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Residents press Gastonia council for warming center plan and earlier budget engagement
Summary
During public comment residents urged the council to codify a warming center plan for extreme cold and said council members should engage earlier in departmental budget preparation.
At the start of public expression, residents asked the council to adopt clearer plans for extreme-weather sheltering and to begin budget questions earlier in the annual cycle.
Lee Whitlow, who said he spoke as a Gastonia constituent, told the council he believes the city lacks a formal warming‑center plan and urged officials to “codify a plan and communicate with us what that plan is.” Whitlow said neighboring counties have formal emergency weather protocols and called for the city to set priorities now rather than reacting only after cold weather arrives.
“Every winter night without a plan is a gamble with human lives,” Whitlow said.
Separately, Mike Tambarella urged council members to begin formulating budget questions now, rather than waiting until late spring when staff budgets are already drafted. He said earlier engagement would give department heads time to respond and increase the chance elected members can influence allocations.
Council members and staff acknowledged both concerns during discussion elsewhere on the agenda about how federal housing and community development funds are administered and whether additional staff may be needed to deploy those grants.
