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Residents press council on delayed home repairs, funding for nonprofits and city leadership ahead of elections
Summary
During public comment, an 89-year-old resident asked about a home repair grant; United Community Ministry thanked the city for $300,000 in support; other speakers raised housing, safety and fiscal transparency concerns and urged caution on personnel moves before the incoming council.
Several residents used the council’s public-comment period to raise housing repair, nonprofit funding and city-leadership concerns.
Joyce Freeman, who identified herself as an 89-year-old Rocky Mount resident, asked the council for help after a contractor inspected her home last December under a grant and she had not heard when repairs would be completed. “I need these questions answered, and I'd appreciate very much if you would answer my questions as soon as possible,” Freeman said, asking when work would begin and whether it could be completed before Christmas.
Linda Brinson, executive director of United Community Ministry, thanked the council for $300,000 in funding that she said kept the organization’s shelter operating and helped provide services. “Because of you, children are safe, families, the elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill has stability,” Brinson said, and she noted the agency also raised $16,000 at a fundraiser.
Other commenters touched on neighborhood revitalization and civic concern. Mary Warren described rehabilitating apartments into a senior-village project in the southeast part of the city and thanked council members for support. Darlene Spencer Harris praised recent city events including the Down East Viking Classic and the Show & Showcase car event, and noted donations to the event by Word Tabernacle Church.
Shanice Cotton, a Ward 6 resident, criticized the council’s transparency on finances and urged current council members to refrain from major staffing or personnel changes until the newly elected council is seated in January 2026. “With nearly half the council likely to change after October 7, it is only right that the new leadership addresses the city's multimillion dollar deficit,” Cotton said. She also criticized a recent land-development ordinance vote that reduced parking requirements, saying the council did not fully examine long-term impacts.
Ending: City staff and the mayor responded to some speakers by directing department staff to follow up (the mayor said housing staff would contact Joyce Freeman). Several speakers invited council members to visit neighborhood projects; no formal council action on these individual comments was recorded during the meeting.
