City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome. It is now 6 p.m. and there being a quorum of council, I hereby call the city council regular meeting of June 23rd, 2026 to order. I want to welcome everyone here to the old armory. At this time, I would like to recognize Elder Dr. Edwin Elam to deliver the invocation.

First of all, I'd like to say thank you all for having this meeting in the community. This is a great idea to bring this out to the people. It really is. Let us all bow our heads. Father, thank you for calling us to a life marked by humility, mercy, and love, and a business to be able to sustain ourselves in times like these. Teach us not to judge others harshly, quickly, and unfairly. but to see people through your eyes and respond with grace. Lord, remind us that we all have weaknesses, failures, and blind spots and that none of us stands before you apart from your mercy. Keep us from harboring pride, comparisons, and critical spirits. When we are tempted to condemn, help us to pause, listen, and remember how much patience you have shown all of us. Give us a heart for compassionate feelings instead of suspicions. Help us to stay gentle instead of harsh and understanding instead of self-righteousness. Help us to encourage rather than tear down, to restore rather than to reject, and to walk in love even when we disagree. Lord, bless this body. Bless every citizen, every senior who is dealing with a jacked-up condition, and every politician and every staffer and first responder. Lord, thank all of the volunteers who really make Monroe so much more. Holy Spirit, as I take my seat, shape our words and attitudes so that people feel your kindness through all of us. Let our lives reflect the mercy of Christ, who receives us with grace. Make us a people who do not judge others, but who love, forgive, and build one another up in truth and a peace that is beneficial to all. In Jesus' name, we thank you for doing your job. Let none of us think that God will not do his. This is my prayer. Amen, and thank God.

Thank you, Edwin. At this time, those that are able, please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

move to accept to adopt the agenda as presented a second motion a second any discussion I would I would like to that motion was made just as I was getting ready to make a motion to return council meeting schedule to only one meeting so that would have to be a friendly amendment

I'm sorry.

So for their microphones up to the top so that that motion was made just before had an opportunity to make the motion to return to one meeting a month instead of having 2 meetings a month second.

So you accept the friendly amendment. Yes, OK for limit to accept the agenda while also returning to one.

Month is that correct when council meeting a month.

okay just for clarification we have to have unanimous approval okay so we have a motion in a second all those in favor okay okay okay thank you richard okay at this time we will go into our public hearings Let's see here. When you when you come to the podium, please state your name. Be concise, avoid repetition, limit comments to three minutes or less. That does not include any staff members. And let's see, the first one that we're going to get to today is declaring property located at 609 Winchester Avenue, unfit for human habitation in order dwelling to be repaired, altered, improved or demolished. This is a public hearing. So please adhere to those guidelines. At this time, I'd like to recognize Doug Britt, who at this time will also need to be sworn in by our city attorney.

You swear the evidence you give today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.

Yes.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Doug Britt, Planning Department, and tonight I'm going to make a presentation for demolition for 609 Winchester Avenue. You do have a packet in front of you, and the audience can see what's on the screen. City Council's request to consider a petition for ordinance to declare 609 Winchester Avenue dilapidated and unfit for human habitation. The first time I'll point out to you is the map of the area. The subject property is located at 609 Winchester Avenue located on the corner of Winchester Avenue and John Street. The house is a 1,408 square foot house. The site is approximately 0.09 acres. And the single-family home has been vacant since at least 2010. There's been no utilities since that time. Due to complaints received, the petition was filed for a minimum housing case and inspection conducted in 2024. Several violations were found that included windows, doors, siding not substantially weather-tight throughout the house, chimneys or parts thereof defective, deteriorated, or in danger of falling. hole in the roof on the front of the house and missing shingles on the rear of the home. Trash and debris located throughout the house. Front porch not properly supported and subfloor damage throughout the home. At this time we'll go through a few photos that's in your packet too just so the audience can see as well. And if you notice that that's the hole in the front of the house. In the side of the house with the windows as well as the chimney that shows damage on the chimney. And then this is the inside of the house. Let's see all parties of interest were notified of them housing hearing that was held and conducted in March of 25. I should that Owens Griffin with intense for the hearing. There's all the hearing the code force officer made it in an order of finding said willing to be in violation of the housing ordinance. Determine the dwelling to be unfit for human habitation and in dilapidated condition and order the property to be repaired or demolished due to the unsafe condition of the dwelling. The repairs are supposed to be due by August 29, 2025. Defines the fact an order was mailed via regular mail and certified mail to all parties of interest as well as posted on the property. 6 and 9 Winchester Avenue has a has a value for the structure as far as 0 dollars in the value of the property, the land value is 36,700 dollars. DAP contracting a licensed general contractor by the city and that's it and now a $65,000 to repair as well which is greater than 50% of the value of the home. According them housing ordinance prepares exceed 50% of the by the House debate dwelling. The City Council should dock an ordinance declaring the property unfit for human habitation and demolition. Due to the condition of the property, staff has recommended council declare the property unfit for human habitation and adopt the demolition orders. A lien will be placed on the property to collect the cost of demolition upon the sale of the property. That concludes staff's presentation. I'll be glad to answer your questions if you have any at this time.

I'd like to open it up for council for questions, comments.

Who was the last owner listed for that house?

It was owned by Tony Griffin. And then he passed away, and his wife was Aisha, Aisha Doc Griffin. And staff has been, she knew at the night's meeting, obviously for the night's meeting, we phoned her as well as mail notification at the night's meeting, but she didn't know whether she would attend or not.

Are there any errors?

there's there was um errors listed but we did advertise in the paper and we started a process just to advertise it and the only person that ever came forward has been um has been miss isha dot okay thank you any other questions council okay now no one else has signed up for or against is there anyone else for or against that would want to speak about this no okay well at this time there'll be no other speakers i'll close the public hearing and move to take action

move to adopt the ordinance declaring property unfit for human habitation and ordering dwelling be repaired or demolished and removed i'll second that i have a motion second any other if not all those in favor all right that's it for our public hearings

At this time we'll be moving into our next item which be moving Monroe City Council meetings back to one meeting the 2nd Tuesday of every month starting in July 2026 to hear a motion. So motion and a second any discussion. Not all those in favor. Thank you. Okay. At this time, we will be going into our public comment period, and I'll turn it over to our attorney, Richard Long.

Thank you Mister mayor in doing public comments each person shall sign up to speak part of the beginning of each meeting on the form provided list their name, city and county of their residents and topic of which he or she will speak an individual may only sign up for themselves and not sign up or place another individual's name on the sign up sheet. The speaker that signs up and fails refused to give the required information. will not be called on to comment. A total time of 60 minutes will be allocated for the public comment period on a regular agenda. Any speaker that signs up to speak and does not get to speak during the public comment period due to the 60 minute time limit will be given priority to speak at the next City Council meeting public comment period. City Council, in its discretion, may extend the time limit from 60 minutes allocated and extend that time. City of Monroe residents will be given the opportunity to speak first, followed by Union County residents, followed by residents of other areas. The mayor or the presiding officer shall determine the order in which speakers are called and which to comment. Each speaker will be allocated up to two minutes to speak, which shall be strictly observed at all times. Speakers shall immediately cease speaking when the allocated time uh... is over groups of persons speaking on the same topic are strongly encouraged to designate a spokesman to speak on their behalf as an incentive a spokesman making comments for two to five individuals that signed up to speak will be given up to three minutes and a spokesman for six or more will be given up to five minutes to speak speakers shall refrain from obscene speech defamation communicating through true threats of violence physical harm to anyone, incitement to imminent lawless action, or speaking fighting words. Speakers shall remain at the podium to make comments and not approach city council or city staff. No one can accompany the speaker to the podium. Members of the audience shall not willfully interrupt, disturb, or disrupt a city council meeting. Audience members shall refrain from commenting, jeering, clapping, or cheering during the meeting. Audience members shall refrain from, shall not engage in demonstration or theatrics during the meeting and shall remain seated at all times unless called on to be identified from their seat designated as spokesman. Improper behavior described in this section by a member of the audience will not be tolerated and may result in sanctions up to and including being asked to leave the meeting. Members of the audience may hold signs along an 8 1⁄2 by 11 inches in size, but shall not raise them above their heads so as to plot the view of those behind them. The mayor's presiding officer has the authority and responsibility to enforce and carry out these rules. However, any member of city council may identify improper conduct by raising a point of order. During the meeting upon raising a point of order by a council member the mayor presiding officer should call for all public comments to cease immediately presiding officer then in the minimum warn the violator and demand the individual cease the violation Anyone who willfully interrupts, disturbs, or disrupts a City Council meeting may be asked to leave the meeting premises immediately by the Mayor and upon point of order by or upon point of order by City Council and approval by the City Council. Upon failure to leave as directed, the individual may be cited for violating North Carolina General Statute 143-318.17. Speakers shall not speak on any topic which is the subject of the public hearing on that day. City Council will refrain from engaging in dialogue with speakers except to the extent necessary to clarify the speaker's position. The City of Monroe shall not record, video, live stream, or post on the internet any video or audio recordings of public comments made during the public comment period.

I turn.

Go right here. Have at it.

All right. So we have a handful of people who signed up to yield their time. So please raise your hand if you are yielding. that any public hearings scheduled for july twenty eight when I have to be held july fourteenth of the following month legal that correct. Move it to the next month. so to be clear just so everyone can hear and we get on record you said that they haven't been they have been noticed but it's okay thank you so we can change the advertisement to the next one okay we do have time to amend it okay okay so y'all will handle that okay okay just to be clear do i hear a motion to adjourn yes you all hear the term

adaptive reuse and we're sitting in it in this most wonderful building and if any of you were here in this area 20 years ago can you hear me sorry you all hear the term adopt adaptive reuse and we are sitting in it this building was ready to be torn down 25 years ago the roof was falling in the windows were either missing or boarded up There was a piece of a World War II tank sitting over here in the corner where the kitchen is. And just think about how many other buildings that we have downtown, particularly the waterworks at Five Points, that could be this useful and this beautiful and much of an asset to our city. So I'd just like to say a brief thank you for everyone who worked hard to make it happen, particularly past Congressman Robin Hayes and current Congressman Richard Hudson.

And thank you all for being here tonight, and happy Fourth of July.

So I have a motion on the table. Do I hear a second? All those in favor? Thank you. Have a good night.