Mayor Terry Bellamy has been interested in renovating the Reid Center for some time. Asheville City Council’s last retreat was held there, rather than at a posh inn, to call attention to the facility’s needs. It was a bit homely and dated, but for the most part, sturdy and functional.

The community center services three public housing developments. Many local celebrities and community advocates are actively engaged in the Raise the Roof campaign to collect millions of dollars to turn the facility into a state-of-the-art performing arts center.

Among those who think this a bit lofty when all kids really need is a safe place to play is Dr. Carl Mumpower. He evidently asked the mayor some time ago for an opportunity to address this issue. Bellamy and Mumpower often exchange words over his wish as a minority member of council to get his issues on the agenda and her powers as mayor to control the agenda. Before Mumpower became the only thing remotely resembling conservative on council, any item having the endorsement of three members of council would be placed on the agenda. Now, things are fuzzier.

An allocation of funding for the Reid Center is now scheduled, but Mumpower has not heard if he will be able to make his intended PowerPoint presentation. Mumpower alerted the mayor that he would use public comment time if she did not schedule him on the formal agenda. Councilman Brownie Newman objected, “If a motion from a member of Council is needed to clarify that the public comment section of our meetings is intended as a place for Council to hear from the citizens, not as a place for members of Council to advannce their personal agendas, I would be happy to make a motion for that purpose.”

This council’s willingness to bend, change, ignore, and work around rules leaves one wondering if members are taking advantage of Bellamy because she’s a girl. One sometimes senses an anarchy enforced with Roberts’ Rules of Order. The question is: How many jewels-in-the-wall do we want the working poor to subsidize in the hopes of keeping kids off drugs? At least with a regular election cycle we are not needing to raid the public treasury to build donjons and towers.