Here are some highlights from tonight’s upcoming Henderson City Council meeting:
* Ms. Carliece Urena is scheduled to speak to the council regarding public transportation.
* The FAIR Committee will ask the council for a vote on a proposed fund balance policy. The policy would require that the city maintain a minimum fund balance at all times, except in certain specified emergency situations. It is the intention of the FAIR Committee that this policy be binding on future councils.
The FAIR Committee will also discuss restrictive covenants on the Jordan property on Garnett Street. In exchange for the city cancelling its Deed of Trust, the covenant requires that the property be developed, and that the building line up with the facades of existing buildings, and that the architecture and design be similar to other downtown brick buildings constructed before 1936. The covenants would run until July 1, 2016.
* The Community Development Committee will report on Beacon Light and the contract with Holland Consulting Planners, Inc. The contract is for a project manager to administer the David Street CDBG project.
* The Public Safety Committee will address graffiti and drug seizure fund purchases. It will also address remarks made by Margaret Ellis at the city council meeting of August 28, 2006.
At the meeting of August 28, Ellis said that the government is “lackadaisical” about changes to some parts of the community.
She mentioned that Henderson was in the news about the AIDS epidemic in May.
Ellis cited murders, shootings, and violence, and complained that there is no discussion by officials as to what to do.
She asked how many have to suffer before the council institutes a curfew. She said that she feels that the elected have a careless attitude until just before election day.
Ellis said that the government must step up to the plate.
She said, “Together we can make some changes and make some difference.”
“I’m not afraid,” Ellis continued, “but most of our people are.”
The current school board member stated a need to look at community models of how other cities have gotten guns out of the hands of young people.
Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert said in response, “I don’t think anybody up here will disagree that we need to do all we can do.”
* The Public Works Committee will discuss the “new customer packets” originally proposed by Code Compliance Director Corey Williams. They will also report on the Curbside Sanitation Pilot Program.
* The Journal Committee will discuss the Ethics Policy. The last discussion of such a policy proved somewhat devisive among council members and sparked intervention by the City Attorney.
* Land Planning and Development will discuss the disposition of the Henderson-Vance Armory and the currently vacant former Perry Library on Rose Avenue. The council recently sent a letter proposing alternative solutions to the Vance County Board of Commissioner’s three scenarios for the dispostion of the properties. That letter was not properly received by the county board as of their last meeting.
* The complete council agenda may be viewed here.