Other Issues
There are many other issues that need to be addressed, although not too popular throughout city hall.
Open Meetings
§ 143‑318.11. Closed sessions.
Other than the specified reasons contained in the link above, all meetings are to be OPEN. The public has a right to know what their elected officials are up to. I am sure during some of these meetings at one time or another, a few 'other' items were mentioned and even discussed briefly. Maybe in innocence, and maybe not.
I would propose that the city council have the Goldsboro News Argus appoint a special (seasoned) reporter to sit in all of these 'closed meetings' to insure that nothing is discussed that is not allowed. The reporter would be under an oath to not divulge any information discussed at the special closed meeting. But if the law was violated, everyone would know about it in the next edition of the News Argus. Granted with the reporter's presence, you could rest assured that no city council member would make that 'slip'. The news paper is your friend, they want to get important information to you as soon as they uncover anything of interest.
The ARTS
While the ARTS is a very good and noble cause, I think we took it a little overboard with the undertaking of the Paramount and Community Building (which BTW both mysteriously caught fire) AND the proposed Stoney Creek Park, all at the same time. As far as I know, not one of them has the money for it in the budget. It is quite possible that the city council has bitten off more than they can chew in their attempt to please everyone at the same time and make it look good for the November election. Especially when the Reconstruction Committee chairman himself says: “We know that we can’t fund the Paramount,” Allen told committee members. “And we know that the City Council is not going to make this project a priority for at least two or three years. And by then, it may be an entirely different council.” And “The community doesn’t want it,” he said. “No. 1, we don’t have the money. And No. 2, there’s no big group out there, besides the arts, supporting this thing.” (I said biting off more than they could chew, maybe I should have used the term "eating crow" or "putting foot in mouth".) But, then again, election time is not too far away.
Stoney Creek Park (A. K. A. Waller Park)
I believe that the Stoney Creek Park money can better be spent. Instead of creating a 6 acre lake costing millions of dollars, (that God can do for us over night for FREE with one heavy rain,...and take it away just as quick) we can redirect the money to clean up, maintain and improve our existing parks with an ample amount left over that could be applied to more needed projects. Such projects could include earlier mentioned Emergency Services' salary increases and road repairs, (which in the long run would save us money) community services and the short fundings of the Paramount/Community Building.
The Stoney Creek Park area can still have trees and picnic tables etc. but it doesn't have to have gold plated waterslides, with a "petting zoo"? only several thousand yards from 10 other parks !....Berkeley Park,.. Fairview,.. Quail,.. Mina Weil,.. H.V. Brown,.. Henry C. Mitchell,.. North End,.. South End,.. Peacock,.. Washington.
Here's the Billboard Sign at the entrance of Stoney Creek Park. (The one that they want to build in a FLOOD ZONE.)
Click the Billboard for a close up look at the wildlife that will inhabit the FLOODED park.
Here are newspaper article that reference Stoney Creek Park:
02/21/05 Street closing would add to park land
08/23/05
Final vision of new park is drafted
09/04/05
City Council will meet Tuesday at 7
09/13/05
Stoney Creek Park meeting set for today
10/30/05
City taking aim at litter bugs
10/16/05
Prices will affect some city projects
11/04/05
Park plan will include new pond
11/08/05
Stoney Creek Park plan will include 5-acre lake
12/29/05
Stoney Creek Park public hearing January 5
01/06/06
Planning Stoney Creek Park; security, privacy concerns
01/23/06
Huffman looks back at first year
02/17/06
City eyes funding priorities
02/19/06
City Council sets priorities for new budget
02/21/06
Speaker asks city to rename local street
02/24/06
City looking into hiring grant writer
03/07/06
Council will wait to name street in honor of Rhodes
03/22/06
City considers rejoining Council of Governments
03/29/06
Councilmen set city's priority list for 2006
04/19/06
Park plan not benched
06/11/06
Park plan takes new direction
06/16/06
Stoney Creek Park group continues discussions
07/09/06
Council to discuss new park alliance
07/11/06
Groups gets first OK for new park
08/15/06
Community can add thoughts to park plan
08/18/06
Alliance starts making plans for park
08/22/06
Councilman earns Order of the Long Leaf Pine
08/25/06
Meeting will eye businesses' flood concerns
09/08/06
Stoney Creek flooding makes park questionable
10/20/06
Committees formed to guide Stoney Creek Park
11/01/06
An historic tree grows in city park
11/05/06
City Council backing plan for projects
11/07/06 Alliance seeking input on park plan
11/12/06
Residents get closer look at Stoney Creek Park plan
12/22/06
Alliance still waiting on OK for lake
12/31/06 Mayor not yet sure if he will seek
re-election
07/27/07 City denied grant for revamped park plan
08/17/07 City officials ask congressman for help with getting project funding
08/24/07 Alliance seeks help to secure grant funds
10/17/07 Nature Day entertainment sought
10/19/07 Stoney Creek Park Alliance will wait to apply for grant
Open Door Policy
I want to have an Open Door Policy where any employee, at any time, can come to me with problems that he feels he can't solve through the normal channels/chain of command. And any frustrated citizen that can't get satisfaction through any department can "go to the top."
Advise/input from employees
I would like to implement a program where employees can submit ideas to save the city time and money (tax dollars), much like the incentive awards the Air Force Base offers. Who really knows how to get the job done better than the ones out there doing it everyday?!
The more they save the city, the more the award.
Streets & Roads
Our streets can use a little TLC, I call your attention specifically to that nice little (almost invisible) pot hole in front of the court house on William at Chestnut Street. After a few surprise dips in it, the unsuspecting motorist gets smart and swerves to avoid it. There is not much room for avoidance between oncoming traffic, court pedestrians, and parked police cars. Certainly city officials have encountered it also within the last year or so. This is not the only road problem, by far. Not too long ago the former Mayor, Hal Plonk, got those 7 infamous manhole covers taken care of on the southbound lane of Ash Street in front of Herman Park . Remember them? While we're busy spending money we don't have, on some things we don't need, that won't benefit all of the citizens, we could be maintaining our streets for everyone to use. Especially downtown, if we want to put on a good appearance.
06/25/07 John Street closing for repairs Could it be that after all this time that they finally got the message, election is right around the corner? Of course, then again, John Street is a State street, and it's the State's money doing the work not to take away from the Stoney Creek Park fund.
Police Housing Program
Some municipalities have programs that offer discount rent (or even free) with waived deposits to Law Enforcement Officers if they agree to live in certain areas of the city. Police presence provides security, and peace of mind, whether on or off duty. I'm very pro law enforcement and an advocate for this type of program. I believe there are property owners out there that would be willing to start or join a program of this type. I've already been advertising a deposit free apartment for full-time law enforcement for my rental properties.
Changing the System
I received an email from a gentleman suggesting that the citizens of Goldsboro would be better served if we changed from our current district system. He goes on to say:
Mr. Stuart.
Much can be accomplished if you rid your election process of a district/ward system.These only help protect and insulate persons who can raise,annex,and perpetrate actions on all the people of Goldsboro. All municipal and county official should be elected in "at large" elections,as a result, making elected officials accountable to all the people all the time. Thanks for your letter,and if I can be of assistance,you have my email address and phone numbers. See my site www.ncconstitution.com Respectfully,and again my thanks for your actions. Harvey Pulliam,Jr Kerbnersville,N.C.
This is something to consider. I will leave it at that for now.
People's Choice
There are a lot of issues that pass through city hall, some important and some trivial. [Nonetheless, keep in mind that "minor surgery" is something that other people have, when you have the same operation, it is not minor.] It is the elected officials duty to make their call in the best interest of the citizens, the people they represent. Sometimes special meetings are held where the public can speak up, For or Against. Sometimes it's easier to second guess the public's choice, (..and sometimes, it just doesn't matter what the public wants).
There are a lot of people that have an opinion, but for one reason or another just can't make it to the meetings or get up with their district representative. Transportation problems, conflicts of time, disabilities, (and apathy for that matter) are all reasons that attendance is low at city hall. The public needs to be more involved. I would suggest a way to get input on upcoming issues is a poll of sorts, that each household can 'vote' on. This would not be a very difficult or expensive thing to do and would give city hall a better understanding of the public's desire.
Each month (when appropriate) a small questionnaire could be sent out with the water bills. Or even a one sentence line on the bill itself. Where each household could check a YES or NO box. For example: Are you in favor of extending the Downtown Jamboree to 12 months a year? This is a good, although not scientific, form of feedback.
Citizens' Advocate
It can be really frustrating when someone has done you wrong and you can't afford or don't know where to turn to get justice.
For instances, let's say you are on a fixed income, a local business got you to pay them up front for a job that they promised to 'start next week'. Next week comes and goes, and you haven't seen or heard from them. After several attempts to contact the owner, but to no avail, they show up to get started and they're taking their sweet time about it. They are not intending to do what they agreed to and tell you to do it THAT way will cost you more. Since they have your money, you really have no control or leverage to have them follow through. You have since found someone else that could come right over today and do it, but you have already paid someone else. Along with other facts in this case you realize that the company just don't know what they are doing and although they have shown up and are attempting to do the job it just isn't working out. They won't let you cancel or give you a refund. ....and several other factors (use your imagination, this is just an example, but you've heard of other stories that will fit this scenario) just go south
You are at their mercy. You have no alternative but to wait it out and hope for the best. You could try calling the police, but they will tell you that it is not a criminal matter, maybe civil. If civil, you have to get the small claims papers from the court house and file them costing you $50.00 or more out of pocket/up front money which you really can't afford. A lawyer may tell you that it is not worth a lawsuit because you would not get enough to cover the expense.
You need to turn to someone, that can set these people straight. The Mayor's Office should have a program where volunteers can hear your complaint and help point you in the right direction to resolve the dispute. Most every business in the city limits pays for a privilege license each year. City hall has a record of each one with a contact number. This program would be in addition to any other avenue that may be available. It would be the first step in stopping the run around.
It seems that elected officials are very generous with YOUR money. Too many times I have read in the paper that we have hired (outside) engineering, consulting and survey firms to tell us what we need.
Studies for annexing northern area OK'd
"The Goldsboro City Council agreed Tuesday to spend $250,000 on studies connected with annexing areas northwest of town. Because there's no money in the city's current budget for the studies, the council voted for the city to take a temporary loan from the utility fund to pay for it. Next year the city will sell sanitary sewer bonds, and the loan to the utility fund can then be repaid, city officials said."
This was a quarter of a million dollars spent for what amounts to two companies 'opinion'! Remember what I said earlier about
"spending money we don't have, on things we don't need, that won't benefit all of the citizens."
Goldsboro's bids on sewer come in high
"The Goldsboro City Council agreed Monday to take $1.9 million from its utility fund to pay for sewer improvements along New Hope Road. The council expects to repay the loan next spring when it sells sewer bonds. Those bonds were voted on by Goldsboro citizens in 1998. "
For more than 50 years The Farmers' Market on South Center Street has been a source of fresh fruit, vegetables and homemade goodies. Seems to me we had a good thing going, and this market was something to look forward to.
It was a part of Goldsboro's tradition that is missed by a lot of citizens. I'd like to see it resurrected in the same way that the Paramount Theater is coming back to life.
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