City council tonight turned down a proposal to have the Main Street director, when hired, be a temporary city employee.
The three dissenting council members said following the meeting their votes were not against the Main Street program but against the person being a city employee.
Ernest Bobbitt, Greg Lawson and Suetta Scarbrough voted against the measure while Ed Liverman and Carl Ferebee voted for it.
Liverman said before the vote, “A group of people came forward trying to make this city better. The group needs our assistance to get started. These people are trying to improve the city. Instead of it dying a little, maybe they can help.”
Liverman related a trip to Dunn, which is in the program. “Their theater is a performing arts theater. Our theater is growing sweet gums and moss.”
Ferebee said before the vote he received many calls about the issue. “What we usually do is make the best decision for the city. In looking at all the comments I will keep that in mind when making my vote. Sometimes you have to look at the processes and do what’s best for the city.”
The motion to approve the matter by Liverman — with Ferebee casting the second —was shot down by the three dissenting council members.
“I’m terribly disappointed the council took this position,” said Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance Treasurer Sherry Wade following the meeting.
Wade said she couldn’t speak for the alliance’s board but said it will have to decide what its next step will be. “We’ve got a group of dedicated citizens trying to make Roanoke Rapids a better place to live and work.”
Wade called the vote a big disappointment. “I’m disappointed by the lack of vision and dedication to make Roanoke Rapids a better place to live.”
While Wade said the alliance can manage the director and pay the salary — something it was going to do anyway, advancing salary and benefits six months ahead — the project is a private-public partnership.
Lawson said, however, his vote was not one against Main Street. “Council is in favor of Main Street,” he said following the meeting. “I didn’t feel comfortable (with the city) taking that responsibility. We’re still committed to our financial commitment. We should offer them office space. I’m not against it. I’m very much in favor of Main Street.”
Lawson said Main Street offers members expertise and guidance. “The city manager sits on the RABA board. Main Street has unlimited resources. They have a mentor for the Main Street director.”
He praised the alliance for its hard work to get the Main Street designation. “They demonstrated hard work. They’re more than capable of managing one administrator. The city can be there in a supporting role.”
Scarbrough said she has always supported the Main Street program. “I’m on record of never being in favor of (the Main Street director) being a city employee.”
The alliance, she said, has 10 intelligent people on the board. “They have national guidelines to give the RABA board guidance. The Main Street director will designate a mentor.”
Like Ferebee, Scarbrough said she received numerous calls on the issue. “I had a number of citizens say they didn’t want the person to be a city employee.”
