Gastonia mayor, council clash with staff after cooling-station plan not implemented

Gastonia Mayor Franks and several City Council members criticized city staff on Monday after a council consensus to open a cooling station at a city‑owned Salvation Army building was not implemented, leaving volunteers and unhoused residents without the planned indoor relief during an extreme heat period.

The meeting, convened as an emergency session, focused on why the building was not used after a Friday fire inspection cleared it. Council members said the council had given direction to staff on Monday, that the direction was relayed to the city manager, and that city leaders nonetheless allowed the site to remain closed on the planned day of service.

The disagreement centered on who had authority and on whether safety and procedural steps were complete. Councilwoman Littlejohn said the fire department had cleared the building on Friday. “The building is safe,” Littlejohn said, referring to a report she said she had reviewed from Fire Chief Welch. Mayor Franks said council direction was ignored. “We were given direction … the direction was not followed,” Franks said, adding that he would press for…