The discussion of the resolution to oppose the civil services review board bill went pretty much as expected at the Tuesday, May 2 City Council meeting, but the vote caught a number of people, including Mayor Nancy Vaughan, off guard.
The civil services review board bill passed the North Carolina House and the first reading in the state Senate last week, without any comment from the Greensboro City Council. The bill would amend the Greensboro city charter to create a five member board to review decisions made by city management concerning the discipline, demotion or termination of a city employee.
The discussion was lengthy, with statements in favor of the resolution by Councilmembers Sharon Hightower, Marikay Abuzauiter, Goldie Wells and Nancy Hoffmann and statements in opposition to the resolution by Councilmembers Tammi Thurm, Zack Matheny and Mayor Nancy Vaughan.
Late in the discussion, Councilmember Yvonne Johnson, who had been largely silent on the matter, spoke in favor of a civil services review board.
Johnson said, “I’ve listened to everything. I’ve met with the workers. I’ve listened to various council people and as contentious as some of us might think this is, it is an opportunity for us in our leadership positions to correct some of the wrongs ourselves. I’m willing to do that I’m willing to work on that and I think the manager is willing to do that I’ve spoken with him I’ve spoken with the city attorney I think we have an opportunity that we don’t need to just push aside we need to jump on it.”
Johnson said that in her time on the City Council, she had seen some “appalling” things and added, “We have the opportunity to fix this. Let’s do it.”
Many who heard that thought Johnson was speaking in favor of the civil services review board bill that is currently being considered by the state Senate.
However, when the vote was taken, the motion in favor of the resolution opposing the civil services review board passed on a 5-3 vote with Councilmembers Johnson, Hightower, Abuzuaiter, Wells and Hoffmann voting in favor and Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Councilmembers Zack Matheny and Tammi Thurm voting in opposition.
Councilmemer Hugh Holston was absent from the meeting.
There was some discussion about the vote after the 5-3 result was announced and Vaughan could be seen conferring with Johnson. Several people in the audience shouted out that the vote total was wrong.
After the meeting Johnson explained that she is in favor of civil services review board. She said, “I’m in favor of us doing what we need to do ourselves. I’m in favor of a board, a process and a system that addresses our needs, but I’m not in favor of having the state telling us what to do.”
If Johnson had voted the way it sounded like she was going to vote, the motion to send a resolution to the legislature in opposition to the bill would have failed on a 4-4 vote.
John- You need a new head shot- call me and I’ll do a new one- no charge- bill
They are so scared to allow another party determine how lop sided the city council is and how it shows how they protect their little favorite voter base.
Who is really surprised?
Typical Yvonne, she talks out both sides of her mouth. During the campaign she stated that she was working to lower taxes but failed to say from the reassessment base not the tax base in place at the time. She is a true politician and poster child for Term Limits.
Yvonne Johnson, you voted for her.
If she is speaking the true why not do right and settle the wrongs that were done to Chief David Wray. She was on the council and knows what was done to him was wrong. Stand up speak the truth. It will set you free.
Good gosh let it go.
Let what go. The city did the man wrong and the taxpayers are still paying for attorneys fees b
It has been 20 years. He blew it and Hinson is dead. Move on.
1 year or 50 years. The city was wrong and Hinson was as crooked as a dogs hind leg. Greensboro needs to make this right.
Unfortunately, there needs to be a Citizen’s Review Board of our City Council, Mayor, City Attorney, City Manager, Coliseum Director, and Chief of Police! If I was on that Board I would vote they all be fired! Why?
1) Greensboro is a joke and is also known as the City of Graffiti even in our Residential Neighborhoods!
2)Lawlessness is out of Control as these leaders have not only chosen not to enforce the laws and ordinances of our City, State, and Nation. They now support offenders by rewarding them with Auto Zone Gift Certificates.
3) Drug and Possession of Illegal Firearms flourishes as Law Enforcement refuses to effectively enforce these laws with aggressive law enforcement (roadblocks and traffic stops)! Caught with simple possession of marijuana, GPD simply destroys the illegal weed. This in not their job, their job is to enforce the law, not interpret it!
4) Four Wheelers, Dirt Bikes, and ATV’s run illegally amuck on our streets with no interference from law enforcement!
5) Speeders, Aggressive Driving, Racing, Stop Light and Stop Sign offenders is ok as our law Enforcement choses not to enforce these laws. Meanwhile, traffic deaths, crashes, and bodily injury are at an all time high in our community! Citizens, you will eventually pay for the malfeasances of our City leaders with higher Auto Insurance rates!
6) Our Coliseum Director and Tanger Center Director has double standards! It’s ok to smoke weed at the Coliseum but not at the Tanger Center. Should he choose to give away $800,000 of taxpayer money by cancelling the Greensboro Gun Show, he and Mayor Vaughan do so without City Council approval. There is no place anywhere for booking Rappers Rapping about killing cops!
7) Too much conflict of interest within our City and County leaders! Correct it! Immediately!
Within three years I predict under the current administration Greensboro will be uninhabitable and there will be a significant exodus of law abiding Citizens?
Jim Donaldson
Been saying the same thing twenty years still NC third largest city, bond of that happens in western NC but yet it’s still dying I wonder why?
Fortunately there is a citizens review board for city council. It’s called voting.
I would agree with that, except the voter turn out for the last election was an embarrassing 16%. Argue all you want but if only 16% of the registered voters in Greensboro voted for their City Leaders, then shame on the remaining 84%. If you are part of the lazy 84%, then you can’t say a darn thing. If you want change, get off your ….couch…and vote. I took time out of my day and stood in line to vote. While I may not agree with everyone on Council, at least I did my civic duty and voted. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. Learn your lesson.
In all fairness, I would like to direct your anger towards the courthouse. Officers are doing their job but can’t control the DA throwing out the narcotics cases because they don’t care about them, and slapping a felon on the hand for having a firearm. Not to mention the juvenile justice system not giving us juvenile petitions for the under 18 crowd having firearms when the majority of the time they are the one committing the violent crime.
Talking out both sides of her mouth! So what else is new? Con-artist? Wait she may have to be accountable? That would not be what she wants, ie: cure for violence.
Shame on the East side council for NOT representing their constituents. Hope the citizens remember their negative action come election time.