[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6604267,"mediaKeyId","2993143-66f29c792f696606ecb238eea36b080c","parentId",2993143,"title","Residents and advisory commissioners press Greenville Utilities for more transparency; council seeks follow-up","audioSeconds",1987,"startMs",277000,"endMs",2264000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993143-66f29c792f696606ecb238eea36b080c&start=277&end=2264","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993143-66f29c792f696606ecb238eea36b080c/thumbnail_277000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604267/Greenville/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Residents-and-advisory-commissioners-press-Greenville-Utilities-for-more-transparency-council-seeks-follow-up","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604267-99c54c43a748463e44d1219877f6d6de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770176221&Signature=AmthyISLsP2HDV~U5oNtAO9rzefmrSdewpEQVUHJes~coH6QJn79h2oS9-OFVuNuXhGxGS4bWCgd7UHsgzUrjNYXzPkB~dUEBAeGUiArroCFWlYQjn0dzqmULpzZdIKjk5F48gklNNvumVvyDCQzbAK~ZGArmiqKZfIKa-vH2kdW08M5jEeFi8kOHjiZSKw1DWnJXIxiTMxMjK8M8f9I9Y0Wylzl~W58kM88UVH7daGtVIryPcIIZVnbdw792IekinbhB264n3Tyuf8QzbAlF7-qWgCTnmMv~~X~qzj8X2yNBEpSwYETe7tded8ZsO8epreJavaoDG2URPXg7ijDaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Greenville","date","2025-04-15T13:52:28.833Z","article","Several residents and members of Greenville advisory groups used the April 14 joint meeting to press Greenville Utilities Commission for greater transparency and clearer public communication.

Don Cavallini, co‑chair of the Pitt County Coalition Against Racism, told the council the utility is a public service and urged greater accountability after what he called a “secrecy” episode related to crypto‑mining negotiations earlier in the decade. Cavallini said the company involved, Compute North, at one point planned a facility near Bellahore Elementary School and that “this is a publicly owned utility” whose board “need[s] to be accountable to the whole council and to the public.”

Resident Greg Rubell urged improved contact information and oversight of contractors, saying, “There is no contact information for the board of commissioners or the GUC management on the website.” He recommended clearer line‑attachment standards, stronger agreements with communications firms and designated contact staff with mapped areas of responsibility.

Yoshi Newman, vice chair of the Greenville Environmental Advisory Commission, commended recent GUC water‑quality work but said land‑use choices can affect runoff and water quality. Newman also referenced the Compute North episode and said the commission seeks “increased transparency from GUC.” Newman added, “I think this is a really fine way to ensure good water quality for the city of Greenville.”

Councilmember Candice Willis (referred to in the record as Councilwoman Willis) moved that GUC develop a strategic plan addressing accountability and transparency and bring it back by the next joint meeting. Several council members supported exploring ways to improve public outreach and to extract transparency actions from an existing GUC strategic plan. Legal counsel advised it was procedurally inappropriate to add an unbriefed agenda item at the joint meeting after the agenda had been approved; counsel said council could instead direct staff to bring a formal agenda item to a future council meeting (the city’s main meeting) or schedule a future joint session.

GUC staff said the utility already publishes agendas and minutes online and holds public meetings. Mr. Cannon, a GUC staff member who answered questions at the meeting, said the GUC strategic plan would be shared with council. Council members emphasized that public perception matters even when procedures and materials are publicly posted; several asked staff to present clearer information or forums so residents better know how to engage.

No formal policy action on transparency was adopted at the April 14 joint meeting; councilmembers and GUC representatives discussed options for placing a focused transparency item on a future agenda so it can be properly briefed and considered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council-Greenville Utilities Commission Joint Meeting April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents and advisory commissioners used the April 14 joint meeting to press Greenville Utilities Commission for greater transparency and clearer public communication.","taxTitle","Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina","taxId",24303,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6604271,"Greenville approves across‑the‑board pay changes, boosts 401(k) contributions and orders comprehensive pay study",540,1005000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993143-66f29c792f696606ecb238eea36b080c&start=1005&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993143-66f29c792f696606ecb238eea36b080c/thumbnail_1005000.jpg","/articles/6604271/Greenville/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Greenville-approves-acrosstheboard-pay-changes-boosts-401k-contributions-and-orders-comprehensive-pay-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604271-578cdb566158159b2b7b0ec8b3a97d6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770176221&Signature=oh6ic4qUWCaYkh5ezP9X2ChW1AItrfvN7qJtJa~~ePgCcEyftfNBM1Hz1hXlpHAoiJn-7q~Pc9xfZ6N7Qp8s9ZtWZbb8-sLzJ0M9ngftXfNB-EARu8UIKYvI~TK2sVy0jeHQNRuEst27BOe7Mr3YZfTKyjIBLGmHaiRPtuPYtzXX1GBX5cDk9o~FWt05eEPS9ChjxR0O6vjbZcccsxzh5MkgdNPvQmnYY8~gEFtKZ9U8zcuR-S5qBbl8MwRS80grztCAsc4556c82~5paCyFQOh2otqsVYmXDxhl33nSRQLo9mOOhGlAfPzwOKjLZRwDo74HIAYYYD76A6w56TddLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greenville City Council and the Greenville Utilities Commission on April 14 approved a package of employee compensation changes designed to keep city and utility pay competitive, improve recruitment and retention, and fund a comprehensive pay study.

The joint meeting approved a 4% market-and-merit pay adjustment for fiscal year 2025–26, a 2.5% upward adjustment of pay-range structures, an increase in the employer 401(k) contribution from 3% to 4% effective in fiscal year 2025–26 with a planned move to 5% next year, and authorized a comprehensive classification and compensation study for implementation July 1, 2026.

City staff and GUC officials framed the package as a response to market data and recent recruitment and retention pressures. A staff presenter said survey sources produced an average projected wage increase of about 3.8% across published surveys and that a public-sector benchmark of organizations that responded showed an average actual increase of 4.6% for fiscal 2024–25. The presenter recommended the 4% adjustment and the 2.5% salary‑structure change to maintain market alignment.

Council members voted unanimously on each item. The roll call for the city showed six present and voting: Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels; Council members Foreman, Blackburn, Scully, Robinson and Willis. Votes on the merit adjustment, salary‑structure adjustment and 401(k) change were recorded as 6–0 in favor. The GUC board took mirror actions during the same meeting.

Councilwoman Blackburn moved the motion approving the 4% market-and-merit adjustment; Councilwoman Willis seconded. For the 401(k) change the motion was made by Councilwoman Blackburn and seconded by Councilman Robinson. Where specific movers or seconders were not verbally identified in the record, the motions were recorded as approved 6–0.

Staff said the 4% figure reflected a mix of market and merit elements, and the 2.5% range adjustment applies to pay-range minima and maxima (shifting ranges upward rather than directly raising every employee by that percent). According to staff, employees who are at the bottom of a range could receive both the organization-determined portion of the 4% and benefit from the range shift, depending on how each organization applies the increase.

On retirement benefits, staff told the boards the previous employer contribution had been a flat-dollar benefit ($40 per pay period) before the change last year to 3%. The board approved moving the employer match to 4% for full-time and selected part-time employees (excluding sworn law enforcement, which staff said receive 5% by North Carolina general statute), with a plan to increase to 5% in a later year so sworn and non‑sworn employees would have the same statutory percentage.

Council and GUC members also approved a comprehensive classification and compensation study to be completed and implemented beginning July 1, 2026. Staff said the city and utility will issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the work; estimated consultant costs vary, with staff calling a full study “not unheard of” at a couple hundred thousand dollars and noting a prior limited true‑up study cost about $100,000.

City staff confirmed the budget materials under discussion include the higher 401(k) contribution. Council members said the combined actions are intended to maintain competitiveness with peer public and private employers and to address hard‑to‑fill positions.

The boards approved the minutes from the Sept. 23, 2024 joint meeting and adopted the meeting agenda earlier in the session. Other routine items were taken up and approved during the joint meeting without recorded opposition.

The compensation package and the study now move to implementation steps by staff and the GUC organization; the councils and commissions asked that future reporting and implementation details be coordinated through their regular staff and board channels.","At a joint April 14 meeting, the Greenville City Council and Greenville Utilities Commission approved a 4% pay adjustment, a 2.5% salary-structure increase, raised employer 401(k) contributions from 3% to 4% (with a plan to reach 5%), and authorized a comprehensive classification and compensation study to be implemented July 1, 2026.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents and advisory commissioners press Greenville Utilities for more transparency; council seeks follow-up

Greenville approves across‑the‑board pay changes, boosts 401(k) contributions and orders comprehensive pay study