It was a rather lengthy Greensboro City Council meeting last night, so the N&R split its coverage between City Manager Mitchell Johnson’s budget (which includes —you guessed it– a tax increase) and the election to recall Dianne Bellamy-Small, which was set for Aug. 21.
While the council retreated to closed sesssion to further discuss the proposed purchase of the Canada Dry property, the issue came up during council members’ comments. It turns out —big surprise — that the council wasn’t quite sure what action it had authorized Johnson to take regarding the property during last week’s meeting.
Fortunately, council member Mike Barber wanted to be clear on exactly what happened last week. Surely, he reasoned, the council hadn’t authorized Johnson to enter into negotiations without presenting an appraisal. Though no formal vote was taken at that time, it turns out Mayor Keith Holliday thought the council had done just that, with council member Sandy Carmany piping in that they had given Johnson authority to make an “informed decision.”
Fortunately, the council backed up and passed a motion requiring Johnson to present an appraisal at the next meeting. Otherwise, our beleagured city manager would have been left to his own devices when negotiating the purchase of the property. That shouldn’t make anyone feel good, considering the fact that the majority of the council will more than likely rubber-stamp the purchase.
All I have to say is thank goodness for Mike Barber. He’s quckly surpassing Tom Phillips as the lone voice of reason on our city council.
