."
City council also approved $4 million in incentives to Wake Forest University Health Sciences for expansion of the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter on the eastern flank of downtown. Specifically, the funds will be used by Wexford Equities LLC to develop a 230,000 sf lab and office facility and parking deck at the northeast corner of East 5th and Vine streets in the space formerly occupied by Reynolds Tobacco's Building 90 South.
Under the deal, the city would provide payments equal to 65 percent of the net taxes paid by the owner over an 18-year period. Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige said the incentives would be paid annually and only after the tax payments were received. The non-profit owner also agrees to keep the property on the tax rolls for an additional 20 years after the initial 18-year period. Mayor Allen Joines said that combining $2.3 million in tax revenue in the first 18 years and $7 million in the next 20-year period, the city would gain an almost $10 million in the deal.
Taylor said the deal would not have happened without incentives from the city.
In other action, city council approved a plan to move forward with the creation of three district police stations, although Merschel noted that the resolution does not commit any city funds to the initiative. The resolution also identified the Lucia building as the facility to house the district station in the southeast part of the city.
The council also voted to rename Civic Plaza — bounded by 3rd, Street, 4th Street, Town Run Lane and the Strollway — in honor of Merschel, who is retiring from council at the end of this year.
The resolution cited Merschel for being the first woman appointed to chair the city council's finance committee, helping the city garner recognition for maintaining the lowest combined tax and fee structure of any major city in North Carolina, along with supporting downtown initiatives such as "Restaurant Row," BB&T Ballpark and the downtown business improvement district.
Merschel wiped away tears as the resolutions was read.
"I've gone through 16 of the most difficult budgets in this city's history and never cried," Merschel said. "But I am honored and I am humbled. I can think of no greater honor than to have a green space in our community's living room that will bear my family's name."
IMAGES: Victors and losers of Winston-Salem's primary election
Here are some photos that didn't make it into our Winston-Salem primary election package for our print edition today. As of early Thursday morning our website has not been updated due to technical difficulties, but pick up a hard copy of the paper to see our election coverage.
1. A weary Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke meets with supporters outside the Mazie Woodruff Center as polls close. Burke garnered 53.8 percent of the vote against two challengers, propelling her to a 10th term as council representative for the Northeast Ward. (photo by Jordan Green)
2. Brenda Diggs (right), an unsuccessful challenger in the Northeast Ward, watches President Obama's speech on Syria with campaign manager Nigel Alston and former Mayor Martha Wood during her campaign watch party at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The results were not final, but campaign members knew the news would not be good. (photo by Jordan Green)
3. Mayor Allen Joines greets campaign co-chair Steve Strawsburg at his campaign headquarters on Liberty Street after learning that he had won about 85 percent of the early vote. (photo by Jordan Green)
4. Northwest Ward Councilwoman Wanda Merschel (right) congratulates Jeff MacIntosh (back right) after his Democratic primary win in the ward that Merschel currently represents. Also pictured: John Merschel and Susan MacIntosh. (photo by Alex Ashe)
Urban Circulator, jobs and regional competition mark fault lines between candidates
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| Joines (right) jokes with Montgomery. Also pictured (l-r): Besse, Elliot, Reynolds, MacIntosh and Johnson. |
The candidate forum featured a slate of seven Republicans, followed by 18 Democrats, who took questions from Winston-Salem Journal Editorial Page Editor John Railey and WGHP Fox 8 reporter Bob Buckley.
Democrat Dan Besse, who is running for reelection in the Southeast Ward, took the strongest position in support of the light rail project, known as the Urban Circulator.
"We can learn from Charlotte's developing an aggressively balanced transportation system," he said. "They have the interstates serving them. They also have a rail system. We can do that here locally, and we can draw billions of additional and redevelopment to our city."
Noah Reynolds, a Democrat running for the open seat in the Northwest Ward, took a different position.
"I believe I can offer a more efficient and less costly alternative to the streetcar idea by reworking and making more efficient our existing bus network," Reynolds said, adding that he favors park-and-ride centers to get people in and out of the city.
Besse also said Winston-Salem should emulate the Triangle's focus on education and research to drive economic development.
Some candidates said past city councils missed opportunities to enhance Winston-Salem's growth.
"We let Greensboro outfox us by getting the airport there instead of Winston-Salem," said Donald T. Shaw, who is contesting Robert Bultman in the Republican primary for a shot at Besse in November. "They were a little bit smarter than us. We did nothing and sat on our hands."
Democrat Joycelyn Johnson, who is attempting to reclaim her seat as East Ward representative from incumbent Derwin Montgomery, said past city leaders missed the mark on annexation.
"We were not as aggressive as other communities," she said. "Charlotte would annex Concord if they had the opportunity. There's only one other city in Durham County outside of Durham. Raleigh adopts RTP, as does Durham. We did not do the kinds of things, right or wrong, that other communities did."
But most candidates said Winston-Salem has no significant deficiencies compared to other cities in the state.
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| Mayoral candidates Gardenia Henley and Allen Joines |
Joines said Winston-Salem is a model while acknowledging it can borrow ideas from other cities.
"The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston selected Winston-Salem as a 'resurgent city' and sent about 40 individuals down from Springfield, Massachusetts to study how we had turned our economy around," Joines countered. "That being said, however, we can always learn from our other cities and other colleagues. Greenville, South Carolina is a good example of the things they've done with their downtown. I was down there yesterday actually recruiting a company that I think would be a nice fit for our new knowledge-based economy here in Winston-Salem."
A question about whether candidates should be forced to retire after a certain number of years through term limits drew the most pointed responses from candidates for the Northeast Ward seat.
"When we have a city council representative that holds the position for an extremely long time a lot of people lose interest," said Jemmise Bowen, a Democratic challenger, who said she does support term limits. "And I think some of what has happened in the Northeast Ward is that interest has been lost in local politics. I think that comes from assuming that everything will be okay, will be okay, will be okay.... If you see things that aren't relevant to you, it's time to either run or vote that person out."
Brenda Diggs, another Democratic challenger, said she does not support term limits.
Democrat Vivian Burke, who has represented the Northeast Ward since 1977, said she does not support term limits.
"I have been progressive, and I think I have been very, very good at what I do," she said. "You can check the record: I have not missed meetings.... When people get older it does not mean that there is something wrong as long as you can be active and productive, I don't think you need term limits."
Democratic and Republican candidates concurred that the city's most glaring need is for jobs.
Jeff MacIntosh, one of three Democrats vying for the open Northwest Ward seat, said the city's investment in downtown represents its best strategy for overall growth.
"I don't think we can cut our way to prosperity," he said. "I think we need to make smart investments. And I think the investments we've made in downtown over the years have paid off and will continue to pay off. Downtown is a net revenue generator. Downtown throws off more money to the rest of the city than they consume in services. So when you increase the density of people living downtown, you increase the tax base with no additional infrastructure costs."
Bowen, one of three candidates running in the Northeast Ward said the city needs to leverage its evolving transportation infrastructure to develop an industrial food production economy.
"I'm talking like canned vegetables," she said. "We can now produce vegetables from our neighbors in Walkertown, the surrounding areas, down east. We can also secure vegetables and food products from South Carolina. We have the mountains where we have peaches."
Republican Patricia Kleinmaier, who is contending with Democrat Denise D. Adams for the North Ward seat in the November general election, took aim at the city's reliance on food service and medical jobs. A tea party activist, Kleinmaier argued that the city should reduce the tax burden and weed out regulations to encourage business growth.
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| Republican candidates prepare for the forum. |
Republican Michael Owens, who will face the Democratic victor in the general election contest for the Northeast Ward seat, said job creation is important to him because he is personally unemployed.
"I've taken lots of classes on lots of subjects, but I don't have that scrap of paper that tells the world that I've studied something for a certain number of years," Owens said. "That said, we need jobs for people like me — hard workers, but don't have that piece of paper."
Howard Hudson, one of two candidates challenging incumbent Robert Clark in the Republican primary for the West Ward, cited fiscal responsibility as the city's most urgent need. He argued that the city council failed to take bold action and make difficult decisions when it did not implement the recommendations of the Citizens Organizational Efficiency Review Committee to save $4.7 million through spending cuts and fee increases.
Lida Hayes Calvert, the Republican candidate for the Northwest Ward seat, served on the committee.
"Do you know that to get your trash picked up in the back of your yard you don't have to have an excuse?" she said. "$114,000 we spend to pick up trash in the back of someone's yard without an excuse. You can be Joe and you can call in and say, 'Hey, this is Joe. I'm calling to tell you that I can't push my cart to the curb.' You know what the city says? 'Okay Joe, we'll be over there and we'll pick up your trash. No doctor's note, no nothing. Joe gets his trash picked up."
Among the two Democratic candidates for the South Ward, challenger Carolyn Highsmith built on her argument that she will provide more responsive representation to constituents.
"I am running a campaign focusing on listening, connecting and celebrating the citizens of the South Ward one block at a time," Highsmith said.
Incumbent Molly Leight, who has represented the South Ward since 2005, said she is "pretty pleased and proud of what we've accomplished in the last eight years," citing new companies that have located in Winston-Salem to create new jobs and additional tax revenue.
Reeling off names of programs and progress benchmarks, Leight noted that her platform sounded strikingly similar to that of Mayor Allen Joines.
"Did we write the script together?" she asked.
Kleinmaier, the Republican challenger in the North Ward, assailed some of the programs used by the current Democratic council majority to stimulate investment.
"I don't think the city of Winston-Salem should be in the business of loaning money to small businesses; that's why we have banks," she said. "And I don't think we need to be supporting every nonprofit. If you're going to start a nonprofit, you need to figure out a way to earn your own money and take care of your nonprofit, and not go begging the city to pay for all your expenses."
The city council approved $2.2 million for arts and community-development nonprofits in the current fiscal year budget, including $247,540 for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, which operates the Milton Rhodes Arts Center.
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| The candidate forum attracted a capacity crowd. |
Clark, the sitting West Ward representative and the sole incumbent on the Republican panel, said he is concerned that the number of nonprofits supported by the city has increased over the past three years.
Burke defends NW Ward seat, Knox bucks party to challenge Joines
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| Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke gives election staffer Joshua Chunn a lesson on penmanship. |
The nine-term incumbent, who has represented the Northeast Ward on Winston-Salem City Council since 1977, said she hadn't decided whether to run again until just recently.
"I prayed about it," Burke said. "I had a meeting at my house last night. I had a roomful of people. They talked; I listened. I told them they would know my decision tomorrow."
Burke faces two challengers, Brenda Diggs and Jemmise Bowen, in the Democratic Party.
Other last-minute filings include James Lee Knox, a Republican filing for mayor. He said he has his wife's blessing, but not that of the Forsyth County Republican Party, which is focusing resources elsewhere. Knox was elected last year to the Forsyth County Soil and Water Board and ran unsuccessfully for the North Ward seat on city council in 1985 and 1989.
In a sign the GOP is making a play to expand its standing on city council, where seven out of eight seats are held by Democrats, the party is fielding candidates in all but one ward.
Its best shot may be the Northwest Ward, which has the second highest percentage of registered Republican voters, outside of the West Ward, which is represented by Republican Robert Clark. Lida Hayes-Calvert, a small business owner who served on the city's Citizens' Organizational Efficiency & Review Committee, and has hired a consultant who formerly worked on the staff of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.
In the Southwest Ward, Republicans Donald T. Shaw and Robert Bultman will contend in the Republican primary for the opportunity to take on Democratic incumbent Dan Besse.
Republican Nathan Jones is challenging Democratic incumbent Molly Leight in the South Ward, while Republican Mike Hunger has filed for the Southeast Ward seat currently represented by James Taylor Jr. and Republican Patricia Kleinmaier has stepped up to meet Democratic incumbent Denise D. Adams in the North Ward.
The survivor of the Democratic primary in the Northeast Ward will face nominal competition from Michael Owens.
Intra-party competition in a couple primaries intensified over the final two days of filing.
Just before the noon deadline today, Laura Elliott, an ordained pastor with a progressive platform filed as a Democrat in the Northwest Ward. Yesterday, Noah Reynolds, a scion of the Reynolds tobacco family, filed as a Democrat. Rounding out the three-way Democratic primary is Jeff MacIntosh, a realtor whose interest in the seat was known before filing opened.
And in the Democratic primary for the East Ward, Phil Carter, an active member of the local Democratic Party, jumped in with incumbent Derwin Montgomery and longtime councilwoman Joycelyn Johnson.
Yesterday, Carolyn Highsmith, a community leader in the Konnoak Hills neighborhood who played a leadership role in a campaign to raise home values reduced in the recent tax revaluation, filed to challenge incumbent Molly Leight in the Democratic primary for the South Ward.
In the West Ward, incumbent Robert Clark has two challengers in the Republican primary: Howard Hudson and Andrew Johnson.
Competition thickens race for Winston-Salem's Northeast Ward
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| Jemmise Bowen |
Meanwhile, other political aspirants have burnished their credentials and decided, whether Burke wants to stay or go, now is the time for them to make their play.
Brenda Diggs, a retired banking executive with experience on the United Way board and the city's police retirement commission, entered the race with a flourish when 18 people accompanied her to the board of elections for the opening of filing on July 5. At the age of 65, Diggs is seasoned but not significantly younger than Burke.
Today, a second candidate, Jemmise Bowen, joined the race.
A shelter monitor with the Salvation Army, Bowen is a member of Forsyth County Senior Democrats, but at the age of 43, she's too young to hold voting privileges in the caucus. She's also a member of the Democratic Women caucus and represents Forsyth County on the 12th Congressional District Executive Committee. She learned how to run campaigns through the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership and Political Bootcamp in Maryland.
Bowen said she spoke with Burke before telling family and friends of her plans to run.
"I was looking for some kind of response," the candidate recounted. "I didn't expect her to be mean about it. She told me: 'Okay.' That was basically it. I told her what I wanted to do with my platform. She didn't say she's not running; she didn't say she is running. I have tremendous respect for her. She's been serving for, what, 30-plus years? That's most of my life."
Bowen credited Burke with bringing recreation centers and walking trails to the Northeast Ward, along with improvements to Patterson Avenue.
Bowen said she would like to broaden council's focus from downtown to the many neighborhoods that make up the eight wards.
"I support downtown, but I think there are things we can do on a neighborhood level to help bring value back into our community," the candidate said. "I think when we look at the economic issues, we have unemployment that's been cut. These are desperate times. I think it's time to wake our neighborhoods up. It's time to start working together and knowing each other. It's going to take a lot of footwork, and I don't mind that."
Bowen said that having interacted with community and business development staff to help a 95-year-old neighbor make improvements to her house, she would like to see that department receive more resources to do its work.
"[Director] Ritchie Brooks and his crew, they're a great group of people," she said. "They need more staff. How can we bring the staff in when we have the budget we have? They need help. I think they are a critical part of this community. Like the fire and police departments, they serve a role to make it enticing for people to come here."
Part of the candidate's political education has come from spending time with senior Democrats.
"Outside of them being a great group, you're always learning something when you're sitting around with a group of seniors," Bowen said. "We're dealing with a group of people who have a set income. We have to understand that the price of their medicine is increasing, but their income is not. I know what my parents say, but when I listen to a roomful of people discussing their issues, it brings a lot of light into what I'm looking at in the Northeast Ward. There are a lot of seniors in the Northeast Ward."
Bowen said she wants the city to diversify its strategy for creating new jobs by balancing the tech positions being developed at the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter with more traditional manufacturing and transportation jobs.
"We have talent in this city," the candidate said. "I just believe it is untapped. There's more that we can do. I just hope the citizens of the Northeast Ward agree with me. If they're going to agree with me, I hope they understand they have work to do, and so do I."
Winston-Salem council approves first entertainment district
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| Ziggy's, a Winston-Salem music venue, is in the heart of the new entertainment district. |
The applicants, represented by consultant Drew Gerstmyer, lined up support from a powerful set of influential players, including the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and Goler Community Development Corp., whose leaders spoke in support of the rezoning, which is designed to protect entertainment venues from complaints by residents.
But the president of the Downtown Arts District Association and a couple business owners on Trade Street urged council to turn down the request, citing concerns about public safety, sanitation and parking.
Councilwoman Molly Leight, who represents the South Ward, cast the lone no vote.
"Downtown is like Legos; it's building blocks," said Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, the Northwest Ward representative. "And this community has been bringing out our Lego set for years and years. We brought out the expanded sidewalks. We brought out two ways on 4th Street. We brought out the restaurant row. This community has just put Lego after Lego after Lego out there. And one of the next things, I hope, will be a business improvement district, because we don't want to be guilty of our own success.... I view this as just another key Lego piece going into the development of downtown."
Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke echoed Merschel's sentiment that the city has invested too much in downtown development to not take the next step.
The council's action creates an entertainment district with relaxed regulations for noise to encourage entertainment facilities catering to young people north of 7th Street on either side of Trade Street, reaching beyond 9th Street.
"I think the thing all of us are talking about is the concern for safety," said Kathy Gaultin, president of the Downtown Arts District Association. "We have a lot of businesses that are currently in the proposed area of the district. We have a lot more traffic than we used to have. We also have a lot more sanitation issues. We have a lot more safety issues. I don't know if more people misbehave or we just have a larger demographic."
Antonina Whaples, a 25-year-old Wake Forest University graduate, recently took over Kindred Spirits, a new-age store on Trade Street, with her husband, an Iraq war veteran. She said the entertainment district would imperil the nearby arts district south of 7th street, especially fledgeling business owners.
"My main concern is that this entertainment district isn't going to assist in the younger generation's ability to make entrepreneurial success in Winston-Salem, especially downtown," she said. "I don't think I have to tell any of you that it's hard out there for college graduates. I worked for an entire year after graduation as a bagger. Through ingenuity, hard work and an excellent business loan I was able to make this happen.
"I'm very concerned that this entertainment district is going to bring in some energies to the downtown district that is not going to be supportive to the artists that are downtown," Whaples continued. "Artists are the kind of people we need without the worry of our rent going up, insurance increasing because of worries about theft and dangerous people downtown after hours. There's concerns about those things. When people are inebriated, the danger increases. I don't have to tell you being a young woman, it's dangerous to walk out of your store at night. You want to feel comfortable."
Will Knott, a member of the arts district association, noted that the district already has a number of bars and restaurants, some of which are members of the association. He said the galleries that operate during the daytime are challenged when patrons of the bars who are over-served leave their cars parked on the street overnight. Finnigan's Wake, the Silver Moon Saloon and Single Brothers are among the bars located on Trade Street south of 7th Street.
"We are a vibrant, but we are a fragile neighborhood — small businesses, many of them that are marginal in their profitability," Knott said.
"The E district would also encourage crime — just sort of natural, goes with it," Knott added. "I've talked to Drew and his people, and they understand and talk about additional security, but it is a factor. It can create a seediness that the art pioneers have worked hard to get rid of. The tourists — 60 percent or so of our business comes from out-of-town people. If tourists, people in the hotels, don't feel comfortable, they're not coming down. They're not buying art."
Councilman Robert Clark, who represents the West Ward, acknowledge the growing pains that attend balancing growth between art galleries and entertainment facilities.
"Knowing there's a lot of beer served," he said, "I have a feeling we may have a problem with public urination."
Larry Olds said a provision in the ordinance when council created the new zoning category last November that prohibits other entertainment districts within a mile radius was "a serious oversight and mistake."
"We should have several entertainment districts in downtown," he said.
Greg Carlyle, owner of the Millennium Center at 5th and Trade streets, did not attend the city council meeting. But minutes from the June 13 City-County Planning Board meeting reflect that he stated that the zoning change would put him at a competitive disadvantage because he will be ineligible to rezone his property as an entertainment district.
Three speakers lined up in support of the initiative.
"I think this represents progress," said Jason Thiel, president of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership. "I think in some cases you do want to allow for the higher volume of music and outdoor entertainment. I think you see that in most of the cities that we compete with as peers."
Eric Tomlinson, president of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, said he had recently been at an establishment near 7th and Trade streets "winding down" with a group of colleagues.
"I had a lot of fun doing that," he said, "and I can see how that would attract a lot of youth and a lot of energy into our city."
Michael Suggs, executive director of Goler Community Development Corp. — a nonprofit involved in housing development and other revitalization efforts in the area directly to the east of the entertainment district — also urged approval.
"We think it's going to be a good thing that's going to spur some economic growth in the area," Suggs said. "If you look at the picture, it's literally the hole in the doughnut. It's not connected to any particular development. We think doing this type of project, it has the potential to connect particularly the area of Kimberly Park to some of the things that are happening."
Councilman Derwin Montgomery, who represents the East Ward, said the rezoning represents an opportunity to lay a foundation for a harmonious mix of uses in an area that to date has few residents "with the understanding that when you move in residential you'll have that understanding between those two."
"Other cities are watching us to see how this works," Montgomery concluded, "and I think we're going to be an opportunity for others around the state to be able to copy what we've done here in Winston-Salem."
Disclosure: YES! Weekly's publisher is a part owner of Ziggy's, one of the subject properties in the new entertainment district.
Winston-Salem council approves merit increases in budget vote
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| Councilwoman Wanda Merschel (left) and Councilman James Taylor |
After Winston-Salem Councilman Derwin Montgomery made a substitute motion to eliminate raises for council members, three hands went up immediately with the remaining five members hesitantly joining: No one wanted to be left alone on the island.
Not that some council members hadn't fought for the raises.
Only moments earlier, Councilman Dan Besse had cited the "symbolic value" of council members giving themselves a pay raise of about $150 per year when spending for many departments and community agencies was being reduced. Besse proposed that pay increases to council members be deleted and council members be allowed to redirect the funding to whatever line item they chose.
Councilman Robert Clark belittled the proposed funding streams as "a slush fund," and voted against the measure, along with Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel and Councilwoman Molly Leight.
When the finance committee took the final pass through the budget last week, Merschel, Clark, Leight and Burke declined Besse's request to take the council member raises out of the ordinance despite Besse's threat to vote against the budget if they remained.
The $378.9 million budget sets the tax rate at 53 cents per $100 of valuation, expands bus service to Sundays and provides three-tiered merit increases to employees. City leaders said 70 percent of property owners will see their tax bills go down, based on the recent revaluation that resulted in lower values for most.
Under the compensation plan, employees recognized as top performers will receive 3-percent raises, while those deemed "strong" will be rewarded with 2.5-percent increases and solid workers will earn 1.5-percent raises.
Councilman James Taylor Jr. noted the city employees who crowded into the gallery to witness the vote.
"As I look over the room, I see some of our first responders, some of the men and women who drive our buses and who do the work that needs to be done for our city," he said. "We want to make sure that we are retaining the brightest and the best, and I believe this budget, this merit increase is a road to doing just that."
David Pollard, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 682 representing city firefighters, hailed the raise.
"We've just seen the League of Municipalities study showing how far behind other cities we are," he said. "We're not anywhere near competitive. Hopefully, they'll continue to improve pay."
Pollard also said the firefighters union considered it a "big win" that the city retreated from a proposal to eliminate three fire inspector positions, instead opting to cut one slot that was already vacant.
Ramona Eller, a driver with Winston-Salem Transit Authority's Trans-AID program — which provides door-to-door service for the elderly and disabled — was one of several uniformed employees who attended the meeting. She applauded the vote, but said it was inadequate.
"I think it's not enough because of the hard work we do," she said. She added that she moved to Winston-Salem from Illinois, where she received significantly better pay for a similar job.
In fact, raises for transit workers are hardly a done deal. Budget Director Ben Rowe said after the meeting that the city council vote did not cover transit workers. The transit authority, which operates independently but depends on city funding, will negotiate raises in coming weeks with Transport Workers Union Local 248, which represents employees. Rowe added that the transit authority's budget is funded sufficiently to pay for the same level of raises as employees in conventional departments stand to receive.
Burke cautioned employees that they should expect to earn any raises, and warned against favoritism.
The mayor pro tem said there are "many employees who work and never look at the clock. They come early; they leave late. Now, if you're going to be realistic, the taxpayers are also looking at the employees who are out in the field. They know what they're doing and what they're not doing.
"Also, I said to the city manager: 'Some come and they bring too many of their personal problems to the job,'" Burke added. "So if they come, let them come and do their jobs, and they wouldn't have time for anything but the job that they have been assigned to do. And I think we've talked about the supervisors when they are grading the employees, there'll be no buddy system. If people are working, we are going to give them credit, and we want it to be done fair across the board."
Winston-Salem council votes 4-3 to cut fire inspector positions
IAFF Local 682 President David Pollard reacts to a decision by Winston-Salem City Council to cut fire inspector positions.
Winston-Salem City Council took a machete to the budget on Monday, chopping out three fire inspector positions in a split decision as part of review of a set of recommendations by a citizen committee to find cost savings through either spending cuts or fee increases.
Supporting the elimination of three fire inspector positions were Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who chairs the public safety committee, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, Councilwoman Molly Leight and Councilman Robert Clark. Mayor Allen Joines does not vote unless there is a tie. Councilwoman Denise D. Adams was not present for the vote.
"I want to make clear to the public that we will not be jeopardizing safety," Burke said before making the motion to cut the positions. She added that she was relying on the expertise of the city manager's office to make that judgement. The cuts will save the city an estimated $135,000.
Councilman Dan Besse, Councilman James Taylor Jr. and Councilman Derwin Montgomery opposed the cuts.
Besse said there was legitimate difference of opinion between the city manager's office and fire department on whether the cuts would have a negative impact, adding, "I am going to err on the side of public safety."
Taylor said he trusts the people who fight fires to know their business the best. More than 20 Winston-Salem firefighters represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 682 witnessed the vote.
The organizational efficiency document prepared by the city manager and the budget office states that the city's inspection schedule exceeds state requirements, and that by bringing the city's schedule in line with state standards five suppression personnel could take on the workload currently performed by the three full-time inspectors. Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige said the suppression personnel would have to each spend an additional hour and 30 minutes per day performing fire inspections to make up for the loss of manpower.
Local 682 President David Pollard took issue with Paige's reasoning after the vote.
"The point that was brought out as far as being able to cut those inspectors and put the load on the other inspectors is, those three inspectors, that's all they do," Pollard said. "They do nothing but fire inspections. The other employees in that office, they have a lot of other responsibilities that they do with fire investigations in the city, with a lot of their training, with a lot of the teaching opportunities that they do. So there's a lot more responsibilities there. They cannot focus on all these additional fire inspections as well as these three inspectors can."
The organizational efficiency document warns that the "recommendation could lead to an increase in the number of preventable fires resulting in property damage, injuries and death."
Fire Chief Antony Farmer said because of the department's current staffing levels, Winston-Salem has an enviable track record of protecting commercial buildings.
"When the firefighters go in to do an inspection it's an opportunity for them to see the business," Farmer said after the vote was taken. "It's like a pre-fire survey to see how things are positioned and to talk to the owner about a plan. I suspect that we will find that the other cities around the state have a few more fires in commercial areas. When we added them back in 2007, these inspectors had a 100 percent re-inspection rate, meaning that they re-inspected every single building where they found a violation."
After voting to cut positions for the three inspectors the council decided by consensus to send a related recommendation to adopt state inspection standards back to the public safety committee for further review. Clark signaled some confusion with the move, remarking that when he voted to eliminate the three positions it was with the understanding that the state's more relaxed schedule would make the workload manageable for the remaining inspectors.
The vote to eliminate fire inspectors was by far the most contentious item on the slate of recommendations considered by council, which amounted to a total savings of $1.5 million.
Council members unanimously voted to have the fire department respond only to life-threatening EMS calls, saving $145,000 and to increase parking fines from $10 to $15, raising $70,000 in additional revenue.
A proposal to tighten up the city's backyard garbage collection program by requiring a doctor's note from residents who wish to take advantage of the special service was sent back to the public works committee. The recommendation had previously advanced from public works to the committee of the whole on a split 1-1 vote, with Clark in favor and Besse opposed.
The change would save the city an estimated $114,000.
Besse repeated an argument that there is no evidence that the program is being abused, and said the other cities in the state, which require doctor's notes, are likely denying service to people with disabilities because they're unable to obtain the required documentation.
Montgomery and Leight said they have some concerns about how the program is currently being managed.
"I do believe there are individuals in some places, and even individuals that I have spoken with who said they simply submitted a form because they could," Montgomery said.
Leight added, "I have had citizens tell me that 'my neighbor has backyard pickup, so I just put my trash in their bin.' So, yes, there is definitely abuse. I see nothing undignified in asking your doctor for a — people do it with parking tags. So I agree that it could probably be looked at a little more closely."
Merschel expressed caution about pursuing changes.
"I do remember this is one of the concessions that the current council made, so I guess I'd like to see a little more notification perhaps," she said. "'We're looking at it. We're studying it.' Kind of an 'Oh by the way, this might come up in six months' or something. Because I do understand there is a lot of conversation on behalf of our seniors. And we're just kind of trying to ease into that."
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium for sale
In a day full of momentous developments for Winston-Salem, City Manager Lee Garrity announced that the city has received a formal offer from Wake Forest University to buy Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, while Winston-Salem State University has made a tentative offer to purchase Bowman Gray Stadium, pending approval from the NC General Assembly.
The council asked Mayor Joines to schedule a committee of the whole meeting as soon as possible so that members can review the terms of the proposed sales. City leaders say the sale of the facilities could potentially save the city $30 million.
Council heard from members of the public who were both in favor and opposed to the sale of the two city facilities on Monday afternoon. Public comments sometimes took on a racial tone, particularly relating to the potential demotion of Lawrence Joel, a black Medal of Honor recipient who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and worries that the survival of stock-car racing would be imperiled under the ownership of historically black university.
The coliseum has been appraised at $33.1 million. The city estimates a savings of $8 million in operating losses over the next 20 years while avoiding the need to invest $14.3 million in capital improvements. Subtracting an additional $1 million for event and lease commitments and $1.8 million for deed restrictions, the city is considering selling the facility to Wake Forest University for $8 million.
The city has negotiated with the university to retain the wording "Lawrence Joel veterans memorial" in the lobby and plaza in addition to the website. Wake Forest would receive all other naming rights.
"In order to mitigate the operating loss, they are proposing they would sell the main name of the coliseum but retain the name in the lobby and plaza," Garrity said.
Some council members acknowledged that money trumps the city's commitment to honor its veterans.
"It is about the money in a lot of ways," Joines said. "If we were to turn our backs on $30 million, we would not be upholding our fiduciary responsibilities to the citizens."
Merschel suggested the city can find other ways to honor veterans.
"Brick and mortar is not a living monument to anyone," she said. "The way we treat each other with respect is a living, breathing monument."
Merschel went on to say that she was "astonished" that a citizen had said that only people of color could feel reverence for Joel's name. The council woman added that she believes Winston-Salem has made significant progress in race relations over the years.
"The people I consider colleagues and friends here," Merschel said, "I believe we're past bricks and mortar."
Former mayor Martha Wood noted that the city has recently realized $800,000 by switching over to rolling carts for its recycling program, and suggested that surely it could close a $400,000 annual operating deficit through similar management improvements.
"Surely our city can find a way to plug such a hole without selling the soul of our city," she said.
Garrity responded that, unfortunately, the cost savings from the recycling program can only be achieved once. He challenged the notion that the coliseum's operating deficit could be closed through better management.
"We can bring in more events," he said, "but I assure you we'll lose more money."
The former mayor's husband, Frank Wood, said that whatever council members' intentions, if the name Lawrence Joel (a black man) is removed and the name Bowman Gray (a white man) is retained, the city will have reached "a racist result."
Councilman Clark protested, "To play the race card at this point I thought was most offensive."
A handful of white citizens spoke warmly of attending races over the years at Bowman Gray Stadium, citing it as a facility built with working-class taxpayers' money where friendships were forged and affordable entertainment could be enjoyed.
Winston-Salem State University has agreed to honor an existing leasing agreement with Winston-Salem Speedway Inc. so that racing can continue. The name Bowman Gray will also remain. But Charles Phillips, a High Point resident, expressed skepticism that the university would capably manage the stadium as a racing facility.
"Money's not everything," said Tim Bowman, a former Winston-Salem resident who now lives in Clemmons. "The dignity of the people in this town is a little more important than money. We pay your paychecks and we put you in office. Next time we vote, we'll remember this."
Clark said he might consider the two potential sales separately, adding, "As far as Bowman Gray, if the racing folks are not happy, I'm not happy."
Some citizens asked whether council members who have formal relationships with either university should be excused from voting on the potential sales of the facilities. Mayor Pro Tem Burke acknowledged that she holds a seat on Winston-Salem State University's board of trustees. City Attorney Angela Carmon said there was no conflict of interest for any council member, including Burke, to vote on either transaction.
"I have not even participated with the trustee board when the matter comes up," Burke said.
Winston-Salem City Council took a machete to the budget on Monday, chopping out three fire inspector positions in a split decision as part of review of a set of recommendations by a citizen committee to find cost savings through either spending cuts or fee increases.
Supporting the elimination of three fire inspector positions were Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who chairs the public safety committee, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, Councilwoman Molly Leight and Councilman Robert Clark. Mayor Allen Joines does not vote unless there is a tie. Councilwoman Denise D. Adams was not present for the vote.
"I want to make clear to the public that we will not be jeopardizing safety," Burke said before making the motion to cut the positions. She added that she was relying on the expertise of the city manager's office to make that judgement. The cuts will save the city an estimated $135,000.
Councilman Dan Besse, Councilman James Taylor Jr. and Councilman Derwin Montgomery opposed the cuts.
Besse said there was legitimate difference of opinion between the city manager's office and fire department on whether the cuts would have a negative impact, adding, "I am going to err on the side of public safety."
Taylor said he trusts the people who fight fires to know their business the best. More than 20 Winston-Salem firefighters represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 682 witnessed the vote.
The organizational efficiency document prepared by the city manager and the budget office states that the city's inspection schedule exceeds state requirements, and that by bringing the city's schedule in line with state standards five suppression personnel could take on the workload currently performed by the three full-time inspectors. Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige said the suppression personnel would have to each spend an additional hour and 30 minutes per day performing fire inspections to make up for the loss of manpower.
Local 682 President David Pollard took issue with Paige's reasoning after the vote.
"The point that was brought out as far as being able to cut those inspectors and put the load on the other inspectors is, those three inspectors, that's all they do," Pollard said. "They do nothing but fire inspections. The other employees in that office, they have a lot of other responsibilities that they do with fire investigations in the city, with a lot of their training, with a lot of the teaching opportunities that they do. So there's a lot more responsibilities there. They cannot focus on all these additional fire inspections as well as these three inspectors can."
The organizational efficiency document warns that the "recommendation could lead to an increase in the number of preventable fires resulting in property damage, injuries and death."
Fire Chief Antony Farmer said because of the department's current staffing levels, Winston-Salem has an enviable track record of protecting commercial buildings.
"When the firefighters go in to do an inspection it's an opportunity for them to see the business," Farmer said after the vote was taken. "It's like a pre-fire survey to see how things are positioned and to talk to the owner about a plan. I suspect that we will find that the other cities around the state have a few more fires in commercial areas. When we added them back in 2007, these inspectors had a 100 percent re-inspection rate, meaning that they re-inspected every single building where they found a violation."
After voting to cut positions for the three inspectors the council decided by consensus to send a related recommendation to adopt state inspection standards back to the public safety committee for further review. Clark signaled some confusion with the move, remarking that when he voted to eliminate the three positions it was with the understanding that the state's more relaxed schedule would make the workload manageable for the remaining inspectors.
The vote to eliminate fire inspectors was by far the most contentious item on the slate of recommendations considered by council, which amounted to a total savings of $1.5 million.
Council members unanimously voted to have the fire department respond only to life-threatening EMS calls, saving $145,000 and to increase parking fines from $10 to $15, raising $70,000 in additional revenue.
A proposal to tighten up the city's backyard garbage collection program by requiring a doctor's note from residents who wish to take advantage of the special service was sent back to the public works committee. The recommendation had previously advanced from public works to the committee of the whole on a split 1-1 vote, with Clark in favor and Besse opposed.
The change would save the city an estimated $114,000.
Besse repeated an argument that there is no evidence that the program is being abused, and said the other cities in the state, which require doctor's notes, are likely denying service to people with disabilities because they're unable to obtain the required documentation.
Montgomery and Leight said they have some concerns about how the program is currently being managed.
"I do believe there are individuals in some places, and even individuals that I have spoken with who said they simply submitted a form because they could," Montgomery said.
Leight added, "I have had citizens tell me that 'my neighbor has backyard pickup, so I just put my trash in their bin.' So, yes, there is definitely abuse. I see nothing undignified in asking your doctor for a — people do it with parking tags. So I agree that it could probably be looked at a little more closely."
Merschel expressed caution about pursuing changes.
"I do remember this is one of the concessions that the current council made, so I guess I'd like to see a little more notification perhaps," she said. "'We're looking at it. We're studying it.' Kind of an 'Oh by the way, this might come up in six months' or something. Because I do understand there is a lot of conversation on behalf of our seniors. And we're just kind of trying to ease into that."
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium for sale
In a day full of momentous developments for Winston-Salem, City Manager Lee Garrity announced that the city has received a formal offer from Wake Forest University to buy Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, while Winston-Salem State University has made a tentative offer to purchase Bowman Gray Stadium, pending approval from the NC General Assembly.
The council asked Mayor Joines to schedule a committee of the whole meeting as soon as possible so that members can review the terms of the proposed sales. City leaders say the sale of the facilities could potentially save the city $30 million.
Council heard from members of the public who were both in favor and opposed to the sale of the two city facilities on Monday afternoon. Public comments sometimes took on a racial tone, particularly relating to the potential demotion of Lawrence Joel, a black Medal of Honor recipient who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and worries that the survival of stock-car racing would be imperiled under the ownership of historically black university.
The coliseum has been appraised at $33.1 million. The city estimates a savings of $8 million in operating losses over the next 20 years while avoiding the need to invest $14.3 million in capital improvements. Subtracting an additional $1 million for event and lease commitments and $1.8 million for deed restrictions, the city is considering selling the facility to Wake Forest University for $8 million.
The city has negotiated with the university to retain the wording "Lawrence Joel veterans memorial" in the lobby and plaza in addition to the website. Wake Forest would receive all other naming rights.
"In order to mitigate the operating loss, they are proposing they would sell the main name of the coliseum but retain the name in the lobby and plaza," Garrity said.
Some council members acknowledged that money trumps the city's commitment to honor its veterans.
"It is about the money in a lot of ways," Joines said. "If we were to turn our backs on $30 million, we would not be upholding our fiduciary responsibilities to the citizens."
Merschel suggested the city can find other ways to honor veterans.
"Brick and mortar is not a living monument to anyone," she said. "The way we treat each other with respect is a living, breathing monument."
Merschel went on to say that she was "astonished" that a citizen had said that only people of color could feel reverence for Joel's name. The council woman added that she believes Winston-Salem has made significant progress in race relations over the years.
"The people I consider colleagues and friends here," Merschel said, "I believe we're past bricks and mortar."
Former mayor Martha Wood noted that the city has recently realized $800,000 by switching over to rolling carts for its recycling program, and suggested that surely it could close a $400,000 annual operating deficit through similar management improvements.
"Surely our city can find a way to plug such a hole without selling the soul of our city," she said.
Garrity responded that, unfortunately, the cost savings from the recycling program can only be achieved once. He challenged the notion that the coliseum's operating deficit could be closed through better management.
"We can bring in more events," he said, "but I assure you we'll lose more money."
The former mayor's husband, Frank Wood, said that whatever council members' intentions, if the name Lawrence Joel (a black man) is removed and the name Bowman Gray (a white man) is retained, the city will have reached "a racist result."
Councilman Clark protested, "To play the race card at this point I thought was most offensive."
A handful of white citizens spoke warmly of attending races over the years at Bowman Gray Stadium, citing it as a facility built with working-class taxpayers' money where friendships were forged and affordable entertainment could be enjoyed.
Winston-Salem State University has agreed to honor an existing leasing agreement with Winston-Salem Speedway Inc. so that racing can continue. The name Bowman Gray will also remain. But Charles Phillips, a High Point resident, expressed skepticism that the university would capably manage the stadium as a racing facility.
"Money's not everything," said Tim Bowman, a former Winston-Salem resident who now lives in Clemmons. "The dignity of the people in this town is a little more important than money. We pay your paychecks and we put you in office. Next time we vote, we'll remember this."
Clark said he might consider the two potential sales separately, adding, "As far as Bowman Gray, if the racing folks are not happy, I'm not happy."
Some citizens asked whether council members who have formal relationships with either university should be excused from voting on the potential sales of the facilities. Mayor Pro Tem Burke acknowledged that she holds a seat on Winston-Salem State University's board of trustees. City Attorney Angela Carmon said there was no conflict of interest for any council member, including Burke, to vote on either transaction.
"I have not even participated with the trustee board when the matter comes up," Burke said.
Winston-Salem City Council passes resolution against Citizens United
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| Councilman James Taylor greets resolution supporters. |
A compromise between Councilman James Taylor Jr., the resolution's sponsor, and Councilman Dan Besse, passed with little discussion following about three months of shuttling to and from committee and wrangling over language and intent. The changes were made to address reservations expressed by Besse and garner his vote for the majority.
"When you start to see federally, on the state level and even locally in other cities that money was being placed over the people, I think this resolution sent a clear signal to everyone in our city that we won't put money over people, that people matter," Taylor said.
In addition to Taylor and Besse, the resolution garnered support from council members Vivian Burke, Denise D. Adams and Derwin Montgomery. Robert Clark and Wanda Merschel voted against the measure. Councilwoman Molly Leight, who had earlier expressed support for the resolution, was absent from the meeting.
With approval of the resolution, Winston-Salem joins Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh, Asheville and Chapel Hill in opposing the controversial Supreme Court ruling, which allowed so-called "super PACs" to spend unlimited cash in media advertising buys to influence elections as long as the expenditures are not coordinated with any candidate.
The Winston-Salem council's resolution expresses opposition to "the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission regarding constitutional rights for corporations."
The compromise resolution struck language calling on Congress to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United, calling instead "for the reversal" of the decision without naming any specific mechanism. But the title of the resolution still includes a reference to a Constitutional amendment.
To appease Besse the resolution also removed language stating, erroneously, that the Citizens United decision "declared corporations to be persons."
The final obtained by Besse removed the language articulating the stance that "only human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights protected by the First Amendment," and avers instead that "the rights of corporations and other artificial beings under the First Amendment may be restricted to a greater degree and in a different manner than those of natural persons."
Supporters celebrated approval of the resolution at Foothills Brewing after the council meeting. Kim Porter with Occupy Winston-Salem said the resolution would not have passed without help from several organizations, most notably Democracy North Carolina, whose personnel helped gather more than 1,300 signatures on a petition.
"James Taylor has worked very diligently with residents of the city and different groups involved in this process," Porter said. "Many people told us that a corporate town like Winston-Salem would never pass a resolution against Citizens United. I'm glad we proved them wrong."
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