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Residents press council over unused federal gift cards; city manager says nonprofit RFP in final negotiations
Summary
A resident said the city still holds significant quantities of federal gift cards; City Manager Steven Carter said an audit was completed and the city is finalizing an RFP contract with a nonprofit to distribute remaining cards within 90 days.
A Portsmouth resident raised concerns during public comment that thousands of federal gift cards remain undistributed and urged council to act so eligible residents receive the benefits.
Leon Hammonds, identifying himself as a Bowie Court resident, said the city was “sitting on” $2,114 in $100 gift cards and $314,500 in higher‑denomination cards (his remarks alternated between dollar‑number claims in the record) and demanded to know why distribution had not occurred. Hammonds warned he might escalate the matter to federal authorities if the cards were not distributed.
City Manager Steven Carter responded during the meeting’s public comment period: the city completed an audit of the gift card program using an external firm, found no nefarious activity, and issued an RFP to identify a nonprofit to administer distribution. Carter said the city is in “final negotiations” with a nonprofit and aims to distribute all remaining gift cards within the next 90 days.
Council did not record further formal action at the meeting; the manager’s remarks indicate an administrative plan to contract with a nonprofit and to conclude distribution as part of that contract. The meeting transcript does not provide the RFP respondent’s name, the precise number or denominations of cards remaining, or steps for public accountability beyond the manager’s statements.
